WHereas, wee have lately been put upon actions very publique (yet lawfull) which we could have wished had been more private, had we not been exposed so to man­nage the same for necessity sake, and in the carrying on of these affaires of so great importance; Two things have been laid before us, Happinesse and Misery, Peace and Warre, Wel­fare and Ruine.

And unlesse wee should have degenerated from the very principles of nature, and consequently have become inhu­mane, wee must have carryed on these affaires as they now appear to have been.

As for our parts, we do seriously protest, that the very prin­ciples which led us to undertake the service, were for the advancement of the Subjects good (to wit) their just rights and immunities; And in the undertaking of the service wee were throughly resolved to live and dye in defence of the same.

Indeed, we cannot but blesse God for that glorious suc­cesse which hath been freely given to those that undertooke the service.

[Page 7] To this end, although our hardships have been very great, and occasioned many inconveniences to our selves, yet our happi­nesse is, that the Lord hath crowned our endeavours with the end of our desires, in some respect; but notwithstanding (to our amazement) the endeavours of some pretended friends were not wanting utterly to deprive us of the fruit of our hard labours and dangerous service; which enterprizes striking at the temporall foundations of our well-being, brought us very neare even to destruction it selfe. And sith it hath pleased God to stirre up the Army more immediately under your Ex­cellencies command, to withstand the Contrivers of this stra­tagem; We could do no lesse but manifest our affectionate ap­probation of their actions, and our earnest desires to partake with them in any condition whatsoever, which are expressed in the Declaration, Petition, and Representations which wee lately presented to your Excellency: But since our first endea­vours to associate our selves with the Army more immediately under your Excellencies Command (out of the apprehension we had of the equity of their proceedings) we found very ma­ny unwilling persons both to our and the Kingdomes welfare; which have done as much as in them lies, to obstruct our pro­ceedings. And for this their aversnesse to us, they have pre­tended the authority of Colonell-Generall Poyntz; which we examining, found to be too true; insomuch as we have recei­ved divers Letters, sent to particular Officers, manifesting not onely the aversnesse of his spirit to whatsoever might conduce to the advancement of the publike good, but also the violence that he intended to offer to any such persons, as should close or comply with that Army more immediatly under your Excel­lencies Command, in their just undertakings: Insomuch that we having formerly had sufficient testimonies of his violent intreating of some, even to the death, without a legall triall, [Page 8] (although it should be granted that their fact were hainous;) we could not expect, but receive hard measure from such a one, whose will was his reason, and his reason not his will, he being in a capacity of acting dangerous things, and not wanting a will thereunto, as your Excellency may please to take notice by the copie of his Letters, our case being such, as that our happinesse consists in being under such command as doe highly prize our welfare for the future. But least wee should passe by such persons whose perfidiousnesse hath been a great cause of his acting, we shall humbly remonstrate to your Excellency, that although in our apprehensions the carry­ing on of the businesse by him will import no lesse then that he did endeavour, as much as in him lay, to re-imbroyle us in a second warre, and that not against our foes, but against those who were our fellow-servants for the publike good, viz. the Army in the South: Yet notwithstanding it is so plainely e­vident unto us, that there is a sort of men who seemingly lie under a prodigious Lethargie, and would gladly render them­selves to the apprehensions of godly men, as if they were un­acquainted with the businesse, and frame that as an excuse for their non-concurrency with us when it is too apparent (for their credit) that they with him have countenanced and kept correspondency with the Members accused by your Excel­lency; and not onely so, but have made use of his power for the accomplishment of their illegall designs: But the just God will not suffer unjust men to goe unpunished. Out of the ap­prehension of these things, we could doe no lesse but fore-see the eminent danger that was like to befall both our selves and the Nation with us, and what a great obstruction there might (by this meanes) bee put to the present hopefull proceedings. We therefore considering what dangerous consequent effects were like to follow, if such as these men were suffered to re­side [Page 9] amongst us, and that the meanest creature endeavours to use all means (even by nature) to preserve it selfe; and know­ing our late obligement not onely to endeavour to protect, but also to act against such persons; we sent a party of Horse upon Wednesday at night, being the seventh of this instant moneth, to apprehend Colonell-Generall Poyntz, which they accordingly did, and in the mannaging of the same, were as free from offering any violent and uncivill action, as it was possible for men in that cafe to be. He being apprehended, was brought to Pontefract, and is now sent to be tried by a Councell of Warre of the Army more immediately under your Excellencies command, which wee humbly desire may be accomplished, he having deserved the same for injury done both to Souldiery and Kingdome, as more plainely by the Charge doth appeare. And we shall humbly desire your Ex­cellency, that such course may be taken for a Commander in chiefe, and Officers of integrity to bee intrusted with these Northerne Forces, as may abhorre all corruption in their places of trust, and as doe disdaine to go so far beneath the spirits of upright men, as to stoop to compliancie with any unjust thing for sinister respects sake.

These things being accomplished, we then hope sweetly to sit down under, and fully to be possessed of that peace and fu­ture happinesse, which is the very price of our blood; and we shall willingly betake our selves to such imployment, as shall conduce to Gods glory, and the Kingdomes service.

Thus have we humbly remonstrated to your Excellency our present condition: To whom shall we appeale (next to divine Providence) for a redresse of our grievances, if not to your Ex­cellency, of whose faithfulnesse we have had sufficient testi­mony, and whom we have followed to look death cheerfully in the face (for our Countreyes freedome) in former services; [Page 10] and we hope shall not now be left destitute of your helpe; which if we shall obtaine, to be added to the rest of former favours, we shall then rejoyce, and quietly repose our selves to all such warrantable undertakings as shall befit men who have been so concerned in publike Affaires, and (we hope) shall leave our freedome as an inheritance to succeeding ages, and our selves (in the interim) to be commanded by your Excel­lency, or whom els you shall think fit, for the service and safe­ty of King, Parliament and Kingdome.