JOYFULL NEWES From Lieutenant Generall CROMWEL Concerning The Kings Majeſty, and the Treaty; and His Reſolution for Peace.
ON Satterday laſt being the 7. of this inſtant October, a Letter came to the Committee at Derby houſe from Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, purporting, his great and earneſt Deſires for Peace, and his Propoſitions touching the Kings Majeſty, and the Commiſſioners for the Treaty; Deſiring, That nothing may retard or obſtruct ſo great and2 happy a Work, but that the Treaty may go on with all poſſible ſpeed; to the end, that all differences may be compoſed between the King and his people, without the ſhedding of more bloud, and that a generall peace may be unanimouſly concluded of, and effectually eſtabliſhed throughout all his Majeſties Realmes and Dominions.
The ſaid Letter further intimated, that the differences in Scotland are brought to a period, and all armes and acts of hoſtility fully concluded of, Monro and Lanerick to depart the Kingdom, and ſome Officers of note, the reſt of that party to depart to their owne homes, and to take an Oath never to ingage againſt the Parliament of England for the future.
There is many other excellent and declaratory ſpeeches contained in the ſaid letter, expreſſing the ardent affection of the Lieut. Gen. for peace, which was
Signed O. Cromwell.
A Declaration of the Marquis of Argyle, and Lieut. Gen. Cromwell.
THe Marq. of Argyle entred Barwick on Satterday laſt, ſeven hundred of the other Scots marched out, and are disbanded, Argyle forthwith ſurrendred it to Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, who hath placed Col. Overtons Regiment in it, and the Lieutenant Colonell is Deputy Governou•at preſent, and Orders are gone out for the ſurrender of Carliſle.
3The Marq. of Argyle hath invited Lieut. Gen. Cromwell to march with him to Edinburgh, whither they are now going, but the Lieutenant General intends not to ſtay, but forthwith to return back for England.
Mordington4 Octob. 1648.
Munday a petition was preſented to the houſe of Commons to this effect, ſhe•ing, That whereas the petitioners have long lien under the burthen of theſe inteſtine and devouring wars, and are now lifted up with the hopes of a bleſſed Sun-ſhine of peace breaking forth, for the diſpelling of all thoſe miſts that have wrapt us up in this long miſery: In which peace well ſetled, none ſhall more rejoyce then the petitioners, being ready to accept it as the fruit of all their labors, loſſes croſſes, yea all their hazards in this gre•t adventure; but deſire ſatisfactiō touching thoſe provoking crimes to Heaven, from his Maj. viz. About the death of his Father, the betraying of Rochel, his proclamations to cry down parliaments, his correſpondency with Rome, the private articles of his Marriage, his Commiſſions to the Rebels in Ireland, the inviting of forreigners to inſtave the three Nations, his proclaming the Parl. of England Rebels, &c. The premiſes conſidered, they deſire they may not be left in the dark concerning theſe Suggeſtions and Charges, which if true, that proceedings may be accordingly: but if otherwiſe, that his Maj. may be cleered. This petition was read in the houſe, and M. Speaker returned anſwer,
That they are ingaged in a treaty with the King wherin they will take care for the preſervation of Religion, Lawes, Liberties, and protection of thoſe that have ingaged with them.
The Declaration of the Army concerning the Treaty. preſented to the Lord Generall Fairfax.
WE make bold being preſt in ſpirit, to repreſent to you, as the ground of our fears, ſo the matter of our deſires. It hath pleaſed God after much plottings & endeavours of the old and new malignants to crown the Army with great ſucceſs; and although that calls for Juſtice, little or none is done, and leſſe is like to be done, unleſſe your Excellency preſently appears to do ſomthing, and the Army with you, to be a leading cauſe to us; we wait for it. Inſtead of Juſtice, behold a Treaty with them for Peace, that God ſpeaks no peace to: and inſtead of owning juſt Petitions, they are laid aſide, and not countenanced; ſome imployed in the Treaty not long ſince voted the Army Rebels; what that prognoſticates in the future, when they have power, we leave to your Excellency to judge. So hoping you will ſo far honour, us, as to ſtand by the Kingdom and the Army in their juſt rights and priviledge, We ſubſcribe in behalf of the Officers and Soldiery,
The Army hath further declared to his Excellency, That it is not the ſence of the Army, to have a perſonall Treaty with the King, but deſire Iuſtice to be execued upon thoſe Lords and Commons, Aldermen, and Common-councel men of London, who invited the Scots into this Nation; as alſo againſt thoſe Common councel men of London, that durſt joyn with the Prince (while in arms againſt the Parliament and people) in his Deſires, concluding that all theſe wickedneſſes must be ſalved up with a perſonall treaty, &c.
5A Letter from the Army, to the Citizens of London.
GEntlemen, and Fellow-Commoners. As we all languiſh apd groan under the inſuportable weight of the publike oppreſſion of the Land, ſo it is our duty to ſtruggle and ſtrive joyntly together for the relief of each other, for to our Neighbour we are bound as to our ſelves; and we are all the ſons of one Nation and brethren by Nature, whoſe ſeverall Weale and woe is included and wra•t up in the fold of one Common-wealth; that we muſt even ſtand or fall together. We though we have our ſwords in our hands, cannot be without you, nor you without us, in this day of publike calamity, as we with you ſo you with us are ſufficiently ſenſible, which to all conſcientious and judicious men may be ſufficient to tye us firmly together in one Common bond of unity againſt all our oppreſſours, and oppoſers of freedome whatſoever, but in this we give you the preheminence, for though we are with you in heart and affection, for the principles of Common Right and freedom to the Laud, yet we muſt give you the right hand of fellowſhip in appearing and going before us therein. For to the great refreſhments of our ſpirits we find, that God hath provided yet thouſands for us, that have not bowed their knee to Baal, and are yet firm and untaynted with the poyſonus principles of oppreſſion and Tyrany, as by your two late Petions appeareth. And as you have bin an encouragement unto us, to raiſe up your ſpirits, &6 put us upon action, ſo let us be an encouragement unto you to purſue you with the uttermoſt vigour and might in thoſe happy begining of yours, & we ſhal by Gods aſſiſtance ſecond you with our moſt power againſt all oppoſers whatſoever. And we ſhall ſay no more at preſent, but that we are,
By letters further from the North it is ſaid, that col. Martin begins to grow powerfull, having a very conſiderable party: but moſt of them have declared againſt the treaty, and ſhewes a great diſlike thereof.
There are many thouſands of the Souldiery which have ſigned a petition to come to the Parliament deſiring them to look to themſelves, and clear their power and protect the peoples intereſt againſt all their Enemies.
It is reported, that the King hath ſent a Meſſage to the army, intimating, That He earnestly deſires a ſafe and well grounded peace, throughout this bleeding and diſtreſſed Church and State, requiring them to be inſtrumentall therein: and that in ſo doing, He will take care for the payment of their Arrears.