A Happy Handful, Statement 11 – Statement 15
A DECLARATION Of the CITY and COUNTY of Glouceſter.
BEing deeply affected, and moſt ſadly ſenſible of the preſent Miſeries, which both our ſelves and the whole Nation lie under: We cannot be altogether ſilent in the expreſſions of our 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 Birthright 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 …he 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; 'tis 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. 'Tis 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 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.