No. 72.

Letter from Fairfax to the City enclosing copy of proposals forwarded to Parliament from the army. Dated Reading, 8 July, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 234.

My Lord and Gentlemen

To the end we may contynue a right understanding betweene you and us all along in the manadgm^t of this great busines, w^th the Parliam^t (the happie proceeding whereof so much concernes the safety and peace of this Kingdome.) We have given yo^r Commission^rs this day, the copie of a paper w^ch we presented to the Commissioners of Parliam^t residing w^th us. Wherein we take notice of the true reasons of the slowe progresse in the Treaty, and declare where the stoppe remains. And to the end that nothing be wanting in us w^ch might work towards the speedy settlem^t of the quiett of this Kingdome, wee have humbly offered what we conceive will most effectually tend to remove those incombrances and lettes, w^ch stand betwixt us, and this universall good to the Kingdome; and till that be done, it cannot be expected that we should procure the peace of this nation by a Treatie, but rather give occacõn and opportunity thereby to others to ingage us in a second warr, w^ch must necessarily hazard the ruine of this Kingdome, as also ascertayne the destruccõn of Ireland, the relief whereof we should most effectually apply unto, were the affaires of England, but once put into a hopefull way. It is a sound and substantiall settlement of the whole we desire, in a generall safe and well grounded peace, and the establish^mt of such lawes, as might duly and readily render to every man their iust rights and liberties: And for obteyning of theis, not only our intencõns have lead us, but we thinke that all the blood, treasure, and labour spent in this warr was for the accomplishm^t of theis very things, w^ch are of that concernem^t both to our selfs and posterity, that neither we nor they cane live comfortably without them. And thereof we hope yo^r selfes will have the same sence, and therefore improve your interest for the obtayning of our iust desires in the proposalls now sent to the Parliam^t, w^ch being graunted, and we secured from the danger of a warr, we shall proceed w^th cheerfulness to the Treaty; and doubt not in a short time to see a happy conclusion to the satifaccõn of all honest mens expectacõns: And that in all our undertakeings we shalbe found men of truith, fully and singly answering the things we have held forth to the Kingdome in our severall declaracõns and papers, without bye or base respects to any private ends or interests whatsoever.

July 8th 1647 Readinge.