NEW PROPOSITIONS Sent from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax To the Honourable House of COMMONS; CONCERNING The preservation and safety of the Kings Majesties Realmes and Dominions.
Together with the Parliaments Answer thereunto.
ALSO, The Armies new Propositions in reference to the whole Kingdome, and their further Resolution c [...]ncerning the same.
Printed and published, for the speedy dispiercing of the fore-going Propositions to each respective County throughout the Kingdome of England, and Principality of Wales.
Printed at London for Adam Marshe, and are to be [...]o [...]d neer the Royale Exchange in Cornhill, 164 [...]. ⟨July 22⟩
A DECLARATION CONCERNING The gallant Message and Propositions sent from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, to the Honourable House of COMMONS.
HAving lately received a Copy of the gallant Message and Propositinns sent from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Honourable House of Commons; together with the Answer and Votes of the [Page]said House, to his Excellencies Message and Propositions; All which being of great concernment to the Kingdome, and worthy of publike view, I thought fit to represent unto you a Copy of the said Papers; to the end, they may be printed, and dispierced throughout each respective County within the Kingdome of England, and Principality of Wales. viz.
1. His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax declares, that by reason of the great numbers of severall distinct and dis-joynted Forces which (now) lyes dispierced and scattered abroad within this his Majesties Realme of England, and Dominion of Wales, which were sufficient, together with the assistance of this Army (being united and well mannaged) both to preserve the peace of this Kingdome, and give present reliefe to that poor distressed and bleeding kingdome of Ireland, without putting this Kingdome to the charge of raising new Forces at present for that service.
2. That the high and honourable Court of Parliament would be pleased to put all the Forces under one and the same Command, Discipline, and equall establishment for future pay and maintenance, which being done, it would give much encouragement to some of the Forces that may bee spared out of all the Forces mentioned from England, to goe more cheerfully into Ireland.
[Page] 3. That if there were some present course taken to provide for Arreares, for such Forces as might be spared for Ireland, there might in probability be an effectuall Reliefe sent over into Ireland before this Summer be quite spent.
All which particulars, were humbly tendered to the serious Consideration of the Honourable Court of Parliament, by Englands renowned Generall, His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, for the safety and preservation of this his native Countrey, and for the speedy reducing poor bleeding Ireland, from the tyrannie and oppression of the bloud-thirsty Rebells, who have for many yeares layn waitering in its own bloud, occasioned by that wicked and Jesuitical Party.
To which Propositions, we have lately received the Answer and Votes of the House of Commons, which I shall here insert, to the end they may be all printed together, as also the ensuing Papers to be annexed thereunto.
The Answer of the House of Commons to the fore-going Prepositions.
AFter a long and large debate in relation to the reducing of Ireland, and setling the peace of this Kingdome, the House of Commons came to this result, and voted.
I. That all the Land Forces within this Kingdome, and Principality of Wales; as also the Isles of Iersey and Garnsey, shall be under the immediate command [Page]of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the care of seeing the Forces disbanded which left the Army, was left to the Generall.
II. That those Forces which left the Army before, being designed for Ireland, and yet remain here shal be speedily disbanded.
The proceedings of the late Councell of Warre appointed by his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, for the speedy drawing up of certain Propositions, to be presented to the Parliament of England assembled at Westminster, for the present setling of this Kingdome in peace, &c.
UPon Fryday last, there went about one hundred Officers, viz. Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, and Captaines, &c, to consult and debate at a Councell of war, for the drawing up of certain new Propositions, [Page]and grand Proposals, which they conceive necessary to insist upon, and to present them speedily to both Houses of Parliament, viz.
1. It is said, that they much desire the honour and safety of the Kings Majesty and his Royall Posterity.
2. That there be an effectuall Declaration forth with published to the Kingdome, against the inviting, bringing, or comming in of any forraign forces, under any pretence whatsoever.
2. That the Army may be paid up equall with the defectors thereof, according to the late Vo [...]es of Parliament, And that the army may be forth with put into a constant course of pay, that they may not be so burdensome and oppressive to the Country; for the more speedy performance whereof, We desire, that the House of Peers would be pleased to concur with the Desires of the House of Commons (so often proposed to them) for reviving of the Committee for the Army, and also that the Treasurers and Committee of Weavers Hall may be speedily called [Page]to accompt, in what manner, and by what warrant the two hundred and thirty thousand pounds, lately intrusted in their hands, have been in so short a time consumed.
3. That the Militia of the City of London, and the Committee of the same, may consist of such persons, and speedily be returned into those hands, who formerly during the worst of times, have therein given large testimonies of their fidelity to the Parliament and Kingdome, which besides the reall security, will be to the Parliament and Kingdom in preventing of dangers, repreparing towards a new warre, would conduce so much to the removing of jealousies, and give such a ground of confidence to the army, as that we might the better dispose it to larger quarters in severall parts, for the ease of the Country. Thus having represented to your view, the perfect Copies of the fore-going papers, I humbly take my leave, and remain.