A DECLARATION From his Excellence Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the General Council of the ARMY, Held at Putney, on Thursday September 16. 1647. Concerning the Delays in raising moneys for supply of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdom. And their humble Offers and Desires in Relation thereto. Tendered To the Right Honourable Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army, and by them to be presented to the Houses. With his Exceliencies Letter to the Commissioners concerning the same. Also a Narrative of the Soldier's behaviour towards the L. Lauderdale.  
By the Appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General Council of the Army.  
Jo. Rushworth Secretary.  
Printed at London, for George Whittington, at the Blue Anchor, in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1647.   

My Lords and Gentlemen,  
THe extreme necessity of the Army, and other Forces in the Kingdom, together with the present pressures of the Country where it Quarters, for want of Moneys, as well as the delays of them from whom you might  this time have justly expected a better Account on this behalf than is as yet heard of, is the occasion which yesterday produced a Resolution upon this enclosed Paper, which I herewith tender to your Lordships, Desiring it may be speedily communicated to both Houses: I remain,  
Putney 17 Septembris, 1647. Your Lordship's most humble servant, THO. FAIRFAX.  
For the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons. Commissioners of Parliament residing in the Army.   

A Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General Council of the Army held at Putney on Thursday September. 16. 1647.  
THe extreme wants of the Soldiery (both of the Army and other Forces and Garrisons that have concurred with us, as also the sufferings of the Countries in respect of free Quarter, and the necessities of the Kingdom for a speedy supply of money in relation to the disbanding of superfluous forces, the sending over of others for the relief of Jreland, and for the supplying of those forces that are there already, so as to prevent the danger of those distempers lately raised amongst them,) are such as we are and have been very sensible of and exceedingly pressed with the consideration of them.  
Yet the care the Houses have so many ways expressed for providing a present supply of monies, in relation to all these affairs, have made us hitherto silent as to that point, in expectation to have found ere this time an answerable effect thereof in actual supplies. But finding that notwithstanding all their care, yet through the neglect or delay of those on whom the Houses have depended in that particular, there is little or nothing hitherto effected therein, and especially considering the delays made by the Lord Mayor aldermans and Common Council of the City of London, in the advancing of that sum which the Houses have demanded of them upon the security of the Arrears (so long since) due from the City to this Army and for that tax whereupon all or most other places have long since paid in their proportions.) We are enforced to make this present address to the Houses in relation thereunto.  
First we cannot but consider the notorious readiness of that Court to the advancing of fare greater sums for the raising of a new War and prosecution of the late mischievous practices and designs against the Parliament and Army. And that as their precipitate forwardness therein, was the occasion of the Armies coming into these parts: so their backwardness to the raising or advancing of the money now required for the service of the Parliament and supply of the Army, hath been and is the occasion of the Army's continuance here: And therefore we cannot but offer it as what we humbly conceive most just and reasonable.  
That for what time their default or delays have occasioned and shall further occasion the Armies stay hereabouts (so much to the burden and oppression of these parts) the charge thereof should some way be laid upon them and their adherents in and about the City, together with those persons from whom the said arrears are due, and those in whose default it lies that they have hitherto been either not assessed or not collected. And for that purpose that at least in case the sum required be not paid in at the time limited by the Houses. There may be a proportionable penalty imposed by way of daily increase of the sum required for so long time as the payment thereof shall be further delayed. Next forasmuch as the Lord Mayor aldermans and Common-council, may perhaps conceive themselves not so much obliged (either to execute the authority given them by the Parliament for levying of money upon others, or to advance it themselves by way of loan in behalf of others until it can be leavyed) as they would be to provide what should justly be charged upon themselves: We therefore humbly offer (at least) in case the sum required upon the arrears be not paid in by the time limited.  
II. That the Houses would be pleased speedily to consider of the delinquency of that Court and Council, in those things that were lately done by them as a Court, and set such Fine upon them for the same as shall be agreeable to justice, which money being chargeable so properly upon themselves we presume they will not have the like excuse not to provide.  
Lastly, since it is most evident that for the speedy bringing in of the money required upon the arrears there wants not in the said Major, Aldermen & Common Council, either authority to levy it or ability to advance it by way of Loan till it can be levied: nor do the persons from whom the arrears are due want ability to pay them, but the only fault and defect lies in the want of will to the thing, both in the one and in the other, and want of power in the hands of willing men to enforce it, without which we see little hopes that it will in any tolerable time be effected; We therefore offer  
III. That in case the money be not brought in (by the time limited the Parliament would be pleased to give leave and power to the General (with the advice and directions of the Committee for the Army) for the levying of the said arrears, together with such penalties and fine as the Houses shall find cause to impose as aforesaid, or (at least) the penalties allowed by the Ordinances for that tax for the Army, and then if the moneys be not speedily brought in for the Parliament to dispose of let us be are the blame.  
And all these things we desire the rather, because we have grounds both of reason and evidence from the speeches of many in the City, to believe that in this long withholding of money, the designs and hopes of the Parliaments and our enemies, are to raise the Army into distempers, and the country about us into a flame, whereby at least to hinder and interrupt all proceed to the execution of Parlimentary justice, or settlement of the Kingdom, and to expose the Parliament again into tumultuous violence, of all which the danger is very evident and imminent, if not speedily prevented by some such vigorous and effectnall remedies as aforesaid.  
Putney Sept. 16. 1647. By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Council of war. Signed John Rushworth Secretary