The Army's Petition: OR A NEW ENGAGEMENT Of many in the ARMY, Who are yet faithful to the PEOPLE: Being a perfect Relation of the Late Proceed of the Agents of divers Regiments of Horse: With the manner of their imprisonment, by some Officers; with the PETITION of Col. Riches Regiment to the General for the Release of their Agents.  
May 3d 1648 
 Countrymen,  
Lest you should be weary with enquiring, who w●●l show you any good? I have expended some time to search out an Answer: but I cannot but first justify you in your mournful plaint, and I could bemoan your unhappy fate in depending upon false friends: your hopes were once raised by the Parliaments promises to deliver you from an Arbitrary Government, and to secure your native Freedom, and to study always to increase your happiness; and your expectations I know were big when you had conquered the Common Enemy: but the War being ended, their promises appeared to be but wind, and their fruit to you was but a whirlwind, your Government was then by no other rule then the wills of men; Parliament Committees, and Country Committees were your absolute Lords, and your burdens were doubled and trebled, and no other use was made of this opportunity put into the Parliaments hands then to continue themselves sitting at Westminster, and to divide your Treasure amongst themselves; as for your freedom, it was made a crime almost to name it, your very Petitions were burned, and Petitioners imprisoned.  
In this extremity the Army interposed in june last to redeem you from your intended Vassalage, they gallantly challenged your Freedom as your due, and the price of their blood; they promised to see your Liberty cleared and secured according to the Parliaments Declarations, and solemnly engaged to you, and each to other on june 5. 1647. not to Disband until they had sufficient security for your freedom; but alas, how hath pride, covetousness, ambition, or affectation of an absolute Dominion, blasted all the promising buds of those fair engagements! how is your hopeful remedy the Army become an aggravation of your slavery, they have made your yokes heavier, and your burdens more grievous.  
But Countrymen, Let not your hearts fail you, suppose not the whole Army to conspire in your slavery; take an impartial view of all passages since the Armies first Engagement at Newmarket, on june 5. 1647. and learn to distinguish between your friends, and your oppressors.  
You must understand that some private Soldiers in the several Regiments, which engaged in the late War, conscientiously for your freedom, were the sole actors which engaged the whole Soldiery to stand unanimously to vindicate your native Freedoms, these were called Agitators. The grand Officers opposed the Soldiers first Petition, as long as it was for their advantage, and never concurred with them until all danger was passed; but having interested themselves in the same Cause, although they solemnly engaged, that all things should be done by a Council constituted of two Officers and two Soldiers to be chosen by every Regiment, yet their spirits could not bear any Copartners with them in power, and therefore they first discouraged the Agitators as meddling with matters which did not concern them, than they questioned their power, by whom indeed themselves were settled in the power they had; and then they introduced all Officers into the Counsels, when there was Counsels, and at last, they quite dissolved the Council, and some few (if not one alone) drew up a short Declaration contrary to their first Engagement, and would have enforced all at the Rendezvouz at Ware and Kingston to subscribe it; so that by the Grand Officers wresting all power out of the Agitators hands, this settlement of your Freedoms, and the removal of your grievances hath been prevented; yet the same honest Soldiers in November last, attempted the same settlement as at first, but the Grand Officers imprisoned the Agents, and threatened them all with death.  
Yet so restless are the spirits of the honest Soldiers, and so dear is the Freedom of their Country to them, that the Officers threaten of death cannot daunt them, and therefore they have been and are again endeavouring to fulfil their first Engagements, and to prevent obstructions, they resolved to proceed in the most humble way of Petitioning, and to that purpose, drew that Petition which you may hereafter read in this Paper; having prepared their Petition, they desired a meeting of some Soldiers of several Regiments of Horse, to consider of the most speedy way to offer the Petition to all the Soldiers for their Subscriptions, accordingly some met at S. Allians about the 24 of April, and Colonel Riches Regiment chose one of every Troop to meet there and give them an account of their proceed, but being met together, Cap. Brown, Cap. Cladman, Cap. Packer, and other Officers rushed violently into the place, where they were met, and imprisoned all their persons, and carried them to Windsor, where they remain Prisoners.  
Now ye people of England, whether these Prisoners be your friends, I refer to your own judgements, let the Petition which they were promoting, and joining in with the Eastern Association, let that speak for them.  
The true Copy thereof here follows.  

To the honourable the Commons of England assembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of many Officers and Soldier in the Army.  
Shows,  
THat first we engaged in judgement and conscience, to oppose the King in assuming to himself a power Superior to yours, declaring all your Orders to be void and nul without his consent, in his claiming an absolute power over the Militia, and in his endeavours to make the Government wholly Arbitray, and himself unaccountable; and you for your parts were engaged to restore us to our native Freedoms, if God gave good success to that war, that when the common enemy was subdued they should thirst after our native Freedoms, prevailed with us to concur with you in a new engagement, in opposition to a potent party in the house which invaded our liberties, and endeavoured to perpetuate this Parl, and enslave us again to Arbitrary power; and you were pleased then to give us hopes by divers Votes, that the happy ends of our former and latter Engagements should be made good to us, and the whole Nation; that nevertheless we see the oppressions of the people as far from being removed or lessened, as if our ransom cost no blood, and yet we find ourselves to be rendered the burden and disturbers of the Nation, by the daily out cries against us for not standing up for justice and Freedom, according to your and our promises and Declarations; and although we do gratefully acknowledge these hopeful Votes that no more addresses should be made to, nor received from the King; yet hitherto we see no justice or common freedom hath followed those Votes: that the sense of our duty to the Country, and that fear of compulsion which threatens the Common Wealth through the general discontent of the people provokes us to solicit in their behalves: that the engagements first and last, and the many pretences of this house to make the Nation free, may at last be fulfilled and performed; We humbly represent our former desires with a more full explanation of our intention therein. As first that a period of time be prefixed when the Parliament shall certainly end. 2. That of course every second year there be a free and equal election of representatives by the people, to make their Laws free without obstructions or interruptions, by the pretences of any man whomsoever, to a negative voice or check upon them: that so no English man may be bound but by his representatives without which there is no freedom. 3. That there be a known and certain rule between the people and their representatives that are chosen and entrusted with that supreme power of making Laws; as first, that the time of their continuance of trust be certain, and that their meeting be dissolved of course at some prefixed period of time. And 2. that it be declared, that their power extends not to enforce and compel the consciences of any in the matter of God's worship: wherein none can without wilful sin consent, remit, orexceed one title what their consciences dictates to them to be the will of God. 3. That their power extends not to press or enforce any man's person to serve in War. And 4. that it be declared to be intended by the people in their trust, that all Laws to be made by them may be equal and alike, binding unto every English man, without respect to Birth, Tenor, Patent, Place, Office or any other pretended privilege, and that they shall not make such Laws as shall be clearly and evidently destructive to their lives, properties, and liberties. And 5. that for security of all persons engaged in the public difference since 1640. It be declared that no representatives of the people after the end of this present Parliament shall have power to intermeddle with those matters of public difference; otherwise then in execution of their judgement: And we desire that this rule between the people and the representarives, may be inserted into a contract to be sealed between the people and all their representatives, upon the days of their several elections respectively; and that all the foregoing particulars being essential to freedom, may be settled by an Agreement among the people.  
4. That there be a regulated course of justice settled, and all arbitrary powers abolished as fare as may be.  
5. That all dangerous Precedents of preventing the people from, and imprisoning of, and declaring them as enemies to the State, for petitioning may be taken away, and that undoubted right of theirs publicly cleared. 6. That accounts be given to the people of their disbursments of the valle Sums of money levied and paid; and that hence forth all public charges be exactly computed, and only moneys proportionable levied, and that the accounts be open to the view of all men, and frequently published: 7 That all Prisoners according to the intent of the Law be brought to a speedy hearing, and just trial. And that such as are unjustly imprisoned may with their liberties have due reparations. 8. That the ancient and almost antiquated badge of slavery, that is, all base Tenors of Lands, as by Copies and Fines at will, by oaths of fealty, homage &c. (the Conquerors brand upon the people) may be taken away, and to that end, that a proportionable value be set, at which the Possessors of Land so holden, may purchase themselves freeholders', which if not willing, or not able to do, that then after a prefixed period of time, all such duties and services may descend into, and from that time become a certain rent, that by this means persons disaffected to the welfare and freedom of the Nation may be prevented from drawing men to a War against themselves, by virtue of an awe upon them by such dependant Tenors.  
These things we humbly pray may be done, see led, and provided forthwith, that so speedy proceed may be made to redress the other common grievances of the prople; that our Laws and all proceed therein may be in English, and the innumerable abuses thereof remedied, and the places for ministration of justice and justice itself may not longer be bought and sold, that Monopolies may be abolished and care taken to renew the decayed trade of the Nation, that the poor may be provided for, and none suffered to beg their bread; that public debts may be computed and put into some probable way of being satisfied; the burdens of tithes, excise, and whatsoever else is justly grievous may be removed: And unless these prudent foundations of freedom and just Government m●y reestablished, we conceive that neither you nor we can satisfy our consciences, that so much blood hath been shed in the prosecution thereof, or in continuing an Army, who c●nt●ary to their own desire are constrained to live upon the labours of others for nought, and therefore desire that sufficient indemnity may be provided for all o●●●● engagements whatsoever, with either Parliament or Army, in all things done in order to our utmost prosecution thereof; that accounts may be justly stated, that some considerable part of the Soldier's arrears may be given them, and good security for the remainder; and that we may be discharged from this present employment, either to return quietly to our several callings, if we can bear the yoke of our slavery, or otherwise to departed the Nation, to seek our freedom in some wilderness.   
THe imprisonment of the Agents for preparing this Petition, much affected the Soldiery of Col. Riches Regiment, and with all speed they framed a Petition to the General for the release of their Agents. The Copy thereof here followeth  

To his Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax Captain General of the Forces under the Command of the Parliament.  
The humble Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Rich his Regiment,  
Sheweth,  
THat as in judgement and conscience, we first engaged in the late war, for our Native rights and freedoms, so likewise upon the same account, we refused to Disband, and entrea●●o a solemn Engagement at New. Market, when our freedoms were invaded, and the fundamental right of Petitioning denied us.  
That upon the same ground, after much patience in waiting for the securing our comer. Rights according to the Engagement, we entrusted several of our fellow Soldiers to meet with some of other Regiments at S. Alban, to give us an account of their proceed.  
That while they were proceeding in a most unquestionable just way of preparing a Petition, they were violently seized upon, and imprisoned, all which (if it were done by Order from your Excellency) we hope did proceed from a misunderstanding of our, and their meaning and intentions.  
That our fellow Soldiers being employed by us as Agents in our behalf, we esteem ourselves obliged both in conscience and honour to be Copartners with them in whatsoever condition they are, or shall be involved by reason of that employment: and our resolutions are to adhere faithfully to them, in the vindication of their innocent intentions, in prosecuting our solemn Engagement, or to suffer equally with them.  
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that our said Agents now under restraint may be forthwith released, according to the present urgent necessities, and without further descanting delays, which have already made us odious to the people, we may all join together, and effectually endeavour to fulfil our first engagements to the people, and each to the other, by settling and securing the Nations common Rights and Freedoms.  
And they shall pray etc.   
THe Regiment employed two Soldiers to present this Petition, and after the Grand Officers had long consulted, they called in the Messengers, and descanted strangely upon the Petition, and examined them upon Interogatories, as who delivered it to them, and whom they see subscribe it; but the messengers refused to betray their liberties in answering Interogatores, and told them they were employed by the Regiment to deliver the Petition and their Subscriptions wree annexed, and they had no other message, than they threatened them with death severally, but yet they said at last they would show them mercy, and so released them.  
Now Countrymen, consider how deeply you are concerned in the imprisonment of these your friends, judge whether your Freedoms can ever be secured, unless the foregoing Petition be granted, and judge how desperate your condition is, if once your Liberty of Petitioning be lost, if it shall be a crime to meet and consider how to beg for your Right, unto what lower degree of slavery, can you be reduced? The Parliament have declared it, to be their duty to receive Petitions though against established Laws: These are their words in their Declaration of Sept. 2. 1642. 1. book Decla. p. 532. We acknowledge we have received Petitions for the removeall of things established by Law, and we must say, and all that know what belong to the course and practice of parliaments, will say, that we ought to do so, and the Liberty of Petitioning, being the lowest degree of freedom; the invasion of that was the first occasion of the Army's refusal to disband, and engaging against Hollis his Faction; therefore I say again, consider whether necessity do not now require your speedy assistance of these your Friends, who have thus constantly endeavoured and hazarded themselves for your freedom; and observe good people, it is not the Soldiery that enslave you, but they are enslaved equally with you, they are denied the common right of petitioning, and for your sakes they suffer.  
Object. But it will be objected that the grand Officers oppose not the Freedom, which the Soldiers thus prosecute, but the irregular manner of their prosecution of it.  
Answ. Wherein can it be said they have been irregular, is it in Petitioning without their Officers; was there ever such a band upon the Soldiers, either by the ●●w or Reason, that they should not Petition without their Officers? shall not the Soldiers beg for what they want, unless they please? but suppose there be some irregularity, in riding from one Regiment to another without licence from their Officers or disputing such Commands, yet who could have imagined that the Officers of this Army should dare to object it against the Soldiery: will not the necessity of such actings justify the seeming irregularities; was not that all their plea in june last, when they were irregular in the highest degree, and rejoiced and applauded the Soldiers for their being irregular; and was it not upon the same ground that they opposed the Parliament, because they made an Order to suppress a Petition amongst the Souldery, and declared those Enemies to the State that promoted it, and though that Petition was promoted contrary to the Officers minds, and C●l. Rich and others sent express Orders to suppress it, and though the Parliament proceeded not to imprison such as act about it; yet when they were interested in it, they declared, in their Representation of june 5. that that Precedent of the Parliaments Order to suppress the Petition, if it should stand good, did tend in the consequence of it, to render all Soldiers under this Parliament the worst of slaves, and all subjects little better: and the like they declared in the Remonstr. of june 13. but besides, is it more irregular to dispute an Officers Command then to dispute the Parliaments Orders, and did not the General, and the Lieutenant General countenance the Soldiers, and approve them, when they resolved a Rendezvous without the General, if he would not Order it, and were any of the Soldiers discountenanced when they dismounted, beat and houted out of the field such Officers as would have obeyed the Parliaments Commands? and surely, none will say there is not now the same necessity to justify these actings as was then; nay, is not the necessity fare greater? the Liberties of the people are neither cleared nor secured, the very right of Petitioning, is in a higher manner invaded, more are now imprisoned for Petitioning and meeting about Petitions, than ever since England stood, and not only the Parliament, but the Army is now so odious to the people for breaking their first promises and engagements, that the people are ready to out the throats of all Soldiers without distinction, and the whole Nation is ready to perish with distractions and discontents through want of a settlement.  
Now set all English men and all Soldiers consider, whether they may not bid adieu to Freedom, if they suffer their friends to want assistance in prosecuring their first Engagements. Col. Riches Regiment have been constrained to rescue some of their Agents from Prison, and therefore they expect now the immediate assistance of all honest men in every Regiment.   
FINIS.