of their want of Officers they may be subject to run unto and likewise to continue them in the North lest by their motion to the Army they myght draw a greater concourse and burthen of Souldiers Quarters upon these parts then they will be well able to beare and thereby the disaffected in those parts during their absence may take that advantage to make insurrections or any disturbance of the peace there For the prevention whereof and disposition of the whole as well in order to the peace of this Kingdome as speedy reliefe of Ireland I shall humbly make bold to offer my opinion that since there are many severall distinct and through these late distractions disjoynted Forces within this Kingdome which were sufficient together with this Army being united and well mannaged both to preserve the peace of this Kingdom and give present reliefe to Ireland without putting this Kingdome to the charge of raising new Forces at present for that service That the Parliament would speedily put all the Forces under one and the same Command Discipline and equall establishment for future pay maintenance which being done it would give much encouragement to some of the Forces that may be spared out of all the Forces mentioned from England to go more cheerfully into Ireland and if with this there were some present course taken to provide for Arrears for such Forces as might be spared for Ireland there might in probability be an effectuall reliefe sent over into Ireland before this Summer be quite spent All which I humbly tender to your consideration and desire your speedy Answer that no time may be lost in so good and necessary a work both for the quiet of this Kingdom and relief of Ireland wherein none shall be more ready to expresse their forwardnesse then Your most humble servant T. FAIRFAX Reading July 16. 1647. These severall ensuing particulars being considered debated and resolved upon at a Generall Councell of Warre his Excellency being present wee the Commissioners of the Army were appointed in the name and behalfe of them to present the same to your Lordships and the Commissioners to be tendred with all speed to the Parliament which wee accordingly offer and desire your speedy care therein That so an Answer accarding to the desire and expectation of the Army may be speedily returned to these Particulars 1. THat there be an effectuall Declaration forthwith published to the whole Kingdome against the inviting bringing or comming in of any forraine Forces under any pretence whatsoever 2. That the Army may be paid up equall with the Desertors thereof according to the late Votes of Parliament And that the Army may forth with be put into a constant course of pay that they may not be so burdensome and oppressive to the Countrey for the more speedy performance whereof Wee desire that the House of Peers would be pleased to concurre with the desires of the House of Commons so often proposed to them for the reviving of the Committee for the Army that so the Assessements and great summes in Arrears both in the City and elsewhere may be by their indeavour collected for the speedy and necessary supply of the Army and also that the Treasurers and the Committee of Weavers-Hall may be speedily called to accompt in what manner and by what Warrant the two hundred and thirty thousand pounds lately intrusted in their hands have been in so short a time consumed 3. That the Militia of the City of London and the Committee of the same may consist of such persons and speedily be returned into those hands who formerly during the worst of times have therein given large Testimonies of their fidelity to the Parliament and Kingdome which besides the reall security will be to the Parliament and Kingdome in preventing of dangers repreparing towards a new Warre would conduce so much to the remooving of jealousies and give such a ground of confidence to the army as that wee might the better dispose it to larger Quarters in severall parts for the ease of the Countrey By the appointment of the Commisisioners for the Army William Clarke Reading 18. July 1647. According to and in pursuance of the particular mentioned under the fifth Head of the Representation of the Army we doe earnestly desire THat all persons imprisoned in England or Dominion of Wales not for Delinquency in relation to the late Warre but for other pretended misdemeanors and whose imprisonment is not by the Regulated Course of law but by Order from either Houses of Parliament or of Committees flowing from them may be put into a speedy Regular and equitable way of tryall or if the necessitie of setling the generall affaires of the Kingdome admit not their present tryall then they may have present liberty upon reasonable security for their appearance at a certaine day to answer what shall be charged against them in a legall way And that when they should be tryed if they appeare wrongfully or unduly imprisoned they may have reparation according to their sufferings In particular wee desire this may be done in behalfe of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilbourne Mr. Musgrave Mr. Overton and others in their condition imprisoned in and about London By the Appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Councell of Warre Signed John Rushworth Reading July 18. 1647. A Letter to the Lord Major Court of Aldermen and Common-Counsell of the City of LONDON My Lord and Gentlemen IN the carying on of the great businesse of the Kingdome towards a generall and happy settlement it hath been a fixed principle with us to make it our first endeavour with the Parliament that all things which threaten an engagement of the Kingdom in a second Warr might be removed before we could have a confident expectation of a good issue upon a Treaty with their Commissioners which course of ours although it might have some appearance of delay yet by men that are zealous of the Kingdomes good we hope no endeavour will be judged â—â—â—ecessary that may secure the Kingdome from the danger of any new imbroylements Wee are now come thus farr that the most materiall particulars which we have in preparation to propose for the generall settlement of the affaires of the Kingdome have bin communicated to the Parliaments Commissioners and we hope they are satisfied that they containe in them things tending to a generall good and to lay an hopefull Foundation for common Right and Freedome to the people of this Land for future and for a lasting peace amongst us But before we can securely intend and without interruption apply our selves unto the proceedings and dispatch of the Treaty there upon wee have delivered into the hands of their Commissioners the Paper which consists of three particulars in the last whereof which is the Militia of the City you being most immediately concerned to the end you may see we would aske nothing which relates to you without giving you a just account thereof and all possible
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
to tast of subjection as well as rule and may so be inclined to consider of other mens cases as what may come to be their owne This we speak of in relation to the House of Commons as being entrusted on the peoples behalfe for their interest in that great and supreame power of the Common-wealth viz. the Legislative power with the power of finall judgement which being in its owne nature so arbitrary and in a manner unlimited unlesse in point of time is most unfit and dangerous as to the peoples interest to be fixt in the persons of the same men during life or their owne pleasures Neither by the originall Constitution of this State was it or ought it to continue so nor does it where ever it is and continues so render that State any better then a meere Tyranny or the people subjected to it any better then Vassals But in all States where there is any face of common freedome and particularly in this State of England as is most evident both by many positive Lawes and ancient constant custome the people have a right to new and successive Elections unto that great and supreme trust at certaine periods of time which is so essentiall and fundamentall to their freedome as it is cannot or ought not to be denied them or with-held from them and without which the House of Commons is of very little concernment to the interest of the Commons of England Yet in this we would not be mis-understood in the least to blame those Worthies of both Houses whose zeale to vindicate the Liberties of this Nation did procure that Act for continuance of this Parliament whereby it was secured from being dissolved at the Kings pleasure as former Parliaments had been or reduced to such a certainty as might enable them the better to assert and vindicate the Liberties of this Nation immediatly before so highly invaded and then also so much endangered And these we take to be the principall ends and grounds for which in that exigency of time and affaires it was procured and to which we acknowledge it hath happily been made use of but we cannot thinke it was by those Worthies intended or ought to be made use of to the perpetuating of thai supreme trust and power in the persons of any during their owne pleasures or to the debarring of the people from their right of Elections totally new when those dangers or exigencies were past and the affaires and safety of the Common-wealth would admit of such a change Having thus cleared our Grounds and Intentions as we hope from all scruples and misunderstandings in what followes we shall proceed further to propose what we humbly desire for the setling and securing of our owne and the Kingdomes Rights and Liberties through the blessing of God to posterity and therefore upon all the Grounds premised we further humbly desire as followeth 3. That some determinate period of time may be set for the continuance of this and future Parliaments beyond which none shall continue and upon which new Writs may of course issue out and new Electionâ— successively take place according to the intent of the Bill for Tricaniall Parliaments And herein we would not be misunderstood to desire a present or suddaine dissolution of this Parliament but only as is exprest before that some certaine period may be set for the determining of it so as it may not remaine as now continuable for ever or during the pleasure of the present Members And we should desire that the Period to be now set for ending this Parliament may be such as may give sufficient time for provision of what is wanting and necessary to be passed in point of just Reformation and for further securing the Rights and Liberties and setling the peace of the Kingdome In Order to which we further humbly offer 4. That secure provisions may be made for the continuance of future Parliaments so as they may not be adjournable or dissolveable at the Kings pleasure or any other wayes then by their owne consent during their respective periods but at those periods each Parliaments to determine of course as before This we desire may be now provided for if it may be so as to put it out of all dispute for future though we thinke of right it ought not to have been otherwise before And this a firme foundation being laid in the authority and constitution of Parliaments for the hopes at least of common and equall right and freedome to our selves and all the free-born people of this Land we shall for our parts freely and chearfully commit our stock or share of Interest in this Kingdome into this common bottome of Parliaments and though it may for our particulars go ill with us in one Voyage yet we shall thus hope if right be with us to fare better in another These things we desire may be provided for by Bill or Ordinance of Parliament to which the Royall assent may be desired when his Majesty in these things and what else shall be proposed by the Parliament necessary for securing the Rights and Liberties of the people and for setling the Militia and peace of the Kingdome shall have given his concurrence to put them past dispute We shall then desire that the Rights of his Majestie and his Posterity may be considered of and setled in all things so farre as may consist with the Right and Freedome of the Subject and with the security of the same for future 5. We desire that the right and freedome of the People to represent to the Parliament by way of humble Petition their grievances in such things as cannot otherwise be remedied then by Parliament may be cleared and vindicated that all such grievances of the people may be freely received and admitted into consideration and put into an eqâ—itable and speedy way to be heard examinâ—d and redressed I if they appeare reall and that in such things for which men have remedy by lâ—w they may be freely left to the benefit of law and the regulated course of Justice without interruption or check from the Parliament except in case of things done upon the exigency of Warre or for the service and benefit of the Parliament and Kingdome in relation to the Warre or otherwise in due pursuance and execution of Ordinances or Orders of Parliament More particularly under this head we cannot but desire that all such as are imprisoned for any pretended misdemeanor may be put into a speedy way for a just hearing and triall and such as shall appeare to have been unjustly and unduly imprisoned may with their liberty have some reasonable reparation according to their sufferings and the demerit of their oppressors 6. That the large powers given to the Committees or Deputy Lieutenants during the late times of warre and distraction may be speedily taken into consideration That such of these powers as appeare not necessary to be continued may be taken away and such of them as are necessary
have likewise endeavoured to put the Parliament and Kingdome to the trouble hazard delay and vast expence of raising a new force for that sereice 4. That with the breaking of this Army as aforesaid they have in the like manner endeavoured under the pretence of the service of Ireland to raise a new force as before to advance and carry on desparate designes of their owne in England to the prejudice of the Parliament and Publicke and in pursuance of the same have endeavored to divert the forces ingaged as for Ireland and unto such their purpose as aforesaid here in England and have in like manner endeavored to have gained a power from the Parliament for themselves or some of them of diverting and misimploying those forces aforesaid and to raise new forces under pretence to guard the Parliament and not having obtained that have in like manner endeavoured privately to list and engage Officers and Souldiers or procure them to be listed and engaged without Authority of Parliament for the raising of and imbroiling this Kingdome in a new and bloody War and to interrupt and hinder the setling and securing the Rights Liberties and peace of the Kingdome and for the setling upholding and protecting of themselves and their accomplices in their unjust oppressive and Factious designes and proceedings 5. That they have jointly or severally invited encouraged abetted or countenanced divers Reformadoes and other officers and Souldiers tumultuously and violently to gather together at Westminster to affright and assault the Members of Parliament in passage to and from the House to offer violence to the House it selfe and by such violence outrages and threats to awe and inforce the Parliament The severall Heads of Charge the Army will by such Solicitors as they shall appoint when the House of Commons shall admit thereof make good in particulars each Head against some of the persons and some one Head or more against each of the persons and shall shortly give in the severall particulars against each person respectively which shall be made good by proofs the Army desiring to save and reserve to themselves the liberty of exhibiting any farther Charge against all or any of the said persons A Paper delivered to the Right Honorable Commissioners of Parliament now with the Army at S. Albans June 15. 1647. From his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army vnder his Command Shewing I. THat in pursuance of the Representation delivered in we have prepared the Heads of a Charge against divers persons Members of the House of Commons to whom many passages in the said Representation do relate which we have delivered in to be speeded to the Parliament and shall when the Parliament shall have admitted thereof appoint fit persons to our and the Kingdomes behalfs to prosecute and make good the same II. That if the Parliament shall be pleased to admit these things into Debate and Consideration at the desire of the Army in behalf of themselves and the Kingdome and to proceed thereupon for a generall satisfaction therein we shall then desire 1. That the persons impeached in the said Charge may be forthwith suspended from sitting in the House without which we cannot reasonably expect such a proceeding upon any the things we have proposed as may probably bring the same to an happy or timely issue to the Kingdom or our selves or as may prevent the present Designes and practises so imminently indangering the Peace of this Nation if those same persons who have notoriously appeared most active in all the late proceedings to the prejudice and provocation of the Army and hazarding thus farre the Peace of the Kingdom shall continue in the same power Judges of those things relating to the Armies satisfaction and peace of the Kingdom 2. That there may be at least a months pay immediately sent down to the Army for a present supply out of which the Army shall pay fourteen dayes quarter for time to come and the other Fourteen dayes pay shall be accompted as part of Arrears And to this we must desire a present Resolution to be with us on Thursday next by noon at farthest 3. That if the Officers and Souldiers of the Army who have engaged for Ireland or those who have deserted the Army and come to London have since then received more then a Moneths pay there may be so much more money sent downe to the Army above the Moneths pay aforementioned as make up that Moneths pay to the Army equall to what such Officers and Souldiers have so received at London or elsewhere 4. That no Officers or Souldiers who have deserted the Army shall have any more paid them as for Arrears until the rest of the Army shall first be satisfied in point of their Arrears 5. Whereas there have been severall designs and Endeavours without Authority from the Parliament to raise and list new Forces within this Kingdome to draw together the Forces engaged for Ireland and march them towards London and other secret practices to engage the Kingdom in a second War We further desire that during the Debates and Transaction of this businesse betwixt the Parliament and the Army the Parliament would not suffer any new Forces to be raised within this Kingdome or any Forces to be invited or admitted out of any other Kingdome to this or any thing else to be done that may carry the face of a new War or of preparations thereunto which may endanger or interrupt the present proceeding to the settlement of the Liberties and peace of this Kingdom 6. That the Parliament would be pleased without delay to put the things contained in our severall Representations and Papers already given in into a speedy way of resolution and dispatch The present posture and condition of the Kingdome and Army As also of his Majestie himselfe not admitting delays By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax and Souldiers of the Army under his Command Signed by me John Rushworth S. Albans June 17. 1647. Severall Letters sent from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Officers of the Army To the Right Honorable the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common-Councell assembled With their Answer to the said Letters Right Honorable WE received yours of the Eighteenth of this instant whereof though all passages were not so answerable to our expectation as we hoped yet we apprehend the same good affection in you towards this Army as was expressed in your former Letter And that not onely from the assurance of the worthy Gentlemen your Commissioners againe sent to us but also from that information we have received of your extraordinary endeavours to procure money for the Army To prevent further raising or listing of Souldiers and to procure those already Listed to bee disbanded some persons of your Militia onely having been active for the raising of them without your privity As likewise from that Letter fill'd with respect which you prepared and intended to us and being sent to
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
it to be then pass'd accordingly to the great dishonour of the Parliament and their proceedings to the insufferable injury the just provocations discouragement and discontent of the Army to the trouble and danger of the whole Kingdome to the hindring of the reliefe of Ireland and other the evill consequences in the said general Charges expressed 9. That by the same the like false informations Suggestions the said Colonel Harley then still a Member of the Army Sir John Clotworthy Sir VVilliam VValler and the said other persons did shortly after the said Declaration so made as aforesaid procure divers eminent and faithfull Officers of the Army namely Lieutenant General Hamond Colonel Hamond Col. Lilburn Lieut. Col. Pride and others to be sent for from their charges in the Army to appeare at the Bar of the House to make answer in relation to the said Petition against whom when they came thither they could charge or prove nothing at all insomuch as the House thought fit immediately to discharge them And whereas there was a Committee appointed to examine and consider of the truth or falshood of them and the said Members informing were appointed to produce their Proofs and Evidence to the same before the Committee though they have since then been often urged called upon and demanded to produce their Proofs and Evidence thereto if they had any and have been plainly told That if they did not proceed effectually to doe it they should be accounted the Authors and Devisers of the said falshood and reparation would accordingly be demanded against them yet they have not to this day produced any Proofs or Evidence to any of the said Informations or Suggestions whereby the Parliament and the Army were so much abused as before is declared nor could they or any of them be hitherto perswaded to give into the said Committee any Charge against the said Officers of the Army which they have then or since procured to be sent for as aforesaid but have held divers of them in a long and chargeable attendance upon the House without any thing laid to their charge until the House was pleased to discharge them 10. That the said Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir William Walleâ— Sir John Clotworthy and Major Generall Massey in further pursuance of the Designes mentioned in the generall Heads charged against them have been great instruments in the obstructing the reliefe of Ireland And within the space of two moneths last past did untruly informe the House That by their procurement there were Fifty Companies of Foot and Ten Troopes of Horse of this Army ingaged for Ireland upon the termes and under the conduct then by the Parliament propounded and the more to delude the Parliament therein they or some of them by the combination aforesaid did procure divers Officers then in this Army namely Colonell Butler Lieutenant Colonell Jackson Major Goodday _____ and others to give in their Names as Litting themselves for Ireland on the said termes and conduct propounded when as those Officers did at the same time declare themselves as unwilling thereunto and resolved not to goe serve in Ireland on any termes whatsoever they the said Members underhand assuring them That though they made use of their Names yet they should not goe for the service They have likewise untruly informed the House and given in the Names of many considerable Officers of this Army namely Captaine Pennyfather and Captaine Burges of Colonels Butlers Regiment Captaine Clarke and foure or more Comâ— Officers of Sir Hardres Wallers Regiment and others as having beene subscribed for Ireland who did not so ingage or subscribe nor give any consent thereunto but did then and have ever since utterly disavowed and denyed the same And about the same time they also reported to the House the Name and offer of Lieu. Col. Farrington of this Army and ingaging for himselfe and his Regiment for Ireland whereas the said Farrington had beene cashiered the Army a yeere and a halfe before by which and other their false informations and reports of that nature the Parliament was abused and misled into a conceit confidence of a strength out of the Army then supposed to be engaged and ready for Ireland on their owne termes whereas in truth the same was but a meere delusion and which was so contrived on purpose to occasion a slighting and neglecting of the Army as supposing no further use for them 11. Whereas part of three Regiments of Foot viz. Colonel Harberts Colonel Kemps and Colonel Grays were by order of the House advanced towards the reliefe of Ireland as same as Bromsgrave in the County of Worcester the said Sir Phillip Stapleton Mr. Holles Sir John Clotworthy Sir William Lewis and Major Generall Massey Sir William Waller and Mr. Glyn by combination aforesaid did of their owne accord without the knowledge or direction of the House on the sixt day of Iune last being Sabboth day without summoning a Committee command those forces back againe as farre as Reading with an evill intent to draw forces together to beget a new warre in England 12. That the said Sir John Clotworthy in prosecution of the designes in the said generall charges expressed hath in the year 1642 1643 1644. and since converted severall great summes of money which by severall Orders of Parliament and of the Irish Committee were designed for the reliefe of Ireland to his owne particular use namely the summe of 280. li. which by Order of both Houses dated the eleventh of February 1642. was to be paid for 20. Buts of Sack for Ireland 700. li. which the same day was also Ordered for two thousand swords 300. li. which by Order of the said Irish Committee dated the fifth of Aprill 1643. was designed for 120. paire of Pistols and divers other summes of money upon severall other Orders which he the said Sir John Clotworthy from time to time received for the use and reliefe of Ireland but were not imployed to the uses by the said Orders intended and directed but to his the said Sir John Clotworthies owne private use as aforesaid and that he hath within two yeares last past received severall summes of money Armes and other provisions for a troop of horse which he pretended he had raised in Ireland when as he had not nor did raise or furnish any such Troope as he pretended and that hee the said Sir John Clotworthy for money and other rewards hath preferred John Davis and VVilliam Sommers and others to bee intrusted with the Irish affairs who have kept correspondency with the Enemy and have defrauded the State of other great summes of money and hee hath been privy to and a sharer in such their actions 13. That about November last past the said Sir John Clotworthy being by the Parliament sent a Commissioner with others into Ireland who all had a joynt power and authority to treat with the Earle of Ormond for the space of foure dayes and
no more he the said Sir John Clotworthy contrary to the speciall trust reposed in him held secret intelligence with the said Earle of Ormond by Cypher or Character without the consent or knowledge of those others in commission with him and many weeks after the time so limited was expired and about the same time hee the said Sir John Clotworthy held secret intelligence with George Lord Digby then in Ireland beyond the time prefixed and without the consent of the said other Commissioners and in order thereunto the said Ormond and Digby lately imployed one Slingsby to come into this Kingdome about a designe concerning the Prince as he pretendeth 14. That the said Sir John Clotworthy Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton by combination with the rest of the Members before named in further prosecution of the designes before mentioned well knowing that the Lord Lyle late President of Ireland was both faithfull and vigilant while he was trusted in the same Kingdome and had now this last spring made provisions ready to march into the field that the Lord Baron of Brohill Generall of the Parliaments Horse in Munster Col. Sir Arthur Loftus persons of honour and reputation of great fortunes in the said Kingdome lately came purposely into this Kingdome to exhibite and did exhibit many Articles of high treason against the Lord Inchiquin for betraying the Parliaments Army to the enemy as formerly he had done yet by the great power and violent interposition of the said Sir Clotworthy Mr. Holles Sir Philip Stapleton by the practice and combination aforesaid the said Articles have been obstructed and the businesse not suffered to come to a hearing and the said Lord Lisle hastily called out of Ireland and the power and command of the Parliaments forces in that Kingdome committed to the said Lord Inchiquin to the losse of this summers service and the expence of much treasure to make new preparations and whereas the said Lord Lisle being so suddenly called from thence as aforesaid did designe and depute Sir Hardres VValler Knight Major General of the forces there a man of known integrity and courage both for his service in England and Ireland and of considerable Fortunes there to take care of the said Lord Lisles Forces till the pleasure of the Parliament may be further known but the said Lord Inchequin upon the receite of a Letter from the said Sir John Clotworthy Mr. Holles and Sir Philip Stapleton or one of them or from some other person by their or one of their direction privity or procurement did expresse that hee had order or direction from London that no man that favoured the Independents under which name the said Lord of Inchequin hath comprehended all men that have shewed themselves opposite to Tyranny and Arbitrary government should have any trust or command there Nay although they were of another judgement yet if they would not prosecute the Independents they should not bee imployed there or words to that effect And under colour thereof the said Sir Hardres Waller and all others that had their Commissions from the said Lord Lisle while hee commanded were displaced to the discouragement of those and other faithfull persons to the Parliament and to the great dis-service and hazard of the losse of that Kingdome 15. That whereas a Committee of the House of Commons hath been lately appointed by the Parliament to consider of Propositions for the settling and preservation of Wales whereof the said Sir William Lewes and Mr. Glyn were and are Members and to report the same to the House They the said Sir William Lewes and Master Glyn with others of the said Committee did on the thirtieth day of April now last past without any authority of Parliament before any report made to the Houses of their owne accord in stead of settling and preserving Wales order that all Committees for Sequestrations should forbeare all proceedings of Sequestrations against all or any the Inhabitants of Wales And although some few persons were upon generall heads excepted yet by vertue of that illegall Order all the Commissioners of peace Commissioners of Association though never so active in pressing men and raising money for Forces against the Parliament all the Commissioners of Array that did or should at any time come in and submit to the Parliament or their Commanders in cheife all that had born armes against the Parliament unlesse they were Governours or other Officers of Warre that held some Towne Castle or Fort against the Parliament all disaffected and scandalous Miniâ—ters though in their Sermons they usually reviled and scandalized the Parliament and their proceedings calling them Rebels and Traitours and not onely incensing the people against the Parliament but usually taking up Armes and leading their Parishioners in armes upon any Alaram against the Parliament and many other desperate Delinquents have been and still are taken off and freed from sequestration and the said Order was sent to every severall Committee in Wales in severall Letters from the said Committee contrary to severall Orders and Ordinances of Parliament and contrary to the Rules of justice and equity which should impartially be administred as well in Wales as in other places of this Kingdome whereby the ill-affected Gentry and Ministery of that Country are growne so high insolent that honest men dare scare live amongst them so as that which was intended by the Parliament to settle and preserve Wales is by the practice of the said Sir William Lewes and Master Glyn perverted to the danger and destruction of it 16. That the said Sir William Lewis and Master Glyn have further ingratiated themselves with the Delinquents of Wales and prepared them for their said designes in manner following viz. hee the said Sir William Lewis hath within two yeares last past countenanced and protected many of the most notorious and dangerous Delinquents within the severall Countries of Southwales namely the Lord of Carbery and others in Carmarthinshire Master Crane and others in Glamorganshire Master Morgan late Knight of the shire Master John Herbert and others in Bâ—ecknockshire Master Gwin Master Lewis and divers others in Radnoâ—shire by freeing some of them altogether from compositions though sequestred by labouring divers Members of the House and of Committees to be favourable in compounding with others and to admitt of such to their compositions as were uncapable thereof And the said Sir William Lewis hath animated and incouraged some of the said persons to continue their fidelity unto the Kings cause promising them That if they would be friends with the King for him hee and his would be their friends in the Parliament in so much as his friends the Delinquents in those parts have lately looked upon him as a rising man when the King shall come to London which hath lately been their constant boasting And the said Sir William Lewis hath within two yeares last past caused divers that had been Commissioners for the King and had prest men and raised
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
nigh two hundred miles for the more ease of all parts and that wee might give the better satisfaction to the Kingdome And being in this secure way and labouring after the suddain 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 foot forthwith to have advanced for that service But the Kingdomes and our Enemies being most vigilant and active to prevent and frustrate those good intentions and endeavours of ours that they might carry on their former evill designes and under-hand practises and also preserve themselves from the hand 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 Parliament the 23. of July last for the prevention of the disturbances that were like to ensue thereupon from which kinde of disorders the Citie had been well preserved during the space of almost foure yeares whilest the Militia was in the hands of the old Commissioners whereby it appeares 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 1. The old Commissioners of the Militia that have been since left out were not onely persons with out all exception having been formerly chosen and approved by the Parliament and Citie but also men of whom the City Parliament and Kingdome have had above foure 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 difficultie had faithfully and constantly ingaged for and with the Parliament in this cause Mâ—n that were alwayes most desirous of a Peace but of a safe and well grounded one and that had alwaies testified a great care to prevent all occasions of embroyling the Kingdome in a new Warre Now that on a suddain this trust which they had so faithfully discharged so long should be taken out of their hands and put into the hands of others some whereof at the best have been very coole in the service of the Parliament at the beginning of this Warre That this should be pressed and in a manner forced upon the Parliament with such importunitie from the Common-Councell that some out of every Ward should be assigned 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 also over that of the Suburbs and and out parts 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 suspition 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 publique welfare of the whole Kingdome in its security and prosperity for the present and in future times But this designe discovered it selfe more cleerely by such things as accompanied the pursuit of this alteration of the Militia and ensued upon the obtaining thereof At the same time that the alteration of the Militia of London was set on foot the same persons with as much earnestness pressed for the disbanding of this Army before any thing was setled for the security and liberty of the Kingdome At the same time the Common-Councell was new modulized and a Lord Mayor chosen that might suite with the present designe in hand At the said time under colour of differences in some circumstances of Church-Government it was earnestly endeavoured that such as had been constantly true and most faithfull to the interest of the Kingdome should be disabled to have any imployment in Church or Common-wealth 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 deserts and fidelity and others brought into their roomes that had either testified an ill affection or little affection to the Parliament and their cause and such as seeking to withdraw themselves from all imployment in the beginning of this Warre now at the winding up thereof are ambitious to thrust themselves into imployment with a designe as may justly be suspected to frustrate 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 Citie of London and also in the out parts for the space of one yeare Many Officers and under Officers in the Trained Bands of known trust and fidelity were displaced and others of more doubtfull affections placed in their roomes little care was taken of the honour of the Parliament which was continuâ—lly trampled under-foot and their authority affronted by every rabble of Women Apprentices Reformadoes and Souldiers which latter sort of persons were thereby so incouraged to rise higher and higher in their tumultuous carriages against the House till at length it is risen to that height of barbarous and monstrous violence against the Parliament that they might set themselves on worke 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 vowes and engagements set on foote 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 Termes of peace as they pleased 2. In the next place when the interest of the Common Councell in their change of the Militia shall be claimed as the Birth-right of the City of London which they never had any colour to pretend to saving 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 services they have received from them It is time for
Parliament extraordinary provided it meet above seventie dayes before the next Bienniall day and be dissolved at least sixtie dayes before the same so as the course of Bienniall-elections may never bee interrupted 4. That this Parliament and each succeeding Bienniall-Parliament at or before adjournment or dissolution thereof may appoint Committees to continue during the intervall for such purposes as are in any of these Proposalls referr'd to such Committees 5. That the Elections of the Commons for succeeding Parliaments may be distributed to all Counties or other parts or divisions of the Kingdome according to some rule of equality or proportion so as all Counties may have a number of Parliament Members allowed to their choice proportionable to therespective Rates they beare in the common charges and burthens of the Kingdome according to some other rule of equallity or proportion to render the House of Commons as neere as may be an equall Representative of the whole and in order thereunto that a present consideration be had to take off the Elections of Burgesses for poore decayed or inconsiderable Townes and to give some present addition to the number of Parliament-Members for great Counties that have now lesse then their due proportion to bring all at present as neere as may be to such a rule of proportion as aforesaid 6. That effectuall provision be made for future freedome of Elections and certainty of due returnes 7. That the House of Commons alone have the power from time to time to set downe further orders and rules for the ends expressed in the two last preceding Articles so as to reduce the Elections of Members for that House to more and more perfection of equality in the distribution freedome in the Election order in the proceeding thereto and certainty in the Returnes which orders and rules in that case to be as Lawes 8. That there be a liberty for entering dissents in the House of Commons with provision that no Member be censurable for ought said or voted in the House further then to exclusion from that trust and that onely by the judgement of the House it selfe 9. That the judiciall power or power of small Judgement in the Lords and Commons and their power of Exposition and Application of Law without further appeale may be cleared And that no Officer of Justice Minister of State or other person adjudged by them may be capable of Protection or pardon from the King without their advice and consent 10. That the Right and libertie of the Commons of England may be cleared and vindicated as to a due Exemption from any Judgement Triall or other proceeding against them by the House of Peeres without the concurring Judgement of the House of Commons As also from any other judgement sentence or proceeding against them other then by their equalls or according to the Law of the Land 11. The same Act to provide that grand Jury-men may be chosen by and for severall parts or divisions of each County respectively in some equall way and not remaine as now at the discretion of an under-Sheriffe to be put on or off And that such Grand Jury-men for their respective Counties may at each Assize present the names of persons to be made Justices of Peace from time to time as the Countrey hath need for any to be added to the Commission and at the summer Assize to present the names of three persons out of whom the King may prick one to be Sheriffe for the next yeare II. For the future security to Parliaments and the Militia in generall in order thereunto that is be provided by Act of Parliament 1. That the power of the Militia by Sea and Land during the space of ten yeares next ensuing shall be ordered and disposed by the Lords and Commons Assembled and to be Assembled in the Parliament or Parliaments of England or by such persons as they shall nominate and appoint for that purpose from time to time during the said space 2. That the said power shall not be ordered disposed or exercised by the Kings Majesty that now is or by any person or persons by any Authority derived from him during the said space or at any time hereafter by his said Majesty without the advice and consent of the said Lords and Commons or of such Committees or Councell in the intervals of Parliament 〈◊〉 they shall appoint 3. That during the some spâ—â—ce of ten yeares the said Lords and Commons may by Bill or Ordinance raise and dispose of what moneys and for what Forces they shall from time to time finde necessary â—s also for payment of the publick debts and damages and for all other the publick uses of the Kingdome 4. And to the end the temporâ—â—y security intended by the three particulars last precedent may be the better assured it may therefore be provided That no Subjects that have been in Hostility against the Parliament in the late warre shall be capable of bearing any Office of power â—s publick trust in the Common-wealth during the space of five yeares without consent of Parliament or of the Councell of State or to sit as Members or assistants of either House of Parliament untill the second-â—ituniall Parliament be past III. For the present forme of disposing the Militia in order to the peace and safety of this Kingdome and the service of Ireland 1. That there be Commissioners for the Admiralty with a Vice-Admirall and Rereâ— Admirall now to be agreed on with power for the forming regulating appointing of Officers and providing for the Navy and for ordering the same to and in the ordinary service of the Kingdome And that there be a sufficient provision and establishment for pay and maintenance thereof 2. That there be a Generall for command of the Land Forces that are to be in pay both in England Ireland and Wales both for Field and Garrison 3. That there be Commissioners in the severall Counties for the standing Militia of the respective Counties consisting of Trained Bands and Auxiliaries not in pay with power for the proportioning forming regulating training and disciplining of them 4. That there be a Councell of State with power to superintend and direct the severall and particular powers of the Militia last mentioned for the peace and safety of this Kingdome and of Ireland 5. That the same Councell may have power as the Kings privy Councell for and in all forraigne negotiations provided That the making of warre or peace with any other Kingdome or State shall not be without the advice and consent of Parliament 6. That the said power of the Councell of State be put into the hands of trusty and able persons now to be agreed on and the same persons to continue in that power si bene se gesserint for a certain Terme not exceeding seven yeares 7. That there be a sufficient establishment now provided for the salary Forces both in England and Ireland the establishment to continue untill two Moneths after the meeting of