A DECLARATION Of the Commanders and other Of­ficers of Colonell HUMFREY'S Re­giment, in Vindication of themſelves from theſe aſpertions and Scandals caſt upon them, Of plotting and fomenting diſcontents, and obſtructing the Disbanding of Supernumeraries.

ACcuſed Innocencie may crave ſo much liberty as to ſpeak for it ſelfe, and we hope a juſt Vindication of our late pro­ceedings is both convenient and neceſſary. Were not our Enemies pow­erfull, and the accuſations guided over with2 pretended truth, wee had not appeared in publique; but things falling out as they doe in the fomicture of time, our expecta­tions being raiſed for a better conſtruction of our actions our ſilence had been our ſins, and wee juſtly culpable of ſo groſſe a neglect.

We therefore in behalfe of our ſelves and Regiment declare as followeth.

I. Whereas wee underſtand that divers ſug­geſtions of an high nature to the Honoura­ble Committee of Lords and Commons at Darby-Houſe have been tranſmitred againſt us, and from them to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, of obſtructing the buſineſſe of disbanding, as if wee had plotted a com­bination to the fomenting an ill ſpirit a­mongſt our Souldiers. Wee in the ſincerity of our hearts affirme to the World our ready ſubmiſſion to the Authority of Parliament, and Commands of his Excellency. Wee were not ſo unwiſe, having by the bleſſing of God ſo many yeares with all humble ſub­jection3 owned the Commands of the State, now at one Exit to ſtaine the honour of that faithfulneſſe with a non-obedience.

II. Although wee heare of a diſcontented party, men who love to fiſh in troubled wa­ters, yet as formerly they diſſented from the Army and us in our concurrance with it, ſo none can remonſtrate our diſlike of their proceedings, though neighbouring to us, and that wee are ſo farre from entertaining their deſigne, which if it had been mentio­ned to us, they ſhould have had nothing but diſcovery and oppoſition from us, and this our laſt Summers actions ſufficiently taught them as the Parliaments Call gave both edge and action to our ſwords, ſo we ſhall willingly ſheathe them at their com­mand, notwithſtanding any invitation to the contrary.

III. That although ſome diſſatisfaction hath4 met us in the way of disbanding (fire being ſtruck ſuppoſing us a tynder, thereby to re­duce us to aſhes) yet the Eagle ſtoopes not to Flies, and ſuch rebbes ſhall not turne us out of the way of our obedience, by which we ſhall ſerve the publique, which is our maine end, and fruſtrate ſome ends of our contriving Enemies, though it may be ad­vantagious to them in their private Inte­reſts.

IV. Wee are in a ready way of disdanding, our Accounts are ſtating, Orders have been and ſhall be obſerved to the very laſt, and we hope 'twill not bee long ere the worke be finiſhed, Peace being brought home up­on the wings of Victory, and 'tis one com­fort to have a ſhare in that Peace, in the ob­taining of which God hath been pleaſed to make uſe of our bloud and labour. If ever the Clowds gather again, and that ſpirit be­gins to worke which we have now laid, or a­ny other in oppoſition of the Parliaments Authority, and his Excellencies Commands,5 though disbanded, yet upon a call from the Parliament we ſhall willingly engage again, being very ambitious of the houour to bee ſtiled the Faithfull Servants of our Engliſh Parliament.