we intreat you to give the Parliament a full representation of these things which that you may do we have sent you the Papers together with such informations as may give them an oportunity to discover the bottom of this business we were marching from London when wee received this information in obedience to the Parliament and to give the City more content and to stop the mouths of slanderers But if such Designs so destructive to the Parliament the work in hand be suffered to goe on or that the Parliament be interrupted in the freedom of their debates and proceedings as we hear within these few daies they were by those that are invited to partake in this confederacy We beg it of the Parliament as they tender their own safety the peace of the Kingdom and preventing of a second Warre as they would not have the Kingdome lose the fruit and benefit of all the bloud and treasure that hath been spent in this cause that they would not suffer their freedome and liberty to be endangered by such designs as these they having an Army which by the blessing of God in spight of all that theirs and the Kingdomes enemies can do will stand and fall with them and be found faithfull and obedient to them in all things and as ready to relieve Ireland when the Peace and rights of this Kingdome are setled We write not this to desire the Parliament to invite us to march up to them wee care not how great a a distance we are from London if it be the Parliaments pleasure and consists with their security and the breaking of those combinations which are hatcht in the bowels of the City wee are hastening our Proposalls which are for the generall settlement and which we are confident will satisfie all that love truth and peace but wee see plainly wee need more to intend security then have cause to expect to bring things to an happy issue by Treaty while such designs are on foote Wee pray you therefore that the Parliament would speedily and throughly enquire into and break these designes wherein as in all things else we shall be ready to serve them as they shall judge it needfull and when they shall command us By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Councell of Warre Signed John Rushworth Secr. Alisbury July 23. 1647. BY a printed paper come to our hands this day a Copie whereof you receive herewith we still find and clearly and evidently perceive that some evill spirits within the City of London maliciously dis-affected to the peace of this Kingdom doe secretly and wickedly endeavour to bring about that mischief upon the Kingdom which we have so much feared and by all our severall addresses unto you sought to prevent which indeed are of that dangerous consequence as we can expect no other issue from then the unavoydable engaging the Kingdom in a second Warre if not timely and effectually prevented by your wisedome and diligence Wee must further observe unto you that whatsoever designes intended in the fore-said paper is contrary to the authority of Parliament and indirect opposition to the proceedings of the army which the two Houses have owned as theirs and approved of their fidelity by committing the forces of the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Islands of Garnsey and Jersey under the Generalls care and command and therefore cannot be effected but by force of armes against the Parliament and their Armies which in probability may involve the whole Kingdome in bloud but must necessarily begin within your own bowels and draw the Seate and misery of war upon you and your City Also we desire you would consider whether wee have not just cause to suspect that an evill party lurkes within the City ready to distemper it and the whole Kingdom upon every occasion and whether it be probable such persons desire a happy close between the King and the Parliament at least such as will be for the Kingdoms good when they take upon them the boldnesse to make new offers to his Majesty with solemne engagements to make good the same during the time that this Parl. had given us leave to make tender of and treate with their Commissioners about those things which tend to a general settlement And therfore we cannot but desire that you would take a speedy course timely to suppresse this great evill and to prevent all of this nature for the future and by making some of those examples who have been active to carry on this businesse wee have not had time to enquire into particulars but shall give you only one instance of a meeting at Skinners Hall concerning this businesse where some persons have been very active the names of some of whom we have given to your Commissioners and also the names of other Citizens who will testifie their carriage there Lastly we cannot but desire you to concur with us in our desires to the Parliament to put the Militia into the hands of those that had it before without which wee can have no assurance that the City will be free from designs of this nature nor can we expect to see a happy Close By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Councell of Warre Signed John Rushworth Alisbury July 23. 1647. To the Right Honourable the Lord Major the right Worshipfull the Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in the Common or Guild-hall of the City of London assembled The humble Petition of the Citizens Commanders Officers and Souldiers of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaties the young men and Apprentices of the Cities of London and Westminster Sea-Commanders Sea-men and Watermen together with with divers other Commanders Officers and Souldiers within the Line of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekely Bill of Mortality SHEWETH THat your Petitioners taking into serious consideration how Religion his Majesties Honour safety the priviledges of Parliament liberties of the Subjects are at present greatly endangered and like to be destroyed and also sadly weighing with our selves what meanes might likely prove the most effectuall to procure a firme and lasting Peace without a further effusion of Christian English bloud have therefore entred into a solemne engagement which is hereunto annexed and do humbly and earnestly desire that this whole City may joyne together by all lawfull and possible meanes as one man in hearty endeavours for his Majesties present comming up to his two Houses of Parliament with Honour safety and freedome and that without the neerer approach of the Army there to confirme such things as he hath granted in his Message of the twelfth of May last in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdomes and that by a Personall Treaty with His two Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland such things as yet are in difference may be speedily setled and a firme and lasting Peace established All which we desire may be presented to both
the first Bienniall Parliament IV. That an Act be passed for disposing the great Offices for ten years by the Lords and Commons in Parliament or by such Committees as they shall appoint for that purpose in the intervalls with submission to the approbation of the next Parliament and after ten yeares they to nominate three and the King out of that number to appoint one for the succession upon any vacancy V. That an Act be passed for restraining of any Peers made since the 21. day of May 1642. or to be hereafter made from having any power to sit or Vote in Parliament without consent of both Houses VI. That an act be passed for recalling and making voyd all Declarations and other proceedings against the Parliament or against any that have acted by or under their authority in the late Warre or in relation to it And that the Ordinances for indempnity may be conffirmed VII That an Act be be passed for making voyd all Grants c. under the Great-Seale that was conveyed away from the Parliament since the time it was so conveyed away except as in the Parliaments Propositions and for making those valid that have been or shall be passed under the Great-Seale made by the authority of both Houses of Parliament VIII That an Act be passed for confirmation of the Treaties betweene the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and for appointing Conservators of the peace betwixt them IX That the Ordinance for taking away the Court of Wards and Liveries be confirmed by Act of Parliament Provided his Majesties Revenue be not damnified therein nor those that last held Offices in the same left without reparation some other way X. An Act to declare void the Cessation of Ireland c. and to leave the prosecution of that Warre to the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England XI An Act to be passed to take away all coercive power authority and jurisdiction of Bishops and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers whatsoever extending to any civill penalties upon any and to repeale all Laws whereby the Civill Magistracy hath been or is bound upon any Ecclesiasticall censure to proceed ex officio unto any civill penalties against any persons so censured XII That there be a Repeale of all Acts or Clauses in any Act enjoyning the use of the Booke of Common-Prayer and imposing any penalties for neglect thereof as also of all Acts or Clauses in any Act imposing any penaltie for not comming to Church or for meetings elsewhere for Prayer or other religious duties excercises or Ordinances And some other provision to be made for discovering of Papists and Popish Recusants and for disabling of them and of all Jesultes or Priests from disturbing the State XIII That the taking of the Covenant be not inforced upon any nor any penalties imposed upon the Refusers whereby men might be constrained to take it against their judgements or consciences but all Orders or Ordinances tending to that purpose to be repealed XIV That the things here before proposed being provided for setling and securing the Rights Liberties Peace and safety of the Kingdome his Majesties person his Queen and Royall issue may be restored to a condition of safety Honour and freedome in this Nation without diminution to their personall Rights or further limitation to the exercise of the Regall power then according to the particulars aforegoing XV. For the matter of Compositions 1. That a lesser number out of the persons excepted in the two first qualifications not exceeding five for the English being nominated particularly by the Parliament who together with the persons in the Irish Rebellion included in the third qualification may be reserved to the further judgement of the Parliament as they shall finde cause All other excepted persons may be remitted from the exception and admitted to Composition 2. That the rates for all future Compositions may be lessened and limitted not to exceed the severall proportions hereafter exprest respectively That is to say 1. For all persons formerly excepted not above a third part 2. For the late Members of Parliament under the first branch of the fourth qualification in the Propositions a fourth part 3. For other Members of Parliament in the second and third branches of the same qualification a sixth part 4. For the persons nominated in the said fourth qualification and those included in the tenth qualification and eight part 5. For all others included in the sixth qualification a tenth part And that reall debts either upon record or proved by witnesses be considered and abated in the valuation of their estates in all the cases aforesaid 3. That those who shall hereafter come to compound may not have the Covenant put upon them as a condition without which they may not compound but in case they shall not willingly take it they may passe their Compositions without it 4. That the persons and estates of all English not worth two hundered pounds in Lands or Goods be at liberty and discharged And that the Kings meniall Servants that nere tooke up Armes but onely attended his person according to their Offices may be freed from Composition or to pay at most but the proportion of one yeares Revenue or a twentieth part 5. That in Order to the making and perfecting of Compositions at the rates aforesaid the Rents Revenues and other Duties and Profits of all sequestred Estates whatsoever except the Estates of such persons who shall bee continued under exception as before be from hence forth suspended and detained in the hands of the respective tenant occupants and others from whom they are due for the space of six moneths following 6. That the Faith of the Army or other foroes of the Parliament given in Articles upon surrenders to any of the Kings party may be fully made good and where any breach thereof shall appeare to have been made full reparation and satisfaction may be given to the parties injured and the persons offending being found out may be comeplled thereto XVI That there may be a generall Act of Oblivion to extend unto all except the persons to be continued in exception as before to absolve from all Trespasses Misdemeanours c. done in prosecution of the Warre and from all trouble or prejudice for or concerning the same after their compositions past and to restore them to all priviledges c. belonging to other Subjects provided as in the fourth particular under the second generall Head affore-going concerning security And whereas their have been of late strong indeavours and practises of a factious and desperate party to imbroyle this Kingdome in a new War and for that purpose to enduce the King the Queene and Prince to declare for the said party and also to excite and stirre up all those of the Kings late party to appeare and engage for the same which attempts and designes many of the Kings party out of their desires to avoid further misery to the Kingdome have contributed their indeavours to prevent as
sword We therefore the said Generall Councell to testifie how far our hearts and minds are from any design of setting up the power of the sword above or against the fundamentall authority and government of the Kingdome And our readinesse to maintaine and uphold the said authority Have by a free Vote in the said Councell no man contradicting judged the said Member To be expelled the said Councell Which we hereby thought fit to publish as a cleare manifestation of our dislike and disavowing such principles or purposes Putney Septemb. 9. 1647. By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Generall Councell of his Army Signed John Rushworth Secretary His Majesties Message in Answer to the Propositions presented to him at Hampton-court Sept. 7. 1647. by the Earls of Pembrook and Lauderdale Sir Charls Erskin siâ— John Holland sir John Cooke sir James Harrington Mr. Richard Brown Mr. Hugh Kenedy and Mr. Robert Barkley In the names of the Parliament of England and in behalfe of the Kingdome of Scotland Charles Rex HIs Majesty cannot choose but be passionately sensible as hee believes all his good Subjects are of the late great distractions and still languishing and unsetâ—ed State of this Kingdom and he calls God to witnesse and is willing to give testimony to all the world of his readinesse to contribute His utmost endeavours for restoring it to a happy and flourishing condition His Majesty having perused the Propositions now brought to Him finds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle To some of which as Hee could not then consent without violation of His conscience and honour so neither can he agree to others now conceiving them in many respects more disagreeable to the present condition of affaires then when they were formerly presented to Him as being destructive to the main and principall interests of the Army and of all those whose affections concur with them And His Majesty having seen the Proposals of the Army to the Commissioners from His two houses residing with them with them to be treated on in order to the clearing and securing the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and the setling a just and lasting peace To which Proposalls as he conceives His two Houses not to be strangers so he believes they will think with him that they much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests and may be a fitter foundation for a lasting peace then the Propositions which at this time are tendred unto Him Hee therefore propounds as the best way in his judgment in order to peace that His two Houses would instantly take into consideration those Proposalls upon which there may be a personall Treaty with His Majesty and upon such other Propositions as His Majesty shall make hoping that the said Proposalls may be so moderated in the said Treaty as to render them the more capable of his Majesties full concessions wherein He resolves to give full satisfaction unto his people for whatsoever shal concern the setling of the Protestant profession with liberty to tender consciences the securing of the Laws Liberties and properties of all His Subjects and the just priviledges of Parliament for the future And likewise by His present deportment in this Treaty He will make the world clearly judg of His intentions in matter of future government In which Treaty His Majesty wil be well pleased if it bee thought fit that Commissioners from the Army whose Proposals are may likewise be admitted His Majestie therefore conjures his two houses of Parliament by the duty they owe to God and His Majesty their King and by the bowels of compassion they have to their fellow-Subjects both for reliefe of their present sufferings and to prevent future miseries that they will forthwith accept of His Majesties offer whereby the joyfull news of peace may be restored to this distressed Kingdome And for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions His Majesty will very willingly treat upon those particulars with the Scotch Commissioners and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfafaction to that His Kingdome Given at Hampton-Court Sept. 9. 1647. For the Speaker of the Lords House pro tempore to be communicated to both Houses of the Parliament of England and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland Master Speaker THe sad condition and sufferings of divers well-affected to your affaires in the Kingdom is very grievous particularly the cases of James Simbal Francis Wade Robert White and Roger Crab as they are presented unto me which hath induced me to present the inclosed paper to your consideration wherein you may see the manner nature and pretences of their sufferings as presented and withall the exorbitancies of some in places of Judicature towards such who in the worst of times exprest much affection and reality to your proceedings And I humbly desire you to move the House to take their condition into consideration if they be committed meerly for speaking words against the King in time of War which thing I in no sort approve of yet it would doe well if the men might have some enlargement so as they may not perish by a languishing imprisonment such cruell usage as some of them suffer especially considering the offences for which they suffer were but in expresse of zeale for your Cause and that upon apparent provocation from such as I am informed as were your professed enemies With all due submission to you I desire their speedy enlargement and freedome of their Estate Your humble Servant Tho Fairfax Putney Sept. 12. 1647. For the Honourable Will Lenthall Esq Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons The particular cases of severall prisoners returned in the Kalender to the County Gaol at the White Lyon in Southwark the last Assizes held at Darking for the County of Surrey Represented by his Excellency to the Parliament IAmes Simball Deputy Keeper of Winchester house lying sicke hearing a Cavallier there a prisoner then say That the Parliament were Rebells and Traytors and that if the King came to London with his Army hee would make the Parliament a poore Parliament and Exemplary for their Rebellion by chopping off their heads at the doore The said Cavallier neer two years after boasting of a designe intended against the Parliament and being questioned for the same by the said Simball out of malice did accuse him for speaking against the King in these words viz. That he the said Simball hoped to see the Kings head upon the Tower blocke When indeed the said words were spoken in Answer to those above mentioned upon these conditions That if the King had any such intention then he the said Simball hoped as afore-said and thus much the said Cavalier himselfe did confesse but afterwards denyed Now the said Simball being indicted without any cognizance taken of these circumstances stands convicted by the only testamony of the said Cavallier ever since the Assizes held in March last and adjudged
Treaty however and then declare how unreasonable the Propositions were and that yet for the peace of the Kingdome his Majesty would Treate upon them but withall wished the said Treaty might be in London whether the King himselfe should come upon security He the said M. Holles adding that there was nothing in the world that the violent party meaning the well-affected party to the Parliament against the Enemy did so much feare as his Majesties comming to London which would be a certaine dissolution of their authority and power And the said Mr. Holles bad those said persons or one of them assure the King that if his Majesty knew as much as hee the said Mr. Holles knew his Majesty would take his Horse and be at London the next day or words to that effect And it being againe demanded whether if the King should be willing to come it would be accepted of He the said Mr. Holles thereto answered that certainely it would bee much opposed but yet hee the said Mr. Holles was confident that he and his party meaning some of the members above named and others should carry it and wished the King to put it upon that triall And the said Mr. Holles was desired by the said Earle of Lindsey Earle of Southampton and Lord Savill or one of them that he would be pleased to draw such an Answer in writing to the said Propositions as he desired the King should send and the said Earle of Southampton who was that night to lye in the Kings Bedchamber would perswade the the King to condiscend unto it and thereupon the said Mr. Hollas withdrew and either the same day or the next day following the said Mr. Holles accordingly carried in his hand unto the said Lords or one of them a paper ready written which as he said was such an Answer to the said Propositions as he had drawne for the King to send to the Parliament which was taken by the said Lords or one of them and carried to the King to be considered of and so much thereof as advised the Kings comming to London was laid by the King fearing to adventure himselfe but the rest of the said Paper the Lord Digby who writ the Kings Answer to the said Propositions made use of in the same words as the said Mr. Holles had set downe And the said Mr. Holles to ingratiate himselfe with the Kings party did about the same time revile the well-affected Members of the House of Commons declaring unto the said Kings party at Oxford or some of them that those well-affected Members which to render them the more odious as he conceived he named the violent Independant party had ill intentions and greater aversenes to Peace and that nothing would bee more pleasing to them then for the King to refuse the Propositions how unreasonable soever the same were and hee also then said that the Commissioners of Scotland were very weary of that violent party and that they being desperate to establish their Presbytery here as in Scotland made their addresses to him the said Mr. Holles and his party All which tended to the protracting of the said late Warr to the hindrance of an happy Peace and the said Mr. Holles did also after that receive from the Earle of Lindsey a letter written in white inke concerning some secret designe and kept it from the knowledge of the House from February till about July after when it was discovered by him that brought it but the Letter it selfe was by Mistris Holles said after hee had read it burnt And the said Earle of Linsey moved the King for a passe for the said Master Holles to goe to Oxford but the King refused to grant it saying that Holles did him better service in the Parliament then he could doe him at Oxford 2. That the said Mr Holles and Sir Philip Stapleton during the said late Warre when the said Earle of Lindsey went from the Tower of London to Oxford sent severall Messages of intelligence to the Earle of Dorset and Lord Digby thereby assuring them that they the said Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton did better service for the King here in Parliament then they could doe him if they were at Oxford And the said Sir Philip Stapleton desired that the said Earle of Dorset would preserve him the said Sir Philip and his friends in the good opinion of the party at Oxford which was then the Kings Garrison and he the said sir Philip would doe as much for his Lordship and his friends here with the Parliament and the said Mr. Holles and Sir Philip Stapleton the more to ingratiate themselves into the favour of the Enemy did of their owne accord without any direction of the Parliament draw up other Propositions then those mentioned in the precedent Articles which they affirmed were in their judgements fit for the King to grant and for the Parliament to desire and being so drawn up sent them privately to his Majestie without any authority of Parliament to warrant the same 3. That the said Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir John Clotworthie Sir William Waller Sir John Maynard Major generall Massie Mr. Glyn M. Long Colonell Edward Harley and Anthony Nicholls in the Moneths of March Aprill May and June last past and at others times in prosecution of the evill designes in the severall generall heads mentioned have frequently assembled and mett together at the Lady Carliles Lodging in White-Hall and in other places with divers other persons dis-affected to the State without any authority of Parliament for holding correspondencie with the Queene of England now in France and her participants with an intent by such secret and clandestine treaties amongst themselves to put conditions upon the Parliament and to bring in the King upon their owne tearmes and having a great power upon the Treasure of the Kingdome have therewith maintained and encouraged by Pensions and otherwise the Queenes party in France thereby to beget a second and more bloudy Warre in this Kingdome and they or some or one of them assured the Queene 40000. l. per annum if shee would assist them in their designe and that they would doe more for the King then the Army would doe and that they would finde out some meanes to destroy the Army and their friends 4. That in further pursuance of the same evill designes they the said Mr. Hâ—lles Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewes Sir John Clotworthie Sir William Waller and Major generall Massey by the combination aforesaid within the space of three monthes last past without any authority of Parliament Invited the Scots and other forraigne forces to come into this Kingdome in a Hostile manner to abett and assist them in the prosecuting and effecting of their said designes And the said Mr. Holles very lately sent to the said Queene of England then and still in France advising her amongst other things speedily to send the Prince into Scotland to march into this
houses of Parliament from this honourable Assembly And we shall pray A solemne engagement of the Citizens Commanders Officers and Souldiers of the Trained bands Auxiliaries the young men and Prentices of the Cities of London Westminster Sea Commanders Sea-men Watermen together with divers others the Commanders Officers and souldiers within the lines of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality WHereas we have entered into a solemne League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace safety of the 3. Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland all which we do iminently perceive not only to be endangered but ready to be destroyed we do therefore in pursuance of our said Covenant oath of Allegiance oath of every Free-man of the Cities of London and Westminster and protestation solemnly ingage our selves vow unto Almighty God that we will to the utmost of our power cordially endeavour that His Majesty may speedily come to his 2. Houses of Parliament with Honour safety and freedom and that without the neerer aproach of the Army there to confirm such things as he hath granted in his Message of the 12. of May last in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdoms that by a Personall Treaty with his 2. Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland such things as yet are in difference may be speedily setled a firm lasting peace established for the effecting hereof we do protest and reobliege our selves as in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts with our lives and fortunes to indeavour what in us lie to preserve and defend His Majesties Royall Person and authority the priviledges of Parliament and liberty of the Subject in their full and constant freedom the Cities of London and Westminster lines of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bill of Mortality and all others that shall adhere with us to the said Covenant and oath of Allegiance oath of every Free-man of London and Westminster and Protestation Nor shall we by any meanes admit suffer or endure any neutrality in this common cause of God the King and Kingdome as we do expect the blessing of Almighty God whose help we crave and wholly devolve our selves upon in this our undertaking I. Doe hereby require the chiefe Officer present with every Troope and Company to make strict enquiry what Cavalliers have been listed entertained in their Troopes or Companies since the Muster preceeding the last Muster And that all such chiefe Officers shall presently upon such enquiry as before put forth of their Troopes or Companies of such Cavalliers as they shall find in their Troopes or companies from such Musters as before And before they receive any pay upon this last Muster they shall expunge all such Cavalliers out of their Muster Rolls as they shall have put out of their Troops or Companies And if it shall hereafter appear that any chiefe Officer present with their Troop or Company shall neglect is put forth or cashiere such Cavalliers in manner as before or receive any for the time to come upon proofe thereof made he shall be lyable to a Councell of War and be accordingly proceeded against Given under my Hand the 21. of July 1647. Tho Fairfax For the Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army My Lords and Gentlemen HAving resolved upon this inclosed dispatch from the City of London I thought it my part to give you an account of it and to give you all assurance that my heart is deeply affected with the late carriages toward the Parliament And how-ever others have neglected their duty towards them for their security and defence yet as God shall enable me it shall be my great businesse to improve all that is in my hand for the preserving of them and in them the interest of this Nation And what construction soever some formerly may have put upon the proceedings of this Army I trust the Lord will by his good hand lead us into such good actions as shal witnesse our end answerable to all our professions to wit for the good of the Kingdom and thereinto be an effectuall saving to great authority of the Kingdome in the Parliament I rest Your most assured friend Tho. Fairfax Bedford July 29. 1647. To the Right Honourable the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councell of the City of London My Lord and Gentlemen YOu may please to remember the forward complyance of this Army with your desires to remove to this distance and that upon the assurance you gave them of your concurrence with their declared desires for the setling the liberty and peace of this Kingdom against which you never yet offered us one exception or any ground of dissent as also of your great tendernesse and resolution to secure the Parliament and their Priviledges from any violence or attempt the chiefe reason given us of your late listing of new forces and wherein we did most acquiesce That upon this confidence we had disposed the Army into severall parts of the Kingdom for the ease of the whole to above 100. miles distance we had given up our selves to the effecting of such proposalls as might tend to the comfortable settlement of this poor Kingdom and we were in a hopefull way for the speedy reliefe of Ireland We cannot then but be deepely sensible of the unparalled violation acted upon the Parliament upon Monday last by a rude multitude from your City because therein the guards sent from the City did not only neglect their duty for the security of the Parliament from such violence and the whole Citie to yeild any reliefe to the houses in that extreamity but I am assured from eye ear-witnesses that divers of the Common-councell gave great encouragement to it which doth not only gain-say your former professions but does violence to those many obligations that by your Charter Protestation and sundry other wayes lye upon you to protect the Parliament For my part I cannot but look on your selves who are in authority as accountable to the Kingdome for your present interruptions of that hopefull way of Peace and settlement things were in for this Nation and of relieving Ireland occasioned by the late Treasonable and destructive engagement Especially the lately prodigious and horrid force done upon the Parliament tending to dissolve all government upon which score we and the whole Kingdom shall have cause to put every thing of the like nature that may happen to the Parliament or to any who are friends to them and this Armie except by your wisedom care and industry the chiefe acters in the Premisses may be detected secured and given up to the procuring of justice for the same and the best endeavours used to prevent the like for the future And so I rest Your most assured friend to serve you Tho. Fairfax Bedford 29. July 1647. A Declaration of William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the
for divers of them wee have had particular assurance we doe therefore desire that such of the Kings party who shall appeare to have expressed and shall hereafter expresse that way their good affections to the peace and welfare of the Kingdome and to hinder the imbroyling of the same in a new Warre may be freed and exempted from compositions or to pay but one yeares Revenue or a twentieth part These particulars fore-going are the Heads of such proposalls as wee have agreed on to tend in order to the setling of the peace of this Kingdome leaving the Termes of peace for the Kingdome of Scotland to stand as in the late propositions of both Kingdomes untill that Kingdome shall agree to any alteration Next to the Proposalls aforesaid for the present setling of a peace wee shall desire that no time may be lost by the Parliament for dispatch of other things tending to the welfare ease and just satisfaction of the Kingdome and in speciall manner 1. That the just and necessary liberty of the people to represent their grievances and desires by way of Petition may be cleared and vindicated according to the fift Head in the late Representation or Declaration of the Army sent from St. Albans 2. That in pursuance of the same Head in the said Declaration the the common grievances of the people may be speedily considered of and effectually redressed and in particular 1. That the Excise may be taken off from such Commodities whereon the poore people of the Land doe ordinarily live and a certaine time to be limitted for taking off the whole 2. That the oppressions and incroachments of Forrest-Laws may be prevented for future 3. All Monopolies old or new and restraints to the freedome of trade to be taken off 4. That a course may be taken and Commissioners appointed to remedy and rectifie the inequallity of rates lying upon severall Counties and severall parts of each County in respect of others and to settle the proportions for Land rates to more equallity throughout the Kingdome in order to which wee shall offer some further particulars which wee hope may be usefull 5. The present unequall troublesome and contentious way of Ministers maintenance by Tythes to be considered of and some remedy applyed 6. That the rules and course of Law and the Officers of it may be so reduced and reformed as that all suits and questions of Right may be more cleare and certaine in the issues and not so tedious nor chargeable in the proceeding as now in order to which wee shall offer some further particulars hereafter 7. That Prisoners for Debt or other Creditors who have estates to discharge them may not by imbracing imprisonment or any other wayes have advantage to defraud their Creditors but that the Estates of all men may be some way made liable to their Debts as well as Tradesmen are by Commissions of Bankrupt whether they be imprisoned for it or not And that such Prisoners for Debt who have not wherewith to pay or at least doe yeeld up what they have to their Credâ—tors may be freed from imprisonment or some way provided for so as neither they nor their Families may perish by their imprisonments 8. Some provision to be made that none may be compelled by penalties or otherwise to answer unto questions tending to the accusing of themselves or their neerest relations in criminall causes And no mans life to be taken away under two witnesses 9. That consideration may be had of all Statutes and the Laws or Customes of Corporations imposing any Oathes either to repeale or else to qualifie and provide against the same so farre as they may extend or be construed to the molestation or ensnareing of religious and peaceable people meerly for non conformity in Religion 3. That according to the sixt Head in the Declaration of the Army the large powers given to Committees or Debuty Lieutenants during the laâ—e times of warre and distractioâ— may be speedily taken into consideration to be recalled and made void and that such powers of that nature as shall appeare necessary to be continued may be put into a regulated way and left to as little Arbitrarinesse as the nature and necessity of the things wherein they are conversant will beare 4. That according to the seventh Head in the said Declaration an effectuall course may be taken that the Kingdome may be righted and satisfied in point of Accounts for the vast summes that have been levyed 5. That provision may be made for payment of Arreares to the Army and the rest of the Souldiers of the Kingdome who have concurred with the Army in the late desires and proceedings thereof And in the next place for payment of the publicke debts and dammages of the Kingdome and that to be performed first to such persons whose debts or dammages upon the publicke Account are great and their estates small so as they are thereby reduced to a difficulty of subsistance In order to all which and to the fourth particular last preceding wee shall speedily offer some further particulars in the nature of rules which wee hope will be of good use towards publick satisfaction Signed by the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Councell of Warre Jo. Rushworth Secret August 1. 1647. A DECLARATION From his Excellency S ir THO FAIRFAX And his Councell of VVarre WHen this Army was formerly led by the manifold dispensations of Gods providence and the grounds then declared to advance towards the Citie of London wee held it our duty to yeeld the Kingdome the sum of those desires which we had to propose on behalf of it and our selves wherein we should acquiesce And having received from the Parliament some hopes of due satisfaction therein and some assurance from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of the City of London of the ready concurrence with us in those things and also great resolution professed by them of their care and tendernesse to preserve all the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament safe free and inviolated from attempts of all kinds wee doe appeale to God to the City and to all men what a speedy compliance to their desires for our removall to a further distance found in this Army for preventing all feares jealoufies and other inconveniences to the Citie and to give cleare testimony that wee had nothing in our breasts but thoughts of peace and the good and welfare both of Parliament City and Kingdome notwithstanding many false and scandalous reports raised that we sought our selves that we had vile and wicked ends and that nothing would satisfie the Souldier but the plunder of the City the contrary whereof did manifestly appeare when they readily marched back upon hopes of satisfaction in their desires of publique concernment Having then upon the aforesaid confidence so withdrawne and out of a just sense of the Countries suffering by quartering removed the Head-quarter of the Army above forty miles from London and dispersed the rest well
false informations and mis-representations put the Parliament upon such wayes the timely and effectuall reliefe of Ireland seem really to have been intended or rather with the breaking or disbanding of this Army to draw together or raise such other forces and of such a temper as might serve to some desperate and destructive designes in England For which besides the probable suspitions from their carriage of the businesse wee have beforehand in the transaction thereof had more then hints of such a designe by clear expressions to that purpose from many of those Officers of the Army that have been perswaded and appeared most forward to engage as for Ireland on the termes proposed And that such a designe hath all along been driven seemes now too evident by the present disposing of those Forces that have been engaged for Ireland by the endeavours of some to gaine a power from the Parliament of ordering those Forces for some service in England and by the private listings of men for service here without any publike authority of Parliament And all this by the same persons who have all along appeared most active and violent in the late proceedings against the Army As to the just Discontents and Dissatisfactions of the Army in relation to their Grievances and their Non-compliance to the late Orderers for sudden Disbanding by peece-meale before more full and equall satisfaction were given to the whole we desire you to look back to the Papers already published of the grievances themselves the Narrative of the Officers and to the later Papers from the generall Counsell of War at Bury and the late generall Randezvous neer New-Market And we thinke your late resuming the consideration of those things as to a further satisfaction doth much justifie the desires and proceedings of the Army in those past particulars hitherto And though had we upon our first addresses for our undoubted rights and dues c found a free and candid reception with a just consideration and a reasonable satisfaction or at least a free Answer therein we should have been easily perswaded to have abated or forborn much of our dues and not to have enquired into or considered so farre as we have either the possibilities there are for more present satisfaction of Arrears or the credit of future Securities proposed yet since upon these former Addresses we have found such hard dealing as in the said Papers is set forth and those additionall though hitherto but partial satisfactions comming so hardly as they have we find no obliging reasons in the least to decline or recede from what 's our due but rather still to adhere unto our desires of full and equall satisfaction in all the things mentioned in the aforesaid Papers not only in behalfe of our selves and the Army but also of the whole Souldiery throughout the Kingdome who have concurred or shall concurre with us in the same desires And to all our former Desires at Souldiers we cannot but adde this wherein we find our selves so neerly concerned in point of Justice and reputation That more care and a stricter course may be taken for making good all Articles granted upon Surrenders according to the true intent and meaning of them at also for remedy and reparation in case of any breach and this without those delays which divers have found as prejudiciall to them or more then if they had been totally denied the performance of them Nor will it now we hope seem strange or unreasonable to rationall and honest men who consider the consequence of our present case to their own and the Kingdomes as well as our future concernments in point of Right Freedome Peace and safety if from a deep sense of the high consequence of our present case both to our selves in future and all other people we shall before disbanding proceed in our owne and the Kingdoms behalfe to propound and plead for some provision for our and the Kingdoms satisfaction and future security in relation to those things especially considering that we were not a meer mercenary Army hired to serve any Arbitrary power of a State but called forth and conjured by the severall Declarations of Parliament to the defence of our owne and the peoples just Rights and Liberties and so we took up Armes in judgement and conscience to those ends and have so continued them and are resolved according to your first just desires in your Declarations and such principles as we have received from your frequent Informations and our own common sense concerning those our fundamental rights and liberties to assert and vindicate the just power and rights of this Kingdome in Parliament for those common ends premised against all arbitrary power violence and oppression and against all particular parties or interests whatsoever The said Declarations still directing us to the equitable sense of all Laws and Constitutions as dispensing with the very letter of the same and being supreme to it when the safety and preservation of all is concerned And assuring us that all Authority is fundamentally seated in the Office and but ministerially in the Persons Neither do or will these our proceedings as we are fully and in conscience perswaded amount to any thing not warrantable before God and men being thus far much short of the common proceedings in other Nations to things of an higher nature then we have yet appeared to and we cannot but be sensible of the great complaints that have been made to us generally in the Kingdome from the people where we march of Arbitrarinesse and Injustice to their great and insupportable oppressions And truly such Kingdomes as have according both to the law of Nature and Nations appeared to the vindication and defence of their just Rights and Liberties have proceeded much higher as our brethren of Scotland who in the first beginning of these late differences associated in Covenant from the very same grounds and principles having no visible form either of Parliament or King to countenance them And as they were therein justified and protected by their own and this Kingdome also so we justly shall expect to be We need not mention the States of the Netherlands the Portugals and others all proceeding upon the same Principles of right and freedome And accordingly the Parliament hath declared it no resisting of Magistracy to side with the just principles and law of nature and Nations being that law upon which we have assisted you and that the souldiery may lawfully hold the hands of the Generall who will turne his Cannon against his Army on purpose to destroy them the Seamen the hands of that Pilot who wilfully rune the Ship upon a rock as our Brethren of Scotland argued And such were the proceedings of our Ancestors of famous memory to the purchasing of such Rights and Liberties as they have enjoyed through the price of their bloud and we both by that and the later bloud of our deare friends and fellow Souldiers with the hazard of our own do now lay
claim unto Nor is that supreme end the glory of God wanting in these cases to set a price upon all such proceedings of righteousnesse and justice it being one witnesse of God in the world to carry on a Testimony against the injustice and unrighteousnesse of men and against the miscarriage of Governments when corrupted or declining from their Primitive and Originall glory These things we mention but to compare proceedings and to show that we are so much the more justifiable and warranted in what we do by how much we come short of that height and measure of proceedings which the people in free Kingdomes and Nations have formerly practised Now having thus farre cleared our way in this businesse we shall proceed to propound such things as we do humbly desire for the setling and securing of our owne and the Kingdomes common right freedome peace and safety as followeth 1. That the Houses may be speedily purged of such Members as for their delinquency or for Corruptions or abuse to the State or undue Elections ought not to sit there whereof the late Elections in Cornwall Wales and other parts of the Kingdome afford too many examples to the great prejudice of the peoples freedome in the said Elections 2. That those persons who have in the late unjust and high proceedings against the Army appeared to have the wil the confidence credit and power to abuse the Parliament and the Army and endanger the Kingdome in carrying on such things against us while an Army may be some way speedily disabled from doing the like or worse to us when disbanded and disperst and in the condition of private men or to other the free-born people of England in the same condition with us and that for that purpose the same persons may not continue in the same power especially as our and the Kingdome Judges in the highest trust but may be made incapable thereof for the future And if it be questioned who these are we thought not fit particularly to name them in this our Representation to you but shall very speedily give in their names and before long shall offer what we have to say against them to your Commissioners wherein we hope so to carry our selves as that the World shall see we aime at nothing of private revenge and animosities but that justice may have a free course and the Kingdome be eased and secured by dismabling such men at least from places of Judicature who desiring to advantage and set up themselves and their party in a generall confusion have endeavoured to put the Kingdome into a new flame of war then which nothing is more abhorrent to us But because neither the granting of this alone would be sufficient to secure our own and the Kingdoms rights liberties and safety either for the present age or posterity nor would our Proposals of this singly be free from the scandall and appearance of faction or designes only to weaken one Party under the notion of unjust or oppressive that we may advance another which may be imagined more our own We therefore declare That indeed we cannot but wish that such men and such onely might be preferred to the great power and trust of the Common-wealth as are approved at least for morall righteousnesse and of such we cannot but in our wishes preferre those that appeare acted thereunto by a principle of Conscience and Religion in them And accordingly we doe and ever shall blesse God for those many such Worthies who through his providence have been chosen into this Parliament And to such mens endeavours under God we cannot but attribute that Vindication in part of the peoples Rights and Liberties and those beginnings of a just Reformation which the first proceedings of this Parliam appeared to have driven at and tended to though of late obstructed or rather diverted to other ends and interest by the prevailing of other persons of other principles and conditions But yet we are so far from designing or complying to have an absolute or Arbitrary power fixed or setled for continuance in any persons whatsoever as that if we might be sure to obtain it we canot wish to have it so in the persons of any whom we could most confide in or who should appear most of our own opinions and principles or whom we might have most personall assurance of or interest in but we doe and shall much rather wish that the Authority of this Kingdome in Parliaments rightly constituted that is freely equally and successively chosen according to its originall intention may ever stand and have its course And therefore we shall apply our desires chiefly to such things as by having Parliaments setled in such a right Constitution may give most hoâ—es of Justice and Righteousnesse to flow downe equally to all in that its ancient Channell without any Overtures tending either to overthrow that foundation of Order and Government in this Kingdome or to ingrosse that power for perpetuity into the hands of any particular persons or party whatoever And for that purpose though as we have found it doubted by many men minding sincerely the publick good but not weighing so fully all consequences of things it may and is not unlike to prove that upon the ending of this Parliament and the Election of New the Constitution of succeeding Parliaments as to the persons Elected may prove for the worse many wayes yet since neither in the present purging of this Parliament nor in the Election of New we cannot promise to our selves or the Kingdome an assurance of Justice or other positive good from the hands of men but those who for present appeare most righteous and most for common good having an unlimited power fixed in them during life or pleasure in time may become corrupt or settle into parties or factions or on the other side in case of new Elections those that should so succeed may prove as bad or worse then the former We therefore humbly conceive that of two inconveniences the lesse being to be chosen the maine thing to be intended in this case and beyond which humane providence cannot reach as to any assurance of positive good seemes to be this viz. to provide that however unjust or corrupt the persons of Parliament-men in present or future may prove or whatever ill they may do to particular parties or to the whole in particular things during their respective terms or periods yet they shall not have the temptation or advantage of an unlimited power fixt in them during their owne pleasures whereby to perpetuate injustice and oppression upon any without end or remedy or to advance and uphold any one particular party faction or interest whatsoever to the oppression or prejudice of the Communitie and the enslaving of the Kingdome unto all posterity but that the people may have an equall hope or possibility if they have made an ill choice at one time to mend it in another and the members of the House themselves may be in a capacity
refer our selves to the particulars in our Charge against the 11. Members compared with those passages of late broke forth before rehearst unto which wee shall now onely adde and leave it to the consideration of all wise and good men with what artifice and boldnesse these Members have serv'd themselves of those horrid â—umulâ—s and violences of their own creating instead of shewing their detestation of them againe to intrude themselves into the publique managing of affaires and Inevitably to embroyle the Kingdome in a new war which their own revenge and the compassing of their former plots and designes makes them so greedily thirst after If these things we say must be the end and up-shot of all what then remaines to this poore Kingdome and all true hearted Englishmen but to joyne together as one man with their counsels estates and lives in this way as our last refuge under God which he by his wise and gracious providence hath provided and reserved by keeping up this Army even to a Miracle so to prevent the aforesaid evils and to procure to this dying Kingdome yet a setled peace and happinesse if it be his blessed will These things being seriously considered by us wee have thought fit in the name of the Army to declaâ—â— that all such Members of either House of Parliament as are already with the Army for the security of their persons and for the ends aforesaid are forced to absent themselves from Westminster that wee shall hold and esteeme them as persons in whom the publick trust of the Kingdome is still remaining though they cannot for the present sit as a Parliament with freedome and safety at Westminster and by whose advice counsels we desire to govern our selves in in the managing these weighty affaires and to that end we invite them to make repaire to this Army to joyne with us in this great cause wee being resolved and doe hereby faithfully oblige our selves to stand by them therein and to live and die with them against all Opposition whatsoever and in partticular wee doe hold our selves bound to owne that honourable act of the Speaker of the House of Commons who upon the grounds he himselfe expressed in his Declaration sent unto us hath actually withdrawn himselfe and hereupon we doe further ingage to use our utmost and speedy endeavours that he and those Members of either House that are thus inforced away from their attendance at Westminster may with freedome and security sit there and againe discharge their trust as a free and a legall Parliament and in the meanâ— time wee doe declare against that late choice of a new Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster as contrary to all right Reason Law and Custome and wee professe our selves to be most clearly satisfied in all our judgements and are also confident the Kingdome will herein concurre with us that as things now stand there is no free nor legall Parliament sitting being through the aforesaid violence at present suspended And that the Orders Votes or Resolutions forced from the Houses on Munday the 26. of July last as also all such as shall passe in this Assembly of some few Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster under what pretence and colour soever are void and null and ought not to be submitted unto by the free-borne Subjects of England And that we may prevent that slavery designed upon us and the Nation that the Kingdome may be restored to a happy State of a visible Government now eclipsed and darkened wee hold our selves bound by our duty to God and the Kingdome to bring to condigne punishment the Authors and Promoters of that unparalleld violence done to the Parliament and in that to all the free-borne Subjects of England that are or hereafter shall be and therefore we are resolved to march up towards London where we doe expect that the well-affected people of that City will deliver up unto us or otherwise put into safe Custody so as they may be reserved to a legall Triall the eleven impeached Members that have againe thrust themselves into the management of publick affaires by this wicked designe And that all others will give us such assistance therein that the Members of both Houses may receive due incouragement to returne to Westminster there to sit with all freedome and so to performe their trust as shall conduce to the settlement of this distracted Kingdome and to inflict such punishments upon these late Offenders as shall deterre any for the future to make the like attempt Our lives have not been deare unto us for the publick good and being now resolved by the assistance of God to bring these delinquents to their deserved punishments as that then which there cannot be any thing of more publick concernment to the Kingdome wee trust if it shall come to that our bloud shall not be accounted too deare a price for the accomplishment of it And if any in the City will ingage themselves against us to protect these Persons and so put the Kingdome againe into a new and miserable Warre The bloud must be laid to the account of such persons as the Authors thereof And lastly Because it is the maine Engine of ours and the Kingdomes enemies to render us odious by possessing the minds of men that we gape onely after the plunder of this great and wealthy City as the experience of the contrary carriage in all Townes that wee have taken yeeldeth unto us a Testimony beyond the example of any Army so wee doe from our hearts declare that wee abhorre the thoughts thereof and wee doubt not but the world shall see our actions answerable to our professions and that we shall not cause any man to suffer but by his own default and that God will manifest we have only in our eyes that Justice may have a free course the Parliament a free sitting and voting and a full vindication of the late violence done to them And as for the City of Westminster the Borough of Southwarke the Hamlets and the rest of the Suburbs and out-parts as wee are informed that they are not so ready to engage themselves in a new warre as some would have them so wee are sensible of the hard condition that they are brought into even by them that claime a Right against both Houses of Parliament a strange claim against a Parliament though more reasonable against others not to be subjected to a Militia without their own consent and yet will not be contented unlesse they may have others subjected unto them and lay what burthens they please upon them without allowing them any part of vote or consent with them In which points of common Right and Equity wee shall not be wanting in a due way to assist them for the obtaining of their just desires and immunities it being our chiefe aim to settle Peace with Truth and Righteousnesse throughout the Kingdome that none may be oppressed in his just freedome and Liberties much lesse the Parliament it selfe which things
especially in this viz. To have the King brought up to London without delay or any nearer upproach of the Army And to all these the succeeding Votes of the pretended Houses for the same thing did speedily eccho the same note Concerning which matter not to examine the alteration of the case since both Houses and both Kingdomes also of England and Scotland resolved that it was not safe the King should come to London untill he had given satisfaction and secutity to his people in relation to those publick ends for which so much bloud and treasure had been spent we shall only say thus much to those mens intentions and designes in the businesse That had the King come up to London as they have so oft desired and attempted it is apparent they intended and would have made use of it rather to lay the stronger foundations of a new Warre upon the ruines of that publick interest contended for in the former and of all those that had with most candor clearenesse and simplicity of heart appeared and acted for the same then any way to settle thereby a safe and well-grounded peace And since they could not rationally expect so easie an obtaining of the Kings person to London upon such a pretended Vote or Declaration of their desire thereof it is as evident that they could intend nothing thereby but a more plausible pretence and foundation of quarrell against this Army whereby to ingage or incline to their assistance the Kings party and such others who might be catcht with the apprehension thereof as a speedy way to Peace the thing so generally longed for and by such assistance gained the better to ruine this Army and those faithfull Members of Parliament who were retired to it For our parts we shall rejoice as much as any to see the King brought back to his Parliament and that not so much in place as in affection and agreement on such sound termes and grounds as may render both Him and the Kingdome safe quiet and happy and shall be as ready as any to bring his Majesty to London when his being there may be likely to produce not greater disturbances but a Peace indeed And that such as may not with the shipwrack of publick interest be shaped and moulded only to the private advantages of a particular party or faction But bottomed cheifly on grounds of common and publick welfare and security And if without regard to these considerations we would have brought his Majesty with us to London in our late advance thither which our enimies could not hinder or prejudice us in we had no cause to doubt but as to men we might have had all the advantages which our adversaries promised to themselves thereby added to the strength and interest of the Army and have inverted the disadvantages upon them that they intended against us thereby so as his Majesties so much desired to come to London might have been much to their prejudice and our advantage and security if we had regarded only our owne particulars But as at present our consciences beare cleare witnesses to our selves so we hope God will in the issue make it cleare to others that we have not minded nor been acting our owne workes or interests but the Kingdomes and every honest mans in it Mean while to return to our purpose we thinke it is sufficiently cleared that the proceedings of those members or the major part of them that continued to sit at Westminster during the absence of the Speakers the powers by them given the forces thereupon levied and other preparations of Warre thereupon made were all designed and driven on in prosecution and maintenance of the said treasonable ingagement and of the force done upon the Parliament or for the same ends and interest with them and to oppose the advance of this Army towards London for restitution of the Parliament to honour and freedome and indeed to raise a new warre in the Kingdome against the Parliament and their Army for the destruction thereof And the same may yet further appear by this that those very Appentices Reformadoes and others about the City who were the cheife actors in the said ingagement and tumult were afterwards most trusted and imployed and most active in their preparations for War By what we have here said and what hath been declared and published from us and from the Speakers and aforesaid Members of both Houses and by the whole series of our owne and our enemies actions and carriages compared together it may appeare how tender we have been not only of the authority and just Priviledges of Parliament and of the safety peace and welfare both of the Kingdome and the City but even towards those our enemies themselves seeking only things necessary for the common good of the whole and that if possible without ruine or hurt to any and yet how maliciously and unworthily we have that while been dealt withall by those our enemies and by a factious and powerfull party especially in Parliament and City combining with them And what cleare cause we have had both for all that we have formerly desired or done in prevention of our owne ruine and the Kingdomes disturbance and also what just grounds for our late advance to London The good service whereof especially in restoring the Parliament into a condition of safety honour and freedome thereby hath been without any seeking of ours acknowledged by both Houses with thankes to us and publick thankesgiving to the Almighty for it And a further trust hath been thereupon committed to the Generall for taking care with his Army to safe-guard the Parliament The Houses being thus restored to a condition of present safety honor and freedome Two things seem clearly remaining to be done which our owne and most mens expectations are most set upon viz. First to vindicate the honour freedome and safety of Parliament from the like affronts or violences in future and the Army and Kingdome from danger of the like disturbances whilst things shall be in a debate or treaty for a settlement and then to proceed unto a speedy settlement of the peace of the Kingdome The latter of these is first in our intentions being nearest to the ultimate end And we shal earnestly desire in order therunto the proposals of the Army whereof the heads are published may be speedily considered and brought to a resolution But considering that the debates of them may take up some time ere they be agreed on all hands and the framing of them into Bils and perfecting of the same will require much more Something must first be done in the former for a present security to the Parliament from like affronts or violence and to the Army and Kingdome from the like disturbances to the peace thereof by any farther advantage which the time like to be spent in the setling of peace may afford to our watchfull restlesse and we doubt implacable enemies First therefore to those ends unlesse it should be
Kingdome in an head of an Army And did send a speciall Messenger to her for such ends and purposes And the said Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir John Clotworthy Sir William Waller Sir John Maynard Mr. Glin Major generall Massey Mr. Long Colonel Edward Harley and Anthony Nicholls have under-hand of their owne accord without authority of Parliament listed or caused or procured to be listed divers Commanders and Souldiers endevouring thereby to leavy and raise a new Warre in this Kingdome to protect themselves in their unjust oppressions and factions designes and have at severall times within the space of two Monethes last past invited incouraged abetted and councelled multitudes of reformado-Officers and Souldiers and other rude persons tumultuously and violently to gather together at Westminster to affright and assault the members of Parliament in their passage to and from the house to offer violence to the house it selfe locking the doore thereof upon them and so imprisoning them and by such violences out rages and threates to awe and enforce the Parliament 5. That the said Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton and M. Glyn have been and are obstructers and prejudgers of severall Petitions to the Parliament for redresse of publique grievances And the said Mr. Holles and Sir Philip Stapleton in the Moneth of May last past did abuse and affront divers Petitioners who in a peaceable manner then attended the Committee whereof Colonel Lee was Chaireman not onely reviling and reproaching them but violently haling and boisterously assaulted them and offered to draw their Swords upon Major Tuleday and others of the said Petitioners and without any power or authority committed Nicholas Tew one of the said Petitioners And soone afterwards by the procurement of the said Mr. Holles and Sir Philip Stapleton and upon their misinformation to the House the said Major Tuleday and Nicholas Tew were imprisoned not being permitted to speake for themselves And the said Mr. Glyn about three Moneths since caused the said Nicholas Tew to be imprisoned in Newgate and to be detained a long time there for no other cause but for having a Petition about him which was to be presented to the House 6. That the said Sir John Clotworthy Sir William Waller and Major generall Massey have lately in prosecution of the said designes in the said general Heads mentioned against the Lawes of this Realme and Rules and Articles of Warre made by the Parliament by an Arbitrary Power imprisoned some Members of the Army without any authority particularly Ensign Nichols whose pockets they without authority caused to be searched and severall papers to be taken from him contrary to the liberty of every Subject and caused him to be sent a prisoner from the Head-quarters to London without the authority or privity of the general or the chiefe Officers of the Army commanding in his absence 7. That in or about the Moneth of Marth last there being a Petition intended from the Officers Souldiers of the Army to their General for such things only as were justly due unto them and concerning them meerly as Souldiers the said Sir William Waller Sir John Clotworthy and Colonel Edward Harley a Member of the Army having gotten into their hands a Copy of the said Petition by combination with the other Members above mentioned and with an intent to abuse the Parliament into prejudices and jealousies against the proceedings of the Army concerning the said Petition they well knowing that the said Army stood in their way and hindred them from bringing to passe the designes in the said general Charges expressed did untruly and maliciously informe the House That the said Petition was contrived and promoted to debauch and disoblige the Army from the Parliament and that it was managed and carried on by divers principal Officers in the Army that Orders were given out for reading of it in every Regiment and whosoever would not subcribe it should be put out of their Musters and cashiered the Army and by those and other aggravations did represent it to the House as a Designe against the Parliament further adding That some Regiments which were remote were sent for to joyne with the rest of the Army for that purpose by which misinformations they the said Members did the same day procure a peremptory Order to the Generall to suppresse the said Petition 8. That some few dayes after Colonel Edward Harley by the combination aforesaid and in pursuance of the same Designes did procure to the House a Letter supposed to be written from within the Quarters of the Army to him the said Colonel Harley by a person not named whereby it was informed that Colonel Harley's Lieutenant Colonel had drawn his Râ—giment to a Rendevouz and had caused the said petition to be read at the head of it and that he threatned to cashier and put out of the Musters all that would not subscribe it and that the designe of the Army therein was to enslave the Parliament and King if the Parliament proceeded not to some high Resolutions or to that effect as by the said Letter relation being thereunto had may appeare And although the substance of the said Letter was most untrue and no Author thereof appeared nor could be produced although a Committee was appointed for examination thereof and it was much pressed the Author should be discovered yet the said Colonel Harley Sir John Clotworthy and Sir William Waller did so avow the reality of the said Letter and that the contents thereof would be made good as that thereby and by other false Suggestions of theirs against the Army they procured the House upon a long Debate which held till about Eight of the clock at night to Order That a Committee of five Members whereof the said Mr. Holles was one should prepare a Declaration to be brought into the House the next morning signifying the Houses dislike of the proceedings of the Army upon that Petition as by the said ORDER dated the _____ day of _____ last may appeare Upon which settling of the said businesse for that night most of the Members departed as conceiving nothing would be done thereupon till the next day and that then they might have a free Debate concerning the same but the House still continuing to sit upon dispatch of some Letters formely Ordered the said Mr. Holles by the same combination and in farther prosecution of the said evill Designes having of himselfe without the Committee prepared a Declaration against the Petition is selfe contrary to the intention and direction of the said Order and contrary to the Rules of Justice and usual course of Parliament did the same night about Ten of the clock on purpose to surprise the House present the same Declaration to the House whereby the said Petitioners were without being heard declared Enemies to the State and Obstructers of the relief of Ireland if they still persisted therein as by the same Declaration relation being thereunto had may appeare and did procure