TWO LETTERS From His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, ONE To both Houses of PARLIAMENT; Giving an account of what Transactions and Proceedings have been betwixt the King's Majesty and the Army, since His coming into their Quarters.  
WITH Some farther Proposals in relation to His Majesty, and the speedy settlement of the Peace of the Kingdom.  
THE OTHER A LETTER to the Lord Major, Aldermen and common-council of the City of LONDON, With some PAPERS of the Proceedings of the Treaty with the ARMY.  
BY the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, and the council of War.  
Reading, July 8. 1647.  
Signed JOHN RUSHWORTH.  
London, Printed for Laurence Chapman. jely 10. 1647.   

Mr. Speaker,  
I Was sent unto by the King on Friday last, to desire the Parliament to give way to Him to see His Children; and that they might for that purpose be sent to Him: If I may be bold humbly to offer my Opinion, I think the allowance of such a thing may be without the least prejudice to the Kingdom, and yet gain more upon His Majesty then denying it; and if it be in the prayers of every good man, That His heart may be gained, the performance of such civilities to Him is very suitable to those Desires, and will hear well with all men, who (if they can imagine it to be their own case) cannot but be sorry, if His majesty's natural affections to His Children, in so small a thing should not be complied with; and if any question should be concerning the assurance of their return, I shall engage for their return within what time the Parliament shall limit.  
Upon this occasion give me leave, I beseech you, to take notice of some Reports spread abroad, as if myself and the Officers of the Army were upon some underhand Contract or Bargain with the King; and from thence occasion is taken to slander our Integrities, and endeavour a misunderstanding betwixt the Parliament and their Army, the fidelity of which to the Parliament and Kingdom, and their affection to it, are the great objects of many men's Envies, because they see nothing so likely to settle Right and Freedom, with Truth and Peace to us and posterity, & to hinder their Designs against the same, as an Harmony or good accord between the Parliament and Army, which is the joy of good men, and it shall be our study to preserve against all Designs and Designers to the contrary.  
To prevent therefore all misunderstandings of that kind, I thought fit with all clearness to declare unto you, That we have done nothing, nor shall do any thing which we desire to hide from you or the world, or shall not avow to the faces of our greatest Adversaries.  
Our Desires concerning a just consideration and settlement of the King's Rights (His Majesty first giving, His concurrence to settle and secure the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom) We have already publicly declared in our Representation and Remonstrance. Since the first of those Papers sent to the Parliament, there have been several Officers of the Army upon several occasions sent to His Majesty, the first to present to Him a copy of the Representation, and after that some others to tender Him a copy of the Remonstrance; upon both which, the Officers sent were appointed to clear the sense and intention of any thing in either Paper, whereupon His Majesty might make any question. Since then, there have also been some Officers at several times sent to His Majesty about His remove from Hatfield, to dissuade (if possibly) from Windsor or any place so near London, to some place of further distance, answerable to what we had desired of the Parliament.  
In all which addresses to His Majesty, We care not who knows what hath been said or done; for as We have nothing to bargain for or to ask, either from His Majesty or the Parliament, for advantage to ourselves, or any particular party or interest of our own; so in all those Addresses to His Majesty We have utterly disclaimed and disavowed any such thing, or any Overtures or Thoughts tending that way; But the only intent and effect of those our Addresses hath been, to desire and endeavour His majesty's free concurrence with the Parliament, for establishing and securing the common Rights and Liberties, and settling the peace of the Kingdom; and to assure Him, That (the public being so provided for, with such His majesty's concurrence) it is fully agreeable to our Principles, and should be our desires and endeavour, That (with, and in such settling of the public) the Rights of His majesty's Royal Family should be also provided for, so as a lasting Peace and Agreement might be settled in this Nation: And that, as We had publicly declared for the same in general terms, so (if things came to a way of settlement) We should not be wanting (in our spheres) to own that general Desire, in any particulars of natural or civil right to His majesty's Person or Family, which might not prejudice or again endanger the public: and in the mean time, That His Majesty should find all personal civilities and respects from us, with all reasonable freedom that might stand with safety, and with the trust or charge lying upon us concerning His Person.  
You have here the utmost sum of what hath passed from us to His Majesty; and We could wish all men did rightly understand (without misrepresentations) every particular wherein (as We know nothing not agreeable to Reason, Justice, Honesty or Conscience, so) We thought ourselves concerned the rather to say and do, as We have towards His Majesty since He came within our quarters, because of those common prejudices suggested against us, as if We were utter Enemies to Monarchy, and all Civil Order or Government.  
And for that particular of the Duke of Richmond and the Two Chapleins' lately permitted to attend His Majesty, It was not done without much reluctancy, because therein We doubted We might be misunderstood by the Kingdoms best friends.  
But upon His majesty's continuing importunity for it (as a thing very nearly concerning His present inward and outward contentment; and conceiving those persons such (as we hoped) would not do ill offices to prejudice the Peace of the Kingdom, We did give way to it, and the persons (before they came) had notice of the permission: And as We then thought, so We still do think, That to allow him some such company of persons least dangerous, whom former acquaintance may make him take pleasure in; and the allowance of some such Chapleins' of His own, are things both reasonable and just; and the debarring of that liberty in the latter (We doubt) will but make Him more prejudiced against other Ministers.  
In general, We humbly conceive, that to avoid all harshness, and afford all kind usage to His majesty's Person, in things consisting with the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom, is the most Christian, honourable and Prudent way: And in all things (as the Representation and Remonstrance of the Army doth express) We think that tender, equitable and moderate dealing, both towards His Majesty, His Royal Family, and His late party (so far as may stand with safety to the Kingdom, and security to our common Rights and Liberties) is the most hopeful course to take away the seeds of War or future Feuds amongst us for posterity, and to procure a lasting Peace and Agreement in this now distracted Nation; To the effecting and settling whereof (with a secure provision first to be made for the common Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom, and a due care to preserve and propagate the Gospel of Truth & Peace amongst us) we shall hope that neither the Parliament nor His Majesty will be wanting: And if God shall see it good to make us any way instrumental thereunto or that We may otherwise see the same accomplished, We shall then think ourselves indeed discharged from the public engagements We have been called out unto, more clearly and effectually then (before such things were settled) We could have thought ourselves to be, and (to demonstrate our clearness from seeking self-advantages in what We did) We shall thenceforth account it our greatest happiness and honour (if God see it good) to be disengaged and dismissed, not only from our Military charges, but from all other matters of Power or public employment whatsoever.  
I have in these things spoke, not in my own Name alone, but in the Name (because I find it to be the clear sense of the generality, or at least of the most considerable part) of the Army, and I am confident you and the Kingdom will never find it otherwise: I shall leave it to your favourable construction, and commit all to the goodness of God for an happy issue. I remain  
Reading, July 8. 1647. Your most humble Servant, T. Fairfax. For the Right honourable, The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament.   

For the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, Aldermen and common-council of the City of LONDON.  
My Lord and Gentlemen,  
TO the end we may continue a right understanding betwixt you and us all along in the management of this great business with the Parliament, (the happy proceedings thereof so much concerning the safety and peace of this Kingdom) we have given your Commissioners this day the copy of a Paper which we presented to the Commissioners of Parliament residing with us; wherein we take notice of the true reasons of the slow progress in the Treaty, and declare where the stop remains. And to the end that nothing may be wanting in us which might work toward the speedy settlement of the quiet of this Kingdom; we have humbly offered what we can say will most effectually tend to remove those encumbrances and lets which stand between us and the universal good of the Kingdom; and till that be done, it cannot be expected that we should procure the Peace of this Kingdom by a Treaty, but rather give occasion and opportunity thereby to others to engage us in a second War, which must necessarily hazard the ruin of this Kingdom, as also the certain destruction of Ireland, the relief whereof we should most effectually apply unto you, were the affairs of England but once put into an hopeful posture. It is a sudden and substantial settlement of the whole we desire, in a general, safe, and well-grounded Peace, and the establishment of such good Laws, as may duly and readily render to every man their just Rights and Liberties: And for the obtaining of these, not only our intentions had led us to, but we think that all the Blood, Treasure and Labour spent in this War, was for the accomplishing those very things which are of that concernment both to ourselves and posterity, that neither we nor they can live comfortably without them; and thereof we hope yourselves will have the same sense, and therefore improve your interest for the obtaining out just Desires in the Proposals now sent unto the Parliament; which being granted, and we secured from the danger of a War, we shall proceed with cheerfulness to the Treaty, and doubt not in a short time to see an happy Conclusion, to the satisfaction of all honest men's Expectation, and that in all our undertakings we shall be found men of truth, fully and singly answering the things we have held forth to the Kingdom in our several Declarations and Papers, without by or base respects to any private end or interest whatsoever.  
READING, July 8. 1647. By the Appointment of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and his council of War. Signed, JO. RUSHWORTH, Secretary.   

A Paper delivered in by the Commissioners of Parliament, Wednesday, July 7. 1647.  
THat finding the Expectation of the Parliament and Kingdom to be very great upon the speedy progress and happy issue of this Treaty; in consideration whereof, we have made it our Care constantly to attend at the appointed times of meeting, and to press all dispatch therein: And we cannot but take notice that the proceedings on your part have been and are very slow, and that little or nothing hath been done in the Treaty since our entrance thereupon: and therefore in discharge of our Duty, and the Trust reposed in us, we do very earnestly desire that the Treaty may be effectually proceeded on with all expedition, and the times for meeting punctually kept; there being nothing that shall be wanting in us, according to the power given us, to further a work of so great importance, and which may perfect a right understanding betwixt the Parliament and the Army.  
Reading, July 7. 1647. By the appointment of the Commissioners residing with the Army. Signed, GEO. pike, Secretary.   

An Answer of the Commissioners of the Army to the Paper of the Commissioners of Parl ament about a speedy proceeding.  
BY the last Paper delivered in unto us from your Lordships at Reading the 7 of July, we perceive you find, That the Expectation of the Parliament and Kingdom is great upon the speedy progress and happy issue of this treaty. We answer, That we do really apprehend the same things with you; neither can we but witness that you have constantly attended the appointed times of meeting, and pressed dispatch therein: nevertheless we cannot but be very sensible, that you seem to reflect upon us further than there is just cause, in your taking notice that the proceedings herein should be slow and dilatory on our part, as if we should not seem to desire and labour the quick and speedy settlement of the affairs of the Kingdom in a safe and well-grounded Peace as cordially as any persons whatsoever. We shall therefore desire you to remember with what forwardness we have in the first place presented to you those things which we did in our hearts conceive necessary in order to a Treaty, and without which being granted, we could not with safety to the Kingdom and satisfaction to ourselves proceed in Treaty; and further pressed you to present them to the Parliament with speed, that a quick dispatch might be had therein, as being in our thoughts the chiefest and surest way to prevent the engaging this Kingdom in a second War; when contrary to our expectation we have found little effectually done in relation to our Desires in those things most concerning the safety and peace of the Kingdom.  
To the end therefore we may acquit ourselves from being guilty of the delay you mention, and that it may appear to all men where the stick is of not proceeding in the Treaty to a settlement of the peace of the kingdom so much thirsted after by us all, we thought fit to remind you of these following proposals, which we have formerly insisisted upon, and to which satisfaction is not given.  
I. That there is nothing done with effect, notwithstanding the Votes of the House, to the dispersing of the Reformado Officers, who still continue in and about London, ready to head Forces, to the apparent bazzard of a new war.  
II. That notwithstanding the Votes of the House for the speedy sending into Ireland, or disbanding those Forces which left the Army, and their special Order to the Committee at Derby House to take speedy care therein, yet they are still continued in bodies in and about London, and as we hear, are daily listing more Forces, pretending the Service of Ireland.  
III. That notwithstanding the Votes of the House of the tenth of June, and those since of the fifth of July, for the present purging the of House, yet divers persons comprised in these Votes continue still to sit there.  
So long as we remain unsatisfied in the two first of these particulars, we cannot be secured from those doubts we have expressed of the danger of a new war, especially if it be considered, that the end of inviting so many Reformado Officers to London, was to lay a foundation of a new war, and was principally carried on by the design of some of those Members of the House of Commons we have impeached. And likewise that divers of the Officers and soldiers which left this Army were procured by promises of pay, and other engagements, which were likewise designed by the same persons aforementioned, if possibly they might thereby have broken this Army.  
And for the last; What comfortable effect may we expect of a Treaty, so long as the Parliament (the supreme Judicatory of the kingdom) is constituted of some that are men of interests contrary to the common good thereof, from whom we can expect nothing but banding and designing, to obstruct and frustrate all proceedings (contrary to their interest) though never so essential to the happy settlement of the kingdom: and if a seasonable remedy be not given herein, we despair of any good to the kingdom by way of Treaty.  
Reading, 7ᵒ Julii, 1647. By the appointment of the Commissioners of the Army. Signed, WILLIAM CLERK Secretary.  
FINIS.