NOtwithstanding the high vi­olations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties, and the endeavors to swallow up the whole Interest of the Kingdom, into the Power and Will of a KING; which the present Kings Reign hath afforded: We have observed, That the Parliament was (through His Neces­sities, and against His declared Intentions to the contrary) called and put into a con­dition of Vindicating the Kingdom in those things, and hath yet acted with [Page 4]that tenderness towards the King (as to any thing of Right that might be in Him, or Duty towards Him) as that in the Protestation, Covenant, and many De­clarations published by them, They have held forth a careful regard of the preser­vation of the Kings Person, and just Rights, with and in the preservation and vindication of the publique Interests and Safety of the Kingdom; And by the whole Series of their Actions, and their manifold humble Addresses to Him for the preservation and settlement of all: They have (we conceive) abundantly de­monstrated the Reality and Innocency of their Intentions towards Him.

In all which we have still understood the Sence and Intention to be no other, then that the preservation of the Kings Person, and particular Rights, should be so far endeavored, as it might be consi­stent with, and not destructive to, those greater and more obliging publique Inte­rests of, Religion, and the Rights, Liber­ties, [Page 5]and Safety of the Kingdom, and not otherwise.

And according [...] [...] Declarati­ons and Papers, [...] [...]sionally passed from this Army (as to [...] of settlement to the Kingdom:) [...] expressed our real wishes, That if the King would, in things Necessary, and Es­sential to the clearing, settling, and secu­ring of those publique Interests, give His concurrence (to put them past future disputes) Then His Rights should be considered, and settled, so far as might be consistent with those Superior Interests of the Publique, and the Security thereof for future.

And that by an Address to the King upon things so purely Essential to those Publique ends, it might once come to a clear tryal, Whether we could, with the preservation of the Kings Person, and particular Interest, have a Security to the other, hath been our earnest Desire, our great expectation, and our endeavor, that [Page 6]we and others might be kept in a patient waiting for such an issue.

Now in the Parliaments last Address to the King, we finde they have insisted onely upon some few things, so Essential to that Interest of the Kingdom which they have hitherto engaged for, as that without betraying the Safety of the Kingdom and themselves, and all that had engaged with them in that Cause, or without denying that which God in the issue of the War hath been such Testimo­ny unto, they could not go lower; And (those things granted) they have offered to Treat for all the rest.

Thus we accompt that great business of settlement to the Kingdom, and Secu­rity to the publique Interest thereof, by and with the Kings concurrence to be brought to so clear a Tryal, as that (upon the Kings denyal of those things) we can see no further hopes of settlement, or Se­curity that way: And therefore under­standing, that upon the consideration of [Page 7]that Denial, added to so many other, the Honorable House of Commons by seve­ral Votes on Monday last, have resolved, Not to make any further Address or Ap­plication to the King, nor receive any from Him, nor to suffer either, in others: We do freely and unanimously Declare, (for our selves and the Army) That we are resolved (through the Grace of God) firmly to adhere to, and stand by the Par­liament in those things Voted on Mon­day last concerning the King, and in what shall be further necessary for pro­secution thereof; and for the setling and securing of the Parliament and Kingdom without the King, and against Him, or any other that shall hereafter partake with Him.

At the general Councel of the Army at VVindsor, Ja­nuary the 9 ^th 1647.