JOYFULL NEWES From Lieutenant Generall CROMWEL Concerning The Kings Majesty, and the Treaty; and His Resolution for Peace.
ON Satterday last being the 7. of this instant October, a Letter came to the Committee at Derby house from Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, purporting, his great and earnest Desires for Peace, and his Propositions touching the Kings Majesty, and the Commissioners for the Treaty; Desiring, That nothing may retard or obstruct so great and [Page 2]happy a Work, but that the Treaty may go on with all possible speed; to the end, that all differences may be composed between the King and his people, without the shedding of more bloud, and that a generall peace may be unanimously concluded of, and effectually established throughout all his Majesties Realmes and Dominions.
The said Letter further intimated, that the differences in Scotland are brought to a period, and all armes and acts of hostility fully concluded of, Monro and Lanerick to depart the Kingdom, and some Officers of note, the rest of that party to depart to their owne homes, and to take an Oath never to ingage against the Parliament of England for the future.
There is many other excellent and declaratory speeches contained in the said letter, expressing the ardent affection of the Lieut. Gen. for peace, which was
Signed O. Cromwell.
A Declaration of the Marquis of Argyle, and Lieut. Gen. Cromwell.
THe Marq. of Argyle entred Barwick on Satterday last, seven hundred of the other Scots marched out, and are disbanded, Argyle forthwith surrendred it to Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, who hath placed Col. Overtons Regiment in it, and the Lieutenant Colonell is Deputy Governou [...] at present, and Orders are gone out for the surrender of Carlisle.
The Marq. of Argyle hath invited Lieut. Gen. Cromwell to march with him to Edinburgh, whither they are now going, but the Lieutenant General intends not to stay, but forthwith to return back for England.
Mordington 4 Octob. 1648.
Munday a petition was presented to the house of Commons to this effect, she [...]ing, That whereas the petitioners have long lien under the burthen of these intestine and devouring wars, and are now lifted up with the hopes of a blessed Sun-shine of peace breaking forth, for the dispelling of all those mists that have wrapt us up in this long misery: In which peace well setled, none shall more rejoyce then the petitioners, being ready to accept it as the fruit of all their labors, losses crosses, yea all their hazards in this gre [...]t adventure; but desire satisfactiō touching those provoking crimes to Heaven, from his Maj. viz. About the death of his Father, the betraying of Rochel, his proclamations to cry down parliaments, his correspondency with Rome, the private articles of his Marriage, his Commissions to the Rebels in Ireland, the inviting of forreigners to instave the three Nations, his proclaming the Parl. of England Rebels, &c. The premises considered, they desire they may not be left in the dark concerning these Suggestions and Charges, which if true, that proceedings may be accordingly: but if otherwise, that his Maj. may be cleered. This petition was read in the house, and M. Speaker returned answer,
That they are ingaged in a treaty with the King wherin they will take care for the preservation of Religion, Lawes, Liberties, and protection of those that have ingaged with them.
The Declaration of the Army concerning the Treaty. presented to the Lord Generall Fairfax.
WE make bold being prest in spirit, to represent to you, as the ground of our fears, so the matter of our desires. It hath pleased God after much plottings & endeavours of the old and new malignants to crown the Army with great success; and although that calls for Justice, little or none is done, and lesse is like to be done, unlesse your Excellency presently appears to do somthing, and the Army with you, to be a leading cause to us; we wait for it. Instead of Justice, behold a Treaty with them for Peace, that God speaks no peace to: and instead of owning just Petitions, they are laid aside, and not countenanced; some imployed in the Treaty not long since voted the Army Rebels; what that prognosticates in the future, when they have power, we leave to your Excellency to judge. So hoping you will so far honour, us, as to stand by the Kingdom and the Army in their just rights and priviledge, We subscribe in behalf of the Officers and Soldiery,
The Army hath further declared to his Excellency, That it is not the sence of the Army, to have a personall Treaty with the King, but desire Iustice to be execued upon those Lords and Commons, Aldermen, and Common-councel men of London, who invited the Scots into this Nation; as also against those Common councel men of London, that durst joyn with the Prince (while in arms against the Parliament and people) in his Desires, concluding that all these wickednesses must be salved up with a personall treaty, &c.
A Letter from the Army, to the Citizens of London.
GEntlemen, and Fellow-Commoners. As we all languish apd groan under the insuportable weight of the publike oppression of the Land, so it is our duty to struggle and strive joyntly together for the relief of each other, for to our Neighbour we are bound as to our selves; and we are all the sons of one Nation and brethren by Nature, whose severall Weale and woe is included and wra [...]t up in the fold of one Common-wealth; that we must even stand or fall together. We though we have our swords in our hands, cannot be without you, nor you without us, in this day of publike calamity, as we with you so you with us are sufficiently sensible, which to all conscientious and judicious men may be sufficient to tye us firmly together in one Common bond of unity against all our oppressours, and opposers of freedome whatsoever, but in this we give you the preheminence, for though we are with you in heart and affection, for the principles of Common Right and freedom to the Laud, yet we must give you the right hand of fellowship in appearing and going before us therein. For to the great refreshments of our spirits we find, that God hath provided yet thousands for us, that have not bowed their knee to Baal, and are yet firm and untaynted with the poysonus principles of oppression and Tyrany, as by your two late Petions appeareth. And as you have bin an encouragement unto us, to raise up your spirits, & [Page 6]put us upon action, so let us be an encouragement unto you to pursue you with the uttermost vigour and might in those happy begining of yours, & we shal by Gods assistance second you with our most power against all opposers whatsoever. And we shall say no more at present, but that we are,
By letters further from the North it is said, that col. Martin begins to grow powerfull, having a very considerable party: but most of them have declared against the treaty, and shewes a great dislike thereof.
There are many thousands of the Souldiery which have signed a petition to come to the Parliament desiring them to look to themselves, and clear their power and protect the peoples interest against all their Enemies.
It is reported, that the King hath sent a Message to the army, intimating, That He earnestly desires a safe and well grounded peace, throughout this bleeding and distressed Church and State, requiring them to be instrumentall therein: and that in so doing, He will take care for the payment of their Arrears.