BEing informed by the Officers of Commissa­ry General Iretons Regiments, of the late un­heard of, and not to be paralell'd violation of the Government of the Army by divers Souldiers, who without and against their Officers (no just cause or provocation being given for their so doing) have seised four Colours belonging to the said Regiment, and are marched away with them; and since of the like practise in Colonel Scroops Regiment, en­deavouring (as I hear) to perswade others unto the like un­lawfull actings.

I have though fit to publicsh this Declaration to see if it shall please God, the persons so offending, will be by the reasons therein contained, convinced of the evill of their actions, and returne againe to their obedience; and to pre­vent others from the like practise: And if not, that I may thereby be clear from all the misery and evill likely to en­sue thereupon, in case there shall be a perfisting in the said disorder, and I be necessitated out of the duty I owe to God, and the disharge of my trust to the Parliament and People of this nation to enforce a submission and obedience to the Au­thority committed to me for the good of the publique.

This heady and unlawfull action hath these two evils in [Page 4]it, the one, against God and his sacred name, the other against the liberty and peace of the Common-wealth.

You are not ignorant what a blessing hath gone along with your endeavours against the enemies of God, & your Country, whilest you stood faithfull to the trust reposed in you, engage­ing your selves against the Common enemy, to our liberty and peace, and all this by the presence of God with you. But by this unwarrantable act of yours, how do you avowedly declare your disowning of that Providence, trusting rather to the violence of your own spirits, then waiting to see what issue God will give to the great affaires of this Nation. And if you shall persist herein and be the occasions of another warre, you will give the enemy advantage to say, their Cause hath been good all along, and that now this division amongst us is a Iudgement of God upon us for opposing them, and doing such things especially in the execution of Justice, as doth re­joyce honest hearts to think of, but the enemy so much study to revenge.

Secondly, you do also disowne the act of God in denying obedience to those who by his clear Call are set over you, without any provocation on their part, or so much as reason given by you for your so doing; and herein you will be found resisters not of man but of God. No man is able to foresee the manifest hazard likely to befall this poor wasted Nation, by this act of yours, for

First, You will hereby give opportunity to the Cavaleirish party to shelter themselves an flie to Armes under the pro­tection of this distemper, and

Secondly, You do manifestly hinder the relief of Ireland, where many persons of honour and honesty are ready to be swallowed up by those blood-thirsty Rebels for maintaining the very same cause with s here: And if it shall happen that they be ruin'd there, what can be expected but an immediate [Page 5]coming over of those forces into England to revive their old cause and quarrel here.

And if I be rightly informed, I hear that you make this to be one of your pretences, to this your irregular and ungodly acting, That you are necessitated to go for Ireland, which if you shall refuse, you shall be disbanded dishonourably. Although I know, and you might have known also (if you would have had patience to have been rightly informed) that indeed there is not a word of truth, neither in the one nor in the o­ther; The Parliament nor my selfe resolving to compell any one to that service, or to punish in the least for refusing the same. The Lot being cast (as it was) put the disposall of men for that imployment upon God, who hath thereby decided it; and if you can satisfie your consciences in neglecting so clear a cal, let that be between God and you, that being all the inforcement or compulsion that either was or is intended.

And though you may pretend that things are not setled for the good of this Common-wealth, yet how unwarrant­able a thing is it for you upon such deceitfull pretences, si­thence, the said things might for ought you know in due time be setled; nay, and are now upon a settlement, (if these distempers of yours hinder not) even upon a bare supposi­tion to runne into a positive and notorious act of mutiny and disobedience, against all rules of honesty and good con­science, yea & against the known lawfull Authority of this Nation, which hath done greater things for the good and welfare of the people, then any of their Predecessors have done in a thousand years before.

And if you have not quie lost your understandings and consciences, (and are thereby become incapable of satisfa­ction) what reason have you to quarrel at the Parliaments Proceedings, who have improved their time in doing the most necessary things first? which if they had not in their [Page 6]wisedomes preferred in point of time, to those you would have (for there lyeth all the ground of murmuring in dis­contented spirits) the good things you pretend to, and some call for, could never have come in to act at all, no more then they are like now to do, if by this outragious act of yours the Land be brought into another warre; the only de­signe and means the Malignants and other the implacable e­nemies of the welfare of the Nation have, to keep those good things from us: And therefore I shall desire all men amongst you, who are capable of satisfaction, a little to consider how the Parliament have spent their time since they were free to act for the good of the Nation, and then weigh (whether the things they have done could have given place to those, you, and some other murmuring spirits would have? and whether it be lawfull for you to rise in Rebellion upon a bare supposition and pretence, that the things you stand for will not at all be brought to passe? whereas indeed the Parliament hath declared their resoluti­ons therein, and are at this time in a hopefull way to accom­plish them, if they be not hindred by this so unwarrantable act of yours.

The Parliament begun with that great act of Justice, which was by good men so called for, and was indeed so necessary a duty to take off the pollution of innocent blood, wherewith the Land was defiled; wherein what was done, through what difficulties, and how much time was spent, is obvious to all unprejudiced Persons.

In the next place the removing of the House of Peers, which challenged so great a share in the Legislative power, without whose concurrence every thing that tended to the publike good received a stop, and could not passe in­to a Law, and therefore would be without effect, whereby the Legislative power is brought into the Representatives of [Page 7]the People, with what difficultie this was obtained they best know who had the trouble of it? and what time and labour it cost to effect this, and to make Laws against Kingship, and a House of Peers, that they never returne againe upon us, (except by this Act of yours) is likewise most evident.

The next in point of time was the providing to secure trade by putting a fleet to sea, and what they encountred with in this worke, the stores of the Navy being emptied and all treasuries exhausted by those in Parliament, who drove on the Kings designe, on purpose to make it impos­sible to get out a fleet this Summer, that by this and dis­banding the Army they might the better bring on an un­worthy and unsafe Peace with the King, and thereby cause our miserie the subversions of our Liberties, and Ti­ranny to fall irresistably upon us; And notwithstanding all these difficulties the Parliament hath to the securing of Trades, and defence of the Nation from forraigne inva­sion, put out the greatest fleet to sea that ever this Nation did, whereby the Trade is revived, which was almost sunk, and the enemy disappointed of their mischievous de­signes against us.

In the last place before the things you so much urge could be thought on, it was judged by the Parliament a thing most necessary, to take off free-quarter to prepare wherewithall to relieve Ireland, and to provide for Soul­diers arrears: in all which they have so farre proceeded, (though with much expence of time and meeting, many sad obstructions by reason all Treasuries were so anticipa­ted) that free-quarter is totally taken off, except you now againe begin it, (and then I doubt the Countrey will hardly judge you friends to their Liberties, or at all trust your faire pretences.) The reliefe of Ireland also is so pro­vided for, as that the Souldiers who is designed thither [Page 8]is equally to be paid with those remaining in England, and both theirs and those here, so taken care for in point of Arrears; as that the only best and most present security and satisfaction in England, viz. the late Kings Parks and his Revenues is by the Parliament setled for their satisfa­ction; And to the endt he Souldiery might neither be de­layed nor defrauded in the stating and auditing their Ac­compts, it is referred to the Field-Officers of each respe­ctive Regiment to performe the same; and if this Justice and favour deserve the requitall of such actings as these? let the whole Nation judge.

These things being done, and the other things of settle­ment comprised in the Agreement (presented with all hu­mility from the Councell of the Army,) being begun upon, and now in hand, and that in particular of putting a period to this present Parliament, and setling a future equal Repre­sentative, the first in their consideration; what is the cause, and how will it be answered to God or men to have so rash an act as this is, performed by you upon no provocation so much against your duty and trust, and all obligations which may be expected from honest men?

For you (I say) to cast off this Authority upon so weake and mistaken grounds, how think you? are you able to an­swer the same?

Many things more might be urged in aggravation of this offence but because I had rather see you returne to your obedience, then delight to put my finger upon the fore; I thought fit to let you know, that if after all this, you all, or any amongst you shall submit and returne, I am ready and willing to passe by and pardon: But if you shall persist in your obstinacie, I shall endeavour by force to reduce you, and therein put my selfe and the businesse upon God.