THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS OF PARLIAMENT, AND HIS EXCELLENCIE S r. THOMAS FAIRFAX, And his chief Officers, for disbanding all the supernumerarie Forces of this Kingdom, for taking off of Free-Quarter, and for drawing all the Army into the severall Garrisons of this KINGDOME.
Reported by the said Commissioners to the House of Commons, on friday the 17. of Decemb. instant.
And printed for the generall satisfaction of the Kingdom.
Also a Petition from the Farmers of the County of Surrey: And his Excellencies Answer thereunto, concerning the Landlords bearing equall burthen with the Tenant in Free-quarter.
Imprimatur
⟨Dec: 18⟩ London, Printed for Robert White, 1647.
At a meeting of the Generall, and generall Councell of the Army, with the Committee.
THe General and Councel doe declare, that as to such Officers and souldiers, as have been added to the forces that are to be disbanded since the sixth of August, required by the Order of the House of Commons, to be immediately disbanded without money.
That as to any souldiers so added, the General above a week since, hath ordered the immediate discharging of all such, as of divers of the scattered forces, and none to be entertained in their rooms, and will give the like Order for the rest, and take care that it be observed.
And as to Officers put in since the said sixth of August, in any vacant rooms over any of the forces then in being, they were necessary to be put in, and are still necessary to be continued for the ordering and government of the souldiery, till they disband, as they conceive.
As to the accession of forces beyond the establishment, the Generall hath lately given strict order against the same throughout the Army, and is assured there is none, and he will take further care as is required, that there shall be no such accession, and if there be, that they shall be immediately discharged without pay, or any oppression of the Countrey by their quarter.
As to the disbanding of the supernumerarie forces mentioned in the Order, the generall Councel did declare, that they are no way against it, but to their utmost will further the business of disbanding the supernumeraries, either in the way propounded by the Vote, or any other way, and desire it may be done within the time appointed by the Vote; but herein they desire to be so understood, that before the disbanding of any forces ingaged with the Army, these things be drovided for.
That securitie be setled for the Arreares of the souldiery, for which they will offer their further proposition within two or three dayes.
That their Accounts be stated, and defalcation made for free quarter, according to the Votes of the Houses, offered for the Army from Putney, and Debentures given for such part of their Arrears, as [Page 2]shall not be paid them at disbanding, and a Register kept of the Debentures.
That indempnity, maymed souldiers, widdowes, and orphans of souldiers slaine in the service, freedome of Apprentices, and freedom from oppression be provided for.
As to the pay of such supernumeraries as have joyned with the Army, the Parliament is desired to provide so much money as they may, and particularly it is offered, that they would forecast for so much, as may make three moneths pay for all, and in the payment thereof, at disbanding, they would distribute the same in severall proportions, to severall parties, according to the severall proportions of their Arrears as neer as may be, with respect to the timely dispatch of the service, or that the Parliament agree with the private souldier of the supernumeraries by the lump, what to pay them in full of all their Arrears.
And thus it is presumed, that the security for the remainder being good and clear, the Parliament providing what they can, and distributing it with as much equality as they may (with respect to dispatch) there will be no dissatisfaction upon the payment of what is received in hand.
As to the rest of the supernumeraries, and in what places they are, the Generall and Councell declare, that they could not at present give us an exact account of them, or a more perfect one then was formerly tendred to the Commissioners at Putney, and it would require time to make it so perfect as might be expected, nor can they at present give a list of the forces that are to be kept up, but will apply themselves to it, and will give a speedy Account thereof, although it cannot be conveniently declared, untill the House hath given some resolution to the matter of security, and things above mentioned, in order to disbanding, and will take into the Army as many old souldiers as they can, both to supply the the Companies, and Regiments that want, and of such as have been, or shall be displaced out of the old Regiments, to the end that the lesse present money may pay off the supernumeraries
As to the removing of the Army, and going into Garrisons and Towns;
That the Army and all the supernumerary forces so not disbanded, shall within three weeks, if the Parliament think fit, be drawn into Garrisons, Towns, and Cities, so as from thenceforth to take off all free Quarter, and there, within fourteen days after, they may have constant pay for the time that they enter into those places, untill they be respectively disbanded.
At the generall Councell of the ARMY.
AS to security for Arrears of the souldiery, we have formerly declared what we did desire: and we have more lately exprest what of that we have continued, to desire by way of addition, to what the Parliament hath already voted, and we still do desire earnestly the same, having good reason to beleeve, that all wee have desired (being put together) is more in danger to fall short of, then to exceed the Arrears of the whole souldiery.
And as to that of Deans and Chapters Lands, (whereupon we understand the greatest scruple lies) we have valued it at above a Million, we think it might be neerer two; and we cannot offer any other in lieu of it, because we know no other to be charged to such a value, which would not necessitate the continuance of a burthen upon the people for the souldiers sakes. But if the Parliament can finde any such to redeem Deans and Chapters Lands withall, (after they are granted) it may be done, we desiring them but for security.
To his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax. The humble Petition of the Farmers in the County of Surrey.
THat whereas your Petitioners, all rack-rented, have for nigh six years past, born the charge of free-quartering souldiers, without any deduction of Rent of the Landlords part, till now of late; since the Armies advance from London, this charge doubles, and with some of us, trebles our Rent; so decaying our estates, that little subsistence is (for our selves, for our families, and for those many labourers imployed by us) left us for the present; and for afterwards, likely none [...]t all, unlesse your Excellency relieve us. For your Petitioners, though rackt in their rents already, and unable to pay our rents, and to continue to bear this charge of quartering, without allowance, are still charged as Owners, and the Landlords as yet go free, and most of them refuse absolutely to bear any part of this charge, upon tender of their rents, unlesse they shall be inforced thereunto by Ordinance of Parliament; and many of them have threatned, and some of them have already commenced suits in Law to recover their full rents; and others of them, h [...]e sealed Leases of Ejectment, for the outing of such of their Tenants as desired deduction of rent for this charge, which, as your Petitioners are informed, hath heretofore in many other parts of the Kingdome, been found by their Landlords, and whether their refusall now in this kinde will cause the Tenants absolutely to refuse to Quarter, (as of necessity they must, if not hereby relieved,) which will certainly breed a generall disturbance in the Kingdome; the consequence whereof, we humbly leave to your Excellencies consideration.
The Premises considered,
MAy it please your Excellency (in reference to a Petition of this nature before, presented to your Excellency by the Tenants of Blethingly in the said County, whereupon they were promised relief, if refused [Page 5]by the Landlords,) effectually to move the two Houses of Parliament, that some speedy course may be taken, that the severall Landlords may for the times past, and for the future, bear the charge of Quartering, either wholly, (as in other taxes they have Ordered) or in some other proportion, as to your Excellencies wisdome shall seem most meet, respecting the stock of the one, and the see simple estate of the other.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
HAving received this inclosed Petition from divers Inhabitants of the County of Surrey, who have of late been very much oppressed with quartering, by reason of the Kings being at Hampton-Court, and therefore necessitated to have the Horse, appointed for the guard, to Quarter in those parts, I thought fit to represent the same to the consideration of the House, humbly desiring them to give some present Order for the relief of the Petitioners, who are only Tenants, and bear the sole burthen of free-quarter, far above the rent which they pay to the Landlord, and yet have no allowance from their Landlords towards their said charges: What Order the House shall be pleased to give herein, may be a rule for others in the like condition. I shall add no more at this time, but that I am,
BY Letters from Yorke, dated Decemb. 11. We had this Intelligence; On Thursday last, the Councel of War sat in this City, and also yesterdy several persons were tryed for misdemeanors. A foot souldier for being disorderly, and not contented with his diet in his quarters, was adjudged to suffer a weeks imprisonment with bread and water, to get him a better stomack. Another souldier committing some misdemeanors at Stoakesley, in Cleveland, on a market day, in offering to pull one Mr. Lisle out of his shop, for refusing to take clipt money, offering violence to him, and other disorders, was censured for his offences, to be cashierd the Army, to stand in the market place at Steaksley for two houres, with a paper, signifying his fault and punishment, during the time of the market, and afterwards to be whipt thorow the Town. One Corporal Rampsay in Lieutenant Fosters Troop, was, for kiling a man at his quarters, at Mr. Savils house at Merbrough, condemned to be shot to death. Yesterday certain rules and orders were agreed upon at the Councel of war, for the Regulation of the inequality of quartering, and better redressing of grievances of the countrey, and disorders of the souldiers, which will suddenly be published.