THREE LETTERS FROM The Lord General MONCK, Commander in Chief of the Forces in Scotland, and one of the Commissioners by Act of Parliament for the Government of the Army of this Commonwealth. VIZ. To Mr. SPEAKER, To the Lord FLEETWOOD, To the Lord LAMBERT. EDINBURGH, Printed by Christopher Higgins, in hearts Close, over against the throne Church, Anno Dom. 1659. To the SPEAKER. Right Honourable, HAving received notice, that there was a Force put upon the Parliament on the twelfth of this Instant, I have sent this Messenger to your Lordship, to know whether that force; doth continue; for I am resolved by the Grace and Assistance of GOD, as a true Englishman, to stand to and assert the Liberty and Authority of PARLIAMENT; And the Army here (praised be God) is very courageous and unanimous, and I doubt not but to give a good account of this Action to You. I have, according to your Act of the 11th. instant, being constituted a Commissioner for the Government of the Army, put out such persons as would not act according to your Commission: I do call GOD to witness, That the Asserting of a Commonwealth is the only intent of my heart, and I desire, if possible, to avoid the shedding of Blood, and therefore entreat You, that there may be a good understanding between Parliament and Army; But if they will not obey Your Commands, I will not desert You, according to my Duty and Promise. Which is all at present from Your humble and faithful Servant, GEORGE MONCK. Edinburgh, Octob. 20. 1659. To the Lord FLEET WOOD. Right Honourable, I Have sent this Messenger to your Lordship, to let you know that we have received notice, that a part of the Army have put force upon the Parliament, which they so lately called together, and owned with the greatest Testimonies of Obedience and Repentance for their former apostasy from them; I hope your Lordship will not abet an Action of such a dangerous and destructive Consequence; I know that you love the Liberty and Peace of England so well, That you will use your best Care, that Attempts of this nature be suppressed. I do therefore humbly entreat you that the Parliament may be speedily restored to that Freedom, which they enjoyed on the eleventh of this Instant, Otherwise I am resolved, by the Assistance of God, with this Army under my Command to Declare for them, and to prosecute this just Cause to the last drop of my blood; I bless the Lord, that the Officers here are very unanimous: and for such, whose hearts fail them, or which will not act according to their Commissions from the Parliament, I having Authority as one of the Seven Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament, Do constitute such as cheerful for this Good Old Cause, till the Parliaments pleasure be further known; And I do plainly assure your Lordship, that I was never better satisfied in the justice of any 〈…〉 gagement than in this: You cannot but 〈…〉 that God hath already showed 〈…〉 glorious in it, and determined the 〈…〉 this side, against Arbitrary power of ●●●●ing Money without the people's consent first had, and the management of the Militia by any other than the Parliament. I desire your Lordship not to be deluded by the specious pretences of any ambition's persons whatsoever, and do not bring all the blood that will be shed upon your own head; My Lord, Consider how you will answer to the dreadful God for the ruin of three Nations, for to serve a lust, or to gratify a passion: For my particular, I am ashamed of these Confusions and Changes that we have made, that we are now become a scorn and a reproach to our very friends, and designed to ruin by all our Neighbours. I take God to witness, that I have no further ends than the establishing of Parliamentary Authority, and those good laws that our Ancestors have purchased with so much blood, the settling the Nations in a free Commonwealth, and the defence of godliness and godly men, though of different judgement; And I take myself so far obliged, being in the Parliaments Service, to stand, though alone, in this quarrel, And doubt not but your Lordship, having the fear of God in your heart, will carefully consider of this matter: Which is all at present from Your Excellencies humble servant, GEORGE MONCK. Edinb. Octob. 20. 1659. To the Lord Lambert. Right Honourable, HAving notice, that a part of the Army under the Parliaments Command, have, contrary to their duty, put force upon them; I have therefore sent this Messenger to your Lordship, to entreat you to be an Instrument of Peace and a good understanding between Parliament and Army: for, if they shall continue this Force, I am resolved, with the assistance of God, and that part of the Army under my Command, to stand by them, and assert their lawful Authority. For, Sir, the Nation of ENGLAND will not endure any Arbitrary Power, neither will any true Englishman in the Army, so that such a Design will be ruinous and destructive; Therefore I do earnestly entreat you, that we may not be a scorn to all the world, and a Prey to our Enemies, that the Parliament may be speedily restored to their Freedom which they enjoyed on the 11. of this instant. Which is all at present from Your lordship's humble servant, GEORGE MONCK. Edinburgh, Octob. 20. 1659.