should desire as Revenues Chaplaines Wife Children servants of his owne visitation of Friends accesse of Letters and by Commissary-Generall Ireton that his Negative Voice should not be medled withall and that he had convinced those that reasoned against it at the Generall Councell of the Army And all this they would doe that his Majesty might the better see into all our Actions and know our principles which lead us to give him all those things out of conscience For that we were not a people hating his Majesties person or Monarchicall Government but that we like it as the best and that by this King saying also that they did hold it a very unreasonable thing for the Parliament to abridge him of them often promising that if his Majesty will sit still and not Act against them they would in the first place restore him to all these and upon the settlement of our owne Just rights and liberties make him the most Glorious Prince in Christendome That to this purpose for a settlement they were making severall Proposals to be offered to the Commissioners of Parliament then sent downe to the Army which should be as bounds for our party as to the Kings businesse and that his Majesty should have liberty to get as much of those abated as he could for that many things therein were proposed only to give satisfaction to others which were our Friends promising the King that at the same time the Commissioners of Parliament should see the Proposalls His Majesty should have a copy of them also pretending to carry a very equall hand between King and Parliament in Order to the settlement of the Kingdome by him which besides their owne Judgement and conscience they did see a necessity of it as to the people Commissary Generall Ireton further saying that what was offered in these Proposalls should be so just and reasonable that if there were but six men in the Kingdome that would fight to make them good he would make the seventh against any power that should oppose them The Head-Quarters being removed from Reading to Bedford His Majesty to Woborne the Proposalls were given to me by Commissary-Generall Ireton to present to the King which His Majesty having read told me he would never treat with Army or Parliament upon those Proposalls as he was then minded But the next day His Majesty understanding that a Force was put upon his Houses of Parliament by a Tumult sent for me againe and said unto me Go along with Sir John Barkley to the Generall and Lievtenant-Generall and tell them that to avoid a new warre I will now treat with them upon their Proposalls or on any thing els in order to a Peace only let me be saved in honour and conscience Sir John Barkley falling sick by the way I delivered this Message to the Lievtenant-Generall and Commissary-Generall Ireton who advised me not to acquaint the Generall with it till 10 or 12 Officers of the Army were met together at the Generalls Quarters and then they would bethink themselves of some persons to be sent to the King about it And accordingly Com. Gen. Ireton Col. Raynsborow Col. Hamond and Col. Rich attended the King at Woborne for three houres together debating the whole businesse with the King upon the Proposals upon which debate many of the most materiall things the King disliked were afterwards struck out and many other things much abated by promises whereupon his Majesty was prety well satisfied Within a day or two after his Majesty removed to Stoke and there calling for me told me he feared an Engagement between the City and the Army saying he had not time to write any thing under his hand but would send it to the Generall after me commanding me to tell Com. Gen. Ireton with whom he had formerly Treated upon the Proposals that he would wholy throw himselfe upon us and trust us for a settlement of the Kingdome as we had promised saying if we proved honest men we should without question make the Kingdome happy and save much sheding of blood This Message from His Majesty I delivered to Com. Gen. Ireton at Colebrook who seemed to receive it with joy saying That we should be the veryest Knaves that ever lived if in every thing we made not good what ever we had promised because the King by his not declaring against us had given us great advantage against our Adversaries After our Marching through London with the Army His Majesty being at Hampton Court Leivt Gen. Cromwell and Com. Gen. Ireton sent the King word severall times that the reason why they made no more hast in businesse was because that Party which did then sit in the House while Pelham was Speaker did much obstruct the businesse so that they could not carry it on at present The Leivt Gen. often saying really they should be pulled out by the eares And to that purpose caused a Regiment of Horse to Rendevouze at Hide Park to have put that in execution as he himself expressed had it not been carryed by Vote in the House that day as he desired The day before the Parliament Voted once more the sending of the Propositions of both Kingdoms to the King by the Commissioners of each Kingdome at Hampton Court Com. Gen. Ireton bad me tell the King that such a thing was to be done to morrow in the House but his Majesty need not bee troubled at it for that they intended it to no other end but to make good some promises of the Parliament which the Nation of Scotland expected performance of And that it was not expected or desired his Majesty should either Sign them or Treat upon them for which there should be no advantage taken against the King Upon the delivery of which Message His Majesty Replyed he knew not what Answer to give to please all without a Treaty Next day after this Vote passed the Leivt Generall asking me thereupon if the King did not wonder at these Votes I told him no For that Com. Gen. Ireton had sent such a Message by me the day before the Vote passed to signifie the reason of it The Leivt Generall Replyed that really it was the truth and that we speaking of the Parliament intended nothing else by it but to satisfie the Scots which otherwise might be troublesome And the Leivt Gen. and Com. Generall enquiring after His Majesties Answer to the Propositions and what it would be it was shewed them both privately in a garden-Garden-house in Putney and in some part amended to their own minde But before this the King doubting what answer to give sent me to Leiv Generall Cromwell as unsatisfied with the proceedings of the Army fearing they intended not to make good what they had promised and the rather because his Majesty understood that Leiv Gen. Cromwell and Com. Gen. Ireton agreed with the rest of the House in some late Votes that opposed the Proposals of the Army they severally replyed that they would not have his Majesty
SUNDRY REASONS Inducing Major Robert Huntington TO Lay down his Commission Humbly presented to The honourable Houses OF PARLIAMENT Printed in the Yeare 1648. SUNDRY REASONS INDUCING Major Robert Huntington to lay down his Commission Humbly presented to the honourable Houses of PARLIAMENT HAving taken up Armes in defence of the Authority and Power of King and Parliament under the Command of the Lord Grey of VVarke and the Earle of Manchester during their severall imployments with the Forces of the Eastern Association and at the Modelling of this Army under the present Lord Generall having been appointed by the honourable Houses of Parliament Major to the now Regiment of Lievtenant-Generall Cromwell in each of which imployments have served constantly and faithfully answerable to the trust reposed in me And having lately quit the said imployment and laid down my Commission I hold my selfe tied both in duty and conscience to render the true reason thereof which in the generall is briefly this Because the Principles Designes and Actions of those Officers which have a great influence upon the Army are as I conceive very repugnant and destructive to the honour and safety of Parliament and Kingdome from whom they derive their Authority The particulars whereof being a Breviate of my sad Observations will appeare in the following Narrative First That upon the Orders of Parliament for disbanding this Army Lievtenant Generall Cromwell and Commissary-Generall Ireton were sent Commissioners to Walden to reduce the Army to their obedience but more especially in in Order to the present supply of Forces for the service of Ireland But they contrary to the trust reposed in them very much hindred that service not onely by discountenancing those that were obedient and willing but also by giving incouragement to the unwilling and disobedient declaring that there had lately been much cruelty and injustice in the Parliaments proceedings against them meaning the Army and Commissary-Generall Ireton in further pursuance thereof framed those Papers and Writings then sent from the Army to the Parliament and Kingdome saying also to the Agitators That is was lawfull and fit for us to deny disbanding till we had received equall and just satisfaction for our past service Lievtenant-Generall Cromwell further adding That we were in a double capacity as Souldiers and as Commoners and having our pay as Souldiers we have somthing els to stand upon as Commoners And when upon the Rendezvouz at Tripple Heath the Commissioners of Parliament according to their Orders acquainted every Regiment with what the Parliament had already done and would further do in Order to the desires of the Army the Souldiery being before prepared and notwithstanding any thing could be said or offered to them by the Commissioners they still cried out for Justice Justice And for the effecting of their further purposes advice was given by Lievtenant Generall Cromwell and Commissary Generall Ireton to remove the Kings person from Holdenby or to secure him there by other Guards then those appointed by the Commissioners of Parliament which was thought most fit to be carryed on by the private Souldiery of the Army and promoted by the Agitators of each Regiment whose first businesse was to secure the Garrison of Oxon with the Guns and Ammunition there from thence to march to Holdenby in prosecution of the former advice which was accordingly acted by Cornet Joyce who when he had done the businesse sent a letter to the General then at Kynton acquainting his Excellencie that the King was on his March towards Newmarket The Generall being troubled thereat told Commissary-Generall Ireton that he did not like it demanding withall who gave those Orders He replyed that he gave Orders onely for securing the King there and not for taking him away from thence Lieutenant-Generall Cromwell coming then from London said that if this had not been done the King would have been fetcht away by Order of Parliament or else Collonell Graves by the advice of the Commissioners would have carryed him to London throwing themselves upon the favour of Parliament for that service The same day Cornet Joyce being told that the Generall was displeased with him for bringing the King from Holdenby he answered that Lieutenant-Generall Cromwell gave him orders at London to do what he had done both there and at Oxford The person of the King being now in the power of the Army the businesse of Lieutenant Generall Cromwell was to Court his Majesty both by Members of the Army and severall Gentlemen formerly in the Kings Service into a good opinion and belief of the proceedings of the Army as also into a disaffection and dislike of the proceedings of Parliament pretending to shew that his Majesties interest would far better suit with the principles of Independencie then of Presbyterie and when the King did alledge as many times he did that the Power of Parliament was the Power by which we fought Lieutenant Generall Cromwell would reply that we were not only Souldiers but Commoners promising that the Army would be for the King in the settlement of his whole businesse if the King and his party would sit still and not declare nor Act against the Army but give them leave only to mannage the present businesse in hand That when the King was at Newmarket the Parliament thought fit to send to his Majesty humbly desiring that in Order to his safety and their addresses for a speedy settlement he would be pleased to come to Richmond contrary hereunto resolution was taken by the aforesaid Officers of the Army That if the King could not be diverted by perswasion to which his Majesty was very opposite that then they would stop him by force at Royston where his Majesty was to lodge the first night keeping accordingly continuall Guards upon him against any power that should be sent by Order of Parliament to take him from us And to this purpose out-guards were also kept to preserve his escape from us with the Commissioners of whom we had specially Orders given to be carefull for that they did dayly shew a dislike to the present proceedings of the Army against the Parliament and that the King was most conversant and private in discourse with them His Majesty saying that if any man should hinder his going now his Houses had desired him upon his late Message of the 12. of May 1647. it should be done by force and by laying hold on his Bridle which if any were so bold to doe he would endeavour to make it his last But contrary to his Majesties expectation the next Morning when the King and the Officers of the Army were putting this to an issue came the Votes of both Houses to the King of their compliance with that which the Army formerly desired After which his Majesty did incline to hearken to the desires of the Army and not before Whereupon at Caversham the King was continually solicited by Messengers from Lieutenant-General Cromwell and Commissary-Generall Ireton proffering any thing his Majesty
mistrust them for that since the House would goe so high they only concurred with them that their unreasonablenesse might the better appeare to the Kingdom And the Leiv Gen. bad mee further assure the King that if the Army remained an Army his Majesty should trust the Proposals with what was promised to be the worst of his conditions which should be made for him and then striking his hand on his brest in his Chamber at Putney bade me tell the King he might rest confident and assured of it and many times the same Message hath beene sent to the King from them both but with this addition from Com. Gen. Ireton that they would purge and purge and never leave purging the Houses till they had made them of such a temper as should doe his Majesties businesse And rather then they would fall short of what was promised he would joyne with French Spaniard Cavileir or any that would joyne with him to force them to it Vpon the delivery of which Message the King made Answer that if they doe they would doe more then he durst doe After this the delay of the settlement of the Kingdome was excused upon the commotions of Col. Martin and Col. Rainsborough with their adherents the Leiv Gen. saying that speedy course must bee taken for outing them the House and Army because they were now putting the Army into a Mutuny by having hands in publishing severall printed Papers calling themselves the Agents of five Regiments and the agreement of the people although some men had encouragement from Leiv Gen. Cromwell for the prosecution of those papers and he being further prest to shew himselfe in it he desired to be excused at the present for that he might shew himselfe hereafter for their better advantage though in the company of those men which were of different judgements he would often say that these people were a giddy-headed party and that there was no trust nor truth in them and to that purpose wrote a Letter to Col. Whaley that day the King went from Hampton Court intimating doubtfully that his Majesties Person was in danger by them and that hee should keep Out-guard to prevent them which Letter was presently shewed to the King by Col. Whaley That about six dayes after when it was fully known by the Parliament and Army that the King was in the Isle of Wight Com. Gen. Ireton standing by the fire side in his Quarters at Kingstone and some speaking of an agreement likely to be made between the King and Parliament now the Person of the King was out of the power of the Army Com. Gen. Ireton replyed with a discontented countenance that hee hoped it would be such a Peace as we might with a good conscience fight against them both Thus they who at the first taking the King from Holdenby into the power of the Army cryed down Presbyterian Government the proceedings of this present Parliament and their perpetuity and instead thereof held forth an earnest inclination to a moderate Episcopacy with a new election of Members to sit in Parliament for the speedy settlement of the Kingdom and afterwards when the Eleaven Members had left the House and marching through London with the Army the seven Lords impeached the foure Aldermen of London committed to the Tower and other Citizens committed also then againe they cryed up Presbyterian Government the perpetuity of this present Parliament Leiv Gen. Cromwell further pleasing himselfe with the great Summs of money which were in Arrear from each County to the Army and the Tax of sixty thousand l. per Moneth for our maintainance now saith he we may be for ought I know an Army so long as we live and since the sending forth the Orders of Parliament for the calling their Members together Leiv Gen. Cromwell perceiving the Houses will not answer his expectation he is now again uttering words perswading the hearers to a prejudice against the proceedings of Parliament again crying down Presbyterian Government setting up a single Interest which he cals an honest Interest and that we have done ill in forsaking of it to this purpose it was lately thought fit to put the Army upon the choosing new Agitators and to draw forth of the House of Parliament 60 or 70 of the Members thereof much agreeing with his words he spake formerly in his Chamber at Kingstone saying what sway Stapleton and Hollis had heretofore in the Kingdome and he knew nothing to the contrary but that he was as well able to govern the Kingdome as either of them so that in all his discourse nothing more appeareth in his seeking after the Government of King Parliament City and Kingdome for the effecting whereof he thought it necessary and delivereth it as his Iudgement that a considerable Party of the Chiefe Citizens of London and some of every County be clapt up in Castles and Garrisons for the more quiet and submissive carriage of every place to which they belong Further saying that from the rising of the late Tumult in London there should be an occasion taken to hang the Recorder and Aldermen of London then in the Tower that the City might see the more they did stirre in opposition the more they should suffer adding that the City must first be made an example And since that Leivt Gen Cromwell was sent down from the Parliament for the reducing of the Army to their obedience he hath most frequently in publick and private delivered these ensuing heads as his Principles from whence all the foregoing particulars have ensued being sully confirmed as I humbly conceive by his practise in the transaction of his last yeares businesse 1. That every single man is Iudge of just and right as the good and ill of a Kingdome 2. That the Interest of honest men is the Interest of the Kingdome and those only are deemed honest men by him that are conformable to his judgement and practise Which may appear in many particulars To instance but one in the choyce of Col. Raynsborow to be Vice-Admirall L. Generall Cromwell being asked how he could trust a man whose Interest was so directly opposite to what he had professed and to one whom he had lately aimed to remove from all places of trust He answered that he had now received particular assurance from Col. Raynsborow as great as could be given by man that he would be conformable to the Iudgement and descretion of himselfe and Com. Generall Ireton for the mannaging of the whole businesse at Sea 3. That it is lawfull to passe through any Formes of Government for the accomplishing of his end and therefore either to purge the Houses and support the remaining Party by force everlastingly Or to put a period to them by force is very lawfull and sutable to the Interest of honest men 4. That it is lawfull to play the Knave with a Knave These Gentlemen aforesaid in the Army thus Principled and as by many other circumstances may appear acting accordingly give too much cause to believe that the successe which may be obtained by the Army except timely prevented by the wisdome of the Parliament will be made use of to the distroying of all that Power for which we first Engaged and having for above these twelve Months past sadly and with much reluctancy observed these severall passages aforesaid yet we have some hopes that at length there might be a returning to the obedience of the Parliament and contrary hereunto knowing that Resolutions were taken up that in case the Power of Parliament cannot be gained to countenance their Designes then to proceed without it I therefore chose to quit my selfe of my Command wherein I have served the Parliament for these five years last past And put my selfe upon the greatest hazards by discovering these truthes rather then by hopes of gain with troubled minde continue an assistant or abetter of such as gives affronts to the Parliament and Kingdome by abusing of their Power and Authority to carry on their particular Designs Against whom in the midst of danger I shall ever avow the Truth of this Narrative And my selfe to be a constant faithfull and obedient Servant to the Parliament of England August the 2. 1648. Ro. Huntington FINIS