THE Armies Proposals TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.  
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold in Fleetstreet, 1659.   

TO THE Supreme Authority OF THESE NATIONS, THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Commonwealth of England.  
The Humble Petitions and Proposals of the Officers under the Command of the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert, in the late Northern expedition.  
Humbly showeth,  
THAT whereas we with others, who desire to fear the Lord in these Nations (though by our provocations we are ripe for destruction) have been again saved by the Lord, and have had a late view of his appearances as of old, in the beholding of whose gracious footsteps as we cannot but rejoice, so our souls tremble least the fruit and birth of all (which the Lord may expect, and his people long earnestly for) become abortive now in the day of our deliverance; we do therefore present unto your Honour's consideration, these ensuing Proposals which we do humbly lay before you.  
I. That the Humble Petition and Address of the General Counsel of Officers at Wallingford-house to the Parliament, which was so unanimously and cheerfully agreed unto, and approved of in a day of our greatest confusions, may not be laid asleep, but may have fresh life given unto it; It being (upon further and clearer grounds) still upon our hearts as the best and only expedient, yet offered (notwithstanding many assays) to a happy and durable settlement being a fixed and firm fence and boundary (under God) for the securing of the Civil and Spiritual Liberties, which the Spirit of the Nation is unwearied in travil, not only to invade, but upon every opportunity (as we we have often seen, and lately had a clear evidence of) is ready to attempt the ruin and destruction of the same.  
II. That whereas God having given a Spirit to the Army fised and faithful to the interest of his people, and our good old cause, when many who had been friends, were either Apostates, Malignants or Newters, joining with the old Enemy, leaving the Parliament and Army, and their few active friends singly to conflict with their late difficulties, and having now no such hopeful way, like to prevail, and ruin, and frustrate what we have so long contended for, as by working divisions in the Army, making breaches, begetting misunderstandings, and dissolving its Union (wherein, under God, it's strength lies) We do therefore as the most effectual means, for the maintaining of the Discipline and conduct thereof, and preserving its Union inviolable, humbly Propose, That his Excellency the Lord Fleetwood may be settled Commander in chief of the Armies, his Commission expiring within a few months; That the Lord Lambert be the General Officer, and chief Commander of the Army next under him: Also that General Desbrough be the chief Officer of the horse under them, and that General Monck be the chief Officer of the Infantry, they being persons, under whose conduct, courage, and fidelity, we have had eminent success, victories and deliverances in the days of great straits, and have been signally blest and owned by the Lord, to whom, and not to man be the honour of all.  
III. That having had very sad experiences of a grand Apostatising and Newteral Spirit gone through the Nations, and amongst many of those who were entrusted for the safety thereof, very few acting or appearing in several Counties, for the preventing the Plots, and suppressing the powers of the enemy in their late Rebellious design; and many others not only faltering, but falling in with them, were by a total ruin, was threatened, and had been effected, had not the Lord in mercy prevented it. We therefore humbly Propose, that there may be a diligent inquiry in all parts by faithful men, employed to that purpose, what entrusted Persons have been guilty of any contrivance, or acted against the Commonwealth's interest, and that they may be proceeded against accordingly; and likewise what persons upon wicked purposes have been Newteral in such a distracted day, when their assistance according to their employments and trust, would have been no less useful than seasonable; and that all such may be removed from their places and employments, Civil and Military, and that such who on the contrary have in this juncture of your discomposed affairs, declared their owning of this interest, either in the County Troops, Militia, Volanteers, or otherways, may be looked upon as friends, encouraged, satisfied, their Arrears protected from injuries, countenanced by you, and as they are capacitated, invested with authority in their several Countries.  
iv That in the late Insurrections, some considerable Corporations have not only added, abetted, and countenanced the enemy's designs, but also have made use of the Arms lodged with them, and themselves appeared in the rebellion, willingly receiving the numerous affections of all engaged therein: Therefore we humbly propose, That such Corporations may be discountinanced, and that you would be pleased to give your signal mark of disfavor against them; as also for the future, so to regulate Corporations, that such persons well qualified according to the Government of a well constituted Commonwealth may be invested with the authority of Magistracy in every Town, that so the footsteps of Monarchy may be razed out.  
V We humbly offer, that all persons whatsoever, Magistrates, Ministers, or others, who have openly, or secretly stirred up, or provoked the inhabitants of these Nations to war and commotion against the Parliament, and particular to the late Insurrections, which is too visibly apparent, many of them having not only been abetters, but in their persons appeared with instruments and weapons of war (as some of us know) may be proceeded against, as you in your judgements think fit.   
FINIS.