YOur Lordships Letter of the 28. I received yesterday, with the Votes of both Houses inclosed therein. Before the receipt thereof, I had called the Officers unto a generall Councel of War, to aw [...]se concerning the better transaction of the businesse, and prev [...]ntion of all inconveniencies there­upon; and when they were in consultation, I communicated your Lordships Letter, (and the Votes therewith sent) unto them. After much time spent in debate thereof, this inclosed was delivered unto me by the Officers, as the Result of the Councell of War; which being of very great concernment, I held it my duty to hasten unto your Lordships. It is no small griefe of heart unto me, that there should be any dissatisfact­ions betwixt the Parliament and the Army, and that the late V [...]s did not give satisfaction. I beseech God to direct your Lordships to proceed with wisdome, that things may be de­termined in love, and this poore Kingdome free from further distraction; which is the earnest desire of

For the ri [...]ht Honourable the Earl of Ma [...]c [...]ester, Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore.

HAving called the Officers of the Army to St. Edmunds Bu­ry, I communicated unto them yesterday the Votes of both Houses, and a Letter of the House of Peeres sent therewith, con­cerning the disbanding of the Army; After long consultation had thereof, this enclosed was delivered unto me, as the Result of the Councell of Warre (where the Officers were very many and unanimous) which being of importance, I held it my duty to ha­sten the same unto you, being much perplexed in my thoughts that dis-satisfactions betwixt the Parliament and the Army should rather increase, then lessen; I intreat you, that there may bee wayes of love and composure thought upon, I shall doe my endea­uours, though I am forct to yeeld to something out of order, to keepe the Army from disorder, or worse inconveniencies, I de­sire you to take some speedy resolution for the composing of things, whereby the Kingdome may bee happy in a timely deliverance from further distraction: for the effecting whereof, I could bee conte [...]t to be a sacrifice, as the last service you can have from

For the Honourable William Lenthal Esquire, Speaker of the honoura­ble House of Commons.

1. THat upon the reports come to all quarters of the Army concerning the Votes and proceedings of the House May 21. As also of those on Tuesday, May 25. we find the ge­nerallity of the Army (as we are our selves) much unsatisfied in the one, and something amazed and startled at the [...]ther, the first Votes (of Friday) comming much short of satisfaction as to the grievances of the Army then reported to the House and not taking any notice at all of some that were most materiall, & the latter (of Tuesday) importing a resolution suddenly to dis­band the Army by peace-meale, before equall satisfaction be given to the whole in any of the grievances, or so much as any consideration had of some others most materiall: And also be­fore any effectuall performance of that satisfaction with the Votes of Friday seemed to promise as to some of the grievan­ces, all which we shall be readie (upon a little time given us) to represent to your Excellency, more distinctly and in par­ticular.

2. That the said distraction, and the iealousies occasioned up­pon the same proceeding, as we feare, and some effects alrea­dy appearing doe find, may unhappily produce dangerous disturbances and tumultuous actings amongst severall parts of the Army, as they now lie dispersed and remote from the Head quarters, especially amongst those Regiments whose prin­cipall Officers, by neglecting or disserting their Soldiers in in their necessary concernments or iust grievances, have disob­leiged their Soldiers, and lost their interest with them in so much as such Officers are in some sort forced to withdraw from their charges, and can scarce with safety come at them, & to prevent the inconveniencies or ill consequences which such disturbed or tumultuous actings might produce either to the countrys where the Army quarters or to the kingdom, [Page 6] We humbly advise your Excellency without delay, to draw the Arm (or at least those parts thereof that are not fixt to certain Quarters upon particular du [...]y) unto a closer posture of Quarters, so as each Regiment, Troop, and Company, may lye under the view, and over-sight of their respective Offi­cers that are left with them, and all of them under a near [...]r view of, and correspondencie wi [...]h the Head-quarter, which may thus have a readier influence upon all, for the better preserving of good Order, and prevention of inconvenien­ci [...]s, and in such posture for the Countries ease, to remove and shift the whole Quarter one a week at least, till up [...]n fur­ther sa [...]isfaction, [...]e Army may be quie [...]ly, and orderly dis­banded.

3. That upon the same dissa [...]i [...]faction and jealousies we find an extream earnestn [...]l, and violent propers [...] among the souldiers to a general Randezvorz▪ and we veril [...] believe, that the fi [...]st at [...]empt to d [...]b [...]nd any one Re [...]ment, b [...]fore equall satisfaction to all, and assura [...]ce against th [...]se things they have cause to fear, wil [...] them all to draw toge­ther and Randezvouz of themselves, as it were upon in Al­larme. And to prevent the into ve [...]nc [...]s or il consequen­ces bo [...]h to these Countries and [...] Kingdom, of any such tumultuous or confused draw [...]ng to a Randezvouz without order, we humbly advise your Excelle [...]cy wi [...]hout delay, af­ter the contracting of quarters, to order a g [...]n [...]ral Randez­vouze for those parts of the Army, whose quar [...]ers shal b [...] so contracted: And this we advise and d [...]sire the rather because of the scandalous suggestions of some, importi [...]g as if the late discontents appearing in the Army, and the representations of grievances from the Army, were not really in or from the body of the Souldiery, but a m [...]ere delusion or appearance made by the contrivance and artifice of some factious Offi­cers, or other persons in the Army, the tru [...]h and falshood whereof, as also the true temper and disposition of the Army, your Excellencie, and all other, may most clearly discover [...]y such a generall Randezvouz (without the delay or trou­ [...]e of going to every Regimen a part as they now lye) the [...]my may more certainly understand what they may ex­pect [Page 7] from the Parliament, and both Parliament and King­dome what to judge and trust to, concerning the Army, and to that purpose at such a Randezvouz, wee sha [...]l (wee hope through the grace of God) discharge our [...] to the Parlia­ment and Kingdome, as well as to your Excellencie and the Armie, and demonstra [...]e that the good and quiet of the king­dome, is much dearer to us then any particular concernment of our own. These two last things we humbly advise and de­sire may be done without delay, or that otherwise me may be held acquitted from all inconveniencies that may ensue in our several charges.

4. Since (besides the d [...]ssatisfaction to the Army hitherto, in the points of grievances, and the defect of assurance, as to seve [...]all of these things promised for our satisfaction, and be­sides the jealousies occasioned upon the Votes of Tuesday last and a [...]l held consequences which may follow in proceeding thereupon) That course of disbanding the Army by piece­ [...]e before the satisfaction intended, be performed equally to the whole, seemes something strange and unusuall (not pra­ctised in disbanding of other Armies, as Major Gen. Massies Brig [...]de, he Scots Army &c. or used that we have heard of, by any States towards any Army that was ever accounted faithfull; We humbly desire your Excellencie by an effectu­all Letter to move the Parliament for this, as that which we humbly offer & do beg at thē, both for their own honor, in re­la [...]ion to wha [...] future Armies they may have occasion to im­ploy, for the reputation of your Excellencie, and this Armie, as well as for its better satisfaction, and as they render the good and assured quie [...] of his Kingdome, or the effectuall re­liefe and saving of Ireland, That they would be pleased to re­sume the considera [...]ion of things voted on Tuesday last, and to suspend any present proceeding thereupon; as also to re­sume the grievances of the Army, together with the things proposed in the conclusion of the Narrative from the Offi­cer, and to give satisfaction, or at least some resolution to each of them, [...]nd that they would not think it fit to put that temptation, those jealousies, and that dishonour upon the Ar­mie▪

[Page 8]Whereas, what wee here desire your Excellency to move may be said, if admitted into consideration, to tend to delay the reliefe of Ireland.

1. We find most clearly, that the great hopes suggested to the Parliament, of the supply of that service in that way at present intended, will prove as to any further expectation out of this Army, but vain and delusive, as the loud noyse of so many powerfull Officers, with 50 Companies of Foot, & ten of horse, so long since ingaged for that service have alrea­dy proved, and if herein our judgment be not credited, wee have yet discharged our duty to the Parliament, and both Kingdomes in declaring it.

2. We cannot but for our owne, and the Armies further discharge, and clearing, declare, That if the Parliament had not been abused by many of those they have employed, and intrusted for the promotion of that service, and had not been by such mens false informations, or misrepresentations con­cerning the Army, or otherwise diverted from the conside­ration of or from giving reasonable satisfaction to the Army in these things proposed by the generality of the Officers at the first meeting at Walden in March last, in order to that service, and had not by like mischievous practises of such in­cendiaries been since then moved and drawn to such things, and in such a series and succession, as have conduced to mul­tiply discontents, disobligations, and provocations upon the Army, (wee say had it not beene for such persons and such things) we are confident might have had (if they had plea­sed) an Army entire, and ready formed under their old Of­ficers, and Conduct, to have engaged for that service, having found a just consideration for the services past, and assurance of pay and subsistence in that to come.