The generall complaint of the most oppressed, distressed commons of England. Complaining to, and crying out upon the tyranny of the perpetuall Parliament at Westminster. / Written by one that loves, serves, and honours the King, and also holds the dignity of a parliament in due honourable regard and reverence. Jo. Ta. Taylor, John, 1580-1653. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A95543 of text R200259 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E300_15). 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 Approx. 18 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A95543 Wing T462 Thomason E300_15 ESTC R200259 99861065 99861065 113193 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A95543) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 113193) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 49:E300[15]) The generall complaint of the most oppressed, distressed commons of England. Complaining to, and crying out upon the tyranny of the perpetuall Parliament at Westminster. / Written by one that loves, serves, and honours the King, and also holds the dignity of a parliament in due honourable regard and reverence. Jo. Ta. Taylor, John, 1580-1653. 8 p. By L. Lichfield, [Oxford : 1645] Jo. Ta. = John Taylor. Caption title. Imprint from Wing. Annotation on Thomason copy: "Oxon Sept: 10th 1645". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng England and Wales. -- Parliament -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800. A95543 R200259 (Thomason E300_15). civilwar no The generall complaint of the most oppressed, distressed commons of England.: Complaining to, and crying out upon the tyranny of the perpet Taylor, John 1645 3398 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 B The rate of 6 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-03 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-04 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2007-04 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE GENERALL COMPLAINT of the most oppressed , distressed COMMONS of ENGLAND . COMPLAINING TO , AND Crying out upon the Tyranny of the perpetuall Parliament at Westminster . Written by one that loves , serves , and Honours the KING , and also holds the Dignity of a Parliament , in due honourable Regard and Reverence . JO . TA. IT is needlesse to demand , from what Shire , County , City , Corporation , Town , Burrough , Village , Hundred , Hamlet , House , Family , Persons or person this Complaint comes , for it were a rare search , and would trouble the braines of all the cunning men , and wisest Mathemagicians , with all the judiciall Astrologers , and Fortune-telling Figure-flingers , to tell us truly where this complaint is not . It is so universall epidemically generall , that whosoever hath not a greivous sence or remorcefull feeling of it , hath a soule stupified , and a conscience benum'd mortally with a dead Palsie . We the most miserable amongst men , do make humble suite to you , who ( next to our sinnes and selves ) are the cause and causers of our miseries , you do best know the nature and condition of our greifes , you had the power , will and skill to wound us , and you have the art and knowledge to make us whole ; you have the secret vertue which is faigned to have been in Achilles his Launce , to hurt and cure . We are sure that the King most graciously eas'd and removed all our greivances , ( or as many as we complaind on ) there was not a monopoly , a tax , toll or tribute left , that was greivous or justly offensive , but they were all either made voyd , or mitigated , neither did his Majesty deny you any thing that you did demand , nor you ever grant him any thing that he requested ; and to our griefes we speak it , it had bin better he had been more sparing of his Royall grants , except you had more . Loyally and gratefully dealt with him , and acknowledg'd them . We need not tell you , that the Protestant Religion is almost cast out of the Kingdom by you . It is impertinent to give you notice how you have us'd the King , so that the meanest of your selves would be loath to be so dealt withall ; How we have been beggard and ruin'd by you , we know ▪ how you have inrich'd your selves by undoing us , you know , and when you will endeavour to seek peace , and cease those mischiefes which we suffer , God knowes . Selfe do , selfe have , is an old English proverb . It is only our own doings that hath undon us , it was our tongues that extold you , it was our voyces that was your advancement , it was our noyses that Elected you to that power , which you have turn'd into intollerable Tyranny , it was we that did rend our throates for a Kimbolton , a Hampden , a Pym , a Martin , a Haslerigge , a Hollis , and a great many more then a good many . It was we that made you Knights and Burgesses for the Shires , Counties , Cities , Townes , Burroughs , Corporations ; and for us , it was our follies to do all this for you , for which it is too too manifest what you have done for us . Thus by our meanes you were rais'd , and by our ruines you are inrich't . The premisses considered , we humbly beseech you to take these few following lines into your serious considerations , and at your pleasure or leisure , confute them if you can . It is a maine point of Romish doctrine , that the Pope cannot erre in matters of Faith , ( which error of theirs is far from our opinions ) but this we are too sure of , that you have all erred in matters of trust . We the Freeholders and Commons of England do lamentably know and feell it ; folly and foolishnesse , are the only opposites to wisdome , and Knowledge hath no enemy but Ignorance , this being confest , we pray you to remember , that our rash folly elected you to be the representative body of the Kingdome , which we did acknowledge you to be ; and we most humbly desire you to consider , that we are the body of the Kingdome represented ; now as a thing representative is but a derivative from that which is the represented , so is your power derived from us , and from us who are but men full of infirmities and errors ; though our voyces had power to give you power , to be a house of Commons in Parliament ; yet from those voyces and folly of ours , we had not power to infuse infallible and inerrable wisedom into you . Wee ( as men ) confident of your integrity , did chuse you as our Proctors and Atturnies , the Kings Majesty , with his best Councell , and we ( the poore Commons ) entrusted you with all we had , but we had no mistrust that you would deceive us of all we had , we trusted you to maintaine our Peace , and not to imbroile us in an universall endlesse bloudy War . We trusted you with our Estates , and you have Rob'd , Plunder'd , and undon us ; we trusted you with our freedomes , and you have loaden us with slavery and bondage , we trusted you with our lives , and by you we are slaughter'd and murther'd every day . We trusted you not with our soules , and yet you with a new Legerdemain doctrine , a jugling kind of Preaching , a pestiferous swarme of Preachers , a Mechanick kennell of illiterate knaves , with the threats and Tyranny that you have used to us , and the execrable Covenants which you have forc'd us to take , we might with as much safety , and lesse hazard , have trusted our soules with Judas , Julian th' Apostate , or the Divell himselfe , as with you , or your Doctrines . Many thousands of Soules , ( loaden with their sinnes ) are Impenitently parted from the Bodies of His Majesties Subjects ( by your seducements and inforcements ) and ( alas ) few of them knew the Cause wherefore they fought , or wherefore they so cruelly kill'd one another . You will say , that you fought for the Protestant Religion , ( that 's a lye ) it is known , that it was never offer'd to be taken from you , and that His Majesty will live and dye in it , and the defence and maintaining of it ; doe you fight against the King , as fearing He would take from us our Lawes and Liberties , in those points we plainly perceive , that He never intended any such wickednesse ? But if He had had any such unkingly and Tyrannicall intention , you have prevented Him , and done it your selves . Doe you fight against Him , and Murther His loving Subjects , for feare that He should bring in Forreigne-Nations to destroy us , ( which thought never entred into His Royall Heart ) but you have done the same , both against His Majesty and us , you have at exceeding Rates and prices ( with our Monies ) bought Rebellious Scots , who have sold themselves to you , and to work wickednesse , no purpose to ruine the King , the Kingdome , you and us , and as the Divell could not overthrow man without the help of the woman , so you could never destroy this Church and State without your Golden temptation of those accursed hirelings , which if you were to fell them againe , at halfe a quarter of the price they cost , it must be at a very deere Market . It is an old saying , that the King of Spaine is a King of Men , because the Spaniards ( as men and Loyall Subjects to him ) doe honour , obey , and serve him . That the French King is a King of Asles , because of the insupportable heavy burthens , Taxes , and slavery which they undergoe and tamely beare . But ( 't is said ) the King of England is a King of Devills , because of their disobedient murmurings , and often Rebellion . For the nature of an English man is , not to know when things are well , which if we would have knowne , things had not now been so bad as they are . Doe you fight against the King to remove some Evill Councellors from him ? we know that you have long fidled upon that string , yet you could never name one of those Counsellors , nor relate any particulars against them , that might so much , as put a scratch , scarre , or spot upon their Integrity , either to His Majesty or the publique good ; all that can be said , either against the King , Queene , Nobility , or any Loyall Royalist , is vented through your learned Conduite Pipe , Mercurius Britanicus , who ( by your especiall favour and Command ) Railes and Reviles , Sheetly , weekly , most wickedly weakly , Cum Privilegio . Thus we perceive , that you pretend to fight for the Protestant Religion , and all the World may see and say , you have made a delicate dainty Directory , new Religion of it . And you have fought for the King , ( and that is most certaine ) you have fought and sought for the King , but it hath been to Catch him , and make him no King . You have fought for our Liberties , and have taken them from us , you have fought for the Gospell , and have spoyl'd the Church , you have fought for our Goods , and yee have em , and you have fought to destroy the Kingdome , and you have done it . What can you doe , or what would you doe more ? and still you persist in these impious Courses , and there is no hope of any end of our sufferings . The many Gulleries , that you have put upon us , would fill a large Volume , if they should be written or Printed ; and because you shall not think us to be fencelesse , or such Block-heads as you would make us , you shall know that we know somewhat . And to lay aside all old Dogge-tricks , how this Rebellion hath been a Brewing more then 60 yeares , we will let you know , that we know many of your State sleights and Policies within these three yeares , &c. You have extorted great Summes of Mony from us , under the pretence of Relieving of Ireland , and with the same Monies , you have maintain'd a bloudy Warre in England , so that whatsoever was Raked from us , for the preservation of one Kingdome , you have imployed for the destruction of three ; for England is cheated , Ireland , defeated , and Scotland is heated in her owne dissentious flames . You have pretended Treaties for Peace , when ( God knowes ) Peace was never in your Thoughts , ( as by your impudent Propositions and demands may appeare ) for if the Turke had made a Conquest here , he could not have devised , or would not have enjoyn'd and tyed the King , and his true Liedge People to harder Conditions , and then ( to salve your Reputations ) you have caused your lying Lecturers , and slanderous Pamphlets to revile the King , and lay all the fault on him for the breaking off of the Treaties , when as you had Consulted , and knew before , that your unreasonable demands , neither would or could be granted . You have abused and mock'd God , with false and forged Thankesgivings , for such Victories as never were , and with your Sophisticated Triumphs of Guns , B●lls , Bonefires , Ballads , Libells , and other Imposture-like expressions , whereby we have been seduc'd and encouraged to give more and more Contributions , and buy our owne utter undoeings , for ( like corrupted and covetous Lawyers ) you would not take so much paines , or doe us the curtesie to begger us Gratis , to ruine us for nothing ; And you would not by any entreaty make us miserable at a cheap rate , or except we gave you our , Monies , almost to the uttermost farthing . Many of your Faction ( like decoy Ducks ) brought in their Plate and Monies at the beginning of this Rebellion , in large proportions to the Gull-Hall of London , whereby thousands of people were gull'd , by deed of guift , ( or deeds of shift ) and new found Loanes , and Contributions , to maintaine your greatnesse , and feed your bottomlesse Avarice , whilest we , and the rest of your new shorne sheep , had no other assurance , but the Ayery pawne of a Confounding Faith , call'd Publique ; and those cheating Decoyes , who first gave , and lent to draw poore Fooles on , Those Knaves had their Plate and Monies privately delivered to them againe , whilest ours was accursedly imployed against the true Religion , a just King , and all His Loyall Protestant Subjects . You have ( to make your Victories seem great ) caused many of your owne Tattard Ensignes , Cornets , or Colours of Foot and Horse , with many Armes , to be privately sent out of the City in an Evening at one Port , and brought in at another Port in the morning in Triumph , making the People beleeve , that those Colours and Armes , were taken from the King at such and such a Battell ; and this trick hath hook'd us into more chargeable and Rebellious Contributions . You have caused thousand of Armes to be bought and brought from Forreigne Nations , and those Armes , you have proclaim'd to be taken at Sea , and that either the King had bought them to make Warre against the Parliament , or that they were sent Him for that purpose , from some Catholique Prince ; and this slight of Hand , hath often jugled away our Monies . You have many times , made Women believe that their slaine Husbands who went forth with you alive , were alive still , in such or such Garrisons of yours , when you knew the same men were killed , and left dead in ditches for Crowes meat , but that His Majesty gratiously caused the dead to be buried , and the maimed and wounded , to be relieved and cured . You have contrived Letters in Private Chambers , and you have subscribed them from Forraigne Kings and States , or from the Queene to the King , or to some other Persons of Worth and Eminency neer His Majesty , which Letters have been as full of forged dangerous consequences , as your wicked braines could thrust or foist into them ; And by some miraculous way , the said Letters have been either intercepted on the Land ( by some vigilant great Commander of yours ) or they have been said to be taken at Sea by your valiant Admirall ; then are those Letters openly Read , and copied out a thousand waies , Printed ten Thousand waies , disperst a Hundred Thousand waies , and believed by Millions of People , by the prateing of your Preachers and Pamphlets , which tricks have cost us some Millions of money , with many thousand of our lives . You have many times taken ( or intercepted ) Letters which have been sent from some of His Majesties Armies , Garrisons , or some other true and Loyall places or Persons , or from the King or Queene , one to another ; and those Letters have been publiquely Read and Printed , but you have new moulded them , you have made your own Constructions and Interpretations on them , and in a word , you have not only the procreating Art , to beget and engender such newes , as you please to have ; but also you are fruitfull in conceiving , and producing such Letters as hath or may be most for your advantage ; as Lately you have used in His Majesties Cabinet , which you took at Naseby , and brake open at Westminster , and made the Letters therein , to speake what you would have them ; But ( maugre all your malice ) the said Letters are as so many Christall Mirrours , wherein His Kingly care , His Christian Piety , His immoveable Constancy , in the service of God , in the Protestant Religion , in the Peace of His Kingdoms , and in the well-fare of His Subjects , all these His Letters doe shew ( in despight of your wrested comparisons , and mingle , mangle jugling alterations ) His Transcendent goodnesse , and most gratious inclination , and Royall Resolution , and withall , your mischievous intentions are plainly manifested , in that you still persist in your wicked courses against so gratious a Soveraigne . But there are more judicious , learned , and grave writers then any of us ( your oppressed Complainants ) whose Pens have better described your playing fast and loose in this kind , to whose better Informations we leave you . We doe most heartily wish , that you were all as weary of being Tyrants , as we are in bearing the insupportable burthens of your Tyranny ; we doe humbly beseech you to be pleased to give over beggering and killing of us , we pray you to suffer us to live and enjoy the Protestant Religion , we desire you to let us feed and subsist upon that little which you have left us ( against your wills ; ) and lastly , we entreat you not to enforce us into a desperate Condition , and make us doe we know not what . His Majesty , as a true Defender of the true Faith , doth with Truth defend that Faith , and He hath most graciously often offered you Peace and Truth , both which you pretend , but you intend neither . Lay down your Armes , that 's the nearest way to a Peace , and leave Lying , and you shall have Truth . If you will not , we would have you know , that we must take a course , that neither our Purses or Persons , shall not long maintaine you and your Rebellious Garrisons , ( who are no other but dens of Theeves ) and as our Tongues did lift you up , and made you able to abuse the King , the Religion , Church , and Kingdome , so our Hands must help to pull , or knock you downe , to recover part of that of which you have bereft us , and to keep about us to Relieve us , that little which yet we have left us . FINIS .