A
Copy
of
a
LETTER
;
Written
to
one
of
the
Members
of
Parliament
now
sitting
:
Wherein
is
contained
a
serious
reflection
,
upon
the
fallacies
and
disingeniousness
of
the
Army
,
in
their
seven
Unalterable
Fundamentals
,
lately
published
.
As
also
a
seasonable
Caution
to
all
Governours
,
for
their
better
securing
themselves
and
the
Nation
,
from
being
made
any
more
a
prey
to
the
lusts
and
will
of
the
Army
,
and
their
Adherents
.
SIR
,
HAving
lately
perused
those
few
Principles
,
agreed
on
(
as
it
was
said
)
by
the
Generall
Councill
of
Officers
,
and
published
for
the
people's
view
,
under
the
Title
of
,
Vnalterable
Fundamentals
;
I
thought
it
my
duty
,
as
a
Member
of
this
Common-wealth
,
to
give
in
my
sense
hereof
,
together
with
these
Cautions
following
.
Providence
having
so
ordered
it
,
(
I
hope
for
the
best
)
that
after
this
second
,
and
therefore
most
shamefull
defection
of
one
part
of
the
Army
,
you
are
now
in
a
hopefull
way
of
being
established
,
in
that
fulness
of
power
you
have
laid
claim
to
,
and
I
hope
will
improve
,
through
grace
,
to
the
establishment
of
the
Laws
of
God
and
the
Nation
,
and
the
vindication
of
the
people
from
Oppression
and
Tyranny
.
For
God
having
done
so
much
in
mercy
for
you
,
it
is
now
in
the
expectation
of
all
men
,
what
you
in
duty
will
do
for
him
and
his
people
.
Before
I
come
to
the
Fundamentalls
here
mentioned
,
I
shall
premise
this
Quaerie
touching
the
Authors
thereof
,
Whether
they
are
not
the
unfittest
men
to
be
makers
of
unalterable
Fundamentalls
,
that
have
been
the
greatest
Breakers
of
Fundamentalls
themselves
,
and
such
too
as
were
thought
as
Unalterable
,
as
both
by
the
consent
of
the
People
,
and
the
Wisdom
and
authority
of
Governours
,
could
be
effected
.
The
first
particular
agreed
on
,
for
an
unalterable
Fundamentall
,
is
,
That
there
shall
be
no
Kingship
exercised
in
these
Nations
.
But
because
I
know
not
how
to
answer
Tautoligies
,
I
shall
joyn
this
,
and
the
Proposition
following
together
,
viz.
That
they
will
not
have
any
single
Person
,
to
exercise
the
Office
of
chief
Magistrate
in
these
Nations
.
For
what
is
Kingship
,
but
a
single
Person
exercising
the
Office
of
chief
Magistrate
in
these
Nations
;
and
if
there
be
no
single
Person
,
there
can
be
no
King
.
To
these
two
then
I
answer
,
It
is
not
the
Formall
part
in
the
word
,
King
,
or
in
that
single
number
,
One
,
which
hath
been
so
long
engaged
against
;
but
the
Substantiall
part
,
in
that
latitude
of
Power
,
and
Arbitraines
of
Government
,
the
Spirit
and
life
of
Tyranny
;
which
,
be
it
in
one
,
or
in
two
,
or
in
twenty
,
is
the
same
burden
and
oppression
,
to
the
free
born
people
of
this
Common-wealth
.
Monarchy
being
rejected
and
laid
aside
,
rather
as
an
opportunity
and
fitness
for
Tyranny
to
seat
it self
in
,
than
as
Tyranny
it self
;
which
doubtless
may
be
found
in
any
form
,
which
is
farthest
distant
from
it
,
where
Persons
are
corrupt
,
and
Laws
be
defective
.
That
an
Army
may
be
continued
,
and
be
conducted
,
so
as
it
may
secure
the
Peace
of
these
Nations
;
and
not
be
disbanded
,
nor
the
Conduct
thereof
altered
,
but
by
consent
of
the
said
Conservators
appointed
.
I
answer
,
That
forasmuch
as
Authority
of
it self
is
but
a
name
,
and
meer
formall
thing
,
without
the
soul
and
spirit
of
Government
,
which
is
strength
to
compell
,
whatsoever
Authority
shall
command
.
Therefore
I
must
assert
these
two
Positions
,
as
unalterable
Maxims
.
1.
That
the
Parliament
,
which
is
owned
as
the
Supream
Authority
of
the
Nation
;
and
their
Army
,
which
,
in
truth
,
is
the
strength
and
sinues
of
this
Authority
,
must
be
so
much
one
,
as
that
the
Army
,
our
of
that
interest
and
influence
which
the
Parliament
hath
over
it
,
by
way
of
necessity
,
must
acknowledge
and
yield
up
thereunto
the
right
,
of
giving
definitive
sentence
,
and
power
of
juding
what
is
fit
and
reasonable
,
for
the
people
of
this
Nation
,
usurped
of
late
by
part
of
the
Army
,
and
their
Adherants
.
2.
This
must
be
done
so
really
,
without
any
more
contradiction
or
opposition
,
than
any
private
man
,
who
is
not
of
the
Army
,
shall
use
,
in
his
own
behalfe
,
who
is
onely
passive
herein
.
Otherwise
,
to
own
any
Supream
Power
above
the
Army
,
is
a
gross
contradiction
.
That
no
imposition
may
be
upon
the
consciences
of
them
,
that
fear
God
.
This
,
because
it
is
unalterable
,
it
hath
need
to
be
more
fully
and
plainly
expressed
;
that
is
to
say
,
That
no
imposition
shall
be
upon
the
consciences
of
those
,
whom
the
Supream
Authority
shall
adjudge
to
fear
God
,
and
not
what
the
Army
shall
determine
herein
.
That
their
be
no
House
of
Peers
.
Observe
what
care
is
taken
,
to
make
up
their
Fundamentalls
of
words
onely
,
that
they
may
keep
themselves
loose
in
the
things
themselves
.
It
is
not
another
House
they
resolve
against
,
but
a
House
of
Peers
:
'T
is
a
House
of
Lords
,
forsooth
,
and
not
a
House
shall
Lord
it
over
us
,
that
they
will
venture
for
ever
to
declare
against
.
As
long
as
they
will
not
have
a
House
of
Peers
,
although
they
have
the
same
,
and
far
greater
power
exercised
in
other
persons
,
and
names
,
't
is
sufficient
and
fair
enough
.
That
the
Legislative
and
Executive
Powers
shall
be
distinct
,
and
not
in
the
same
hands
.
That
any
may
see
of
what
mettle
their
Fundamentalls
are
made
of
.
This
Sixth
Proposition
hath
broken
the
neck
of
the
Fifth
already
;
for
there
,
they
declare
against
a
House
of
Peers
,
and
yet
here
,
they
say
,
they
will
have
another
Assembly
distinct
from
the
Parliament
;
to
whom
,
if
you
give
no
more
power
than
the
House
of
Peers
had
,
then
are
they
as
needless
as
you
[
*
](B08833-e10350-b)
*
March
19.
1648.
An
Act
for
abolishing
the
House
of
Peers
.
Voted
the
House
of
Peers
to
be
:
If
you
give
them
more
power
than
the
House
of
Peers
had
,
then
what
becomes
of
your
priviledges
of
Parliament
?
Then
let
me
tell
you
,
Your
Rump
(
as
they
call
it
)
is
not
worth
a
—
That
both
the
Assemblies
of
the
Parliament
shall
be
elected
by
the
people
of
this
Common-wealth
,
duly
qualified
.
The
Army
should
have
made
one
Fundamentall
more
,
that
is
to
say
,
That
the
Army
should
be
for
ever
deemed
,
the
onely
duly
qualified
people
of
this
Common-wealth
;
and
then
the
next
Fundamentall
comes
in
plainly
and
sincerely
,
without
any
fraud
or
jugling
,
viz.
That
both
the
Assemblies
of
the
Paliament
shall
be
elected
by
the
people
of
this
Common-wealth
,
duly
qualified
;
that
is
to
say
,
with
Red-coats
,
Muskets
,
Swords
,
and
Pikes
.
Otherwise
,
we
have
great
cause
to
fear
,
that
they
who
have
so
long
assumed
this
Title
,
as
peculiar
to
themselves
,
will
never
disclaim
it
at
the
election
of
Parliaments
.
Now
,
Sir
,
Fearing
that
Party
,
which
hath
so
shamefully
fallen
away
from
you
,
hath
yet
too
great
an
interest
in
many
persons
among
you
;
yea
,
seeing
daily
so
many
of
them
,
as
to
outward
appearance
,
admitted
into
grace
and
favour
with
the
Parliament
,
and
thorough
the
carelesnesse
of
some
,
into
places
of
chiefest
trust
in
this
Common-wealth
,
I
cannot
but
give
you
,
as
already
a
brief
account
of
their
unalterable
Fundamentalls
,
so
now
,
likewise
a
short
and
seasonable
Caution
for
your
future
dealing
with
them
.
It
is
no
lesse
wise
,
then
old
saying
,
First
try
,
and
then
trust
;
God
hath
given
you
a
fair
triall
,
both
of
your
Friends
and
Enemies
,
if
you
make
not
aright
advantage
,
Destruction
will
come
upon
you
without
pitty
.
Take
notice
,
there
are
many
now
,
will
come
in
unto
you
daily
,
compelled
by
necessity
,
not
affection
,
who
will
by
consequence
no
longer
remain
with
you
,
then
that
bond
of
necessity
lasteth
;
Be
well
advised
,
concerning
those
that
have
appeared
against
you
,
though
now
they
cry
you
up
never
so
loud
,
't
is
to
do
themselves
good
,
and
not
you
,
that
they
now
carry
a
face
of
friendship
towards
you
.
They
will
now
be
treating
with
you
a
pace
,
but
treat
with
no
more
then
you
must
needs
;
You
are
now
able
to
stand
upon
your
owne
leggs
,
it
will
engage
the
Nation
the
more
for
you
,
the
lesse
you
comply
with
the
Enemies
of
their
Peace
,
their
Religion
,
their
Laws
,
and
their
Liberty
:
besides
,
by
this
means
you
pay
the
Defected
party
all
their
Arrears
,
without
putting
the
Nation
to
any
further
charge
,
which
wil
be
accounted
as
a
just
punishment
upon
them
,
who
have
interrupted
you
;
and
in
you
a
fatherly
care
,
and
provident
respect
to
the
purses
of
the
People
,
(
so
much
already
exhausted
)
which
they
will
draw
the
freelier
,
(
as
being
the
better
able
)
to
pay
off
all
those
that
have
been
instruments
of
your
re-establishment
;
Remember
what
Principles
they
are
of
,
and
then
consider
,
what
faith
they
are
like
to
keep
with
you
.
As
first
,
they
do
affirm
,
That
Lawes
,
Acts
,
and
Statutes
,
are
binding
or
not
binding
,
as
they
appear
to
the
Army
,
to
relate
or
conduce
to
common
and
publick
right
or
wrong
,
pag.
3.
2.
They
absolve
the
Common-wealth
from
their
obligations
to
your
Laws
,
which
they
shall
adjudge
to
be
destructive
to
their
interest
and
advantage
,
ibid.
3.
That
as
all
Lawes
,
Statutes
,
Acts
,
and
Ordinances
;
so
all
Covennants
,
Engagements
,
Promises
,
and
Protestations
;
all
Acknowledgments
,
Subscriptions
,
Vows
,
and
Oaths
;
all
and
all
manner
of
Obligations
and
Expressions
thereof
,
are
onely
binding
unto
the
Publick
safety
,
not
at
all
to
the
persons
of
Governonrs
,
or
Governments
,
but
with
reference
thereunto
.
Of
which
Publick
safety
,
these
men
have
affirmed
,
That
it
belongs
to
themselves
,
whom
they
call
the
People
,
and
not
to
the
Parliament
,
who
are
their
Governours
,
to
judge
of
,
which
their
late
proceedings
do
sufficiently
testifie
.
pag.
4.
4.
That
the
Souldiery
may
lawfully
hold
the
hands
of
their
Generall
,
if
they
shall
say
,
he
turns
the
Canon
against
them
;
though
it
appear
to
their
Generall
,
and
all
the
world
besides
,
he
doth
not
so
,
pag.
6.
5.
That
it
is
no
resistance
of
Magistracy
,
for
an
Army
to
preserve
the
publick
,
naturall
,
and
undoubted
rights
of
the
People
,
against
their
lawfull
Magistrates
,
pag.
6.
6.
That
they
ought
not
to
deliver
the
Sword
out
of
their
hands
,
for
the
sacrificing
of
that
cause
,
which
God
,
by
his
Providence
,
hath
put
into
their
hands
,
for
its
protection
and
defence
,
pag.
23.
7.
That
the
making
of
an
inconditionate
Promise
and
Engagement
,
is
sin
;
and
that
the
keeping
of
it
is
sin
also
,
pag.
24.
8.
That
the
Parliament
are
not
proper
Judges
of
what
is
convenient
to
he
done
for
common
interest
,
in
the
case
of
the
Souldiery
,
but
that
common
in
erest
must
be
the
onely
judge
,
pag
26.
9.
That
though
in
other
cases
you
are
the
onely
Judges
,
as
in
that
of
Sir
George
Booth
;
yet
,
in
their
cases
,
you
are
not
to
be
Judges
,
as
in
that
of
the
nine
Officers
of
the
Army
,
pag.
27.
10.
That
by
a
Parliament
must
be
meant
the
Major
part
of
a
Parliament
,
and
not
the
Minor
,
pag.
28.
11.
That
they
may
as
well
be
Judges
to
turn
you
out
of
the
House
,
as
they
were
allowed
to
be
Judges
,
to
turn
the
Major
part
out
before
,
pag.
29.
12.
And
lastly
,
I
shall
cite
you
this
one
more
out
of
their
Declaration
,
Octob.
27.
1659.
viz.
That
the
People
,
by
electing
Members
to
represent
them
in
Parliament
,
had
cut
that
Knot
with
their
own
Sword
,
which
by
no
other
waies
was
capable
to
be
dissolved
or
broken
.
Out
of
this
brief
Collection
,
you
may
easily
inform
your selfe
,
what
obedience
they
are
like
to
give
,
what
faith
they
are
like
to
keep
,
and
what
safety
you
are
like
to
have
among
this
disobedient
,
and
faithlesse
crew
of
Mutiners
;
who
owning
no
other
Law
then
their
owne
Will
,
no
other
power
then
their
owne
Sword
,
will
never
become
subject
to
the
Lawes
of
the
Nation
,
or
the
sword
of
the
Magistrate
,
untill
the
body
of
them
shall
be
dissolved
into
their
first
Principalls
.
Nor
can
I
think
,
I
leave
you
safe
here
,
without
putting
you
in
mind
of
those
their
adherents
,
whom
they
call
the
Sectaries
;
These
indeed
are
the
men
,
have
effected
your
interruption
more
then
any
,
opposing
your
Principles
as
much
as
your
Power
.
Who
thorough
some
men's
Carelesnesse
,
and
their
own
Diligence
,
have
crept
unawares
into
the
most
considerable
places
,
both
of
Trust
,
and
Power
in
these
Nations
;
And
who
could
not
but
read
your
Destiny
,
that
beheld
this
over-sight
in
you
.
Grow
wise
,
then
by
Experience
,
and
Remember
to
put
those
into
places
of
Trust
and
Power
,
that
are
of
your
owne
principles
;
This
is
your
Duty
,
your
Honour
,
your
Safety
,
your
Interest
.
And
you
have
good
reason
to
believe
,
that
they
that
think
themselves
above
the
Ordinances
of
God
,
will
never
cordially
submit
to
the
Ordinances
of
Man
.
Religion
among
those
that
are
zealous
,
is
counted
their
chief
interest
,
for
this
they
will
not
stick
to
venture
their
Estates
,
their
Reputation
,
and
all
that
is
dear
unto
them
;
so
that
their
shall
be
neither
Oath
,
nor
Covenant
,
nor
Promises
,
but
this
like
the
Pope
,
shall
be
alwaies
ready
,
with
some
to
give
them
a
dispensation
who
't
is
feared
,
have
too
many
among
them
of
the
Jesuits
crew
,
who
will
easily
dispute
them
into
this
belief
,
that
they
do
God
good
service
,
(
when
occasion
shall
serve
)
to
keep
no
faith
with
you
,
whom
they
esteem
as
Heretiques
.
Men
of
different
principles
,
can
never
unite
at
the
heart
,
though
with
flattering
Lips
,
and
a
double
Tongue
,
they
may
speak
every
one
to
his
Neighbour
,
yet
they
will
discover
themselves
in
their
proper
seasons
.
Divide
not
the
victory
with
them
,
who
would
fain
get
a
hank
upon
the
Government
,
not
that
they
intend
to
be
with
you
any
longer
,
then
under
your
shadow
,
and
present
protection
;
they
may
provide
for
themselves
,
and
their
friends
safety
,
till
in
time
they
may
grow
up
,
to
over-top
you
again
,
(
as
ill
weeds
grow
apare
)
.
What
ever
leaves
they
may
now
put
forth
,
their
naturall
fruits
will
not
bear
proportion
to
.
And
now
I
hope
,
having
known
what
it
is
to
be
kept
out
of
the
house
your selves
,
and
having
made
such
bitter
complaints
against
them
that
were
your
Disturbers
;
Now
I
say
,
I
hope
you
will
pitty
your
brethren
of
the
Long
Parliament
,
and
not
do
to
them
,
as
you
would
not
have
others
do
unto
you
:
Though
they
are
not
Majores
natu
,
yet
they
are
Majores
numero
,
to
whom
the
birth
right
,
in
the
naturall
course
of
the
Law
,
undoubtedly
belongeth
.
The
very
essence
of
former
Parliaments
,
and
what
is
it
indeed
among
your selves
?
what
is
it
among
every
private
Committee
,
or
meeting
of
men
of
Authority
,
that
challengeth
to
it selfe
the
Authority
of
doing
,
without
any
contradiction
;
but
the
greater
number
:
till
you
acknowledge
your
backslidings
in
full
,
as
the
Army
did
theirs
but
in
part
,
and
call
in
the
Major
part
of
the
house
,
as
they
did
the
Minor
part
onely
,
till
your
Repentance
be
unfained
,
and
your
Reformation
perfect
,
you
will
never
be
established
in
the
peoples
Love
,
and
what
security
can
you
have
in
the
peoples
Fear
?
which
must
be
maintained
by
the
power
of
an
Armies
inconstancy
,
who
can
with
the
same
breath
,
both
blesse
,
and
curse
their
Masters
.
God
hath
set
you
once
more
in
your
places
,
it
may
be
,
to
see
if
you
will
set
others
in
theirs
also
.
Remember
your
Repentance
in
the
day
of
your
distresse
;
There
were
some
of
you
,
when
the
Army
had
turned
you
out
,
condemned
your selves
for
not
taking
the
rest
of
your
fellow
Members
in
.
As
the
Army
gave
you
that
Opportunity
,
to
see
your
faults
,
so
God
hath
now
given
you
his
opportunity
,
wherein
you
may
mend
them
.
Do
not
then
falsly
imagine
your selves
at
your
journies
end
,
nor
take
up
your
rest
in
your
imperfect
number
;
but
know
that
you
are
not
set
up
as
the
summary
end
,
and
perfection
of
Government
,
but
onely
as
a
fit
opportunity
,
and
probable
way
,
wherein
a
more
perfect
Government
may
be
obtained
and
established
;
which
,
as
it
is
your
duty
to
endeavour
to
effect
,
so
it
will
be
your
chiefest
glory
to
bring
to
Perfection
.
FINIS
.