IT is not unknown unto all the whole Kingdom how faithfully and zealously, we have behaved our selves in the service of King and Parliament, and we leave all the world to judge how readily we ventured our lives, and laid out our estates, towards this work of Reformation, to the ends of the Covenant, and our first in­gagement, and we beleived that the bringing home of the King to his Parliament, was the only means, which might perfect the work in hand, and we were verily perswaded, that our present and pressing troubles, could no wayes have a period, but by a free convention betwixt King, and Subjects in Parliament, conceiving that to be the means to remove all mistakes and mis-understanding, betwixt King and people, we shall not stand to rehearse all the Cove­nant, Vowes, and protestations put upon us by the Parlia­ment for the maintenance of the protestant Religion, the Kings honour, Person, and Estate, the priviledges of Par­liament, and the established known Lawes of the Land, for which we first ingaged both lives and fortunes, against those we supposed were the Common Enemies. But now sind­ing by wofull experience, that we are likely to be worse in­slaved by a company, who behave themselves like the Tur­kish Janizary; in imposing taxes on our estates, and forcing our person out to fight against we know not who, for woe know not what, to satisfie the bondles lusts of a company [Page 2]of factious, seditious and covetous persons, who have the influence and greatest stroak in the houses and Army, wee know them very well, but shall forbeare to particularize them, til another oportunity, but it is not necessary to insert their names, by reason they are too well knowne to this Kingdome, the totall ruine and downfall of all religion, go­vernment, and discipline, not only in this, but in the other two Kingdomes. And this we should not offer, but upon good grounds, will prove what we say and declare; to be as true as their actions are unjust and dangerous, and in­deed the wickednesse of these men, we did not of a long time (and till now of late) deserne the continuall masking themselves under the names of Reformers, and would for­sooth be called the honest and faithfull party, none more forward to speak good words to the people, and make great promises, where and to whomsoever they came, of inlarge­ment from slavery and pressures, then they, when indeed (as is apparent) they meant nothing more then to destroy, and ruine them, Thus have they kept their vizards on for these many years to the blinding & deluding of many poor soules in this Kingdome, who being thus mislead by their specious pretents, and dauncing after their pipes, to the losse of both lives and estates under these men, by their false suggestions, insomuch that these three Kingdomes have bled and groaned this many years to the desperat hazard of their utter dissolution and loss.

And now these men appearing in their own colours, and letting the world be spectators of their insolencyes, and im­perious carriages to the great terror and amazement of all modest and peaceable people.

And truly had they not appeared thus audacious and bold, without limits or bonds as hye as the distruction of both King, Lords and Gen­trie, and that they pretend the house of Commons to be the only su­pream power, and that house they will not take notice on, unles it be moulded of a party of their owne chusing and faction.

We say that was one main cause of our now declaring, and ingaging, And truly our affection were so great to that Army and Party both in the house and City, that we would have willingly layd downe our lives to justifie them, and who soever spoke against them, wee either thought them Malignants, or men voyd of grace, and charity, but now their insolencies [and our burden] force us to speake that which here­tofore we should have blusht to think.

And now we have great cause to blesse God for his goodnesse, in ma­king us such clear discerners of their jugling and Machavonills demea­nors, and do look upon it as the greatest mercy that we are undeceived, in that we have some hopes left us to secure our selves & help our poor distressed fellow subjects from under the ejection slavery, which these men have brought us to wade to the knees in already, we cannot but beleive, but that this faction, which doth so predominate both in the house and field, are of a Jesuiticall spirit, knowing very well that that Army abounds with Preists and Jesuits, under whose Councells wee cannot think our selves in safety, or this Kingdome, since they are the only men, that carryes on and hath the businesse, and hath the tran­saction of most things done both in the house and Army, these things appearing plain to the understanding of us, we conceived we could not prosper, nor expect a blesing from heaven so long as we remain silent af­ter it had pleased our maker to make us knowers off, & since it is a mat­ter of so great concernment as Religion, law and liberty; we doubt not but we shall have assistence from Heaven above, and al honest and God­ly men who love the happinesse flourishing of 3 (now dying Kingdoms) which must inevitably come to ruine, if we suffer these cruell Egypti­an Taskmasters thus to rule over us, which slavery we are resolved to quit our selves from, and bring our selves from under; and we doubt not but heaven will smile upon us as well as it did when we were abused by an exorbitant power gotten from the King by a party who loved him not.

And now we shall declare who we will not have to bare rule a­mongst us.

1 We declare against that party who denyed to observe the Parlia­ment Orders at New-market and ingaged themselves contrary to the Orders, Votes, and Resolution of both houses, to stand in Armes, till they were satisfied in unjust and treasonable demands.

2. We Declare against those who violently carried his Majesty away from Holmby, contrary to the Order, Votes, and Ordinances of both houses of Parliament, from house to house whither they pleased on pur­pose to force him to own them in their treasonable undertakings.

3. We declare against that party which deserted the house and ran to the Army, and brought them into the City of London, and joyned with them for the expelling and driving away all the honest Godly pea­ceable members of the houses and City.

4. We declare against those who plotted, contrived and effected his Majesties imprisonment, and the party set on in the time of his Maje­sties imprisonment, to poyson or take away his sacred life.

5. We declare against all those which have broken the peace and en­gagement betwixt us, and our brethren of Scotland.

6. We declare against all Brownists, Anabaptists, Seekers, Indepen­dents, Antitremptarion, and all blasphemers.

7. We declare against all Taxes, Excise, Contribution. Sequestrati­ons and Committees.

And now to let the world know that we desire the benefit and pro­sperity of these three Kingdomes, we shall declare and shew what wee wish and desire

1. That Keligion may be established according to the rule of Gods word, and as near to the Covenant as is possible, admitting the example of best reformed Churches, and that Discipline may be speedily set up, and put in execution to the bridling of licentious liberty, and the de­stroying and routing out of heresie and Schisme,

2. That this personall Treaty may be hastened and cherished with al the honest oportunities that may tend to the restoring of the King to his just rights, and that his Queen may with his children come home in safety and honour, and live with his Majesty as all other Queens have done in former times.

3 That the Freedomes of Parliament and priviledges may be knowne and declared, to the end we may not be brought to a contempt of their Authority through ignorance, and that this present Parliament would be pleased to set a time for their ending, that so the subject may be eased of many taxes which now lyes upon them through and by their means.

4 That all Armies may be disbanded und payd off out of Forrest-lands and course taken that all idle persons who have bin Souldiers may be set at work or sent beyond the Seas.

5 That all Garrison may be slight, demolished and dismantled except such as are Sea port Townes, and inlets to a foraign enemy.

6 That all Widdowes and Fatherlesse children whose husbands and fathers have bin slain, in these wars may be prouided for in some com­petent measure to keep them from beggery and starving.

7 That a considerable Army may be raised for Ireland, of such ho­nest and sober principled men, as will observe the command of the au­thority that levyes them and payes them, that they may disband when it shall be judged by that power fit.

8. That there may a firme act of Parliament be made and concluded, that the Kingdome may be governed according to the knowne lawes of the Land, by King, Lords and Commons, and that an oath may be taken throughout the Kingdome by all persons to acknowledg the same go­vernment, and that it may be death or banishment for any to refuse the same.

9, That a considerable company of honest moderat men may be sent into Scotland to take up the difference betwixt us and our bretheren, that so we may prevent the effusion of any more Christian blood, and that we may continue our late ingagement with them (as it is just) in love and charity.

10. and Lastly, We desire that all such persons who shall any way re­tard, obstruct, or discountenance these things may be declared against as Traytors and Rebells, to the King, Parliament and Kingdome.

These things we conceive to be the only means, under God, to make these 3 Kingdomes happy, and we should not have declared thus farr, but that we see a many of persons who endeavour to interpose betwixt us and our peace, by petitioning against a Personall Treaty, and that [Page 4]their petitions and expressions, words and actions tends to levelling and ruine of both King and Lords and are so bold as to say the repream power rests in the house of commons, to which men, we will be so bold as answer, they know not what they aske, therefore forgive them fa­ther, for if the Commons of England be the supream power, then he that can make the best friends shall have what he desires, though sit be to the ruine of (a whole) or many familyes, We are already satisfied, that it is as dangerous a thing to be governed by Votes, as it is to be governed by armyes, when especially in such a time as when so many men, so many minds.

And now we have given the world to understand what we desire, & are assured that what we wish and desire is well pleasing both to God and all moderate minded men, and if these things shall be opposed, we shall indeavour to strengthen our selves both by Sea and land, and joyne with his highnesse the Prince of Wales, and the fleet under him, which we doubt not but will bring a happy peace to these three Kingdomes, and ruine and shame to their and our Enemies.