any Person to represent us in Parliament and also by filling up the Vacant places thereof and all to be admitted without any Oath or Engagement previous to their Entrance which being done We shall be ready to acquiesce and submit in all things to the Judgement and Authority of Parliament without which Authority the People of England cannot be obliged to pay any Taxes This Declaration subscribed by three hundred Gentlemen was delivered to the Honourable Will Lenthall Speaker of the Parliament on Saturday the 28. of Jan. 1659. By the Lord Richardson Sir John Hobart and Sir Horatio Tounsend Baronets A Declaration of the Gentry of the County of DEVON Met at the General Quarter Sessions at Exeter for a Free Parliament Together with a Letter From EXETER To the Right Honourable William Lenthall Speaker of the PARLIAMENT WE the Gentry of the County of Devon finding our selves without a Regular Government after your last interruption designed a publick Meeting to consult Remedies which we could not so conveniently effect till this Week at our General Quarter Sessions at Exon Where we finde divers of the inhabitants groaning under high Oppressions and a general defect of Trade to the utter ruine of many and fear of the like to others which is as visible in the whole County that occasioned such disorders that were no small trouble and disturbance to us which by Gods blessing upon our endeavours were soon supprest and quieted without Blood And though we finde since our first purposes an alteration in the state of Affairs by your Re-assembling at the Helm of Government yet conceive that we are but in part Redrest of our Grievances and that the chief Expedient for it will be the recalling of all those Members that were secluded in 1648. and sate before the first Force upon the Parliament And also by filling up the vacant places And all to be admitted without any Oath and Engagement previous to their Entrance For which things if you please to take a speedy course we shall defend you against all Opposers and future Interrupters with our Lives and Fortunes For the Accomplishment whereof we shall use all Lawful Means which we humbly conceive may best conduce to the Peace and Safety of this Nation Exon 14. of Jan. 1659. SIR THE Inclosed Copy of what this Grand Meeting to which the most Considerable of the Gentry have Subscribed Mr. Bampfield Recorder of Exon is gone this night Post to deliver it to the Speaker That the Cornish men have done more is no News This City in very great numbers Lordly exprest their desires for a Free Parliament The Apprentices and Young men of the City got the Keys of the Gates and keep them lockt without taking notice of the Magistrates and less of the Souldiers A Letter and Declaration of the Lords Knights Gentlemen and Ministers of the County of YORK And of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of the Gity of YORK Presented to General Monck Feb. 17. 1659. at His Quarters at Drapers-hall London by Sir Thomas Wharton Knight Brother to the Lord Wharton John Dawney Thomas Harrison and John Legard Esquires As also a Letter with the said Declaration inclosed delivered by the said Gentlemen to the Lord Mayor directed to him and to the Common-Councel of the City of LONDON To His Excellency the Lord General MONCK My Lord WE finde our selves constrained by writing to supply the Omission of acquainting your Lordship with our thoughts and desires when you passed through our County which we had then done if upon so short notice we could have met for a mutual Vnderstanding Your Lordship will finde in the Inclosed Declaration the sum of our Apprehensions We thought it not necessary to multiply particulars but leave all other things to a duly constituted Parliament neither have we been sollicitous to multiply Subscriptions trusting more to the weight of the Proposals than to the number of Subscribers yet we may safely affirm this to be the sense of the Generality of the County and City as your Lordship sees it is of others We have onely to add our earnest desires to your Lordship that you would be pleased to further the Accomplishment of what we have represented with such seasonable speed as that the fear of Friends and the hopes of Enemies concerning a dangerous Confusion amongst us may be prevented Your Lordships very humble servants Thomas Fairfax Faulconberge Bar. Bouchier Vicecomes Christopher Topham Mayor c. The Declaration WE being deeply sensible of the grievous Pressures under which we lye and the extream dangers we are exposed to at this time through the violent alteration of our Government the Mutilation and Interruption of Parliaments And having no Representatives to express or remedy our grievances have thought it meet according to the example of other Counties to Declare and Desire That if the Parliament begun November 3. 1640. be yet continued The Members that were secluded in the year 1648. be forthwith restored to the Exercise of their Trust and all Vacancies filled up that right may be done to their Persons to Parliaments and the People that have chosen them If otherwise That a Parliament may be presently called without imposing of Oaths or Engagements the greatest prejudice to Civil or Christian Liberty or requiring any Quallifications save what by Law or Ordinance of Parliament before the Force in 1648. are already established And untill this or One of these be done We cannot hold our selves obliged to pay the Taxes that are or shall be imposed We not enjoying the Fundamental Right of this Nation to consent to our own Laws by equal Representatives Subscribed by Esquires Thomas Lord Fairfax Tho. Lord Viscount Fauconberge Barrington Bourchier Esq High Sheriff Christ Topham Mayor Sir Thomas Wharton Knight of the Bath Sir Christ Wivel Bar. Sir John Hotham Bar. Sir Tho Slingsby Bar. Sir Wil. Cholmly Bar. Sir Fran. Boynton Bar. Sir Roger Langly Bar. Sir Hen. Cholmly Kt. Sir Tho. Remington Kt. John Dawney Henry Fairfax Tho. Harrison John Legard William Fairfax William Gee William Osbalston Robert Wivel Thomas Hutton Gustavus Boynton Henry Bethel Metcalf Robinson Henry Stapleton George Marwood Robert Redman William Adams Col. Lancelot Parsons William Daulton James Moyser Robert Belt Henry Marwood John Vavasour John Gibson John Micklethwait Bryan Fairfax Bryan Layton Thomas Lovel Wil. Rooksby Capt. Nicholas Bethel John Jackson Thomas Yarborough Walter Bethel John Riccard John Adams Richard Levie Cregory Crake James Driffeild c. Ministers Mr. Edward Bowles Mr. Nath. Jackson Mr. Witton Mr. Waterhouse Mr. Bentley Mr. Nasebit c. The said Declaration was also subscribed by the Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of York To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Common-Councel of the City of London My Lord and Gentlemen HAving taken notice of some vigorous inclinations of your Lordship and the City towards the asserting your common Freedomes as English men too much of late violated and being now also our selves constrained from
Griefs and Declaration of our Desires and Thoughts of the most probable means by Gods assistance to give some remedy to our present Sufferings and prevention of our yet greater Calamities which threaten our speedy ruine The cause of all proceeding as we conceive is from that unhappy Disorder in that great Wheel of Government And that after all our great Sufferings and Trials the vast expence of Treasure and Blood for our Rights Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament which we take to be the Good old Cause such persons in whom we have already lodged our Trusts and who have sufficiently manifested their endeavours to perform the same namely Nathaniel Stephens Esq Sir John Seymore Kt. Edward Steephens Esq John Steephens Esq and the Right Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax have been since December 1648. and still are denied the freedom of sitting and voting in Parliament The Restauration of which Members we desire with all freedom to their former Capacities And Declare we shall not otherwise consent to pay Tax or other Impositions or hold our selves bound by any Law to be made without a Restitution of these our Representatives with a supply of all Vacancies by a free Election according to the Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of this Nation it being the undoubted birth-right of all the Free-born people of England that no Tax or other Imposition be exacted from them or any new Law imposed upon them but by their consents had by their Representatives in a full and free Parliament And we further declare our hearty desires for the burying all former Animosities and Differences by a full and general Act of Oblivion and Indempnity with satisfaction to be given to Purchasers under any Act of Sale as by Parliament shall be thought fit And that no Officer or Soldier that hath ventured his life for the freedom of his Countrey and shall continue faithfull to those Principles may hereby receive any Discouragement We also declare That we shall freely and willingly consent that all such shall receive their Arrears and be continued so long as the Parliament shall think fit in order to the safety and preservation of the Nation and that such liberty be allowed to tender Consciences as is not opposite to the Scriptures or the established Laws of this Nation We also Declare That in pursuance of these our just Desires we shall not be wanting to the uttermost of our powers to engage our selves by all lawful ways and means with our Fellow Brethren in the just Vindication of our Liberties and shall neither count our Lives or Fortunes too dear to hazard for the Redemption thereof and herein we shall not doubt the ready Concurrence of all those in the three Nations whose Peace Prosperity and Safety is equally concerned with ours This Declaration being subscribed by great numbers of considerable persons of that County was to have been presented to the Speaker by some of them but considering how Sir Robert Pye and Major Finchers handsome behaviour was unhandsomly rewarded with imprisonment for a particular of the same nature it was thought more proper to preserve the liberty of Personages of so much worth til a better opportunity and therefore it is thought fit thus to communicate this for the vindication of this County and satisfaction of the whole Nation THE REMONSTRANCE Of the Knights Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of GLOUCESTER WE do claim and avow it to be our undoubted Birth-right and Liberty That no new Laws much lesse any new Government can or ought to be imposed upon us nor any Taxes Contributions or Free-quarter taken of us without the consent of the People of this Nation in a Free-Parliament Assembled which Liberties have been often confirmed to us by the great Charter the Petition of Right and many other Statutes And Parliaments being the only Bulwarks and Defence of our Liberties as men and Christians ought to be freely elected and to sit and Vote without interruption or opposition by any persons whatsoever The Priviledges whereof we are all bound to maintain and defend and to assist and maintain each other in the defence thereof And therefore we resolve according to our bounden duty to joyn with the Lord Mayor and Common-Councel of the City of London and all other Counties in England in pursuance thereof And we do not doubt but all true hearted English men who love their own Liberties and are not willing to be made slaves or to enslave their Brethren will joyn with us herein A Letter agreed unto and subscribed by the Gentlemen Ministers Free-holders and Sea-men of the County of SUFFOLK Presented to the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of London Assembled January 30. 1659. Right Honorable PLease you to accept this Paper as a testimony that we are highly and gratefully sensible of those breathings and Essayes towards peace which your renowned City hath lately declared to the World As we earnestly wish that our serious and unanimous concurrence may ripen them to a perfect Accomplishment We are willing to consider it as an Omen of Mercy when we observe the Nation in general lifting up its Vows to Heaven for a free and full Parliament 't is that alone in its genuine sense which our Laws prescribe and present to us as the great Patron and Guardian of our Persons Liberties and Properties and whatsoever else is justly precious to us And if God shall by your hand lead us to such an obtainment after-Ages shall blesse your memory 'T is superfluous to spread before you your Merchandise decay'd your Trade declin'd your Estates wither'd Are there not many within your Walls or near them that in your ears deplore such miseries as ehese Your Lordship may believe that our prayers and persons shall gladly promote all lawfull means for our Recovery And we entreat that this cheerful suffrage of ours may be annex'd as a Label to your Honorable intendments This Letter was delivered according to its Superscription by Robert Broke Philip Parker and Thomas Bacon Esquires THE Declaration of the Gentry of the County of NORFOLK And of the County and City of NORWICH WE the Gentry of the County of Norfolke and County and City of Norwich being deeply affected with the sense of our sad Distractions and Divisions both in Church and State and wearied with the miseries of an unnatural Civil War the too Frequent Interruptions of Government the Imposition of several heavy Taxes and the loud Out-cries of multitudes of undone and almost Famished people occasioned by the general decay of Trade which hath spread it self throughout the whole Nation and these Counties in particular and having met together and consulted what may best remedy and remove our and the Nations present Grievances and Distractions Do humbly conceive that the chief Expedient will be the recalling of those Members that were secluded in 1648 and sate before the Force put upon the Parliament We of the County of Norfolk being by such Seclusion deprived of
A Happy Handfull OR Green Hopes in the BLADE In order to a HARVEST OF THE Several SHIRES humbly Petitioning or heartily Declaring for Peace Psal. 34. 14. Seek Peace and follow after it LONDON Printed for John Williams at the Sign of the Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard 1660. TO His Highness The Lord General MONCK MY LORD WHat formerly was in single Arrows is here bound in a Sheaf I conceive it good that by such conjunction they might mutually reflect light one on another Posterity will probably be pleased to look back on such passages Some love to see the little coats they then did wear when children Alas these all were the Essayes in the Infancy of our Liberty now grown a stripling God send it to be a Man yet they differ rather in Sound than in Sense variously expressing the same matter So many men and but one minde is admirable prompted certainly by the Spirit of unity inditing them Factious Petitions gave the beginning and Loyal Declarations must give the end to our Miseries But here is the difference the first were made by the Scum these by the Cream of the Nation Aeneas did beg the Boon of the Sybil that she would not write her Oracles according to her usual course in leaves of Trees blown away with every wind These Declarations formerly were printed in Leaves or single Papers which are soon lost not to say The best of Papers so printed are oft consigned to the worst of uses This is a way to preserve and to propagate them I remember the Verse of the Poet Singula cum valeant sunt meliora simul Take each of them asunder good as either Then needs they must be best all put together What as single Stars was good must be best in a Constellation God happily perfect what is so hopefully begun by your Honour though my voice is too weak to be the Eccho to the sound of the whole Nation Your Honours most humble Servant JOHN WILLIAMS AN EXPRESS FROM THE KNIGHTS and GENTLEMEN OF CHESHIRE Now Engaged with Sir George Booth To the City and Citizens of London and all other Free-men of England Worthy Citizens and all other our English Free-men and Brethren AS we are English-men we are all incorporated into one Body and though distinct and different Families Fortunes and Qualities yet fellow Members and Coheirs of one and the same Birth-right not onely by nature as we are the Sons of men nature obliging all in one common and equal Bond of Freedom and Unity but by certain sacred Laws and Customs of peculiar and inherent Right to this Nation general equal and impartial to all without respect of persons rank quality or degree derived through all successions of Ages by the Blood Justice and Prudence of our Fore-fathers to us their Posterity as ours and the Right of our Children after us not dis-inheritable though this Age were wholly made up of Apostates and Traytors to Common Justice and Freedom and should make sale of and deliver up their Children as slaves and Vassals yet English Right abideth to wit our just Laws and Liberties and may justly be re-inforced as opportunity may present Sometimes they sleep but never die their total Extinguishment is not to be imagined so long as any Englishman or English blood abideth and whoever undertaketh though by Arms or otherwise their recovery and redemption is justified in that very Action by the Laws of God of Nations Nature Reason and by the Laws of the Land and within the Bowels of our Nation amongst our selves no War can be justified but upon that score the contrary is Sedition Murdeâ— Treason Tyranny and what not and the Instruments thereof no other in the Eye of English Freedom and Right but as Bears Wolves and other Beasts of prey Now right worthy and noble Citizens and all other our English Brethren let us consider and lay to heart the sad and deplorable condition of our native Countrey Oppression Injustice and Tyranny reigneth division discord and distimulation fomented and fostered Trade and industry discouraged our Land rent into Parties and Factions and the common Band of Unity Cancell'd our fundamental Laws supplanted High Courts of Justice introduced the blood of War shâ—d in times of Peace Arbitrary and illegal imprisonments Patents Monopolies Excise and other payments brought upon us and continued contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right no form or face of Government of English Constitution amongst us the Name and Athority of the People in Parliament usurped and abused and the stamp thereof put upon strange and prodigious Actions vexing and oppressing the People with dayly Changes and Alterations in government as the Interest of some few ambitious Grandees alter and change or get advantages one of another and all under the Name of a Common-wealth when as the Nature is not practised or intended at all it being utterly inconsistent with their very temper and interest they are wrapt up and compounded of nothing but guilt-blood and Tyranny and equal and common Justice the essence of a Common-wealth are utterly repugnant thereto and whatsoever they can do must be planted and maintained by Sword and violence against the very Heart and Sence of the Nation and they know not where or how to centre an Oligarchy or something they would have to be Masters of the People and perpetuate their power and Tyranny and therefore would amaze and confound us with their New Debares of a Coordinate Power or Senate for Life such as our English Laws and Liberties know not of and of pernicious consequence to this Nation so that from these men that thus handle the Stern at Westminster there is no expectation of any just settlement of Peace or Freedom from Oppression especially considering the Apostacy Hypocracy Deceipt and perjury of those men their manifold solemn Engagements Oaths Vows Protestations Appeals unto Heaven Promises Remonstrances Declarations all by them broken again and again never keeping Faith Truce or Oath being unbounded unlimited certain to nothing not to be held either by the Law of God or Man of Conscience or Reason And from such Persons in Government Good Lord deliver us and all the good People of England and that all this is true of them your Consciences Noble Citizens and all other the Free-People of England can witness there is no tongue no pen is able to vindicate them in this point it is known of all owned by all and can be denied by none how then can any honest or just man shed any blood in their Quarrel or lend them assistance surely that blood will be required at their hands and we doubt not but you will be carefull what you do And therefore from those Considerations and just provocations that we have taken up Arms in pursuance of and Inquisition after our Government Laws and Liberties that every English-man may be protected and secured in his Religion Liberty and Property and though it may be suggested that we intend to
and properties are preserved and the liberties and freedom of the people which are supported by those Lawes And for those ends and in discharge of our duty to God and to our Country We do resolve by the blessing of Almighty God to joyn with our Brethren in England Ireland and Scotland who have or shall joyn with us for the ends aforesaid and do resolve for the maintenance and preservation thereof to hazard our Lives and Estates and all that is dear to us And we doubt not but all our Brethren in the said Nations who disdain to be made Slaves will joyn with us herein as being with wisedom and reason desirous to deliver over to their Posterity that Liberty and Freedom which was conveyed to them at so dear a rate by our Ancestors And then we trust that by the great mercy of God will speedily follow a happy settlement of these yet miserable and distracted Nations and consequently that the true Protestant Religion in the power and purity thereof may be established the Godly Learned and Orthodox Ministers of the Gospel maintained by their Tythes and other their accustomed rights their persons supported and countenanced the Universities and all other Seminaries of Learning cherished Heresies and Schisms suppressed needless Impositions and Taxes on the people removed and no charge to be laid on any of the Nations without their own free consents given by their Representatives in their several and respective Parliaments Manufactures and Publique Trade and Commerce at home and abroad advanced Justice in its due and wonted course administred the just debts of the Nation satisfied the Treasure and Revenues thereof preserved and returned to their right and proper Channels the Arreares of the Army and other publique debts duly satisfied the Armies and Forces continued in due obedience to the Supreme Authority and not presume as some have done to give Lawes thereunto which hath been the root of a great part of our miseries the Nations enriched united and strengthened the Reformed Protestant Churches abroad supported and countenanced the honour of the English Nation restored to the comfort of Friends and terror of Enemies the Plantation of Ireland in the hands of Adventurers and Souldiers and other English and Protestants advanced as a farther accession of honour and greatness to the English Nation and so by the blessing of God all will shortly terminate in the glory of God the Peace and Tranquillity of these Nations the strengthening of them against forreign Invasion and intestine Rebellion and the comfort contentment of all the good People in these Nations Which the Lord of his mercy grant Dated at Dublin Febr. 16. 1659. Sir Charls Coote William L. Cawfield Sir Theo. Jones Sir Oliver St. Ceorge Sir Hen. Ingoldsby Sir John King Col. Chidley Coote Col. John Cole Col. Will. Warden Col. Richard Coote Col. John Georges Col. Hen. Owen Lt. Col. Tho. Scot Lt. Col. W. Purefoy Lt. Col. Oliver Jones Maj. Tho. Barrington Maj. Alex. Staples Maj. Rich. Bingley Maj. George Pepper Lt. Col. H. Smithwick Capt. Henry Baker Cap. Rob. fitz Gerald Cap. Cha. Wenman Cap. Adam Molineux Col. Hum. Barrow Cap. Sam. Foley Cap. John Salt Cap. Simon Garstin Col. Cha. Blunt Col. Hen. Slade Cap. Ant. Stamp Cap. Art Purefoy Cap. George S George Cap. Peter Purefoy Cap. Thomas Curd Cap. Tho. Newcomen Cap. Tho. Newburgh Cap. Hen. Thrimpton Lt. Hugh Clotworthy Lt. Peter Flower Lt. Her Langrish Lt. Rich. Morrick Lt. Brian Jaques Lt. Richard Butler Lt. John Ottway Lt. John Evelin Lt. Tho. Flint Lt. Edw. Harrington Corn Art Vsher Corn Donw Prothers Corn W. Pinsent Ensign John Hiad Tho. Sheppard Mar. Quarter-Master W. F. John Payn Comptr. A DECLARATION Of the GENTRY of Somerset-shire Who were of the late KINGS Party WHereas God by many gracious Appearances haâ—h raised the hearts of this Nation to a great confidence that their tottering condition draws near to an Establishment by the Re-settlement of their antient just and solid Foundations We doe Declare That in thankfulness to our great and good God we hold our selves bound to look upon and with humble longings to wait for the accomplishment of this great Work as the largest National blessing we are capable of being presented to our hope without blood and ruine And likewise that we set up Pillars in every of our hearts to the honour of his Excellency the Lord General Monck who hath not as others either feared or affected the Tyrannical greatness of our Oppressors but as he undertook the Redemption of his Countrey with singular Resolution and hath carried it on hitherto with unparallel'd prudence so we doe not in the least doubt but that by the good hand of God he will perfect it with shining and glorious sincerity And because we finde as we hope the last Engine of the Enemies of our Peace now set on work for the embroiling of the spirits of the well-meaning people of England by suggesting an unchristian inclination remaining in us of waiting opportunities of Revenge We do here in the sight of God and to all the world disown and abhor all Animosity and Revengeful remembrance of Sides and Parties in the late War And do promise and resolve to co-operate within our Sphere towards the publique Settlement with such faithfulness and constancy as neither to occasion or entertain the least jealousie upon the account of any past difference whatsoever fully resolving to submit to the Determinations of the Parliament both in Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs which we hope will remove all occasion of Jealousie and Distinction for the future John Lord Paulett Sir Francis Paulett Sir Amos Paulett William Paulett Esq. Edward Phillips William Helliar Peregrine Palmer Henry Barkley Charles Berkley Thomas Warr John Brice Robert Hawly John Bonvile Francis Windham Thomas Pigott William Wandrond George Waldrond Edward Berkley Francis Hawly George Speake John Tynt Sam. Gorges George Syddenham Francis Harvey c. AN ALARUM TO THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND AND WALES With the Ab-renunciatiation of the OATH By Tho. Fuller B. D. OUr Nation which long since hath lost the Lustre and Well-being now at last-strugleth for the Life and Being thereof Our many temporal miseries are reducible to two principal Heads Daily 1. Decrease of Trading 2. Increase of Taxes So that every hour the Burden groweth weightier and the Back of our Nation weaker to support it 2. 'T is sad to see in Cloathing Countreys what swarms there are of poor people the true objects of Charity if any were as able to give as they worthy to receive relief for they would work and can work yet cannot work because there are none to employ them 3. As for the Sea which is the Land of Port-Towns it returneth small benefit for since Dunkirk was ours more to the credit than benefit of our Nation the fire of Searobberies is removed out of the Chimney and scattered about the House not lesse destructive but more diffusive So that our Merchants could better guard themselves against that