THE ARTICLES AND CHARGE OF THE Officers and Souldiers IN THE ARMIE CONCERNING The Kings Majesty, and all Persons whatsoever, who shall endeavour to re-inthrone Him, or to act or speak in His Majesties behalf, till He shall be acquitted of the guilt of shedding innocent Bloud.
And their Declaration and Proposals, concerning King, Lords, and Commoners; presented to the Lord General Fairfax. With his Excellencies Letter to the Parliament, concerning [...]e ARMY.
Read in the House of Commons on Wednesday last, October 18. 1648.
Commanded to be Printed and Published by the Authority and Consent of the Officers and Souldiers in the Army, Octob. 20. 1648.
THE DECLARATION OF THE ARMY Concerning all persons whatsoever, either in Parliament or else-where, who indeavour the re-inthroning of the King.
VVEE the Officers and Souldiers under the immediate conduct of his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, do declare, That we are as desirous of a safe and wel grounded peace, and that a finall end were put to all the troubles and miseries of the Common-wealth, as any sort of men whatsoever: Yet considering,
1 That there is no justice done against the Abettors of the late Rebellion, as Holland, Buckingham, Laughorn, Poyer, and their Accomplices: or of the Confederates [Page 2]with the Apostate Scots: and indeed little Iustice by the Parliament done upon any Offenders of that kind. By which we have too much cause to fear, that there may be a party in the Parliament abetting and correspoding with (if not guilty of) the same Designs.
2 That notwithstanding the King hath betrayed the trust reposed in him, and raised war against this Nation to inslave it, violating his Oaths, and trampling underfoot our Laws (then which no Engagement non taken can be more binding:) notwithstanding he is guilty of all the bloud-shed in these intestine wars, as may appear by hie own confession in his late agreeing to the Parl. first proposition: being also a person who was so far concluded uncapable to govern, that the Parl. voted that no addresse should be made to him. There is yet a prevalent party of his Creatures, who in parliament and else where, act His Design, and are (as we conceive) the Authors of our present Distractions.
3 That through the evill designes and practises of the foresaid party, the intollerable burthen of free quarter is continued upon the people notwithstanding the unreasonable taxes daily extorted from them, in the name of pay for the Army: By which means we are not only rendered odious to others, but a burthen to our selves not being able to cloth our selves, shoe our horses, or free our Arms.
We therefore cannot think any thing can be safely done in order to a peace, untill some speedy and effectuall course be taken, which we humbly desire your Excellency will be pleased to your utmost power, to endeavour, 1. 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 [Page 3]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. 25. 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 def [...]nd them both with our lives and fortunes, and in expectation of your Excellencies favor in the premises, we shall ever pray, &c.
New propositions concerning the King.
1 That we have both matter of deep humiliation before God, and thank giving to him, when we consider his gracious dispensation towards us; in preserving a remnant from following the evill courses of the time, and that he was pleased so soon after a great defection and back-sliding in the land, to put us into a condition to resist the force and fury of our enemies: in which particular, we look upon our Brethren of England to be the chief Instruments therein.
2 That whatsoever power God hath already, or shal hereafter put into our hands, we shall improve it for setling and propagating Religion, and promoting the work of Reformation according to the Covenant, and in particular, to have the liberties of the Kirk ratified, which have bin many ways incroached upon and violated.
3 To vindicate and establish the liberty and property of the Subjects, who have been most grievously oppressed in their consciences, persons, and estates.
4 That we shall indeavour the Kings Majesties restitution to the exercise of his Poyall power, as soon as He shall give security for setling Religion in the manner expressed in the Desires of the Kirk, and shall give satisfaction in such other things as shall be found necessary for the peace and safety of the kingdoms.
5 That the late unlaw full Engagement against England shall be disclaimed, and disavowed by the supream Authority of this Kingdon, it being most destructive to Relsgion, Crown, and Kingdoms.
[Page 3] 6 That the peace and union of the two Kingdomes may be strengthned and confirmed.
7 That we shall indeavour to purge out of all the Judicatories in this Land, malignancy and prophanenesse, and use all other good meanes, that Justice may be equally and impartially administred to all subjects whatsoever within his Majesties Realmes and Dominions.
8. That we will faithfully indeavour to have a free Parliament, consisting of such persons as have not been accessary to, and furtherers of the late Engagement, for which end we do again hereby require that in the election of Commissioners from Burroughs and Shires to the Parliament, the rules and directions set down in our Acts of thee 22 of September last, and the 4. of this instant moneth of October, may be punctually observed throughout the Kingdom.
And we call the searcher of hearts to record that these are our reall and true intentions, and that we doe not, nor shall by the grace of God pursue any private ends or interests of our own; and we trust the Lord our God who knoweth the sincerity of our resolutions, who hath also had mercy upon us, and hath begun to do so graciously for us, will assist us herein, untill his work shall be accomplished.
This Declaration and Proposals were Ordered to be forthwith printed and published; and communicated to the Citizens of London, and the rest of His Majesties liege People within the Realm of England.
On Wednesday Octob. 18. A Letter were read in the House of Commons, from the Lord Gen. Fairfax, intimating, the present proceedings of the Army and how that severall Petitions are promoting amongst the soldiery, purporting the great difficulties which they had undergone this Summer, in subduing their enemies, and received very little pay, yet understood taxes were generally paid, desiring that the Army be divided into the Counties proportionable to the tax they pay, and also that their Arreas may be thought of, especially the last. Upon reading the said Letter, the Commons spent much time in debate thereof, and came to this result.
Resolved, &c. That the desires of the Souldiery be forthwith satisfied, and that speedy care be taken for setling their Arrears.