A DECLARATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY Sir Thomas Fairfax AND HIS COVNCELL OF WARRE ON BEHALFE OF THEMselves and the whole Army shewing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of LONDON OXFORD Printed by J. HARRIS and H. HILLS Printers to his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX Ann. Dom. 1647. A DECLARATION Of his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX and his Councell of Warre on behalfe of themselves and the whole Army shewing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of LONDON WHen this Army was formerly led by the manifold dispensations of Gods providence and the grounds then declared to advance towards the City of London wee held it our duty to yeeld the Kingdome the some of these desires which we had to propose on behalfe of it and our selves where in we should acquiesse And having received from the Parliament some hopes of due satisfaction therein and some assurance from the Lord Maior Aldermen and Common-councell of the City of London of their ready concurrance with us in those things And also great resolutions professed by them of their care and tendernesse to preserve all the rights and priviledges of Parliament safe free and inviolate from attempts of all kinds wee doe appeale to Cod to the City and to all men what a speedy compliance their desires for our removall to a further distance found in this Army For preventing all feares ielousies and other inconveniences to the City and to give cleere testimony that we had nothing in our brests but thoughts of peace and the good and welfare both of Parliament City and Kingdome notwithstanding many falce and scandalous reports raised that we saught our selves that wee had vile and wicked ends and that nothing would satisfie the Souldiers but the plunder of the City and contrary whereof did manifestly appeare when they so readily marched back upon hopes of satisfaction in their desires of publike concernment Having then upon the aforesaid confidence so with-drawne and out of a iust sense of the Countries suffering by quartering removed the head quarter of the Army above forty miles from London and dispersed the rest well nigh two hundred miles for the more ease of all partes and that we might give the better satisfaction to the Kingdome and being in this secure way and labouring after the sudden settlement of the Kingdome we had even brought to perfection the particular proposals included in the generals of our first Representation to be sent to the Parliament for a finall conclusion of all our troubles and also had made good progresse towards the present reliefe of distressed Ireland by assigning a competent force both of horse and foote forthwith to have advanced for that service But the Kingdomes and our enemies being most vigilent and active to prevent and frustrate those good intentions and endeavours of ours that they might carry on their former evil designes and underhand practices also preserve themselves from the hands of Justice they have endeavoured to cast the Kingdome into a new and bloudy warre and for that end have procured the under-hand listing of severall Reformadoes and others Have contrived promoted and caused to be entred into by severall persons a wicked and treasonable combination as is sufficiently manifested by a Declaration passed thereupon by both Houses of Parliement the three and twenteth of July last for prevension of the disturbances that were like to ensue thereupon From which kind of disorders the City had bin well preserved during the space of almost four yeares whilest the Militia was in the hands of the old Commissioners wereby it appears there was cause for the Army to intreat the Parliament that the Militia might be returned into the hands it was in before as also for divers other good reasons First the old Commissioners of the Militia that have been since left out were not only persons without all exception having beene formerly chosen and approved by the Parliament and City but also men of whom the City Parliament and Kingdome have had above four yeares experience in the faithfull discharge of their trust men that ever from the beginning in the worst of times and in the occasions of greatest difficulty had faithfully and constantly ingaged for and with the Parliament in this cause Men that were alwayes most desirous of peace but of a safe and well grounded one and that had alwayes testified a great â—are to prevent all occasions of embroyling the Kingdome in a new War Now that on a suddaine this Trust which they had faithfully discharged so long should be taken out of their hands and put into the hands of others some whereof at the best have beene very coole in the service of the Parliament at the beginning of this War That this should be pressed and in a manner forced upon the Parliament with such importunity from the Common Councell that some out of every Ward should be appointed to sollicite the Members of the House of Commons every day as they went in and out at the House with Professions that they would never leave the doore of the House till they were satisfied in their desires That they would not be contented with the Militia of the City of London onely unlesse they might have power over that of the Suburbs and outparts and all this before the peace of the Kingdome was setled or the propositions sent to the King for that purpose These things ministred great cause of suspicion that this alteration of the Militia was in order to a designe and to make the tearmes of the peace and agreement with the King on which the security of the whole Kingdome and their posterity is to be bottomed more sutable to the private bargainings and undertakings of some men then to the publick welfare of the whole Kingdome in its security and prosperity for the present and in future times But this Designe discovered it selfe more clearely by such things as accompanied the pursuite of this alteration of the Militia and ensued upon the obtaining thereof At the same time that the alteration of the Militia was set on foot the same persons with as much earnestnesse pressed for the disbanding of this Army before any thing was setled for the security and liberties of the Kingdome At the same time the Common Councell was new modell'd and a Lord Major chosen that might suite with the present Designe in hand At the same time in colour of differenceâ— in some circumstances of Church Government it was earnestly endeavoured that such as had beene constantly true and most faithfull to the interest of this Kingdome should be disabled to have any imployment in Church or Commonwealth either in England or Ireland And without any such colour or pretence divers persons were left out of the Common Councell and Militia of eminent deseâ—â—â— and fidelity and others brought into their roomes that had either testified an ill â—ffection or little â—ffection to the Parliament and their Cause And such as seemed to withdraw
themselves from all employment in the beginning of this warre now at the winding up thereof are ambitious to thrust themselves into employments with a Designe as may justly be suspected to frustrate and overthrow and overthrow in the Close of all the fruit and effect of all the cost and bloud that hath been spent and spilt in this Cause And after that with difficulty and not without reluctancy in the Houses of Parliament they had obtained the power of the Militia in the City of London and also in the outparts for the space of one yeare Many cheife Officers and under Officers in the Trained bands of knowne trust and fidelity were displaced and others of more doubtfull affection placed in their roomes little eare was taken of the honour of the Parliament which was continually trampled under foot and their authority affronted by every rabble of Women Apprentices Reformadoes souldiers which latter sort of persons were thereby so encouraged to rise higher and higher in their tumultuous carriages against the Houses till at length it is risen to the height of barbarous and monstrous violence against the Parliament that they might set themselves on workes and the Kingdome on fire againe And now at length the Designe appeares open faced and though the Militia be made as the principall ground of the quarrell yet by the late vow and engagement set on foot before any alteration of the Militia and the pressing so much the Message of the 12 of May and the Kings comming to London to confirme the same shew that the Militia is desired but in order to that Designe and to force the Parliament being wholly in their power to such tearmes of peace as they pleased In the next place when the interest of the Common Councell in their change of the Militia shall be claimed as the birthright of the City of London which they never had any colour to pretend to swing by the indulgency of the Parliament unto them since this Parliament in respect of the great use they have had of them and the many good servites they have received from them it is time for all the Kingdome to looke to their Birthrights if such a claime shall be help up against both Houses of Parliament That upon no occasion whatsoever nor in no time of danger and distraction whatsoever they may appoint these that shall have the power of the Militia of London without the consent of the Common Councell especially when as the Houses shall sit under their power The late example may evidence to all the world who shall be Masters of the Parliaments freedome and resolutions And Common Reason will teach every man who shall be Masters of their Birthrights of the whole Kingdome when there shall be no Army on foot when they have the confidence to dispute for the Mastery notwithstanding such an an Army as this to check and ballance them in behalfe of the Kingdome and Parliament Lastly The Army discerning how intimate some of the new Militia were with some of the eleven accused Members how forward they were to comply and act with them in their endeavours to raise a new a new Warre how they made eighteene or nineteene votes in order thereunto together with them in one night All which the Common Councell and Parliament disliked and revoked how notwithstanding they secretly promoted their Designes by private Listings which now appeares to have beene still working under ground The Army we say observing this and having nothing more in their thoughts desires then to settle a speedy safe and well grounded peace and to prevent a new War found it necessary to desire that the Militia might be put into the hands wherein it was formerly who had approved themselves both to the Army Parliament and Kingdome to be sober minded men and not given to any practices whereby a new Warre might be kindled to the intent that the Army being secured by that meanes from that danger might with the more confidence retire farther from the City inlarge their Quarter for the greater ease of the Kingdome and intend wholly the setling of a sure peace in this Kingdome and a speedy and effectuall reliefe of Ireland which was almost brought to a period and nothing in the sight of man could have hinder'd but the cursed violence upon the Parliament under pretence of the Militia which according to our desire being restored againe into the hands of the Old Commoners by an Ordinance of both Houses dated July the 23. in pursuance of the aforesaid reasonable combination severall Petitions were presented to the Common Councell and City of London in the name of the Apprentices and others importing their desires That the Militia of the City might continue in the hands of the former Commoners according to the Ordinance of the 4 of May last Whereupon Monday July the 26. the Common Councell of the City presents their petitions to both Houses for changing the Militia wherein the House of Lords refuse to alter their resolutions the House of Commons answered they would take it into consideration the next morning Notwithstanding which the City and Kingdome cannot be ignorant with what rage and insolency the tumult of Apprentices the same day forced both Houses They blocked up their doores swearing they would keepe them in till they had passed what votes they pleased They threatned the Houses if they granted not their desires knocking hooting and hollowing so at the Parliament doores that many times the Members could not be heard to speake or debate not suffering the House of Commons to divide for determining such questions as were put crying out that those that gave their votes against them should be sent out to them very often and loudly crying Agree Agree Dispatch wee 'l waite no longer and in this outragious manner they continued at the House above eight houres together the City guards there present nor the City releiving them by reason wherof the House was forced to vote what that rude multitude would demand and then adjourned the House till the next morning After which the Speaker rising the Speaker and many of the Members going out of the House they force them backe againe into the House many of the Apprentices pressing in with them where they stood with their hats on their heads and compell'd the Speaker to take the Chaire and the House to vote in their presence what they pleased committing many other insolencies as is published by the Speaker of the House of Comons in his Declaration and is too well knowne by all thenâ—â—e senâ— And during the time of this excerable violence done by the said Apprentices Westminster Hall and the Pallace yard was fils'd with Reformadoes and other ill-affected persons designed to back them After this the Houses being adjourned till Friday following upon the Thursday the Apprentices printed and posted a paper in severall places of the City requiring all their fellowes to be early at the Parliament the next morning for that
they intended to adjourne by seaven of the clock and that for a Month. Thus the Speakers with many of the Members of both Houses were driven away from the Parliament This being the true state of things as they have broke forth within these few daies which are so contrary to all those pretences of Peace and detestation of a new Warre of late so frequently held forth on all sides all men may observe to what maturity the long projected designe of some men of whom are those that are impeached by us is now brought and may be traced in the severall steps thereof as it hath tended to the inslaving this Kingdome and the destruction of all such well-affâ—cted people who would not comply with them therein so as by what now is come to light the justnesse of that Cause this Army had engaged themselves in and the great and wonderfull Mercy of God in continuing them together we assure our selves doth now clearly appeare to all mens eyes and apprehensions and will every day more and more be acknowledged even by those that have heretofore made a question of it And if when this Kingdome hath spent so much of it's bloud and Treasure hath past through such unheard of dangers and overcome such Difficulties so many years together All that they must now hope for and rest in must only be what the King grants in his Message of the 12. of May last And if this must be imposed upon mens judgements and Consciences by an Oath and vow entred into in a tumultuous and unlawfull way and by outrage maintained in despight and contempt of the Parliament If rather then this should not be accomplished the Parliamâ—nt it selfe must be violated and forced into the hands of such of the Members thereof as have secretly fomented and abetted these practises to that end That these hidden Councells and workes of darknesse might when they come to their full birth have the Image of highest authority in the face of them the better to gaine credit thereunto and sâ—cure the Authors of them from punishment For the evidence of all which we referre our selves to the particulars in our charge against the eleaven Members compared with those passages of late broke forth before rehearst Vnto which we shall now only 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 tumults and violences of their own creating in stead of shewing their detestation of them again to intrude themselves into the publique mannaging of affaires and inevitably to embroyle the Kingdome in a new Warre 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 upshot of all what then remaines to this poore Kingdome and all true hearted Englishmen but to joyne together as one man with their Counsells Estates and Lives in this way as our last refuge under God which he by his wise and gratious providence hath provided and reserved and keeping up this Army even to a Miracle so to prevent the aforesaid evills 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 declare that all such Members of either House of Parliament as are already with the Army or for the securing 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 publique trust of the Kingdome is still remaining though they cannot for the present fit as a Parliament with freedom and safety at Westminster And by whose advice and Counsels we desire to governe our selves in the managing these weighty affaires And to that end we invite them to make repaire to this Army to ioyne with us in this great Cause we being resolved and doe hereby faithfully obleige our selves to stand by them therein and to live and die with them against all opposition whatsoever And in particular we doe hold our selves bound to owne that honorable 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 indeavours that he and those Members of either House that are thus inforced away from their attendance at Westminster may with freedom and security sit there and again discharge their trust as a free and legall Parliament And in the meane time we doe declare against that late choyce of a New Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster as contrary to all Right Reason Law and Custome And we professe our selves to be most clearly satisfied in our Iudgments and are also confident the Kingdom 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 to by the freeborne Subiects of England And that we may prevent that slavery designed upon us and the Nation and that the Kingdom may be restored to the happy state of a visible Government now Ecclypsed and darkened we hold our selves bound by our duty to God and the Kingdom to bring to condigne punishment the Authors and promoters of that unparaleld violence done to the Parliament and in that to all the freeborne Subiects of England that are or hereafter shall be And therefore we are resolved to march up towards London where we doe expect that the welaffected people of that City will deliver up unto us or otherwise put into safe Custody so as they may be referred to a legall Triall the eleven impeached Members that have again thrust themselves into the management of publicke 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 Kingdom And to inflict such punishment upon those late Offendors as shall deterre any for the future to make the like attempt We appeale to all the Kingdom if we have not had a very tender care of the City of London there Commissioners will witnesse it Our lives have not bin deare unto us for the publique good And being now resolved by the assistance of God to bring these Delinquents to their deserved punishment as that then which there cannot be any thing of more publike concernment to the Kingdom we trust if it shall come to that our blood shall not be accounted too deare a price for the accomplishment of it And if any in the City will engage themselves against us to pretect those persons and so put the Kingdom againe into a new and miserable Warre the Blood must be laid to the Account of such persons as the Authors thereof And Lastly because it is the main Engine of ours and the Kingdoms enemie to render us odious by possessing the minds of men that we gape only after the plunder of this Great and wealthy Citty As the experience of the contrary carriage in all Townes that we have taken yeeldeth unto us a Testimony beyond the example of any Army so we doe from our hearts declare that we abhorre the thought thereof And we 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 Citty of Westminster the Borough of Southwarke the Hamlets and the rest of the Suburbs and out Parts as we are informed That they are not so ready to ingage themselves in a new Warre as some would have them so we 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 claime against a Parliament though more reasonabâ—â—â—gainst others not to be subjected to a Militia without their own coâ—â—â—t and yet will not be contented unlesse they may have others subjectâ—… unto them and lay what burthens they please upon them without â—â—â—…owing them any part of Vote or consent with them In which poynt of Common Right and Equity we shall not be wanting in a due way to assist them for the obtaining of their just desires and immunities It being our chiefe aime to settle Peace with Truth and Righteousnesse throughout the Kingdome And that none may be oppressed in his just freedome and liberties much lesse the Parliament it selfe Which being duly setled we shall be as ready also to assure unto the King his just Rights and Authority as any that pretend it never so much for the better upholding of an ill cause and the Countenance of tumultuous violence against the Parliament The which our honest just and necessary undertakings as we are resolved to pursue with the utmost hâ—zard of our lives and fortunes so we doubt â—ot but we shall find Gods accustomed goodnesse and assistance with us therein till we have brought them to a good and happy conclusion for this poore distracted and languishing Kingdome By the Appoyntment of his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX and his Councell of Warre Colebrooke Aug. 3. 1647. JO RUSHWORTH Secretary