SEVERALL PROPOSALLS From his EXCELLENCY Sr Tho. Fairfax: and the general Councel of the ARMIE.
Shewing their humble desires in those things which concerns them as SOVLDIERS.
Together with a Letter, tendered to the Lords and Commons Commissioners of Parliament, Residing with the Army.
To bee by them humbly Represented to both Houses of PARLIAMENT.
By the appointment of his Excellency Sr THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the generall Councel of the ARMY.
LONDON▪ Printed by James and Joseph Moxon. for John Pounset, at the signe of the Hand and Bible, at the lower end of Budg-row, neer Dowgate. 1647.
FOR THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE the LORDS and COMMONS Commissioners of Parliament, residing with the Army.
IN our Representation or Declaration, sent from St Albans, wee did expresse in generall Terms what things wee desired for the setling of the Rights, Liberties Peace, and safety of the Kingdom: and since (as the distractions and interruptions wee have met withall would admit) wee have proceeded to prepare and have lately delivered to your Lordships our particular Proposalls in pursuance of those generall desires: and in order to the same ends, having in those set forth, what our desires are, in the things which concerns us; as members of the Common wealth, and in Common w [...]th all others. Wee shall now desire your Lordships to re-minde the Parliament of our humble desires in those things which concerns us as Souldiers, and of our dis-satisfactions in relation thereunto; which remained upon us, when some Regiments [Page 2] of the Army were voted to bee disbanded; for which purpose we have now prepared (and do herewith tender to your Lordships) our particular desires, in pursuance of our former papers, published before our comming to St Albans, in Order to the satisfaction and securitie of the Army, and other the Parl [...]aments Forces, in point of Arrears, and other things that concern us meerly as Souldiers, which we desire, may bee humbly represented to the Parliament, to be taken into as speedy Consideration as may be. The matter of the first Article, concerning the present stating of accounts, and giving debenters for Arrears, to be speedily put in execution, or set in a way of dispatch, and the rest of them to be agreed upon, provided for, and included in any setling of a Peace, which wee shall hartily pray for.
SEVERAL PROPOSALLS From His EXCELLENCIE Sr Tho. Fairfax; and the general Councel of the ARMIE.
Shewing their humble Desires, in those things which concern them as Souldiers.
1. THat a Committee or Commissioners be appointed by the Parliament, to come down and abide at the Heed Quarters of the Army, with f [...]ll power and authority to audite and state he Accounts thereof; and to give Debenters as well for the pay respited upon the Publique faith, as otherwise, for their service under the command of His Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, or any other respective Command, wherein they, or any of them, have served the Parliament; that so what shall appear to be justly due upon the aforesaid [Page 4] Debenters, may be made an unquestionable debt unto them. And for the more effectual accomplishment hereof, we desire, that the Respective Treasurers and Commissaries of musters of the several Armies, may be commanded to attend the said Committee or Commissioners, that thereby the Arrears of any person of this Army, incurred in other Armies or Garrisons, who by his or their continual attendance upon the service, have not had their accounts audited and stated, may now be fully accounted for, without further trouble.
And forasmuch as the Accounts of many who are Members of this Army, and have formerly served the Parliament under other Commands, (though the neglect or want of musters, loss of Papers, death of Officers, taking of Garrisons, &c.) will be very difficult to be cleared, to what they will be for the service under the Command of His Excellencie Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, where Musters have been certaine, and Accounts better kept, and such contingencies as aforesaid have not h [...]pned; we humbly offer, that the said Committee or Commissioners, may have such full instructions, that where Certificates from superiour Officers cannot possibly be obtained, or other sufficient Testimonies had, the oath of such persons may be taken, and vallid as to the stating of their Accounts
[Page 5] And in regard there remaines a dis-satisfaction upon the Army, grounded upon the Instructions made for the auditing of our Accompts, and published to us at the Rendesvouze of the Armie at Triplow-heath, in order to our satisfaction, wherein care is taken for the abatement for Freequarter, when monies have been received, and quarters not accordingly satisfied, but no notice taken of payment of quarters at any time, beyond our proportions of pay received, nor any regard had of the several hard [...]hips, wants, and extremities wee have been put upon, in times of eminent service, viz. difficult marches, continual motions, and tediou [...] L [...]ghers, &c. Where, by the greatness of our Body, or closeness in posture in quartering, there hath been such scarcity in provisions, that both Officers and Souldiers have been put to extreme expences in procuring necessaries to live upon, and all this at such time when no monies have been sent us; and thereupon a proceed-made to the severall large deduction thereafter specified, which we neither then nor yet can see good grounds for: therefore we humbly [...]ffer, that the two Houses would be pleased to re-assume the consideration of the said Instructions, and thinke upon some expedient, whereby our deduction for Free-quarter may be moderated, as to the Instructions afore-said: and that no person who hath constantly paid quarters, [Page 6] may be put upon any deduction, nor any Officer be accountable for any thing save that which particularly concerns himself.
And further wee desire there may be effectual course taken, and provision made for the stating of the Accompts, and securing the Arrears of other the Souldiery of the Kingdom, who have faithfully served the Parliament, and concurred with this Army in their late engagement.
And whereas divers of the Horsemen of this Army upon the loss of their Horses in the Parliaments service, have at their owne charges furnished themselves with others, fit for the said service, and haply have againe lost certain of the said Horses so bought, whereby the State have been served, and the Souldiery much damnified: Wee humbly desire the two Houses will be pleased to take it into their consideration, thar some convenient satisfaction may be thought upon for such, as by sufficient Testimoniall shall make it appear they have been damnifyed as aforesaid.
2. Secondly, That Provision may be forthwith made, and a visible security given, to satisfie the Arrears of the Armie, in such way and manner, as may be least burthensome to the Common-wealth; in order to which we offer, that Bishops lands, Dean and Chapters lands, and [Page 7] Forrest Lands may bee speedily put to saile, or otherwise made over for the use aforesaid, or any other way the Parliament in their wisedome shall think meet, appearing satisfactory for the security of the said Arrears.
3. Thirdly, That there may bee an Ordinance for securing all and every person in this Army, who have willingly served the Parliament, from beeing impressed out of this Kingdom, to any forraign service: and that no Horse-man shall bee forced to serve on foot in any future case: And for the more reall effecting hereof, wee desire, that every such person aforesaid, as shall have a certificate under the Generalls or his respective Field Officer or Captains hand, that he hath served in this Army (which he may carry about him, or keepe by him, by producing such a Ticket he may bee upon sight thereof discharged: and that if any Officer shall detaine any such person after the sight of such testimoniall, there may bee a certaine penalty inflicted upon him.
4. Fourthly, That the Ordinance concerning Apprentices freedom, that have served the Parliament, may be made an act before or at the setling of a Peace.
5. Fifthly, That the Ordinance concerning [Page 8] Provision for maimed Souldiers, and the Widdows, and Orphants of men slaine in the Parliaments service, may likewise bee made an Act.
6. Sixthly, That to the Ordinance lately past for Indemnity, there may bee an Additionall Provision, for saving harmlesse and Indemnified the Army and all the Members of it. As also all that have acted in concurrence with it, and for securing of them from all Troubles, Question, or Prejudice for or concerning any thing done, in, upon or in pursuance of the Petition of the Army, agreed upon at Walden, in March last; or any the papers since then presented and published from the Army, or any the things therein contained, or for or concerning any thing spoken or done in relation to, or in Vindication of the Army, from the injuries or extremities put upon it, about the said Petition, or since: which Additionall Provision wee desire, may, together with the said Ordinance for Indemnity, bee past into Acts, at the setling of a Peace: so as we or others, may not (for what we have done or insisted on, in necessary defence or Vindication of our selves, as Souldiers; from Ruine or insufferable Injuries and Oppressions, or in behalf of the Common wealth; for the setling and securing of the Rights, Liberties, Peace, and Safety [Page 9] thereof) remaine subject to the malice or censures of our and the Kingdomes Enemies, who wee have opposed upon any future advantage.