THE Deep Sighes and Sad COMPLAINTS OF Some late Souldiers in Captain NEEDHAMS Troop, in Colonel HACKERS Regiment, for wanting of Juſtice and Judgment, To our Brethren and Fellow-bondſlaves, who as yet are compelled to gather ſtraw, and make up your taile of Brick, and hath no eaſe nor abatemant in your burdens, We do complain. We look for Juſtice but find Oppreſſion, We wait for judgment, but behold a cry.

DEar friends and Countreymen, you Commoners of England, whom we dearly love, and whoſe Freedom and Liberty we have long deſired, and the Lord that knowes the hearts of men, knows that we are yet free and willing to leave Father and Mother, Wife and Children, and all the eſtate that we have in the world, and to adventure our lives for your freedome, and truely of late we have had great hope that this year had been appointed of the Lord to be your year of lubile, which thoughts of freedom was no ſmal joy to us, and that which cauſed our hopes was, that the Lord has put ſuch an oppertunity into the hands of the Army, who was the great power that then late at the Stern of Englands affairs, and might at pleaſure have taken of burdens and looſe bands of wickedneſſe, and have let the oppreſſed go free, which they did much pretend, and we hearing their fair pretences, could do no leſſe but believe them, and wee our ſelves in our places which God had ſet us, being Members of the ſame Army, though the leaſt belonging thereto, thought our ſelves bound in conſcience as far as we are able to help forward with the work, and conſidering that the firſt work to ſet about to do, for men that pretends themſelves to be inſtruments of working out a Nations freedome, is to look into themſelves, and amongſt themſelves, and there to try ſeriouſly whether they doe lay any part of the burthen upon the people, whoſe freedome they doe pretend or no, and if upon Examination they ſind themfelves to be oppreſſours of the power in the leaſt, or layers on of thoſe heaburdens.

I ſay, the firſt work they ought to do is, to remove that oppreſſion wherewith they do oppreſſe, and then they may proceed boldly to do as Moyſes did, when he ſaw one Iſraelite ſmite another, and ſeek the deſtruction one of another; uſe meanes to aſſwage their Tyranny, and bring down the Oppreſſour: ſo I ſay, we being bound in Conſcience thus to do, looking in our ſelves, and amongſt our ſelves, did find out the Acon, one Captain Needham, as we do conceive, that did diſobey the Command of God, in not being content with his wages, for God commands all Souldiers whatſoever, to do violence to no man, and bee content with their wages; but he like that covetous Acon did proceed to wrong his Maſters, the Commoners of England, and the poore ſouldiers who ſerved under his Command, and being right ſenſible of this his unjuſt dealing, one Thomas Fothergill a Souldier under his Command, having his ſpirit burdned with his and other mens unjuſt dealings, could no longer forbeare, but did proceed to exhibit theſe nineteen enſuing Articles, which I do commend to your judicious conſiderations.

Articles exhibited by THOMAS FOTHERGIL againſt Capt. NEEDHAM, in Colonel HACKERS Regiment.

Imprimis, that the ſaid Captain muſtered in his Troop Robert Lavender in October 1653. and received his pay who never was yet ſeen in the Troop.

2. That the ſaid Captain muſtred Thomas Vaſſe in April and May 1653. Who was never yet ſeen in the Troop.

3. That the ſaid Captain muſtred John Rumfard in April and May 53. who was never yet ſeen in the Troop.

4. That the ſaid Captain muſtrea Jervis Price in Sept. 1651. who was with Charls Stuart at Worceſter fight, and the ſaid Jervis Price ranne from his Colours, in October 51. and the ſaid Capt muſtred him four months after he was run away, as • il appear in the Muſter-roles.

5. That the ſaid Captain muſtred, and ſuffred to be muſtred William Stephenaſon the ſpace of five moneths after he was run away from his Colours, and when orders came to reduce ten men out of a Troop, old ſ • uldiers were reduced, and the ſaid William Stepheaſon was continued in the roles.

6. That the ſaid Captain muſtred John Roſs a little Scotch Boy, who ran on foot after the Troop, and was not any way capable in doing a ſouldiers duty.

7. That the ſaid Captain contrary to the orders of the Army, muſtred three ſervants of his owne as ſouldiers in the Troop, and received pay for them, one of thoſe ſervants being a child, not any way capable in doing a ſouldiers duty, and hath been muſtred ſince November 1653. as will appear by the Muſter-roles, and was never yet ſeen in the Troop.

8. That the ſaid Captain did re-entertain George Hubbert, who was reduced out of the Troop for diſobeying Command, and being drunk, and when the ſaid Captain had orders to reduce all ſervants out of the Troop, he continued the ſaid George Hubbert ſtill in the Troop; and reduced an old ſouldier againſt whom he had no accuſation,

9. That the ſaid Captain bath detained the Pay of ſeverall ſouldiers above a year, as will appear by evidence.

10. That the ſaid Capt. when he quartered at Kinardy in Bamph-ſhire, he drunk ſo much Ale and ſtrong waters, tell be was ſo drunk, that he could not find the way into his Chamber, though he had before quartered a long time in the houſe.

11. That the ſaid Captain left his Troop when we were in the highlands of Scotland, and came for England about the beginning of July, and hath not been with the Troop in all above twenty dayes ſince the aforeſaid time.

12. That the ſaid Captain maſtered Henry Hill and his man in April and May 1652. and received their pay, who never was as yet ſeen in the Troop.

13. That the ſaid Captain muſtred Henry Eden and Ronland Scaife in March 1652, and when he had muſtered them, he reduced them, and received their pay.

14. Tat the ſaid Captain muſtred Thomas Fihther, Edward Morley, and Thomas Rigg in Aprill 1652. and detained each man of fifteen ſhillings of the ſaid Moneths pay, and the moneth of May next following, the Roles being loſt, the ſaid Captain did affirme that the aforeſaid men were muſtrod in the ſaid May: and cauſed the Clark of the ſaid Troop to pay him for each of the ſaid men. one moneths pay, which they never had, they being reduced before in Aprill muſter.

15. That the ſaid Captain in November 1651. having a drunken and a prophaue perſon to be his ſervant, he being ſo ſenſible of his drunkenneſſe, he could no longer for ſhame, for the ſatisfaction of the Troop, but reduce the ſaid ſervant, and within three dayes after that he had caſhiered him, hee re-entertained and continues him him in the Troop almoſt a year, and received a ſouldiers Pay foor him, notwithſtanding the ſaid ſervant ſtil continued in his prophaneſſe.

16. That the ſaid Captain being preſent with the Troop in September 1651. deprived John Lowes, an old ſouldier, and another ouldier of their muſter pretending there was not Roome, yet notwithſtanding his pretence, muſtred one Summerskill, and received his pay though he never was yet ſeen in the Troop, and further in October next after, his name being in the role, he was called at the Muſter, the Golonells Clerk being there preſent, affirmed that he was muſtred in their Troop, ſo upon that our Captain being abſens our Leiutenant croffed him out of the roles, as will appear by evidence.

17. That the ſaid Captain when we we • e called into the highlands of Scotland, had five or ſix ſervants, for which he received the States pay, beſides a little Scotch boy which he muſtred, whoſe imployment was the leading of a dogge, and the ſaid ſervants did not perform duty; but was imployed about his particular occaſions.

18. That the ſaid Captain and another Gentlemen riding on the high way, and diſcourſing of ſome Gentlewomen, and at length pitching their diſcourſe on a particular woman, the Captain ſaid, O ſhe is a pure creature, I wiſh I were in bed with her, the Gentleman judging his words very uncivill, reproved him, and ſaid, why are you ſo vainly given? the Captain replyed with a light anſwer, and ſaid, are we not all Fleſh.

19. That the ſaid Captain muſtred Henry Hill and his ſervant mentioned in the twelfth Article upon the third of May 1652. when as orders was fos reducing of thirty men, notwithſtanding the reducement, the ſaid Hill and his man, continued in the roles another muſter, though never ſeen in the Troo ••• nd the ſaid Captain received their Pay.

Theſe nineteen Articles is either confeſt by the Captaine, or otherwiſe punctually proved.

ANd I deſire you to take a little notice of the ninth Article of detaining of pay, the Article is but ſhort, but much contained in it, for twelve ſeverall men did make it appeare that he had defrauded them of their due; Now Frinds, that which I deſire you to take notice of, is, that there was a Court choſen by whom we know not, nor by what meanes this Court was procured, we know not, but it was not the uſual Court by which others uſed to be tryed; and whether they were choſen of purpoſe for ſome end or no, wee know nor, but we have juſt cauſe to fear.

And to ſay we had no juſtice, I do not, (neither dare I ſay it) but I leave it to your conſideration, but this we proved, that Captain Needham muſtred ſeveral men that was never ſeen in his Troop, and received pay for them, and muſtred ſome foure moneths after they run from their colours, and was gon to the Enemy, and he received pay for them, and the Cou • t did not find him guilty of the breach of that Article of warre for falſe muſters but did fine him twenty pounds for the fact. An unheard of thing by us; againe we proved that he had kept from many of our Troop, ſeverall ſummes of money above a yeare and a halfe; and after the exhibiting of the articles, compounded with ſeveral men, payiog ſome twelve pounds fifteen ſhillings, and ſome leſſe, and was not found guilty of that article of war for detaining of pay, but was judged blame worthy by the Court, and reproved for not counting with his ſouldiers, and paying to every man his due, and ordered to pay to every man what he could challenge, and deſired him not to be ready again to ſtretch out his hand to draw to himſelfe; So we leave it to men of abler judgment then we are to judge, whether we had juſtice done or no

But dear friends, this is not all that we have cauſe to complaine of, for here is more injuſtice offered unto us yet, nay, ſuch as was never yet heard of, for fince his, tryal they have gone to the Generall enforming againſt us, wee know not what, but one thing we know, if for matter of fact, unjuſtly, for they have not any thing againſt us in the leaſt, but that we brought theſe deed of darkneſſe to light, and poſſibly they feared if we were ſuffred, that more of their baſe dealing would be brought to light, and ſo upon their information, the Generall hath granted an order to reduce (as they ſay) as many, and who they pleaſe, denying us abſolutely of the priviledge of the law under which wee live.

A ſad ſtory, and much to be lamented of all men, that men ſhould pretend nations freedome, and ſay that God hath uſed them as inſtruments for the procuring of it and yet deny their fellow labourers of the priviledge of a known law and ſevere, the which will take hold of a man for the leaſt offence that may be, what ſhall we ſay in ſuch caſes, all that I have to ſay to you my friends the Commoners of England, ceaſe you from man whoſe breath is in his owne noſtrils, and learne to wait upon the true and everliving God, who is that Moyſes that muſt lead you out of bondage, into that land of true reſt and happineſſe, which if you do in faith, patience and obedience, you are ſure to have your expectations anſwered, for though man fail us, yet he never failed thoſe that waited on him.

A VVORD TO THE ARMY.

OH gallant Army of England whom the Lord hath made valiant, and hath crowned with as much honour as ever was Army crowned with ſince the world began, and hath made the enemies of this nation flve before you with ſhame and confuſion of face, and thoſe was the Enemies of England which the Lord had a controverſie with, whom he had formerly made great, and put power in their hands, and ſet over the people in this nation, to lead and to keep in ſafety and freedome, and without all doubt gave this command, both to King Charles, and the late Parliament, to take off heavy burthens, loſe the bonds of wickedneſſe, and let the oppreſſed go free; which command they diſobeyed, and continued the poor oppreſſed people of this Nation in as much bondage and ſlavery as might be, ſo that the poore was forced with many ſad groanes to cry unto the Lord, and the Lord heard them, and without all doubt, his wrath was kindled againſt thoſe unjuſt men, who had not obeyed his Command, and ſet his people free, but continued them in their bondage, and raiſed you up to bring them to confuſion; well hath the Lord raiſed you up to do this great work, and made you inſtruments to pull downe thoſe great and mighty Powers, which in the eye of reaſon was invincible: Now I beleech you conſider, whether the Lord hath put that power into your hands that was in theirs or no? now if it be in your power to looſe the bands of wickedneſſe and let the oppreſſed go free, oh do it! and then you are ſure to be gloriour indeed, and crowned with more honour then ever, and ſhall eate the good things of the land, and the Lord will delight to dwell amongſt you; but on the contrary, if you will be like the reſt, and make your hearts far, and your ears heavy, and will not heare the cryes of the poore oppreſſed of this nation, and bring them into that freedome which they have ſo long expected and waited for.

Surely the Lord will have the ſame Controverſie with you, that he had with thoſe before you, who diſobeyed his commaed, and if his wrath be once kindled, who ſhall be able to deliver you our of his hands? nay, though you be great and mighty, he can raiſ up poor contemptible creatures, to bring you down, and make you fall with as much ſhame as the reſt. Therefore looke about you, and work while it is called to day, leaſt a night befall you, in which you cannot work, and to will day overtake you at un • wares, and then you be if reed to ery for help, when none will deliver you.

Now my deſire and prayer to God for you is both Generall and Army, that now when you have put downe thoſe great and unrighteous men, that you may not endeavour to ſeat your ſelves in their places, and make your ſelves Kings and Lords, to lord over the heritage of God, and the Commoners of England, who is as freeborne as your ſelves: but inſtead of ſo doing, learne to do juſtice, and love mercy, and to walke humbly with your God, and endeavour to take off thoſe heavy burthen:, under which the people do ſo extreamly groane, and at laſt let the oppreſſed goe free, and remember your faire promiſes in all your declarations, which did ingage all honeſt hearts ſo freely, to take your part, and let our ears be no longer filled with thoſe empty ſounds of fare promiſe, but let our hearts be filled with the ſence of the enjoyment of Freedome, and that the people of this Nation may have no more cauſe as they have had, and as wee have juſt Cauſe to complaine of, now of injuſtice and oppreſſion, but that every one may doe as he hath juſt right, ſit downe under his owne Vine, eating the fruits of his owne labours, and that he may not when he hath laboured all day, have ſome lyon or other at night to come and eat both him, and the fruits of his labours up.

And now my friends, as many of you as deſires to live godly in this preſent world, ſtrive not to contend with the great men of the world, for it is in vaine for you ſo to do, but wait upon that king of peace, who if you do, will give you peace that paſſeth underſtanding, and bring you into that freedom, that al the great men in the world cannot deprive you of, ſo hoping that my God will give me ſo to do, I reſt.

He who deſireth your greateſt good. THO. FOTHERGILL.

The Names of thoſe that complaines for want of Juſtice, reduced out of Captain Needhams Troop. Tho. Fothergill. Tho. Bruce Corporall, Chriſtophar Pyhurn Clerk. John Wardell. William Poyd. William Bunkin. John Hall. Joſeph Brooks. Francis Kuowles.

FINIS.