A DECLARATION OF THE Officers belonging to the Brigade OF Col. john Lambert, Commander in chief in the Northern Parts, now lying Leaguer before Pontefract Castle, At a General Meeting of them, to advise upon (and declare their sense of) the present condition of Affairs of the Kingdom, To his Excellency the Lord General FAIRFAX and his General Council.  
As also Col. LAMBERT'S Letter to the General concerning the same.  

BY the Apointment of the Officers at a General Meeting.  
Pontefract, Decemb. 12. Signed, THO. MARGETTS.   
LONDON, Printed by John Macock, for JOHN PARTRIDGE. 1648.   

A Declaration of the Officers of Colonel Lambert's Brigade, etc.  
May it please your Excellency,  
DIvers of us at a late meeting, did make a short address by Letter unto your Lordship, and your General Council, of what was thought fit at that present, until a more general meeting and consideration might be had, of those things, we, both before and then, had in our thoughts to present unto you. And being now convened at a full meeting, deeply sensible, and clearly satisfied in our judgements, of the present dangerous posture, and sad condition of the Kingdom, in relation to the Treaty, and other public affairs; We have agreed, on the behalf of ourselves, and the rest of the Officers and Soldiers under our Commands, to express unto you that sense and those humble desires, which God hath been pleased to put into our hearts thereupon, as followeth.  
At the beginning of these late differences, the Parliament having acquainted the Kingdom, with the King's Intentions to draw the Sword of War against them, for the maintaining of His Own Arbitrary Power, and by their several Declarations, Remonstran●●s, etc. given clear satisfaction to all the well affected, of the justness of a defensive War; and thereby inciting and encouraging all, as they tendered their Native Rights and Freedoms, to rise in Arms for their defence. We were induced out of judgement and conscience, to appear accordingly, and have ever since employed, and used our utmost endeavours, to the great hazard of our lives, estates, and all that was dear unto us, in that just and necessary work.  
In prosecution whereof, this poor Kingdom, hath long lain under most heavy burdens, and oppressions, vast sums of money have been raised by the Parliament upon Excise, Sequestrations, Compositions of Delinquents, Assessments, Bishops Lands, King and Queen's Revenues, etc. besides the great debts of the Kingdom unsatisfied, many Towns and Countries much depopulated and destroyed, thousands of our dear friends and fellow-labourers, have lost their lives and perished in this great service, their wives and children been undone, and many of us yet alive, lost much of our dearest blood.  
All which, would yet not seem so grievous to us, the common enemies, being (by the blessing of God upon the Armies) twice vanquished, brought under, and capital offenders apprehended, if after all this (when no visible power hath appeared, or been left, to oppose or hinder the Parliament, from settling the Kingdom, in Peace and Freedom; redeeming it from injustice, slavery, unnecessary taxes, oppressions, and executing Justice upon Offenders) we could once have seen a right use made of those opportunities, which God hath several times put into their hands for doing thereof.  
But; to the great grief of our souls, we see not any probable means by them used, to bring about this necessary work: On the contrary, it is apparent, that private designs are carried on, by pretended, even Parliament, friends, with common enemies, (depriving the Nation of reaping the fruit of all the eight year's labours and services) to introduce that very Tyranny and Oppression, which we were by them invited to oppose; and establish by Treaty, and Act of Parliament, a stronger foundation for (and clearer way to) advancing the King's destructive design and tyrannical vill, then formerly he had, thereby to subject the whole Kingdom, to a mass of perpetual oppression and injustice; and betray all the well affected in the Kingdom, (especially those who had been most actively engaged against the same) to sudden destruction without remedy.  
For proof whereof (omitting many particulars) we need but take a revie● of the several former Treaties, especially this last, most dangerous, Personal Treaty; having all been gained, by the apparent treachery of the said pretended friends, and the cunning policy of the common enemies, upon the loss or weakness of their power in the field; and so pursued upon the plausible pretence of Peacemaking, truly intending nothing but slavery and destruction.  
To bring about this great unparaleld design, these treacherous designers did not only raise several great Armies & Forces in all parts (almost) of the Kingdom (to the great hazard of the ruin thereof,) but also invited and procured a numerous and powerful army out of Scotland, that they might the more plausibly, and upon fairer pretences, carry on their destructive design; suggesting to the Kingdom, that there was no other way for prevention of War, and settling of Peace, then by this Personal Treaty, when they themselves were the causers of the War, and the Kingdom's unsettlement.  
To this purpose they endeavoured (the Lords especially, who refused to join with the Commons in declaring the Scotish Army, invading the Kingdom under the Conduct of Duke Hamilton, to be Enemies) all they could to procure a Cessation of Arms with that (and the English Malignant) Army, when they were in the bowels of the Kingdom, and we were ready to engage with them, that they might thereby get to themselves the greater advantage to carry on their work; Which had they effected, and the good providence of God not prevented, would, in all probability, have brought to pass that their intended Compliance with the King, upon his own terms, and their interest only, which now, after the defeat and absolute breaking of those Forces and Armies, they still labour all they can to bring about, contrary to the earnest desires and frequent Petitions presented to the Parliament from the well-affected in all parts of the Kingdom; and struggling, to the utmost, to put the King's party, and all the Malignant disaffected people, into a better condition, after their last Rebellion, than they were at the beginning, and all the well-affected, that have done and suffered so much, into a ready way of ruin.  
And notwithstanding your Excellency, and your general Council, had most clearly represented to the Parliament the dangers and evils of this personal Treaty, your Remonstrance & Desires were neglected and refused, so much as to be taken into consideration; But on the contrary, (as we have been informed) the King's Answers upon the whole Treaty were voted by the Lords to be satisfactory, and by the House of Commons, to be sufficient for a safe Peace to be grounded upon: Which gives us just cause to believe, that this Treaty is a clear design to betray the Kingdoms just Cause (which God hath twice pleaded, and judged for them in the sight of all men) into their enemy's power again, leaving the unlimited supremacy where it was, as if we had engaged altogether without Cause, and gained nothing by all our losses, hazards and sufferings, but to be thrown, at last, into the cruel hands of our most implacable enemies. And therefore conclude, that all Members of Parliament, or other public persons, acting such designs, are betrayers of their trust, and perverters of the very end and essence of the power committed to them; charging upon them the cause of the Kingdoms present unsetledness, distraction, oppression, and of all our, and their, fears and miseries. So that,  
We cannot longer be silent Spectators of the Kingdoms impending ruin, nor upholders of those that seek it, lest thereby we should be involved in their guilt, and make defection from our first principles, but humbly conceive, that we are still bound in duty and conscience to prosecute and pursue to the utmost of our powers, with our lives and fortunes, those principles of Freedom and Justice, that by the Parliaments Declarations, Remonstrances, etc. we were at first called forth to act upon, in opposition the King's unjust unlimited will, for the recovery and defence of the common Rights and Freedoms of the people, greatly rejoicing to see so general a sympathy in all your Forces (and the well-affected) by their several Addresses to you, and cannot but take special notice of God's great goodness to this poor Nation, in preparing, and providentially disposing a people, in the several corners thereof, to stand up for Truth and Justice, in a time of such woeful corruption and apostasy, wherein many men in public trusts and places (perverting the true end of the power they are entrusted with) study nothing more than the advancing of their own ends and interests.  
Neither will the same Ground and Principle, which led us forth at the beginning of the Wars, to oppose Tyranny and Oppression, in the King and his Adherents, now give us leave to sit down quietly, as long as we see the Authority and Power of the Kingdom setting up the same Tyranny and Oppression, (in their own or any other Interest whatsoever,) or the Parliament taking away that due and just Liberty of the People's choosing their own Representatives, by making themselves perpetual, and thereby in a short time, the little finger of this latter, heavyer then the loins of the former Oppression.  
All which having seriously considered, and that all ordinary means, by the Petitions and cries of the well-affected, have been tried in vain, (when nothing was expected by us and them but sudden destruction,) we received and perused a Copy of your late Remonstrance, presented to the Parliament, wherein we find the grand Case of the Kingdom very faithfully and discerningly stated and laid open, together with a wise and full discovery of the chief Maladies, Distempers, with suitable Prescriptions for its cure and recovery. We could not but express one full approbation of, and free concurrence in the said Remonstrance, what cause we have to bless God, who hath raised in you such a Spirit of discerning Wisdom and Justice, which we hope proceed from Principles of Common Right, for the public Good and Interest of the Kingdom; together with our humble Opinions, that the matters therein contained are most necessary to be prosecuted and obtained, as the most visible and probable means for relieving and settling the Nation.  
And though they may seem (as civil things) not so properly to come from the Army, yet seeing deliverance no other way, and providence calling in a necessary and extraordinary Case, to walk in an extraordinary Way: We know that God, by whom you are called, who hath so often, so eminently, so experimentally appeared, both to you and us in our faithful endeavours, and great hazards for the Kingdom's Rights, will assuredly (upon your walking after him in the way of his Providence, and humble waiting on him, in the way of his Judgements, without impatiency and distemper of spirit,) make your way plain before you, carry you through, and honour you with being the happy Instruments of Redemption and Deliverance to a poor dying Kingdom.  
Our great desire therefore is, That the said Remonstrance may be speedily and effectually acted upon, with such Wisdom, Caution, Self-Denial, Care and Consideration, as that both the common, and bosom Enemy may be prevented in their present, or future, obstructing, opposing; Designs, may not have time and advantage to raise new divisions, troubles; and these good conceptions, which God hath thus begotten in you, and (through you) Remonstrated to the Kingdom, (in which all the well-affected, free, ingenious spirits, will most readily close, and freely act, with you,) may not become an untimely birth (as heretofore,) but prosecuted to the life, so as the whole Kingdom may reap the fruit of all our labours, and its own sufferings.  
Though we shall not take upon us to advise or direct your Council in the prosecution thereof, yet we take the boldness to offer our sense and thoughts, desiring,  
That, as on the one hand, your actings may be full and effectual; so on the other, care may be taken, that they may be, with as much satisfaction as can, to all such tender spirits as do agree with you in the justness and goodness of the things proposed, but notwithstanding are not so clear in using of that means, that you may be forced to take for that end.  
That the same care may be had for the taking away of all present and future objections of wilful and unnecessary force, and that all impartial men may be satisfied, that your actings proceed not from your Wills or Interest, nor shall extend further, then singly and clearly to the redeeming of the just Liberty of this Nation, and the settling of it in peace and quietness.  
To all which we we shall humbly and briefly offer; 

That only such things may be insisted on as may put a reasonable and certain period to this present Parliament, and may, for the future, establish free, successive Parliaments, duly elected according to the Provision in the Remonstrance.  
That there may be a sure provision made for the more equal distributions of Elections, through the whole Kingdom.  
That no persons engaged in this War against the Parliament may either elect or be elected to be members of Parliament.  
That some certain Provision may be made, that no persons that may be elected Members of Parliament, contrary to the Provision in the Remonstrance, may be admitted thereto before they are tried whether duly elected accordingly, and approved by some faithful men, to be carefully chosen, appointed and authorized to judge thereof.  
All which being settled, the Army provided for, so as no free Quarter may be taken, and such other common and ordinary things as concern the administration of common Justice, the present quiet of the Kingdom, and all other things whatsoever, may be left to the power and disposal of the next free and duly elected Parliament, which we conceive may be the most proper instrument in the hand of God for setting the Kingdom.  
These Ends and Principles, so long as you are carried forth to pursue (which we hope you never will forsake) you may be assured of our concurrence and assistance to the utmost of our powers.    
Pontefract, Decem. 12. 1648. By the Appointment of the Officers at a general Meeting. Signed, THO. MARGETTS.  
May it please your Excellency,  
THis day, according to former appointment, there was a general Meeting of Officers here, who resolved upon a Declaration to be presented to your Lordship and your general Council, and appointed Captain Bayns with Captain Bradford to wait on your Excellency therewith, and to give you an account of their proceed. They have desired me to acquaint your Excellency, that they have appointed a standing Council of Officers, to meet on Friday every week, to receive, consult, and advise upon such public affairs as your Excellency or your general Council shall think fit from time to time to communicate to them, for keeping a right understanding and mutual correspondency between the Forces, that there may be a joint acting in this public Service.  
They also desire those Officers may be admitted to sit with your general Council, to the end they may receive the better information, and have account of such public affairs wherein they may be concerned.  
And this is all at the present from  
Pontefract, Dec. 12. 1648. My Lord, Your Excellencies humble and faithful Servant, J. LAMBERT.