The True copys of several letters from Portsmouth directed by Col. Sir Arthur Haslerig, Col. Herbert Morley, Col. Valentine Walton, commissioners by act of Parliament for governing the armies, to the Lord Fleetwood at Wallingford-house, with the Lord Fleetwoods answers thereunto : also, their several letters to ... the Lord Mayor, alderman and common-council of the city of London together with their letters from Portsmouth, to the several militia's appointed by act of Parliament, for the cities of London, Westminster and Borrough of Southwark and their answers there unto. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A63469 of text R21262 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing T2609). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 36 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A63469 Wing T2609 ESTC R21262 12226468 ocm 12226468 56527 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A63469) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 56527) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 928:5) The True copys of several letters from Portsmouth directed by Col. Sir Arthur Haslerig, Col. Herbert Morley, Col. Valentine Walton, commissioners by act of Parliament for governing the armies, to the Lord Fleetwood at Wallingford-house, with the Lord Fleetwoods answers thereunto : also, their several letters to ... the Lord Mayor, alderman and common-council of the city of London together with their letters from Portsmouth, to the several militia's appointed by act of Parliament, for the cities of London, Westminster and Borrough of Southwark and their answers there unto. Hesilrige, Arthur, Sir, d. 1661. Morley, Herbert, 1616-1667. Walton, Valentine, d. 1661? Fleetwood, Charles, d. 1692. [2], 12, [1] p. Printed by John Clowes ..., London : 1659. Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. eng England and Wales. -- Army -- Early works to 1800. A63469 R21262 (Wing T2609). civilwar no The true copys of several letters from Portsmouth, directed by Col. Sir Arthur Haslerig, Col. Herbert Morley, Col. Valentine Walton, commiss [no entry] 1659 6278 12 0 0 0 0 0 19 C The rate of 19 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2005-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-06 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2005-06 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE TRUE COPYS OF SEVERAL LETTERS FROM PORTSMOVTH , Directed By Col. Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG , Col. HERBERT MORLEY , Col. VALENTINE WALTON , Commissioners by Act of Parliament for governing the Armies : To the Lord Fleetwood at VVallingford-house . With the Lord Fleetwoods Answers thereunto . Also , Their several Letters to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor , Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London . Together with their Letters from Portsmouth , to the several Militia's appointed by Act of Parliament , for the Cities of London , Westminster and Borrough of Southwark . And their Answers thereunto . LONDON , Printed by John Clowes , and Published by special Command , 1659. A Letter to the Lord Fleetvvood , from Sir Arthur Haslerigg , Col. Morley , and Col. Walton , Commissioners of the Army by Act of PARLIAMENT , for the Governing the Armys of England , Scotland , and Ireland . My Lord , SInce the sad and wofull day , when your self ( that the Parliament so much trusted and beleived ) brought their own forces and besieged the House , we have been silent : The Act was so horrid it could not but amaze , to our best understandings , we observing your steps ever since , it appeares ; That your wayes are not the Nations settlement , but that confusion and the greatest of miseries and sorrows will unavoydably overflow these Islands ; And we are thereby made a shame and reproach , not only at home but throughout the Christian World where England is named . We are told we shalI have our Liberties , How can that be ? when the Foundation of all our Liberties is in the Parliament , that being the Representative of the people , in whom is the Originall of all just Power . And is not the Parliament the Foundation of successive Parliaments destroyed , so farr as you can do it ; can you imagine that we and many thousands that have hazarded our lives , and spilt our blood for our Libertyes and Religion , will now yeild up the Cause so long and sharply contended for , and that God so miraculously owned ; And suffer Parliaments to be imposed upon , and the people to be compell'd to Governments , not made by their own Representatives in Parliament ; Doth not God command that one should do to another as he would be done unto ? Is not this a General Command given to all mankind ? Wo therefore to Kings and every other person that assume power over man , and walk not according to that Scripture Rule ; can you oppress , can you impose , can you restraine Liberty , can you take away propriety , and above all , can you overthrow your Governours and destroy Parliaments , and not break this rule ; Is not the Cause we contended for , the enjoyment of our Liberties and Religion ; We are sure God would have man to be free and not oppressed ; we only desire the maintenance of our Good Old Cause which our gracious God so signally owned , when our potent Enemies at Sea , and at the same time those in England , Scotland , and Ireland rose up to oppose ; where is the humble self-denying Spirit to be found ? We have most seriously considered the great trust reposed in us by the Parliament , and desire to find out what is the duty incumbent upon us , And we cannot satisfie our selves , but that we are justly by Parliament , not only to be questioned , but censured ; If we own not the Parliament in this time of so great defection , and endeavour not now to our utmost the preservation of it : The great and good God by his providence brought us most seasonably to this Towne , where we found Captaine Browne ( sent down by you ) endeavouring to withdraw the Officers of this Garrison from the Parliament , perswading them to betray and falsifie their trust , and to Act contrary to their Commissions ; When a person becomes false , it follows he would have all others like himself , we heare he brought severall Commissions of yours , we cannot but trouble you in this particular , do you think it a light matter to murther men ? Hath not God given man power over the lives of all other Creatures , and only reserved the life of man to himself , Sacred Writt holds it forth , That he that spils mans blood , by men shall his blood be spilt ; From whom comes your power to give Commissions to kill men ? it is not to be found in Scripture , If it came from man , we wish it could be made clear to the world and your own Conscience , that you have a lawfull Authority ; could you gaine all the power and wealth of these Nations , it would do you but little good if thousands murthered by your Commissions , rise up at the day of Judgment against you : We have no particular ends of our own that we aime at , we only desire the restoring of the Parliament , and the speedy settlement of the Commonwealth ; so that we may enjoy our Religion , Liberties , and properties ; Here lies in this Port many Ships not paid off , which is great expence to the publick ; And had not the Parliament been lately interrupted by you , they had not been now to pay ; The Marriners are ready to goe to Forraign parts for imployment , having spent their Arreares in attendance , and are not able to expect longer . Thus the great debt of the Nation increaseth . The Spring of the year approaches ; Dangerous Enemies from abroad threaten us , there is nothing but Confusion and general discontent at home ; If you take not some speedy course to give satisfaction to those that have been , and we hope yet may be your Friends , it will be too late , and destruction must needs follow ; we wish if misery do come , that those who stated this our Cause destroying quarrell , upon personall accompts , may only feel it . And that our mercifull God will find out some extraordinary waies to preserve our Liberties and Religion to posterity : We think fit to acquaint you that we find this Garrison of Portsmouth very faithfull to the Parliament , and resolved to performe their dutyes and trusts according to their Commissions , we incourage them what we can , and we hope your Lordships may do the like ; And we shall be ready to assist you in any thing , wherein we are equally intrusted by the Parliament , we hope that infinite Wisdome and power will yet so order our affairs that the Good Old Cause shall be preserved ; The Declarations of Generall Monck are both sober and Religious ; We own them , and exceedingly rejoyce in his faithfullness and constancy to the Parliament ; He is a Souldier of true honour and worth , and abhorrs falsness to his trust ; We and all well affected to the Nations Libertyes have cause to bless God for him , as the great Assertor of our Parliaments Cause , and this we hold forth to your self , and all well wishers to publick interest ; We are Portsmouth , Decemb. 7. 1659. My Lord , Your Lordships humble Servants , Arthur Haslerigg , Herbert Morley ; Valentine Walton . For the Lord Fleetwood at Wallingford-House . The Lord Fleetwoods Letter in Answer to the Commissioners first Letter . Honorable Gentlemen , IN Answer unto yours from Portsmouth , I shall exercise that Freedome , which I hope the present state of our Affairs will give me liberty to do ; You are pleased to charge me with a Horrible and Amazing Act , in my breach of Trust , and why you should accuse me who are so guilty your selves , I do not know , unless by your Accusation you think your selves freed from that confidence and trust that was put in you , That you would make good your word , which I must say , some of you have sadly forfeited ; engaging so solemnly as you have done , and yet being in that Hostile manner in the place where you now are ; I will not take your course by excusing my self , further to aggravate your crime ; But in short , Answer that for my breach of Trust , you well know through some of your means , That trust the Parliament was pleased to deliver me from , and quit me of that Confidence , which they had been pleased to favour me with , which I must needs say , did deliver me from a great exercise of trouble , which otherwise I should have been under , had their trust continued in me ; VVho they were , that were Instruments to take the Parliaments good opinion from me ? you well know , I served them faithfully , and as for what you charge me with , destroying Parliamentary Authority ; I desire the Lord may give you hearts to consider how much you have been instrumentall therein , and how sadly your own Actions did put the Army upon doing such things , which I know were grievous to their thoughts to be necessitated unto . The memory of that Parliament , in what God did make use of them as instruments , I hope I shall alwaies own and Honour , and were all our actions weighed in a due Ballance from the first time of their last Sitting , to their Rising ; I doubt not but I shall appear to be a more Innocent person , and even more faithfull to them , then by some of your actions it will appear you are . I delight not in changes ▪ It is neither my Principle nor Interest ; The Government of Parliaments is that I own and Honour ; And though my steps you mention may be displeasing to your selves , yet I hope the Lord will not leave me so without His presence , but to manifest I designe nothing of self Interest , but the good of these poor Nations , and the Interests of the people of the Lord , and the Liberties of men ( as men might be preserved ) But how easily is your Rule , ( To do to another , as one would be done to , ) broken by your selves , and yet directed to be observed by others ; And therefore as to that of imposing upon Parliaments , who has more , had a hand in things of that Nature , then some of your selves ; I delight not in words of Provocation ; but for Oppression , Imposing , Restraining Liberty , taking away Property , and Advizing and Abetting to the Overthrowing of Government and Authority which you urge ; I beseech you give me leave to use the words of Freedom , who hath had a hand in things of that Nature , more you or my self . Indeed I can truly say , the thoughts of doing any thing of that sort , or what may lead thereunto at any time is that which I dare not give way unto , not for fear of displeasing men only , but because I know such actions will be judged and condemned of the Lord ; And wherein I have in anything been guilty upon any of those accounts , I desire to take the shame thereof to my self ; I would be loath to be found a wilfull Transgressor therein , the thoughts thereof are with abhorrancy to my self ; I have no Interest of my own to mind ; I had rather be in a Corner , then in the Station where I am , and if my silence and Retirement might but save this Cause , it would be the chearefullest work that ever I did engage in , and as by your Letter , it seems you judge me the great troubler of our Peace ; If I be so , My desires to the Lord are to Convince me thereof , and to make a way for my silence , rather then continue me in a Condition to trouble these poor Nations ; But alas ! how little is your actions considered by you in order to this thing ? What can it tend unto , but only to give a further encouragement to our Common Enemy to endeavour the destruction of the whole . I know you are persons of Interest , and I speak it not therefore with reflections upon your own Merrits ; But give me leave to tell you that I am confident , in the way you are in , you will be Blasted , and only give the Advantage to those who would destroy both the Parliament and their Friends ; so far will you be from restoring the Parliament that your actions will lead ( if the Lord prevent not ) to the destruction of Parliamentary Power ; As to your Authority I will only say this : I am confident the Parliament never intended you should make use of any of their forces against the rest ; And the truth is , I beleive it will be found you are mistaken in your Commission : for you have only that Power which I had as Lieutenant General , and not as Commanders in cheif . And what Authority I had to Command the Forces was by vertue of my Authority as Commander in Chief , and not as Lieutenant General ; Besides I had no Power to Levy Forces , but to Command those which were raised , and I am sure you have no greater power given to you then I had : When yet you extend your Authority to the Levying of new Forces , which I dare confidently say you cannot justifie by that Commission ; As for my Authority of granting of Commissions , I have the call of all the Forces in England , except where you are ; which I hope I shall not so mannage , but that either the Power I have may be confirmed by a Supream Authority , or disposed of to a fitter person then I am , to which I shall readily yeild obedience . Your words are very severe , calling me little better then a Murtherer . It s well known I have as little practised severity as any Person that hath borne Armes : And to be looked upon as a person greedy to shed blood , I have a Conscience otherwise exercised , and wish that may not be laid to your charge which you do readily apply to me . As to Marriners which you take notice of , that they spend the States money as not being paid off their Arreares ; They may thank you that they are not paid , for it is well known there was money assigned for them , and would have been with them before this time , had not you interrupted the peace of that Town where you are : And as soon as you return to your former Peaceableness and Friendship the Marriners shall certainly be paid . If you have nothing in designe but the good of this Cause , I hope what we are doing may give you satisfaction , and if you are in the Capacity of Friends , as formerly you have been , your advice would be hearkened unto in any thing , wherein we might be satisfied that the good of this Cause might be preserved thereby . As for General Monck , your good Opinion of him ▪ I hope he will make good by his speedy Agreement with us ; A return of which I expect to have by the next : The Lord perswade your hearts to resolutions of peace , and that these sad breaches may be healed is the desire of Your Humble Servant , Charles Fleetwood . VVallingford-House , Decemb. 10. 1659. If we must be looked upon as Enemies , I shall desire you will release Cap. Brown , Cap. Peacock , and Cap. Hopgood ; I will release Col. Markham , and Col. Atkins , whose offence I am sure was much greater then any you can charge them with , and are persons much more Considerable . For the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor , Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of LONDON . My Lord and Gentlemen , WE conceive it is not unknown to you , the Trust the Parliament reposed in us before theit late interruption ; We have waited ever since , expecting that the force would have been removed from the Parliament House at Westminster , that the Members might have returned to their Duties , but finding confusions and discontents to increase , we came to this Town of Portsmouth , which is of great concernment to the City and Publick ; The Governour and this Garrison have declared their faithfulness to the Parliament , there are many Ships not paid off , and Marriners ready for want of pay to go into Forreign parts for employment , there must some speedy course be taken for preventing the great mischiefs which will otherwise follow . We cannot but approve of General Monks Declarations , and concurr with him fot the restoring of the Parliament , We hope you do the like , and intreat you that no time may be delayed , but all endeavours may be used that the Parliament doors may be forthwith opened , and the Speaker desired forthwith , to send Letters to the several Members to perform their Trust in Parliament . We know no other way under God , to preserve your City and the Nations from inevitable ruin , and to deliver us out of these miserable and woful confusions we are now in . We beseech you move speedily in this , for our Cause and the safety of the whole lyes bleeding . We entreat to hear a word of your intentions , Our affections as you well know , being very great for the welfare and prosperity of the City and we find such absolute necessity of the Parliaments meeting , though but in Order to the settlement of future Parliaments , that if you cannot prevaile that they may sit quietly at VVestminster , we shall write to the Speaker , that he would be pleased to meet at Portsmouth , where we doubt not , through the mercy and goodness of God , they may sit with honour and safety , and Act freely for the good and preservation of the your City & Nations . We present our humble services to your Lotdship , the Aldermen and Common-Council , We are Portsmouth 7. Decemb. 1659. My Lord and Gentlemen , Your most faithful and humblest servants . Arth. Haslerig , Herb. Morley , Val. Walton , For our Honourable friends , the Commissioners of the Militia of the City of London , appointed by Act of Parliament . Gentlemen , YOu know very well , that we have the chief Command of all the Forces in England and Scotland by Act of Parliament , We are now at Portsmouth , a place of great concernment ; We hope you believe that we desire Peace and settlement , not a new VVar , we have no perticular design , we apprehend there is no other means for the preservation of our Cause , the City and Nations , and deliver us out of the woful Confusions that we are now in ; but the opening the Parliament doors , that the Members may return and perform their trusts ; VVe desire you to act your parts in pursuance of the trust reposed in you by the Parliament ▪ for removing the force from the Parliament ; we shall assist you to the utmost of our power , and remain Gent. Portsmouth , Decemb. 7. 1659. Your affectionate Friends and Servants , Arth. Haslerig , Herb Morley , Val. VValton . The same Letter was sent to the Militias at VVestminster and Southwark . For the Right Honourable the Lord Fleetwood at VVallingford house . My Lord . WE shall not trouble you with any tedious reply to your Letter , but this we must affirm That neither joyntly nor seperately did we or any of us , either to your self or any other person , passe our Engagements , to do otherwise then we have done ; And if you had given any of us a perticular Charge , we should readily have vindicated our selves : Neither did we endeavour to remove the Parliaments good opinion from you , though we well perceived your coldness in their service , else the Paper sent from the Northern Brigade , had never produced the sad consequences that since have ensued ; And if it was against your Conscience , to act as one of the seven Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament to govern the Army , we marvel with what satisfaction you can now act by the Call of private men , without any publick Authority ; and yet pretend you desire retyrement : Whether you have not been instrumental to destroy the Parliamentary Authority , and how farr we have been instrumentall to any such ends , we leave it to the Lord and all indifferent men to judge ; Neither shall we dispute the necessity that induced the Officers to interrupt the the Parliament , for if you and they say it was necessary no man must dare to say otherwise ; It is an easie matter to pretend to good things for the Nation , Oliver did the like , but the sequell manifested h●s own advancement to be at the bottom ; And it is well known when you remove us from our Foundations you may carry us whether you please : We all deny to have been instrumentall in any breaches made upon the Parliament ; but if we had we should not be ashamed to ask God and the world forgiveness , and resolve by our future deportments to repair such breaches . Concerning oppression , imposing , restraining Liberty , taking away property , Governments and Authority , we shall only say , That whosoever takes away our Parliaments , takes the ready course to let them all in like a floud upon us ; neither do we think the Council of Officers competent per sons to Judg of Government , and to break Parliaments , and put new fancies of their own instead thereof as they please ; How far your actings against the Parliament or outs in persuance of the PARLIAMENTS Commands have given encouragement to the Common enemy , we leave to your own consideration : or , because the Parliament will not Act what some Officers of the Army please , they must be inte●●upted . And if any prove faithful to discharge the Trust reposed in them , they are the only troublers of the Nation , and give advantage to the Common enemy ▪ We are not ambitious of Commands , having more given us by the Parliament then we desired ; but conceive we have more Authority to gran● Commissions , in Order to the Parliaments restitution , then you can have from the Call of any private persons to continue their interruption . You say , The Marriners had been paid if we had not been here ; We suppose some of them are gone to London for their pay , and if money were sent to discharge the rest , we should be far from hindering their payment , or diverting the money . You pretend good intentions to the Nations settlement , We are sure our hearts thirst after it , and that we are not guilty of any Hostility in this place . In the interim , we resolve by Gods blessing , to defend the same for the Parliament ; If what you are doing might satisfie all the Parliaments party , and secure Parliamentary Authority , the Rights , Liberties , Properties of the people and Religion : which is the Good Old Cause , so much owned by God , and valued by all goodmen ; we should really rejoyce and bless God for it , and readily return to our former friendship , it being the desire of our hearts , that all misunde standings may be removed , the Parliament restored , old friends reconciled , & the Commonwealth settled upon righteous & lasting Foundations ; And if you are as peaceably minded as we , you may make it appear by directing the withdrawing of the Forces you sent toward this place , that so esfusion of blood may be prevented ; If otherwise we cannot believe you in●end Peace . We are Portsmouth , Decemb. 14. 1659. My Lord , Your Lordships Servants , Arth. Haslerig , Hetb . Morley , Val. Walton . For the Honourable Sir Arthur Haslerig , Col. Walton and Col. Morley at Portsmouth . Honourable Gentlemen , I Have received yours , and finding that our personal reflections doth but provoak each other , and therefore I shall rather desire to commit my case unto the Lord , then to argue it with man , not doubring but that he will plead my innocency , for me , and convince me wherein I may be found guilty , being desirous to bow before him in any thing wherein I may be found faulty , and take the shame unto my self , rather than be a reproach unto his name by any action of mine , the Lord grant that this may be more and more yours and my frame , whatsoever our contests are ; yet I am sure of this , by reason thereof , the Common enemy is like to have the advantage , and which of us may have the Conquest ? We shall none of us be but loosers ; I wish ir be not found , that whilst you dispute the form you destroy the end , and though I may with others so much justifie our selves , yet that old friends that have but one interest should engage as enemies , is that which we have cause to take up as a lamentation , and let us take heed that Saints blood be not layd to our Charge ; it is a strange hand of God upon us , that there should not be found a wise man amongst us , who might direct some Medium to make up these Breaches . Your actions have greatly widened our Breach ; I have that comfort that I have no personal design of my own , but that this Common Cause and Interest wherein we are all concerned may prosper , is my design ; and whatsoever you may satisfie your selves in the treachery and falsness of some persons , who after assurances given of their faithfulness , have lately forfeited the same ; Be confident the Lord will not prosper such practises . It is very vvell known , I am no enemy to Parliamentary Authority , and vvha●soever you may charge me vvith therein ; Yet I hopeing actions shall manifest the contrary . And as for the Forces which are before Portsmouth , if you will engage that the Nations Peace shall not be disturbed by your endeavours to raise Forces against us , We shall easily be perswaded to withdraw ours , and in any thing with a Saving to this Cause , shall be ready to expresse the respects which I have had formerly for you ; and being in some haste , I have only this to desire further of you , that would release one M. Jennyns and Mr. Lucas , who though they are strangers to me , yet hearing they are vnder restraint upon our account , I desire their Liberty , And shall give the same return of friendship , as their occasion offered to Your humble servant , Charles Fleetwood . VVallingford house 17. Dec. 1659. For the Right Honourable the Lord Fleetwood . My Lord , HAving received and read your Letter , dated the 17th instant , we find the expressions to be so mild , and to savour so much of godliness , and self-denial , that we cannot but speedily return you this , hoping that if the Lord be pleased to give you a heart really to act what you write , the Nations may yet be made happy ; We shall not labour to convince you of your being faulty , because you appeale unto God , who only is able to make you bow down before him ; And for our parts , we have examined our heatts , and we find joy and comfort , believing our selves to be in the way that God commands . We begun no contest , we waited two Moneths , and nothing was brought forth but confusion ; We believe the Common enemy may gain great advantage by our divisions ; But who gave the occasion , we are innocent ; and we know for either of us to conquer the other , is no gain to our Cause . If you look upon the Parliament but as a Form , and disputing for that but disputing for a Form : we differ from you , and take it to be the Foundation upon which our Liberties are upheld , and our Religion under God to be preserved . That we old friends should engage as enemies ; 't is indeed great cause of lamentation ; and we are not only sensible of it , but those that truly fear God , sigh and mourne in secret , for the great shame and reproach , that the Authors the●eby have brought upon the professors of godliness . We have been tender of Saints blood , and very careful that poor innocent Souldiers should not be destroyed , being sent by your Commands , to oppose the Authority of Parliament ; but we have waited their coming in to us , and they have not as yet received any hurt from us . If the great providences of God working contrary to your expectation , and the wonderful confusions and distractions , may work upon you , and stir you up to be that wise man to make up these breaches while you have time , we shall have cause to blesse God for it . VVe hear Vice-Admiral Lawson declares for the restoring thu Parliament , and is in the Thames with the Fleet in Order to it . His Declaration is sober , General Monck desires the like ; we believe thousands will joyn with them , Why should we divide upon this point ? We have seen a Paper for a Parliament to sit down the 24 of January , we cannot think the people will choose upon that Authority , we are sure no Qualifications can be made without Parliament : so that the time will either be lost , or the Cause hazarded by such proceedings ; We cannot but grieve to see the delay in restoring the Parliament ; We believe God will again restore it , and those that contest against it , will in Conclusion be found fighters against that which God hath owned , and will yet make instrumental for his glory , and the Nations good ; For our own parts ; We are most ready and willing to lay down all , or any of our imployments for the publick Peace : neither do we desire to hurt the persons or Estates of any of those that have formerly been instrumental in the Parliaaments , service ; We desire to be , not mistaken , we write not this as being under any fear of the place wherein we are ; for if ten thousand should come against us , our good God being with us , who hath furnished us with men and Provisions sufficient , we need not too be afraid : Only our sence of poor England's misery , and having earnest bowels after a speedy removall of our wofull distractions moves us to presse you to take off the Force from the Parliament doors , that the Members may return to the exercise of their Trust , without which we cannot expect Peace or settlement ; and what you do , do quickly , for we know not what mischief a day may bring forth , and the sad consequences that may follow thereupon , and then you may repent when it will be too late . We are My Lord , Your Lordships humble Servants , Arth. Haslerig Herb. Morley , Valentine Walton . For the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor , Aldermen and Common Counsell of the City of LONDON . My Lords and Gentlemen , UPon our first comming to this Garrison , we writ to your Lordship , the Aldermen and Common Counsell , but fear it never came to your hands ; We now understand that Vice Admiral Lawson hath declared for restoring the Parliament , and in order to that hath brought the Fleet into the Thames , we hope you will joyne with us , and cause the force to be withdrawn from the Parliament doors , that so there may be an Authoritie which the Nations will own that may heale the breaches , and remove Confusions , which otherwise may suddenlie destroy us , we have seen a paper that mentions a Parliament the 24th of January next , we conceive that Authority will not be owned , neither can any quallifications be made but by Parliament , so that the losse of time may prove our ruen the interrupted Parliament is ready and know their work , and must lay the Foundation for future Parliaments , what hath caused all our miseries , but the first interruption of the Parliament , all things done since by other Conventions , being voyde and Null , as you desire peace and settlement , we intreate your best assistance for the safety of the City and Nations which are highly concerned in the speedy sitting down of the Parliament ; We are My Lords and Gentlemen , Your most faithfull and Humble Servants . Arthur Haslerigg . Herbert Morley . Valentine VValton . Portsmouth , Decemb. 20. 1659. December 22 , 1659. THe Lord Mayor , Aldermen , and Common Council of the City of London , in Common Counc●l Assembled , read two letters from Portsmouth , dated the 27th . instant , sent by Col. Sir Arther Haslerig , Col. Herbert Morley , Col. Valeutine VValton , Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for governing the Army , and ordered that the thanks of that Court should be given to them , and appointed three Commissioners , Alde man VVilliam Thomson , Col. Edward Brumfield , Mr. Richard Foord , to go to Portsmouth to signifie so much to them , and to confe● with them about the peace and safety of the Commonwealth of this City . Right Honourable , AT our general meeting this day , your Lords hip received of the 7th . instant were communicated to us and taken into our most serious consideration ; and thereupon in performance of your desire and the discharge of our own duty in order to the preservation of the Cause of God these Nations and this City , VVe , resolved to use our indeavours for composing the late unhappy diffetences between the Parliament and Army , and that the Parliamene may spedily be restored to the exercise of their Trust , and accordingly appointed a Committee to signifie the same as our opinion unto the Councel of Officers , which we thought meet to certifie in answer to your Honours above-mentioned letter , and that we are Guildhall , London 22th . December 1659. Your Honours and the Commonmonwealths most affectionate and falthfull servants . The Committee of the Militia appointed by Act of Parliament for the City of LONDON . These for the Right Honourable , Sir Arther Haslerig , Barronet , Col. Morley , and Col. VValten at Portsmouth , present . The Committee of Militia for Westminster acted very readily , and raised all their Forces for the defence of the Parliament . FINIS .