Major Generall BROWNE HIS SPEECH In PALIAMENT,
Concerning the Lord Generall Fairfax, and his Declaration touching the Army.
BOth Houses having received a Letter from the Lord Generall Fairfax, for the gaining to such ends as have been proposed in the Armies late Remonstrance, and pressing them to the present apprehension of the dangerous Juncture of affaires; the Commons began to consult upon the same, whose debates for'd up, and flew exceeding high; some moving [Page 2] that his Excellencies Commission might be made null and taken from him; Others, that the Army might be required to retreat 40 miles from London, and others moved, that the City might be put into a posture of War; but Sheriff Brown stood up, and made an excellent Speech, declaring, That there was nothing to be expected from the City, and that f [...]r his part he would indeavour the preservation of the peace thereof, and to keepe a right understanding between his Excellency, the City, and Army. And Mr Pryn declared his sense and resolution touching the Army, cyting many presidents, that many have been voted traytors [...]or disobeying auth r [...]ty of Parliament, but for his part he would not say that any were such. After some disputation and debate thereon, the House voted that a Declaratory Letter should be presented to the Generall, a coyy whereof followeth,
THe House taking notice by your Letter of the 30. of Novem. touching the present motion and designe of the army, have commanded m [...] to let you know, that upon matu [...]e deliberate judging, that it may be dangerous both to the City and army; it is their pleasure that you remov [...] not the army near London; and to the end the country may not be burthened with free quarter, nor the army want their due support, they have commanded me to acquaint you, that they have signified their pleasure to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and common councell, that they forth with provide the sum of 40000. l. of so much thereof as they can possibly raise at present▪ and pay the same to the Treasurers at wars, to be forthwith sent unto you for our army, which being all I have in command, I remain
The resolution of the Army touching the Citizens of London, viz.
That a more equall dispensing of Justice and Mercy in relation to things done or suffered in the late wars, and the establishing of the future Government of this kingdom upon a safe succession and equall Constitution of Parliaments, and that (for the ending of present, and avoiding of future Differences) to be Ratified by an Agreement and Subscription of the people therunto. Which things we pressed in the way of Reason and Perswasion onely, that they might be duely and timely considered. But to our griefe we find, in stead of any Satisfacton or a reasonable answer thereto, they are wholly rejected, without any consideration of what ever Reason or Justice might be in the things set forth or propounded therein; for what lesse can be understood, when the things propounded were mainly for the avoidance of evils appearing in the Treaty with the King: And seeing the prevailing part of those, to whom we did apply, to have as it were their eyes wilfully shut, and eares stopt, against any thing of Light or Reason offered to them, we find no place left for our former charitable or hopefull apprehensions, concerning their errour in such evilf wayes; but remaining fully assured of the danger and destructivenesse thereof, as to all those publique ends for which they were intrusted, and also of the just advantage and necessity which lie in the things we have propounded and insist on, we now see nothing left, to which their engaging and persisting in such waies, and rejection of these better things propounded, can rationally be attribur [...]d lesse then a treacherous or [Page 4] corrupt neglect of, and Apostacy from the Publique Trust reposed in them; although we could wish from our soules, we might yet find the contrary.
Therefore it is our hearts desire, and shall be our endeavour, that so much, both of the matter and form of the present Parliamentory Authority may be preserved, as can be safe, or will be usefull to these ends, untill a just and full Constitution thereof, both for matter and form (sutable to the publique ends, it serves for) can be entroduced.
And therefore first, it should be great rejoycing (if God saw it good) that the majority of the present House of Commons were become sensible of the evil and distructivenesse of their late way, and would resolvedly and vigorously apply themselves to the speedy execution of justice, with the righting and casing of the oppressed people, and to a just settlement of the Kingdome upon such foundations as have been propounded by us, and others for that purpose, and would for the speedier and surer prosecution of these things exclude from Communication in their Councels, all such corrupt and Apostarized Members as have appeared hitherto, but to obstruct and hinder such matter of Justice, Safety, and publique interest, and to pervert their Councels a contrary way and have therein so shamefully both falsified, and forftied their Trust,
But however if God shal not see it good (to vouchsafe that mercy to them and the Kingdome) we shall secondly desire, That so many of them as God hath kept upright, and shal touch with a just sence of those things, would by protestation or otherwise, acquit [Page 5] themselves from such breach of Trust, and approve, their faithfulnesse, by withdrawing from those that persist in the guilt therof, & take such a posture, wherby they may speedily & effectually prosecute those necessary and publique ends, without such inteeruptions, Diversions, or depravations of their Councell from the rest, to their endlesse trouble, and hazard of the Kingdom as formerly, and for so many of them, whose hearts God shall stir up thus to do.
We shall therein, in this case of extremity, looke upon them as persons having materially the chief Trust of the Kingdom remaining in them, and though not a formall standing power to be continued in them, or drawn into ordinary Presidents; yet the best and most rightfull that can be had, as the present state and exigence of affairs now stand; And we shal accordingly owne them, adhere to them, and be guided by them in their faithful profecution of that trust, in order vnto, and until the introducing of a more full and formal power in a just Representative to be speedy endeavoured.
Now yet further to take away all jealousies in relation to our selves, which might with-hold or disccurse any honest members from this courage, as we have the witnesse of God in our hearts, that in these proceedings we do not seek, but even resolve we wil not take advantages to our selves, either in point of profit or power; and that if God did open to us a way, wherin with honesty and faithfulnesse to the publique Interest, & good people ingaged for us, we might presently be dischargeed, so as we might not in our present Employments look on, and be accessary to, yea supporters of the Parliament, in the present corrupt, oppressive and destructive [Page 6] proceedings, wee should with rejoycing, and witho [...] more ado, embrace such a discharge, rather then interpose in these things to our owne vast trouble and hazzard; so if we could but obtain a rational assurance for the effectuall prosecuting of these things, we shall give any proportionable assurance on our parts, concerning our laying down of arms, when, and as we should be required.
His Maiesties Declaration upon his coming into Wiltshire.
MY Lords, You are come to take your leave of me, and I believe we shall scarce ever see each other again: but Gods will be done, I thank God I have made my peace with him, and shall without fear undergoe what he shall be pleased to suffer men to do unto me. My Lords, you cannot but know, that in my fall and ruine, you see your own, and that also neer to you; I pray God send you better friends then I have found. I am fully infoamed of the whole cariage of the plot against me and mine; and nothing so much afflicts me, as the sence and feeling I have of the sufferings of my Subjects, and the miserice that hang over my three Kingdomr, drawn upon them by those who (upon pretences of good) violently pursue their own interests and ends. His Maj having thus declared himself, the Commissioners kissed his Maj. hand, and took their leave. And on Friday morning last, his Mai. was guarded by a troope of horse from the Isse of VVight, to Hurst Castle in VViltshire, where he is now secured, Cap. Mil [...]ay, cap. loyner, cap. VVeston, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Cutchside, Mr. Reding and Mr. Lewen, being appointed Attendants for his Maiesties person.