Selected quad for the lemma: master_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
master_n	john_n	richard_n	william_n	14,181	5	8.7823	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48467	A manifestation from Lieutenant Col. John Lilburn, Mr. William Walwyn, Mr. Thomas Prince, and Mr. Richard Overton (now prisioners in the Tower of London) and others, commonly (though unjustly) styled Levellers : intended for full vindication from the many aspersions cast upon them, to render them odious to the world, and unserviceable to the Common-wealth, and to satisfie and ascertain all men whereunto all their motions and endeavours tend, and what is the ultimate scope of their engagement in the publick affaires : they also that render evill for good, are our adversaries, because we follow the thing that good is.	Lilburne, John, 1614?-1657.; Walwyn, William, 1600-1681.; Prince, Thomas.; Overton, Richard, fl. 1646.	1649 (1649)	Wing L2142; ESTC R205657	7,439	10

A Manifestation FROM Lieutenant Col. John Lilburn Mr. William Walwyn Mr. Thomas Prince and Mr. Richard Overton Now Prisoners in the TOVVER of London And others commonly though unjustly STYLED LEVELLERS Intended for their FVLL VINDICATION FROM The many aspersions cast upon them to render them odious to the World and unserviceable to the Common-wealth And to satisfie and ascertain all MEN whereunto all their Motions and Endeavours tend and what is the ultimate Scope of their Engagement in the PVBLICK AFFAIRES They also that render evill for good are Our adversaries because We follow the thing that good is Printed in the year of our LORD 1649. A MANIFESTATION FROM Lieutenant Colonel Iohn Lilburn Master William Walwyne Master Thomas Prince and Master Richard Overton now prisoners in the Tower of London and others commonly though unjustly stiled Levellers SInce no man is born for himself only but obliged by the Laws of Nature which reaches all of Christianity which ingages us at Christians and of Publick Societie and Government to employ our endeavours for the advancement of a communitive Happinesse of equall concernment to others as our selves here have we according to that measure of understanding God hath dispensed unto us laboured with much weaknesse indeed but with integrity of heart to produce out of the Common Calamities such a proportion of Freedom and good to the Nation as might somewhat compensate its many grievances and lasting sufferings And although in doing thereof we have hitherto reaped only Reproach and hatred for our good Will and been faine to wrestle with the violent passions of Powers and Principalities yet since it is nothing so much as our Blessed Master and his Followers suffered before us and but what at first we reckoned upon we cannot be thereby any whit dismayed in the performance of our duties supported inwardly by the Innocency and evennesse of our Consciences 'T is a very great unhappinesse we well know to be alwayes strugling and striving in the world and does wholly keep us from the enjoyment of those contentments our severall Conditions reach unto So that if we should consult only with our selves and regard only our own ease Wee should never enterpose as we have done in behalfe of the Common-wealth But when so much has been done for recovery of our Liberties and seeing God hath so blest that which has been done as thereby to cleer the way and to afford an opportunity which these 600 years has been desired but could never be attained of making this a truly happy and wh●lly Free Nation We think our selves bound by the greatest obligations that may be to prevent the neglect of this opportunity and to hinder as much as lyes in us that the bloud which has been shed be not spilt like water upon the ground nor that after the abundant Calamities which have overspread all quarters of the Land the change be onely Notionall Nominall Circumstantiall whilst the reall Burdens Grievances and Bondages be continued even when the Monarchy is changed into a Republike We are no more concern'd indeed then other men and could bear the Yoke we believe as easily as others but since a Common Duty lyes upon every man to be cautious and circumspect in behalfe of his Country especially while the Government thereof is setling other mens neglect is so far we thinke from being a just motive to us of the like sloath aninanimiadvertency as that it rather requires of us an increase of care and circumspection which if it produces not so good a settlement as ought to be yet certainly it will prevent its being so bad as otherwise it would be if we should all only mind our particular callings and imployments So that although personally we may suffer yet our solace is that the Common-wealth is therby some gainer and we doubt not but that God in his due time wil so cleerly dispel the Clouds of Ignominy and Obloquy which now surround us by keeping our hearts upright and our spirits sincerely publike that every good man will give us the right hand of fellowship and be even sorry that they have been estranged and so hardly opinionated against us We question not but that in time the reason of such misprisions will appeare to be in their eyes and not in our Actions in the false Representation of things to them and improper glosses that are put upon every thing we do or say In our own behalfs we have as yet said nothing trusting that either shame and Christian duty would restraine men from making so bold with others good Name and Reputation or that the sincerity of our actions would evince the falshood of these scandals and prevent the Peoples Beliefe of them But we have found that with too much greedinesse they suck in Reports that tend to the discredit of others and that our silence gives encouragement to bad Rumors of us so that in all places they are spread and industriously propagated as well amongst them that know us as them that know us not the first being fed with Jealousies that there is more in our designs then appeares that there is something of danger in the bottom of our hearts not yet discovered that we are driven on by others that we are even discontented and irresolved that no body yet knowes what we would have or where our desires will end whilst they that know us not are made believe any strange conceit of us that we would Levell all mens estates that we would have no distinction of Orders and Dignities amongst men that we are indeed for no government but a Popular consusion and then againe that we have bin Agents for the King and now for the Queen That we are Atheists Antiscripturists Jesuites and indeed any thing that is hatefull and of evill repute amongst men All which we could without observance pass over remembring what is promised to be the Portion of good men were the damage only personall but since the ends of such Rumors are purposely to make us uselesse and unserviceable to the Common-wealth we are necessitated to open our breasts and shew the world our insides for removing of those seandalls that lye upon us and likewise for manifesting plainly and particularly what our desires are and in what we will center and acquiess all which we shall present to publike view and consideration not pertinatiously or Magisterially as concluding other mens judgements but manifesting our own for our further vindication and for the procuring of a Bond and lasting establishment for the Commonwealth First Then it will be requisite that we express our selves concerning Levelling for which we suppose is commonly meant an equalling of mens estates and taking away the proper right and Title that every man has to what is his own This as we have formerly declared against particularly in our petition of the 11 of Sept. so do we again professe that to attempt an inducing the same is most injurious unlesse there did precede an universall assent