The Reſolutions of the Army, &c.

HAving once by the bleſſing of God upon our endeavours diſſipated and re­duced moſt part of the adverſe Party that but lately were both ſtrong and prevalent in the Parliament and King­dome; yet whilſt wee have been bu­ſied abroad (fighting with the Common Enemy) a new Party have combined together, both in the City and Parliament (not only to fruſtrate all that hath been already acted by us with inceſſant labours, to the ha­zard and loſſe of our lives and eſtates) but have made uſe of their power to obſtruct and prevent Juſtice, to injure, oppreſſe, and cruſh the peaceable and well af­fected people of the Kingdome, to abridge and over­throw all juſt freedome and liberty, and to drive on de­ſignes to ſet up that Party at home, which wee are pul­ling downe abroad; the ready way not onely to caſt an Odium upon all wee have done hitherto, but to en­ſlave both us and the whole Kingdome to all Poſterity hereafter.

Wee therefore being very ſenſible of a very power­full Party in the City of London, that have not onely to ſtrengthen themſelves, and their pernitious deſignes, cloſed with a deſperate and Malignant Party; but ſought to new moddell the Common-Counſell, and4 to get the power of the Militia into their owne hands, have ſtirred up the poore abuſed people to ſet their hands to, and Petition for they know not what, under the notion of a Perſonall Treaty; and by their conti­nuall, violent, and preſſing importunity at the Parlia­ments doores, have forced them not onely to revoke their former Votes, but to recall their Declarations, concerning of making no more Addreſſes to the King; becauſe guilty not only of all the innocent blood that hath been ſhed, but hath alſo remained obſtinate, even for all he hath loſt all, and is in no condition and power to raiſe or helpe himſelfe; yet even at that time, when our Conqueſt is neere compleat, to ſue to, and make Addreſſes too, and Treat with Him that wee have al­ready ſubdued; making our ſelves guilty of our own Acts, and of intailing innocent blood, and ſlavery upon us and our children for ever heereafter, making our ſelves guilty of thoſe crimes wee fight againſt; name­ly, Tyranny, Perſecution, and the like.

But Treat they will, that is their pretence; but their intent ſeemes to be no other then to make uſe of many ignorant, giddy-brained, and idolatrous people, to throng in Multitudes to him, and ſo overpower them­ſelves and theirs; yea, and the whole Kingdome with their weight and levity. Doth not Nature and Reaſon, therefore teach us to prevent the miſchiefes that are comming upon us, as well as to ſecure our ſelves? And how can it be but by diſſipation of them at the firſt, before they have bodied, or grow numerous? The Nature and Malignity of their Petition for a Treaty, ſhewes the Nature and compoſition of the Leaders that lead the ſame, whoſe glittering pretences are not gold,5 but lead gilded over; their words, expreſſions, and poſtures, ſhewing the intended ruine and poſtration both of us, and all wee have ſo long, and ſo ſuccesfully achieved; yet ſo mad they are, that this they will doe, though wee are aſſured they will by theſe courſes pro­ſtrate themſelves and their owne in the concluſion: Who offends them ſo, as ſuch offenſive defence needs to be? Doth not their arming inforce arming? Doth not their univerſall violence, as they will have the King home right or wrong, import them virulent? and what can be preſaged from ſuch depravids, but prabities? Much more might be inferred from the contence of their diſcontented Petition for a Treaty; ſo from the Leaders, and the lead; ſo from their words, expreſſi­ons, and poſtures; but comprehenſive underſtandings will ſave us a labour, and incomprehenſive and willfull ones, will make us a labour.

Therefore for divers weighty Reaſons, and to hold you no longer in ſuſpenſe: Wee doe now declare to all people our Reſolutions and Intentions:

That wee cannot comply with any in their prepo­ſtrous pretended Treaty with the King, intending ſi­ding with him, to enſlave our ſelves and our Poſterities, and the whole Kingdome, before theſe Particulars fol­lowing be aſcertained us.

1. That they make good the Supreame of the peo­ple from all pretences of Negative Voices, whether it be in King or Lords, or any that ſhall lay challenge to claime any ſuch Titles.

2. That Lawes be forthwith made for electing of Repreſentatives yearly without Writ or ſummons.

3. That the time of their ſitting ſhall not exceed fif­ty6 dayes at the moſt; and that this preſent Parliament end within 20. dayes.

4. That matters of Religion bee exempted from all compulſive or reſtrictive, power of any authority what­ſoever.

5. That none ſhall bee forced (or preſſed) to the Warres.

6. That both Kings, Queenes, Princes, Dukes, Earles, Lords, and all Perſons, ſhall be alike liable to every Law of the Land.

7. That all Commoners ſh•ll bee freed from the ju­riſdictions of the Lords in all caſes; and that all tryals ſhall be by twelve ſworne men, and no conviction but upon two or more ſufficient witneſſes.

8. That none bee examined againſt themſelves, or punniſhed for doing that againſt which no Law is pro­vided.

9. That all Trade and Merchandizing be made free from all monopolizing, and ingroſing, by Compa­nyes, or otherwiſe.

10. That all Exize, and all other kinde of Taxes (except ſubſidies) be taken off.

11. That all incloſures of Fennes and other Com­mons be layd open for the benefit of the poore.

12. That heerafter there be no more impriſonment for debts, and that Proviſion be made for the inlarge­ment of thoſe that are already impriſoned for the ſame.

13. That a way bee ſpeedily found out to ſet all manner of poore people on worke according to their ſeverall profeſſions, or otherwiſe.

14. That the tedious burthen of Tythes be taken off7 the people, and a more equall way of maintenance al­lowed for poore Miniſters.

15. That it be declared what the duty of a King, or Kingly Office is, and what not; the Revenue aſcertai­ned; paſt increaſe or diminution.

16. That publique Officers for the City of London be duly elected out of every particular company there­in, for reſtoring the Comonalty thereof to their juſt Rights.

17. That full and ample ſatisfaction be made to all manner of perſons that have been oppreſſed by ſentence of High Commiſſion, Starchamber, or Counſell board, or by any kinde of Monopolizers or Proje­ctors, and that full ſatisfaction bee made out of the e­ſtates of thoſe that were Authours, Actors or Promo­ters of ſo Intolerable miſchieves.

18. That all C•mmittees be aboliſhed, and all try­alls be referred to the true method in every reſpective County.

19. That conſtant pay be provided for us, and Rules given to all Judges and all other publique Officers throughout the Land for our indempity, and ſaving harmleſſe all that have any wayes aſſiſted us, or that have ſaid or done any thing againſt the King, Queene, or any of his Party ſince the beginning of the Parlia­ment to the end thereof.

20. That with our lives and powers wee defend the Common Liberties of the Nation in oppoſition of all kinde of tyranny and oppreſſion whatſoever, bee it in King, Lords, or Commons.

21. That ſatisfaction bee made to all the well-affe­cted people for the loſſe of limbs, or havock and ſpoile of goods or the like.

Whileſt theſe things be paſſed; Wee the Comman­ders and Officers of the Army cannot in conſcience diſ­band, and are ſo far from accepting of an Act of Ob­livion, or In•em•ity for what wee have already done for the good•f the Kingdome, that wee rather expect that an act of Parliament ſhould be made; that the Ar­mies under our command ſhould be had in perpetuall memory, and ſome mark of honour fixed upon them for their great and unceſſant labours, and hazards both of lives and eſtates, for the preſervation of the liber­ties of the people, and freeing of the Kingdome from Tyranny, Popery, and the like; then to bring us and them under an offence by the acceptation of an odious act of Oblivion, or Indemnity; as if wee were Traytors or Thieves, or had committed ſome great crime againſt the Kingdome, or that all the innocent blood ſhed ſhould lie upon us, which wee utte••y denounce.

And furthermore wee declare unto all well-affected to the Kingdome, that it ſhall be our greateſt care to preſerve them from Tyranny, violence, and oppreſſion, both of our own Armyes, or any forces that ſhall be raiſed againſt them; and whoſoever of the well-affected party ſhall ſuffer in this expedition (doing any thing for the common good) we do promiſe a recompence for their loſſes, and full ſatisfaction.

The Copy of this was ſent from a great Commander in the Army, and deſired to be printed and publiſhed in the name of the Reſt.