AMidst the many distractions and discontents in the Army and Kingdome which saddens our hearts, and presents nothing to our view but disorder and confusion, our experience and commemoration of divine providence propitious to your Excellency and the Army even from the first of your underta­kings to this very moment, is that alone that refresheth us: nor needs the recollection of our memories, or that we look far backwards for an occasion of praise; that late mercy (not the least) whereby a being was re­gained for us, deserves a perpetuall remembrance, and was not England concerned in the case of our Regi­ment? [Page 2] Or is it imaginable, that disobedience was complotted there alone? or that they were the onely maintainers and abetters of non-subjection to Autho­rity? Surely, if their designe to dis-ingage those com­mitted to our charge by your Excellency, from us as unworthy commands, had been there limited, wee hope we should rather have given way to their desires, (though causlesse) and with-drawne our selves, then in the least, hazzarded one drop of bloud to con­tinue our Imployments. But if we seeme more sen­sible of those dangers that were almost inevitable, then others do, (in regard we were the first that tasted of them, and were likely to be swallowed up by them) we humbly desire your Excellencies pardon and (for a cleere manifestation of our integrity to your Excel­lency and the Weale publike) leave to present unto your Excellency,

1. That as Souldiers and Members of your Excellen­cies Army, we owe all obedience and subjection to your Excellencies Authority and Commands, from which we humbly conceive, that neither Birthrights, nor other Priviledges whatsoever, (whereof we have or ought to have an equall share with others) can or ought in the least to dis-oblige us; and that we shall rather cease to be Souldiers, (which is all the Liber­ty we desire) then dispute your Excellencies power, or admit of anie Corrivall or Competitor therein: nor do we suppose to have declared any thing more herein, then what alwayes hath been, and must of necessity continue to be our duty; for besides that it is essen­tiall both to the being and well being of an Army to [Page 3] obey Orders according to the Discipline of War, we yet owe more respect unto your Excellency (of whose care and trouble for us and the whole King­dome we are witnesses) then is thereby required from us: And since necessity pleads for some particular person, to whom the care and Conduct of an Army must bee committed, if we were at liberty herein whom should we desire but your Excellency?

2. We cannot but remind your Excellency, how that necessity indeed, and the dissatisfaction of the Army in their just desires, drew them to a solemne engagement, and thereby the counsells of the Ar­my being in some things altered from what they were before, hath lately been endeavoured to bee made a president to alter them againe, and male-contented spirits take occasion hereby to divide the Army into Parties and Factions, endeavouring to turne everie mans sword against his fellow, plea­ding necessity where there is none: and for such things as are in themselves very disputable, whe­ther just or unjust, and which is more then proba­ble may be more destructive to the Commonwealth if granted, then the refusall of them will be: It is therefore our humble desire unto your Excellency, that you will still continue to mediate on our be­halfes for the obtaining of those our just and neces­sary desires in our former Petitions, Remonstran­ces and Declarations mentioned, that so the whole Army may be satisfied and returne to its pristine way of Government wherein they have been very successeful under your Excellency.

Lastly, whereas the prevalency of parti­cular persons in the Parliament, who have sufficiently manifested their disaffection to the Weale publike, hath for the preven­tion of Factions and parties in that hono­rable Assembly, manifested the reasonable­nesse of setting a period to this present Par­liament: and that before that can be with safety, many things of great concernment to the Kingdome are first to be transacted there, whereof your Excellency and the Army have already severall times desired consideration to bee had by this Parlia­ment; It is our hearty desire, that both Parliament and Army would joyntly re­solve, and accordingly act with all expedi­tion to the finishing of that great worke that lies upon them, and hath long beene by the people expected from them: and that the whole Kingdome may be prospe­rous in the enjoyment of a free Parliament, and every particular person of his owne proper interest, that the world may beare us witnesse, that we do not onely declare [Page 5] for, but prosecute the obtaining of their Liberties and Freedomes; that so soon as a firme peace can be setled, the great bur­den of maintaining Souldiers in this King­dome may no longer continue, to the great charge and trouble of the people, and to the empairing of that esteem which the price of our bloods in our former atchieve­ments have affectionately wrought in their hearts towards the whole Army, whereof both members and carefull ten­derers of their reputation are