(62)
to their superiour officers, &c. and further, didst deliver unto the three Souldiers before named, the said Book, intituled an Out-Cry of the Young men and Apprentices of London; having these words following contained therein; Surely all sense and compunction of conscience is not totally departed from you, hear us therfore in the earning bowels of love and kindnesse we intreat and beseech you with patience, and doe not abuse us, for complaining and crying out, for the knife hath been very long at the very throats of our liberties and freedomes, and our burthens are too great and many for us, we are not able to bear them and contain our selves; our oppressions are even ready to make us dispair (or forthwith to flie to the prime lawes of nature, viz. the next violent remedy at hand, lite where it will, or upon whom it will) they are become as devouring fire in our bosomes ready to burn us up, rendring us desperate and carelesse of our lives, prising those that are already dead, above those that are yet alive, who are rid of that pain and torment that we doe and must indure, by sensiable seeing and beholding, not only the dying, but the daily buriall of our native liberties and freedomes, that we care not what become of us, seeing that we are put into that originall estate or Chaos of confusion, wherein lust is become a law; envy and malice are become laws, and the strongest sword rules and governs all by will and pleasure; all our ancient boundaries and landmarks, are pulled up by the roots, and all the ties and bonds of humane society in our English Horizon totally destroyed and extirpated; Alas for pitty we had rather die then live this life of a languishing death, in which our Masters possesse nothing (to buy themselves or us bread to keep us alive) that they can call their own, therefore its no boot for to serve out our times, & continue at our drudging and toyling trades, whilst these oppressions, cruelties, and inhumanities are upon us, and the rest of the People, exposing thereby the Nation, not only to domestique broyles, warres and bloud-sheds (wherein we are sure our bodies must be the principall buts) but to forraign invasions by France, Spain, Denmark, Swethland, &c. as was well observed by an endeared and faithfull friend of the forementioned late treacherously defeated party at Burford, in their Book of the twentieth of August 1649. Intituled the Levellers vindicated, or the case of the twelve Troopes truly stated;Page
