WHereas there hath been an expresse of the reall and honourable intentions, and grounds of and from the Army manifested (in most just and honest terms to the Houses of Parliament and King­dom) cleering to every indifferent and sound judgement the cause of their proceedings, for the kingdom and their own dues, and interressed satisfactions, we having, by Gods providence, the opportunity to shew our affecti­ons no lesse ready and inclinable, to maintain and con­firm the lawfull obteining of our right & just priviledg­es then themselves declare to be: We therefore declare, as in duty bound, for the mercies we have received from God, and the faithfull service we owe to the Kingdom, to joyne and associate our selves with the Southern Ar­my, under the command of his Excellencie Sir Thomas Fairfax, for the speedy and happy effecting, a true, la­sting and well grounded peace, wherein may consist the preheminence of all honour and welfare, both to the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and that there may be no misapprehensions, as usually publike actions and resolves are lyable unto at the first, appearing in the eyes of men un-acquainted in the businesse, and in the [Page]eyes of those (who being pre-possessed of guilt cunning­ly oppose,) We further declare our selves free from any secret intentions in reference to the promotion of any p [...]rticular designe, or our own particular interrests, but are absolutely raised and moved (in our selves) to a ne­cessary compliance with that Army upon those good, cleere and sound principles, which tendeth to the pro­motion and protection of justice, and the liberty of the subject, as hitherto (by the management of the affairs of so great importance) have appeared, we shall no lesse endevour to defend with our lives and estates, The law­full designes of those truly well affected Souldiers then we would oppose a forreign invasion or prevent an indi­rect or unwarrantable warre, our warrant being the same for either nature or law, and the Covenant binding thereto.

We shall therefore prosecute the discovery of all per­sons complotted and combined against us and these just desires, that we may keepe our friends and Nation free from any inforced injury or prejudice, whatsoever, espe­cially we giving to understand that we have not any in­tentions to spill the bloud of any man, or to wrong them in their proper goods, or intrench upon the conscience, of any, our chiefest care being in this our Declaration and intentions at present and for future, to provide for a correspondencie with that Army, to live or dye, rejoyce or suffer with them, as we are mutually engaged, our expectations of reward being no other then the salving of those grievances published from that Army (with our own) the Souldiers honour and livelyhood repaired, their service thankfully requited, and all corrupt per­sons in authority in Court of Judicature and Offices of the Kingdome expunged, and all such severall good Acts as shall be for the present and future concernment, [Page]of the Kingdom [...] satis­factory to the generality, so we desire not to require an addition of redresses of any particular mans wants or sufferings whatsoever, but attend on the generall busi­nesse in hand, for the accomplishment of the Armies, our own, and the well affected of the Kingdoms desires, and just demands, the necessity, justice, and sincerity whereof, we desire to vindicate as our lives.

Pomfret, July 5 1647,

1 THat the Honourable Houses of Parliament would be pleased to look upon the representative desire and grievances of his Excellencies Army, as our desires and grievances, which we humbly desire may be justly (not fai­nedly) granted and redressed.

2 That whereas the Parliament was pleased to declare a­gainst their just desires conteined in their representations, & proceed to disband before redresse of the grievances, we hum­bly desire that the misrepresentours of the aforesaid desires and obstructours of their just satisfactions, their desires and grievances being ours, may be brought forth to legall tryall.

3 That the illegall imprisonment of severall Officers and the endevours used by some to imprison others for speak­ing in the behalf of his Excellencies Army, and their just dues may be repaired, and the occasion thereof dealt with ac­cording to their deserts.

4 That those who endevoured to render his Excellencies Army odious by aspersions, and thereby to deprive them of that Honour which they have so deerly bought, and to incense the Kingdom and Souldiers against them, may be procee­ded against according to justice.

5 That such provision may be made for better supply of us for the future, whereby wee may be enabled to discharge our Quarters, that so we may not for necessary food be be­holding to the Parliaments friends, who have spent their estates in the Service, whose preservation is the things wee desire, and in whose happinesse our own is involv'd.

THat whereas your Excellencies Petitioners having for some few years past served the Parliament and Kingdom in the late unnaturall Wars, and having under­gone the same with all cheerfulnesse and readinesse not­withstanding the sad discontentment, and sad sufferings which we have undergone, being not at all thereby so discouraged, as to manifest any visible distemper, or un­willingness unto the aforesaid service our conditions be­ing at present so uncertain, that wee know not to whom to repair as our chief Conductor, and by reason of the same we are exposed to an incapacity of being made par­takers of the fruits of our wearied travels and dangerous services, out of the experience that we have had of your Excellencies care for the satisfaction and preservation both of Souldiers and Subjects, wee are emboldned to present these as followeth.

That your Excellency would be pleased to make our satisfaction and preservation, the object of your Excel­lencies care together with the Army at present under your Excellencies command, and resident with you.

That to the end wee may be exempted from further obedience to any other comand then what may conduce for the obteining of our just dues and priviledges, the e­stablishing of the peace of the Kingdom, & with which your Excellencies advice and approbation shall concurre.

That your Excellency would be pleased to recom­mend this annexed representation of our desires to the Parliament, to prevent misunderstanding betwixt the Parliament and the Souldiers of this Kingdom, for the obteining of their just desires, and putting an end to these present distractions.