A DECLARATION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE OFFICERS of the ARMY: Agreed upon at Wallingford-house, 27th Octob. 1659.  
Thursday, 27th Octob. 1659.  

ORdered by the General Council of the Officers of the Army, That this Declaration be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Tho: Sandford Secret.   
LONDON, Printed by Henry Hills, Printer to the ARMY, dwelling in Aldersgate Street next door to the Peacock. 1659.   

A DECLARATION OF THE General Council OF THE Officers of the ARMY, Agreed upon at Wallingford-House the 27th. of October, 1659.  
ALthough all occasions are very unpleasing unto us, whereby we are necessitated by Declaration, or Appeal to justify ourselves, or our Actings to these Nations, and especially when( to do ourselves right) we must necessary insist upon the failings and miscarriages of others: Yet seeing it hath pleased God by the hand of his wise and all-disposing Providence, to bring the Affairs of this Commonwealth into the State and Condition wherein now they are, We hold ourselves obliged to give an account to the People thereof, and of our Proceedings therein: And conceiving it unnecessary to look back, or reflect upon the secret Designs which were contrived in that Parliament that ended the 12th. of April last, and broken forth in the late Insurrection in Cheshire, and other parts of this Nation, to the extreme hazard of the Lives and Estates of all the well-affected people of this Commonwealth, and of whatsoever is valuable and dear unto them, We hope it will be sufficient at this time to declare as followeth.  
That before the re-calling of the late Parliament, we had divers consultations, and thoughts of heart, in what way and manner we might most effectually provide for the Peace and good Government of this Commonwealth; and at length, calling to mind those many great things which had been effected for the good of these Nations, during the Sitting of the said Parliaament; And being likewise fully persuaded, that the Government of these Nations might be most happily placed upon the Foundation of a Commonwealth, and that upon such Principles, as was then agreed upon by us, and hoping that through their experience in Affairs of Government, we might most safely deliver the Power and Trust of these Nations into their hands, having likewise those further encouragements, That they, having lain for some years under that rebuk, which God had given them for their former miscarriages, would thereby have been instructed to follow him more close, in the paths leading to Peace and Righteousness: And also from some previous Meetings, with some worthy and leading Members of that House, who, upon debate with us, approved of the Principles aforesaid, and communicated them to divers of their fellow Members, That not onely old displeasures would have been forgotten, but that the single welfare and settled Government of this Commonwealth, would have been onely aimed at: and( as by one of the chief amongst themselves was expressed) having in Two moneths, or thereabouts, settled the Government of these Nations) go up with Moses to mount Nebo, and die. And although we were not ignorant, that by their former interruption, it was the opinion of many learned and able persons, who well understood Affairs of that kind, that the late Parliament was wholly Dissolved; and especially by the peoples succeeding Elections, who, upon Writs issued out to them for that purpose, reseized that Trust which they had formerly given them. And to this purpose let us repeat an expression of an eminent person; who sate as a Member in both the late Parliaments, ( and was deeply concerned in these late Actings) used upon another occasion in Parliament.  
That the people by their Electing Members, to represent them in Parliament, had cut that knot with their own Sword, which by no other ways was capable to be dissolved or broken; Yet being desirous, like drowning men,( who are ready to seize upon every Twig) to lay hold of any thing that had the least appearance of Civil Authority, thereby hoping, not onely to keep these Nations from sinking into Confusion, but to see it happily established upon the Basis aforementioned: We did think fit by our Declaration of the 6th. of May last, to invite the Members of that Parliament, to return to the Exercise and Discharge of the Trust formerly reposed in them; which being by them accordingly accepted, soon after their Sitting, we did, in a most humble and solemn manner, present our Petition and Address unto them, wherein was contained the sum of our desires and principles aforesaid: To which we had, to our great content, ample assurance of the Parliaments good acceptance expressed not only by their hearty thanks at that time, but after by their Votes, approving divers of the same, and promising to provide for others, referred the same to several Committees of their own Members, appointed for that purpose.  
Things being brought( as we then hoped) to a good posture, tending towards Settlement & Satisfaction, we did expect the speedy fruits thereof, when contrary to our expectations, instead of an effectual and full Act of Oblivion,( desired in our third Proposal, as the medium of quiet and security to ourselves, and other the well-affected people of the Commonwealth, who had served under the former Governments, and of encouragement to us, and them again with cheerfulness under them, to discharge our duties in our and their respective places and stations) we found it a long time to hang in suspense, and at last( after divers and earnest importunities to many Members of Parliament) and Act of indemnity came forth so imperfect and ineffectual for the ends expected, as that not onely our selves, but divers others were left liable to ruin at their pleasures, and subject to trouble and molestation at Law, for Acts done for the public Service; as well during the time of their former Sitting, as under other succeeding Governments.  
And for what concerned our desires in our 12th. proposal,( for the union of the Forces of this Commonwealth) wherein we did unanimously own the Lord Fleetwood to be Commander in Chief of the land Forces of this Commonwealth; and concerning which, we had assurance given, that the same should be granted in Parliament: we were not less deceived in our expectation, his Commission being restrained to the Forces of England and Scotland, and limited to the fixth of May next ensuing; or to be revoked at pleasure: and the further to abridge him of the Authority necessary belonging to the Commander in Chief of an Army, for the good Government thereof: And to render the Army wholly subservient to their will, they Resolved, That all Commissions should be given out by the Speaker, opening a way to decline or cast out whom they pleased, without so much as hearing: which nevertheless, for peace sake, was submitted unto by the Army; it being then affirmed, that no such thing had been, or ever would be done in Parliament, which proved otherwise in the sequel, as will be hereafter more particularly manifested.  
What factions hereupon grew up in the Army, what new moulding, changing and transforming thereof( to the discomposure of the whole) how prodio were made, headed, and encouraged by divers Members sitting in Parliament, and strengthened; not onely by bringing divers persons into Command of prejudiced mindes, but by removing faithful Officers into remote parts of this Commonwealth, without any cause shown, or consultations had with the Commander in Chief thereupon, was not onely notoriously known by those, who are concerned in Military Affairs, but obvious to common observations. By which means the aforementioned Design of a general Insurrection took further encouragement, spreading itself into every part of this Nation: and being now grown ripe( though by the wonderful goodness of God prevented in other places) broken forth in Cheshire the first of August last, where a considerable Number of Horse and Foot were speedily drawn together, and formed into an Army, under the Command of Sir George Booth and others; For the suppression of which, a convenient Number of the Army were appointed to march under the Command of mayor General Lambert, and( through the blessing of God upon their faithful and cheerful endeavours) that Enemy was suddenly routed and subdued, and the whole Nation reduced again to quietness, with little loss of blood, and less of other the sad marks and effects which usually attend a Civil war. The full sense of which Mercy put it into the hearts and mindes of some Officers of that part of the Army, to meet and consider how the same might be improved to the glory of God, and good of the Common-wealth: And thereupon resolved upon a Paper, which, together with a Letter, they sent to the Lord Fleet-wood, desiring if he saw it fit, to communicate it to a General Council of Officers for their approbation: His Excellency( desiring to put the same into such a way as might not savour of offence to the Parliament, or any member thereof) consulted with Sir Arthur Hesilrig thereupon, and in order to the taking further counsel therein, desired that he, Sir Henry Vane and mayor Salwey, would meet with himself to consider of such course to be taken in this matter, as might best suit with the present occasion and posture of affairs: But contrary to expectation and all ingenuity( although a meeting was agreed upon) the next day Sir Arthur Hesilrig informed the House of the said Paper, representing that some dangerous design against the Parliament, was on foot in the Army, and intentions to introduce a new Government, by setting up a single person, though that Paper was manifestly contrary to any such end or purpose, as by its being exposed to public view, will more fully appear. Whereupon, the House possessed with prejudice upon this misinformation, fell into high debates, expressing great heat and anger against the Lord Lambert, and several other faithful Officers of the Brigade, from whence the Paper came, although they were truly informed by the Lord Fleetwood, and others, that the Lord Lambert gave no consent, nor had any hand in the same, but endeavoured the suppression thereof both before and after his coming to Town; And also although neither the Paper itself, nor the matter of fact was before them, nor the persons admitted to speak for themselves, so that now it was apparent, that those factions already laid, began again to pursue, what they had in prospect and design more openly and vigorously then before. Hereupon the Officers of the Army, thought it their duty to represent to the Parliament their innocency, and to vindicate themselves from those aspersions which were unworthily and falsely charged upon them, and withall( to obviate the afore-mentioned designs) to desire that the Army might receive their Commissions, with the advice of such persons, who by experience had the knowledge of their abilities and fitness for service, and that they might not be turned out arbitrarily, but by the usual and known way of a Court marshal, and being willing to bury all prejudices bypassed, they desired only that some Checque and discouragement might be put upon such, who( for the future) should endeavour to beget misunderstandings between the Parliament and them.  
And lastly, asserting the Liberty and Rights belonging to all the People of this Commonwealth, as also to themselves, of presenting in a peaceable and submissive way their desires to the Parliament, which being expressed in our Representation and Petition, was humbly presented to them on the 5th. of this instant October. The reception whereof being accompanied with the Thanks of the House, gave again renewed hopes of a right understanding between the Parliament and the Army. Both which Representation and Petition, together with the Answer of the House thereunto, have been already exposed to public view.  
The general Council of Officers, when they agreed the aforesaid Representation and Petition, resolved then,( to the end the true state of affairs might be commanicated unto those of the Army, who were equally concerned with them) That Copies thereof should be sent to the Officers of the several Regiments, Troops, Companies, and Garrisons, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, Inviting them( in case they were free thereunto) to concur with them in their just desires: And likewise appointing the said Letter to be Signed by a Committee of Officers which they had appointed for that purpose.  
The Parliament upon the 10th. of October, taking into debate the said humble Representation and Petition, Resolved in answer to the first Proposal, That the Officers of the Army had received, and should from time to time receive marks of the favour of the Parliament, and countenance answerable to their faithfulness and merit. Which, how far it did answer the reasonable part of their desire, we leave to all indifferent persons to judge, when they shall duly weigh the following proceedings.  
In the afternoon of the same day they did resolve, that this be the answer to the second Proposal, That it is the duty of all Persons, especially Members of Parliament, to inform the House of any thing which in their apprehension may concern the public safety. And, that it is the undoubted right of the Parliament, to receive and debate those Informations, and resolve what they think fit thereupon. Where we cannot choose but take notice, that this being applied to the said second Proposal, it asserts it to be the duty of all persons to inform the House of any thing, be it never so frivolous and false, which in their apprehensions concern the public safety. And that it is the undoubted right of the Parliament to receive and debate those informations, and to resolve thereupon if they think sit, the ruin and destruction of them, and their Families, who are informed against, before the said persons be heard, or their Case truly stated before them.  
Upon Tuesday the next day after, a Bill was brought into the House, and, contrary to the usual Orders of Parliament, thrice red in one and the same day, and passed into an Act, thereby enacting, That all Orders, Ordinances, and Acts made by any single Person and his Council, or by both or either of them, or otherwise, or by any Assembly, or Convention pretending to have Authority of Parliament, from and after the 19. day of April 1653. and before the 7. of May 1659. and which have not been, or shall not be enacted, allowed, or confirmed by this present Parliament, be, should be, and were thereby declared, deemed, taken, and adjudged to be of no force or effect, from and after the said 7. of May, 1659. which was altogether contrary to what was humbly desired in the third Preposal of the Petition and address of the 12. of May, 1659. and to what they gave us just grounds to expect, having committed that Proposal to a Committee of their own, to bring in such Bill or bills for that purpose, as they thought necessary.  
And in the same Bill it was likewise contained, That no Person or Persons should after the 11. of October( being the very day that the said Act was hastily passed) raise Moneys without consent of the people in Parliament, thereby in an instant putting a doubt and discomposure upon all mens mindes that are concerned in matters of that nature, so that if any thing should across such their strange proceedings, the Army might be necessitated to that odious Refuge of Free Quarter, or else be exposed to such provocations, through the want of a fit provision for their subsistence, as might alienate their mindes from that care and duty that is incumbent on them, for the peace and security of the Commonwealth.  
And not only so, but the other mischiefs arising from this precipitate Act will prove many and great. For then the most choice and godly Ministers of the Nation, will be found to be comprised herein, and themselves and their maintenances altogether avoided, and great numbers of profane and scandalous Ministers, which have been ejected for near the space of six years past, will then be re-estated; the Adventurers and Souldiers Lands in Ireland left at a loss and in confusion; the Rebels that were transplanted there, be at their liberty to return; the union made between England and Scotland rendered invalid; All the Compositions and Assurances thereupon given and made to the Protestants in Ireland, and to the excepted persons and Delinquents in Scotland and Ireland made insignificant; divers Souldiers, who have for a long time in our former times of Difficulty, and have since either voluntarily upon reducements, or otherwise left the Army, and betaken themselves to several Occupations and Callings within several Towns, and Occupations for a Livelihood to them and their Families, are not only for the future disenabled to profess and use the same, but likewise left liable to the severity of the Laws and customs, for all things done contrary thereunto since the 7. of May 1659; All Estates conferred on any person or persons by former Governments, though upon never so valuable and public considerations, left in a dangerous and uncertain condition, to the dwelling and unknown discomposure of several mens estates and interests, the consequences whereof will in short time appear by the sad effects of multiplying suits and vexation of innocent persons, if the said Act could be deemed as valid. Concerning which we shall add no more but, that had not strange precipitancy and design driven it on, it could hardly be believed, that any Supreme Authority would ever have exposed a people to such inconveniences.  
Things being thus prepared in order to further ends, the next day( being Wednesday) the Parliament hoping they had a great influence upon part of the Army, and conceiving they had by their late Acts sufficiently perplexed those whom they doubted might oppose them, and that the Government of these Nations was so sure in their own hands, as in all probability things might come to confusion, except managed by themselves, proceed vigorously to put their designs in practise. In the morning the Doors of the Lobby, by their appointment being fast shut and guarded, that none might by any means come near to the House, or understand their proceedings: Occasion is administered from one of the Letters which was signed by several Officers, according to appointment of the General Council, and sent to a Regiment of the Army, and produced by a Member of the House( it being of no other purport then the sending the said Representation and Petition to one of the Regiments of the Army as is before-mentioned) Yet nevertheless they fell foul upon the several Officers who had subscribed it, and took this rise in pursuance of their former intent to make a plain breach upon the Army; and thereupon vote out of their Commands( without hearing any one person speak for himself, or examine whether the persons whose names were subscribed, were their hand-writing or not) the Lord Lambert, General Disborow, and seven other Colonels and Field Officers, disposing divers of their Commands to the Officers next under them: And as they did the day before, so now, they hastily passed it into an Act before they rose, for the making voided the Lord Fleetwoods Commission, and investing the Command of the Army in seven persons, whereof himself was one, some of whom were the principal in carrying on this whole design. Whereupon the House adjourned, and three of the said number immediately repaired to the Speakers chamber: And having provided themselves of six barrels of Powder, and a quantity of Provision, forthwith gave out orders for Colonel Morley's Regiment to draw thither; as also to divers other Regiments, Troops and Companies, which they thought would be most sure to them; And likewise gave order to Colonel Okey to draw his Regiment to the Palace-yard, upon which he marched to Tuttle fields with four of his troops; and from thence( having sent one into the Palace yard he marched with the other three into London for countenancing the drawing together the Militia forces, in order to a conjunction with them, which proved there ineffectual, but had other success in Southwark, where by like directions, Colonel Thomsons Regiment drew together under the command of their Lieutenant Colonel; and that no endeavours might be wanting, Orders were sent to Colonel Hackers Regiment, quartering in and about Leicestershire, and other Troops in other remote places in the Country, to march to Westminster with all speed; the tendency whereof must naturally led to the engaging the City; Country, and Army, in blood.  
The Officers of the Army having received notice of these things, and being greatly amused at so strange and sudden a mutation, and that the office of Commander in chief, should be this minute executed by the hand of my Lord Fleetwood, and the next by the hands of sir Arthur Hesilrig, Colonel Morley, and Colonel Walton; and that Orders were so speedily hastened out for the drawing of force together, were in great doubt that such strange and violent courses did portend some sad and fatal event: And thereupon they judged it their duty, for preservation of themselves, their friends, and honest interest in the Nation and Army, to draw together in Arms, and march to the Palace yard at Westminster( the place they had appointed for their rendezvous) to understand the reasons and grounds of their so assembling themselves together: And being arrived there, and perceiving that several Companies of Colonel Morley's Regiment were placed in the Hall, Gatehouse, Clockhouse, and Exchequer Chamber, and thereabouts, in hostile manner, all endeavours were used to inform them of the true state of affairs, and to draw them to such a compliance with the rest of their brethren of the Army, as might avoid the effusion of blood; but finding them, by the persuasion of their leaders, obstinately bent to oppose, We found ourselves necessitated to put the Forces into a posture of defence; and for the grounds and reasons aforementioned,( as also, that they might not be further encouraged and countenanced in such a dangerous opposition, to the apparent hazard of the public peace) to put a period and determination to the Parliaments meeting together; and think ourselves yet further obliged, for preventing of the manifold evils and inconveniences, which must necessary fall upon the other good people of the Nation, as well as our selves, by reason of the several Orders, Acts, pretended Acts or other Declaration, or any of them, enacted, made, or past on monday the 10th of this instant October, and on Tuesday and Wednesday then next following, to declare them and every of them, null and voided to all intents and purposes; And do hereby declare them, and every of them, and every clause and sentence therein, invalid, null and voided, to all intents and purposes: And likewise all Acts, Orders, and proceedings thereupon had or done, in as full, and ample manner, as if the said Orders, Acts, pretended Acts or Declarations, and every of them, had never been. All which we thought fit to publish and declare, to the end all persons concerned may take notice thereof; and no person whatsoever suffer any further prejudice thereby, hoping that all peaceable, well minded, and unprejudiced persons will acquiesce in the necessity and justice thereof.  
And now we shall conclude, in declaring to the World, that it is upon our hearts, and we earnestly desire, and shall endeavour, that a due liberty may be assured to all the free born people of these Nations, both as Men and Christians: that a full and through Reformation of the Law may be effected, as also that a Faithful, godly, and painful gospel-preaching ministry may be encouraged and provided for, by some certain way that may be less troublesone to them, and less vexatious to the people, then that of Tithes.  
And we do further Declare, That we have no aim or ends to set up a Military or Arbitrary Government over this Commonwealth; but have already provided that the Civil and Executive part of Government may be be lodged in a Committee of safety, and they obliged in a short time, to prepare such a form of Government, as may best svit and comport with a free State and Commonwealth, without a Single Person, King-ship or House of Pears: And that we shall to the utmost of our endeavours, labour to obtain those desirable things so often declared for; and to maintain and preserve the Peace of these Nations in our several Stations and Places, and shall hope that God for his own Glory, and the good of his own People, will give a blessed end of these troubles, by a happy Settlement upon the principles formerly declared for; and which have been, and still are so earnestly breathed after, by all those who truly fear his Name,  
Who, we doubt not, being truly sensible of the many temptations besetting us on every hand, the great difficulties we labour under,( and know not what farther straits a day may bring forth) will say on our behalves, who are sufficient for these things? And out of former experiences, being taught, that the Lord is a present help in time of trouble, will cry aloud for us before the Throne of Grace, That the Lord himself may appear, and carry on his own work in our hands. And if it shall please him by his Spirit, to stir up those that fear his Name to be instant on our behalves, We shall not fear what evil men can do unto us.  
FINIS.