THe firſt day of the meeting of the Generall Aſſembly of the Army being Tueſday the 7. of this inſtant, his Excellency and many of his chiefe Officers met in the Church at S. Albanes, and after prayers for ſeeking a bleſſing upon their aſſembling together, and a Sermon, they debated on certaine Papers formerly preſented to the Lord-Generall in the name of ſome particular Regiments of the Army, but nothing concluded on this day, for the time of their ſitting on theſe affaires was not long, and ſeverall Officers not yet come to the Head-Quarters.

Wedneſday, 8. Nov. the Generall Councell of the Army was fuller then the day before, and it was agreed that the matters firſt inſiſted on ſhould be the quartering of the Army in ſuch a way, as might affoord moſt eaſe to the Countrey; and for that it is impoſſible that without pay an Army ſhould not be burdenſome to the places where they quarter, they hold it neceſſary to conſider of certain Propoſalls for aſcertaining the pay of the Souldiery.

2. The Officers of the Army expreſſed an exceeding great ſenſe of the loſſe of Colonell Rainsborough, and thought fit that inquiry ſhould be made about that wicked murder, and that juſtice ſhould be done therein.

Novemb. 9. Some Speeches were made by divers Officers of the Army, expreſſing, that they apprehended a deſigne of ſtopping of pay for the Army, on purpoſe to caſt an Odium upon them, and render them the more burdenſome, and leſſe uſefull to the Kingdome: And notwithſtanding the great care of the Committee and Treaſurers of the Army, and the cheerfull readineſſe of moſt Counties for the payment of Aſſeſſements, as thoſe where they now quarter do affirme, nevertheleſſe the private Souldiers are neceſſitated to take Free-quarter for the preſent, which is very irkſome unto them to be ſo burdenſome to their friends, neither are thoſe widdowes who loſt their husbands in the laſt ingagement, or in the firſt ſervice, and children that loſt their parents, ſufficiently provided for, but are for want of maintenance reduced to great extremities, even to beggery, having not ſufficient proviſion for their ſubſiſtence, and future livelihood.

There be alſo ſome Papers from Commiſſary Gen. Iretons Regiment and others of the Army, (beſides their late Petition to the Lord Generall) to be conſidered on, wherein they ſet forth that no certain Proviſion hath been made for the payment of their dearly earned wages by the expence of their blood and often hazard of their lives, nor any thing yet perfected for their future ſecurity for things done, as Souldiers in relation to the warre which the exegincy thereof hath compelled thereunto, the want whereof they cannot choſe but be very ſenſible of, when they conſider the many ſad examples of bitter and rigorous proceedings at Law againſt ſouldiers for acts done in order to the promotion of the Parliaments ſervice.

Novemb. 10. further time was ſpent in debate on the preſent affaires of the Kingdome, and particularly concerning the ſetling of a firme peace, and divers ſpeeches were made by Colonells of the Army, declaring, that they deſire nothing more then to ſee this Kingdome reſtored to a flouriſhing condition in peace and amity, and that the hearts of King and people may be knit together in a threefold cord of love; ſome things were alſo moved concerning the former Propoſalls, and bringing Delinquents to triall, it hath been alſo deſired, that thoſe who indeavour to render his Excellencies Army odious by aſperſions, and thereby to deprive them of that honour which they ſo dearly bought, and to incenſe the Kingdome and Souldiers againſt them, may be proceeded againſt according to juſtice.

Novemb. 11. a Petition was read at the Generall Counſell in the name of the Officers of Col. Kich his Regiment, and ſeverall others of the Army with the repreſentations following: viz.

1. That ſpeedy and impartiall Juſtice may be executed upon all the fomentors, contrivers, and actors in the firſt and late Warre.

2. That inquiſition be made for the bloud of Col. Rainsborough.

3. That the ſupreme power may be declared and determined, that the want thereof may not be the ground of future (as it hath been of theſe former) Warres.

4. That a period be ſet for this preſent Parl. to end as ſoone as may be with ſafety, and proviſions made for future Parliaments to meet certain without Writ or ſummons.

5. That rules may be ſet down between the people and their Repreſentatives.

6. That Lawes may be made in things civill to bind all men, ſo that no man in caſe of offence, may be freed from that Law whereunto another is ſubject.

7. That all thoſe common grievances and deſires in our Declarations of June 14. and June 23. 1647. and expreſſed in the London Petition, be ſpeedily granted and redreſſed.

8. That preſent Proviſion be made for the Conſtant pay of the Army.

9. That the arrears due from the 15. of January, may be paid off, before we be Commanded to pay Quarters, and that there may be no other abatement from Officers and Souldiers for free Quarter, then according to the rates ſet downe in the Ordinance of Parliament, of the 24. day December laſt.

10. That the Country may be paid for our free Quarter, according to the Deduction out of our pay out of their Aſſeſſements.

11. That in as much as the Aſſeſſements fall ſhort to pay the Army. That therefore there may be Additionall ſupplies monethly out of the Eſtates of the old and new Delinquents, that there be no more Tax or Charge to the Commonwealth.