the war hath put us upon many actions which the law could not warrant, nor we have acted, n a time of settled peace; we humbly desire hat, before the time of our disbanding, a full and sufficient provision may be made by ordiance of parliament, (to which the royal assent may be procured) for our imdemnity and security in all such services.-II. That auditors, or commissioners, may be speedily appointed and authorized to repair to the head quarters f this army, to audit and state our accounts, s well as our former services in this army; and that, before the disbanding of the army, atisfaction may be given to the petitioners for heir arrears; that so the charge, trouble, and oss of time, which we must necessarily undergo attendance for attaining of them, may be prevented (we having had experience that many have been reduced to miserable extremi-ance and satisfaction as may be agreeable to ty, even almost starved for want of relief, by their tedious attendance); and that no officer may be charged with any thing in his account that doth not particularly concern himself. III. That those who have voluntarily served the parliament in the late wars, may not hereafter be compelled, by press or otherwise, to serve as soldiers out of this kingdom; nor those that have served as horsemen may be com pelled, by press or otherwise, to serve on foot in any future case. IV. That such in this ar my as have lost their limbs, and the wives and children of such as have been slain in the service, and such officers and soldiers as have sustained losses, or have been prejudiced in their estates, by adhering to the parliament, or in their persons, by sickness or imprison ment under the enemy, may have such allow. ment of arrears, the soldiers dreaded, that, fter they should be disbanded or embarked or Ireland, their enemies, who predominated n the two houses, would entirely defraud them of their right, and oppress them with impunity. On this ground or pretence did the first commotions begin in the army. A petition, adressed to Fairfax the general, was handed about; craving an indemnity, and that ratified by the king, for any illegal actions, of which, uring the course of the war, the soldiers might ave been guilty; together with satisfaction in rrears, freedom from pressing, relief of widows nd maimed soldiers, and pay till disbanded. The commons, aware of what combustible materials the army was composed, were alarmned t this intelligence. Such a combination, they new, if not checked in its first appearance, ust be attended with the most dangerous onsequences, and must soon exalt the military bove the civil authority. Besides summoning ome officers to answer for this attempt, hey immediately voted, that the petition ended to introduce mutiny, to put conditions pon the parliament, and to obstruct the elief of Ireland; and they threatened to proeed against the promoters of it, as enemies to he state, and disturbers of public peace. This eclaration, which may be deemed violent, specially as the army had some ground for omplaint, produced fatal effects. The soldiers mented, that they were deprived of the rivileges of Englishinen; that they were not llowed so much as to represent their grievaces; that, while petitions from Essex and ther places were openly encouraged against he army, their mouths were stopped; and hat they, who were the authors of liberty to he nation, were reduced, by a faction in parament, to the most grievous servitude. In his disposition was the army found by Warvic, Dacres, Massey, and other commissioners, who were sent to make them proposals for entering into the service of Ireland. Instead finlisting, the generality objected to the erms; demanded an indemnity; were clamorous for their arrears: and, though they expressed no dissatisfaction against Skippon, who was appointed commander, they disco vered much stronger inclination to serve under Fairfax and Cromwell. Some officers, who were of the presbyterian party, having entered into engagements for this service, could prevail on very few of the soldiers to inlist under them. And, as these officers lay all under the grievous reproach of deserting the army, and betraying the interests of their companions, the rest were farther confirmed in that confederacy, which they had secretly formed. To petition and remonstrate being the most cautious me thod of conducting a confederacy, an appli cation to parliament was signed by near 200 officers; in which they made their apology with a very imperious air, asserted their right of petitioning, and complained of that imputation thrown upon them by the former decla ration of the lower house. The private men likewise of some regiments sent a letter to Skippon; in which, together with insisting on the same topics, they lament, that designs were formed against them and many of the godly party in the kingdom; and declare, that they could not engage for Ireland, till they were satisfied in their expectations, and had their just desires granted. The army, in a word, felt their power, and resolved to be mas ters. The parliament too resolved, if possible, to preserve their dominion; but being destitute of power, and not retaining much authority, it was not easy for them to employ any expedient which could contribute to their purpose. The expedient which they now made use of, was the worst imaginable. They sent Skippon, Cromwell, Ireton, and Fleetwood, to the head-quarters at Saffron Walden in Essex; and empowered them to make offers to the arnıy, and inquire into the cause of its distempers. These very generals, at least the three last, were secretly the authors of all the discon tents; and failed not to foment those disorders, which they pretended to appease. By their suggestion, a measure was embraced, which, at once, brought matters to extremity, and rendered the mutiny incurable." justice and equity. V. That, till the Army be | dy suppressing of the Petition; notwithstanding disbanded as aforesaid, some course may be taken for the supply thereof with monies, whereby we may be enabled to discharge our quarters; that so we may not, for necessary food, be beholden to the parliament's enemies, burthensome to their friends, or oppressive to their countries, whose preservation we always have endeavoured, and in whose happiness we do still rejoice." Declaration of the Parliament thereupon.] Some other Evidences being also read, to prove that this affair was warmly carrying on in the Army, the parliament thought proper to be beforehand with them; and thereupon ordered the following Declaration to be printed and published, and a number of copies thereof sent down in a Letter to sir Thomas Fairfax: I had before commanded the recall thereof, and given orders for stopping any further proceedings in the same; assuring your lordships, by the good assistance of God, neither that Petition, nor any other thing, should have come through my hands to the parliament, which should have the least countenance of disobe dience, or appear in such a dress as might no be fit for the justice and honour of that em nent judicature to look upon: but not to trasble your lordship any longer, I take leave to rest Your &c. Tho. Fairfax." The Army's Petition to the Commons vindicet. ing their late Representation to General Fur fur.] April 27. Some Officers of the Army pre sented to the house of commons, on behalf of themselves and the rest of their brethren, a Vdication of the particulars in their late Pe tion, which was introduced in the following manner: To the Honourable the House of COMMON assembled in Parliament; The Hr BLE PETITION of the OFFICERS of the Army under the Command of his Excellency sir Thomas Fairiax, on Behalf of themselves and the Soldiers of the Army, "Humbly sheweth; That your Petitioners being sensible of some displeasure in this ho nourable house against them, through some misinformation concerning the carriage d managing of a late Petition in the Army, humbly offer unto your consideration the P per annexed, for the better clearing of our tentions: humbly desiring your favourable co struction and acceptance of what is the contained, according to the integrity with which it is presented. And your Petitiones shall pray, &c." "The two houses of parliament having received information of a dangerous Petition, with a Representation annexed, tending to put the army into a distemper and mutiny, to put conditions upon the parliament, and obstruct the relief of Ireland, which hath been contrived and promoted by some persons in the army; they do declare their high dislike of that Petition, their approbation and esteem of their good service who first discovered it, and of such officers and soldiers as have refused to join in it; and that for such as have been abused, and, by the persuasions of others, drawn to subscribe it, if they shall for the future manifest their dislike of what they have done, by forbearing to proceed any further therein, it shall not be looked on as any cause to take away the remembrance and sense the houses have of the good services they have formerly done; but they shall be still retained in their good opinion, and shall be cared for with the rest of the army, in all things necessary and fitting for the satisfaction of persons that have Army under sir Thomas Fairfax. done so good and faithful service; and as may "The misrepresentations of us and our he expected from a parliament so careful to harmless intentions to this honourable house perform all things appertaining to honour and occasioning hard thoughts and expressions of justice: and, on the other side, it is declared, your displeasure against us, we cannot but That all those who shall continue in their look upon as an act of most sad importante, distempered condition, and go on in advan-tending, in our apprehensions, to alienate your cing and promoting that Petition, shall be looked upon, and proceeded against, as enemies to the state, and disturbers of the public peace." This Declaration is expunged in the Commons Journals, and this Note inserted in the margin, Deletur per Ordinem tertii Junii, 1647. sedente Curia. H. E. The reasons for which will appear in the sequel: The VINDICATION of the OFFICERS of the affections from your ever trusty and obedie army; than which nothing can more rejser your adversaries, or minister greater hopes their re-advancement: nothing more discos raging to us, who should esteem it the greates point of honour to stand by you till the summation of your work, the removal of ever yoke from the people's necks, and the establis ment of those good laws you shall judge neces sary for the common-wealth.-Out of our fears therefore of the advantage that may be had therefrom, and that the honourable house may retain the same good opinion of us they for merly had, (whom God hath hitherto blessed "My lord; Walden, March 30, 1647, with abundant blessings) we humbly crave the "I received your lordship's letter, with the boldness to present unto you some Reasons, to Declaration of both houses of parliament, and clear our proceedings in those passages which shall take care for sending copies thereof into we find most obvious to exceptions in our P the several regiments of the army, for the spee-tition whereby we hope to make it evident t April 2. The lords received an Answer, from the General, to their Letter and the foregoing Declaration, which was also read as follows: For the Right Hon, the earl of MANCHESTER. you, that we did no more than what necessity | honourable house will approve of it, when you shall be informed that the soldiers are frequently indicted at assizes and sessions, and otherwise grievously molested for such actions, and many lately suffering for the same; and that notwithstanding that provision you lately made against it, divers have had verdicts passed against them this last assizes, for actions done as soldiers, as we are credibly informed. If this be practised during the time of your session, for what we did through the exigence of your service, what cruel and violent proceedings are we like to find after you are pleased to dissolve?-For the particular intimation that the Royal Assent may be desired, we never intended by it to lessen your authority; but since you have, by offering the Propositions, judged the desiring the king's assent convenient; since likewise the city of London made the same desire without offence: as to your orders to the Judges, we know not how effectual they may prove to save us from such proceedings after your sessions. All these reasons considered will, we hope, manifest our intentions in that intimation to be only a provident caution for our future safety, without the least thought of disrespect to your authority.-For the desire of our Arrears; necessity, especially of our soldiers, inforced us thereunto: that we have not been mercenary, or proposed gain as our end, the speedy ending of a languishing war will testify for us, whereby the people are much eased of their taxes and daily disbursements, and decayed trade restored to a full and flourishing condition in all quarters. We left our estates, and many of us our trades and callings to others, and forsook the contentments of a quiet life, not fearing or regarding the difficulties of war, for your sakes. After all which we hoped that the desires of our hardly earned wages, by the mediation of our General, would have been no unwelcome request, nor argued us guilty of the least discontent or intention of mutiny.-We know not any thing further in our Petition which hath been excepted against, but your apprehensions that it tendeth to hinder the relief of Ireland, which we do not understand wherein; having always manifested, in all our actions, our readiness to further that work; unless you mean by that desire, that those who have served voluntarily should not be pressed to go out of the kingdom; to which we humbly offer this, That those who have voluntarily served in these wars, and left their parents, trades, and livelihoods; and, without any compulsion, engaged of their own accords, should, after all their free and unwearied labours, be forced and compelled to go out of this kingdom, whose peace they have so much endeavoured with unwearied pains, hoping thereby to have lived and enjoyed the fruits of their labours, would to them seem very hard: but besides this, our several Votes and Engagements, March 21, to endeavour the service of Ireland what we could, will clear us, and prove our good affec tions in promoting that work; and therefore we hope what hath been said will remove all | Sexby, Wm. Allen,t and Thomas Sheppard, scruples, and restore us to the good opinion of who came with the Letter, (and who had pre this honourable house: in assurance whereof, sented copies of the same to sir Thomas Fairand in consideration of the premises, we are fax the general, and to lieut. general Crom further emboldened to make these our Requests well, both which were brought into the house unto this honourable house: 1. That you will at the same time) were ordered to be sent for be pleased to allow us our liberty of petitioning ins where several questions were propounded in what may concern us now as soldiers, and unto them, concerning the contriving, drawing afterwards as members of the commonwealth. up, and subscribing of the same. They affirm2. Since, upon the false suggestions of some ed it was drawn up first at a rendezvous of se men, informing you that this Army intended veral of those regiments, and afterwards they to enslave the kingdom, the honourable house had several meetings about it by agents from was so far prevailed withal as to summon di- each regiment in several places. Being de vers of us to appear at your bar, and to pass a manded, Whether their Othcers were engaged Declaration, thereby expressing your high dis- in it? They answered, That they thought very like of our Petition, declaring it tended to put few of them knew or took notice of it. Then, conditions upon the parliament:, the sense of upon intimation that surely this Letter came such expressions is so irksome to us, who have by promotion of cavaliers in the army, it ventured whatsoever we esteemed dear to us demanded of each of the troopers severally by in this world for preservation of your freedom themselves, Whether they were Cavaliers! To and privileges, that we cannot but earnestly which answer was returned, That they had implore your justice in the vindication of us, engaged in the parliament's cause ever since as in your wisdom you shall think fit.” Edge-Hill Battle, and some wounded there; at Brentford, at Newbery, at Henley, under major-general Skippon; and that they had been engaged in all the services since his et cellency first marched into the field. Then they were demanded, What the meaning d that clause was, wherein the word & S vereignty' was expressed? They severally be This Petition was subscribed by col. Thomas Hammond, lieut. general of the ordnance, by 7 other colonels, 7 lieut. colonels, 6 majors, 130 captains, lieutenants, and other inferior officers. A Letter presented to the Commons by several Troopers.] April 30. The said Petition and Vindication were read. After which majoring called, one by one, answered, That the general Skippon produced a Letter presented Letter being a joint act of those several reg unto him the day before, by some Troopers of ments, they could not give a punctual answer, several regiments in the Army, in behalf of they being only agents; but if they might have eight regiments of horse; wherein they.ex- the querics in writing, they should send or carry pressed some Reasons why they could not en- them to the several regiments, and return ther gage in the service of Ireland, under the pre-own Answers together with, and comprized in sent conduct; and complaining of the many the rest. After all these Examinations, they scandalous and false suggestions, that were of were ordered to attend the house upon sum late raised against the Army and their pro- mons. ceedings, whereupon they were declared ene- General Ludlow writes, « That after the mies to the public; and that they saw designs reading of the Petition, some of the members were upon them, and many of the godly party moved that the messengers might be committed in the kingdom: that there was an intention to the Tower, and the Petition declared sed> to disband and new model the army;ttious; but the house, after a long debate, s "which," they said, "was a plot contrived by tisfied themselves to declare, That it did not some men who had lately tasted of sovereignty; belong to the soldiery to meddle with civil and, being lifted up above the ordinary sphere affairs, nor to prepare or present any petition of servants, endeavoured to become masters, to the parliament without the advice and coe and were degenerated into tyrants. They sent of their general, to whom they ordered therefore declared, That they would neither Letter to be sent to desire, for the future, his be employed for the service of Ireland, nor care therein; with which acquainting the thres suffer themselves to be disbanded, till their agents, and requiring their conformity there Desires were granted, and the Rights and Li-unto, they dismissed them." He adds, "That berties of the subjects should be vindicated and maintained." Great Debate thereupon.] The foregoing Letter being recommended to the consideration of the house by general Skippon, the reading of the Army's Vindication was laid aside; and the three Troopers, viz. Edward * Their names are all printed in Rushworth, v. 6. p. 471. † Clarendon, v. 5. p. 44. the house having notice of this combination against them from col. Edward Harley, one of their members, who had a regiment in the army, expressed themselves highly dissatisfied therewith; and some of them moved that the petitioners might be declared traitors, alledging that they were servants, who ought to obey not to capitulate. Others were not wanting, * Afterwards a Colonel. + Sometime after Adjutant-General under Í He had been some little time before elect- Cromwell. ed member for Barnstaple. ↑ Memoirs, vol. 1. p. 190. A ho resolved the securing of lieut. general romwell, suspecting that he had under-hand ven countenance to this design; but he beg advertised of it, went that afternoon toards the army, so that they missed of him, and ere not willing to shew their teeth since they ould do no more. The debate continued till te in the night, and the sense of the house as, That they should be required to forbear e prosecution of the said Petition; but when e house, wearied with long sitting, was grown in, Mr. Denzil Hollis, taking that opportuty, drew up a Resolution upon his knee, dearing the Petition to be seditious, and those raitors who should endeavour to promote it fter such a day; and promising pardon to all at were concerned therein, if they should esist by the time limited. Some of us, fearg the consequence of these divisions, exressed our dissatisfaction, and went out; bich gave others occasion to pass two or three ery sharp votes against these proceedings of e army. and Rainsborough, who were members of the house of commons, as well as principal officers of the army, kept the house, that the soldiers might be left to themselves to fire the more, run up to extremes, and put themselves into a posture to carry on their work of rebellion with a high and violent hand; but in the mean time disclaimed these proceedings, blaming the soldiers at that distance, (as Cromwell did openly in the house, protesting, for his part, he would stick to the parliament) whilst, under-hand, they sent them encouragement and directions; for nothing was done there but by advice and countenance from London, where the whole business was so laid, the rebellion resolved upon, and the officers that were in town so deeply engaged, that when the full time was come for putting things in execution, my friend Cromwell, who had been sent down by the parliament to do good offices, was come up again without doing any; and he who had made those solemn public protes tations, with some great imprecations on himself if he failed in his performance, did, notwithstanding, privily convey thence his goods (which many of the Independents likewise did, leaving the city and parliament as marked out for destruction); and then, without leave of the house (after some members missing him, and fearing him gone, had moved to have him sent for; whereupon he being, as it seems, not yet gone, and having notice of it, came and shewed himself a little in the house), did steal away that evening, I may say run away post, down to the army." Lord Hollis's own account of the matter ans thus: "The Letter presented to the ouse, by the three Agitators before-mentioned, as an exclamation against the parliament; ise and untrue complaints of wrongs done to he soldiers at assizes in the counties; a proestation against the Irish expedition, calling a design to break the army, declaring, even I any of those three Commanders (Fairfax, Cromwell, and Skippon) should engage, their verseness to it; though Skippon was appointd by the parliament to command in Ireland, nd had accepted it; in plain English saying Lord Clarendon concurs with the two last hey would not disband, nor receive any other Memorialists as to the suspicions concerning ropositions from the parliament, till their ex- Cromwell, and the intention of apprehending ectations were satisfied. The three Agitators, him, which he introduces in this manner: eing called into the house, carried themselves" Cromwell, hitherto, carried himself with t the bar in a slighting braving manner, reasing to answer such questions as the Speaker, y order of the house, asked them; saying hey were employed by the army, and could ot, without leave from thence, discover any ing. Many of the members resenting this igh affront, were earnest to have them severely unished; but the party (the Independents) tood as stifly for them, insomuch that the orthy burgess of Newcastle, Mr. Warmouth, tood up and said, He would have them comitted indeed, but it should be to the best Inn the town, and good sack and sugar proided them; which was as ridiculous as it was bold and insolent scorn put upon the parliasent; at last even Mr. Skippon himself exused them, and said, They were honest men, nd wished they might not be too severely ealt with; whereupon the house flatted, let hem go without punishment, and by tameness creased their madness and presumption."His lordship proceeds to inform us, "That hen they had wrought this feat, sir Tho. Fairax himself came to London, upon pretence of aking physick; Cromwell, Ireton, Fleetwood, Memoirs, p. 84. 89. that rare dissimulation (in which sure he was a very great master) that he seemed exceedingly incensed against,this insolence of the soldiers; was still in the house of commous when any such addresses were made; and inveighed bitterly against the presumption, and had been the cause of the commitment, of some of the officers. He proposed, That the general might be sent down to the Army; who, he said, would conjure down this mu'tinous spirit quickly:† and he was so easily believed, that he himself was sent once or twice to compose the Army; where, after he * History, vol. 5. p. 46. + * "So Cromwell, with deep oaths and vows, Swore all the Commons out o' th' house, Vow'd that the Red-Coats would disband, Ay, marry would they, at their command." Hudibras, p. 2. c. 2. Mr. Walker, in his History of Independency, part 1. p. 31, says, “that Cromwell protested in the house, with his hand upon his breast, in the presence of Almighty God, before whom he stood, That he knew the Army would disband, and lay down their arms at their door, whensoever they should command them." |