THE ARTICLES AND CHARGE OF THE Officers and Soldiers IN THE ARMY CONCERNING The King's Majesty, and all Persons whatsoever, who shall endeavour to reinthrone Him, or to act or speak in His Majesty's behalf, till He shall be acquitted of the guilt of shedding innocent Blood.  
And their Declaration and Proposals, concerning King, Lords, and Commoners; presented to the Lord General Fairfax. With his Excellency's Letter to the Parliament, concerning ●●e ARMY.  
Read in the House of Commons on Wednesday last, October 18. 1648.  
Commanded to be Printed and Published by the Authority and Consent of the Officers and Soldiers in the Army, Octob. 20. 1648.   

THE DECLARATION OF THE ARMY Concerning all persons whatsoever, either in Parliament or elsewhere, who endeavour the re-inthroning of the King.  
WE the Officers and Soldiers under the immediate conduct of his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, do declare, That we are as desirous of a safe and well grounded peace, and that a final end were put to all the troubles and miseries of the Commonwealth, as any sort of men whatsoever: Yet considering,  
1 That there is no justice done against the Abettors of the late Rebellion, as Holland, Buckingham, Laughorn, Poyer, and their Accomplices: or of the Confederates with the Apostate Scots: and indeed little justice by the Parliament done upon any Offenders of that kind. By which we have too much cause to fear, that there may be a party in the Parliament abetting and correspoding with (if not guilty of) the same Designs.  
2 That notwithstanding the King hath betrayed the trust reposed in him, and raised war against this Nation to enslave it, violating his Oaths, and trampling underfoot our Laws (than which no Engagement non taken can be more binding:) notwithstanding he is guilty of all the bloodshed in these intestine wars, as may appear by high own confession in his late agreeing to the Parl. first proposition: being also a person who was so far concluded uncapable to govern, that the Parl. voted that no address should be made to him. There is yet a prevalent party of his Creatures, who in parliament and else where, act His Design, and are (as we conceive) the Authors of our present Distractions.  
3 That through the evil designs and practices of the foresaid party, the intolerable burden of free quarter is continued upon the people notwithstanding the unreasonable taxes daily extorted from them, in the name of pay for the Army: By which means we are not only rendered odious to others, but a burden to ourselves not being able to cloth ourselves, shoe our horses, or free our Arms.  
We therefore cannot think any thing can be safely done in order to a peace, until some speedy and effectual course be taken, which we humbly desire your Excellency will be pleased to your utmost power, to endeavour, 1. That there may be a strict scrutiny, for the more full discovery of such persons as were contrivers or encouragers of the Rebellions aforesaid, and that Justice speedily be executed on them according to the late Orders of Parliament. 2 That impartial and speedy Justice may be done upon all criminal persons, and especially upon such as have or shall endeavour to obstruct the course thereof, or have betrayed their trust, or been Authors of shedding that innocent blood, which calls to Heaven for vengeance, that so we may be at peace with God. 3 That the same fault may have the same punishment, in the person of King or Lord, as in the person of the poorest Commoner. 4 That all such may be proceeded against as Traitors, who act or speak in the King's behalf, till he shall be acquitted of the guilt of shedding innocent blood. 5 That the Army may speedily have their pay, or a present course be taken against those who unjustly with hold it; and that they may have the Arrears due since jan. 25. before they be ordered to pay quarters, and effectual provision made for the payment of former Arrears. 6 That the intolerable oppression of free quarter be immediately taken off, and that for the time to come whilst there is necessity for an Army, there may be Assignations given to each Regiment, Troop & Company, which may be constant during the establishments of the Army, that the money may not pass from hand to hand till it is half embezzled, but be paid immediately from the Countries to the Soldiery, that so all free quarter for ever avoided, it may return from the Soldier to the Countryman again.  
And now fearing lest the inveterate malice of our adversaries should asperse us with a design to destroy Magistracy and propriety; we cannot but declare, that we shall constantly endeavour to def●nd them both with our lives and fortunes, and in expectation of your Excellency's favour in the premises, we shall ever pray, etc.  
Subscribed in the name of the Officers and Soldiery of Com. G. Iretons Regiment. H. CLARE.   

New propositions concerning the King.  
1 That we have both matter of deep humiliation before God, and thank giving to him, when we consider his gracious dispensation towards us; in preserving a remnant from following the evil courses of the time, and that he was pleased so soon after a great defection and back-sliding in the land, to put us into a condition to resist the force and fury of our enemies: in which particular, we look upon our Brethren of England to be the chief Instruments therein.  
2 That whatsoever power God hath already, or shall hereafter put into our hands, we shall improve it for settling and propagating Religion, and promoting the work of Reformation according to the Covenant, and in particular, to have the liberties of the Kirk ratified, which have been many ways encroached upon and violated.  
3 To vindicate and establish the liberty and property of the Subjects, who have been most grievously oppressed in their consciences, persons, and estates.  
4 That we shall endeavour the King's Majesty's restitution to the exercise of his Poyall power, as soon as He shall give security for settling Religion in the manner expressed in the Desires of the Kirk, and shall give satisfaction in such other things as shall be found necessary for the peace and safety of the kingdoms.  
5 That the late unlaw full Engagement against England shall be disclaimed, and disavowed by the supreme Authority of this Kingdon, it being most destructive to Relsgion, Crown, and Kingdoms.  
6 That the peace and union of the two Kingdoms may be strengthened and confirmed.  
7 That we shall endeavour to purge out of all the Judicatories in this Land, malignancy and profaneness, and use all other good means, that Justice may be equally and impartially administered to all subjects whatsoever within his Majesty's Realms and Dominions.  
8. That we will faithfully endeavour to have a free Parliament, consisting of such persons as have not been accessary to, and furtherers of the late Engagement, for which end we do again hereby require that in the election of Commissioners from Burroughs and Shires to the Parliament, the rules and directions set down in our Acts of thee 22 of September last, and the 4. of this instant month of October, may be punctually observed throughout the Kingdom.  
And we call the searcher of hearts to record that these are our real and true intentions, and that we do not, nor shall by the grace of God pursue any private ends or interests of our own; and we trust the Lord our God who knoweth the sincerity of our resolutions, who hath also had mercy upon us, and hath begun to do so graciously for us, will assist us herein, until his work shall be accomplished.   

This Declaration and Proposals were Ordered to be forthwith printed and published; and communicated to the Citizens of London, and the rest of His Majesty's liege People within the Realm of England.  
Signed, T. HENDERSON.   

On Wednesday Octob. 18. A Letter were read in the House of Commons, from the Lord Gen. Fairfax, intimating, the present proceed of the Army and how that several Petitions are promoting amongst the soldiery, purporting the great difficulties which they had undergone this Summer, in subduing their enemies, and received very little pay, yet understood taxes were generally paid, desiring that the Army be divided into the Counties proportionable to the tax they pay, and also that their Arreas may be thought of, especially the last. Upon reading the said Letter, the Commons spent much time in debate thereof, and came to this result.  
Resolved, etc. That the desires of the Soldiery be forthwith satisfied, and that speedy care be taken for settling their Arrears.   
FINIS.