THE DESIRES of his EXCELLENCIE Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the Generall Councell of the Army, held at Putney Octob. 21, 1647.
Concerning the security of Deanes and Chapters Lands for their Arreares.
Also severall Proposals concerning the Estates of Papists, and the compositions of Delinquents.
With his Excellencies Letter to the Committee of the Army, to represent the same to the Parliament.
By the appointment of his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the Generall Councell of the Army.
LONDON, Printed by T. H. for Iohn Playford, at his shop in the Inner Temple. 1647.
AT the last Generall Councell of the Army, the particulars contayned in the inclosed Paper were resolved on to bee represented to the Parliament, in relation to security for Arreares and other concernments of the Souldiery, I desire your selfe with the Committee of the Army, would be pleased to take care, That the sayd Paper or the matters contayned therein, may be speedily presented to the Houses consideration: I remayne
The Desires of His Excellency, Sir Thomas Farifax, and the Generall Councell of the Army, held at Putney, Octob. 21. 1647.
FOrasmuch as wee understand, That the House of Commons in the Overture of Deanes and Chapters Lands, for the security of the Arreares of the Souldiers, have not past, but referr'd to some other use the Rents of Assize, &c. This Councell doth crave leave humbly to represent to the Houses of Parliament, the insufficiency (as we conceive) of that security, and our Desires, that aswell the Rents reserved upon all Leases, as the Lands and all other the rights and benefits, belonging to Deanes and Chapters for their former maintenance and support, may bee comprehended and past for the said security, as fully as Bishops Lands were, and with no more exceptions; without which; wee cannot accept it as any considerable security; yet wee desire all due regard may bee had to the present Lessors of the [Page 4]said Lands. And also to the maintenance, a reasonable satisfaction of all such persons as having a present interest in the Revenue belonging to Deanes and Chapters, have not forfeired the same by Delinquency: And to the end, the just expectations of the Souldiery (in reference to their great Arteares) may bee put into a speedy way of satisfaction, wee desire the House will bee pleased to put the said Lands into the hands of certaine Trustees, that so they may bee sold out of hand for the uses aforesaid, and that there may be a present publike prohibition of any further proceedings in renewing of Leases, inlarging of Estates, or cutting downe of Woods or any other waste upon the said land: and as we thinke, wee may justly expect the like care and expedition in this businesse as hath been manifested to our Brethren the Scots, in order to their satisfaction before their departure out of England. As for the Rents of Papists, that have been in Armes, we crave leave to make our Exception against that security, and to represent (according to our former Declarations) that we doe not desire, That Papists in Armes (qua Papists) should be excepted from Pardon, or made lesse capable of Composition then others, nor have their Estates exposed to sale, wherefore in lien of those Lands of Papists in Armes, we renew our desires, concerning Forrest Lands, with a due Consideration, of the adjacent Poore, that they bee to wayes damnified thereby; and forasmuch as the Arreares of the Souldiery is so great, that the securities formerly desired, in regard of the Exceptions contained in them, which heretofore have not been so obvious to us, will not be sufficient to discharge [Page 5]them: We likewise desire,
That all such Moneys as shall arise upon Compositions of Delinquents, past or to come, may bee charged as further security for the sayde Arreares, to take place after the moneyes already charged upon the same shall be satisfied.
It is further desired,
That the whole matter of s [...]curity for Arreares of the Souldiers, may bee included amongst the Propositions for peace, and that the other Particulars in our late Paper of the one and twentieth of September, about our Concernments as Souldiers, may also bee taken into consideration, and what is or shall bee resolved thereupon, may be inserted into the propositions to be sent downe to his Majesty.
And forasmuch as wee have made diverse addresses to the Parliament, for the setling of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdome, and satisfying them in their just dues and necessary concernments, as aforesaid, and wee finde little hath as yet beene done to that end, and for that wee conceive the Consideration thereof is of so great concernment, as that it is the first foundation of any settlement that can bee to the publique affaires.
Wee humbly desire, That the Houses will be so sensible thereof, as to make it their businesse to insist upon the speedy Consideration of these things, untill they may bee fully provided for.