HIS EXCELLENCY SIR THOMAS FAIRFAXES Proteſtation, in the name of himſelfe, and the reſt of the Army.
THE DECLARATION Of the Commaltee of Souldiers, Their Anſwer to the Scots Declaration, And the Reſolutions of the army Concerning the City of LONDON.
London Printed by B. A. 1647
YOurs dated June 11, came ſafe to my hands for which I give you many thankes, and for what hath ſince my lhſt bin collected by me, is briefly thus, That we have left the King vt his houſe at Newmarket, where Col. Whalley commands the Guard ſtill.
Wee are now come hither to St. Albones the Gen. Excellency, Leivtenant Gen. Hammond, Col. Hammond, Comiſſary Gen. Ierton, Col. Rainsborough, Col. Sir Hardreds Waller, Col. Rich, Col. Lilburne, Col. Pride, Col. Howſon, and the reſt, Alſo F. Mar. Gen. Skippon, Liv. Gen. Crumwell and the reſt of the Commiſſioners are come with us, wee have a very gallant army, & do not decreaſe, beſids many that have left us would faine be admitted againe but come not.
Wee had ſome of the Scots Declarations brought hither which have much incoraged the ſouldiers, eſpecially that laſt paſſage, wherein they aſſined the Parliament at the conference of both houſes, that if there were neede, (it being upon ſome ſpeeches againſt the army) that they would joyne aboue man.
But I find that the ſouldiers take things very well from the City, in that they will joyne with thoſe who would promote war againſt them. And it hath (as I here) been diſputed amongſt the ſouldiers very much, what courſe to take for the poore of the City of London, in caſe the Armies lying neer raiſe the priſes of proviſions, the reſult of which was that if they have but ſome monies ſent them to pay the Armies quarters, they will retreate further from the City, & it is the open way (ſo far as I perceive) that upon a motion from the City, the Parliament will not deny it them.
we heare that it is much queſtioned in the City of London what the Army wil do upon them in relation to their Eſtates whether they ſhall be free from plunder, & alſo whether they will admitt a free trade, if the Country to which the Souldiers haue reſolved, that the City of London going on in this loving way, and not oppoſing them, they will do them no prejudice.
The ſouldiers are reſolved that not one penyworth of goods or mony, ſhall be prejudiced by them, not only that in their ſhops or houſes, but what ſoever ſhall be carried in to the Country, or be ſent up from the Country, between them and thoſe they deale withall, not any jote thereof ſhal be prejudiced, and if any monies be ſent them to enable them to pay quarters they will remoue further off from London.
Wee heare of ſome Aldermen, and Common-Councell men comming to the Army from the City, they are much expected againe, they a••come to us, you ſhall here further from
1. WE have ſaid before, and profeſſe it now, we deſire no alteration of the Civill Government.
2. We deſire not to interrupt the ſetling of Presbyterial Government.
3. Nor do we ſeek to open a way to licentious liberty, under pretence of obtaining eaſe for tender Conſciences.
I. Their deſire is, to preſerve and not to ſpoyle, and to that end, are determined both Officers and Souldiers, horſe and foot, not in the leaſt, to be accounted the wicked of men, and deſtroyers, but preſervers of that remnant and talent which God hath beſtowed upon thoſe, who ſerve him in truth and ſincerity.
II. That although they are now near approaching towards your vaſt and populous City, yet it is no waies prejudiciall to the State, but for the preſervation and ſecurity of thoſe priviledges, for which divers poor ſouldiers have loſt their lives for the maintenance of the ſame.
III. That if there be an anſwer returned ſomewhat ſuitable to their deſires, and their reaſonable requeſts granted, they ſhall proceed no further, but retreat to any convenient place, which ſhall be thought fit and convenient.
IV. That, their deſire is, that they may receive a faire & ſuitable Anſwer to their Requeſts, (profeſſing that their intentions are reall, and not in the leaſt, prejudiciall, either to State or Common-Wealth, but for the advantage of the publike good.) And that the Citizens of London with whom they have ſo often hazarded〈◊〉lives withall againſt the Common Enemy of the Kingdome, may not in any waies ſtand in oppoſition againſt them, but really and unanimouſly knit their hearts in one link, againſt all oppoſers and diſturbers of the publike Weale of England, in which troubleſome diſaſters, both the Citizens of London and the renowned Prentices (of the ſaid City) in the Army, have waded through many difficulties.
V. And laſtly,〈◊〉is the earneſt deſire of the whole Army, that all things may be compoſed in love, and that all poſſible means may be uſed, for a ſafe and well-grounded peace, that ſo his Majeſties Honour and Prerogative may be maintained, the Priviledges and Being of Parliament preſerved, and the peace and welfare of the Kingdome defended, againſt all Oppoſers, and Diſturbers whatſoever.
Theſe Deſires and Demands were ſubſcribed by divers of the chief Officers in the Army.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A84940)
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