1648.—November 20.
4. The General’s Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Army’s Remonstrance, presented by Colonel Ewert.[421]
Mr Speaker,
The General Council of Officers at their late Meeting here, have unanimously agreed on a Remonstrance to be presented to you, which is herewith sent by the hands of Col. Ewers and other Officers; and in regard it concerns matters of highest and present Importance to your self, to us and the whole Kingdom, I do at the desire of the Officers, and in the behalf of them and my self, humbly and earnestly intreat, that it may have a present reading, and the things propounded may be timely considered; and that no failing in Circumstance or Expressions may prejudice either the Reason or Justice of what is tendred, or their intentions, of whose good Affections and Constancy therein you have had so long experience. I remain
Your most Humble Servant,
Tho. Fairfax.
For the Honourable William Lenthall, Esq., Speaker of the House of Commons.
Some chief Heads of the Remonstrance, after the Preambulary Part, which is to shew the Messages of the King and Parliament severally, also in all Treaties between them, especially in that they are now in, with Reasons therefore and Objections answered, from whence these Consequences are drawn.
1. That they conceive the Parliament hath abundant cause to lay aside any further Proceeding in this Treaty, and to return to their Votes of Non-addresses, and settle with or against the King, that he may come no more to Government; and this, first by rejecting those Demands of the King for himself and Party, especially concerning his Restitution and coming to London with Freedom; and that they proceed against the King in way of Justice, for evils done by him, and in order thereto, to have him kept in safe custody. 2. To lay aside that bargaining Proposition with Delinquents, which will present the thing done by contract with the King, and not in a judicial way, and by that Power, that no Delinquents be partially dealt with, protected nor pardonable by other Power, only moderated upon submission: and among these Offenders they offer,
(1.) That the King be brought to Justice, as the capital cause of all. (2.) That a timely and peremptory day be set for the Prince of Wales, and Duke of York, to come in and render; if not, they be declared incapable of Government, or any right in England, and stand exiled for ever as Traytors; and if they render themselves by the time, then the Prince to be proceeded against or remitted as he shall give satisfaction, and the Duke the like, and that the Revenue of the Crown be sequestred. Also the 10,000l. to be added, be disposed to publick use. (3.) That publick Justice may be done upon some capital Causers or Actors in the War. (4.) That the rest upon submission may have mercy for their lives. (5.) That the Soldiers have their Arrears, publick Debts paid, chiefly to those who voluntarily laid out their Estates, and ventured their Lives, and this to be done by Fines of Delinquents, and the Estates of those excluded from Pardon. After publick Justice thus done, then that a reasonable certain period be put to this Parliament. There want a hundred good Laws, as many to be repealed, as many to be explained, must not that be first done? and at this period it may be agreed that there be a certain succession of future Parliaments Annual or Biennial, with secure provision. (1.) For the certainty of meeting. (2.) For equal distribution of Elections, to render the Commons House an equal Representative. (3.) For certainty of the Peoples meeting, and that none who have engaged in the late War, or shall engage against the right of Parliament and Kingdom, or adhere to the Enemies thereof, be capable of electing or being elected, during some Years, nor those who shall not join with but oppose this Settlement. (4.) For clearing the Power of this Representative, it be declared to have the supream power, as to the governing and preservation of the whole, as to the People of England, and to altering, repealing, or abolishing of Laws, the making War or Peace, the highest or final Judgment in all civil things: and all Ministers or Officers of State shall be accountable to them, bound and concluded thereby, provided, 1st, They may not censure or question any man after the end of this Parliament for any thing said or done in reference to the late War. 2dly, They may not render up, give or take away any Right, Liberty or Safety contained in this Settlement or Agreement. (5.) That there be Liberty of entring Dissents in the said Representative: in case of Corruption in these highest Trusts, the People may know who are free, and who guilty, that so they may not trust such for the future, but with further Penalty to any for their future Judgment there. That no King be hereafter admitted, but upon Election of, and as upon Trust from the People, by such their Representative, not without first disclaiming and disavowing all Pretence to a Negative Voice against the determination of the said Representative or Commons in Parliament, and that to be done in such Form more clear than heretofore in the Coronation Oath.
These matters of a general Settlement are propounded to be done by this Parliament, and to be further established by a general Contract or Agreement of the People with Subscriptions thereunto; also that it be provided, that none be capable of benefit by this Agreement, who shall not consent and subscribe thereunto, nor any King be admitted to the Crown, or other Person to any other Office or Place of publick Trust, with express accord and subscription to the same. These things they press as good for this and other Kingdoms, and hope it will not be taken ill because from an Army, and so Servants, when their Masters are Servants and Trustees for the Kingdom.