SUNDRY REASONS Inducing Major Robert Huntingdon TO Lay down his Commission. Humbly presented to The honourable Houses OF PARLIAMENT.  
Printed in the Year 1648.   

SUNDRY REASONS INDUCING Major Robert Huntingdon to lay down his Commission.  
Humbly presented to the honourable Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
HAving taken up Arms in defence of the Authority and Power of King and Parliament under the Command of the Lord Grey of Work, and the Earl of Manchester, during their several employments, with the Forces of the Eastern Association; and at the Modelling of this Army under the present Lord General, having been appointed by the honourable Houses of Parliament, Major to the now Regiment of Lieutenant-generall Cromwell, in each of which employments have served constantly and faithfully, answerable to the trust reposed in me. And having lately quit the said employment, and laid down my Commission, I hold myself tied both in duty and conscience, to render the true reason thereof, which in the general is briefly this; Because the Principles, Designs, and Actions of those Officers, which have a great influence upon the Army, are (as I conceive) very repugnant and destructive to the honour and safety of Parliament and Kingdom, from whom they derive their Authority. The particulars whereof being a Breviate of my sad Observations, will appear in the following Narrative.  
First, That upon the Orders of Parliament for disbanding this Army, Lieutenant General Cromwell and commissary-general Ireton were sent Commissioners to Walden, to reduce the Army to their obedience, but more especially, in in Order to the present supply of Forces for the service of Ireland: But they, contrary to the trust reposed in them, very much hindered that service, not only by discountenancing those that were obedient and willing, but also by giving encouragement to the unwilling and disobedient; declaring, that there had lately been much cruelty and injustice in the Parliaments proceed against them (meaning the Army) and commissary-general Ireton in further pursuance thereof, framed those Papers and Writings then sent from the Army to the Parliament and Kingdom, saying also to the Agitators, That is was lawful and fit for us to deny disbanding, till we had received equal and just satisfaction for our past service; Lieutenant-generall Cromwell further adding, That we were in a double capacity, as Soldiers, and as Commoners; and having our pay as Soldiers, we have something else to stand upon as Commoners. And when upon the Rendezvouz at Triple Heath the Commissioners of Parliament, according to their Orders, acquainted every Regiment with what the Parliament had already done, and would further do in Order to the desires of the Army, the Soldiery being before prepared, and notwithstanding any thing could be said or offered to them by the Commissioners, they still cried out for Justice, Justice.  
And for the effecting of their further purposes, advice was given by Lieutenant General Cromwell, and Commissary General Ireton, to remove the King's person from Holdenby, or to secure him there by other Guards then those appointed by the Commissioners of Parliament, which was thought most fit to be carried on by the private Soldiery of the Army, and promoted by the Agitators of each Regiment, whose first business was to secure the Garrison of Oxon, with the Guns and Ammunition there, from thence to march to Holdenby in prosecution of the former advice, which was accordingly acted by Cornet Joyce; who when he had done the business, sent a letter to the General then at Kynton, acquainting his Excellency that the King was on his March towards Newmarket: The General being troubled thereat, told commissary-general Ireton that he did not like it, demanding withal who gave those Orders; He replied, that he gave Orders only for securing the King there, and not for taking him away from thence; lieutenant-general Cromwell coming then from London, said, that if this had not been done, the King would have been fetched away by Order of Parliament, or else Colonel Graves by the advice of the Commissioners would have carried him to London, throwing themselves upon the favour of Parliament for that service. The same day Cornet Joyce being told that the General was displeased with him for bringing the King from Holdenby, he answered, that lieutenant-general Cromwell gave him orders at London to do what he had done, both there and at Oxford.  
The person of the King being now in the power of the Army, the business of Lieutenant General Cromwell, was to Court his Majesty (both by Members of the Army, and several Gentlemen formerly in the King's Service) into a good opinion and belief of the proceed of the Army, as also into a disaffection and dislike of the proceed of Parliament, pretending to show that his Majesty's interest would far better suit with the principles of Independency then of Presbytery: and when the King did allege (as many times he did) that the Power of Parliament was the Power by which we fought, Lieutenant General- Cromwell would reply, that we were not only Soldiers, but Commoners; promising that the Army would be for the King in the settlement of his whole business, if the King and his party would sit still and not declare, nor Act against the Army, but give them leave only to manage the present business in hand.  
That when the King was at Newmarket, the Parliament thought fit to send to his Majesty, humbly desiring, that in Order to his safety, and their addresses for a speedy settlement, he would be pleased to come to Richmond; contrary hereunto resolution was taken by the aforesaid Officers of the Army, That if the King could not be diverted by persuasion (to which his Majesty was very opposite) that then they would stop him by force at Royston, where his Majesty was to lodge the first night, keeping accordingly continual Guards upon him, against any power that should be sent by Order of Parliament to take him from us: And to this purpose, outguards were also kept to preserve his escape from us, with the Commissioners of whom we had specially Orders given to be careful; for that they did daily show a dislike to the present proceed of the Army against the Parliament, and that the King was most conversant, and private in discourse with them; His Majesty saying, that if any man should hinder his going (now his Houses had desired him upon his late Message of the 12. of May 1647.) it should be done by force, and by laying hold on his Bridle, which if any were so bold to do, he would endeavour to make it his last. But contrary to his Majesty's expectation, the next Morning when the King and the Officers of the Army were putting this to an issue, came the Votes of both Houses to the King, of their compliance with that which the Army formerly desired: After which his Majesty did incline to hearken to the desires of the Army, and not before: Whereupon at Caversham, the King was continually solicited by Messengers from Lieutenant-General Cromwell, and commissary-general Ireton, proffering any thing his Majesty should desire, as Revenues, Chaplains, Wife, Children, servants of his own; visitation of Friends, access of Letters, and (by commissary-general Ireton) that his Negative Voice should not be meddled withal, and that he had convinced those that reasoned against it at the General Council of the Army: And all this they would do, that his Majesty might the better see into all our Actions, and know our principles, which lead us to give him all those things out of conscience; For that we were not a people hating his Majesty's person or Monarchical Government, but that we like it as the best, and that by this King, saying also, that they did hold it a very unreasonable thing for the Parliament to abridge him of them, often promising, that if his Majesty will sit still and not Act against them, they would in the first place restore him to all these, and upon the settlement of our own Just rights and liberties make him the most Glorious Prince in Christendom; That to this purpose for a settlement they were making several Proposals to be offered to the Commissioners of Parliament then sent down to the Army, which should be as bounds for our party as to the King's business, and that his Majesty should have liberty to get as much of those abated as he could, for that many things therein were proposed only to give satisfaction to others which were our Friends, promising the King that at the same time the Commissioners of Parliament should see the Proposals, His Majesty should have a copy of them also, pretending to carry a very equal hand between King and Parliament, in Order to the settlement of the Kingdom by him, which besides their own Judgement and conscience, they did see a necessity of it as to the people; Commissary General Ireton further saying; that what was offered in these Proposals should be so just and reasonable, that if there were but six men in the Kingdom, that would fight to make them good, he would make the seventh against any power that should oppose them.  
The Headquarters being removed from Reading to Bedford, His Majesty to Woborne, the Proposals were given to me by commissary-general Ireton, to present to the King; which His Majesty having read, told me, he would never treat with Army or Parliament upon those Proposals, as he was then minded: But the next day His Majesty understanding that a Force was put upon his Houses of Parliament by a Tumult, sent for me again and said unto me, Go along with Sir John Barkley to the General and Lieutenant-generall, and tell them, that to avoid a new war, I will now treat with them upon their Proposals, or on any thing else in order to a Peace, only let me be saved in honour and conscience: Sir John Barkley falling sick by the way, I delivered this Message to the Lieutenant-generall, and commissary-general Ireton, who advised me not to acquaint the General with it, till 10 or 12 Officers of the Army were met together at the General's Quarters, and then they would bethink themselves of some persons to be sent to the King about it; And accordingly Com. Gen. Ireton Col. Raynsborow, Col. Hamond, and Col. Rich, attended the King at Woborne for three hours together, debating the whole business with the King upon the Proposals; upon which debate, many of the most material things the King disliked were afterwards struck out, and many other things much abated by promises, whereupon his Majesty was pretty well satisfied.  
Within a day or two after his Majesty removed to Stoke, and there calling for me, told me he feared an Engagement between the City and the Army; saying, he had not time to write any thing under his hand, but would send it to the General after me, commanding me to tell Com. Gen. Ireton, with whom he had formerly Treated upon the Proposals, that he would wholly throw himself upon us, and trust us for a settlement of the Kingdom as we had promised; saying, if we proved honest men, we should (without question) make the Kingdom happy, and save much shedding of blood. This Message from His Majesty, I delivered to Com. Gen. Ireton at Colebrook, who seemed to receive it with joy, saying, That we should be the veriest Knaves that ever lived, if in every thing we made not good what ever we had promised, because the King by his not declaring against us, had given us great advantage against our Adversaries.  
After our Marching through London with the Army. His Majesty being at Hampton Court, Leiut. Gen. Cromwell, and Com. Gen. Ireton, sent the King word several times, that the reason why they made no more haste in business, was because that Party which did then sit in the House while Pelham was Speaker did much obstruct the business, so that they could not carry it on at present. The Leiut. Gen. often saying, really they should be pulled out by the ears: And to that purpose caused a Regiment of Horse to Rendezvous at Hide Park to have put that in execution as he himself expressed, had it not been carried by Vote in the House that day as he desired: The day before, the Parliament Voted once more, the sending of the Propositions of both Kingdoms to the King by the Commissioners of each Kingdom at Hampton Court. Com. Gen. Ireton, bade me tell the King, that such a thing was to be done to morrow in the House, but his Majesty need not be troubled at it, for that they intended it to no other end, but to make good some promises of the Parliament, which the Nation of Scotland expected performance of: And that it was not expected or desired his Majesty should either Sign them or Treat upon them, for which there should be no advantage taken against the King. Upon the delivery of which Message, His Majesty Replied, he knew not what Answer to give to please all without a Treaty. Next day after this Vote passed, the Leiut. General ask me thereupon, if the King did not wonder at these Votes; I told him no: For that Com. Gen. Ireton, had sent such a Message by me the day before the Vote passed, to signify the reason of it: The Leiut. General Replied, that really it was the truth, and that we (speaking of the Parliament) intended nothing else by it, but to satisfy the Scots, which otherwise, might be troublesome. And the Leiut. Gen. and Com. General enquiring after His Majesty's Answer to the Propositions, and what it would be, it was showed them both privately in a Garden-house in Putney, and in some part amended to their own mind. But before this the King doubting what answer to give, sent me to Leiv. General Cromwell, as unsatisfied with the proceed of the Army, fearing they intended not to make good what they had promised: and the rather because his Majesty understood that Leiv. Gen. Cromwell, and Com. Gen. Ireton, agreed with the rest of the House in some late Votes that opposed the Proposals of the Army, they severally replied, that they would not have his Majesty mistrust them, for that since the House would go so high, they only concurred with them, that their unreasonableness might the better appear to the Kingdom; And the Leiv. Gen. bade me further assure the King, that if the Army remained an Army, his Majesty should trust the Proposals with what was promised to be the worst of his conditions which should be made for him; and then striking his hand on his breast (in his Chamber at Putney,) bade me tell the King, he might rest confident and assured of it; and many times the same Message hath been sent to the King from them both, but with this addition from Com. Gen. Ireton, that they would purge and purge, and never leave purging the Houses, till they had made them of such a temper as should do his Majesty's business. And rather than they would fall short of what was promised, he would join with French, Spaniard, Cavileir or any that would join with him to force them to it. Upon the delivery of which Message the King made Answer, that if they do, they would do more than he durst do. After this the delay of the settlement of the Kingdom was excused upon the commotions of Col. Martin, and Col. Rainsborough with their adherents; the Leiv. Gen. saying, that speedy course must be taken for outing them, the House and Army, because they were now putting the Army into a Mutiny, by having hands in publishing several printed Papers, calling themselves the Agents of five Regiments, and the agreement of the people, although some men had encouragement from Leiv. Gen. Cromwell, for the prosecution of those papers; and he being further pressed to show himself in it, he desired to be excused at the present, for that he might show himself hereafter for their better advantage, though in the company of those men which were of different judgements he would often say, that these people were a giddy-headed party, and that there was no trust nor truth in them; and to that purpose wrote a Letter to Col. Whaley that day the King went from Hampton Court, intimating doubtfully that his Majesty's Person was in danger by them, and that he should keep Out-guard to prevent them; which Letter was presently showed to the King by Col. Whaley.  
That about six days after, when it was fully known by the Parliament and Army that the King was in the Isle of Wight, Com. Gen. Ireton standing by the fire side in his Quarters at Kingston, and some speaking of an agreement likely to be made between the King and Parliament, now the Person of the King was out of the power of the Army: Com. Gen. Ireton replied, with a discontented countenance, that he hoped it would be such a Peace, as we might with a good conscience fight against them both. Thus they who at the first taking the King from Holdenby into the power of the Army, cried down Presbyterian Government, the proceed of this present Parliament and their perpetuity, and instead thereof held forth an earnest inclination to a moderate Episcopacy, with a new election of Members to sit in Parliament for the speedy settlement of the Kingdom, and afterwards when the Eleven Members had left the House, and marching through London with the Army, the seven Lords impeached, the four Aldermen of London committed to the Tower, and other Citizens committed also; then again they cried up Presbyterian Government, the perpetuity of this present Parliament. Leiv. Gen. Cromwell further pleasing himself with the great Sums of money, which were in Arrear from each County to the Army; and the Tax of sixty thousand l. per Month for our maintenance; now saith he, we may be for aught I know an Army so long as we live; and since the sending forth the Orders of Parliament for the calling their Members together, Leiv. Gen. Cromwell perceiving the Houses will not answer his expectation, he is now again uttering words, persuading the hearers to a prejudice against the proceed of Parliament, again crying down Presbyterian Government, setting up a single Interest, which he calls an honest Interest, and that we have done ill in forsaking of it; to this purpose it was lately thought fit, to put the Army upon the choosing new Agitators, and to draw forth of the House of Parliament 60 or 70 of the Members thereof, much agreeing with his words he spoke formerly in his Chamber at Kingston, saying, what sway Stapleton and Hollis had heretofore in the Kingdom, and he knew nothing to the contrary, but that he was as well able to govern the Kingdom as either of them; so that in all his discourse nothing more appeareth in his seeking after the Government of King, Parliament, City, and Kingdom; for the effecting whereof he thought it necessary, and delivereth it as his judgement, that a considerable Party of the Chief Citizens of London, and some of every County, be clapped up in Castles and Garrisons, for the more quiet and submissive carriage of every place to which they belong. Further, saying, that from the rising of the late Tumult in London, there should be an occasion taken, to hang the Recorder and Aldermen of London then in the Tower; that the City might see the more they did stir in opposition, the more they should suffer, adding that the City must first be made an example. And since that Leiut. Gen Cromwell was sent down from the Parliament for the reducing of the Army to their obedience, he hath most frequently in public and private, delivered these ensuing heads as his Principles, from whence all the foregoing particulars have ensued, being sully confirmed as I humbly conceive by his practice in the transaction of his last year's business.  

1. That every single man, is judge of just and right, as the good and ill of a Kingdom.  
2. That the Interest of honest men, is the Interest of the Kingdom, and those only are deemed honest men by him, that are conformable to his judgement and practice: Which may appear in many particulars. To instance but one in the choice of Col. Raynsborow to be Vice-admiral; L. General Cromwell being asked how he could trust a man whose Interest was so directly opposite to what he had professed, and to one whom he had lately aimed to remove from all places of trust. He answered, that he had now received particular assurance from Col. Raynsborow, as great as could be given by man, that he would be conformable to the judgement and discretion of himself and Com. General Ireton, for the managing of the whole business at Sea.  
3. That it is lawful to pass through any Forms of Government, for the accomplishing of his end, and therefore either to purge the Houses, and support the remaining Party by force everlastingly. Or to put a period to them by force, is very lawful and suitable to the Interest of honest men.  
4. That it is lawful to play the Knave with a Knave.   
These Gentlemen aforesaid in the Army thus Principled, and as by many other circumstances may appear, acting accordingly, give too much cause to believe that the success which may be obtained by the Army (except timely prevented by the wisdom of the Parliament) will be made use of to the destroying of all that Power for which we first Engaged, and having (for above these twelve Months passed) sadly and with much reluctancy observed these several passages aforesaid, yet we have some hopes that at length, there might be a returning to the obedience of the Parliament; and contrary hereunto, knowing that Resolutions were taken up, that in case the Power of Parliament cannot be gained to countenance their Designs, then to proceed without it. I therefore chose to quit myself of my Command wherein I have served the Parliament for these five years last passed: And put myself upon the greatest hazards by discovering these truths, rather than by hopes of gain with troubled mind, continue an assistant or abetter of such as gives affronts to the Parliament and Kingdom by abusing of their Power and Authority, to carry on their particular Designs. Against whom (in the midst of danger, I shall ever avow the Truth of this Narrative: And myself to be a constant faithful and obedient Servant to the Parliament of England  
August the 2. 1648. Ro. Huntingdon.  
FINIS.