TO His Excellency the Lord FAIRFAX; The humble and unanimous Petition and Representation of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrisons of Newcastle, Tinmouth, Hartle­pool, Holy-Isle, together with several Officers of Barwick then present;

THat whereas the whole Kingdom hath groaned un­der the miseries of seven years unnatural bloody War, occasioned by the Kings deserting his Parlia­ment, levying and marching in the head of an Army against them; which (though then principally imputed to the seducement of wicked Councellors,) yet was it adjudged by the Parliament, in their Votes of the 20. of May, 1642. to be a breach of the Trust reposed in him by his people, contrary to his Oath, and tending to the dissolution of this Govern­ment. [Page 4]But when we consider what latter times have pro­duced, as that Declaration of the House of Commons, Febru­ary 11. 1647. and the dayly experience we have of him, we cannot but conceive. That although evil Councellors were very instrumental, yet that himself was and is the prin­cipal Author, Contriver, Abettor, Manager of all the Blood­shed, Massacres, Devastations, and whatsoever Ruines have befaln, not only this Kingdom, but also that of Ireland: And we are the rather induced to be of this opinion, in regard that no means possible have been left unessayed for the gaining him in; witness the several Treaties formerly had with him; the many Petitions, Propositions, so often tendred to him; and above all the late Treaty of fourty days, which being after a total seclusion, for so many moneths, from all evil Councellors whatsoever, and after those solemn Votes of the Parliament cutting him off from all future hopes of having any thing to do with the Authority of this Kingdom; whereupon followed a Charge of many high Crimes; and being, by a special over­ruling hand of providence, disposed not to begin till God himself had spoke so loud from heaven unto him, by destroy­ing all his carnal confidences in a most miraculous manner, as that of Kent, the Scots Army, and the rest; so that had not his heart been wholy shut up and obdurate, and himself re­solvedly set upon the Destruction of the Kingdom, he could not but readily have yeelded to all such things as might have tended to the common good: But we find, that he is still as averse as ever; and though some specious pretences are held forth to delude ignorant souls, yet really advantage is thereby made for the laying of a new design to bring about his former wicked intentions, as appears by the Princes continu­ing still in Rebellion, and the late transactions of Ormond in Ireland, not disavowed by the King; and withall consider­ing, That all endeavors, for the bringing of other Instruments and Incendiaries to condign punishment, while the grand De­linquent is untouched, are to little purpose, as being not an acceptable Sacrifice to the Justice of God, to offer him ought else, while the Agag is spared; nor answerable, either to the true sence and equity of all former Declarations and Engage­ments [Page 5]to that purpose, (especially that of the Army, upon the Parliaments Votes of Non-addresses to the King,) or to the proper end and intention of them, which was not the Ruine, but the Preservation of the Kingdom.

We therefore Your humble Petitioners, in considera­tion of the Premisses, and encouraged thereunto by the long experience we have had of Your faithfulness and readiness to serve Your Coun­try, do beseech Your Excellency, that You will now be pleased to shew Your Self, and to use such means as may be effectual; That no fur­ther Application be made unto the King, but that, according to former Presidents in this Kingdom upon far less Crimes, he may be spee­dily called to answer to such Charges, as are, or shall be brought in against him; and so, Justice being done upon him, way will be made, with less difficulty and more success, for the prosecution of other Offendors, the prevention of future Insur­rections, and firm setling the Kingdom in Peace and Safety.

TO The Right Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax, our noble and faithful General: The Petition of the Officers and Sol­diers of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Hewson.

THat whereas Your Excellency's approved, worth and fidelity have opened the doors and ears to admit and hear any thing, having tendency to the healing of this bruised and diseased Kingdom; we being many ways provo­ked to make a present address to the Representatives, know no better nor safer hand to convey it by then your own, which is so dear unto us: Therefore being more sadly sencible of the complaints from all parts, but especially these which seem to crack the axletree of all our hopes; viz. 1. A renewed de­sign upon this Army, by forcing us to free quarter, still to make us the contempt and hissing of the people, though we crave your witness that we have not boggled very often, to make brick without straw, and born burden to the cracking of many faithful shoulders, and thereby fill your heart and ours with un­speakable grief, even almost reluctancies, to despair, had not your firm influence prevented our divisions, and thereby the Kingdoms ruine, which would have gratified the Devil, and our enemies, his instruments. 2. As English men we cannot but [Page 7]be sensible of the inconveniences of this late Treaty, whereby it is attempted to null all Contracts, Protestations, Votes, yea to our particular undertaking to bring Delinquents of all sorts to condign punishments, offering thereby more then a conquered; yet implacable enemy, could expect. 3. The exhausting the peo­ples treasure by many ways, Offices and Officers, and no pub­lique account given thereof, rooted upon cursed self-seeking in some, maintaining the jealousies of many. 4. The Kingdom left naked without any setled Government, so often cry'd for; a Parliament rather being a medicine for mal-administrations, & an Instrument to make Laws with, then a proper Government, as all confess. 5. An inequality of punishments, censures, and compositions, as if we had no net made to catch the greater flies. 6. Oppression by Foraign un-English'd Laws and Lawyers grown to swarms when the best order'd Common-weals have the fewest of that brood, and who have been found by their increase a Pathagnomical Symptome of a crazy State, and Ca­clectick Common-wealth. 7. The slighting and contemptu­ous dealing with Petitioners and Petitions, whereby redress hath been sought to the peoples Grievances; a practise as dan­gerous as unusual, in places where the preservation of the whole is in the eye and aym of Trustees.

We do therefore heartily and fully concur with our brethren in the Army, in their several just Petitions presented to your Excellency, calling for Justice, and just things, and the same we do with those in the City and Country, being the rather prest hereunto, because our late employment hath made some of us eye and ear witnesses of the last transactions with the grand Enemy, and great abettor of Ormond in Ireland, his son in Holland, and any other party that hath but a sword to draw for his destructive designs, we know, and therefore speak.

• Wherefore we most humbly pray, that your Excellency would forthwith communicate these our sighs and rest­less breathings of our spirits to the Parliament. Viz.
• 1. We cannot, we dare not make such a forfeiture of our un­parelled mercies, nor betray our dear bought Freedom, as to leave our selves and the Nation to the Freedom of [Page 8]one mans will most unhappy in the whole course of his raign, and now dashing this Kingdom into pieces again by his easily discerned subtilties.
• 2. We desire all the faithful Patriots of the Commons House, may declare and protest against all men, under the same roof with them, that have so plainly betrayed the common safety by pardoning 30. of 37. that were appointed to death, and these 7. of no note, and but one within reach; for sending most of the rest as their Agents into France, and other parts, which they call banishment.
• 3. We most earnestly beg, we may be govern'd and free I from fear of confusion and Anarchy by such a settlement as cannot be expected from 400. men so strangely chosen, and diversly affected: We wish to that purpose, that the Government of Venice, Holland, Switzerland, and other parts, may be examined, that we may not idolize any one Creature, nor never be any more at this charge, since of 25. Princes of this Nation many have been impeach'd and depos'd by the sword of the people in the hands of their Trustees.
• 4. We expect that we be not voted against if we do not de­liver up prisoners in our power upon those easie terms voted: We are not ignorant how it is design'd, that this Army must be provoked to do evil things, and by those men who are vexed, we have done so many good.

Dearest Sir, In the gaining of these, and other righteous things for the poor tattered Nation, we shall follow your Excellency through Rocks and Mountains of difficulty, or lose all in that work; for we having bin so often dying, that we would choose once to dye in­deed, that our dear Native Country may Live.

Presented to his Excellency at Windsor, Saturday, November 25. 1648.