THE RESOLUTION OF THE ARMY Concerning The King, Lords, and Commons, and their Remonstrance and Proposals to the Kingdome, shewing what Law and Government they desire to have established.
HIs Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, and the Generall councel of Officers, upon mature deliberation, touching the transaction of affairs, in order to the settlement of the peace of the Kingdom, have declared, That (for the lo [...]e and honour they bear to justice and righteousnesse, and for the reall love they bear to the silver [Page 2]cords of amity and concord) they will indeavour the composing of all differences, and executing of impartiall justice both upon King, Lords, and Commons, and all others (even from the highest to the lowest) who have acted contrary to the known Laws of the Realm, and the trust reposed in them by the People. And the Army doe further remonstrate to the Kingdom, 1 That no Magistrate have power to make any compulsive Law, or execute any matters of punishment, touching matters of Conscience. 2 That all Statutes, Laws, and Acts of Parl. be mane and run only in the name of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament. 3 That no persons whatsoever that are Law-makers, be Law executioners, but that a cleer distinction be preserved and kept inviolable betwixt these two principles and pillars of the Common-wealth for ever. 4 That all Officers of the Commonwelth be made to enjoy their places, but for a time prefixed, and at the expiration thereof to give an accompt of their Stewardship. 5 That no man be kept in prison above a month, but in that space to be brought to tryall by a lawfull Jury of his equals, or else to be discharged of course. 6 That no man be impressed or forced to serve in future wars. 7 That our Laws be few and plain, free from all ambiguous meanings, and all in the English tongue, and to be printed in a Volume, and one to be provided, to be kept in every church throughout the Kingdom and to be read over at several seasons in open Congregations. 8 That all persons stand alike liable to the Lawes of the Land, in all cases both criminall and civill. 9 That no more trudging up to Westmin. from all parts of the Land, for the tryall of suits of Law bee had, but that (as of old) all suits both criminall and civill be ended in the severall Hundreds. 10 That a solemne Contract upon these and the like Principles be drawne betwixt the [Page]People and their Representatives for ever. 11 That till the accomplishment of this work, (in behalf of the Army and People) that no Forces be disbanded, except persons ill affected, and dissentors from this Expedition. For these things we do declare, and with our Swords in our hands, as we are Soldiers, we challenge them as the price and purchase of our Bloud, to live and dye for them against all opposers whatsoever.
The Cities Remonstrance.
THe Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common councel having seriously debated the desires of his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax (in order to the acommodation of the Army) upon mature deliberation thereon, made choise of a Committee, to represent and declare the sense and proposals of the Citizens of London, to his Excellency, a copy whereof followeth, viz. 1 That the City for their security of 40000 l. desired, may have all the arrears upon any assesments made for this army within London, and the Liberties thereof, which did grow due to be paid before the 25. of March last, freed from all ingagements. 2 And of those arreares all that money paid into the Treasury sinde the 30. of Novemb. last, to be accounted part of the 40000. pesired. And that with the money received out uf Weavers hall, and the 5500. l. lately received of the Treasurers, the rest shall be paid on Munday next. 3 That a Common-councel have undertaken to discharge the Generals ingagements concerning the money taken out of Weavers Hall, to pay the same thither out of the said arrears. 4 That the Common councel hath promised to get in the rest of their arrears, and also to make the new assesments for the sixe moneths ending Michaelmas last, and so collect the same withall expedition. 5 And upon thls ingagement they doe humbly pray, that the army may this night be withdrawn out of the City and Liberties thereof, according to the intiamtion of col. VVhaley, and col. Thomlinson.
Guild-Hal, London, 9 Decem. 1648.
His Excellencies Answer to the said Declaration and Proposals.
I Have perused your paper, and I find the point of security hath much troubled you and us, whereby we are yet without our money, and necessities daily grow upon us. To prevent which and to make things cleer (which I do not conceive your papers do) I desire that you will within 14. daye, or sooner if you please cause all the money charged upon the City of London for the Army until the 25. of March next, and in arrear. This being done, I shal both repay the Money from VVeavers Hall, and withdraw all the Forces from the City, the continuance of which in the City in the mean time, wil (I conceive) facilitate your work in collecting your saidmonies.
The Lord Generals Declaratson to the City.
HAving sent so often to you for the arreares due from the City, and desired sums of money to be advanced by you, far short of the sums due from you, yet I have been delayed and denied, to the hazard of the army, and the prejudice of others in the Suburbs upon whom they are quartered; wherefore I thought fit to send to seize the said Tresuries, and to send some forces into the City to quarter there untill I may be satisfied the Arrears due unto the Army: and if th s seem strange unto you, 'tis no lesse then that our forces have been ordered to do by the Parl. in the severall Counties of the Kingdome where assesments have not bin paid, and there to continue untill they have bin paid: and here give me leave to tell you, the Counties of the kingdom have born free quarter, and that in a great measure, for want of your paying your Arrears equally with them; wherfore, [Page 5]these wayes if they dislike you, yet they are meerly long of your selves, and are of as great regret to me and to the Army as your selves, we wishing not only the good and prosperity of your City, but that things may be so carried towards you, as may give no cause of jealousie: I thought fit to let you know, that if you shall take a speedy course to supply us with 40000. l. forthwith, according to my former Desire and provide speedily what also is in Arrear, I shall not only cause the monies in the Treasuries to bee not made use of, but leave them to be disposed of as right they might, and also cause my Forces to be withdrawn from being in any sort troublesome or chargable to the City; And let the world judge whether this be not just and equal dealing with you. I rest, My Lord, Your affectionate servant,
A Declaration from his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax concerning the Excize, and the Citizens of London.
VVHereas upon the 8. of this instant moneth, a party of Horse and Foot came to the Excize Office in Broadstreet, which perhaps will occasion some to think the Army came thither with a purpose to interrupt any more levying of the Excive; These are to declare, and assure them, that the said Forces came thither by a mistake, and that there was not any intentions to give interruption unto the due levying of the Excize, or to seize upon any money in Cash; and that you may proceed as formerly, according to those Ordinances, and Orders of Parliament, which you have received concerning the same.
Severall Proposals have been presented to the House of Commons, by Col. VVhaley, in the name of the Officers and Souldiers of the Army, in order to an impeachment against [...]
A new Remonstrance from the Souldiery.
FOrasmuch, as for the love and honor we bear to justice and righteousnesse, and for the real love we bear to unity upon that account; in order thereunto, we desire you would give the highest, justest, reasonable, impartial, & righteous assurance and satisfaction that may be, to all people, and just men in the army and Kingdome, that you are reall to all the Nation, and to Us in particular, that so the Lord alone may be acknowledged in judgment, and impartiall righteousnesse in the earth. And then our bloud shall not be precious in our sight, but we will (if God and Nature calls for it) spill it as water in the streets, to accomplish those ends for the Nation, and our selves, as individual members thereof, against all tyrants whatsoever, and manifest our selves as subject to your Authority and Conduct, as any men living, in this our Generation.