A LETTER FROM THE Lord Gen. Monck, TO Major General OVERTON: Together with Mayor Gen. overton's Answer thereunto.  
LONDON, Printed by James Cottrel. 1660.   

SIR,  
BEing through the good providence of God, now at York taking care for the Affairs of the Parliament in these parts; and the condition of the Garrison of Hull being somewhat doubtfully respresented to me; seeing I can yet meet with no person that can assure me, that you have yet declared for the Parliament now sitting at Westminster: I have thought it meet to send this Messenger, that so I might receive satisfaction in that point, and so all grounds of suspicion and jealousy might be prevented; which will not be avoided otherwise then by a full and free Declaration of your obedience to the Parliament in their present constitution: in expectation of a satisfactory answer in this particular, I remain  
Your very loving Friend and Servant, George Monck. York, 12 Jan. 1659.   

Right Honourable,  
YOurs of the 12 Currant from York I have received, by the hands of my old friend Adjutant Gen. Smith, and do perceive that Report renders Hull as doubtful to you, as it did your design dangerous to us and others: but I am very glad to hear that you adhere to this Parliament in their present constitution, against the readmission of the secluded Members, a free Parliament or single Person; one of which hath continually been charged upon you, as the common cry of your Army. For my own part, however any airy rumour may have represented me, yet both my Actions and Words before and since the Parliaments interruption, have so sufficiently declared my adherence to them in opposition to that invasion made upon them; that for me to bring up the Rear of verbal Testimonies by an ex post facto Declaration, when I have not concurred with or countenanced any thing, that hath in the least derogated from your Authority or the Trust reposed in me, is very much below me, who have ever opposed Faithfulness to Flattery, and endeavoured to be found in practice rather than profession. But I suppose the Parliament have by this time received satisfaction from what I have signified of my continued adherence to them; and besides, I have sent up my Major personally to represent to them the same, and how difficult it was for us, to preserve this place by any other procedure then what was our practice here: wherein upon the one hand I was very careful to decline any thing which owned the Army in their force, so on the other hand (their interest here overleaping me) I was necessitated to walk so warily (by some circumstantial condescensions to them) that they might not have opportunity to out me; which was designed, by an intention to secure both me and my Major. I have enclosed to you a Copy of that Letter I sent to the General Council of Officers in opposition to their Address for Gen. Officers: which with my declining concurring with any of their proceeds, subscribing any of their Papers, refusing their Commissions, withstanding their Commands, forcing out two Companies (after my own came from Scotland, commanded by their Creatures) turning back one of my Lord Lambert's Troops, which he sent for the security of this place; and calling in Major Acklams, whom I could better confide in; refusing to give my approbation to their Writs sent down for electing Members, are my witnesses that my works have not denied, but all along declared for the Parliament, in whose Cause I have been and am, as deeply concerned as others, both by active and passive obedience; and shall not cease further to testify my faithfulness to them therein, according to the tenor of our Engagements, remaining  
Right Honourable, Your assured and humble Servant, Rob. Overton. Hull, Jan. 13. 1659.  
FINIS.