







 
   
     
       
         A letter to General Monk, expressing the sense of many thousands of the well affected people of England. Old Parliamenters, and old Puritanes To the magnanimous and truly excellent Generall Monk.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A88032 of text R211522 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.23[25]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
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         2017
         A88032
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         Thomason 669.f.23[25]
         ESTC R211522
         99870239
         99870239
         163681
         
           
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             A letter to General Monk, expressing the sense of many thousands of the well affected people of England. Old Parliamenters, and old Puritanes To the magnanimous and truly excellent Generall Monk.
             Albemarle, George Monck, Duke of, 1608-1670.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1660]
          
           
             Signed at dated at end: The Commons of England. January 22. 1659.
             Imprint from Wing.
             Annotation on Thomason copy: "Feb: 1. 1659".
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           England and Wales. -- Parliament -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A88032  R211522  (Thomason 669.f.23[25]).  civilwar no A letter to General Monk, expressing the sense of many thousands of the well affected people of England. Old Parliamenters, and old Puritane Albemarle, George Monck, Duke of 1660    3050 0 5 0 0 0 0 16 C  The  rate of 16 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           A
           LETTER
           to
           General
           Monk
           ,
           expressing
           the
           sense
           of
           many
           thousands
           of
           the
           well
           affected
           people
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           Old
           Parliamenters
           ,
           and
           old
           Puritanes
           .
        
         
           
             
               To
               the
               Magnanimous
               and
               truly
               Excellent
               Generall
               Monk
               .
            
             
               
                 Noble
                 SIR
                 ,
              
            
             
               GOD
               hath
               made
               you
               the
               instrument
               of
               conveighing
               one
               of
               the
               greatest
               blessings
               to
               this
               Nation
               that
               hath
               been
               bestowed
               upon
               it
               in
               these
               latter
               days
               ;
               even
               of
               rescuing
               our
               Laws
               ,
               Liberties
               ,
               Estates
               ,
               Ministers
               ,
               Religion
               ,
               all
               that
               is
               dear
               to
               us
               out
               of
               the
               hands
               of
               men
               ,
               who
               being
               in
               their
               first
               constitution
               our
               servants
               ,
               had
               by
               craft
               and
               treachery
               made
               themselves
               Lords
               over
               us
               ,
               and
               designed
               to
               sacrifice
               all
               these
               to
               their
               own
               ambition
               .
               But
               the
               most
               wise
               and
               righteous
               God
               ,
               who
               raised
               you
               as
               a
               deliverer
               to
               this
               poor
               Nation
               ,
               hath
               caused
               them
               to
               fall
               before
               you
               without
               stroke
               striking
               ,
               filling
               their
               hearts
               with
               fear
               ,
               and
               their
               faces
               with
               contempt
               and
               shame
               ,
               for
               which
               his
               wonderful
               mercy
               ,
               as
               thanks
               are
               rendred
               to
               God
               by
               many
               on
               your
               behalf
               ,
               so
               doubt
               not
               honoured
               Sir
               ,
               but
               many
               prayers
               are
               daily
               poured
               out
               before
               the
               Lord
               for
               you
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               direct
               your
               steps
               in
               his
               ways
               ,
               so
               evenly
               and
               unerringly
               ,
               that
               that
               deliverance
               which
               is
               so
               happily
               begun
               may
               be
               perfected
               by
               your
               hand
               .
               Your
               Excellency
               ,
               (
               for
               that
               Title
               your
               merit
               gives
               you
               whether
               men
               do
               or
               no
               )
               cannot
               be
               ignorant
               that
               great
               persons
               (
               as
               your self
               is
               )
               in
               great
               actions
               (
               such
               as
               this
               in
               which
               you
               are
               now
               imbarqued
               )
               are
               attended
               with
               great
               temptations
               ,
               which
               though
               your
               own
               deep
               wisdome
               and
               much
               experience
               be
               sufficiently
               able
               both
               to
               discern
               and
               decline
               ;
               yet
               will
               it
               not
               we
               hope
               be
               offensive
               to
               your
               Excellency
               to
               hear
               what
               the
               
                 vox
                 copuli
              
               is
               concerning
               the
               temptations
               that
               lie
               before
               you
               .
               First
               ,
               some
               think
               there
               is
               now
               lying
               before
               you
               a
               sore
               temptation
               of
               making
               your self
               great
               ,
               and
               to
               take
               the
               Supream
               Power
               and
               Government
               of
               these
               Nations
               into
               your
               own
               hands
               ,
               and
               make
               your self
               a
               Protector
               ,
               a
               King
               ,
               or
               what
               you
               please
               ,
               and
               it
               is
               verily
               thought
               you
               might
               do
               it
               with
               a
               far
               more
               universal
               acceptance
               then
               
                 Oliver
              
               did
               ;
               and
               it
               is
               feared
               there
               may
               be
               some
               who
               may
               secretly
               whisper
               such
               counsels
               to
               you
               :
               But
               surely
               Sir
               ,
               it
               is
               hoped
               and
               believed
               you
               are
               so
               much
               a
               Souldier
               ,
               a
               Gentleman
               ,
               a
               Christian
               ,
               as
               that
               you
               despise
               and
               abhor
               the
               thought
               of
               any
               such
               thing
               ,
               having
               declared
               the
               contrary
               as
               you
               have
               done
               .
               They
               that
               know
               you
               say
               you
               have
               too
               brave
               a
               Spirit
               ,
               to
               purchase
               the
               personating
               of
               a
               King
               with
               so
               much
               guilt
               and
               infamy
               as
               
                 Oliver
              
               did
               ,
               who
               after
               he
               had
               played
               
                 Rex
              
               upon
               the
               Theatre
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               for
               a
               few
               years
               hated
               of
               some
               ,
               scorned
               by
               others
               ,
               flattered
               by
               a
               few
               ,
               went
               off
               with
               reproach
               and
               hissing
               ,
               and
               his
               memorial
               is
               perished
               with
               him
               ;
               who
               had
               he
               had
               so
               much
               honesty
               in
               him
               as
               a
               Heathen
               ,
               would
               instead
               of
               his
               pompous
               Funerals
               (
               yet
               unpaid
               for
               )
               have
               contented
               himself
               with
               a
               plain
               Tomb-stone
               with
               this
               inscription
               
                 {non-Roman}
                 {non-Roman}
                 {non-Roman}
                 {non-Roman}
                 {non-Roman}
              
               ,
               &c.
               
               Look
               upon
               me
               and
               learn
               not
               to
               be
               Treacherous
               ,
               False
               ,
               Ambitious
               .
               So
               recent
               an
               example
               of
               Gods
               revenging
               wrath
               ,
               should
               cast
               a
               damp
               upon
               the
               pride
               and
               ambition
               of
               men
               ,
               but
               we
               see
               it
               did
               not
               :
               witness
               
                 Fleetwood
              
               and
               
                 Lambert
                 ,
              
               who
               not
               thinking
               themselves
               high
               enough
               till
               they
               were
               got
               into
               Phaetons
               (
               that
               is
               
                 Cromwells
              
               )
               Chariot
               ,
               had
               certainly
               set
               this
               whole
               Kingdom
               on
               a
               flame
               ,
               if
               God
               by
               your
               hand
               had
               not
               cast
               them
               down
               as
               suddenly
               and
               strangely
               as
               if
               they
               had
               been
               thunder
               stricken
               .
               But
               your
               Excellency
               is
               of
               
                 another
                 Spirit
                 ,
              
               even
               like
               that
               Noble
               Earl
               ,
               that
               said
               He
               had
               rather
               make
               a
               King
               then
               be
               a
               King
               .
               In
               which
               respect
               we
               fear
               not
               much
               your
               being
               overcome
               by
               this
               temptation
               .
               That
               therefore
               which
               others
               fear
               ,
               and
               fear
               more
               is
               your
               being
               tempted
               to
               close
               with
               this
               piece
               of
               the
               Parliament
               now
               sitting
               at
               
                 Westminster
                 ,
              
               and
               to
               assist
               and
               aid
               them
               in
               their
               setting
               up
               of
               that
               which
               they
               call
               the
               Common-wealth
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               though
               by
               all
               that
               ever
               we
               poor
               Plebeians
               could
               see
               or
               understand
               of
               it
               ,
               it
               is
               but
               the
               setting
               up
               of
               themselves
               ;
               And
               that
               which
               makes
               us
               something
               fear
               you
               here
               is
               ,
               that
               in
               many
               of
               your
               Declarations
               which
               you
               have
               emitted
               ,
               you
               have
               expresly
               and
               in
               
                 Terminis
              
               declared
               for
               this
               Parliament
               as
               it
               was
               sitting
               in
               
                 Octob.
              
               1659.
               and
               for
               the
               establishment
               of
               Government
               by
               a
               Common-wealth
               .
               These
               things
               make
               us
               fear
               ;
               but
               when
               we
               consider
               that
               these
               Declarations
               were
               made
               by
               you
               when
               you
               were
               in
               
                 Scotland
                 ,
              
               or
               in
               the
               remotest
               parts
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               where
               you
               neither
               did
               nor
               could
               know
               the
               sense
               of
               the
               English
               Nation
               ;
               we
               hope
               that
               now
               God
               hath
               brought
               you
               among
               us
               ,
               where
               you
               may
               hear
               the
               sighs
               and
               groans
               of
               your
               Brethren
               ,
               and
               from
               our
               own
               mouthes
               understand
               what
               we
               groan
               under
               ,
               and
               what
               we
               groan
               after
               ,
               God
               may
               put
               other
               thoughts
               ,
               and
               other
               resolutions
               into
               your
               heart
               then
               what
               you
               have
               yet
               published
               or
               declared
               to
               the
               world
               .
               Give
               us
               therefore
               leave
               to
               declare
               and
               Remonstrate
               to
               you
               that
               a
               great
               part
               ,
               yea
               ,
               the
               greatest
               part
               of
               the
               godly
               people
               and
               Ministers
               in
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               who
               adhered
               to
               the
               Parliament
               in
               all
               their
               contest
               against
               the
               King
               from
               1640.
               to
               1648.
               never
               did
               own
               ,
               nor
               never
               can
               prevail
               upon
               their
               consciences
               to
               own
               those
               men
               that
               now
               sit
               at
               
                 Westminster
              
               for
               the
               Parliament
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               since
               they
               contrary
               to
               all
               Equity
               and
               Reason
               ,
               contrary
               to
               their
               Trust
               and
               Duty
               ,
               contrary
               to
               their
               Covenants
               and
               Protestations
               ,
               suffered
               so
               considerable
               a
               part
               of
               their
               Members
               to
               be
               by
               the
               Army
               plucked
               from
               them
               .
               Nay
               ,
               not
               onely
               suffered
               it
               ,
               but
               we
               fear
               some
               of
               them
               contrived
               it
               ,
               and
               all
               of
               them
               now
               since
               their
               last
               meeting
               abetted
               it
               .
               Resolving
               upon
               a
               solemn
               Vote
               next
               day
               after
               their
               solemn
               fast
               ,
               that
               these
               Members
               were
               duly
               excluded
               :
               a
               thing
               so
               contrary
               to
               the
               light
               of
               common
               reason
               ,
               that
               every
               man
               is
               ready
               to
               blush
               at
               the
               reading
               of
               it
               ;
               Is
               this
               the
               fast
               that
               God
               hath
               chosen
               ?
               Is
               this
               to
               loose
               the
               bands
               of
               wickednesse
               ,
               and
               to
               let
               the
               oppressed
               go
               free
               ?
               Nor
               ,
               secondly
               ,
               can
               we
               (
               if
               this
               were
               not
               )
               look
               upon
               that
               handful
               of
               men
               sitting
               at
               
                 Westminster
              
               as
               men
               to
               be
               trusted
               with
               the
               Lives
               and
               Liberties
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               and
               least
               of
               all
               with
               Religion
               .
               Some
               of
               them
               being
               persons
               of
               notorious
               loosenesse
               and
               debauchedness
               ,
               others
               desperate
               Atheists
               ,
               despisers
               of
               the
               Word
               and
               Ordinances
               .
               The
               most
               of
               them
               ,
               (
               whether
               out
               of
               carnal
               policy
               ,
               or
               what
               other
               principle
               God
               knows
               )
               friends
               to
               all
               Sects
               ,
               Errors
               ,
               and
               Heresies
               ,
               even
               to
               Popery
               it self
               ;
               witness
               their
               repealing
               penal
               Statutes
               made
               against
               Popish
               Recusants
               before
               their
               breaking
               up
               in
               1653.
               and
               their
               Vote
               passed
               in
               the
               Speakers
               Chamber
               before
               the
               last
               breaking
               up
               in
               1659.
               wherby
               they
               gave
               Papists
               equal
               protection
               with
               the
               most
               pure
               and
               Orthodox
               of
               Protestants
               ,
               we
               hope
               your
               excellency
               when
               you
               are
               informed
               of
               these
               things
               ,
               will
               not
               think
               it
               strange
               that
               neither
               City
               nor
               Countrey
               can
               cheerfully
               accept
               these
               men
               for
               
                 Englands
              
               Parliament
               ,
               we
               hope
               your self
               having
               expressed
               so
               much
               zeal
               for
               the
               true
               Orthodox
               Protestant
               Religion
               ,
               and
               for
               the
               Ministers
               and
               Ordinances
               of
               Christ
               ,
               will
               not
               now
               give
               them
               up
               to
               the
               mercy
               of
               these
               men
               .
               We
               have
               done
               with
               the
               Parliament
               ,
               may
               it
               please
               your
               Excellency
               to
               give
               us
               leave
               to
               expresse
               our selves
               concerning
               the
               other
               particular
               ,
               the
               changing
               of
               the
               Government
               of
               the
               Nation
               into
               a
               Common-wealth
               .
               First
               ,
               we
               call
               to
               remembrance
               that
               saying
               of
               the
               holy
               Ghost
               ,
               
                 Prov.
                 22.
                 28.
                 
                 Remove
                 not
                 the
                 ancient
                 Land-mark
                 which
                 thy
                 fathers
                 have
                 set
                 .
              
               Our
               forefathers
               according
               to
               the
               wisdom
               given
               them
               of
               God
               ,
               had
               very
               equally
               and
               justly
               bounded
               both
               the
               Kings
               Power
               and
               the
               subjects
               Liberty
               .
               The
               late
               King
               he
               went
               about
               to
               remove
               the
               ancient
               Land-mark
               of
               the
               Peoples
               Liberty
               ,
               and
               this
               hath
               been
               the
               overthrow
               of
               him
               and
               his
               family
               unto
               this
               day
               .
               Let
               the
               People
               now
               take
               heed
               of
               removing
               the
               other
               Landmark
               ,
               least
               the
               Lord
               see
               it
               ,
               and
               it
               displease
               ,
               and
               he
               lay
               their
               Liberty
               as
               low
               in
               the
               dust
               as
               he
               hath
               done
               the
               Kings
               Authority
               .
               
                 Extrema
                 non
                 durant
                 ,
              
               There
               is
               also
               another
               Text
               that
               not
               a
               little
               troubles
               us
               when
               we
               think
               upon
               these
               changes
               ,
               and
               that
               is
               
                 Prov.
                 24.
                 21.
                 
                 My
                 son
                 ,
                 fear
                 God
                 and
                 the
                 King
                 ,
                 and
                 meddle
                 not
                 with
                 them
                 that
                 are
                 given
                 unto
                 change
                 ;
                 for
                 their
                 calamity
                 shall
                 rise
                 suddenly
                 ,
                 and
                 who
                 knoweth
                 the
                 ruine
                 of
                 them
                 both
                 .
              
               Sir
               ,
               you
               have
               merited
               so
               well
               at
               our
               hands
               that
               we
               cannot
               but
               be
               very
               unwilling
               you
               should
               be
               involved
               in
               that
               calamity
               which
               we
               are
               very
               confident
               will
               again
               suddenly
               overtake
               these
               Members
               given
               to
               change
               .
               Secondly
               ,
               we
               call
               to
               remembrance
               how
               in
               the
               beginning
               of
               the
               quarrel
               between
               the
               King
               and
               Parliament
               .
               The
               King
               did
               lay
               to
               their
               charge
               that
               they
               had
               a
               design
               to
               alter
               the
               Ancient
               Governments
               of
               the
               Nation
               ,
               and
               to
               let
               a
               flood
               of
               errours
               and
               heresies
               into
               the
               Church
               ,
               and
               that
               thereupon
               he
               was
               forced
               to
               take
               up
               armes
               for
               his
               own
               defence
               ,
               and
               the
               defence
               of
               Religion
               ;
               and
               now
               if
               these
               men
               do
               indeed
               alter
               the
               Government
               ,
               as
               they
               intend
               to
               do
               ;
               and
               do
               set
               open
               a
               door
               to
               all
               Errors
               and
               Heresies
               ,
               as
               they
               have
               begun
               to
               do
               ;
               do
               they
               not
               thereby
               justifie
               the
               King
               before
               God
               and
               men
               (
               for
               whoever
               yet
               questioned
               but
               that
               it
               was
               lawful
               for
               a
               King
               to
               defend
               Religion
               ,
               and
               his
               just
               Authority
               against
               those
               that
               seek
               to
               subvert
               them
               )
               and
               do
               they
               not
               hereby
               bring
               upon
               themselves
               the
               guilt
               of
               all
               the
               blood
               that
               hath
               been
               shed
               in
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               and
               we
               are
               very
               loath
               you
               should
               share
               with
               them
               in
               that
               guilt
               .
               Thirdly
               ,
               we
               call
               to
               remembrance
               that
               the
               Parliament
               both
               in
               their
               answers
               to
               the
               forementioned
               Declarations
               of
               the
               Kings
               ;
               and
               in
               all
               their
               Declarations
               both
               to
               this
               and
               neighbour
               Nations
               ,
               
                 Scotland
                 ,
                 Holland
                 ,
                 &c.
              
               did
               in
               the
               most
               solemn
               manner
               that
               could
               be
               disclaime
               this
               altering
               of
               the
               Government
               ,
               and
               looked
               upon
               it
               as
               the
               greatest
               slander
               that
               could
               be
               raised
               against
               them
               ,
               and
               therefore
               they
               cannot
               alter
               it
               without
               falsifying
               their
               word
               to
               forrain
               States
               and
               Princes
               ,
               and
               incurring
               the
               note
               of
               false
               and
               perfidious
               men
               .
               The
               very
               suspition
               of
               which
               crime
               we
               are
               perswaded
               your
               noble
               soul
               abhors
               .
               Fourthly
               ,
               we
               call
               to
               remembrance
               the
               many
               solemn
               Vowes
               and
               Covenants
               whereby
               the
               Parliament
               bound
               themselves
               and
               us
               to
               maintain
               the
               Government
               as
               it
               was
               then
               established
               ;
               and
               therefore
               they
               cannot
               alter
               it
               without
               incurring
               the
               guilt
               of
               Perjury
               or
               Covenant-breaking
               ,
               which
               God
               never
               suffers
               to
               pass
               unpunished
               ,
               no
               not
               among
               the
               Heathens
               .
               Fifthly
               ,
               we
               consider
               the
               blood
               and
               treasure
               that
               this
               attempt
               hath
               put
               
                 England
                 ,
                 Scotland
              
               and
               
                 Ireland
              
               to
               already
               .
               The
               blood
               that
               
                 Cromwel
              
               shed
               in
               
                 Scotland
                 ;
              
               and
               the
               blood
               that
               
                 Cromwel
              
               shed
               in
               
                 Ireland
              
               (
               after
               your
               Excellency
               had
               ended
               the
               first
               War
               with
               the
               Popish
               Rebels
               )
               in
               what
               quarrel
               was
               it
               spilt
               ,
               but
               in
               the
               quarrel
               of
               this
               
                 Idea
                 ,
              
               this
               
                 Fairie
                 Common-wealth
              
               (
               which
               we
               often
               hear
               the
               name
               of
               ,
               but
               could
               never
               yet
               see
               .
               )
               That
               vast
               Treasure
               that
               hath
               been
               expended
               now
               for
               these
               eleven
               years
               in
               the
               maintaining
               of
               an
               Army
               here
               in
               
                 England
              
               (
               necessary
               for
               nothing
               but
               for
               the
               cudeling
               of
               People
               into
               a
               complyance
               with
               every
               prevailing
               power
               )
               whom
               may
               we
               thank
               for
               it
               but
               the
               modellers
               of
               our
               Common-wealth
               .
               Sixtly
               ,
               we
               cannot
               but
               fear
               that
               the
               altering
               our
               Government
               into
               a
               Common-wealth
               ,
               will
               be
               so
               far
               from
               ending
               that
               it
               will
               but
               perpetuate
               our
               miseries
               from
               Generation
               to
               Generation
               ;
               for
               so
               speak
               as
               Christians
               ,
               the
               foundation
               of
               this
               intended
               Common-wealth
               hath
               been
               laid
               in
               so
               much
               Treachery
               ,
               Perjury
               ,
               Blood
               ,
               and
               there
               is
               such
               a
               cry
               of
               the
               Fatherless
               ,
               Widow
               and
               Oppressed
               goes
               up
               before
               the
               Lord
               against
               it
               ,
               as
               it
               can
               never
               be
               blest
               to
               
                 England
                 ;
              
               and
               to
               speak
               as
               men
               ,
               the
               Masters
               of
               this
               new
               Common-wealth
               know
               there
               is
               such
               a
               spreading
               family
               of
               the
               
                 Stuarts
                 ,
              
               and
               their
               interest
               is
               so
               spread
               and
               rooted
               in
               this
               Nation
               and
               among
               Neighbour
               Nations
               ,
               Protestants
               as
               well
               as
               Papists
               ,
               that
               let
               them
               make
               never
               so
               many
               Votes
               ,
               Engagements
               ,
               Oaths
               of
               Abjurations
               ,
               they
               will
               never
               dare
               to
               trust
               their
               Infant
               Common-wealth
               ,
               as
               themselves
               call
               it
               ,
               without
               an
               Army
               Royal
               to
               back
               it
               .
               And
               so
               the
               Nation
               must
               be
               at
               the
               charge
               of
               maintaining
               continually
               an
               Army
               of
               fifty
               or
               sixty
               thousand
               men
               ,
               to
               please
               the
               humours
               ,
               and
               maintain
               the
               Grandeur
               of
               fourty
               or
               fifty
               men
               that
               are
               (
               forsooth
               )
               the
               Common-wealths
               Representative
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               for
               more
               there
               are
               not
               that
               are
               sticklers
               for
               this
               new
               device
               .
               For
               this
               ,
               seventhly
               ,
               we
               complain
               of
               as
               a
               very
               great
               grievance
               and
               oppression
               that
               so
               inconsiderable
               a
               number
               of
               men
               should
               assume
               to
               themselves
               the
               sole
               Legislative
               Power
               ,
               and
               impose
               Oaths
               and
               new
               formes
               of
               Government
               upon
               the
               Free-both
               People
               of
               this
               Nation
               ,
               not
               onely
               without
               their
               consent
               ,
               but
               contrary
               to
               the
               known
               judgement
               and
               conscience
               of
               the
               People
               of
               the
               Nation
               .
               For
               ,
               Eighthly
               ,
               this
               themselves
               know
               ,
               and
               we
               will
               not
               hide
               it
               from
               your
               Excellencie
               ,
               that
               if
               it
               were
               put
               to
               the
               Scrutiny
               ,
               whether
               the
               People
               of
               this
               Nation
               would
               be
               governed
               after
               the
               forme
               of
               a
               Common-wealth
               or
               no
               ,
               there
               is
               scarce
               one
               man
               of
               500.
               but
               would
               give
               his
               Vote
               in
               the
               Negative
               ,
               except
               Papists
               ,
               Quakers
               ,
               Anabaptists
               ,
               and
               other
               Sectaries
               ,
               or
               those
               who
               under
               the
               specious
               pretence
               of
               a
               Common-wealth
               ,
               seek
               their
               own
               private
               wealth
               ,
               and
               have
               built
               their
               nests
               upon
               the
               publick
               ruines
               .
               And
               into
               the
               secrets
               of
               these
               men
               we
               hope
               your
               soul
               will
               never
               enter
               .
               And
               that
               this
               aversenesse
               to
               a
               Common-wealth
               may
               not
               be
               judged
               will
               and
               stubbornness
               in
               us
               to
               all
               the
               former
               Reasons
               .
               9.
               
               Let
               us
               adde
               this
               (
               in
               the
               ninth
               place
               )
               that
               this
               device
               of
               changing
               the
               Government
               of
               
                 England
              
               into
               a
               Common-wealth
               ,
               it
               is
               a
               pure
               Popish
               Jesuitical
               device
               to
               alter
               and
               overthrow
               the
               true
               Protestant
               Religion
               in
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               witness
               father
               
                 Parsons
              
               his
               memorials
               for
               Reformation
               printed
               at
               
                 Sevill
                 ,
                 An.
                 1596.
                 
                 Campanella
              
               in
               his
               
                 Monarchia
                 Hispanica
                 ,
              
               and
               Cardinal
               
                 Richilieu
              
               in
               his
               Instructions
               .
               These
               things
               make
               this
               alteration
               of
               Government
               not
               only
               suspected
               but
               formidable
               to
               these
               that
               love
               the
               true
               Religion
               ,
               as
               we
               doubt
               not
               but
               your
               Excellency
               doth
               .
               And
               such
               cannot
               but
               with
               grief
               observe
               ,
               that
               under
               these
               men
               that
               are
               the
               Contrivers
               of
               our
               Common-wealth
               Religion
               ,
               hath
               suffered
               more
               detriment
               then
               it
               did
               in
               a
               leven
               years
               before
               .
               10.
               
               Lastly
               ,
               we
               cannot
               but
               observe
               how
               God
               from
               heaven
               hath
               apparently
               fought
               against
               this
               Idol
               of
               their
               brain
               .
               These
               men
               said
               in
               the
               pride
               of
               their
               hearts
               (
               in
               one
               of
               their
               Declarations
               as
               soon
               as
               they
               had
               cut
               off
               the
               Kings
               head
               )
               that
               they
               would
               speedily
               set
               up
               in
               the
               Nation
               a
               better
               Government
               then
               ever
               was
               under
               any
               ,
               even
               the
               best
               of
               Kings
               .
               (
               Surely
               they
               might
               have
               excepted
               
                 David
                 ,
              
               or
               
                 Josia
                 ,
              
               or
               
                 Hezekiah
              
               )
               But
               see
               how
               God
               hath
               befooled
               them
               from
               that
               day
               to
               this
               (
               which
               is
               now
               eleven
               years
               )
               they
               have
               not
               been
               able
               so
               much
               as
               to
               lay
               their
               foundation
               .
               Sometimes
               God
               divides
               their
               Tongues
               ,
               and
               puts
               all
               in
               a
               confusion
               and
               disorder
               ,
               as
               in
               the
               building
               of
               
                 Rabel
                 ;
              
               sometimes
               he
               scatters
               them
               ,
               so
               in
               1653.
               so
               again
               in
               1659.
               
               
                 This
                 is
                 the
                 Lords
                 doing
                 .
              
               Lord
               when
               thy
               hand
               is
               lifted
               up
               ,
               they
               will
               not
               see
               ,
               but
               they
               shall
               see
               ,
               if
               they
               be
               not
               more
               blind
               then
               
                 Balaam
                 ,
              
               he
               when
               the
               Angel
               of
               the
               Lord
               had
               stopt
               his
               way
               twice
               ,
               the
               third
               time
               desisted
               :
               Twice
               God
               hath
               stopt
               these
               men
               in
               their
               Eager
               pursuits
               of
               a
               Common-wealth
               ,
               Let
               them
               desist
               in
               time
               if
               they
               will
               not
               ,
               yet
               we
               dare
               not
               say
               a
               Confederacy
               to
               them
               ,
               least
               we
               should
               be
               found
               desertors
               of
               our
               Covenant
               ,
               self-condemned
               and
               fighters
               against
               God
               .
            
             
               And
               therefore
               we
               do
               humbly
               pray
               ,
               That
               your
               Excellencie
               (
               according
               to
               the
               opportunity
               and
               Authority
               wherewith
               God
               hath
               betrusted
               you
               )
               would
               interpose
               effectually
               with
               that
               part
               of
               the
               Parliament
               now
               sitting
               at
               
                 Westminster
                 ,
              
               that
               their
               secluded
               members
               may
               be
               re-admitted
               ,
               and
               vacant
               places
               may
               be
               filled
               up
               ,
               then
               shall
               we
               chearfully
               own
               them
               as
               the
               Parliament
               of
               
                 England
                 ,
              
               and
               humbly
               acquiesse
               in
               their
               declared
               judgements
               .
               And
               in
               so
               doing
               you
               shall
               make
               us
               happy
               ,
               your self
               Honourable
               to
               the
               memory
               of
               all
               after
               ages
               ;
               and
               oblige
               us
               ,
               and
               our
               Posterity
               after
               us
               to
               be
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Lordships
                 most
                 humble
                 Servants
                 ,
                 The
                 Commons
                 of
                 England
                 ,
              
               
                 January
                 22.
                 1659.
                 
              
            
          
        
      
    
    

