A DECLARATION From His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, AND The Generall Councell of the ARMY;
CONCERNING, The obstructive proceedings of divers Citizens of LonLon, towards the Souldiery; As also the Charge of the Army upon them, and the rest of their Adherents about the City.
Together with their last Proposals to both Houses of Parliament, and a Letter from his Exceliency and the Army, read in both Houses of Parliament upon Satturday last, and communicated to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London.
BY the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, and the Generall Councell of the Army, this Declaration, together with the Proposals, were sent to the Commissioners of Lords and Commons residing with the Army, to be presented to both Houses of Parliament, and read upon Satturday [...] Septemb. 18. 1647. ⟨7 ber 21⟩
Printed at London for C. W. and are to be sold at the Royall Exchange in Cornhill, 1647.
A DECLARATION FROM His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Generall Councell of the Army, concerning the City of London &c.
VVHereas the great neglect of divers persons within the City of London, hath occasioned too many delayes in raising Money for supply of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdome; His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General-Councell of the Army, Doth declare, That they take notice of the great wants of the Souldiery, both of the Army, and other Forces, and Garrisons; as also of the sufferings of the County, in respect of free quarter, [Page]which might have been peevented, and a course taken for disbanding superfluous Forces, and sending over of others for the reliefe of Ireland, and the supplying of those that are there already, had it not been for neglect or delay of those on whom the Parliament have depended in that particular, and they doe especially take notice of the delayes made by the City in 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 the Army; upon which they doe declare, and propound to this effect.
I. That for what time their defauls or delayes have occasioned, and shall further occasion the Armies stay hereabouts, the charge thereof should some way be laid upon them, and their adherents about the City.
II. That the Houses would be pleased speedily to consider of the Delinquencie of those that had a hand in the Tumult, Desine, and Engagement of a new Warre, and that such Fines may be upon them for the same, as shall bee agreeable to justice.
III. That in case the Money be not brought in by the time limited, the Parliament would be pleased to give leave to the Generall (with the advice and directions of the Committee for the Army) for the levying of the said Arreares.
All which they rather desire from grounds of reason and evidence from the speeches of many in the City, and designes and hopes of the Parliament and Armies Enemies to raise the Army into distempers, and the Country about them into confusion.
This Declaration was agreed upon at the Headquarters at Putney, upon Thursday last, there being a Generall Councell of the Army appointed to be held every Thursday. The Generall Councell met in the Church, the Generall, many Generall Officers, Field-Officers, inferiour Officers, and Agitators met. A great part of the time was spent in consideration, and debate of the Proposals of the Army, and some few things agreed upon to be altered, and explained in them, which no doubt will give much satisfaction to the Kingdome.
After the aforesaid Declaration was finished, it was, by the appointment of his Excellency, and the Councell of Warre, sent to the Right Honourable the Commissioners of Lords and Commons residing with the Army, to be presented from them to both Houses of Parliament, which according, with a Letter from the Generall and Army, to this effect, vix. That they earnestly desired, some speedy course might be taken for their pay, that so they might be inabled to pay their quarters, was presented to both Houses of Parliament upon Satturday last, and after reading thereof, ordered to be communicated to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London.
The Debates of the Generall Officers of the ARMY.
UPon Thursday last, being the 16. of this instant, his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the generall Officers of the army, had a great meeting at Putney, where they spent much time, in debating upon the present affaires of the Kingdom, and upon many great and weighty matters, exceedingly materiall towards the setling of a firme peace and union. During which time of consultation, in debate thereof, many worthy and excellent speeches were made at the Councell table, in the presence of the Generall, Lieutenant Generall, and the rest of the Officers assembled together, by certain Colonels of the Army, which was to this effect viz.
That they desired nothing so much, in respect of their own particulars, as to see this languishing [Page]and tottering Kingdome, restored to a happy and flourishing condition, that so the pure light of the Gospell may shine forth in abundance, and appeare in its full l [...]st [...]e throughout all darke and obscure corners of the Kingdom, and that the joyfull newes of Peace may have its full Eccho and tryumphant sound throughout all his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions, and that the hearts both of King and People may be firmly kuit and united together, &c. With many other worthy expressions and protestations, touching the setling of a firme peace.
Much time were spent, touching divers weighty businesses in behalfe of the whole Kingdome, concerning the peace, and future safety; as also some things debated upon in reference to the Proposalls, that after the Rights, Liberties, Peace and safety of the Kingdome being provided for, the Kings Majesties Royall person, his Gonsort the Queena, their Highnesses, Charles Prince of Wales, James Duke of Yorke, and the rest of the Royall Issue, may be restored to a condition of safety, honour, and freedome in this Nation, without diminution to their personall [Page]Rights, or further limitation to the exercise of the Regall power, &c.
No wayes are left unassayed, for the obtaining of a speedy settlement of the Kingdome, and establishing of his Maiesty and his Royall posterity in their full Rights & Freedomes, so that there is great hopes of a happy and mutuall concurrence, betwixt the King and his great Councell. The Generall Councell goes on unammously in all their Undertakings, and not so much as one dissenting Member amongst them.
BY the appointment of his Excellency, and the Councell of Warre, the fore-going Declaration was sent to the Commissioners of Lords and Commons, to be presented to both Houses of Parliament.