THE DEMANDS Of his EXCELLENCY THO. Lord FAIRFAX. And the general council OF THE ARMY, In prosecution of the late REMONSTRANCE To the two Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
As also against those persons who were the inviters of the late Invasion from SCOTLAND, the instigators and encouragers of the late Insurrections in this KINGDOM.  
With Lieutenant general Cromwel's LETTER To his Excellency concerning the executing of Justice upon all Offenders, and the settling of the Kingdom upon a due, safe, and hopeful succession of PARLIAMENTS.  
BY the appointment of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Lord general, and his general council of the Army.  
Signed JOHN Rushworth.  
London, Printed for R. M. 1648.   

The Demands of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax, and the general council of the Army, in prosecution of the late Remonstrance to the two Houses of Parliament.  
THe incompetency of this Parliament, in its present constitution, to give an absolute and conclusive judgement for the whole (especially to be the sole Judges of their own performance, or breach of Trust) doth make the juster way for such an Appeal, so indeed we see no other way left for remedy, in regard the present unlimited continuance of this Parliament doth exclude the orderly succession of any other more equal formal Judicature of men, to which we might hope in due time other ways to appeal.  
Thus than we apprehend ourselves in the present case, both necessitated to, and justified in an Appeal from this Parliament, in the present constitution as it stands, unto the extraordinary judgement of God and good people; and yet in the prosecution of this Appeal, as we shall drive it on, but to the speedy obtaining of a more orderly & equal Judicature of men, in a just Representative, according to our Remonstrance (wherein to acquiesce) so in the present procuring of Justice with the people's ease and quiet, and in the settling of the Kingdom upon a due, safe and hopeful succession of Parliaments: It is our hearts desire, and shall be our endeavour, that so much, both of the matter and form of the present Parliamentary authority may be preserved, as can be safe, or will be useful to these ends, until a just and full Constitution thereof, both for matter and form (suitable to the public ends it serves for) can be introduced.  
And therefore first, It should be our great rejoicing (if God saw it good) that the majority of the present House of Commons were become sensible of the evil and destructiveness of their late way, and would resolvedly & vigorously apply themselves to the speedy execution of Justice, with the righting and easing of the oppressed people, and to a just and safe settlement of the Kingdom upon such foundations as have been propounded by us and others for that purpose, & would for the speedier and surer prosecution of these things, exclude from Communication in their counsels, all such corrupt and apostatised Members as have appeared hitherto, but to obstruct and hinder such matter of Justice, Safety and public Interest, and to pervert their counsels a contrary way, and have therein so shamefully both falsified and forfeited their Trust.  
But however, we shall, secondly, desire, That so many of them as God hath kept upright, and shall touch with a just sense of those things, would by Protestation, or otherwise acquit themselves from such breach of Trust, and approve their faithfulness, by withdrawing from those that persist in the guilt thereof, and would apply themselves to such a posture, whereby they may speedily and effectually prosecute those necessary and public ends, without such Interruptions, Diversions, or Depravations of their counsels from the rest, to their endless trouble, oppression, and hazard of the Kingdom as formerly, and for so many of them, whose hearts God shall stir up thus to do; we shall therein, in this case of extremity, look upon them as persons having materially the chief Trust of the Kingdom remaining in them, and though not a formal standing power to be continued in them, or drawn into ordinary precedents; yet the best and most rightful that can be had, as the present state and exigence of Affairs now stand; And we shall accordingly own them, adhere to them, and be guided by them in their faithful prosecution of that Trust, in order unto, and until the introducing of a more full and formal power in a just Representative to be speedily endeavoured.  
Now yet further to take away all jealousies in relation to ourselves, which might withhold or discourse any honest Members from this courage, as we have the witness of God in our hearts, that in these proceedings we do not seek, but even resolve we will not take advantages to ourselves, either in point of Profit or Power; and that if God did open unto us a way, wherein with honesty and faithfulness to the public Interest, & good people engaged for us, we might presently discharged, so as we might not in be our present Employments look on, and be accessary to, yea supporters of the Parliament, in the present corrupt, oppressive and destructive proceedings, we should with rejoicing, and without more ado, embrace such a discharge rather than interpose in these things to our own vast trouble and hazard; so if we could but obtain a rational assurance for the effectual prosecution of these things, we shall give any proportionable assurance on our parts, concerning our laying down of Arms, when, and as we should be required: But for the present, as the case stands, we apprehend ourselves obliged in duty to God, this Kingdom, and good men therein, to improve our utmost abilities in all honest ways, for the avoiding of these great evils we have Remonstrated, and for prosecution of the good things we have propounded; and also that such persons who were the inviters of the late Invasion from Scotland, the instigaters and encouragers of the late Insurrections within this Kingdom, and (those forcible ways failing) have still pursued the same wicked Designs by treacherous and corrupt counsels, may be brought to public Justice, according to their several demerits. For all these ends we are now drawing up with the Army to London, there to follow Providence as God shall clear our way.  
By the appointment of his Excellency, the Lord Fairfax, Lord general, and his General council. Signed JOHN Rushworth, Secr'.   

For his Excellency the Lord general FAIRFAX.  
My Lord,  
I Find a very great sense in the affairs of the Regiments of the sufferings and the ruin of this poor Kingdom, and in them all a very great zeal to have impartial justice done upon Offenders; and I must confess, I do in all, from my heart, concur in them; and I verily think; and am persuaded, they are things which God put into our hearts: I shall not need to offer any thing to your Excellency, I know God teaches you, and that he hath manifested his presence so to you, as that you will give glory to him in the eyes of all the world. I held it my duty, having received these Petitions and Letters, and being desired by the Framers thereof, to present them to you; the good Lord work his will upon your heart, enabling you to do it; and the presence of Almighty God go along with you. Thus prays  
My Lord, Your most humble and faithful Servant O. Cromwell.  
FINIS.