MORE NEVVES FROM THE ARMY
I. THat whereas it pleaſes the honourable Houſes of Parliament, upon miſ-information falſly ſuggeſted unto them, to declare and immediatly publiſh in print to the kingdome, that the Petition of the Army, being but only an intention, did tend to put the army into a diſtemper and mutiny, to obſtruct the relief of Ireland, and to put conditions upon the Parliament, and declaring the petitioners if they ſhall proceed therein, no leſſe then Enemies to the State, and diſturbers to the publique peace, which ſaid heavy charge remaining upon record, we cannot chuſe but be deeply ſenſible thereof, & with amazement wonder, how ſo humble and innocent addreſſe, intended to the generall, could beget ſo ſtrange an interpretation.
The Houſe of Commons have voted to call in the ſaid Declaration according to this Propoſition, and that it ſhall not remaine upon Record againſt them, and the concurrence of the Lords deſired therein.
II. Thet whereas thoſe perſons that haue attempted to beget and attempt, and fo•en•diviſions between the Parliament and their army, by their ſurrepticion•; obtaining and miſ-repreſenting our petitions, and by producing other ſcandalous letters from unknown hands by them produced, the Authors whe are concealed, and not brought forth to make a judiciall proofe of thoſe things laid to our charge which we cannot but look upon as a juſt cauſe of griefe, that the ſuggeſtors of ſuch untruths ſeeme to bee incouraged, and we who are innocent remain unjuſtified.
III. That divers Officers of the Army of publike and known integrity, have been (uppon what grounds we know not) ſent for to the Parliament as Celinquents; ſome whereof do at this preſent attend there, and cannot procure a tryall having nothing conſiderable laid to their charge, &c.
Col Lilburn, Major Sanderſon, and the reſt are diſcharged from any further attendance.
IV. That whereas we underſtand, that the Parliament hath voted a ſudden disbanding of the Army, not having made ſufficient proviſion for the auditing of our arrears, makes us ſenſible; how difficult it will be after our diſbanding, for obtaining thereof.
Both Houſes voted to referre it to the Committee of the army, to conſider of Inſtructions for ſtating the Arriers, &c.
V. That no proviſion hath been made for the payment of our dearly earned wages by the expence of our bloud, and often hazzard of our lives, that it will inevitably expoſe us (eſpecially the private Souldiers, to great extremities) being hardly ſufficient to maintain many of them in their journies to their own homes.
The Commons have voted the common Souldiery and inferiour Officers all their pay, and chiefe Officers three Moneths pay.
VI. That nothing as yet hath been perfected for our future ſecurity for things done as Souldiers, in relation to the warre, which the exigency thereof hath compelled thereunto, &c.
The Commons have voted to paſſe a fuller Ordinance for Indempnity of the Souldiers, and the Lords concurrence to be deſired.
VII. That we ſtand in feare of being preſt, to ſerve as ſouldiers out of the Kingdome.
Votes have paſſed, that ſuch as have willingly ſerved the Parliament ſhall not be forced to ſerve out of the Kingdome in any wars, &c.
VIII. That the parliaments Declaration, in reſpect of freedome to thoſe that were Apprentices, may be put in force againſt ſuch Ma•••ts as refuſe it.
Votes have paſſed for the making free of Apprentices, reckoaing the time ſpent in the Parliaments ſervice, as if they had been with their masters.
IX. That many ſouldiers who have loſt their liues, widowes who have loſt their husbands and children their parents in this ſervice, & thereby reduced to great extremities, even to beggary for want of proviſion for their ſubſiſtance, are not ſufficiently provided for a future livelyhood.
May 28. An Ordinance paſſed both Houſes for reliefe of maymed ſouldiers, and the widowes and Orphants of ſuch as have dyed in the ſervice of the Parliament.
Having thus as fully as we are able, accounted & mentioned what was the true••nuine••••e of the Army, and not their imaginary co•ceits, but their grievances, that inevitably fall upon us, unleſſe the Parliament take courſe to prevent then: if the time allowed us by you would admit, we could more fully demonſtrate. We aſſume the boldneſſe to intreat you to be deeply ſenſible of, and repreſent to the Parliament theſe particulars, in ſuch an humble way, and to right us if we ſhall be miſrepreſented to the Parliament by any, and ſo farre as you can cover our weakneſſes, that have or may ſlip from us, and prevent any ſcandals, that the malice of any men do ſeek herein to aſperſe us, when we ſhall be inquired into.
A Declaration, an Ordiance for oblivion, and other Papers alſo are to be ſent to the Army, and declared to them at a generall Randezvouzes.