officers into several parts of the kingdom to therefore they do fully and freely declare the falseness of those informations to you, and de expect your endeavours for preventing such causeless jealousies; and, in regard of the inconveniences that do and may come to the city of London and parts near adjacent, by the army's being so near, they still inst upon their former Vote for your quarterne your army no nearer than 40 miles off Laus don. Your &c." "Sir; We have perused your Letter sent us this night by scout-master-general Watson, with the copy of yours inclosed to the houses Ordinance for a monthly Assesemox! of parliament; and having thereupon consi- 60,0004] June 23. The lords passed dered the Vote of both houses, and their direc- Ordinance, sent up by the commons, for rastion to us, we held it our duty, in discharge of ing monies for the service of England and Inthe trust committed to us, to let your excel- land. This was laying a tax of 60,000 a lency know that the order of both houses for month, to continue for one year, viz. from the the removal of the army 40 miles from London | 25th of March then past, to the 25th of Mast is positive; and we are commanded to be very ensuing. earnest in pressing your excellency therein, as also to desire you to give the parliament a speedy and positive account of what you have done upon their Letter and Votes sent to you for removal of the King's Person to Richmond; to both which points we find your answers, by the copies sent us, to be defective and uncertain; and therefore do again very earnestly desire your excellency to take the same into consideration, and give a more full and certain answer to what is expected from you by both houses in these particulars. We rest Your &c. C. Nottingham. P. Wharton, St. Alban's June 21. 1647." A second Remonstrance from the Army to th Parliament.] June 24. A packet was presented to the house of lords, from the ead f Nottingham, one of their commissioners siding with the Army, addressed to the earl a Manchester, containing, An Humble REMONSTRANCE from his Exte lency sir Thomas Fairfax and the Aray under his command, concerning the present State of Affairs in relatica themselves and the kingdom, with the Desires and present Resolutions ther upon.* "St. Alban's June 23, 1617. Our Desires, as soldiers, in behalf of em selves and other soldiers that have faith served the parliament in this kingdom; a our remaining dissatisfactions, in relation the unto, may be clearly collected out of Letter sent thereupon to Sir Tho. Fairfax, by both Houses.] The lords, having debated upon the foregoing Papers, ordered that a Letter be written, by their Speaker, to sir Tho. Fairfax, and sent to the commons for their concurrence; which was done accord-several Papers that have formerly been pe ingly: Sir; The lords and commons assembled in parliament have received your Letter of the 21st inst. by which you gave them an account of several informations that are given to the army, that there are daily under-hand prepa- | rations made of forces, and that there is a publick avowment of keeping forces already raised: they did, by their former Letter unto you, affirm the contrary; and do again assure you that there are no forces either prepared or avowed, by their authority, against the army; and therefore they desire you to make known unto them the grounds you have of this report. They likewise disclaim any thought in them of bringing in any foreign forces; and do desire you to make strict enquiry into the occasion of these misinformations, that they may be certified from what hands they come, so that the authors of such aspersions may be known and punished. They have no knowledge of any persons employed from them for the possessing of any places of strength; and as for the raising of any men, they hope there will be no occasion to alter the confidence they have of the army, in relation to their solemn engagements to preserve the honour and privileges of parliament, and safety and peace of the kingdom; sented to the parliament concerning the sam *Printed for George Whittingtoa, at sign of the Blue Anchor in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, London, 1647. This Re monstrance is not entered in the Journal either house. t Sec p. 615. the rights and liberties both of soldiers and subjects, the breach or hazard of the peace of this kingdom, and the hindering of the Relief of Ireland, &c. Upon which, though the main things charged, with the mischievous effects and further dangerous consequences of them, as also the constant and continued activity of all or most of the persons charged, in relation to those things, for the most part are sufficiently and notoriously known, especially o the parliament itself; yet we find neither ny thing done upon what is so known, nor my way resolved on or admitted by the parLament, for the examination or discovery of hat is less evident unto them; but rather (as f neither the things charged, nor the present ad effects, nor future ill consequences thereof, vere at all considerable) the whole business eems to be slightly passed over, or set aside.astly, We did, with these, deliver in another 'aper,* whereof here is a Copy annexed, conaining divers just and necessary things, which e did desire might be provided for and done ar the better proceeding in the premisses, with ore safety to ourselves and the kingdom, and ith more assurance or hopes of a timely and appy issue: to which things desired (which e think all men will judge reasonable, just, nd necessary) we have yet received no Answer ↑ Resolution; nor can find any consideration t all had of them, save that a month's pay is ent down for the army; whilst those that ave deserted the army receive, at London, uch more; and that some Votes have been assed for annulling the Orders of the pretended ommittee of Safety about listing men and rawing of forces together; which votes we nd rendered but vain and delusive by the utinued under-hand practices of those whom | e have charged, and their accomplices, in sting and engaging men for a new war; and, y a later day's votes, not admitting that the rces so listed or engaged should, by publick our and inconveniences; we cannot but again der, be dismissed or discharged; which with more fully and clearly assert, (as we have in ther things, we cannot but attribute chiefly to former Papers, and shall yet more particularly, prevalent influence of the same persons.— if need be, remonstrate) that divers things lately ow, whereas we find that our first Desire in done and passed from the parliament against De Paper last mentioned, for present suspend- this Army (as particularly the Order for supg the persons impeached from sitting in the pressing the Petition, that high Declaration ouse, is judged, by some, to be against the against it, and against all that should proceed nurse and privilege of parliament; or of ill in it, putting the faithful servants of the paronsequence in the precedent of it, the Charge liament and kingdom out of the protection of eing but general, and no particular proofs as law, and exposing them as enemies to the state, et produced to render the proceeding legal; &c. to the forfeitures of the estates, liberties, we cannot but remind the parliament, 1. That life and all, but for going about in an humble, s the most and main things charged, with the peaceable, and inoffensive way to desire what ad effects and consequences of them, so the was undeniably their due and dearly earned, onstant and continued activity of all, or most and many other such like proceedings, both the persons charged, in relation thereunto, against the army and others) do carry with a misinforming, deluding, abusing, or sur-them such a face of injustice, oppression, arbirizing the house, and otherwise, are sufficintly known to the parliament itself; so as he house might, upon their past and present ognizance of the same, most justly proceed to aspend them; as in many other cases, upon See p. 627. far less occasions, which never could have produced such sad effects to the kingdom, they have done many other of their members, meerly for words spoken, or things moved in the house, alledged to be but against order or custom of the house; and this without any trial, proof, or charge, but merely upon the houses own cognizance of the things, as we could instance in many cases since this parlianent began. 2. Whereas many of the things to which the Charge relates, are things spoke, moved, or done in the house, so as we have yet no clear way opened particularly to charge or mention them, or produce proofs to them, without some pretence against us of breach of privilege; and therefore (though we think no privilege ought to protect evil men in doing wrong to particulars or mischief to the public, yet) we have been hitherto so tender of parliament privileges, as that we have only remonstrated the evil of such things done; and supposing the house to have been (as we did and do believe, and if the way were open without breach of privilege, should not doubt to prove it was) some ways misinformed, deluded, surprized, or otherwise abused in those things by evil members, we have frequently, in former Papers before the Charge, put the parliament upon it, who, without colour of breach of privilege, might do it, to find out and discover who they were that had so abused them, and to disengage the honour of parliament from the evil practices and designs of such incendiaries. Now since the same difficulties or prejudices be yet in our way, as to the particular Charge or proof of those things against the members; and the parliament (though so often put upon it in our former papers, yet through the powerful interest of the persons guilty) hath not taken any cognizance what members or others have so abused them, to draw the parliament to such disho Vol. III. trariness, and tyranny, as, we think, is not to be paralleled in any former proceedings of the most arbitrary courts against any private men; but have brought in insufferable dishonour upon the parliamentary authority and proceed 2 T See P. 567. ings (which we are, and others ought to be, which is all that in the present case we should deeply sensible of); hath tended to disoblige desire upon any such grounds. And that fu all men, especially soldiers, from the same; to ture liberty of entering Dissents we do not destroy all just freedom either of soldiers or here propose as a thing we any way insist on subjects, and hath conduced to all other the to the prejudice of parliament privileges; we sad effects and worse consequences expressed only offer it to consideration, and that from in the Charge; and gives us and others cause good wishes to the privileges of parliament, to conclude that those worthies who have for- render them more lasting by being less nos merly acted and carried on things in parliament cent. And, indeed, whoever most adores for public good, right, and freedom, are now tenders those privileges will hest express awed or overborne by a prevailing party of zeal towards them in taking care they be mad men of other private interests crept in; and abused, or extended, to private wrongs or pa that neither we nor any other can reasonably lic mischiefs; for we clearly find, and all ca expect right, freedom, or safety, as private men may see it, that parliament privileges, mam na men, or to have things acted in parliament for well as royal prerogative, may be pervertes public good, while the same persons continue and abused, or extended to the destruction there in the same power to abuse the name those greater ends for whose protection ab and authority of parliament, to serve and pro- preservation they were admitted or intended ter secute their private interests and passions; and, viz. the rights and privileges of the people under the privilege of parliament, to shelter and safety of the whole; and in case it be themselves under the worst of evils or mischiefs the abuse, evil, or danger of them is no les they can do, though to the ruin of the king- be contended against, and a remedy there dom. We are in this case forced, to our great no less to be endeavoured, than of the other grief of heart, thus plainly to assert the present-And whereas the injustice in that partic evil and mischief, together with the future of the Declaration against the Army, for worse consequences of the things lately done, just and innocent Petition, may seem to even in the parliament itself, which are too been recompenced in the late Expunging theat evident and visible to all; and so, in their of out of the Journal Books, we confess it hate pre proper colours, to lay the same at the parlia- been so in great measure, as to the particul ment's doors, until the parliament shall be or present injury done the army therem; 2pleased, either of themselves to take notice we cannot but acknowledge, so far, the just g and rid the houses of those who have any ways that lies in those Votes for expunging there misinformed, deluded, surprized, or otherwise but for our own or the Army's particular replet na abused the parliament, to the vehement press- ration, we should never wish more, nor sca ing and passing of such foul things there; or have insisted on so much, to any dishonour shall open to us and others some way how we parliament in future; we should rather l may regularly, and without the scandal of been satisfied with the parliament's declar breaking privileges, come to charge and prose- how, and by whom, they have been mista cute those particular persons that, in truth, have formed, surprized, or otherwise abused in fran so abused the parliament, as well as ourselves, ing the proposal, or passing thereof, as it w even for those misinformations and other evil but as to that particular, or any other of the che and indirect practices or proceedings in parlia- nature, we say as followeth: 1. We never devire ment, whereby they have so abused the same, as nor do, value or regard our own injury or in our said Charge and formier Papers is set forth. paration in any comparison to the conse --And here, if we may, we should humbly offer quence of the one, or the prejudice of the to consideration, whether it were not a neces- other, but to the future security of the c sary expedient, for prevention or remedy of such mon Right and Freedom of this nation; evils in future, that, in things so clearly de- accordingly we do not account any res structive to the common Rights and Liberties ration considerable that extends but to of the people and Safety of the kingdom, there selves in the present case, and does not, be a liberty for dissenting members in the some sort, secure ourselves and all others fr house of commons, as it is allowed in the danger of the same or worse injuries or oppres house of peers, to enter their dissent, and sions, as private men, from the wills or passio thereby acquit themselves from the guilt or of the same persons that have offered an blame of what evils may ensue; that so the acted such things against us while an army kingdom may regularly come to know who 2. We cannot but imagine and consider, they are that perform their trust faithfully, and cording to general report, how the Expan who not: and this provision for the future, as of that Declaration was carried and obtain, also our Desires for Remedy in the present and upon what grounds and intentions it cases, as it were clearly good and necessary in given way to; but had those that procured the respects premised, so, we think, the same been all for expunging it, and that freely,! may well be without future prejudice or dis- how can we expect better but that the couragement, in any other respects, to suc- men, who at one time carried such a Dec ceeding members of parliament; provided al- tion, and another time expunged it, may ways, that no man shall be questioned or cen- next day obtain the like or worse, upon a sured for any thing said or done in parliament, occasion wherein it may serve their priva any further than to exclusion from that trust, ends or interests, if they continue in the sam 真 power and sway, and be let pass in deluding and surprizing the parliament, as they have done in the past particulars? 3. The apparent fishonour and prejudice brought upon the arliament, in having such a Declaration so passed, as that they should soon after, without ny alteration in the pretended ground of it, ind cause, for shame of the world, to expunge, we think should engage those members that ove parliaments, in point of honour, to find ut and discover how, and by whom, the parament had been abused or otherwise brought to such an inconveniency. And the parliaent may in this see the temper, as bye-vilege to be accused for it; we cannot but, anders do the prevalence, of those members at abused the parliament in that Declaraon, who will and can make the authority of arliament still lie under the dishonour of it, a bare expunging or retracting, rather than Imit of any consideration to acquit the authoty of parliament, that would tend to fix the ame on those particular members that had served it: and this certainly would be aditted and done, rather than to slight it over ith a bare expunging, were not some men ore tender of, and more swayed with, such nsiderations and consequences as may tend the prejudice of persons, than such as tend the general prejudice and dishonour of pariments. As to those particulars included in r Charge, which do depend upon things done ithout the parliament, we are ready, and ould most willingly proceed in the particular arging and proving thereof, if first (from the stice of the house in a present proceeding ainst the persons charged for the things that e already known to the house to have been ne in it) we could find encouragement to pect any good issue upon those other things; id did we not, on the contrary, find that, twithstanding what is so known to the house, before expressed, the same persons continue such power and prevalence, both in the use and in all committees of the highest ust, as leaves little hope of right or satisfacon to the army or kingdom in other things, id much less in any just proceedings against emselves, while they continue judges of their vn and our concernments; so as we cannot, hile they remain in the same power, expect y thing but a continued perverting and aking advantage of all things, (and especially those delays which a regular proceeding gainst them would necessarily induce) alto ether to our own and the kingdom's prejudice nd danger, to disable or weaken us for those ings which the safety and settling of the Lights, Liberties, and Peace of the kingdom equires: and to strengthen themselves, by nder-hand practices and preparations both at ome and abroad, the better to oppose us and ngage the kingdom in a new war; thereby to ccomplish their designs, or at least to save hemselves from justice in a common confuon: we say, were it not for these and such ther considerations, that leave little hopes of stice to ourselves or the kingdom, while they continue in the same power, and render all delays dangerous and destructive to ourselves and the peace of the kingdom, we should be contented that the business concerning the members we have charged should be laid aside till those other things were first settled, which our Declaration does propound for the common Rights and Liberties of the kingdom.But finding things still so carried as they are, and as we have before expressed, and that while they are judges in their own causes they, with that party which they make, will do what they please, and yet render it a breach of pri upon all these considerations, and for all the reasons before expressed, insist upon it that the members charged may first be forthwith suspended from sitting in the house; otherwise we cannot expect any fair proceedings against them upon a more particular Charge, nor think there is any good intended to ourselves or the kingdom.-As to our Desires of having the Army presently paid up equally with those that have deserted it, we appeal to all men for the Justice, Reasonableness, and Necessity thereof. The Justice; in that the former service, for which these arrears are due, hath been, at least, as faithfully and diligently performed by the army as by those late deserters of it; and in our present posture, though they have appeared indeed more officious and serviceable to the interest and will of particular men than we, yet we are sure the ariny is, and we hope will at last appear to be, more faithful to the true Interest of parliaments and the kingdom, which we were at first called out and engaged for, than they in deserting the Army have hitherto appeared. For the Reasonableness of our Desires; though we have ground to claim more than they, or rather that they, or some of them, should forfeit their arrears, yet we ask, for present, but equal; nor should we at present insist on that so much, as to our officers, if our soldiers were but first paid up. Our Necessity to insist on that is obvious to every man: and therefore, unless we should betray our own and the kingdom's cause, we cannot but positively insist upon it that the Army should forthwith be paid up, at least equally to those deserters of it; which, if denied or delayed, we shall be thereby inforced upon present ways of Remedy and Right to the Army therein.-And whereas the parliament hath lately ordered and publickly declared, that all that shall desert the Army shall have present satisfaction in their arrears, (the othcers 3 months pay, the soldiers all their arrears, deducting for free. quarter) which still continues unrecalled; we cannot but look upon it as a most clear evidence of the continuing malice and prevalence of our and the kingdom's enemies. And we must and do insist upon it, that that Order or Declaration may forthwith be publickly recalled; otherwise we cannot believe that any thing but ruin and destruction is designed to our selves and all others in the kingdom, who every where call upon us not to disband till. sing their Cases had been ours) and a spirit of common love and justice, diffusing itself to the good and preservation of all, will make up the most glorious conquests over their hearts, if God in his mercy see it good, to make them and the whole people of the land lasting friends. we see the Rights, Liberties, and Peace of the kingdom settled, according to the many Declarations by which we were first called forth, and invited to engage in the late war. Next we cannot but take notice, (instead of granting or answering our Desires in the last Paper) in order to the better and more safe proceeding Now to draw to a conclusion: Since we can to a composure and settlement of all things yet obtain no Satisfaction or Answer to the for the good and peace of the kingdom, and things desired as before, but, contrarywise, find for the prevention of a new war, the army be- all things carried on by the prevailing interest ing first commanded to 40 miles distance from of those our enemies, to the prejudice and London, his majesty's person is demanded im- danger of ourselves and the kingdom; since mediately to Richmond house within 8 miles (notwithstanding some Votes of parliament of London; which, as we cannot but impute against the late Orders of the Committee of it to the prevailing interest of the same ene- Safety for listing of forces, and notwithstanding mies to our and the kingdom's peace, so all the earnest desires and endeavours of the city, men may easily discern, with us, how directly concurrent with our own, to have the same it tends (in pursuance of their former private prevented or remedied, yet the committee of designs upon the king e'er he came from Hol- safety being still continued in the same power denby) to put his majesty within reach of we find that, by the appointment or costrie those men's power, who have already under ance, and under the protection or countes hand listed about London a very considerable nance, of the same persons whom we have number both of horse and foot, and are daily charged and their accomplices, there are still listing and engaging more, both there and in manifold practices under-hand, to list and raise many parts of the kingdom, to serve their denew forces; and, notwithstanding the discovery signs; and therefore we appeal to all unen- thereof to the parliament from the city, yet the gaged men, whether we can in this give way to same persons have prevailed so far in the boost have the king put so far within those men's as not to admit the question for discharging of power, without giving them the long-sought them, but the same practices still continge for advantage of his majesty's person; thereby and with double diligence are inforced; since to embroil the kingdom in a new and bloody also divers forces, pretended to have been en war, and to strengthen themselves in their gaged for Ireland, are, by the same person mischievous designs, the better to uphold and ordered to rendezvous about Worcester, the establish their faction and intended domina- to lay the foundation of a new Army; and t tion; so that, in this case, we cannot but im- that purpose their emissaries and correspond portune the parliament, (as they tender the ents in all counties are busy and active to ra peace and quiet of the kingdom, and the forces for them. And though for these thing avoiding of jealousies or worse inconveniencies the actors of them have no present public a in the army) that they would resume the con- thority, yet they have some way such counte sideration of that business concerning the Per-nauce and assurance to be justified in parha son of the King, and not propose any placement, if questioned for it, as that they have the for him nearer to London than they would confidence to act openly: since they have like have the quarters of the Army to be. And wise their emissaries or agents abroad in Scot whereas (by procurement of the same persons, land, France, and other countries, very active or others of their party) there hath been scan- to draw in foreign forces for their assistance dalous informations presented to the houses, since, in the mean time, they are endeavour and industriously published in print, importing ing, by spies and secret agents in all our qu as if his majesty were kept as a prisoner a- ters, to inveigle and invite the soldiers of the mongst us, and barbarously and uncivilly nsed; army to desert their officers and come to Los we cannot but declare that the same, and all don; and, for that purpose, do improve the ad other suggestions of that sort, are most false vantage of the Order or Declaration of parlia and scandalous, and absolutely contrary, not ment afore-mentioned, for satisfaction of m only to our declared Desires, but also to our rears, to such as shall desert the army: and we principles, which are most clearly for a gene-find they have the public purse so much at their Right and just freedom to all Men: And therefore, upon this occasion, we cannot but declare particularly, that we desire the same for the king and others of his party, so far as can consist with common Right or Freedom, and with the security of the same for the future: And we farther clearly profess we do not see how there can be any firm or lasting peace to this kingdom, without a due consideration of and provision for the rights, quiet, and immunity of his majesty, his royal family, and his late partakers; and herein we think that tender and equitable dealing, (as suppo disposal, as to make good that and other their undertakings of that nature; and yet such as have so deserted the army and received their arrears, are not discharged or dispersed, but continued together in bodies, and under con mand, in and near the city, as in particulaty some of sir Robert Pye's men, col. Greaver's capt. Farmer's, and others still quartered upon Kent: Since, likewise, they have their age and correspondents labouring with the king to make contracts with him to draw his majesty to engage and declare for them, or at least to de clare himself a prisoner amongst us, thereby to 2 |