HIS MAJESTIES MESSAGE To the Lord Generall Fairfax; And His Act and Proclamation concerning the Army, to be published throughout all the respective Counties, Cities, and Market towns, within the King­dom of England, and Dominion of Wales.

Also, a Letter from the Army to the King, and their new Propositions touching his Majesty, and dissolving of the Parliament, and the time prefixed.

With a Declaration of the Lord Generall Fairfax touching the same.

AGreed upon by his Excellency, and the Councell of the Ar­my, and

Signed T. FAIRFAX.

C R

‘HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENS’ ‘DIEV ET MONDROIT’

London Printed for Nathaniel Richardson, 1648.

THE DEMANDS OF THE ARMY Presented to His Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, concerning the Kings Majesty, and both Houses of Parliament.

May it please your Excellency,

WHereas we have a long time beheld the sad and bleeding condition of this poor di­stressed and languishing Kingdome, and our hearts being burthened with the un­setled condition thereof, we therefore thought requisite, to declare the resentment of the Ar­my (under your Excellencies immediate conduct) and [Page 2] to present these ensuing Proposals; to the end, they may be speedily communicated to both Houses of Parliament, viz.

1 That present provision be made for constant pay of the Army. 3 That a period may be set for this pre­sent Parliament to end as soon as may be with safety, and provisions made for future Parliaments to meet certain without Writ or Summons. 3 That Rules may be set down between the People and their Representa­tives. 4 That Laws may be made in things civill to bind all men, so that men in no case of offence may be freed from the Law whereunto another is subject. 5 That all those common grievances and desires ex­pressed in the London Petition, be speedily granted and redressed. 6 That the supream power may be declared and determined, that the want thereof may not bee the ground of future (as it hath beene of these former) wars. 6 That speedy and impartial Justice may be exe­cuted upon all fomenters, contrivers, and actors in the first and late warre. 7 That the heavy burden of free quarter may be taken off. 8 That in as much as the As­sesments fall short to pay the Army; that therefore there may be additionall supplies out of the Estates of the old and new Delinquents, that there be no more tax or charge to the Common-wealth. 9 That forth­with an account bee called for from all persons that have been betrusted with any thing for the State, that the Kingdome may be satisfied therein. 10 That the Deanes and Chapters Lands may be given to pay the Souldiers Arrears, seeing the Parliament have given a­way the Delinquents Estates that should have done it.

These things being the sense and resolution of the whole Army, they desire to have the said Proposals communidated to the view both of King and people. And in consideration thereof, his Excellency hath de­clared their resentment to the Committee of the Ar­my,

Desiring that the intollerable burden, and many pres­sures now lying upon the Kingdom, occasioned by free quarter, may be removed, And his Excellency further declared, that he hoped ere this they should have re­ceived some good fruit of their last consultations with the Councell of the Army, the matters then agreed on, being of such publike concernment, and so much re­quiring expedition.

Further intimating, that he earnestly desireth that the two Houses would be pleased to improve their ut­most endeavour for a quick dispatch in providing ef­fectually for the Army, to prevent those ill consequen­ces, which otherwise delay therein may produce.

THese Resentments and Declaration from his Ex­cellency, were Ordered to be printed and published, and communicated to both Houses of Parliament assem­bled at Westminster.

Signed T. FAIRFAX.

The Armies Message to the KING.

May it please your Maiesty,

MAy it please your Majesty, Whereas, the Officers and Souldiery under the immediate conduct of his Excellency the Lord Generall FAIRFAX, are possest with divers fears and jealousies, that they can­not be safe for the future, unlesse speedy Iustice be exe­cuted upon the capitall Offenders of this Nation; and that this present Treaty may not conclude a peace with his Majesty, without care taken to preserve the Liberties and Freedomes of the people of this Nation; the which, be­ing granted and confirmed, we do declare, that none shall be more instrumentall for the setling of a safe and well-grounded Peace, then our selves. And that so soon as your Majesty shall be pleased, to enact and make provisions for us. We shall use our utmost endeavours for the re­inthroning of your Royal person.

An Abstract from Sea.

ON Sunday Novemb. 12. Letters from the Navy say, That there hath been a late Fight aboard the Princes Fleet between the English Commanders and the Dutch, the manner thus. Prince Rupert having re­ceived Commission from the Prince of Wales, to com­mand in chief aboard His Highnesses Fleet, the Mari­ners began to mutiny, and resisted his power, denying submission to his Orders; whereupon the Prince, and the rest of his Irish and Dutch Commanders, called a Councell, and disputing the quarrell, resolved to make he chief Fomenters thereof exemplary; but the Sea­men unanimously resolved to live and dye together, and upon the Princes Demands, to have some of the Ringleaders delivered up to answer it before the Prince [Page 6] of VVales, they gave him a volley, killed two of the Irish Commanders, wounded Rupert, and took priso­ners Cap. Hamon, and Cap. Fog, and forced the rest of the Royalists ashore; it is thought they will speedily come in upon Indempnity.

His Maiesties Declaration.

Right Honourable,

SInce the return of the Parliaments Commissio­ners here hath hapned very sad accidents, occasi­oned by a Disputation between the Royalists and he Parliamenteers, the manner thus: On Thursday night last Divers of the Royall party resorted to the George Taverne, where they began their Soveraignes health lustily; and upon a conference touching his Majesties last Concessions to the Bill of abolition of Arch-bishops, &c. they resolved to declare to the contrary, and thereupon made great Protestations to avenge their quarrell upon some of the chief Instru­ments thereof: But beidg diskovered in the height of their Arguments, four Files of Musquetiers were sent to apprehend them, and to bring them before the Go­vernour; but upon their motion to secure them, the Royalists resisted, drew their swords, and discharged their pocket pistols, insomuch that a bloudy conflict began to ensue, both parties engaging and disputing the place with great resolutenesse and gallantry, for the space of half an hour, till at last Ensigne Smith entred the Room where they where, killed two of them, and secured the rest, with the losse of three men; which done, he guarded them to Carisbrook, and upon exami­nation were ordered to be committed to safe custo­dy.

And his Majesty being informed of the said Riot and Commotion, declared a great dislike thereof, say­ing, That He desired justice to be executed upon all such Contemuers and Covenant-breakers.

His Majesty (since the Commissioners departure from hence) hath declared a very good liking of the Army, touching their constancy and great fidelity to the trust reposed in them.

Novemb. 14. 1648.

LEtters from the Isle of Wight say, That his Maje­sty hath sent a Letter to the Lord Gen. Fairfax, in­timating, His earnest desires for peace, requiring his Excellency, and the Councell of the Army to be in­strumenall therein, promising upon his Royall Word to satisfie all things by them desired, and to enact and make proclamation thereupon, throughout all Cities, Counties, and Market townes, within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales.

FINIS.

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