[A declaration of] the free-commoners of England, declaring and protecting against all tyranny and opression, in whomsoever: being resolved to owne their native-byrth-rights [sic], and thereing to center. 1647 Approx. 8 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-04 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). B02899 Wing D670A ESTC R234032 51784477 ocm 51784477 174892

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. B02899) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 174892) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2704:29) [A declaration of] the free-commoners of England, declaring and protecting against all tyranny and opression, in whomsoever: being resolved to owne their native-byrth-rights [sic], and thereing to center. 1 sheet ([1] p.) s.n., [London : 1647?] Place and date of publication from Wing (2nd ed.). Imperfect: cropped, tightly bound, with some loss of text. Reproduction of original in: Universität Göttingen Bibliothek.

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 eng Protest literature, English -- History -- 17th century -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. Broadsides -- England -- London -- 17th century 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2008-06 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-11 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2010-01 Sampled and proofread 2010-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2010-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
〈…〉 the free-Commoners of England, Declaring and Proteſting againſt all Tyranny and Opreſſion, in whomſoever: Being Reſolved to Owne their Native-byrth-Rights, and therein to Center.

WEE having ſeriouſly weighed and conſidered the ſad Eſtate and Condition of this Common-wealth, and finding by wofull experience, that Domination, Riches, and Honour, are the things which men in power have and doe ſtill thirſt after, and thereby cap •••• and enſlave the people at their wills, adding oppreſſion to oppreſſion, and doubling cruelties upon cruelties; Finding no Redreſſe of • ur miſeries which wee daily groane under, Wee cannot hold our Peace, to ſee the Land of our Nativity waſted, and the Free-borne ••• ple therein, become the worſt of ſlaves. Therefore We doe Declare, and hereby ſolemnly Agree and avow unto each other, and to People of this Nation, that we will improve all lawfull wayes and meancs, to the utmoſt of our power, for the Settlement and Conſtion of this Common wealth, upon the foundations of an equall and juſt Government, by way of an Agreement of the People: And in Order thereunto.

We doe Declare and proteſt againſt all Tyranny, Oppreſſion, and cruelty, exerciſed upon our fellow Brethren, the free People of this ••• ion, by any whomſoever; And that through generall termes none may miſtake us, Wee thus cleerly expreſſe our ſelves in particulars, • olloweth.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the long Seſſion of thoſe now in Parliament, who ſtile themſelves the Supreme Authority of this ••• ion, as repreſentours of the People thereof, but are not any otherwiſe then becauſe the people have no other: and are therefore faine 〈◊〉 • ee content with ſuch officers, Lawyers, and corrupt perſons, as the Commanders think fit to leave, together with a few honeſt men to ••• ntenance their miſchievous deſignes, and to bee over-voted at their pleaſures.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the preſent uſurpation and ſurprizal of the Name, Stamp, and Authority of Parliament, by the ſaid • ct • : And alſo againſt all their Votes, Orders, Ordinances, Declarations and Acts, or that hereafter they ſhall paſſe, as not binding to People.

And therefore we doe Promiſe and Reſolve faithfully to each other, and to the people. That we will with Life and Fortunes to the ut ••• t of our power and endeavors, after the ſpeedy obtainment of a free and equall Repreſentative, limited and bounded within the compaſs Common Rights, Freedoms, and Safety, both in point of time and power, and to that end wee ſhall endeavour after the ancient Rights Annual Parliaments, wherein wee will acquieſce.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the Counſell of State ſo called, being of an unlawfull and corrupt Conſtitution, having no foun •••• on from the conſent and power of the People, being meerely erected and obtained by the Sword. Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the Impriſonment of Lievetenant Col. John Lilborne, Mr. William Walwyn, Mr. Thomas Prince, and Richard Overton, by the ſaid pretended Councell, and doe require their ſafe and preſent Enlargement from their Reſtraint, with hono •••• e Reparations for the abuſes and injuries put upon them.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the intruſion of the Military power into the Seat of the Magiſtrate, as wholly beyound the bounds 〈◊〉 • eaſon; and altogether inconſiſtent with the Freedoms of England.

Wee doe Declare and Ptoteſt againſt the cruel Oppreſſion of Ty • hes, Exciſe, Monopolies, and Taxes of all ſorts whatſoever except ••• ſidies, the old and only juſt way of England, and particularly againſt this new Tax of 90. Thouſand ponds per menſem.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the Sale of the Kings Revenues, Biſhops, Deanes, and Chapters Lands, or any other Lands, Goods, Revenues, which of right belong to the pulique.

Wee doe declare and proteſt againſt the Incloſure of Fennes, Foreſts, Fields, Moores, Heaths, Woods, parks, Chaſes, and Commons 〈◊〉 • ll ſorts, which have beene taken from the poore of this Land. And Wee are reſolved to doe our utmoſt to reſtore them again for the good and benefit of the poore.

Wee doe declare and proteſt againſt the frequent giving away of great ſummes of money, and great Eſtates to private perſons, to ſome 〈◊〉 , 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. hundred pounds per ann. which doth of right belong to the publique, whileſt the poore of the Nation are ſuffered • tarve for want of Food.

Wee doe declare and proteſt againſt the Corrupt Intereſt of thoſe Vermine and Catterpillers of this Common-wealth, The Law ••••… , &c. And for ridding the Land thereof, and of all other Oppreſſions, wee reſolve to improve our utmoſt Intereſt to put a period 〈◊〉 • he Cruell, Chargeable, Dangerous, and Fraudulent proceedings at Law; And that our Lawes, and all proceedings therein bee in gliſh, ſhort and plaine; and that the Law-makers, bee not Law-exequtours, that where no Law is, there may bee no puniſhment. That Officers of the Common-Wealth bee Choſen in their Reſpective places and diviſions by the people thereof; and that none con •••… e above a yeare without rendring an account of their ſaid Truſt; That all Cauſes bee ended in the reſpective hundreds and Di •••• ons, and no Suit depend above a moneth or quarter of a yeare at the furtheſt: That puniſhment bee proportioned more equally to •••… ences, that ſo mens Lives and Eſtates may not bee forfeited upon ſleight and triviall occaſions: That no Judgement or Conviction of •• e, Liberty, or Eſtate bee, but only by 12. ſworn men of the Neighbourhood: That no man bee proceeded againſt by way of Interoga ••• es; or bee puniſhed for refuſing to Anſwer to Queſtions againſt themſelves in Criminall Cauſes: That no perſon bee abridged from •••… ding into any parts beyond the Seas, unto which any are allowed, or be Reſtrained at home: but all perſons be equally alike ſubjected 〈◊〉 • aw,: That no perſon be preſſed or Conſtrained to ſerve in Wars either by Sea or Land.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the Tyrannicall Uſurpation and Incroachment of Lords of Mannors, who keepe divers of the Free ••• ple of this Nation in continual ſlavery and bondage, by laying Fines and other Services upon them, when as they by right are as free as ••• mſelves.

We do Declare and Proteſt againſt all Compulſive and Reſtrictive power in any perſons and perſons in or about matters of Faith, Religi •• and Gods worſhip.

Wee doe Declare and Proteſt againſt the Breach of that Solemne Engagement of the Army made at Newmarket and Triploe Heaths, 25.1647.

Wee doe Declare and proteſt againſt all and every perſon or perſons which ſhall by any wayes or meanes whatſoever, aſſume to them •••• es Kingly power within this Nation, or ſeeke to ſet up any one or more as Supreme, or ſhall uſurpe any authority over the people of Nation according to their own Wills; For it is not perſons, but principles of Righteouſneſſe and Freedome which wee ſhall endeavor 〈◊〉 • dvance.

And wee doe hereby ſolemnly, as in the preſence of the All-ſeeing God, Agree and Vow unto each other, and to all the people of England, That wee will faithfully proſecute the Ends of this our Declaration and Proteſt; And with our Lives and Fortunes wee will be Aiding and Aſſiſting to each other; And to all and every perſon that ſhall joyn with, and aſſiſt us in this our Engagement: And that wee will not, by the might of God, directly or indirectly goe back, or fall from the faithfull and conſtant proſecution thereof, till the Common wealth upon the grounds of Common-Right, Freedom and Safety, bee Setled.

So help us God.