A DECLARATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord General Fairfax: TO THE Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-council of the City of LONDON;  
CONCERNING The Military Government of this Kingdom, and the settling of Peace throughout all His Majesty's Realms and Dominions.  
WITH His Excellencies Desires to the Citizens, to join with Him therein, against all Opposition whatsoever.  
Published by Authority from His Excellency, the Lord General Fairfax.  
LONDON: Printed for C. W. and are to be sold at the Royal Exrhange in Cornhill. 1648. 8 ber the 23th   

THE DECLARATION Of the Lord General FAIRFAX: SENT To the Right Honourable, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-council of the City of London.  
My Lord and Gentlemen,  
IN the carrying on of the great businesses of the Kingdom towards a general and happy settlement, it hath been a fixed principle with Us, to make it our first endeavour with the Parliament, that all things which threaten an Engagement of the Kingdom in a second War might be removed, before we could have a confident expectation of a good issue: which upon a Treaty with their Commissioners, which course of ours, although it might have some appearance of delay, yet by men that are zealous of the Kingdoms good (we hope) no endeavour will be judged unnecessary, that may secure the Kingdom from the danger of any new embroilments.  
We are now come thus far, that the most material particulars which we have in preparation to propose for the general settlement of the affairs of the kingdom, have been communicated to the Parliament; and we hope they are satisfied, that they contain in them things tending to a general good, and to lay an hopeful Foundation for Common Right and Freedom to the people of this Land for future, and for a lasting peace amongst us.  
But before we can securely intent, and without interruption apply ourselves unto the proceed and dispatch of the Treaty, thereupon we have delivered into the hands of the Commissioners, the paper which consists of three particulars, in the last whereof (which is the Militia of the City) you being most concerned therein, to the end you may see we would ask nothing which relates to you, without giving you a just account thereof, and all possible satisfaction therein. We should not desire this, or any thing else of that nature, were we not derswaded, that what we desire is seasonable, and for yours, and the Kingdom's good and quiet.  
And we should willingly have been silent (as to this) but considering the just jealousies which lie against some persons now authorized in the exercise of that power, and those attempts which have been made by some, who would have engaged your City to a War, had not your Lordship, the Court of Aldermen, and Common council by your wisdom prevented it. We cannot in a case of this importance, but deal faithfully with you, in desiring your concurrence with ours, etc. And that if the interest we have so long fought for be still the same, let it not seem strange that we desire of the Parliament and City, that those may be in places of Trust, who have given the best proof of their courage and constancy in prosecution of the same. Having thus far declared ourselves with all freedom and clearness to you, as we do not your good acceptance of your intention therein, so we desire your forwardness in a work so much tending to mutual confidence, and to prevent the designs of any who would be glad to put obstructions in the way to a happy conclusion, and envy nothing more than the continuance of a right understanding between you and Us.  
By the appointment of his Excellency the Lord. General Fairfax, and his Council of War.  
Signed J. Rushworth Secretary   


Reader,  
This Paper of mutual Amity and Concord coming to my hands, I thought it requisite to re-publish it again to the world; to the end, that all men whatsoever may clearly discern the real and candid intentions of the Army towards this City; who notwithstanding the antiquity thereof (bearing date July 19 1647.) yet may serve anew (as a Record of same) to witness their integrity, and convince all those who endeavour to foment new divisions between the City and Army.  
Vale.   

The further proceed of the Army.  
Whereas, we the Officers and Soldiers under the immediate command and conduct of his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, do declare, That we are as desirous of a safe and well grounded peace, and that a final end were put to all the troubles and miseries of the Commonwealth, as any sor● of men whatsoever: Yet considering,  
1 That there is no justice done against the Abettors of the late Rebellion, as Holland, Buckingham, Laughorn, Poyer, and their Accomplices: or of the Confederates with the Apostate Scots: and indeed little Justice by the Parliament done upon any Offenders of that kind. By which we have too much cause to fear, that there may be a party in the Parliament abetting and correspoding with (if not guilty of) the same Designs.  
2 That notwithstanding the King hath betrayed the trust reposed in him, and raised war against this Nation to enslave it, violating his Oaths, and trampling underfoot our Laws (than which no Engagement now taken can be more binding:) notwithstanding he is guilty of all the bloodshed in these intestine wars, as may appear by his own confession in his late agreeing to the Parl. first proposition: being also a person who was so far concluded uncapable to govern, that the Parl. voted that no address should be made to him. There is yet a prevalent party of his Creatures, who in parliament and else where, act His Design, and are (as we conceive) the Authors of our present Distractions.  
3 That through the evil designs and practices of the foresaid party, the intolerable burden of free quarter is continued upon the people notwithstanding the unreasonable taxes daily extorted from them, in the name of pay for the Army: By which means we are not only rendered odious to others, but a burden to ourselves, not being able to cloth ourselves, shoe our horses, or free our Arms.  
We therefore cannot think any thing can be safely done in order to a peace, until some speedy and effectnall course be taken, which we humbly desire your Excellency will be pleased to your utmost power, to endeavour, 1 That there may be a strict scrutiny, for the more full discovery of such persons as were contrivers or encouragers of the Rebellions aforesaid, and that Justice speedily be executed on them according to the late Orders of Parliament. 2 That impartial and speedy Justice may be done upon all criminal persons, and especially upon such as have or shall endeavour to obstruct the course thereof, or have betrayed their trust, or been Authors of shedding that innocent blood, which calls to Heaven for vengeance, that so we may be at peace with God. 3 That the same fault may have the same punishment, in the person of King or Lord, as in the person of the poorest Commoner. 4 That all such may be proceeded against as Traitors, who act or speak in the King's behalf, till he shall be acquitted of the guilt of shedding innocent blood. 5 That the Army may speedily have their pay, or a present course be taken against those who unjustly withhold it; and that they may have the Arrears due since jan. 15. before they be ordered to pay quarters, and effectual provision made for the payment of former Arrears. 6 That the intolerable oppression of free quarter be immediately taken off, and that for the time to come whilst there is necessity for an Army, there may be Assignations given to each Regiment, Troop & Company, which may be constant during the establishments of the Army, that the money may not pass from hand to hand till it is half embezzled, but be paid immediately from the Countries to the Soldiery, that so all free quarter for ever avoided, it may return from the Soldier to the Countryman again.  
And now fearing lest the inveterate malice of our adversaries should asperse us with a design to destroy Magistracy and propriety; we cannot but declare, that we shall constantly endeavour to defend them both with our lives and fortunes, and in expectation of your Excellency's favour in the premises, we shall ever pray, etc.  
Subscribed in the name of the Officers and Soldiery of Army, and commanded to be printed, and communicated to the Freeborn subjects of England, within the Cities of London and Westminster, the Liberties thereof, and all other Cities, Corporations, and Market Towns, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales.    
FINIS.