IT doth exceedingly grieve me to hear there are so many false reports spread of the carriage of this Army; yet it is some comfort unto me that the Gentlemen of Nottingham-shire, where the Army doth reside, not being desired, have been plea­sed in a Letter to me, to give a better Character of our pro­ceedings. And although I know my testimony would weigh sufficiently with your Lordships not to give ear to those Ca­lumnies, yet because this may prevail more with others, I have sent your Lordships the Original, to make use thereof as you shall think fit. I have likewise thought fit to acquaint your Lordships that I have received Discharges from the several Villages where the Army quarters; and you may rest assured nothing shall be wanting which lieth in my power for easing the Countrey. I could wish that a Bridge were made over the River timously, that we might joyn with the Forces on the other side, for blocking up the Town on all parts▪ The Bearer will inform you that many things are wanting for car­rying on this Service, which gives no small trouble to

THough our burdens have (of necessity) been very great, by the accesse of your Invited Ar­my, yet when we consider how (by the wise and happie concurrence of your Honour, your Commanders and Officers, with our Committees of Parliament now resident at Southwel) the same burdens have been equally and regularly laid upon us in this small barren and exhausted North part of our County of Notingham, we cannot but cheerfully (in the midst of our pressures) acknowledge our great Thankfulnesse for your favour, and readinesse (as much as in you lies) to ease us, and so to order and regulate your Army, as to do your best endeavours to preserve us.

We are sorry that our poverty and weaknesse cannot an­swer your merits and Noblenesse: But we hope your Honour, (with the rest) will still be pleased to accept of our willing­nesse, and we shall remain in this Confidence, that the expres­sion of this our readinesse will (in such noble Spirits) not onely continue, but also encrease your pity and goodnesse to­wards us and ours: And we shall ever pray for the encrease of your Honour and Happinesse; in the manifestation where­of, we have now at Southwel, in the behalf of our selves and many others, subscribed our names this third day of February, 1645.

I Acknowledge with all thankfulnesse your fredome in ac­quainting us with the base calumnies and misinformations invented, and spread abroad against our Army, which I dare say doe proceed for the most part, from the Activenesse, In­dustry, and malice of our enemies; of purpose to render us hatefull to our friends, and to divide (which God avert) the Kingdomes if possible: I have been ever-most willing to re­dresse the least injury and wrong done by any under my Com­mand; and at this present have the most of them, who are complayned on by the Inhabitants of Tickill in prison, upon whom I shall doe Iustice most severely, so soone as any of the crimes they are charged with shall be proved; by which your Lordships may see how unjustly we are dealt with. In the best regulated Armies that ever were, there have been disorders and miscarriages: neither is it to be expected but there have been, and are some in ours, considering how much we have been neg­lected in our maintenance, that sometimes for the space of se­ven or eight moneths together, wee have received no pay, and as it is no smal matter of grief to me, when any miscarriage fals out; So no sooner is any disorder made known to me, but I put it to tryall and examination, which is cleare in that of Tickill, so much aggravated; for I no sooner heard of the abu­ses said to bee done there, but I caused imprison the persons complayned on. I intreated the Commissioners from the Par­liament to send to Tickill some from them, where I appointed honest and able men from our Army to meet with them, to heare the complaints, and report to me, that I might accor­ly punish, or cleare the persons complayned on: These ap­pointed by me went to the place, but there were none there to meet with them, and the reason pretended was, because the [Page 7] Inhabitants durst not complaine, as long as there were in the place a Regiment to over-awe them (which I dare say is a ca­lumny.) Wherefore I have removed that Regiment, and have againe renewed my former intreaty to the Commissioners; That they will be pleased to send some from them to Tickill, where I shall meet them with the persons complayned on, that if they be found guilty, they may be punished according to the nature of their faults; and if innocent they may be cleared, As to that of Major Blaire, it is a wild Calumny; for since his comming to Nottinghamshire, hee had no order from me to returne to Yorkeshire; neither did he returne, or quarter there since; but is yet lying with his Troops in Derby-shire. And for our Army, notwithstanding of all the hainous crimes wee are charged with; I dare say, never Army did live more peace­ably, and soberly, then we have done. And that no Army in the Kingdome is more willing to accept of a competency, for subsistance, and to offer themselves when commanded, with all cheerfulnesse for the advancement of the publick service; I am confident that God, who knowes the sincerity of our hearts to this Kingdome, and the cause we fight for, will in his owne time make the truth of this appear. I have sent you here en­closed a Copie of a Declaration, which I have caused publish this last Sabbath in all the Parish Churches where our Forces lie, A Copie whereof I have also sent to the Commissioners of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, and to the Committee of Yorkeshire, which I intreat you to represent with this Let­ter, to the Committee of both Kingdomes, and to the Parlia­ment, as also to give assurance to our friends, that whatsoever reports may be spread of our Army, that they notwithstand­ing may rest confident, that there shall be no disorder, nor mis­carriage in it, which shall not be severely punished: And that I expect so much Charity and Justice from them, that they wil beleeve nothing to our prejudice, upon bare and naked infor­mations, and reports: And that they will suspend their judge­ments till due tryall and examination be made: And then I doubt not, but that wee shall receive a good testimonie from our friends, and make our Enemies and Accusers ashamed of [Page 8] their lyes and calumnies wherewith they have charged us, who have and ever shall be zealous in abhorring and punish­ing such villanies, and shall ever remaine:

Whereas both Houses of Parliament have lately given Or­der for providing 15000. l. per mensem, for the maintenance of the Forces before Newarke, under my command: and it is expected the Honourable Commissioners of Parliament will take speciall care for due performance thereof, whereby the Army may in some measure subsist, and be inabled to prosecute the service, wher in they are now ingaged: And whereby divers complaints have been made else where against some in the Army, without making any addresse to us here upon the place, who have ever, and shall still be most ready and willing to re­dresse all just grievances; we have thought fit to make known to all the Inhabitants in these parts, that wee have issued our Edict and Proclamation, commanding all Officers and Soul­diers, not to presume upon paine of death, to offer the least wrong or violence to any whatsoever in their persons or goods: And wee doe hereby invite all such as have, or shall re­ceive any wrong or injury, from any within this Army, to to make their appearance freely to our Quarters, to exhibit their complaints against any Officer or Souldier whatsoever: And wee doe faithfully promise that severe punishment shall be in­flicted upon all such as shall be found guilty upon triall; as on the other part wee doe expect that none will be so forget­full of their duty, or injurious to this Army, as to make com­plaints else-where, when Iustice hath not been denyed them upon the place.