THE ANSWER Of His Excellencie S ir THOMAS FAIRFAX, (in behalf of the whole Army) TO THE VOTES and DESIRES of Both Houses OF PARLIAMENT, Concerning the resigning up of His Majesties Royall Person.
Wherein he Declares,
- I. The Reasons of His advance nearer to the City of London.
- II. The Armies Resolution to secure the Kings Person.
- III. Their charging of a party within the City, for raising a new Army (against them, as they suppose) which should rendevous near the City of Worcester.
- IV. And lastly, The Armies Protestation towards the Citizens of London; With their Propositions, concerning the bringing of His Royall Majestie to Whitehall.
Sent from the Army by the Commissioners, Iune 23.
London, Printed for Robert Williamson. 1647.
SEVERALL HEADS OF THE DECLARATION, Sent from the Army by the Commissioners, on Wednesday the 23. of June, 1647.
HAving by your last Letter, dated the 22. of this instant, received severall papers inclosed therein, touching your present proceedings at London; all which I have seriously perused, and do render you many thanks for the same. And because I am loth [Page] to shew my self too much ungratefull, and leave you unsatisfied in your present expectation, I shall here, as briefly as possibly I can, represent unto you some small collections, which I have lately drawn up, proceeding from the great and grand Declaration of the Army, assented to by the Officers and souldiers under command of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and sent up to London by the Commissioners, June 23 to bee communicated to the Honourable Houses of Parliament assembled at Westminster, and the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen of the City of London.
Wherein is declared,
First, the gallant expressions of the Generall in the said Declaration, shewing the Reasons of their neerer approach towards the City of London, and that the Army hath voted (with one unanimous consent) to have the Kings Majesty conducted with honour and safety to Richmond, together with the Commissioners, and the rest of the Attendants about the King; but hath declared against those persons, expressed in the Votes [Page] of both houses of Parliament, for guarding of his Majesties person.
Secondly, that having been lately informed of a malignant party within the City, whose indeavours tended only for the fomenting of discord, casting false suggestions and aspersions upon the Army, and indeavouring to make them odious to the people, &c.
Thirdly, that being sensible of the subtilty of the aforesaid party, and having perfectly discovered their private actions for contriving of a new war against this Army, who (by the Power of Heaven) hath beene the chiefe and instrumentall meanes of delivering the people of England from perpetuall flavery; therefore, for the preventing of all conspiracies and dangers that may arise, tending to the prejudice of the Peace of this Kingdome, it is declared in the name of the whole army, that they cannot condescend or yeeld to the votes of both Houses of Parliament, touching the Guard expressed therein, but shall with all faithfulnesse and diligence endeavour to preserve his Majesties [Page] Royall person from danger, and to that end hath appointed a competent number of faithfull, zealous, and religious men, chose out of severall Regiments in the army, to guard and secure his Majesties person at his Court at Richmond.
Fourthly, that the army is sensible of the great malice and inveteracy of divers persons against them, who indeavour to involve and embroyle this Nation in a new war, by which means, if once effected, would prove prejudiciall and destructive to the fundamental Lawes of this Kingdom, & the liberty and propriety of the Subject.
Fifthly, that they have bin very active in several parts of the Kingdom, to raise forces and to that end hath endeavoured to repossesse themselves of divers strong Holds, throughout this Realm; as also their endeavours, to raise a division in the army, and to withdraw the hearts of the souldiers from the Officers, which indeed is a thing impossible for thousands to do, their hearts being so firmly knit and united together.
Sixthly, that so soon as they could have [Page] accomplished their wicked design, for setting of an Army on foot, their intents were to randezvouz near the City of Worcester.
Seventhly, they further desire that the Kings Majesty may be restored to his former Rights, and tryumphantly brought to his Royal Palace at White-hall.
Lastly, they professe and declare to the Citizens of London, that they have no evill intent against them, neither will they injure any, either by stopping of provision, or hindering of traffique, unlesse ehey be forced & constrained thereunto.
All which fore going Reasons are declared to be the chiefe cause of the Armies neare approach towards the City of London
Dizers other particulars were propounded, viz.
1. That they have not received a satisfactory answer, touching their former Papers and Representations, humbly proposed to the honourable Pouses of Parliament.
2. That Justice may be executed, and a legall tryall appointed for the Eleven Members, which now stands charged by the army,
And thirdly, touching some souldiers belonging to Sir Robert Pyes Regiment.
Divers Regiments of the army are upon their march towards Uxbridge, and so either to Kingston or Windsor for a Head-quarter. God grant a happy conclusion of Englands distractions, and a good correspondency betwixt the Parliament, City, and army, that so Peace and truth may flourish within his Maiesties Realms and Dominions, which is the earnest desire of him, who remaines