THis morning his Excellency the Lord Gene­rall Fairfax, and Lieutenant General Crumwell, randezvouzed with their Horse and Foot neer Andover, where the Lieu. Gen. rode to the head of each Regiment, declaring, That He was resolved to live and die with them, and that as he had often engaged with them against the common Enemy of this Nation, so was [Page 2]he resolved still to persist therein, against those Revolters which are now called by the name of Levellers; not doubt­ing but that they would as one man unite, and with una­nunous spirits follow him, for the subduing of them, and bringing the chief Ring-leaders thereof to exemplary pu­nishment.

Many declared a great willingnesse to engage with him: Others rejected it, saying, they would not fight against their friends: But they are now upon their march towards Salisbury, for the reducing and bring­ing of those Regiments to obedience and subjection that have declared against them: from whence wee hear, that they are resolved rather to die, then yeeld to any thing which shall infringe their liberty, or pervert the freedom of their Nativity.

Many of the said party have agreed upon a Decla­ration, containing these ensuing heads:

• First, they de­clare against the present Parl, and their proceedings.
• 2 Against the Councell of State.
• 3 Against the Ge­nerall Councell of the Army.
• And 4. against the pro­ceedings of the late Court of Justice

Their chie [...] Ring leader is one Capt. Tompson, who was formerly con­demned by a Councell of War to be hanged, but by the goodnesse and compassion of the Lord Gen. he was spared: this is the man who draws all men after him, his number is conceived to be about 400. and in his warch up and down hee daily gains new Proselites to him: On Wednesday last he marcht to Coventry, where he found re [...]istance, and the Gates shut against him demand [...] [...]f the Gates were so holy that he might not enter;) and after the exchange of two or three Vol­lies, he left the place, and marched thence to Tossiter, [Page 3]where coming in very late at night, he seized upon ca­ptain Farmer the Post master there, who, after they had carryed him as a prisoner up and down with them, they were content to release him upon his Parol to come up to London to the Councel of State, to pro­cure the release of three of their Brethren, who were taken posting up of their papers about Banbury; if he could not procure this he was to return as their priso­ner to Banbury.

Some blows have been already disputed neer Banbu­ry between 100 of the Lord Gen. horse, and 2 [...]0 of the Levellers, and after a sharp conflict, the Levellers declining engagement, retreated towards Oxford, but no great harm done on either side: there is a body of horse about Oxford ready to joyn with them, comman­ded by Mr. Everard, after uniting, its said they intend Westward.

Some difference hath also been in the City of Wor­cester, and the Levellers who had entred the City for­ced to retreat out again with t [...] losse of five men: the Generall and the Lieutenant Generall hath sent a Let­ter to the Agitators and Commanders in chief of the said party, for preventing of the [...]ffusion of bloud, and healing of the present breach, and quenching those flame of Discord, which are ready to break forth in severall parts of this Nation; and its hoped a happy & mutuall econciliation will be embr [...]ced, before the involving and shedding of any more bloud within the Rowels of this Nation.

Andover 12 May, 1649.

IN the middest of all our calamities and distracti­ons, great are the differences in these parts; new coles are even now kindling, and the turbulent spi­rits and affections of men begin to break forth in a most violent and visible flame; for the common peo­ple slight the authority of Magistracy, and say they will no longer walk under the vail and shadow of re­formation, but endeavour the speedy reforming there­of; and in order thereunto, many have declared, that they will joyn with the Levellers, for the restauration of the peoples freedoms to its just splendor and pro­priety, &c. The foundation whereof, takes its first Rise from the present actings of certain troopers in this county, who have declared, and remonstrated to the people, That the present transaction of affaires, are both arbytrary and tyrannicall, and that they will have a new Parliament, in the dissolving whereof, an equall Re­presentative shall be freely chosen and elected: But it is hoped that all these vapours will be soon expelled & blown over: For some discoveries are already made, That they had a design to surprize the Cities of Yorke, Oxford, Bristol, Gloucester, and many other places in the VVest of England, and that they had an intent to draw into a body and randezvouz, where they resolved to set up a standard of Sea-green Colours; they declare, that they have a great influence in divers Regiments of the Army; but care is taken to prevent their Designs, and it is not doubted but the well affected of Col. Scroops Regi­ment, Col. Harrisons, and divers others wherein they bus­sie, will be undeceived, for many thousands have declared against their present actings, and are resolved to sacri­fice [Page 5]lives and fortunes for the Parliament against all op­position whatsoever.

But yet notwithstanding all opposition, they are re­solved to proceed, and to insist upon further particu­lars, a breviate whereof I shall here insert, according to the full demonstration thereof, viz.

How happy were England were mens designs of en­slaving here at an end, how gladly should we here break off, and praise the Lord for his goodnesse to England? but alas the peoples hearts, are full of grief, and their eyes are full of teares, as ever, they cry out, they are deceived, their expectations is frustrated, and their liberty betrayed; they take up Davids complaint it is not an open enemy that enslaves them, not damme Cavaliers, nor rigid envious and surly Presbyters, but Religious and Godly friends, that have prayed, decla­red and fought together for freedom with them, that with their swords have cut in sunder the chaines of o­ther Tyrants, and yet now are become the greatest Ty­rants over their brethren themselves, which when they can refrain from fighing & sobbing, they in their bro­ken and rustick language thus expatiates: all the form of Government being corrupted and abused, the Law and administration perverted, and the peoples liber­ties betrayed; it was promised that a new foundation should be layd by an agreement of the people, to such righteous Principles of Justice and common right, that as to human reason it should be impossib for any Tyrants in this or future generations to introduce bon­dage upon the people.

[...]oclamation hath been lately made in the name of the Levellers, throughout the Counties of Oxford, Glou­cester, [Page 6] Worcester, &c. for all free born people to come in to their assistance; the disgesti [...] [...]reof is very hard, & few have little appetite to that engagement.