er, and Votes therein inclosed: before the re-excellency more distinctly, and in particulars. eipt thereof I had convened the officers unto general Council of War, to advise concerning be better transacting of that business, and revention of all inconveniences; whereupon, fter much time spent about it, we came to hese Resolutions, which declare much disatisfaction in the army at being disbanded without having their Grievances fully redressed; and the danger that may ensue if any one egiment should be drawn out to disband, beore the whole army be equally satisfied. The tesolutions are long and many, which I shall asten by a messenger on purpose to both ouses of parliament; being things, indeed, of hat great concernment, as I cannot but, in uty and discharge of myself, communicate nto the houses.--In the mean time, I humly offer unto your lordships consideration, at if you hold your intended journey to helmsford, there is little hopes (as the temper f the army now stands) that your lordships ill find things answerable to your expectabos: however, I have appointed a guard of orse, out of my own regiment, to be there on Ionday; but I doubt, the orders coming so ite, they cannot be there so early, as to meet le money upon the way; and for the same ason I could not possibly have the life-guard be there in time, it being now quartered in edfordshire, nor any other guard but out of yown regiment of horse, which lieth nearest. remain, your, &c. THO. FAIRFAX."

The Advice of the Council of War to General airfar, concerning disbanding of the Army.] he Paper mentioned in the foregoing Letter, as as follows:

To his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, knt. Commander in Chief of the Parliament's Forces: The OPINIONS and Humble ADVICE of your Council of War, convened at Bury this 29th of May 1647, in relation to the Votes of Parliament communicated unto us by your Excellency, and your Desire of our Advice thereupon;

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Humbly shewing; I. That, upon the reorts come to all quarters of the Army, coneraing the Votes and proceedings of the ouses of the 21st of May; as also of those f the 27th, we find the generality of the my (as we also ourselves) much unsatised with the one, and something amazed and artied at the other; the first Votes coming much short of satisfaction, as to the Grievances f the Army then reported to the house, and ot taking any notice at all of some that are most material; and the latter, importing a relution suddenly to disband the Army by iece-meal, before equal satisfaction be given the whole army of the Grievances, or so uch as any consideration had of some others most material; and also before any effectual erformance of that satisfaction which the otes of Friday seemed to promise, as to some f the Grievances; all which we shall be ready, pon a little time given us, to present to your

II. That the said dissatisfaction, and the jealousies occasioned upon the said proceedings, as we fear, and, by some effects already ap pearing, do find, may unhappily produce dangerous disturbances and tumultuous actings amongst several parts of the army, as they lie now dispersed and remote from the head quarters; especially amongst those regiments, whose principal officers, by neglecting and deserting their soldiers in their necessary concernments, or just grievances, have disobliged their soldiers, and lost their interest with them; insomuch that such officers are in some sort forced to withdraw from their charges, and can scarce, with safety, come at them: and, to prevent the inconveniences or ill consequences which such disturbed or tumultuous actings might produce, either to the countries where the army quar ter, or to the kingdom, we humbly advise your excellency, without delay, to draw the army, or at least those parts thereof that are not fixed to certain quarters upon particular duty, unto, a closer posture of quarters; so as each regiment, troop, and company may lie under the view and oversight of the respective officers that are left with them; and all of them under a nearer view and correspondence with the head quarters, which may thus have a readier influence upon all, for a better preserving of good order, and prevention of inconveniences; and, in such posture, for the country's ease, as to remove and shift the whole quarters once a week at least, till, upon further satisfaction, the army may be quietly and orderly disbanded. III. That, upon the same dissatisfactions, we find an extreme earnestness and violent propensity amongst the soldiers to a general rendezvous; and we verily believe the first attempting to disband any one regiment, before equal satisfaction to all, and assurance against those they have cause to fear, will occasion them all to draw together and rendezvous of themselves, as it were upon alarm. To prevent the inconveniences or ill consequences, both to those counties and the kingdom, of any such tumultuous or confused drawing unto rendezvous without order, we humbly advise your excellency, without delay, after the contraction of quarters, to order a general rendezvous for those parts of the army whose quarters shall be so contracted; and this we advise and desire the rather, because of the scandalous sugges tions of some, importing as if the late discontents appearing in the army, and the represen tation of Grievances, were not really in or from the body of the soldiery; but a mere delusion and appearance, made by the contrivance and artifice of some factious officers, or some other persons in the army; the truth or falsehood whereof, as also the true distemper or disposition of the army, your excellency and all others may most clearly discover, by such a general rendezvous, without delay or trouble of going to every regiment apart as they now ye; the army may more certainly understand what they may expect from the parliament; and

that service; and not been by such men's false informations or misrepresentations concerning the army or otherwise, diverted from the coa sideration of, or from giving reasonable satis faction to, the, army, in those things proposed by the generality of the officers at the first meeting at Walden, in March last, in order to that service; and had not, by like mischievous practices of such incendiaries, been since thea inoved and drawn into a series and succession of such things, as have conduced to multiply discontents, discouragements, disobligations and provocations, upon the army; we say, had it not been for such persons and such things, we are confident the parliament might have had, if they pleased, an army entire and ready formed under the conduct of their old officers, to have engaged in that service, having first found a just consideration for the Service past, and assurance of the pay and subsistance in that to come. J. MILES, Advocate."

Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX's Letter to the SPE ER of the House of Commons, inclosing a Copy of the foregoing. "Mr. Speaker; Bury, May 30, 1647. "Having called the officers of the Army to St. Edmundsbury, 1 communicated unto them yesterday the votes of both houses, and a Les

both parliament and kingdom know what to judge and trust to concerning the army and to that purpose, at such a rendezvous, we shall (we hope through the grace of God) discharge our duties to the parliament and the kingdom, as well as to your excellency and the army; and demonstrate that the good and quiet of the kingdom is much dearer to us than any particular concernments of our own. These two last things we humbly advise and desire may be done without delay, or that otherwise we may be held acquitted from all inconveniences that may ensue in our several charges. IV. Since besides the dissatisfactions of the army hitherto in the point of Grievances, and defect of assurance as to several of those things promised towards satisfaction; and besides the jealousies occasioned upon the Votes of Thursday last, and all the ill consequences which may follow in proceeding thereupon; that course of disbanding the army by piece-meal, before the satisfaction intended be performed equally. to the whole, seems something strange and unusual; not practised in the former armies, as major-general Massey's brigade, the Scots army, &c. nor used, that we have heard of, by any state towards any army that was ever accounted faithful; we humbly desire your excellency, by an effectual letter, to move the par-ter of the house of peers sent therewith, c liament for this, as that which we humbly effer and do beg of them, both for their own honour, in relation to what future armies they may have occasion to employ, for the reputation of your excellency and this army, as well as for its better satisfaction; and as they tender the good and assured quiet of this kingdom, or the effectual relief and saving of Ireland, that they would be pleased to resume the consideration of the things voted on Thursday last, and to suspend any present proceeding thereupon; as also to resume the Grievances of the Army, together with the things proposed in the conclusion of the Narrative from the Officers; and to give satisfaction, or at least some resolution, to each of them; and that they would not put that temptation and jealousy in the way of the army, or that dishonour upon it, as to disband it in scattered pieces before satisfaction be equally given to the whole. And we here further desire your excellency to move that what hereafter fol- June 2. A Message was brought from the lows may be admitted into consideration, but not commons, to let the lords know, what whenas as tending to delay the Relief of Ireland: 1. We they had ordered that Monies should be sent find most clearly, that the great hopes suggested down to Chelmsford and Woodstock, 70000 to the parliament of the supply of that service, to the first, and 5000l. to the latter, the in that way at present intended, will prove, as to house, upon some reasons, had ordered the any farther expectations out of this army, but said Money to be brought back to Londar vain and delusive; as the loud noise of so many They also desired their lordships concurrente, powerful officers of the army, with 50 compa-that the Commissioners sent down to Cheime nies of foot and 10 of horse, so long since engaged for that service, hath already proved; and herein, if our judgments be not credited, we have yet discharged our duty to the parliament and both kingdoms in declaring it. 2. We cannot, but for our own and the army's further discharge and clearing, declare, That if the parliament had not been abused by many of those who have pretended the promotion of

cerning the disbanding the Army; after a long consultation had thereof, this inclosed was de livered unto me, as the result of the Councă of War, where the officers were very many and unanimous: which being of importance, I ild it my duty to hasten the same unto you, beng much perplexed in my thoughts that dissats faction betwixt the parliament and the amp should rather increase than lessen. intrent you that there may be ways of love and compo sure thought upon. I shall do my endeavours, though I am forced to yield to something oat of order to keep the army from disorder, or worse inconveniences. I desire you to take some speedy resolution for the composing of things, whereby the kingdom may be happy a a timely deliverance from further distractiong for the effecting whereof I could be content të be a sacrifice, as the last service you can hasə from, Your &c. T. FAIRFAX."

ford might be recalled. The lords agreed to the first, but took time to consider of the last request; though they afterwards consented to that also; and the Commissioners being turned gave this account, That they had not disbanded the foot, in regard the Army was m a disemper, and did march away from the place of rendezvous.

Letter from Lord Montague, advising that

of the day we discovered a party of horse drawn up before the great gates; whereupon we dismissed them to their charges, and immediately, at our back-yard, where our horse and dragoons stood, their horse with many of ours amongst them, entered without any resistance at all, being quietly let in and embraced by the soldiers. We presently sent to speak with their chief officer. It was answered, That there was none that commanded them; but son after, Mr. Joyce, cornet to the General's lifeguard,* came unto us; and being demanded the cause of their coming in this manner, 'he answered, They came with an authority from the soldiery to seize col. Greaves, that he might be tried by a council of war, for having scandalized the army; whereby a plot contriving to convey the king to London, without directions of the parliament, would be prevented. We desired he would put the same into writing, and accordingly he delivered us the following Paper; wherein you will not find col. Greaves mentioned by name, though intended."

Cornet Joyce had surrounded Holdenby House | them, it passing two of the clock, about break with a Party of Horse.] June 3. Advice ame by a messenger from the Commissioners t Holdenby, that yesterday they had informaion the Army had a design to take the King way from them; and that last night there ame 700 horse to King's-Thorpe, near Holtenby: that he, coming away from thence, was topped and searched by the said troopers. hough they knew him to be one of the Commissioners servants; and that the commissionrs dare not send any letters lest they might e intercepted. Lastly, that col. Greaves had rawn all the guards into Holdenby-House, nd had shut up the gates.-Both houses were ow in great consternation at this news, and at morning and afternoon for some time. and in the afternoon of this day the lords greed to the form of a Letter to be sent to sir . Fairfax, to desire him to come to London, at they might be more fully informed by im of the distempers and dissatisfaction of he Army, and be advised how they might ppease them. The Letter to be sent down the commons for their concurrence, who greed to it. But the parliament were soon at out of their doubts, though not out of their ars, for

June 4. The Speaker of the house of lords resented a Leiter to them from the Commisoners attending the King at Holdenby, and a aper inclosed, both which were read:

To the right hon. the Earl of MANCHESTER, Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore.

"My lord; Yesterday we got first uncertain telligence of some parties of horse upon their arch near Stony-Stratford; towards night, her reports came to us of an intention to surrize this place; whereupon col. Greaves oubled the guards by such as he had most condence in; at length a scout of our own rought word of a party of horse rendezvousing pon Harlaston-Heath, not two miles off, about in o'clock at night; and, withal, we were cretly informed that their intentions were to aze col. Greaves, and to possess themselves of is place: hercupon we began to prepare for rience; but we found, upon advice with col. reaves, the guards were so little to be relied pon, that we thought it requisite he should ithdraw himself, lest he should be taken by rce from us, there being no means left us to cure ourselves; to which necessity he was ontented to submit, and we purposely caused to be divulged that he was gone, hoping hereby to divert the horse from falling on us; ut, about one of the clock, we had certain nowledge of their being drawn into the park nd meadows adjoining, and that we were surounded by them; which caused us to send for di the officers of our guards, who, with one consent, declared to us that they found no isposition in their soldiers to fight with any of he General's Army, with whom they had so often adventured themselves against the comnon enemy. Whilst this discourse held with

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May it please the Hon. Commissioners of 'Parliament; We, Soldiers under his excellency sir Tho. Fairfax's command, have, by 'the general consent of the soldiery, manifested our true love to the parliament and kingdom, by endeavouring to prevent a second war, 'discovered by the designment of some men privately to take away the king, to the end that he might side with that intended army to 'be raised; which, if effected, would be to the utter undoing of the kingdom. We shall be able and willing to bring our testimony, when called for, who were the plotters and contriv ers therein. This being the only way and means to prevent all those forementioned dangers, that might have unhappily come on us and this whole kingdom, whose weal we have 'always endeavoured with the hazard of our lives, and the blood of many of our dear friends and fellow soldiers and cominanders. This being the only thing presented to us, which put us on our late action for the preservation of the King's person, and furthering of the parliament's proceedings, together with the commissioners great care to effect the same, and to discharge the trust imposed on them.'

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"This is the condition we are in, with much sorrow to ourselves that we can give you no better account, though our endeavours have not been wanting; our humble suit is, that, by this bearer, capt. Titus, you will please to send us speedy directions; the want whereof hath been no small discouragement to us hitherto, in a service of this length and importance. Í remain, &c. ED. MONTAGUE. Holdenby, June 3, 1647."

Capt. Titus also made a Narrative of the

*Cornet Joyce was a Taylor, and had, two or three years before, served in a very inferior employment in Mr. Hollis's house. Claren don, vol. 5. p. 47.

thereunto, and are going on to the rest; which | received a Message from the commons, informthey are confident will give a full satisfaction to all good men, and will leave no scruple in the candid and honourable intentions of the arliament towards the Army. These ResoIntions cannot be ready to be with you before Wednesday next, at which time they will send hem to you, and a committee of both houses o advise with you how to improve these Votes or the settling of the present distempers, and o give you their best assistance in communiating them to the Army; and that it may be lone in a more public and satisfactory way, hey desire you to appoint a general rendezvous n Wednesday next, upon Newmarket-Heath; desiring and expecting that you and your offiers will, in the mean time, so order it, that he army shall neither remove, nor act any hing to the disturbance of the public peace, Tours, &c."