Queries propounded by Colonell Monk, to the Counsell of War, at Belfast, the 9. of April. 1649.
I Desire to know what cause You have to distrust Me, for my faithfulnesse to the good Cause You stand for?
2 Why do You grow upon Me dayly by new Propositions, and are not satisfied with these which the Presbytery at first propounded, but assume an vnlimited power to Your selves?
3. Why do you declare against that prevalent partie in England without Order or advice from England, and thereby do in all appearance, prejudge the good Party oppressed there, by declaring your selves sooner, then they think it seasonable: And yet to suffer Malignants in your Quarters contrare to Order.
4. I desire to know, (in regard of our dependence upon England) whom it is that We shall serve for the present?
Answers given by the Counsell of War, to Colonell MONK his fore-mentioned Queries.
To the first nothing can be inferred from ouractions implying distrust of you, or your faithfullnesse to the good Cause; since we are willing and desireous yet to trust you.
To the 2. It cannot be thought strange, that we have other propositions (besides the Presbyteries) in regard of ourdifferent relation, neither do we concieve that adding to our just desire, upon new Emergence, can be called an assumed unlimited Power.
[Page]3. Albeit, when lawfull Authority is suppresed, an Order be impossible to be obtained, yet as we are Christians, our duties to God, and lawfull Authority, [...]yes us to declare against the Publict Enemies of our God, such as are now the [...]revalent partie in England, who have overturned Authority, from which we night have exspected Orders. And besides, the Protestation of many Members of both the Houses of Parliament, the Protestation of the Kingdom of Scotland, the Representatiō of the Ministery, the Apologetical Declaration of many thousand Citizens, in and about the City of LONDON, all against the present prevalent [...]ourses of the Sectaries, may be unto us, in place of a strong advice, to joyne with them, in declaring against them, and dissalowing of their proceedings [...]s also for Malignants you understand we conceive, only such who were inga [...]ed against England; none whereof are by us Publickly owned, and if any be [...]rivatly sheltered, when they are discovered, we shall take such course with [...]hem, as shall be incumbent unto us.
To the 4. As we have hitherto in relation to England, served the King & Parlia [...]ent thereof, whose just Power rights and proviledges we are deeply sworn to [...]antain and defend in our solemne League and Covenant, so we resolve faith [...]ully and constantly to serve, and adhere unto them, though (now for a time) [...]hey be violently bereft of the exercise of their just and lawfull power.
Propositions presented to Colonel MONK, by the Army.
FIrst, that he and all under his Command, solemnly swear, and subscribe the Solemne League and Covenant.
2. That He and They do signe the Declaration to be emitted by the Army at their meeting.
3. That he shall not obey or execut any Order that shall be sent unto him, om the now Prevalent power in England.
4. That untill it please God to establish a free Parliament in England, that [...]ee will act nothing wherein the Army is publickly concerned, or dispose of any [...]rtified Garrison, without the advice and consent of a Counsell of War, first [...]lled by him, consisting at least of two Officers out of each Regiment, whereof [...]e a Field Officer, the other, a Captain chosen by consent of the Regiment.
5. That He be pleased to give out of the Magazine unto each Regiment and [...]oup, a proportionable quantity of Ammunition, and Armes to be in custody the Commander in Chief of every severall Regiment, for the which Hee is be comptable. These are the most moderat desires, by assenting whereunto [...] conceave our Religion and our selves can be secured: Which being granted, [...] do firmly oblidge our selves to obey His Commands.
The Countries Propositions to Colonell MONK.
FIrst that nothing be done wherein the Countrie is concerned, such as the equall and just distribution of the Quarters, the adding to, increasing, or diminishing the present standing Forces, or associating with any Party, and other particulars of the like nature, without the consent of a Commitee, consisting of equall number of the Army and Countrey first called, the which is to be called upon any just Complaint.
2. That if We shall be invited by any of our Covenanted Brethren in this Kingdome for their Defence in maintaining of the Covenant, against the opposers thereof, that the General, and this meeting, shall receieve them in this association, for mutuall defence, in so far as may contribute for the ends of the Covenant, and for their preservation in pursuance thereof.
3. That in regard of apparent hazards, and the many Enemies of the Covenant, we desire that the Countrie may be presently put in a Posture of Defence, and that their Forces shall not be disposed of, without the consent of the Commitee above mentioned.
4. That before parting, an equall number of the Army and Countrie be chosen for the ordering of the businesse as is aforesaid.
5. That as we have desired a proportionable quantity of Ammunition and Armes, may be given to the Army. We do likewise desire, that a competent number of armes with Ammunition, may be put into the severall Regiments Magazines for their Quarters use upon necessity.
6. Considering, that throw the General's declaring against the present prevailing Party in England, His proper meanes may be obstructed: Therefore Wee shall lay down a course, notwithstanding of the great poverty of the Countrey, for his subsistance, till means come from England.
The Counsell of Wars Declaration.
AS Wee cannot without great Rejoycing and Thanksgiving think upon the first blessed vowing of our selves in the Land, by a solemne League and Covenant unto the Lord our God; So We cannot without grea [...] sorrow and remorse (We pray God give Us so much as we ought) cal to mind the fearfull back-slidings and out-breakings that have been in all manner of Persons, some by not indeavouring to performe what they did seem [Page] truly to intend, others by never intending what the genuine sense of the Oath did oblidge them to performe, which do clearly appear by the great Defection of many from the Covenant, their joyning in the late unlawfull Engagement against England, and by the Actions, Discourses, and new Propositions of diverse at this time, contrary to the same: For remedy of all which, that the just might not passe with the unjust, we heartily praise the Lord for the giving of his servants of the Ministry, here the boldnesse to move the renewing, and the rest of his people, the readynes and willingnesse to renew that solemne and sacred▪ vow: and least after such mercies, We should grow secure, and suffer our selves to fall into our former Errours, especially when so great powers have assembled themselves against the Lord and his Christ. We have thought it necessary, not to rest satisfied with the swearing of the Covenant, which many false Brethren formerly did, but with Daniel, who opened his windows towards the East, to witnesse his avouching of the service of his God, so by this Declaration do we testifie to the world, that we have sincerely and faithfully without any equivocation sworn the said Oath according to the true and clear meaning of each Article thereof, as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall, so we shall by the strength of God, with our lives [...]nd fortunes, maintaine the same against the opposers and Enemies thereof, as well private underminders, as publique opposers; whether Papists, Sectaries, or Malignants, not doubting but their powers may be great; yet the Lord our God, will deliver us from them, or if he doe not, yet we will not serve their gods, nor [...]y any connivance, or politick lukewarmnesse, be any wayes partakers of their inquities, least we justly provoke our God to spew us out of his mouth, and suffer [...]s to be swallowed up in their judgments, & having found of how dangerous, con [...]equence, it is to leave power in the hands of these, as are refufers of the Covenant, [...] double minded at it, being so far against our Vowes therein, made to the Lord [...]f hosts; and such an apt meanes to breed division amongst our selves, and ad [...]ance the designes of these who wish its and our ruine: We doe declare that we will have none in our Army, nor associate our selves with any, but such as shall [...]ke and renew this solemne League and Covenant, and particularlie, that wee [...]all not receave into publick charge into our Army, nor associat our selves at [...]ny time hereafter, with such as have been violent promoters of the late unlawful [...]gadgement against England, nor with any who have formerly been known to [...]ave been Malignantly affected, did goe on upon the same, untill there shall bee a [...]ublick way agreed upon by King and Parliament, for receiving of such upon [...]idence of their repentance, with the advice of the Church: Neither shall wee [...]ceave into charge, any whosoever have gone upon the former Ingadgement, [...]efore they have first, not onely given publick signes of repentance to the Church, [...]t also, shall have satisfied the officers of the Army of their good deserving, and [...]ocured a testimoniall from the Presbyterie, of their honest behaviour: nor shall [...]e trust any other notorious Malignants; before they have given constant obedi [...]ce of their resenting their former Malignant courses; and (if when upon such [...]nes given, they shall be receaved to charge, if they shall yet at any time vent [...]eir Malignancy by discourse, or otherwise, we shall instantly thereupon remove [...]em from their respective charges. And more especially, we shall not associat our [...]ves with the Marquesse of Ormond, not with any of his partie, so long as they [Page] shall combyne with Papists, or other forementioned Malignants, and shal not swear and subscribe the solemn League and Covenant, as we have done here; and whereas the Sectarian partie in England of late, hes usurped an illegall power over both King and Parliament, and are resolving an universall Tolleration of Religion, and the subversion of lawfull Government, by Kings, Lords, and Commons, and have taken upon them to proclaime all adherers to the foresaid just Government in the person of the present King, to be Rebels and Traitors. All which the said [...]surped practises they visibly intend to force upon us in this Kingdome, so soon as they can transport their power thither, to be obeyed and receaved by us, contrare to our sworne solemne League and Covenant: and for this cause, we doe faithfully obliedge our selves unanimously with our estates and lives, to resist and oppose any such irregular Power which shall proceed from them, and that we shall maintaine the Government of the Church here, together with the just power of the King and Parliament in the state, against the opposers thereof▪ And being confident that these our present intentions, will not want bitter and false aspersions of all sorts, and particularly that by this act we intend to, shake off our due obedience to the Crowne of England, and desist from prosecuting the service against the Irish Rebells, wherein wee were imployed by King and Parliament; we do hereby declare, that we shall really demean our selves as becometh faithfull and loyall Subjects to the Crown of England, and shall at all times give due obedience to the King and free Parliament thereof. And untill it shall please God to establish these according to our solemne League and Covenant, we shall prosecute, by Gods help and assistance, sincerely the Common Enemy, and advance by Gods assistance all the ends thereof. And least by misunderstanding, or carnall reasoning, we might be drawn to any thing contrare to the word of God, and our solemne Ingagements, we are resolved to proceed to nothing, whatsomever in reference to Religion, without advise of Gods Ministers and servants here given unto us in the same, but shall be ready according to our power, to prosecute every meane of surety to our Religion, which they shall propose to us according to the word of God, and the Covenant, and that they and our consciences may bear us witnesse of the integrity of our hearts, and that we may with the more confidence, expect the blessing of God upon our proceedings, we shall take care that sin may be suppressed in our Army, all scandalous persons, and disobedient to Church censures, put out of it, and for removing of all jealousies, our Quarters may have that upon this change of affaires, they may suffer prejudice; we do hereby assure them, that we shall equally regard their respective standings, aswell as our owne. These our resolutions being pondred by any well affected person, we are confident, will seem as just, as necessary: It is evident to the world our consciences in matters of Religion, loyall to our Soveraigne the Lords anoynted, whose Fathers unparaleld execution, our souls abhorres▪ and we tremble to name, and whose just Succession, He giving security for maintaining all the Articles and ends of the solemne League and Covenant, before He be admitted to the exercise of His Royall Power, We are resolved to maintain with our Lives and Fortunes, to our duties, the Parliaments of the united Kingdomes, our own mutuall Liberties, Lives and Safeties. Withall our solemne vowes unto the Lord our God, which are likely to be most impiously [Page] violated. Neither We hope will any believe We precipitate, when they consider the present power of Sectaries, the secret and open enemies of the Kingdomes, the want of affection of many amongst our selves, and the great opportunity they have by every dayes delayes, to subvert that which we are most obleidged to maintain. Lastly, the subscribers do faithfully and solemnly promise, that Wee do truly intend, and shall zealously prosecut by the assistance of God, with singlenesse of heart, having still Gods glory and Honour before our eyes, all the severall points of this Declaration, and as We earnestly desire, and obtest all good Christians to joyn with us, and now discharge their dutie to God and the King, so we shall not be diverted from maintaining of all these who shall faithfully joyn herein, with an uninterested regard by what means soever, humbly praying the Almighty Lord, to direct us by his Spirit, and witnesse by his power, that he is our strong City and Rock in whom we trust. We the Gentry and others of the Country do assent to, and Cordially joyne with the Army in all the points of this Declaration, and shall be equally careful of their ingagement, as of our own, and prosecution thereof, shall run all the hazards with them.