A DECLARATION AND REPRESENTATION FROM THE Forces of the Northern Associations to his Excellency, Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX. And by him presented to the Parliament, JUNE the 12th. 1647. July 13 LONDON, Printed for John Benson, and are to be sold at his shop in Chancery Lane near the Rolls, 1647 A Declaration of the free and constant coherence of the Soldiers in the Northern Association, with the Army now under the command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax. WHereas there hath been an express of the real and honourable intentions, and grounds of and from the Army manifested (in most just and honest terms to the Houses of Parliament and Kingdom) clearing to every indifferent and sound judgement the cause of their proceed, for the kingdom and their own deuce, and interressed satisfactions, we having, by God's providence, the opportunity to show our affections no less ready and inclinable, to maintain and confirm the lawful obtaining of our right & just privileges then themselves declare to be: We therefore declare, as in duty bound, for the mercies we have received from God, and the faithful service we own to the Kingdom, to join and associate ourselves with the Southern Army, under the command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, for the speedy and happy effecting, a true, lasting and well grounded peace, wherein may consist the pre-eminence of all honour and welfare, both to the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and that there may be no misapprehensions, as usually public actions and resolves are liable unto at the first, appearing in the eyes of men un-acquainted in the business, and in the eyes of those (who being prepossessed of guilt cunningly oppose,) We further declare ourselves free from any secret intentions in reference to the promotion of any particular design, or our own particular interests, but are absolutely raised and moved (in ourselves) to a necessary compliance with that Army upon those good, clear and sound principles, which tendeth to the promotion and protection of justice, and the liberty of the subject, as hitherto (by the management of the affairs of so great importance) have appeared, we shall no less endeavour to defend with our lives and estates, The lawful designs of those truly well affected Soldiers than we would oppose a foreign invasion or prevent an indirect or unwarrantable war, our warrant being the same for either nature or law, and the Covenant binding thereto. We shall therefore prosecute the discovery of all persons complotted and combined against us and these just desires, that we may keep our friends and Nation free from any enforced injury or prejudice, whatsoever, especially we giving to understand that we have not any intentions to spill the blood of any man, or to wrong them in their proper goods, or entrench upon the conscience, of any, our chiefest care being in this our Declaration and intentions at present and for future, to provide for a correspondency with that Army, to live or die, rejoice or suffer with them, as we are mutually engaged, our expectations of reward being no other than the salving of those grievances published from that Army (with our own) the Soldier's honour and livelihood repaired, their service thankfully requited, and all corrupt persons in authority in Court of Judicature and Offices of the Kingdom expunged, and all such several good Acts as shall be for the present and future concernment, of the Kingdom 〈…〉 satisfactory to the generality, so we desire not to require an addition of redresses of any particular man's wants or sufferings whatsoever, but attend on the general business in hand, for the accomplishment of the Armies, our own, and the well affected of the Kingdoms desires, and just demands, the necessity, justice, and sincerity whereof, we desire to vindicate as our lives. Pomfret, July 5 1647, The humble Representation of the Soldiers of the Northern Association, presented first to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and to be by him presented to the Honourable Houses of Parliament. 1 THat the Honourable Houses of Parliament would be pleased to look upon the representative desire and grievances of his Excellency's Army, as our desires and grievances, which we humbly desire may be justly (not feignedly) granted and redressed. 2 That whereas the Parliament was pleased to declare against their just desires contained in their representations, & proceed to disband before redress of the grievances, we humbly desire that the misrepresentours of the aforesaid desires and obstructours of their just satisfactions, their desires and grievances being ours, may be brought forth to legal trial. 3 That the illegal imprisonment of several Officers and the endeavours used by some to imprison others for speaking in the behalf of his Excellency's Army, and their just deuce may be repaired, and the occasion thereof dealt with according to their deserts. 4 That those who endeavoured to render his Excellency's Army odious by aspersions, and thereby to deprive them of that Honour which they have so dear bought, and to incense the Kingdom and Soldiers against them, may be proceeded against according to justice. 5 That such provision may be made for better supply of us for the future, whereby we may be enabled to discharge our Quarters, that so we may not for necessary food be beholding to the Parliaments friends, who have spent their estates in the Service, whose preservation is the things we desire, and in whose happiness our own is involved. To his Excellency Sir THO. FAIRFAX, Captain General of all the Forces raised for the Parliament in England, Dominion of Wales. The humble desires of the Soldiers of the Northern Association, showeth. THat whereas your Excellency's Petitioners having for some few years passed served the Parliament and Kingdom in the late unnatural Wars, and having undergone the same with all cheerfulness and readiness notwithstanding the sad discontentment, and sad sufferings which we have undergone, being not at all thereby so discouraged, as to manifest any visible distemper, or unwillingness unto the aforesaid service our conditions being at present so uncertain, that we know not to whom to repair as our chief Conductor, and by reason of the same we are exposed to an incapacity of being made partakers of the fruits of our wearied travels and dangerous services, out of the experience that we have had of your Excellencies care for the satisfaction and preservation both of Soldiers and Subjects, we are emboldened to present these as followeth. That your Excellency would be pleased to make our satisfaction and preservation, the object of your Excellencies care together with the Army at present under your Excellency's command, and resident with you. That to the end we may be exempted from further obedience to any other command then what may conduce for the obtaining of our just deuce and privileges, the establishing of the peace of the Kingdom, & with which your Excellency's advice and approbation shall concur. That your Excellency would be pleased to recommend this annexed representation of our desires to the Parliament, to prevent misunderstanding betwixt the Parliament and the Soldiers of this Kingdom, for the obtaining of their just desires, and putting an end to these present distractions. And your Petitioners shall pray, etc. Colonel General Points Regiment of Horse. Robert Bradley Nathanael Croft Colonel Bethels Regiment. George Issot Thomas Jackson Colonel Copley's Regiment. Nicholas Baker William Bates Colonel Overton's Regiment. John Bennington William Wren Colonel Overton's Regiment. John Mark Edward Field Colonel Ponsonby's Regiment. Thomas Hunter Thomas Wharton Colonel Collenwoods' Regiment. Robert Sharp Thomas Shacklock Colonel Legard Regiment. Robert Tod William Blanchard Agitating in the behalf of the several and respective Regiments. FINIS.