THE DEMANDS AND Proposals of the Independent party within the City of London, and parts adjacent; concerning the King and Parliament.
VVHereas the Lawes of God, Man, and Nature justifie the people in opposing, fighting against, and imprisoning of Kings, who act contrary to their Oaths, and the trust imposed on them by the people; and that the same Lawes as much justifie them in opposing the power of Parliament, when they betray their trust, in pleading the interest, and justifying the cause of such princes, joyn with them to levy war against the poor people, whose Trustees they are only, and by whose Votes and Election tdey sit in Parliament, to preserve, and not to [Page 2] destroy them, to condemn, and not justifie their Enemies, who have been drunk with the bloud of Saints, and have confest themselves guilty of the bloud of three hundred thousand soules that have perished by war in the three Kingdoms.
So that [...]y this, the Reader may cleerly discern the inference of the free born people of England upon the whole, resolving to tosse their Ball amongst the Presbyterians, (that so each judgment may catch at it) wherein is wound up severall undeniable Arguments as followeth.
1. That the King may erre, notwithstanding the maxim in the Law, Lex non potest errant, by l [...]ying illegall taxes upon the people, introducing Pop [...]ry, and levying War against them.
2 That in committing such errours, he falsifies the trust which the people of the Land repose in Him, and then His Commands being unlawfull and destructive, it is lawfull for the people to disobey them: and on the contrary, it is n [...] lesse then sin, and the forfeiture of all the Liberties, Freedoms, and Birth-rights of the people to give obedience thereunto.
3 That it is lawfull and of nec [...]ssity for the people t [...] levy war against their King, and a [...]l that adhere unto him, for defence of themselves, and preservation of their birthrighte and freedoms, having once broken the trust reposed in Him, and put them out of his protection, by levying war against them, ruling them as a tyrant at his pleasure, and not as a King by the Law of the Nation.
4. That it is lawfull for the p [...]ples Trustees in Parliament to declare to the Nation [...]e miscarriages of such a [Page 3] tyrannous Prince, and to state the matters of fact by way of Charge against him.
5 That it is a breach of trust in the peoples Trustees, and a great dishonour for the English Nation, to charge the King with such high Crimes, and neither to prove them against him, nor to clear him of them.
6 It is a great breach of the Trust, and the Nationall League and Covenant, not to bring Delinquents to condigne punishment, there being no person exempt by the same.
The Demands of the People to the Parliam [...]nt.
First, That a Parliament by breach of Covenant, Treaties, and Acts of Parliament, voting and acting against the Covenant, and siding with, and pleading the interest of the enemies thereof, and of that Nation for which they are Trustees may erre.
Secondly, that by breach thereof they have forfeited their trusts to the people for whom they serve, and by whom they were elected.
Thirdly, that it is lawfull fog the people of that Nation to levy war against them, for the maintenance of their lives and freedoms, which that parliament endeaxours so give to their enemies, and make them and their posterity slaves for ever.
The said party doth further declare, That they desire to be governed by a King, but such a Prince who shall be governed by the Laws of his people; and in case he [...]cts co [...]trary to the said Lawes, to be as liable to the punishment thereof, as the poorest Commoner or subject whatsoever.
New propositions from the Army.
First, That there may be a strict scrutiny, for the more full discovery of such persons as were contrivers or encouragers of the Rebellions aforesaid, and that Justice speedily be executed on them according to the late Orders of Parliament. 2 That impartiall and speedy Justice may be done upon all criminal persons, and especially upon such as have or shal endevor to obstruct the course thereof, or have betrayed their trust, or bin Authors of shedding that innocent bloud, which calls to Heaven for vengeance, that so we may be at peace with God. 3 That the same fault may have the same punishment in the person of King or Lord, as in the person of the poorest Commoner. 4 That all such may be proceeded against as Traytors, who act or speak in the Kings behalf, till he shall be acquitted of the guilt of shedding innocent bloud. 5 That the Army may speedily have their pay, or a present course be taken against those who unjustly with-hold it; and that they may have the Arrears due since Ian. 15. before they be ordered to pay quarters, and effectuall provision made for the payment of former Arreares. 6 That the intollerable oppression of free quarter be immediatly taken off, and that for the time to come whilest there is necessity for an Army, there may be Assignations given to each Regiment, Troop & Company, which may be cōstant during the establishments of the Army, that the money may not passe from hand to hand till it is half imbezelled, but be paid immediatly from the Countries to the Soldiery, that so all free quarter for ever avoided, it may return from the Souldier to the Country-man again.
And now fearing lest the inveterate malice of our adversaries should asperse us with a design to destroy Magistracy and propriety; we cannot but declare, that we shal constantly indevour to defend them both with our lives and fortunes, and in expectation of your Excellencies favor in the premises, we shall ever pray, &c.
Subscribed in the name of the Officers and Souldiery of Army, and commanded to be printed, and communicated to the Free-born subjects of England, within the Cities of London and Westminster, the Liberties thereof, and all other Cities, Corporations, and Market Towns, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales.
Heads of his Majesties Letter to the Earl of Warwick.
That his Majesty earnestly desires to put a speedy period to the unhappy differences of his bleeding Kingdomes; requiring all true subjects to lay their hands upon their hearts, and to endeavour the propagating of this blessed Treaty, desiring his Lordship to be instrumentall therein, and to sheath the sword at Sea, during the said term of time, by giving Expresse Orders to the respective Captains aboard the Fleet, to forbear any further Acts of Hostility against the Princes Navy, till they have further Orders from his Lordship.
His Ma [...]esty in the said Letter) likewise intimated that he had given the same directions to his Sonne the Prince of Wales, having sent a Letter unto him, whereby he may understand the will and pleasure of his Majesty.
The last Letters from the Army Octob. 23. say. That divers Regiments are acting by great and high principles, and promoting new Proposals to be presented t [...] their Generall; the effect whereof, are said to be, 1 That the King map not be inthroned till He be acquitted of the great Charge against his Royall person, in relation to the shedding and imbruing his hands in the innocent bloud of his people. 2 That upon his acquitting himself thereof, he may forthwith be brought from the Isle of Wight to the City of London, and upon his signing to those things which may tend to the advancement of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, and the peace and unity of His Kingdoms, to be admitted to his Throne; to the end, He may rule and govern His people in peace and righteousnesse.