A DECLARATION From his Excellence Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the Generall Councel of the ARMY, Held at Putney, on Thursday September 16. 1647.
Concerning the Delaies in raising Monies for supply of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdome.
And their humble Offers and Desires in Relation thereto.
Tendred To the Right Honourable Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army, and by them to be presented to the Houses.
With his Exceliencies Letter to the Commissioners concerning the same.
Also a Narrative of the Souldiers behaviour towards the L. Lauderdale.
By the Appointment of his Excellencie Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Generall Councell of the Army. Jo. Rushworth Secretary.
Printed at London, for George Whittington, at the Blew Anchor, in Cornhill, neere the Royall Exchange, 1647.
THe extreame necessities of the Army, and other Forces in the Kingdome, together with the present pressures of the Countrey where it Quarters, for want of Moneys, as well as the delayes of them from whom you might e're this time have justly expected a better Account on this behalfe then is as yet heard of, is the occasion which yesterday produced a Resolution upon this enclosed Paper, which I herewith tender to your Lordships, Desiring it may be speedily communicated to both Houses: I remaine,
For the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons, Commissioners of Parliament residing in the Army.
A Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Generall Councell of the Army held at Putney on Thursday September. 16. 1647.
THe extreame wants of the Souldiery (both of the Army and other Forces and Garrisons that have concurred with us, as also the sufferings of the Countryes in respect of free Quarter, and the necessities of the Kingdome for a speedy supply of money in relation to the disbanding of superfluous forces, the sending over of others for the reliefe of Jreland, and for the supplying of those forces [Page 3] that are there already, so as to prevent the danger of those distempers lately raised amongst them,) are such as we are and have beene very sensible of and exceedingly pressed with the consideration of them.
Yet the care the Houses have so many wayes exprest for providing a present supply of monyes, in relation to all these affaires, have made us hitherto silent as to that point▪ in expectation to have found ere this time an answerable effect thereof in actuall supplyes. But finding that notwithstanding all their care, yet through the neglect or delay of those on whom the Houses have depended in that particular, there is little or nothing hitherto effected therein, and especially considering the delayes made by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Councell of the City of London, in the advancing of that summe which the Houses have demanded of them upon the security of the Arreares (so long since) due from the City to this Army, and for that tax whereupon all or most other places have long since payd in their proportions.) We are enforced to make this present addresse to the Houses in relation thereunto.
First we cannot but consider the notorious readinesse of that Court to the advancing of farre greater summes for the raising of a new Warre and prosecution of the late mischievous practises and designes against the Parliament and Army. And that as their precipitate forwardnesse therein, was the occasion of the Armyes comming into these parts: so their backwardnesse to the raising or advancing of the money now required [Page 4] for the service of the Parliament and supply of the Army, hath beene and is the occasion of the Armyes continuance here: And therefore we cannot but offer it as what we humbly conceive most just and reasonable.
That for what time their default or delayes have occasioned and shal further occasion the Armyes stay hereabouts (so much to the burden and oppression of these parts) the charge thereof should some way be layd upon them and their adherents in and about the City, together with those persons from whom the said arreares are due, and those in whose default it lyes that they have hitherto beene either not assessed or not collected. And for that purpose that at least in case the summe required be not payd in at the time limmitted by the Houses. There may be a proportionable penalty imposed by way of daily increase of the summe required for so long time as the payment thereof shall be further delayd. Next for as much as the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell, may perhaps conceive themselves not so much obliged (either to execute the authority given them by the Parliament for leavying of money upon others, or to advance it themselves by way of loane in behalfe of others untill it can be leavyed) as they would be to provide what should justly be charged upon themselves: We therefore humbly offer (at least) in case the summe required upon the arreares be not paid in by the time limited.
[Page 5]II. That the Houses would be pleased speedily t [...] consider of the delinquency of that Court an [...] Councell, in those things that were lately done by them as a Court, and set such Fine upon them for the same as shall be agreeable to justice, which money being chargeable so properly upon themselves we presume they willl not have the like excuse not to provide.
Lastly, since it is most evident that for the speedy bringing in of the money required upō the arrears there wants not in the said Major, Aldermē & Common Councell, either authority to levy it or ability to advance it by way of Loan till it can be levyed: nor do the persons from whom the arrears are due want ability to pay them, but the only fault and defect lies in the want of will to the thing, both in the one and in the other, and want of power in the hands of willing men to enforce it, without which we see little hopes that it wil in any tollerable time be effected; We therefore offer
III. That in case the money be not brought in (by the time limited the Parliament would be pleased to [Page 6] give leave and power to the Generall (with the advice and directions of the Committee for the Army▪ for the levying of the said arrears, together with such penalties and fine as the Houses shall find cause to impose as aforesaid, or (at least) the penalties allowed by the Ordinances for that tax for the Army, and then if the moneys be not speedily brought in for the Parliament to dispose of let us beare the blame.
And all these things we desire the rather, because we have grounds both of reason and evidence from the speeches of many in the City, to believe that in this long witholding of mony, the designes and hopes of the Parliaments and our enemies, are to raise the Army into distempers, and the country about us into a flame, whereby at least to hinder and interrupt all proceedings to the execution of Parliamentary justice, or settlement of the Kingdom, and to expose the Parliament again into tumultuous violence, of all which the dāger is very evident and imminent, if not speedily prevented by some such vigorous and effectuall remedies as aforesaid.
A Narrative of the Souldiers demeanour towards the Lord Lauderdale at the Court at VVoburne, in luly last, presented to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, under the hand of Colonel VVhalley, and by him sent to the Commissioners of Parliament in the Army; with a letter from his Excellency concerning the same.
TOwards the latter end of July last, when the King lay at Woburne, the Lord Lauderdale came one morning about foure or five of the Clock to the Court, lost no time▪ but presently made his repairs to His Majesty with whom he had much private Communication. It was commonly reported and generally believed that he had come post all the night before. But whether so or not, I know not, but this I know, that his early coming, and hasty speaking with His Majesty at that Conjuncture of time, when that unparalleld violence was committed [Page 8] upon the Parliament, and that treasonable engagement for fetching the King to London, and preparations for a new Warre, were so violently prosecuted in the City, drove the Court into feares, and the Souldiers into jealousies, that his Lordship came to indeavour the perfecting at Court that designe, which was begun and prosecuted in the City, and that which made them (as I conceive) the more jealous of his intentions, was a common report, that his Lordship was a fomenter of the Cities Tumults, or corresponding with the Authours of them. And indeed I finde, that the Souldiers had long entertained harsh thoughts of the Lord Lauderdale ever since his Relation, concerning His Majesties going from Holmsby, [...] in the painted Chamber so much to the prejudice, and disadvantage of the Army; and his undertaking there to engage the whole Kingdome of Scotland, as one man against the Army; they were playn [...] with him at New-Market, the [...] minding him of it, and told him he had publikely declared himselfe their enemy; therefore they could not but think he came to do them, and the Kingdome in Offices: And had not my selfe and o [...]her Officers interposed, they had then at least perswaded him away from the Court, but at that time the Souldiers indured his stay, though with some regret; But his Lordships second appearance at that time and manner as before related, so hightened, (it seemes their former jealosies, and exasperated them into such resolution [...] as that divers of them (whose names I protest I know n [...] not so much as one for present) being of severall R [...]iments came about five or six of the Clock, next morning▪ to his Lordship▪ Chamber doore, desired to speake with him upon notice whereof, I hastened to the Earle of Lauderdales Lodgings, and the Earle of Denby with me: Wee found the Souldiers and the Lord Lauderdaile reasoning very calmly together, his Lordship telling them he was a publike person, and they could offer him no affront, but [Page 9] it would reflect upon the Kingdome of Scotland, and tend to divide the 2. Nations, the Souldiers told him, they found he many times acted as a private person, as when in the painted Chamber he undertooke for all Scotland to engage as one man against the Army, (which as they heard) he had no Commission for from the State of Scotland, what they did was in Reference to the Lord Lauderdale, and not to the Scottish Nation; and had his Lordship shewed them any Commission, passe, or warrant, testifying his being sent or imployed thither as a publike person from the States of Scotland, or their Commissioners, I conceive it might have satisfied; The Earle of Denbigh endeavoured with all the Reasons and Arguments he could to perswade them to let the Earle of Lauderdale stay, and not meddle with him, and my selfe commanded them some to their Guard, and the rest to be gone: But from commanding, (the discontent being very high) I was inforced for the present, to fall to perswading, I confirmed what the Earle of Denby before had said to them, that it might be construed as an injurie to the State of Scotland, that it would be an offence to the Parliament of England, and added that it was a contemning of the Generalls power, when they would not obey commands, and would expose both themselves, and me to danger, but all in vaine; for indeed that horrid violence so lately done to the Parliament, and the forced flight of the Members of both Houses (whereby that highest Authority of the Kingdome s [...]emed to be at a st [...]d) [...] both the City and mo [...] parts of the Kingdome into a monstrous [...]in of conf [...]sion▪ and of distracted and licentious workings, and weakned (for present) the hands of all men in Authority under the Parliament, so it wanted not its influence of like nature upon the Army and Souldiery throughout the Kingdom, so as Officers could not (at that time) have the like command of their Souldiers, as formerly, nor as now again, since [Page 10] the Authority of the Parliament hath been vindicated, and both Houses (through Gods blessing) restored to their Honour and Freedom: For my own part as affairs then stood) I am confident the Lord Denbigh will witness it for me: I did my utmost endeavours to have gotten the Souldiers away, I commanded, I perswaded, but neither commands, nor perswasions wou [...]d prevail, the souldiers being unanimously resolved his Lordship should not stay at Court, nor speak again with the King for that time: And therefore they would not depart till his Lordship was ready and willing to take coach. When I saw I could not exercise my commanding power for the present in that matter, nor by it, nor by perswasion divert them from their Resolutions: I desired them at least to be civill towards his Lordship which they performed, not giving his Lordship an ill word, nor laying any hands upon him, Mr. Cheasley his Lordships Secretary likewise seconded me, desiring the Souldiers to be civill, and to give his Lordship leave to say his Prayers, the Souldiers answered with all their hearts, they would joyne with him; but his Lordship told them he had not the gift of prayer, he would not pray publikely, and presently after went quietly to his Coach, the Souldiers attending him.
[Page 11]Thus have I given a true Relation of the demeanour, and Carriage of that towards the Lord Lauderdale at W [...]bur [...], for the conformation whereof I refer my selfe to the Earle of Denby, who was present all the while, and in testimony▪ of the truth hereof, I have hereunto set my hand.
Vera Copia,
IN persuance of the Commands▪ I received for enquiring into the busines of the affront done to the Earle of Lautherdale, I sent Order to Col. Whalley, to make enquiry of it, and to returne to mee an account thereof. I have hereuppon received from him a Narrative under his hand of the occasions, and whole carriage of that busines (so farre [...]s his owne knowledge or present Informations concerning it do extend,) which I have sent you heare inclosed, I desire it may be emparted to both Houses, for their present better satisfaction Concerning that busines, & if this doe not amount to their full Satisfaction therein, but that they thinke fit to have any Further enquiry or Examination to be had about it, I shall upon further notice of their pleasures therein give Order to Collonel Whaley, Accordingly I remaine.
For the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons Commissioners of Parliment residing with the Army.