A NEW DECLARATION FROM THE ARMY CONCERNING His Highnesse the Prince of VVales, to bee forthwith published aboard the Fleet-Royall.
THe Agents of the Army are drawing up the Representation of the respective Regiments to present to his Excellency, wherein they Declare their unanimous Resolutions for the putting of a finall end and period to all differences whatsoever [Page 2]now in dispute betweene his Majesty and the parliament, and that a peace be suddenly concluded of, and his Majesty re-invested, provided that assurance may be given for future safety and liberties, both to the Army and Kingdom.
And to that end, a message is drawing up, with severall proposals thereunto annexed, Humbly desiring his Majesty to give his Royall assent, for the confirming and enacting that which they have so dearly bought and wo [...] in the [...] the common Liberties and Freedoms of the people of England.
And that he will be pleased to sign to their Desires, for the enacting and putting the Law in full force, to bind both prince and Representatives, from inslaving the Subject, or imposing any arbytrary government upon them, to the destruction of the people.
These things being assented to, they do in all mutability professe, That they shall forthwith take upon themselvesto adhere thereunto▪ and to live the honorable tile of his Maiesties Guardians, and conduct his Royall person in honour and triumph to His palace at Westminsier, there to remain in honour, freedom and safety; to the end, that He and his posterity may govern their people in holinesse and righteousnesse throughout all future Ages.
The Officers and Souldiers are in debate about another Message to be sent to the prince of Wales, dehorting his Highnesse to persist no longer in his present design against his native Kingdom, but to come in and joyn with them, for the healing and curing of all diseases and distractions which lye weltring within within the Bowels thercol.
St. Albans 18. Novemb. 1648.
His Majesties last and finall Concessions, debated in both Houses on Saturday Novemb. 18.
FOR a further and finall Answer to your Proposition touching the election and chusing of Officers, and confirming of places upon persons of trust, throughout the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of VVales, His Majesty doth declare, that He is willing to concur with his two Houses, in all things that may tend to the peace and redemption of his liege people from oppression and bondage; and to that end is pleased to give his Royall assent, that his two Houses of Parliament shall be fully impowred to dispose of all great Offices for twenty years, according to their expression and desires contained in the said proposition.
And his Maiesty doth further declare, that he is willing to passe his Royall Word, for confirming and authorizing the Catechisme (agreed upon by his two Houses, and the Assembly of Divines) to bee read and published in all Parish Churches and Chappels, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, together with the addition of a preface to be thereunto annexed.
Both Houses having received the said Message, spent sometime in debate thereof on Thursday November the 15. And also insisted on his Majesties Propositions for his comming to London, in honour, freedome, and safety, and after mature deliberation thereon, resolved, That His Maiesty shall speedily come to London in honour, freedome, and safety, and be restored to His just rights and revenues.
LIeutenant Generall Crumwell, and divers other Officers of the Army, upon a Generall councel held the 11. of this instant November, debated the Proposals of the Army, in reference to the Resentments, touching the King and his Representments; and after some dispute in an Argumentary way, they unanimously declared their resolutions to adhere thereunto, and to live and dye, and stand and fall with the Army in the South, for preservation of the Rights and Liberties of the Free-born people of England, and the establishing of the Laws of the Land, and confirming of certain Rules for the execution thereof between the people and their Representatives.
And upon the close of their confultations, the Lieutenant Generall further demonstrated, that he thought it requisite, that all possible meanes should be used for the faciliating and obtaining a speedy grant and condescension to the Desires of the Army, both from King and Parliament; and that a Letter be drawn up, and expedited to his Majesty, to desire his Gracious condescensions to the Desires of his two Houses, for the setling of a safe and well-grounded peace; as also pressing his Majesty to take the Covenant, and to signe the Propositions.
These Proposals were with much alacrity and amity embraced, and a Letter is said to be forthwith drawn up, to be presented to his Majesty, together with a Declaration and Representation in behalfe of the Army.
The Lieutenant Gen. hath declared his resolution to the Governour of Pontefract, and hath sent this ensuing [Page 5]Message (or Summons) for the surrender thereof, viz.
Sir, Being come hither for the reduction of this place, I thought fit to summon you, to deliver your Garrison to me for the use of the Parliament: those Gentlemen and Souldiers with you may have better termes, then if you should hold it to extremity, I expect a speedy answer, and rest Yours &c.
Sir, We hear that Lieutenant Generall Cromwell hath sent a Letter to the Prince of Wales, dehorting his Highnesse to come in to the Parliament, and to mediate with his Royall Father for a speedy union and compliance with his two Houses, &c.
The Lieutenant Generall hath further declared, that he will leave no meanes unassayed, for the composing of all differences betweene the King and people; and for the better effecting thereof, hath sent a Message to the Citizens of London, purporting his earnest Desires for peace, and re-inthroning of the King, and that future provision be made for the people of England, to preserve them from tyranny and oppression, requiring them to be instrumentall therein, which Letter is said to be signed
By Letters from St. Albanes Novem. 19. it is advertized, That the Councell of the Army sate close on Saturday last, and debated the Representation and Desires of the Souldiery, which they are to expedite to the Houses for their concurrence therein. It is said, that they begin to insist upon new proposals, to be communicated to the King and Parliament, which contain a very pleasing and satisfactory demonstration, and extends it self to the utmost Latitude, for the setling of the King, dissolving of the Parliament, calling home the Prince, and uniting the hearts of all sects and sorts of persons, viz. the Presbyterians, the Independents, and all others whatsoever, who vary in their judgments and opinions, within any of his Majesties Realms and Dominions.