Proposals Of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, AND The general council of the army, Held at Windsor, Decemb. 23. 1647. UPON The late Resolutions in Parliament, for bringing in the six months' arrears of assessments by the 15. of January next, and for the taking off Free Quarter, and Disbanding. Also some particular exceptions against the Billetting of soldiers only in inns, taverns and alehouses, with their Desires thereupon. Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by colonel Sir Hardresse Waller, Friday Decemb. 24. 1647. With a Letter from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, to the honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of COMMONS.  
BY the Appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the general council of the Army. Jo. Rushworth, Secretary.  
London: Printed by Robert Austin. 1646.   

Mr. Speaker,  
AT a general council of the Army this day held, the enclosed Particulars were agreed upon to be represented to the Parliament, which I humbly desire may be taken into consideration; and remain  
Your humble Servant, Thomas Fairfax. Windsor, 23. Decemb. 1647.  
For the honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the honourable House of Commons.   

Proposals of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the general council of the Army: Held at Windsor Decemb. 23. 1647.  
Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by colonel Sir Hardresse Waller, 24. Decemb. 1647.  
UPon the late Resolutions in Parliament concerning the taking away of freequarter, and disbanding supernumeraries, we find divers things which require a further consideration, in order to the more secure and effectual dispatch of that work, wherein we shall shortly offer our humble Advise and desires.  
But at present we find an immediate necessity, to take notice of what hath past on Tuesday last the 21. instant, in an Ordinance prepared for the bringing in of six months' arrears of assessment by the 15. of January next; and for the taking away of Free Quarter thereupon: wherein we observe,  
1. It is provided and ordained, That no Officer or soldier, shall enter into the House of any person or persons who shall duly pay their assessment, without his consent, except inns, taverns, Victualling-Houses or alehouses.  
2. Nor shall take away victuals, or other provisions for Horse or Man, without consent of the owner, and due satisfaction given to him for the same.  
As to the first of these, we must desire the Houses to consider, That if the soldiery must not have so much as Lodging or Stable room, but at inns and alehouses without the owner's consent: it will follow,  
1. That is like to fall out ofttimes, and in many towns, that there will be more Men or Horse to Quarter, than the inns, or alehouses have room for.  
2. That soldiers must either pay for their victual and horse meat at such rates as the inns where they quarter will reckon, as to other guests, or else give large satisfaction to the inn-keeper for their lodging and stable room, so as they may have liberty to take their victual and horsemeat at other places where they can agree for it cheaper; otherwise an inn-keeper where the lodging or stable-room is taken up by soldiers, will lose the whole benefit of his inn, which is his livelihood: And if the soldier either must pay the inn-keeper at the rates of other guests, or satisfy him for his lodging and stable-room at such rates as to countervail his ordinary gain, It is most evident, that the soldiers whole pay, nor scarce the double of it, would not satisfy at such rates, and unless either the pay, or way of Quarter be such, as that the soldier may above the charge of his victual or Horse-meat, save something for other uses, we believe few soldiers will be found to serve, that intend to be honest.  
And we fear the soldiery that shall consider the consequences of these limitatitions of Quarter, may be too apt to misunderstand it, as if those that shall not have the benefit of disbanding now as Supernumeraries, should be left to be worse than disbanded, even to be necessitated to a sudden dissolution, without any benefit of Conditions at all.  
For our parts, if it be found that the safety and quiet of the kingdom will admit it, we shall be as ready to disband all as any: but whilst the Parliament finds cause to continue any Forces in the kingdom, we must earnestly desire, they may have that allowance of necessary billet which is allowed in all Nations where any soldiers are kept, and particularly, that they may still be allowed lodging and stable-room at such houses where they shall by order be duly and equally billeted.  
To the second particular in the Ordinance aforementioned, we are well satisfied and presume all soldiers will be content (when they shall be duly supplied with pay in hand wherewithal) to pay for their victuals and horse-meat at such rates as they can agree upon: only we must desire, these cases may be provided for;  
1. That for the first fortnight after the soldiery shall be drawn into towns and Garrisons, and until the Parliament shall there supply them with pay, (as in our late Propositions to the Commissioners) they may have horse meat and man's meat at the places where they shall be billeted, at the rates allowed for the Army, which the Officers are to undertake to see paid.  
2. That upon all occasions of Marching where any soldiers shall by Order be billeted (not lying above two nights at a place) they may have their diet at the same rates, and Horse meat also, if the landlord have it of his own.  
By the appointment of his Excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the general council of the Army. Jo. Rushworth Secretary. Windsor 23. Decemb. 1647.  
FINIS.