A DECLARATION FOR THE KING From divers of His Majeſties loyall Subjects in both Houſes of Parliament, and the Citizens of LONDON.
The Honourable Court of Parliament having received a Remonſtrance, or Declaration, from the Army, containing divers Propoſals exceeding high and of great conſequence; and upon debate thereof, divers of the diſ-aſ ſenting Members declared a great diſlike thereof, and his Majeſties moderate2 friends deſired it might be laid a ſide for ſome certain dayes others moved that it might be ejected; and in the concluſion, after they had ſufficiently declared their full ſenſe touching the Deſires of the Army, they reſolved to lay it aſide till Munday next.
After reading the ſaid Remonstrance, Mr. Pryn made a very learned Speech, concerning the Demands of the Army, his expreſſions tending much to the diſhonour of them, who argued very ſtifly againſt the unlawſulneſſe of their Demands.
Divers other Members ſeconded him, and deſired to inſiſt no further thereon, but to wave their Propoſals for a time.
Yet notwithſtanding the ſaid Arguments and Deſires, the well affected party declared a great unwillingneſſe to diſpenſe with any time, but to inſiſt thereon immediatly, and to endeavour to give all ſpeedy & poſſible ſatisfaction to them in all things by them deſired.
The Declaration of the Citizens of London, concerning the Demands of the Army.
VVHereas wee have lately received a Paper intituled the Remonstrance or Declaration of the Army, We do unanimouſly declare, That We ſhall willingly and freely comply with them therein, for the executing exemplary Juſtice upon all capitall Off•nders, and endeavour the reſtitution of the Freeborn people of England to their common Rights, Liberties,3 and Freedoms, proteſting to live and dye with them therein, for obtaining, effecting, and making future proviſion for the ſame.
Signed by many thouſands of the well-affected party in and about the City of London.
Theſe mutuall expreſſions are ſaid to proceed from thoſe Citizens, who are known and diſtinguiſhed by the Badge of Independency; But it is ſaid, that the Presbyterian party, and others, are reſolved to thwart them in their Engagement, and to declare againſt ſome particular Domands of the Army, whom they conceive to be too high and unreaſonable.
But concur with them in their Propoſition for the executing of Juſtice upon the viſible enemies of peace provided a favourable conſtruction may be had on his Majeſties former actions and proceedings, and that they may bee weighed in the Ballance of Equity and Compaſſion.
Mr. Speaker, The Generall Councell of Officers at their late meeting here have unanimouſly aagreed upon a Remonſtrance, to be preſented to you and in regard it concernes matters of higheſt and preſent importance to your ſelfe, to Us ▪ and the whole Kingdom; I do, at the deſire of the Officers, and in the behalf of them, and my ſelf moſt earneſtly intreat that it may have a preſent reading, and the things propounded therein may be timely conſidered.
The Charge and Propoſals of the Army.
1 That the capitall and grand Authors of onr troubles, the perſon of the King may be ſpeedily brought to Juſtice, for the Treaſon, bloud, and miſchief he is already guilty of. 2 That a timely and peremptory day may be ſet for the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York to come in, and render themſelves, by which time if they do not, that then they may be immediatly declared incapable of any government or truſt whatſoever, and to ſtand exild for ever, as enemies and traytors, to dye without mercy, if ever after taken. And if they or either of them, renders themſelves within the ſaid time, that then the Prince for his capitall delinquency (being in appearance next to his Fathers) and himſelfe and the Duke to be proceeded againſt in Juſtice, or remitted according as they ſhall give ſatisfaction. But however that the Eſtate and Revenue of the Crown may be ſequeſtred, and all the matter of coſtly pomp ſuſpended for a good number of yeers, while the deſolations and ſpoyles of the poor people may be repaired for eaſe of the peoples contributions, 3 That Juſtice bee executed on a competent number of his chiefe Inſtruments that are in the power of the Parl. ſo that their exemption from pardon may not bee a mockery of Juſtice in the face of God & Man. 4 that the reſt of the Delinquents (Engliſh) may upon rendition of themſelves to Juſtice, have mercy extended to them for their lives, and fines ſet upon them with moderation, and thoſe that have compounded, to bee freed from Suits, Arreſts, &c. Now after Juſtice thus done upon the forementioned particulars, we propound3 further for ſetling of the peace of the Kingdoms, viz.
1 That a ſpeedy period may be put to this Parl. and teat the power thereof may again return to the people, by, and whom it was firſt conſtituted, and proviſion for future, Annuall or Biennial, upon grounds of common right freedom, and ſafety.
2 That no Delinquents may elect or be elected, at leaſt for ſome time, and that there may be a certainty of their ſitting, meeting, and ending.
3 That it be declared, that as to the whole intereſt of the Commons of England; they are the ſupream power, for the making, clearing, or repealing Lawes; for making War or Peace, and for finall iudgment in civil things without further appeale; and that all the Commons of England, and all Officers of Juſtice, and Miniſters of State, ſhall for the outward man, and outward things be concluded thereby; provided, theſe things be reſerved from, and not intruſted in the ſaid Repreſentatives.
1 The queſtioning or cenſuring of any man, for any thing ſaid or done, in relation to the late wars, but ſuch caſes as before mentioned.
2 The rendring up, or giving, or taking away of any of the Foundations of Right, Liberty, and ſafety to the People, contained in a ſettlement and agreement; which to be above Law, and to bee ſigned unto by the People.
That no King; or other publike Officer be hereafter admitted, without ſubſcribing to his ſettlement.
Novemb. 22. Letters from the Iſle of Wight ſay, That his Majeſty begins to grow exceeding diſcontented and melancholy, and feareth much the preſent Overtures of the Army, touching their ſeizing on his Royall perſon, which hath occaſioned many ſundry contemplative expreſſions from his Majesty, who ſaith, that if they execute their wills on Him, by ſpilling of his Royall bloud, He feareth divers more will follow. Theſe diſmall Repreſentations cauſeth much ſadneſſe and mourning throughout ſeverall corners of the Nation. But it is thought that ſome new addreſses will be made from the ſeverall Counties, to the Parliament and Army, in behalf of their dread Soveraign the King. And a Declaration is ſuppoſed to be immediatly ſet forth by his Majeſty, concerning the Armies Proceedings by way of Charge againſt His Royall perſon.