Sir Thomas Fairfax's LETTER TO The Honoble William Lenthal Eſq Speaker to the Honorable Houſe of Commons.
Concerning THE AGREEMENT Between Sir Tho: Fairfax's Commiſsioners and Sir Ralph Hoptons at Truro in Cornwal.
Together with a true Copy of the Articles, agreed on by both parties.
Which Articles and Letter was brought by Maſter Peters, and were read in the Honourable Houſe of Commons, 21 Martii, 1645.
APpointed by the Honorable William Lenthal Eſq Speaker of the Honorable Houſe of Commons, to be printed and publiſhed.
London: Printed for EDW. HUSBAND, Printer to the Honorable Houſe of Commons. March 23. 1645.
WHileſt I lay at Bodman for the neceſſary refreſhment of the Army, and to block up the paſſages from Bodman to the North and South ſea, I ſent a Summons with Propoſitions to Sir Ralph Hopton, and the Army under his command: A Copy whereof I have herein incloſed, being encouraged thereunto by ſome of the enemies Officers and Souldiers, who came into me, and informed of there inclineableneſſe to conditions; and hoping thereby either to bring them to ſuch terms as ſhould be to your advantage, or would diſtract and weaken them; and withal underſtanding by the intercepted Letters I ſent you, that an Iriſh infantry was ready to be ſhipt for England, I thought fit to try all means which in probability might break their body of Cavalry upon the place: when I had diſpatched theſe Propoſitions to the enemy, I advanced4 upon Monday withal the Army from Bodman towards Truro, Truro being then the enemies head quarters, and to Tregmon where I quartred that night: Sir Ralph Hopton ſent a Trumpeter to me with a Letter, deſiring to have Commiſſioners appointed on both ſides, to meet at Treſilian-Bridge the next day with power to Treat and conclude, which I aſſented to: The Treaty accordingly began, the Commiſsioners meeting about four a clock in the afternoon, and I in the mean time advancing the quarters of the Army to Truro and St. Allan: After ſome time ſpent between the Commiſsioners, this Agreement was made, a copy whereof I have here alſo incloſed, and in execution thereof this day we began to disband the French Brigade under Col. Lapland: To morrow we proceed with three other Brigades, they having nine in all, and ſhall endeavour to ſhorten this work as much as may be. Truly, Sir, this muſt needs be acknowledged for an admirable mercy from the ſame gracious hand of providence, that hath hitherto gone along with you, that ſo conſiderable a force as this ſhould be ſo baffled: Firſt at Torrington, and afterwards ſhould put themſelves as it were into a net; whereby they were neceſsitated to take terms to the utter ruine of ſo great a body of Cavalry, which according to all our information, and the confeſſion of our enemies was not leſſe at the time of the Treaty then four thouſand five hundred horſe: The Articles of Agreement will ſpeak the mercy, and needs no comment; yet I hope I may make this obſervation upon them, that hereby not onely ſo great a body of Cavalry is broken, but ſo many both officers and ſouldiers diſobliged from taking Arms againſt you, and5 this is at ſuch a ſeaſon when a forraign aide ſo ready as the Earl of Glamorgans Letters ſent up formerly (& now ſent you) ſpeak at large, the timely freeing of us for other ſervices that remain, with the diſcouragement put upon the enemies Garriſons in theſe parts, which we hope will cauſe them the more ſpeedily to come in, we truſt will be good conſequences of this work: Its the deſire of us all, the praiſe of all may be returned to God, to whom it is onely due: The reputation of this hath already produced a ſurrender of Saint Mawes Caſtle, wherein we found about 13 Guns and good proportion of Ammunition, which place gives you a better intereſt in Falmouth harbour then the enemy hath; for by the advantage hereof you may bring in ſhipping without hazzard, which they cannot; It hath alſo occaſioned the coming in of between three hundred and four hundred foot of the enemies with their Arms to me, and given the Countreys ſuch heart againſt them, That in Peryn (a Town formerly not very well affected) and in Saint Ive they ſtand upon their guards againſt the enemy: For further particulars concerning this buſineſſe, I refer you to Maſter Peters, who ſince he came into this Country (where he was born) hath very much furthered the ſervice in the bringing of the Country in ſo freely to the protection of the Parliament. I remain
1. IT is concluded and agreed, That no perſon in the Lord Hop•ons Army, not formerly by name excepted by the Parliament from pardon, ſhall be excluded from the priviledge of this Treaty, either as being a forraigner, or for having formerly ſerved the Parliament; but ſhall equally have the benefit of what ſhall upon this Treaty be granted to other perſons of that quality that they are of in the Army: And for any perſons by name excepted by the Parliament, they ſhall have preſent liberty (if they deſire it) to go beyond7 Seas, with like recommondation and equipage; at others of like quality; or if they deſire to live at home in England, to make their addreſſes to the Parliament; For that, or other purpoſe, they ſhall have leave and reaſonable time ſo to do, and the Generals protection to live quietly, and at liberty in any place they ſhall nominate and chuſe within the Parliaments Quarters, until they have received the Parliaments Reſolution; And if the Parliament ſhall not think fit to grant ſuch their deſires, they ſhall then have leave and Paſſes to go beyond Sea, as before, or to any of the Kings Armies or Garriſons, as they ſhall think fit.
2. That the Army and Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton, ſhall within ſix dayes after the date hereof, be wholly disbanded and diſcharged by the Lord Hopton, and the General, Officers, Colonels, and other Officers under his Command, according to the ſeveral Charges in manner hereafter expreſſed.
3. That all common Troopers; Corporals of Horſe, Farriers and Saddlers; that are mounted, being of or belonging to the Forces under the Command of the Right Honorable the Lord Hopton, ſhall bring in and deliver up their Horſes, with their Bridles and Saddles, and all their Arms unto his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, or unto whom he ſhall appoint to receive them; in manner, time and place, as is hereafter expreſt; Provided, that all Corporals and ſuch Common Troopers; as ſhall appear Gentlemen of Worth, and ſuch other Troopers as ſhall go beyond Sea, ſhall be allowed to keep, and carry away with them their Swords.
4. That upon performance hereof, they ſhall receive 20 s. a man, or keep their Horſes, and ſhall have their Paſſes to go to their homes in England, or beyond Sea with their Bag and Baggage, which they ſhall have leave to carry with them, or diſpoſe of them as they pleaſe; and thoſe to whom Swords are allowed as before, to paſſe with their Swords.
5. That the Commiſſion-Officers of Horſe under the Lord Hopton, for their ſeveral Troops reſpectively, ſhall cauſe the ſaid Horſes and Arms to be duely delivered in without changes, ſpoiling or imbezzlement among themſelves, according to the effect of the firſt Article before going.
6. That this being performed, all the ſaid Commiſſion-Officers of Horſe in preſent command, and all Trumpeters belonging to them,8 ſhall have liberty to go away, either to their homes in England, or beyond the Seas with their Bag and Baggage: And alſo, they ſhall have ſuch number of Horſes and Equipage as is hereafter allowed, according to their ſeveral qualities: That is to ſay,
Firſt, For thoſe that ſhall chuſe to go beyond the Seas, the full number of Horſes and Fire-Arms, if they have ſo many of their own.
9II. To thoſe that ſhall chuſe to abide in England, with the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax his protection, and to live at home, ſhall have their proportions as followeth.
10VII. That the precedent Articles concerning the ſurrender o•Troopers horſes, &c. being performed; if any Officer in Command, that chaſeth to live at home ſhall approve to have more horſes of his owne, than what hee is before allowed by the laſt precedent Article, the Commiſſioners of Sir Thomas Furfax his part will recommand it to his Excellencies favour, That they may enjoy the benefit of ſuch horſes of their owne to the ſame number as Officers of like quality that are to goe beyond Sea.
VIII. That of the Reformadoe Officers that chuſe to live at home in England, Reformadoe Quarter Maſters ſhall have the ſame conditions as Corporalls in Command; Coronetes and Livetenants ſhall goe away with one horſe a peece, Captaines, Majors and Livtenant-Collonels, with two horſes a peece, and Collonells with three horſes a peece, if they have ſo many of their owne, and one caſe of piſtolls, thoſe Reformadoes that deſire to goe beyond Seat to halfe the proportion of Horſes and Armes allowed in that caſe to Officers of the like quality in preſent Command if they have them of their owne and all of them to goe with Swords Bagg and Baggage, or diſpoſe thereof at pleaſure.
IX. That all Gentlemen of quality in Armes or not in Armes, but living under the protection of the ſaid Army, ſhall have liberty either to goe to their owne houſes, or beyond the Seas, with Bagg and Baggage, and equipage according to their ſeverall qualities, as followeth, That is to ſay.
X. That to all thoſe who according to the effect of theſe Articles ſhall chooſe to goe beyond the Sea, paſſes ſhall be granted from11 the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax accordingly, and to thoſe who being Engliſh ſhall chooſe to live at home, paſſes for that purpoſe and protections for their liberty of their perſons, and alſo for the freedom of their eſtates from all plunder or violence of Souldiers, and that ſuch Gentlemen or others that have conſiderable eſtates, may have the Generalls Letters of recommendation to the Parliament (if deſired) for their moderate compoſition.
XI. That after the performance of theſe Articles ſo far to disbanding and delivering up of what is to be delivered: All Officers and Souldiers that ſhall according to theſe Articles chuſe to goe beyond the Seas, ſhall have ſufficent Quarters aſſigned them by Sir Thomas Fairfax, neere convenient Ports for their tranſportation, and that they ſhall have twenty eight dayes allowed to ſtay in England from the day of their ſeverall disbanding, and that the charge of quartering their horſes be diſcharged by themſelves after the firſt fourteene dayes for the time of their further ſtay, That the Generall will appoint men to take care that ſhipping ſhall be provided for tranſporting the perſons, Armes, Bagg and Baggage, they paying the accuſtomed rates.
XII. That a certaine number of Officers of the Lord Hoptons Army not exceeding forty, upon the Lord Hoptons Commiſſioners requeſt ſhall be permitted to have paſſes for themſelves, and their ſervants horſes and neceſſaries to goe to Oxford, provided that their ſervants exceed not the number of two, their horſes three, to every one reſpectively.
XIII. That the Lord Hopton ſhall be allowed for his owne uſe all his horſes, provided they exceed not the number of forty, and Armes for himſelfe and twelve men; And that the Lord Wentworth ſhall have all his horſes, provided they exceed not five and twenty and armes for himſelfe and eight men, and places aſſigned them for conveniency of Quarters.
12XIIII. That ſuch engliſh men as ſhall chuſe to abide in England at their homes, and all Forraigners of the ſaid Armie, ſhall ingage themſelves by promiſe in ſuch forme as is herewith agreed on, not to beare Armes any more againſt the Parliament of England, nor to act any thing wilfully, prejudiciall to the Parliaments affaires, without firſt rendring themſelves Priſoners to the Parliament; And likewiſe all ſuch Engliſh as ſhall chuſe to goe beyond Sea, ſhall ingage themſelves in the like promiſe for three yeares next enſuing the date hereof, or otherwiſe ſhall loſe the benefit of theſe Articles, excepting the Lord Hopton and Lord Wentworth, and the number of Officers allowed to goe to Oxford, in the twelfth Article before-going, who are by the intention of theſe Articles left free from ſuch ingagement.
XV. That all Horſes, Armes, and furniture of warre belonging to, or in the hands of any perſon of the ſaid Armie, not allowed in the precedent, or ſubſequent Articles, to bee carryed away, ſhall be delivered up to ſuch perſons, and at ſuch place neere Truro, or Sir Thomas Fairfax his head-Quarters, as his Excellency ſhall appoint, within ſix dayes after the date hereof without faile, or in bezelment; At the care aſwell of the Generalls Officers of the ſaid Armie, and all Commanders in their ſeverall charges, as by the perſons themſelves to whom ſuch Armes or Furniture of warre doe belong, or in whoſe cuſtody they were.
XVI. That whoſoever ſhall after the concluſion of this Treaty, purpoſely breake, ſpoyle, or imbezill any of the Armes, Horſes or furniture agreed and concluded to be delivered up in this Treatie, ſhall forfeit the benefit due unto him by any Article in the Treaty. And if any of the ſaid Armie after the concluſion of this Treaty, ſhall plunder, or wilfully doe any violence unto any Inhabitants of the Country, they ſhall give ſatisfaction unto the perſons ſo wronged, or loſe the benefit of the Treaty, And that the Commiſſioners of both parties, or13 any three of them, whereof one or more to bee of Sir Thomas Fairfax his partie, and one or more to bee of the Lord Hoptons, ſhall have power to heare and determine all ſuch caſes accordingly.
XVII. That the ſaid Armie and Forces under the command of the Lord Hopton; from the time of the Concluſion of this Treaty, untill the time of their drawing out to bee disbanded, as in the enſuing Articles, ſhall bee quartered in ſuch places Weſtward from Truro as Sir Thomas Fairfax ſhall appoint, which ſhall be large enough for their accommodation, and that the Ceſſation of Armes, and of all acts of hoſtility betwixt the two Armies, ſhall continue unto the time of the compleat disbanding of the Lord Hoptons Armie.
XVIII. That for the disbanding of the ſaid Forces, and delivering up of Horſes, Armes, &c. In performance of the precedent Articles. Every Brigade and Regiment under the Lord Hoptons command, ſhall by their reſpective Commanders be drawne out into ſuch places of Rendezvous, within two miles of Truro, or Sir Thomas Fairfax his head-Quarters, And upon ſuch dayes as Sir, Thomas Fairfax ſhall for them joyntly or ſeverally appoint notice of the time and place being given to his Excellencie in writing ſixteene houres before-hand, under the Commiſſioners of the Lord Hoptons partie, or any of them, two or more of whom ſhall for that and other purpoſes continue at Sir Thomas Fairfax his head Quarters, untill the disbanding bee finiſhed, and that the Quarter-maſter Generall, or Adjutant of the Lord Hoptons with one horſeman from every Brigade, ſhall alſo bee there with them, and that none of the ſaid Brigades or Regiments ſhall bee drawne out of their Quarters, (which ſhall be aſſigned to them as afore) otherwiſe then upon, and according to ſuch notice from Sir Thomas Fairfax as before, except to and for their ordinary Guards.
14XIX. That to or before the drawing out of the ſeverall Brigades or Regiments ſuch Randezvouz as before: The chiefe Commanders of them reſpectively ſhall deliver unto whom Sir Thomas Fairfax ſhall appoint, a true and perfect liſt of the Regiments and Troopes in the ſeverall Brigades, and of all Officers and Souldiers in their ſeverall Troopes, expreſſing by name which of them doe chooſe to goe beyond Sea, and which doe goe to live at home; Or alſo, who are Reformadoes, and in what degree of command they have ſerved in, and that at the ſame times and places, the Horſes, Armes, and Furniture, by vertue of the precedent Articles to bee delivered up, ſhall bee delivered accordingly: And all the Officers and Souldiers disbanded and diſcharged, and there ſhall receive their Paſſes with Warrants for quarters by the way for one night in a place, and bee conveyed towards their ſeverall homes, as farre as Chard, if they goe ſo farre, or unto Quarters aſſigned them for their tranſportation according to the preceding Articles.
That for the further peformance of theſe Articles, two Collonels of each Armie ſhall be mutually delivered and kept as Hoſtages.
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