Friday, April 22. 1653.  
THE DECLARATION OF The Lord General, AND His Council of Officers, Showing the Grounds and Reasons for the Dissolution of the Parliament, April 20. 1653.  
The effect and sum of it, as followeth.  
AFter it had pleased God not only to reduce Ireland, and give in Scotland, but so marvellously to appear for his people at Worcester, that those Nations were reduced to a great degree of peace, and England to perfect quiet, and thereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their labour, blood, and treasure, and to settle a due Liberty both in reference to civil and spiritual things, whereunto they were obliged by their duty, their engagements, as also the great and wonderful things which God hath wrought for them; it was matter of much grief to the good and well-affected of the Land, to observe the little progress which was made therein, who thereupon applied to the Army, expecting redress by their means: Notwithstanding which, the Army being unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority, in matters so properly appertaining to it, it was agreed, That his Excellency and Officers of the Army, which were Members of Parliament, should be desired to move the Parliament, to proceed vigorously in reforming what was amiss in Government, and to the settling of the Commonwealth, upon a foundation of Justice and Righteousness; which having done, we hoped that the Parliament would seasonably have answered our expectation, but finding (to our grief) delays therein, we renewed our desires in an humble Petition to them, which was presented in August last: And although, they at that time, signifying their good acceptance thereof, returned us thanks, and referred the particulars thereof, to a Commit of the House, yet no considerable effect was produced, nor any such progress made, as might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was Petitioned for: But on the contrary, there more and more appeared amongst them, an aversion to the things themselves, with much bitterness and opposition to the people of God, and his Spirit acting in them; which grew so prevalent, that those persons of honour and integrity amongst them, who had eminently appeared for God and the public good, both before and throughout this war, were rendered of no further use in Parliament, then by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends, and for effecting the desire they had of perpetuating themselves in the Supreme Government. For which purpose the said party long opposed, and frequently declared themselves against having a New Representative: And when they saw themselves necessitated to take that Bill into consideration, they resolved to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same spirit and temper, thereby to perpetuate their own sitting. Which intention divers of the most active amongst them did manifest, labouring to persuade others to a consent therein: And the better to effect this, divers Petitions preparing from several Counties, for the continuance of this Parliament, were encouraged, if not set on foot by many of them.  
For obviating these evils, the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament, to consider what fitting means and remedy might be applied to prevent the same; but such endeavours proving altogether ineffectual, it became most evident to the Army, as they doubt not it is also to all considering persons, that this Parliament, through the corruption of some, the jealousy of others, the non-attendance and negligence of many, would never answer those ends, which God, his people, and the whole Nation expected from them. But that this Cause which the Lord hath so greatly blessed, and bore witness to, must needs languish under their hands, and by degrees be wholly lost, and the lives, liberties, and comforts of his people, delivered into their Enemy's hands.  
All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest people of this Nation, as well as by the Army, and wisdom and direction being sought from the Lord, it seemed to be a duty incumbent upon us, who had seen so much of the power and presence of God going along with us, to consider of some more effectual means to secure the Cause which the good people of this Commonwealth had been so long engaged in, and to establish righteousness and peace in these Nations.  
And after much debate it was judged necessary, and agreed upon, that the Supreme Authority should be by the Parliament, devolved upon known persons, men fearing God, and of approved integrity, and the Government of the Commonwealth committed unto them for a time, as the most hopeful way to encourage and countenance all God's people, reform the Law, and administer justice impartially, hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy, and understanding their true interest in the election of successive Parliaments, may have the Government settled upon a true Basis, without hazard to this glorious Cause, or necessitating to keep up Arms for the defence of the same.  
And being still resolved to use all means possible to avoid extraordinary courses, we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament, to give us a Conference, with whom we freely and plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals, on that behalf: And did evidence that those, and not the Act under their consideration, would most probably bring forth something answerable to that work, the foundation whereof, God himself hath laid, and is now carrying on in the world.  
The which notwithstanding found no acceptance, but in stead thereof, it was offered, that the way was to continue still this present Parl. as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things. And this being vehemently insisted upon, did much confirm us in our apprehensions, That not any love to a Representative, but the making use thereof to recruit, and so to perpetuate themselves, was their aim.  
They being plainly dealt with about this, and told, That neither the Nation, the honest interest, nor we ourselves would be deluded by such deal, they did agree to meet again next day in the afternoon for mutual sat is faction, it being consented to by the Members present, that endeavours should be used, that nothing in the mean time should be done in Parliament, that might exclude or frustrate the Proposals before mentioned.  
Notwithstanding this, the next morning the Parliament did make more haste then usual in carrying on their said Act, being helped on therein by some of the persons engaged to us the night before, none of them which were then present endeavouring to oppose the same; and being ready to put the main Question for consummating the said Act, whereby our aforesaid Proposals would have been rendered void, and the way of bringing them into a fair and full debate in Parliament, obstructed.  
For preventing whereof, and all the sad and evil consequences, which must upon the grounds afore said have ensued, and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men, and of this glorious cause, had been endangered to be laid in the dust, and these Nations embroiled in new troubles, at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against us, and some of them actually engaged in War with us, we have been necessitated, though with much relunctancy, to put an End to this Parliament.  
And desire, That all men, as they would not provoke the Lord to their own destruction, should wait for such issue as he shall bring forth, and to follow their business with peaceable spirits, wherein we promise them protection by his assistance.  
FINIS.