THE DECLARATION Of Lieutenant-Generall CROMWEL CONCERNING The Kings Majeſty, and the Citizens of London, and his Preteſtation for peace, and re-inthroning of the King: Together with his Propoſitions to the Army, and their reſolution thereupon.
Likewiſe three Letters from the ſaid Lieutenant Generall, to the Kings Majeſty, the Prince of Wales, and the Trayned Bands of the City of London: and his Demands to all thoſe who are enemies to the King, and the peace of the Kingdom.
Signed O. CROMWELL.
Printed in the Year of joy, Novemb. 17. 1648.
LIeutenant Generall Crumwell, and divers other Officers of the Army, upon a Generall councel held the 11. of this inſtant November, debated2 the Propoſals of the Army, in reference to the Reſentm nts, touching the King and his Repreſentments; and after ſome diſpute in an Argumentary way, they unanimouſly declared their reſolutions to adhere thereunto, and to live and dye, and ſtand and fall with the Army in the South, for preſervation of the Rights and Liberties of the Free-born people of England, and the eſtabliſhing of the Laws of the Land, and confirming of certain Rules for the execution thereof between the people and their Repreſentatives.
And upon the cloſe of their conſultations, the Lieutenant Generall further demonſtrated, that he thought it requiſite, that all poſſible meanes ſhould be uſed for the faciliating and obtaining a ſpeedy grant and condeſcenſion to the Deſires of the Army, both from King and Parliament; and that a Letter be drawn up, and expedited to his Majeſty, to deſire his Gracious condeſcenſions to the Deſires of his two Houſes, for the ſetling of a ſafe and well-grounded peace; as alſo preſſing his Majeſty to take the Covenant, and to ſigne the Propoſitions.
Theſe Propoſals were with much alacrity and amity embraced, and a Letter is ſaid to be forthwith drawn up, to be preſented to his Majeſty, together with a Declaration and Repreſentation in behalfe of the Army.
The Lieutenant Gen. hath declared his reſolution to the Governour of Pontefract, and hath ſent this enſuing Meſſage (or Summons) for the ſurrender thereof, viz.
Sir, Being come hither for the reduction of this place, I thought fit to ſummon you, to deliver your3 Garriſon to me for the uſe of the Parliament: thoſe Gentlemen and Souldiers with you may have better termes, then if you ſhould hold it to extremity, I expect a ſpeedy anſwer, and reſt Yours &c.
But notwithſtanding the ſaid Demands, the Kings party hath returned a very peremptory anſwer, and are reſolved to oppoſe us.
By Letters from the Iſle of Wight it is advertized, That his Majeſty hath ſent a Letter to Gen. Fairfax, intimating, His earneſt deſires for peace, requiring his Excellency, and the Councell of the Army to be inſtrumenall therein, promiſing upon his Royall Word to ſatisfie all things by them deſired, and to enact and make proclamation thereupon, throughout all Cities, Counties, and Market townes, within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales.
And it is further demonſtrated, that his Majeſty hath promiſed on his Royall Word to grant power to His two Houſes (by an Act) to nominate Officers of State for 20 years. As alſo to grant an Act to confirme the leſſer Catechiſm, (agreed upon by both Houſes) to be read and publiſhed in all Churches throughout the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales ..
VVHereas there are many falſe ſuggeſtions and evill aſperſions caſt upon the Army, by the inſolent and corrupted Spirits of the adverſe party, and their Abettors, and whoſe hearts are ſtill inflamed, againſt all thoſe who countenance or embrace our Cauſe, as is plainly evidenced by their late Deſignes throughout the City and Kingdom, and their ſpreading of the black and diſmall Cloud throughout all the corners of the Nation, for the making of the Army odious to the ſight and judgment of all men; as alſo their preſent drawing of the Curtain, to make vent and way for the uttering of their falſe and abominable caluminations againſt us, in ſaying that our counſels and conſultations tends to nothing elſe, but the utter ſubverſion of all Kingly and Monarchical Government, and that our endeavours are for the obſtructing of the Treaty, and ruling the Kingdom by the power of the Sword.
Therefore, for vindication of the Army from theſe unparaleld calumniations, we do demonſtrate and declare, that our hearts are free from the leaſt thought or action for the ſubverſion of Authority or Government.
Proteſting to live and dye in the true maintenance and preſervation of the ſame.
And as we have heretofore demonſtrated our great and earneſt deſires for peace, ſo we do again declare, that nothing ſhall be wanting in Us, for the promoting of the ſaid happy and bleſſed work; and that notwithſtanding all aſperſions whatſoever) we ſhall uſe our5 utmoſt endeavours for the accompliſhing of a true & laſting peace, which wce have ſo dearly bought by the price, and ranſome, of ſo many thouſand innocent and precious ſoules, who have ſacrificed their lives in theſe eight yeers wars.
And as for the preſent Treaty in hand between the King and Parliament, we do declare that we ſhall not obſtruct the ſame, nor meddle therein; provided, that we may be aſſured of ſecurity for the future, our arrears paid, the great burthen of the Kingdom removed and taken off, Religion ſetled, and the Subject freed from all tyranny and oppreſſion either from Prince or Repreſentatives.
Theſe things being enacted, and confirmed to all future Generations, we do unanimouſly declare, that none ſhall be more willing to enjoy that which we have ſo dearly purchaſed then our ſelves; and that we ſhall endeavour the re-inthroning of our Soveraign, the calling home the Prince and the Duke of Yorke, and the compoſing of all other differences, in Church and State.
Signed by divers Agents of the Army, in the Name of themſelves, and all the free-born people of England, and commanded to be forthwith printed and publiſhed.
This day divers of the Officers of the Army met at the Bull-head, where they debated many excellent things tending to peace; and upon the cloſe of their conſultations declared their moſt pious and unanimus reſolutions for peace, referring the further reſults thereof till Thurſday.
St. Albans16 Novemb. 1648.
Sir, We hear that Lieutenant Generall Cromwell hath ſent a Letter to the Prince of Wales, dehorting his Highneſſe to come in to the Parliament, and to mediate with his Royall Father for a ſpeedy union and compliance with his two Houſes, &c.
The Lieutenant Generall hath further declared, that he will leave no meanes unaſſayed, for the compoſing of all differences betweene the King and people; and for the better effecting thereof, hath ſent a Meſſage to the Citizens of London, purporting his earneſt Deſires for peace, and re-inthroning of the King, and that future proviſion be made for the people of England, to preſerve them from tyranny and oppreſſion, requiring them to be inſtrumentall therein, which Letter is ſaid to be ſigned
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