A DECLARATION From His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, AND The Generall Councell of the ARMY;
CONCERNING, The obſtructive proceedings of divers Citizens of LonLon, towards the Souldiery; As alſo the Charge of the Army upon them, and the reſt of their Adherents about the City.
Together with their laſt Propoſals to both Houſes of Parliament, and a Letter from his Exceliency and the Army, read in both Houſes of Parliament upon Satturday laſt, and communicated to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London.
BY the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, and the Generall Councell of the Army, this Declaration, together with the Propoſals, were ſent to the Commiſſioners of Lords and Commons reſiding with the Army, to be preſented to both Houſes of Parliament, and read upon Satturday〈◊〉Septemb. 18. 1647. ⟨7ber 21⟩
Printed at London for C. W. and are to be ſold at the Royall Exchange in Cornhill, 1647.
VVHereas the great neglect of divers perſons within the City of London, hath occaſioned too many delayes in raiſing Money for ſupply of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdome; His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General-Councell of the Army, Doth declare, That they take notice of the great wants of the Souldiery, both of the Army, and other Forces, and Garriſons; as alſo of the ſufferings of the County, in reſpect of free quarter, which might have been peevented, and a courſe taken for disbanding ſuperfluous Forces, and ſending over of others for the reliefe of Ireland, and the ſupplying of thoſe that are there already, had it not been for neglect or delay of thoſe on whom the Parliament have depended in that particular, and they doe eſpecially take notice of the delayes made by the City in advancing of that ſumme, which the Houſes have demanded of them upon the ſecurity of the Arreares ſo long ſince due from the City to the Army; upon which they doe declare, and propound to this effect.
I. That for what time their defauls or delayes have occaſioned, and ſhall further occaſion the Armies ſtay hereabouts, the charge thereof ſhould ſome way be laid upon them, and their adherents about the City.
II. That the Houſes would be pleaſed ſpeedily to conſider of the Delinquencie of thoſe that had a hand in the Tumult, Deſine, and Engagement of a new Warre, and that ſuch Fines may be upon them for the ſame, as ſhall bee agreeable to juſtice.
III. That in caſe the Money be not brought in by the time limited, the Parliament would be pleaſed to give leave to the Generall (with the advice and directions of the Committee for the Army) for the levying of the ſaid Arreares.
All which they rather deſire from grounds of reaſon and evidence from the ſpeeches of many in the City, and deſignes and hopes of the Parliament and Armies Enemies to raiſe the Army into diſtempers, and the Country about them into confuſion.
This Declaration was agreed upon at the Headquarters at Putney, upon Thurſday laſt, there being a Generall Councell of the Army appointed to be held every Thurſday. The Generall Councell met in the Church, the Generall, many Generall Officers, Field-Officers, inferiour Officers, and Agitators met. A great part of the time was ſpent in conſideration, and debate of the Propoſals of the Army, and ſome few things agreed upon to be altered, and explained in them, which no doubt will give much ſatisfaction to the Kingdome.
After the aforeſaid Declaration was finiſhed, it was, by the appointment of his Excellency, and the Councell of Warre, ſent to the Right Honourable the Commiſſioners of Lords and Commons reſiding with the Army, to be preſented from them to both Houſes of Parliament, which according, with a Letter from the Generall and Army, to this effect, vix. That they earneſtly deſired, ſome ſpeedy courſe might be taken for their pay, that ſo they might be inabled to pay their quarters, was preſented to both Houſes of Parliament upon Satturday laſt, and after reading thereof, ordered to be communicated to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London.
UPon Thurſday laſt, being the 16. of this inſtant, his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the generall Officers of the army, had a great meeting at Putney, where they ſpent much time, in debating upon the preſent affaires of the Kingdom, and upon many great and weighty matters, exceedingly materiall towards the ſetling of a firme peace and union. During which time of conſultation, in debate thereof, many worthy and excellent ſpeeches were made at the Councell table, in the preſence of the Generall, Lieutenant Generall, and the reſt of the Officers aſſembled together, by certain Colonels of the Army, which was to this effect viz.
That they deſired nothing ſo much, in reſpect of their own particulars, as to ſee this languiſhing and tottering Kingdome, reſtored to a happy and flouriſhing condition, that ſo the pure light of the Goſpell may ſhine forth in abundance, and appeare in its full l•ſt•e throughout all darke and obſcure corners of the Kingdom, and that the joyfull newes of Peace may have its full Eccho and tryumphant ſound throughout all his Maieſties Realmes and Dominions, and that the hearts both of King and People may be firmly kuit and united together, &c. With many other worthy expreſſions and proteſtations, touching the ſetling of a firme peace.
Much time were ſpent, touching divers weighty buſineſſes in behalfe of the whole Kingdome, concerning the peace, and future ſafety; as alſo ſome things debated upon in reference to the Propoſalls, that after the Rights, Liberties, Peace and ſafety of the Kingdome being provided for, the Kings Majeſties Royall perſon, his Gonſort the Queena, their Highneſſes, Charles Prince of Wales, James Duke of Yorke, and the reſt of the 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, &c.
No wayes are left unaſſayed, for the obtaining of a ſpeedy ſettlement of the Kingdome, and eſtabliſhing of his Maieſty and his Royall poſterity in their full Rights & Freedomes, ſo that there is great hopes of a happy and mutuall concurrence, betwixt the King and his great Councell. The Generall Councell goes on unammouſly in all their Undertakings, and not ſo much as one diſſenting Member amongſt them.
BY the appointment of his Excellency, and the Councell of Warre, the fore-going Declaration was ſent to the Commiſſioners of Lords and Commons, to be preſented to both Houſes of Parliament.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A82078)
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