THe mis-representations of us, and our harmlesse intentions to this Honourable House, occasioning hard thoughts and ex­pressions of your displeasure against us. We cannot but look upon as an act of most sad importance; tending, in our ap­prehensions to alienate your affections from your ever-trusty and obedient Army; then which nothing can more rejoyce your Adver­saries, or minister greater hopes of their re-advancement, nothing more discouraging us, who should esteeme it the greatest point of Honor to stand by you till the consummation of your worke, the re­movall of every yoake from the peoples necks, and the establishment of those good Lawes you shall judge necessary for the Common­wealth.

Out of our feares therefore of the advantage may be made there­from, and that the Honorable House may retain the same good o­pinion of us, they formerly had; (whom God hath hitherto blest with abundant blessings) We humbly crave the boldnesse to pre­sent unto you, some Reasons to cleare our proceedings in those passages, which wee finde most obvious to exceptions in our Peti­tion; whereby wee hope to make it evident to you, that we did no more then what necessity prompted us unto; That the meanes we used, and the method we tooke, was as we conceived most or­derly, and inoffencive proceeding not in the least from distemper, and aiming in no measure at mutinie, nor in any wise to put con­ditions upon the Parliament, and that you will from thence disco­ver the corruptions of these mens hearts, who have been the e­vill instruments of occasioning your late Declaration against us.

For our liberty of petitiooing, we hope this honoura­ble house will never deny it unto us, wee know not any thing more essentiall to freedome, without it grievances are remedilesse, and our condition most miserable, you have not denied it to your Adversaries; you justified it, and commended it in your Declaration of the second of Novemb. 1642. in these words:

It is the liberty & priviledge of the People to petition un­to us for the ease & redresse of their grievances, & oppres­sions; and we are bound in duty to receive their Petitions: And we hope by being Souldiers, wee have not lost the capacity of Subjects, nor divested our selves thereby of our interest in the Common-wealth, That in purchasing of the freedomes of our Brethren, wee have not lost our owne: besides, we can instance in petitions from Officers in the Earl of Essex, and Sir William Wallers Army (even whilest they were in Armes) which were will received by this honourable house, with a return of thankes: and therefore wee hope wee shall not bee considered as men without the Pale of the Kingdom, excluded from the fun­damentall priviledge of subjects, especially since wee are conscious to our selves of nothing that may deserve the same.

VVe have not till now appeared in petitioning, though our necessities have been frequent and urgent, not that we doubted our liberty, but because wee were unwilling to interrupt you in your other weighty affaires, and we pro­ceeded at this time with the greatest care and caution we could, of giving the least offence, intending not to present our Petition to this honourable house, but with the ap­probation, and by the mediation of his Excellencie, our ever honoured Generall, knowing how watchful our Ene­mies were to make the hardest construction of all our a­ctions, [Page] and represent us to you, and the world under such tearmes as may render us most odious.

You may see the insidies of them by the false suggestions they have already made to you; of our forcing sub­scriptions, the reasonablenesse and necessity of our desires whereof almost every souldier is abundantly sensible, wil pleade the vanity of such an enforcement, especialy when it shall bee knowne that the Petition tooke its first Rise from amongst the souldiers, and that wee ingaged but in the second place to regulate the souldiers proceedings, & remove as neer as we could all occasion of distaste.

For our desires of indempnity for such actions, as being not warrantable by Law in time of Peace, we were inforced unto them by the necessity and exigencie of the war-wee are confident this honourable house will approve o it, when you shall be informed, that the souldiers are fre­quently indicted at Assizes and Sessions, and otherwise grievously molested for such actions, and many lately suf­fering for the same. Notwithstanding that provision you lately made against it, That divers have had verdicts past a­gainst them this last Assizes, for actions done as souldiers (as we are credibly informed) if this be our Portion in the time of your Session, for what we did through the exigencie of your service; what cruel and violent proceedings are we like to find, after you are pleased to dissolve.

For the particular intimation, That the Royall Assent may be defired, we never intended it to lessen your autho­rity; but since you have by offering the Propositions, judg the desiring of the Kings assent convenient. Since like­wise the City of London made the same desire without offence, and your Orders to the Judges, we know not how effectuall they may prove to save us from such proceed­ings after your Sessions; All these Reasons considere [Page] will, we hope, manifest our intentions in that intimation to be onely a providen [...] caution for our future safety, without the least thought of disrespect to your au­thority. For the desire of our Arrears necessity (especially of our Soldiers) infor­ced us thereunto, that we have not been mercenary, or proposed gain as our end, the speedy ending of a languishing war will testifie for us, whereby the people are much eased of their Taxes and daily disbursments and decayed Trade resto­red to a full and flourishing condition in all Quarters. We left our estates, an [...] many of us our Trades and Callings to others, and forsook the contentments of a quiet life, not fearing or regarding the difficulties of warre for your sakes. After all which we hoped that the desires of our hardly-earned-wages (by the mediati­on of our Generall) would have been no unwelcome request, nor argued us guil­ty of the least discontent, or intention of mutiny.

We know not any thing further in our Petition which hath been excepted against, but your apprehensions that it tendeth to hinder the reliefe of Ireland, which we do not understand; wherein having alwayes manifested in all our a­ctions, our readinesse to further that worke, unlesse you meane by that desire, that those who have served voluntarily should not be pressed to go out of th [...] Kingdome, to which we humbly offer this; that those who have voluntarily ser­ved in these wars, and left their Parents Trades and Livelihoods, and without any compulsion, ingaged of their own accords, should after all their free and un­wearied labours be now forced and compelled to go out of this Kingdome, whose peace they have so much endeavoured with unwaried paines, hoping thereby to have lived & enjoyed the fruits of their labours would to them seem very hard, but besides this, our severall votes and ingagements March 21. to endeavour the advancement of the service of Ireland what we could, wil [...] cleare us, and our good affections in promoting that worke, and therefore we hope what hath been said, will remove all scruples, and restore us to the good opinion of this Honourable House, in assurance whereof, and in conside­ration of the premises, we are further imboldened to make these our requests unto this honourable House.

1. That you will be pleased to allow us our liberty of petitioning in what may concern us now as Soldiers, & afterwards as members of the Common-wealth

2. Since upon the false suggestions of some men informing you, that this Ar­my intended to inslave the Kingdome; the honorable House was so farre pre­vailed withall, as to summon divers of us to appeare at your Barre; and to passe a Declaratiō thereby expressing your high dislike of our Petition, declaring it tēded to put conditions upon the Parliament: The sense of such expressions is so irk­some to us who have ventured whatsoever we esteemed dear to us in this world or preservation of your freedome and priviledges, that we cannot but earnestly [...]mplore your justice in the vindication of us, as in your wisdomes you sha [...] [...]hink fit.

Thomas Hammond Leivtennat Generall of the Ordnance.

• Colonells.
  • Edward Wha [...]ley Colonell.
  • Iohn Lambert Calonel.
  • Robert Lilburne Colonel.
  • Nath [...]niel Rich Colonel.
  • Iohn Hewson Colonel.
  • Robert Hammond Colonel.
  • Iohn Okey Colonel.
• Leivetennant Colonels.
  • Thomas Pride Leiv. Colonel.
  • Thomas Kelsay Leiv. Col.
  • Thomas Reade Leiv. Col.
  • Iohn Iubbs L. Collonel.
  • Marke Grim [...] L. Col.
  • [...] Ewer L. Col.
  • Edward Salmon L. Col.
• Majors
  • Mathew Rogers Major.
  • Danniel Axtel Major.
  • William Cowell Major.
  • Thomas Smith Major.
  • Thomas Horton Major.
  • Iohn Desborow Major.
  • Adam Lawrence Cap.
  • Iames Berry Cap.
  • William Packer Cap.
  • Sammuel Packer.
  • Iohn Gladman Cap. Leiu
  • William Disher L.
  • Richard Merris Leu
  • Ioseph Wallington Capt. Leiu
  • Nathaniel White Leiv.
  • Edmond Chillenden Leiv.
  • Cox Took Coronet.
  • Henry Pretty Capt.
  • Sampson Toogood Leiv.
  • Iohn Freind.
  • Francis Wheeler.
  • George Ensor Leiv.
  • George Gregson Capt.
  • William Leigh Capt.
  • Thomas Parsons Capt.
  • Henry Bal. Cornet
  • William Farley.
  • Edmond Rolfe. Capt.
  • Iohn Ienkins Capt.
  • Abraham Holmes.
  • Iohn Carter Capt.
  • Iohn Puckle Capt.
  • William Arnop Capt. L.
  • Thomas Price Capt.
  • Thomas Davis Capt.
  • Edward Orpin Capt.
  • William Ste [...]ton.
  • Richord Z [...]nchy Capt.
  • Griffith Loyde Leiv.
  • William Goffe Capt.
  • Iohn Mason Capt.
  • Wartoff Lagoe Capt.
  • Edward Scotton Leiv.
  • William Cobb Cornet.
  • Iohn Forgison Capt.
  • Roger Alsop Capt.
  • Thomas Disney Capt.
  • Iohn Nicholas Leiv.
  • Iohn Spencer Cornet.
  • Richard Masse Leiv.
  • Richard Kemp. Leiv.
  • Iohn Bifcoe Capt.
  • Iames Loyde.
  • Mathew Cadwell Capt.
  • Sammuel Rosse Capt. Leiv.
  • William Sheares. Leiv.
  • Thomas Sheares.
  • William I [...]g.
  • Charles Whitehead Cornet.
  • Iohn Merriman Leiv.
  • Henry Dorney Leiv.
  • Azariell Husbands Capt.
  • Charles Bolton Ensign.
  • [Page]Stephen White Lieut.
  • Lawrence Nunny Capt.
  • Robert Lewis Capt.
  • William Iones Ensign.
  • Thomas Cartwright Ensign.
  • W. Weare Capt. Leivt.
  • Edw. Atkinson Capt.
  • Fran. Hawes Capt.
  • Rich. Wagstaffe Capt.
  • Gyles Sanders. Capt.
  • Hugh Ienkins Lieut.
  • Benj. Burges Capt.
  • Rich. Essex.
  • Iohn Risleden.
  • Henry Cleare.
  • T. Pennyfather Capt.
  • Walter Bethel Capt.
  • Sam Gardiner Capt.
  • W. Forster.
  • W. Milward Capt.
  • Clem. Arnold.
  • W. Parry.
  • Iohn Grove capt.
  • W. Evanson Capt.
  • T. Chamberlen Lieut.
  • Iohn Wright.
  • Iohn Frend.
  • Francis Allen.
  • Thomas Day.
  • Abraham Davis Lieut.
  • Iohn Tapendean Capt.
  • Hen. Davis Capt.
  • Sam: Grame Capt.
  • Alexander Brafield Capt.
  • Tho. Atkinson Capt.
  • W. Arnold. Lieut:
  • Iohn Web. Lieut.
  • Ienkin Buen Lieut.
  • George Ienkins. Lieut.
  • W. Hill. Lieut
  • Ralph Gell Lieut.
  • T. Baker Lieut.
  • George Smith Lieut.
  • Sam: Axtell Lieut.
  • Henry Williams. Ens.
  • Edw. Hoare Ens.
  • T, Rawlins Capt.
  • T. Lewis Ens.
  • Ier: Canfield Ens.
  • Rob. Nunwings Ens.
  • T. Newnam Ens.
  • Iohn Davis Ens.
  • Morgan Porter Ens.
  • Iohn Blunfield.
  • Natthan. Bolet,
  • W. Powell.
  • Iohn Savage Lieut.
  • Iohn Shrimpton Lieut.
  • Iehn Mill.
  • Iohn Grime Capt.
  • Iohn Reynolds Capt.
  • T. Mercer Capt.
  • Iohn Blackwell Capt. & Treas.
  • Tho: Coleman Capt.
  • Iohn Goodw [...]ne Quartermr.
  • Iohn Peck.
  • W. Stiles Cap.
  • Iohn Miller Lieut.
  • Anth. Lacon Cornet.
  • Abell Warren Gornet.
  • T. Savage Quartermr.
  • George Hayes Quartermr.
  • Iohn Adice quartermr.

Reader, take notice that all the names hereunto subscri­bed, are Commission Officers, but by reason they did not set down their titles, the Publi­sher could not make them known to thee.