4 - A remonstrance of many thousand citizens. 7 July 1646

Summary

A remonstrance of many thousand citizens and other freeborn people of England to their own House of Commons

We are well assured ye cannot forget that the cause of our choosing you to be parliament-men was to deliver us from all kind of bondage and to preserve the commonwealth in peace and happiness. For effecting whereof we possessed you with the same power that was in ourselves to have done the same; for we might justly have done it ourselves without you if we had thought it convenient, choosing you (as persons whom we thought fitly qualified, and faithful) for avoiding some inconveniences.

But ye are to remember this was only of us but a power of trust – which is ever revocable, and cannot be otherwise – and to be employed to no other end than our own well-being. Nor did we choose you to continue our trusts longer than the known, established constitution of this commonwealth will justly permit. And that could be but for one year at the most: for by our law, a parliament is to be called once everyyear, and oftener if need be – as ye well know. We are your principals, and you our agents; it is a truth which you cannot but acknowledge.