HAving taken up armes in Defence of the authority and Power of King and Parlia­ment, under the command of the Lord Grey of Warke, and the Earl of Manchester, during their severall Imployments with the Forces of the Eastern assotiation, and at the model­ling of this Army under the present Lord General, ha­ving been appointed by the Honorable Houses of Par­liament Major to the Now Regiament of Lieutenant Generall Crumwell, in each of which imployments having served faithfully and constantly answerable to the trust reposed in me, and having lately quit the said employment, and laid down my Commission, I hold my self tyed both in duty and conscience to ren­der the true reason thereof, which in the generall is briefly this:

Because the Principles, Designes, and actions of those Officers, which have a great influence upon the Army, are (as I conceive) very repugnant and destru­ctive to the Honour and safety of the Parliament and kingdome, from whom they derive their authority, the particulars being a breviate of my sad observations, will appear in the following Narrative.

First, that upon the Orders of Parliament for Dis­banding this Army, Lieutenant Generall Cromwell, and Commissary Generall Ireton were sent Commis­sioners to Walden, to reduce the Army to their obedi­ence, but more especially in Order to the present sup­ply of Forces for the service of Ireland

But they contrary to the trust reposed in them, very much hindered that service; not onely by discounte­nancing those that were obedient, and willing, but al­so by giving incouragement to the unwilling, and dis­obedient: Declaring that there hath lately been much cruelty and injustice in the Parl. proceedings against them (meaning the Army) and Commissary Gene­rall Ireton in further pursuance thereof framed these Papers and Writings then sent from the Army to the Parliament and Kingdome, saying also to the Agi­tators that it was then lawfull and fit to deny Dis­banding till we had received equall and full satisfacti­on for our past service, Lieutenant Generall Crum­well further adding, that were in a double capacity as Souldiers, and as Commissioners, and having our pay as Souldiers, we had something else to stand up­on as Commissioners.

And when upon the Rendezvouze at Trypple Heath the Commissioners of the Parliam. according to their [Page 3] Orders acquainted every Regiament with what the Parliament had already done, and would further do in Order to the desire of the Army: the souldiery be­ing before prepared, and notwithstanding any thing that could be said or offered to them by the Commis­sioners, they still cryed out for Justice, Justice. And for the further effecting of their purposes, advice was given by Lieutenant Generall Crumwell, and Com­missary Generall Ireton to remove the Kings person from Holdenby, or to secure him there by other guards then those appointed by the Commissioners of Par­liament, which was thought most fit to be carried on by the private Souldiery of the Army, and promoted by the Agitators of each Regiament, whose first businesse was to secure the Garrison of Oxford, with the Gunnes and Ammunition there, from thence to march to Holdenby in prosecution of the former advice which was accordingly acted by Cornet Ioyce, who when he had don the businesse sent a Letter to the Ge­nerall then at Kienton acquainting his Excellency that the King was on his march towards New-Market: The Generall being troubled thereat told Comissary Generall Ireton that hee did not like it, Demanding withall who gave those Orders, he replyed that hee gave Orders onely for securing the King there, and not for taking him away from thence, Lieut. Gen. Crumwnll comming then from London, said, that if this had not been done, the King would have been fetched away by Order of Parliament, or else Col. Graves by the advice of the Commissioners would have car­ried him to London, throwing themselves upon the favour of the Parliament for that service: The same [Page 4] day Cornet Ioyce being told that the General was dis­pleased with him for bringing the King from Holden­by, Hee answered that Lieutenant Generall Crumwell gave him Order at London to doe what he had done both there and at Oxford.

The Person of the King being now in the power of the Army, the businesse of Lieut. Gen. Crumwell was to Court His Majesty, both by Members of the Ar­my, and several Gentlemen formerly in the Kings ser­vice, into a good opinion and beliefe of the proceed­ings of the Army, as also into a dis-affection and dis­like of the proceedings of the Par. pretending to show that His Majesties interest would far better suite with the principles of Independency then of Presbytery, and when the King did alleadge (as many times hee did) that the power of Parliament was the power by which we fought, Lieut. Gen. Crumwell would reply that we were not onely Souldiers but Commissioners, pro­mising that the Army would bee for the King, in the settlement of his whole businesse, if the King and His Party would sit still, and not declare against the Ar­my, but give them leave only to manage the present businesse in hand.

That when the King was at New-Market the Par­liament thought fit to send to His Majesty, humbly desiring that in Order to His safety and their addresses for a speedy settlement, He would be pleased to come to Richmond: Contrary hereunto, Resolution was taken by the aforesaid Officers of the Army, if the King could not bee diverted by perswasion, to which His Majesty was very opposite; that then they would stop him by force at Royston where his Majesty was to [Page 5] lodge the first night, keeping accordingly continuall Guards upon him against any power that should be sent by Order of Parliament to take him from us, and to this purpose Out guards were also kept to prevent his escape from us with the Commissioners, of whom we had speciall orders given to bee carefull, for that they did daily show dislike to the present proceedings of the Army against the Parliament, and that the King was most conversant and private in discourse with them, his Majesty saying, that if any man should hin­der his going, now his two Houses had desired him, upon his late Message of the 12 of May, 1647. it should be done by force, by laying hold of his bridle, which if any were so bold to do, he would indevour to make it his last. But contrary to his Majesties expectation, the next morning when the King and the Officers of the Army were putting this to an issue came the Votes of both Houses to the King, of their compliance with that which the Army formerly desired. After which his Majesty did incline to hearken to the Desires of the Army and not before, whereupon at Caversham the King was continually solicited by Messengers from Lieutenant Generall Cromwell, and Commissary Ge­nerall Ireton, proffering any thing his Majesty should desire: As Revenues, Chaplains, Wife, Children, Ser­vants of his own, Visitation of Friends, accesse of Let­ters, (and by Com. General Ireton) that his Negative Voyce should not be medled withall. And that hee had convinced those that reasoned against it in the ge­nerall councell of the Army, and all this they would doe that his Majesty might the better see into all our actions, and know our principles which lead us to give [Page 6] him all these things out of conscience, for that wee were not a people hating his Majesties person, or Mo­narchical Government, but that we liked it as the best, and that by This King. Saying also that they did hold it a very unreasonable thing for the Parliament to a­bridge him of them. Often promising that if his Ma­jesty would sit still, and not act against them, they would in the first place restore him to all these, and up­on the settlement of our own just rights and liberties make him the most glorious Prince in Christendome.

That to this purpose for a settlement they were ma­king severall Proposals to be offered to the Commissi­oners of Parli. then sent downe to the Army, which should be as bounds for our party as to the Kings busi­nes. And that his Maiesty should have liberty to get as much of those abated as he could, for that many things therein were proposed only to give satisfaction to o­thers, who were our friends, promising the King that at the same time the Commissioners of Parliament should see these Proposalls, his Majesty should have a copy of them also, pretending to carry a very equall hand between King and Parliament, in order to the settlement of the kingdome by him; which, besides their own judgements and conscience, they did see a necessity of it, as to the people. Commissary Generall Ireton further saying, that what was offered in these proposals, should b [...]e so just and reasonable, that if there were but six men in the kingdome, that would fight to make them good, he would make the seventh against any power that should oppose them.

The Head-quarters being removed from Redding to Bedford, His Majesty to Wooburne, the Proposals [Page 7] were given to me by Comis. Gen. Ireton to present to the King, which His Majesty having read, told me that he would never Treate with the Army nor the Parliament, upon these Proposals as hee was then minded, but the next day His Majesty understanding that a Force was put upon His Houses of Parliament by a tumult, sent for mee, and said unto me, goe a long with Sir John Barkeley to your Generall, and Lieut. Gen. and tell them, that, to avoid a new war I will now Treate with them upon their Proposalls, or any thing else, in order to a Peace, onely let me be saved in Honour, and Conscience, Sir John Barkley falling sicke by the way, I delivered this Message to the Lieut. Generall, and to Commis. Gen. Ireton, who advised mee not to acquaint the Generall with it till 10 or 12 Officers of the Army were met toge­ther at the Generalls Quarters, and then they would bethinke themselves of some persons to be sent to the King about it, and accordingly Com. Gen. Ireton, Col. Rainsborough, Col. Hammond and Col. Rich attended the King at Wooburne for three houres toge­ther, debating the whole businesse with the King up­on the Proposals, upon which Debates, many of the most materiall things the King dis-liked were after­wards strucke out, and many other things much abat­ed by promises: whereupon his Majesty was satisfied, within a day or two after this, his Majesty removed to Stoke, and there calling for me, told me, He feared an Ingagement between the City and the Army, saying he had not time to write any thing under His hand, but would send it to the Generall after mee, com­manding to tell Com. Gen Ireton with whom he had formerly Treated upon the Proposals, that He would [Page 8] wholly throw himselfe upon us, and trust us with the settlement of the Kingdome as we had promised; say­ing, if wee proved honest men, we should without question make the Kingdom happy, and save much shedding of blood, this Message from His Majesty I delivered to Com. Gen. Ireton in Colebrooke, who seemed to receive it with joy, saying that we should be the veriest knaves that ever lived, if in every thing wee made not good whatever wee had promised, be­cause the King by His not Declaring against us, had given us great advantage against our adversaries.

After our marching through London with the Ar­my, His Majesty being at Hampton Court Lieut. Gen. Crumwell and Com. Gen. Ireton sent the King word severall times, That the Reason why they made no more hast in his busines; was, because that that Party which did then sit in the House while Pelham was spea­ker, did much obstruct the busines, so that they could not carry it on at present Lieut. Gen. often saying that Really, they should bee pulled out by cares, and to that purpose caused a Regiment of Horse to Randezvouze at Hide-Parke to have put that in execution as he him­selfe exprest, had it not beene carried by Vote in the House that day as he desired.

The day before the Parliament Voted once more the sending up of the Propositions of both King­domes to the King, by the Commissioners of each Kingdom at Hampton-Court, Commis. Gen. Ireton bad me tell the King that such a thing was to be done to morrow in the House, but His Majesty need not be troubled at it: For that they intended it to no other end, but to make good some promises of the Parlia­ment [Page 9] which the Nation of Scotland expected the per­formance of, & that it was not expected or desired his Majesty should either signe or treat upon them, for which there should be no advantage taken against the King; upon the delivery of which message, his Ma­jesty replyed, He knew not what answer to give to please all, without a Treaty.

Next day after this Vote passed, Lieu. Generall as­ked me hereupon, if the King did not wonder at these Votes: I told him no: for that Com. Gen. Ireton had sent such a message by me the day before the Vote passed, to signifie the reason of it; the Liev. Generall replyed, that really it was the truth, and that we, (speaking of the Parliament) intended nothing else, but to satisfie the Scot, which otherwise might bee troublesome. And the Liev. Generall, and Com. Ge­nerall, enquiring after his Majesty answer'd to the Proposition, and what it would be, it was shewed them both privately in a Garden-house at Putney, and in some part amended to their own minds. But be­fore this, the King doubting what answer to give, sent me to Liev. Generall Crumwell as unsatisfied with the proceedings of the Army, hearing they intended not to make good what they had promised, and the ra­ther because his Majesty understood that Liev. Ge­nerall Crumwell, Com. Generall Ireton agreed with the rest of the House in some late Votes that opposed the Proposalls of the Army: They readily replied, that they would not have his Majesty mistrust them, for that since the House would goe so high, they one­ly concurred with them, that their unreasonablenesse might the better appeare to the Kingdome; and Liev. [Page 10] Generall bad me further assure the King, That if the Army remained an Army, his Majesty should trust the Proposalls, with what was promised to be the worst of his condition, which should bee made for him. And then striking his hand on his heart in his chamber at Putney, bad me tell the King, he might rest confident and assured of it; and many times the same message hath been sent to the King from them both, but with this addition from Com. Gen. Ireton, That they would purge, and purge, & purge, and never leave purging the Houses, till they had made them of such a temper as should doe his Majesties businesse, and rather then they would fal short of what was pro­mised, he would joyne with French, Spaniard, Ca­valier, or any that would joyne with him to force them to it, upon the delivery of which message, the King made answer, That if they doe, they would do more then he durst doe.

After this, the delay of the settlement of the King­dome, was excused upon the commotions of Col. Martin, and Col. Rainsborough, with their adherents, the Liev. Generall saying, That speedy course must be taken for outing of them in the House and Army, because they were now putting the Army into a mu­teny, by having hands in publishing severall Printed papers, calling themselves the Agents of five, and the agreement of the people, although some men had incouragement from Liev. Generall Crummell for the prosecution of those papers; and he being further prest to shew himselfe in it, desired to be excused at present, for that he might shew himself better for their advantage hereafter, though in the company of those [Page 11] men which were of different judgements, he would often say, that these people were a giddy headed par­ty, and that there was no trust or truth in them. And to that purpose wrote a letter to Col. Whaley that day the King went from Hampton Court, intimating doubtfully that his Majesties person was in danger by them. And that hee should keep Out-guards to pre­vent them, which was presently shewed the King by Col. Whaley.

That about six dayes after it was fully knowne by the Parliament and Army, that the King was in the Isle of Wight, Commissary Generall Ireton standing by the fire side at his Quarters at Kingston, and some speaking of an agreement likely to be made betweene the King and Parliament, now the person of the king was out of the power of the Army; Com. Generall Ireton replyed with a discontented countenance, That he hoped it would be such a peace as we might with a good conscience fight against them both.

Thus they who at the first taking the King from Holdenby into the power of the Army, cryed downe Presbyterian government, the proceedings of this present Parliament, and their perpetuity, and instead thereof, held forth an earnest inclination to a mode­rated Episcopacy, with a new election of Members to sit in Parliament for a speedy settlement of the King­dome. And afterwards when the eleven Members had left the House, and the marching through London with the Army, the seven Lords impeached, the four Aldermen of London committed to the Tower, and other Citizens committed also; then againe they cryed up Presbyterian government, the perpetuity of this [Page 12] present Parliament: Liev. Gen. Crumwell further plea­sing himselfe with the great summes of money which were in arreare from each County to the Army, and the taxe of 60000 li. per moneth for our maintenance, Now (saith he) we may be for ought I know, an Army as long as we live. And since the sending forth the Or­ders of Parliament for the calling of the Members to­gether, Liev. Generall Crumwel perceiving the Hou­ses will not answer his expectation, he is now againe uttering words perswading the hearers to a prejudice against the proceedings of Parliament; again crying downe Presbyterian government, setting up a single interest, which he calls an honest Interest, and that we have done ill in forsaking of it.—To this purpose it was lately thought fit to put the Army upon the choo­sing new Agitators, and to draw forth of the Houses of Parliament 60 or 70 of the Members thereof, much agreeing with his words hee spake formerly at his chamber in Kingston, saying, What a sway Stappleton, & Hollis had heretofore in the Kingdome, and he knew nothing to the contrary, but that he was as well able to governe the Kingdome as either of them: so that in all his discourse nothing more appeareth then his seeking after the government of King, Parliament, City and Kingdome; for the effecting whereof, hee thought it necessary, and delivered it as his judge­ment, that a considerable party of the chiefe Citizens of London, and some of every County be clapt up in Castles and Garrisons for the quiet and submissive carriage of every place to which they belong. Further saying, that from the raising of the late tumult in Lon­don, there should be an occasion taken to hang the [Page 13] Recorder and Aldermen of London then in the Tow­er, that the City might see the more they did stir in opposition, the more they should suffer: Adding that the City must first be made an example. And since that Lieut. Gen. Crúmwell was sent downe from the Parliament: for the reducing of the Army to their o­bedience, he hath most frequently in publique and private delivered these insuing heads as his principles from whence all the aforegoing particulars have en­sued being fully confirmed (as I humbly conceive) by his practise in the Transactions of his last years bu­sinesse: as,

1 That every single man is judge of Just and Right as to the good or ill of a Kingdom.

2 That the Interest of honest men is the Interest of the Kingdom, and that those only are deemed honest men by him, that are conformable to his judgement and practise, as may appeare in many particulars, to instance but in one: In the choice of Col. Rainsbo­rough to be Vice-Admirall, Lieut. Gen. Crumwell be­ing asked how hee could trust a man whose interest was so directly opposite, and what he had professed, and one whom he had lately aimed to remove fromal places of trust, he answered, that he had now received particular assurance from Col. Rainsborough (as great as could be given by man) that he would be conforma­ble to the judgement and direction of himselfe and Com. G. Ireton for the managing the whole businesse at Sea.

3 That it is lawfull to passe through any formes of government for the accomplishing his ends, and ther­fore either to purge the Houses, and support the re­maining [Page 14] party by force everlastingly, or to put a pe­riod to them by force, is very lawful and sutable to the interest of honest men.

4 That it is lawfull to play the knave with a knave.

These Gent. aforesaid (in the Army) thus principled, & as by many other circumstances might appear acting accordingly give too much cause to beleeve that the successe which may be obtained by the Army, except timely prevented by the wisdome of the Parl. will be made use of to the destroying of all their power for which wee first ingaged, and having for above these 12 monthes past sadly and with much reluctance ob­served these severall passages aforesaid yet with some hopes that there might be a returning to the obedience of the Parliament, and contrary thereunto knowing that Resolutions were taken up that in case the power of Parliament cannot be gained to countenance their Designe, then to proceed without it.

I therefore chose to quit my selfe of my command wherein I have served the Parliament for these five yeares last past, and put my selfe upon the greatest hazzards, by discoverning these truthes, rather then by hopes of gaine, with a troubled mind, continue an Abetter or Assistant of such as give affronts to the Parliament and Kingdome, by abusing the Power and au­thority, to carry on their particular designes. Against whom in the middest of danger, I shal avowe the truth of this narative: And my selfe to be a constant, faithfull, and obedient Servant to the Parliament of England.