A solemne engagement of the Army, under the Command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, read, assented unto, and subscribed by all Officers, and Souldiers of the severall Regi­ments, at the generall Rendezvouz neare Newmarket, on the fift of June, 1647.

WHereas upon the Petition intended and agreed upon in the Army, in March last, to have been presented to the Generall, for the obtaining of our due and necessary concernments as Souldiers; the Honorable House of Commons being unseasonably prepossessed with a Copie thereof, and (as by the sequell we suppose) with some strange misrepresentations of the carriage and intentions of the same, was induced to send downe an Order for surpressing the Petition, and within two or three dayes after, upon further misinformation, and scandalous suggestions, of the like or worse nature, and by the indirect practise of some malitious and mischievous persons (as we suppose) surprizing or other wise abusing the Parliament. A Declaration was pub­lished in the name of both Houses, highly censuring the said Petition, and declaring the Petitioners, if they should proceed thereupon, no lesse then enemies to the State, and disturbers of the publick peace. And whereas at the same time and since, divers eminent Officers of the Army have been brought into question and trouble about the said Petition, whereby both they and the rest of the Officers were disabled, or discouraged for the time, from further acting or appearing therein on the souldiers behalfe; And wheras by the aforesaid proceedings and the effects thereof, the souldiers of this Army (finding themselves so stopt in their due, and regular way of making knowne their just greivances, and desires to, and by their Officers) were enforced to an unusuall (but in that case necessary) way of correspondence and agreement amongst themselves, to chuse out of the severall Troops and Compa­nies severall men, and those out of their whole number, to [Page 4] chuse two or more for each Regiment, to act in the name and behalfe of the whole souldiery of the respective Regiments Troops and Companies, in the prosecution of their rights and desires in the said Petition, as also of their just vindication and writing in reference to the aforesaid proceedings upon and against the same, who have accordingly acted and done many things, to those ends, all which the souldiers did then approve as their owne acts.

And whereas afterwards (upon the sudden sending down of Field-Marshall Skippon, and those other Officers of the Army that were Members of the House of Commons, to qui­et distempers in the Army, fresh hopes being conceived of having our desires again admitted to be made known, and considered in a regular way, and without such misrepresenta­tions as formerly, the Officers and Souldiers of the Army (ex­cept some few dissenting Officers) did againe joyne in a re­presentation of their common grievances, and the Officers (except as before) did agree upon a narrative Accompt of the grounds, rise and growth of the discontents in the Army, and their proceedings in relation thereunto, with an overture of the best expedients, to remove or satisfie the same; both which were presented to the same Members of the House, and by them reported to the House. And wheras the Parliament having thereupon voted, and ordered some particulars, onely towards satisfaction of our grievances, hath since proceeded to certain resolutions of sudden disbanding the Army by pee­ces; which resolutions being taken, and to be executed, before full or equall satisfaction given to the whole Army in any of the grievances, before effectuall performance of that satis­faction in part, which the preceding Votes seem'd to promise, as to some of the grievances, and before any consideration at all of some others most materiall, (as by the result of a gene­rall Councell of Warre on Saturday May 29. was in generall declared, and is now more fully demonstrated in particular, by a representation thereupon, agreed unto by us: we all cannot but look upon the same resolutions of disbanding us in such manner, as proceeding from the same malicious and mischie­vous principles and intentions, and from the like indirect [Page 5] practises of the same persons abusing the Parliament, and is as the former proceedings against us before mentioned did, and not without carnall and bloody purposes (for some of them have not stuck to declare or intimate) after the body of the Army should be disbanded, or the Souldiers divided from their Officers, then to question, proceed against, and execute their malicious intentions upon all such particular Officers and Souldiers in the Army, as had appeared to act in the Pre­mises in the behalfe of the Army: And whereas upon a late Petition to the Generall from the Agitants, in behalfe of the Souldiers (grounded upon the preceding considerations, re­lating to the same resolutions of disbanding, the same gene­rall Councell of Warre to prevent the danger and inconve­niences of those disturbings, or tumultuous actings or conflu­ences which the dis-satisfaction and jealousie thereupon also grounded, were like suddenly to have produced in the Army, to advise the Generall first to contract the Quarters of the Army, and then to draw the same to an orderly Rendezvouz for the satisfaction of all, and that his Excellency would im­mediately send up to move and desire the Parliament to sus­pend any present proceeding upon the said resolution of dis­banding, to resume the consideration of the grievances, and desire, sent up from the Army, and not to disband it in pieces before just and equall satisfaction given to the whole; And whereas some of the Regiments appointed for disbanding, upon notice thereof withdrawing themselves from the Quar­ters adjacent to the appointed Rendezvouz, and drawing to­wards the Head Quarters; and the contracting their Quar­ters, according to the said advice of the Councel of War.

We the Officers and Souldiers of severall Regiments here after-named, are now met at a generall Rendezvouz, and the Regiments appointed as afore-said to be disbanded, have not appeared, nor can appeare; but are resolved not to ap­peare at the severall and respective Rendezvouz, appointed as aforesaid for their disbanding; and divers other things have been done by severall other parties or members of the Army, necessarily relating to the good and concernment of the whole in those affaires: Now for as much as wee know [Page 6] not how far the malice, Injustice, and Tiranicall Principles of our enemies, that have already prevailed so far to abuse the Parliament and the Army (as is afore mentionid) in the past proceedings against the Army may further prevaile to the danger and prejudice of our selves, or any Officers, or Souldi­ers of the Army, or other persons that have appeared to act any thing in behalfe of the Army, or how far the same may further prevaile to the danger or prejudice of the Kingdome in raising a new warre, or otherwise: Therefore for the better prevention of all such dangers, prejudices, or other inconveni­ences that may ensue; and withall for better satisfaction to the Parliament and Kingdome, concerning our desires of con­forming to the authority of the one, and providing the good and quiet of the other, in the present affaires of disbanding, and for a more assured way whereby, that affaires may come to a certaine issue, (to which purpose we herein humbly implore the present and continued assistance of God, the Righteous Iudge of all) wee the Officers and Souldiers of the Army subscribing hereunto; doe hereby declare, agree, and promise, to and with each other, and to, and with the Parliament and Kingdome as followeth.

1. That wee shall chearfully and readily disband when thereunto required by the Parliament, or else shall many of us be willing (if desired) to ingage in further Services ei­ther in England or Ireland, having first such satisfaction to the Army in relation to our grievances and desires hereto­fore presented, and such security, That we of our selves, when disbanded, and in the condition of private men, or other the free-borne people of England, to whom the consequence of our case doth equally extend, shall not remaine subject to the like oppression, injury, or abuse, as in the premisses hath been attempted and put upon us, while an Army by the same mens continuance, in the same credit and power, especially if as our Judges, who have in these past proceedings against the Army so farre prevailed to a­buse the Parliament and us, and to endanger the Kingdome; and also such security that we our selves, or any member [Page 7] of this Army or others, who have appeared to act any thing in behalf of the Army, in relation to the premises before recited, shall not after disbanding be any way questioned, prosecuted, troubled, or prejudiced for any thing so acted, or for the entring into, or necessary prosecution of this ne­cessary agreement: (we say) having first such satisfaction and security in these things as shall be agreed unto by a Councell to consist of those generall Officers of the Army (who have concurred with the Army in the premisses) with two Commission Officers and two Souldiers to be chosen for each Regiment, who have concurred and shall concur with us in the premisses and in this agreement. And by the major part of such of them who shal meet in Councel for that purpose when they shal be thereunto called by the Ge­neral.

2. That without such satisfaction and security, as aforesaid, we shal not willingly disband, nor divide, nor suffer our selves to be disbanded or divided.

And whereas we find many strange things suggested or suspected to our great prejudice concerning dangerous prin­ciples, interests and designs in this Army (as to the over­throw of Magistracy, the suppression or hindering of Pres­bytery, the establishment of Independent government, or upholding of a general licentiousness in Religion under pre­tence of Liberty of Conscience, and many such things; we shal very shortly tender to the Parliament a Vindication of the Army from all such scandals to clear our Principles in re­lation thereunto, and in the mean time we do disavow and disclaim all purposes or designs in our late or present pro­ceedings to advance o [...] insist upon any such interest, neither would we (if we might and could) advance or set up any other particular party or interest in the Kingdom (though imagined never so much our own) but shal much rather (as far as may be within our sphear or power) study to promote such an establishment of common and equal right and free­dom to the whole, as all might equally partake of but those that do by denying the same to others, or otherwise render themselves incapable thereof. FINIS

[Page 8]After this we were commanded to a Rendezvouz by the Parliament and Commissioners sent down with some Votes tending to satisfaction in part, wherein did remain dissatis­faction at present (even to those particular grievances there related) and not security for the future by any thing yet done, especially knowing those were remaining with power in their hands, who could undo all they had done for us, or do as much more against us it d [...]sbanded, as may appear in our late D [...]claration 14. Iune 1647. To which we refer you. And therefore the Cry of the whole Army and divers Coun­ties also (by their addresses to his Excellency) was not so much for the taking of the present sad effects from us, as for the removal of that Cause which had (at present) and would (for the future) produce the like (if not worse) mischief [...]s as appeared by the unanimous voyce of the whole Army, cry­ing out, Justice, Justice; Justice against those persons who have falsly aspersed us, against those who have abused the trust reposed in them; and Justice upon those from whom we can expect no security, but rather destruction; which main desire (once granted) would beget satisfaction, and then, and not till then, can we lay down Arms with safety: Thus we have presented you with our condition for your informa­tion. Now we desire you and all rational men to judg, and the God of Heaven and Earth be Judg (between u [...] and those persons who have acted against us) whether ever we have deserved such things at their hands, who have not thought any thing too dear to part with or lay down for their sakes, looking upon them as persons intrusted by and acting for the Weal (not the Woe) of this Kingdom, and though we have suffered much from, and been deprived much by our open Enemies, yet did still expect our professed friends would have dealt better with us, and little thought to have had such a portion from them as to be declared Ene­mies to the State, even while we were an Army having pow­er in our hands, and they having further occasions to use us: To have this done against us, what will be done if all those considerations were removed? Therefore consider what it is we seek, even that which all creatures of the world do (and [Page 9] Man, the chiefest of all creatures, cannot but do;) viz. self-preservation, in avo [...]ding that destruction which is like (if not prevented) to fall on us and the whole Kingdom with us, as it must needs do, if (when lying under many pressures and grievances as we question no but you (as wel as we) and thousands others in the Kingdom do) we may not pe­ti [...]ion for redress, but must be voted Enemies; judge you what this wants of the perfection of sla­very, which, we hope, is the real desires of us all to prevent. And we assure you upon the faith of honest Men and Souldi­ers, that (what ever may be suggested to you by any) we have no other aymes, but that Justice might act in all its parts and to all its ends, as elating to all estates and persons in the Kingdom that the yokes of Oppression might be ta­ken off the nec [...]s of all and Justice equally distributed to all, and the rights of any (though now detained from them) restored, and settled upon them, that so they might not be taken from them unless they disabled themselves of the en­joyment of them and so doing we trust we shal have the concurrent assistance of (at I all wise not any opposition from any) rational Men who love Justice and hate Tyranny, especially from you (deer friends) who together with us, have been imbarqued in the same ship, and have passed through man a desperate encounter by Sea as we have by Land, all to free this poor Kingdom from Tyrannical Oppres­sion, (which notwithstanding, you and we feel too much of at this day) who we trust with us, do hate and scorn to be kept any longer under bondage, having purchased our freedom at so dear a race, (though free born) We shal say no more, bu [...] desire you to take heed of all false suggestions, and vain delusion; and know this is our genuine meaning that is here before you, which [being rightly apprehended by you] we hope wil make all the attempts of men, [to di­vide you from us either by frownes, Favours, or Gra [...]i­ties, which assure your selves they wil not be writting in to accomplish their ends] useless, and all the foods of ma­lice [by them sown] fruitless, unless to bring about to [...] ­ceive that reward for their worke which may be suitable to [Page 10] it, and so in stead of dividing, we hope may prove such an uniting that maybe as a threefold Cord that shal not easily be broken, which if it shal thus unite us, we shal rejoyce in it, and shal be enabled by it to go on in the pros [...]cution of so good a work til we see Oppression, and Oppressers from us, and the Kingdom removed, a firm and happy peace set­led, a poor Kingdom from ruin and destruction delivered, which we hope is and ever shal be your and our joynt desires & endevors of all opposition, and in so doing assure your selvs against we are and wil be yours while you are the Kingdoms and ours, resoluing to be either happy or miserable together.