HIs Majesty being advertized, That it was the plea­sure of his Excellency, and the Councell of the Army, to remove his person from Hurst Castle, to Windsor (our place of present residence) His Majesty de­clared a great willingnesse thereto, saying; That He doubted not, but (by divine providence) that He should be speedily con­ducted, and transmitted to his Palace at Westminster, and was [Page 2] assured, that the new tempering, forging, and transaction of the present affairs in State and Common-wealth, was but as a Gad of tryall, to sound the Hearts and Consciences of his people, and that He could not be perswaded, that the Generall and the su­pream power of the Army would ever swerve or derogate from their former principles and Ingagement.

After his Majesty had thus emphatically declared himself to the Governour, he betook himself to private meditation, where he drew up these ensuing Proposals, and presented them to the Governour of Hurst Castle, to bee communica­ted to his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, viz.

1 That He might have two Chaplains of his owt to be ad­mitted to be with him, to pray and preach during his abode under restraint. 2 That He might have liberty to write a Letter to his Royall Consort in France, to advertize Her of his present estate and condition. 3 That He might not be re­strained and kept from Pen, Ink, and Paper, but that he might have the accommodation and use thereof, for easing of his oppressed mind and grieved heart to his Son the Prince of Wales: to all which, no doubt but there will be a free assent and concurrence thereto.

VVindsor 18. Decemb. 1648.

The proposals of Major Gen. Brown to the Officers of the ARMY.

TO be your prisoner, is by much the lesse displeasing to me, for that my Accusation is for nothing else but Loyalty to the King and Parliament, and the indeavours which I have un­dertaken to prevent the subversion of his Majesty, and his po­sterity, Parliament, City, and Kingdom, the final losse of Com­mon right and freedom of all the subjects of England, the utter extirpation of all Law, Government and Religion, and the pre­posterous converting of our well regulated Monarchy into that monstrous conception, a Military, Anarchy, with a popular par­liament [Page 4] of the meanest of the Commons, and such also of them only, as shal be constantli at the beck of the Army.

His Excellencies Declaration.

WHereas, in the adventuring of our lives and bloud, we have sought nothing more then the prosperity of this Kingdom, and the establishing o [...] Justice and Righte­ousnesse in the Land; so there is nothing that wee more ab­hor then those wicked calumnies, that we should invade the propriety of any not wilfully making themselves, or do any thing any way, to hinder or obstruct that Trade and Com­merce by which this Kingdom doth most subsist and flou­rish: But that we shal, in a most special manner, protect, de­fend, encourage and maintain, in all just ways, all manner of Trade and Commerce, either by English or Strangers: and that we shall neither do, nor suffer to be done, as far as is in our power, any violence or injury, to the persons or goods of any, either by Sea or Land.

The Desires of the Souldiery to their General.

Whereas it hath pleased the Lord of Hosts to write his name upon your Sword in very legible characters, as ap­pears upon record twice, viz. in the year —45, where wee had 114 Victories, and now this last Summer above 30, even to our astonishment, who were used by you in that service, that those proud Billows in Wales, England, & Scot­land, have bin bounded and calmed, in lesse then six months, yet behold, we have our sorrows repeated, and our fears in­creased, making our wounds even to bleed afresh.

Wherefore, we desire, in the name of our selves, and the abused and betrayed people of England, that your Excellen­cy will be pleased to assist us, in these ensuing requests and groans of our soules, which may not long be denyed us lest we faint or struggle as we can for the life of good men, and a good Cause.

[Page 2]1. That justice may suddenly and equally be dispensed, ac­cording to the desires of our honoured friends in London, Liecestershire, and others manifested by their severall Petiti­ons, and the Parliaments Declaration concerning the Kings evill asserted, or bewayled, and repented of.

2 That your Army be instantly reckoned withall, & paid and so dealt with for future (it they must be used) that eve­ry Reg. may know their own country, & there receive their pay immediatly, without any other Treasurers or wayes of trouble, that so the people themselves may see what they have for their money. In this we are impatient, or so passio­nately affected, that we gasp for help: this Regiment hath had but one moneths pay since May, having marched 1300 miles this Summer.

3 That the people may know in print, with all speed, which way all publike monies are disposed of in all counties and places, and that of all kinds, which may be done, if every collector and receiver of mony be forthwith enjoyned to print their receipts and disbursments; for if the souldiers be not paid, the people ask whats become of the Revenue, Compo­sitions, Sequestrations, Excise, Lands, &c.

4 That we may have just and righteous Government set­led in this Nation, advancing Godliness, we abhorring Anar­chy, Confusion, and levelling mens estates; so often charged upon us: for which end, we desire these two things, in pursu­ [...]nce of which (by help from Heaven) we are resolved to venture all.

First, that the grand and capital enemies, may without de­lay, be brought to Justice, which is the maine root of our misery, we finding all other wayes attempted, altogether in­ [...]lid to carry on this work of common safety.

Secondly, for the dispatch of Justice upon all Delinquents [Page 3] for rectifying all crooked things among us, & for the good of us, and the Generations to come, we humbly conceive our last and surest way will be for your Excellency and this ar­my, to make a speedy offer to the Commons house in your name and the Armies, and in the behalf of all England, that such of them as have been faithfull to the Kingdomes inte­rest, to declare with you and the Nation; and that the con­trary minded, false, royal, and neutral party may know, that our enemies must not be our rulers, we professing, that good men, rather then good laws must save us, though we disjoyn them not. And if any shal object, we put violence upon au­thority, we hereby proclaim to the world, that neither your Excellency, nor our selves, have received Cōmissions from the parl as now constituted, but from that good party in it, who strugled through many hazards to model this army for the kingdoms safety; nor are we to attend forms & customs in this extremity; we can as willingly s [...]t down as march, suf­fer, as act, would but the godly party in the Kingdom cal us thereunto, and think themselves preserved by it.

But the people call to us for these things, and we to your Excellency, your known worth inviting us hereunto: in pro­secution of which, as an unparallel'd instrument, we shall live or die with your Excellency, having solemnly promi­sed, to attempt and attend these two last expedients through all hazard. We cannot so undervalue our God, and the rich experienre we have had in the behalf of this Nation, as to see them lie (like Issachar) under these sinful burdens, our colds nakednesse, want hunger, hardship, difficulties, dangers, out of which our blessed, and ever to be praised God hath brought us, suggesting these things unto us, for that flock of slaugh­ter in this Kingdome.

Sir, we can die, but not endure to see our Mother England die before us.

Decemb. 18. Letters further from Windsor, that his Ma­jesty is expected there this night, and that several Roomes in the Castle are appointed for his accommodation. Divers of the Gentry are gone to meet Him. But whether his resi­dence will be there, or at London, is yet uncertain. It is said, that his Majesty will be suddainly brought to a faire and le­gall tryal, and that the Generall and Lieut. Gen. are resolved to act nothing against his Majesties person, but what shalbe agreeable to the known Laws of the Realm, and the com­mon Rights of the people. And upon Tuesday Decemb. 19. the Councel of the Army are resolved to insist on the busi­nesse, and speedily to prosecute the same; and it is given out, that the sentence will passe against Major Gen. Laughorn, Col. Poyer, and Col. Powell, to be shot to death at VVindsor, who being told by an Officer of the Army, that they must prepare themselves to dye, they replied, Gods will be done, we thank God, we have made our peace with him, and shall without fear, undergo what he shall be pleased to suffer men to doe vnto us.

Other Letters touching his Majesty demonstrates, That He is drawing up a Message to be sent to the Lord General Fairfax, and Lieut. Gen. Crumwell, purporting his earnest de­sires, that no injury or violence be done or executed upon the person of Major Gen. Brown, but that he may have a le­gall tryal; to the end, he may acquit himself of the Charge and Impeachment now exhibited against him.