A LETTER FROM Gen. MONCK in Scotland, to the Commissioners of Parliament in Ireland, Touching his present ACTINGS.
For the Commander in Chief of the Forces in Ireland, to be communicated to the rest of the Officers of the Army there.

Sir,

HAving received yours of the 4th of this instant, signed by your self and some others: You are pleased to signifie your apprehensions of our undertakings, and your hopes that we have received from our Brethren in England such satisfaction as we may acquiesce in, in their late actings. I have sent to you by this Gentleman these enclosed Papers, wherein you will fully be informed of our endeavours and pains, to keep a right understanding with our friends and fellow Souldiers: But we sincerely profess to you, That we cannot be convinced of any such necessity or sence of duty, that could engage them in a­ctions so violent and unwarrantable, contrary to such late and solemn Engagements: Indeed it makes our hearts mourn in secret, to confider what the issue of this dangerous and rash change of the Government may be: but we hope we shall be found in the way of duty, and shall walk according to Gods Word, in that we have borne our Testimony according to our Consciences against that which is evil; and we humbly desire you to lay to heart the great dishonour that will lye upon the holy Name of God, by our inconstancy and (I wish I could not say) treache­ry. Are we not an Army that have the Highest Engagements upon us? Never such a professing Generation for God! yet to make no Conscience of obedience to those God sets over us; Nay, such whose Authority hath been witnessed to, by Almighty God, in many successes; and for restoring of which we were, but the other day re­joycing and praising God; and for the asserting whose just Authority, our Brethren in England so lately hazarded to bloud, from whom we have all received Commissions and encouragement:and this to be done without half an hours deliberation! We tremble to consider of it, and that a few persons, and of them some unknown to us, to be intrust­ed with the Power of abolishing Laws, raising Moneys, chusing General Officers, creating new Models of Government, making Peace and War; and this derived from the Officers of a few Regiments quartered in England; and our consent to all this, Authoritatively required. We cannot but witness against such proceedings, as must needs make us a scorn to our Enemies, a shame to our friends, and odious to all the people of God in the world. Is this the Good Old Cause, the defence of the Parliaments Priviledges, to dissolve them with the greatest contempt? Are the peoples Rights now secured, when their Consciences, Estates and Persons, are abandoned to the will and pleasure of nine or ten Persons? Are the Churches of Jesus Christ like to be protected, when the encouragement of the MI­NISTRY of the CHURCHES is to be removed? Now we beseech you, in the bowels of the Lord Jesus, to lay to heart these things, and consider whether our jealousies and fears be not real. And we declare in plainness and singleness of heart, (as in the presence of God) with you, that our Brethren in England, are very dear to us in the Lord; that it wounds us deeper to consider these actings, then the wounds we have received from our Enemies; for then we could have borne them. We bless the Lord that you are so sensible of the hazard and bloud that may follow. So we beg of you to remember what bloud hath been shed, and who will answer for it, if we be worse then those God cast out before us. We bless God that we need no umbrage, for our actions; but testifie before God and man, that we will not admit any Single person whatsoever, nor House of Lords; that we desire Successive Parliaments, and Councils of State established by Authority of Parliament for the Government of these Nations; and that there may be a Legal Foundation and Succession. We desire you our Brethren in Ireland, to joyn with us, in your desires to the Ar­my in England, That this Parliament may be restored, and put a legal period to their sitting; and settle such Expedients as may be for the securing of these Nations, against the Common Enemy. And we shall take this as a renewed Engage­ment of your brotherly love and kindness to us. And having no further to trouble you, but to let you know, that I am,

Honoured Sir, Your humble servant, George Monk.

This Messenger after some time being in this City, carried himself very indiscreetly, so that I thought fit to confine him to his Chamber; which I hope you will not take ill.

Printed at Dublin by special Order: and Re-printed at London, for Nath. Brook, at the Angel in Cornhil.

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