A DECLARATION Of His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, AND His COUNCIL of WAR, ON Behalf of themselves and the whole ARMY; Showing the grounds of their present advance towards the City of LONDON.  

By the appointment of his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX and his Council of War.  
Signed IO. RUSHWORTH Secretary   
LONDON, Printed for George Whittington, 1647.   

A Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Council of War.  
When this Army was formerly led by the manifold dispensations of God's providence, and the grounds then declared, to advance towards the City of London, we held it our duty, to yield the Kingdom, the sum of those desires which we had to propose on behalf of it, ourselves, wherein we should acquiesce: And having received from the Parliament, some hopes of due satisfaction therein, and some assurance from the Lord Mayor, aldermans, and Common-council of the City of London, of their ready concurrence with us in those things, & also great resolution professed by them of their care and tenderness to preserve all the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, safe, free, and inviolated, from attempts of all kinds, we do appeals to God, to the City, and to all men, what a speedy compliance to their desires for our removal to a further distance, found in this Army, for preventing all fears, jealousies, and other inconveniencies to the City, and to give clear testimony, that we had nothing in our breasts, but thoughts of peace, and the good and welfare both of Parliament, City, and Kingdom, notwithstanding many false & scandalous reports raised, that we sought ourselves, that we had vile and wicked ends, and that nothing would satisfy the soldier but the plunder of the City, the contrary whereof did manifestly appear, when they so readily marched back upon hopes of satisfaction in their Desires of public concernment.  
Having then upon the aforesaid confidence so withdrawn, and out of a just sense of the Country's suffering (by quarteting) removed the Head-quarter of the Army above 40. miles from London, and dispersed the rest well nigh 200. miles for the more ease of all parts, and that we might give the better satisfaction to the Kingdom. And being in this secure way, and labouring after the sudden settlement of the Kingdom, we had even brought to perfection the particular proposals (included in the generals of our first Representation) to be sent to the Parliament, for a final conclusion of all our troubles. And also had made good progress towards the present relief of distressed Ireland, by assigning a competent force, both of horse and foot forthwith to have advanced for that service.  
But the Kingdoms & our Enemies being most vigilant & active to prevent and frustrate those good intentions, and endeavours of ours; (that they might carry on their former evil designs) and underhand practices, and also preserve themselves from the hand of justice, they have endeavoured to cast the Kingdom into a new and bloody war: And for that end have procured the under-hand-listing of several Reformadoes, and others, have contrived, promoted and caused to be entered into by several persons a wicked and treasonable combination, as is is sufficiently manifested by a Declaration passed thereupon by both Houses of PARLIAMENT, the 23. of July last for the prevention of the disturbances that were like to ensue thereupon; from which kind of disorders the City had been well preserved, during the space of almost 4 years, whilst the Militia was in the hands of the old Commissioners, whereby it appears there was cause for the Army to entreat the Parliament, that the Militia might be returned into the hands it was in before, as also for divers other good Reasons.  
1. The old Commissioners of the Militia (that have been since left out) were not only persons without all exception, having been formerly chosen and approved by the Parliament and City, but also men of whom the City, Parliament, and Kingdom have had above 4 year's experience in the faithful discharge of their trust, more than ever from the beginning, in the worst of times, and in the occasions of greatest d●fficultie, had faithfully and constantly engaged for, and with the Parliament in this cause; Men that were always most desirous of a Peace, but of a safe and well grounded one and that had always testified a great care to prevent all occasions of embroiling the Kingdom in a new War.  
Now that on a sudden this trust which they had so faithfully discharged so long, should be taken out of their hands, and put in●o the hands of others, some whereof (at the best) have been very cool in the service of the Parliament at the beginning of this War; That this should be pressed and in a manner forced upon the Parliament with such importunity from the Conmmon-Councell that some out of every Ward should be assigned to solicit the Members of the House of Cemmons, every day as they went in and out at the House: with professions that they would never leave the door of the House till they were satisfied in their Desires. That they would not be contented with the Militia of the City of London only, unless they might have power also over that of the Suburbs and outparts: and all this before the peace of the Kingdom was settled or the Propositions sent to the King for that purpose.  
These things ministered great cause of suspicion, that this alteration of the Militia was in order to a design, and to make the terms of the Peace, and agreement with the King, (on which the security of the whole Kingdom and their posterity is to be bottomed) more suitable to the private bargainings and undertake of some men, then to the public welfare of the whole Kingdom, in its security and prosperity, for the present and in future times. But this design discovered itself more clearly by such things as accompanied the pursuit of this alteration of the Militia, and ensued upon the obtaining thereof: At the same time that the alteration of the Militia of London was set on foot, the same persons with as much earnestness pressed for the disbanding of this Army, before any thing was settled for the security and liberty of the Kingdom. At the same time the Common-Councel was new modulized, and a Lord Mayor chosen that might suit with the present design in hand: At the time (under colour of differences in some circumstances of Church Government) it was earnestly endeavoured, that such as had been constantly true and most faithful to the interest of the Kingdom should be disabled, to have any employment in Church or Common wealth, either in England or Ireland, and without any such colour or pretence, divers persons were left out of the Common-council, and Militia of eminent deserts and fidelity: and others brought into their rooms that had either testified an ill affection, or little affection to the Parliament and their cause: and such as seeking to withdraw themselves from all employment in the beginning of this War, now at the winding up thereof, are ambitious to thrust themseve into employment, with a design (as may justly be suspected) to frustrate and overthrow in the close of all, the fruit and effect of all the cost and blood that hath been spent and spilt in this cause: and after that with difficulty, and not without reluctancy, in the Houses of Parliament they had obtained the power of the Militia, in the City of London, and also in the outparts for the space of one year. Many Officers and under Officers in the Trained bands of known trust and fidelity were displaced, and others of more doubtful affections placed in their rooms, little care was taken of the honour of the Parliament, which was continually trampled under foot, and their authority affronted by every rabble of Women, Apprentices, Reformadoes and Soldiers, which latter sort of persons were thereby so encouraged to rise higher and higher, in their tumultuous carriages against the Houses, till at length it is risen to the higth of barbarous and monstrous violence against the Parliament, that they might set themselves on work, and the Kingdom on fire again. And now at length, the design appears open faced, and though the Militia be made as the principal ground of the quarrel, yet by the late vows and engagements set one foot before any alteration of the Militia, and the pressing so much the Message of the 12 of May. and the Kings coming to London to confirm the same, show, that the Militia is desired but in order to that design, and to force the Parliament (being wholly in their power) to such Terms of peace as they pleased  
2. In the next place when the interest of the Common-Councel, in their change of the Militia shall be claimed as the Birthright of the City of London, (which they never had any colour to pretend to, saving by the indulgency of the Parliament unto them since this Parliament, in respect of the great use they have had of them, and the many good services they have received from them) It is time for all the Kingdom to look to their Birthrights, if such a claim shall be held up against both the Houses of Parliament, That upon no occasion whatsoever, nor in no time of danger and distraction whatsoever, they may appoint those that shall have the power of the Militia of London without the consent of the Common-Councel; especially when as the Houses shall sit under their power.  
The late Example may evidence to all the World, who shall be Masters of the Parliaments freedom and Resolutions: And common reason will teach every man who shall be Masters of the Birthrights of the whole kingdom when there shall be no Army on foot, when they have the confidence to dispute for the Mastery, notwithstanding such an Army as this to check and balance them in behalf of the Kingdom and Parliament.  
3. Lastly, the Army discerning how intimate some of the new Militia were with some of the 11 accused Members, how forward they were to comply and act with them in their endeavours, to raise a new War; how they made 18. or 19 Votes in order thereunto together with them in one night.  
All which, the Common-council and Parliament disliked and revoked, how notwithstanding afterwards they secretly promoted their Designs by private Listing, which now appear to have been still working under ground.  
The Army, we say, observing this, and having nothing more in their thoughts and desires, then to settle a speedy, safe, and wel-grounded peace, and to prevent a new war, found it necessary to desire,  
That the Militia might be put into the hands wherein it was formerly, who had approved themselves both to the Army, Parliament and Kingdom, to be sober-minded men, and not given to any practice whereby a new War might be kindled.  
To the intent, that the Army being secured by that means from that danger, might with the more confidence retire further from the City, enlarge their Quarter for the greater ease of the Kingdom, and intent wholly the settling of a sure peace in this Kingdom, and a speedy and effectual relief of Ireland, which was almost brought to a period, and nothing in the sight of man could have hindered, but this cursed practice of violence upon the Parliament, under pretence of the Militia, which according to our desire, being restored again into the hands of the old Commissioners, by an Ordinance of both Houses, dated the 21. of July, (in pursuance of the aforesaid treasonable combination) several Petitions were presented to the Common-council of the City of LONDON, in the name of the Apprentices and others, importing their Desires, that the Militia of the City might continue in the hands of the former Commissioners, according to the Ordinance of the 4 of May last.  
Whereupon Monday July the six and twentieth, the Common-Councel of the City presents their Petitions to both Houses for changing the Militia, wherein the House of Lords refuse to alter their Resolutions, the House of Commons answered they would take it into consideration the next morning. Notwithstanding which, the City and kingdom cannot be ignorant with what rage and insolency the tumult of Apprentices the same day forced both Houses. They blocked up their doors, swearing they would keep them in till they had passed what votes they pleased; they threatened the Houses if they granted not their desires, knocking, hooting, and hallowing so at the Parl. doors, that many times the Members could not be heard to speak or debate, not suffering the house of Commons to divide for determining such Questions, as were put, crying out that those that gave their votes against them, should be sent out to them, very often and loudly, saying, Agree, agree, dispatch well wait no longer, & in this outrageous manner, they continued at the house door above 8 hours together, the city guards there present the City relieving them, by reason whereof the House was forced to Vote what that rude multitude would demand, and then adjourned the House till the next morning; After which the House rising, the Speaker and many Members going out of the House, they forced them back again into the House: Many of the Apprentices pressing in with them, where they stood with their hats on their heads, and compelled the Speaker to take the Chair, and the House to Vote in their presence what they pleased, committing many other insolences, as is published by the Speaker of the House of Commons in his Declaration, and is too well known by all then present; And during the time of this execrable violence done by the said Apprentices, Westminster Hal and the Palace yard was filled with Reformadoes and other illaffected persons designed to back them.  
After this the Houses being Adjourned till Friday following, upon the Thursday the Apprentices printed and posted a paper of several places of the City, requiring all their fellows to be early at the Parliament the next morning, for that they intended to adjourn by seven of the clock, and that for a month. Thus the Speakers with many of the Members of both Houses were driven away from the Parliament.  
This in brief being the true state of things as they have broke forth within these few days, (which are so contrary to all those pretences of Peace, and detestation of a new War of late so frequently held forth on all sides,) all men may observe to what maturity the long projected Design of some men, (of whom are those that are impeached by as,) is now brought, and may be traced in the several steps thereof, as it hath tended to the enslaving this Kingdom, and the destruction of all such well-affected people who would not comply with them therein; so as by what now is come to light, the justness of that cause, this Army had engaged themselves in, and the great and wonderful mercy of God in continuing them together, we assure ourselves doth now clearly appear to all men's eyes and apprehensions, and will every day more and more be acknowledged, even by those that have heretofore made a question of it.  
And if when this Kingdom hath spent so much of its blood and treasure, hath passed through such unheard of dangers, and overcome such difficulties so many years together, All that they must now hope for and rest in, must only be what the King grants in his Message of the 12 of May last: And if this must be imposed upon men's judgements and consciences by an oath, & now entered into in a tumultuous and unlawful way, and by outrage maintained in despite and contempt of the Parliament. If rather than this should not be accomplished, the Parliament itself must be violated and forced into the hands of such of the Members thereof as have secretly abetted and fomented those practices to that end; That these hidden counsels and works of darkness might, when they come to their full birth, have the image of highest authority in the face of them the better to gain credit thereunto, and secure the authors of them from punishment; For the evidence of all which we refer ourselves to the particulars in our Charge against the 11 Members, compared with those passages of late broke forth before rehearsed, unto which we shall now only add (and leave it to the consideration of all wise and good men) with what Artifice and boldness these Members have served themselves of those horrid tumults and violences of their own creating (instead of showing their detestation of them) again to intrude themselves into the public managing of affairs, and inevitably to embroil the Kingdom in a new war; which their own revenge and the compassing of their former plots and designs makes them so greedily thirst after. If these things (we say) must be the end and upshot of all, what then remains to this poor Kingdom and all true hearted Englishmen, but to join together as one man with their counsels, estates and lives in this way, as our last refuge under God, which he by his wise and gracious providence hath provided and reserved by keeping up this Army even to a Miracle, so to prevent the aforesaid evils, and to procure to this dying Kingdom yet a settled peace and happiness, if it be his blessed will?  
These things being seriously considered by us, we have thought fit in the name of the Army to declare, that all such Members of either House of Parliament as are already with the Army for the security of their persons, and for the ends aforesaid are forced to absent themselves from Westminster, that we shall hold and esteem them as persons in whom the public trust of the Kingdom is still remaining, though they cannot for the present fit as a Parliament with freedom and safety at Westminster; and by whose advice and counsels, we desire to govern ourselves in the managing these weighty affairs; and to that end we invite them to make repair to this Army to join with us in this great cause, we being resolved, and do hereby faithfully oblige ourselves to stand by them therein, and to live and die with them against all Opposition whatsoever, and in particular we do hold ourselves bound to own that honourable act of the Speaker of the House of Commons, who upon the grounds he himself expressed in his Declaration sent unto us, hath actually withdrawn himself; and hereupon we do further engage to use our utmost and speedy endeavours, that he and those Members of either House, that are thus enforced away from their attendance at Westminster may with freedom and security fit there, and again discharge their trust as a free and a legal Parliament, and in the mean time we do declare against that late choice of a new Speaker by some Gentlemen at Westminster, as contrary to all Right Reason, Law and Custom, and we profess ourselves to be most clearly satisfied all our judgements, and are also confident the Kingdom will herein concur with us, that as things now stand there is no free nor legal Parliament sitting, being through the aforesaid violence at present suspended. And that the Orders, Votes, or Resolutions, forced from the Houses on Monday the 26. of July last, as also all such as shall pass in this Assembly of some few Lords and Gentlemen at Westminster, under what pretence and colour soever are void and null, and ought not to be submitted unto by the freeborn Subjects of England.  
And that we may prevent that slavery designed upon us and the Nation, that the Kingdom may be restored to a happy State of a visible Government now eclipsed and darkened; we hold ourselves bound by our duty to God and the Kingdom; to bring to condign punishment the Authors and Promoters, of that unparallelled violence done to the Parliament; and in that to all the freerborne Subjects of England, that are or hereafter shall be; and therefore we are resolved to march up towards London, where we do expect that the well-affected people of that City will deliver up unto us, (or otherwise put into safe Custody, so as they may be reserved to a legal Trial,) the eleven impeached Members that have again thrust themselves into the management of public affairs by this wicked design.  
And that all others will give us such Assistance therein, that the Members of both Houses may receive due encouragement to return to Westminster, there to fit with all freedom, and so to perform their trust, as shall conduce to the settlement of this distracted Kingdom; and to inflict such punishments upon these late Offenders as shall deters any for the future to make the like attempt.  
Our lives have not been dear unto us for the public good, and being now resolved by the assistance of God, to bring these delinquents to their deserved punishments, as that than which, there cannot be any thing of more public concernment to the Kingdom, we trust (if it shall come to that,) our blood shall not be accounted too dear a price for the accomplishment of it. And if any in the City will engage themselves against us to protect these Persons, and so put the Kingdom again into a new and miserable War, The blood must be laid to the account of such person, as the Authors thereof.  
And lastly, Because it is the main Engine of ours and the Kingdom's enemies, to render us odious by possessing the minds of men, that we gape only after the plunder of this great and wealthy City, as the experience of the contrary carriage in all Towns that we have taken yields unto us a Testimony beyond the example of any Army, so we do from our hearts declare, that we abhor the thoughts thereof, and we doubt not but the world shall see our actions answerable to our professions, and that we shall not cause any man to suffer but by his own default; and that God will manifest we have only in our eyes, that justice may have a free course, the Parliament a free sitting and voting, and a full vindication of the late violence done to them.  
And as for the City of Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, the Hamlets, and the rest of the suburbs and out parts, as we are informed, that they are not so ready to engage themselves in a new war as some would have them, so we are sensible of the hard condition that they are brought into, even by them that claim a Right against both Hou●●s of Parliament, (a strange claim against a Parliament, though more reasonable against others,) not to be subjected to a Militia without their own consent, and yet will not be contented, unless they may have others subjected unto them, and lay what burdens they please upon them, without allowing them any part of vote or consent with them; In which points of common might, and Equity we shall not be wanting (in a due way) to assist them for the obtaining of their just desires and immunities, is being our chief aim to settle Peace with Truth and Righteousness throughout the Kingdom, that none may be oppressed in his just freedom and Liberties, much less the Parliament itself, which things being duly settled, we shall be as ready also to assure unto the King his just Rights and authority as any that pretend it never so much, for the better upholding of an ill cause, and the countenance of tumultuous violence against the Parliament, the which our honest, just, and necessary undertake, as we are resolved to pursue with the utmost hazard of our lives and fortunes, so we doubt not but we shall find God's accustomed goodness and assistance with us therein, till we have brought them to a good and happy conclusion for this poor distracted and languishing Kingdom.  
FINIS.