THE DESIRES of his EXCELLENCY Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the General Council of the Army, held at Putney Octob. 21, 1647.  
Concerning the security of Deans and Chapters Lands for their Arrears.  
Also several Proposals concerning the Estates of Papists, and the compositions of Delinquents.  
With his Excellency's Letter to the Committee of the Army, to represent the same to the Parliament.  

By the appointment of his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, and the General Council of the Army.  
W. Clarke. Putney. 28. October. 1647.   
LONDON, Printed by T. H. for john Playford, at his shop in the Inner Temple. 1647.   

SIR,  
AT the last General Council of the Army, the particulars contained in the enclosed Paper were resolved on to be represented to the Parliament, in relation to security for Arrears and other concernments of the Soldiery, I desire yourself with the Committee of the Army, would be pleased to take care, That the said Paper or the matters contained therein, may be speedily presented to the Houses consideration: I remain  
Your very assured friend, THO. FAIRFAX. Turnham Greene 27. Octob. 1647.  
For the Honoured ROBERT SCAWEN Esquire, in the Chair of the Committee for the Army.   

The Desires of His Excellency, Sir Thomas Farifax, and the General Council of the Army, held at Putney, Octob. 21. 1647.  
FOrasmuch as we understand, That the House of Commons in the Overture of Deans and Chapters Lands, for the security of the Arrears of the Soldiers, have not past, but referred to some other use the Rents of Assize, etc. This Council doth crave leave humbly to represent to the Houses of Parliament, the insufficiency (as we conceive) of that security, and our Desires, that aswell the Rents reserved upon all Leases, as the Lands and all other the rights and benefits, belonging to Deans and Chapters for their former maintenance and support, may be comprehended and passed for the said security, as fully as Bishop's Lands were, and with no more exceptions; without which; we cannot accept it as any considerable security; yet we desire all due regard may be had to the present Lessors of the said Lands. And also to the maintenance, a reasonable satisfaction of all such persons as having a present interest in the Revenue belonging to Deans and Chapters, have not forfeired the same by Delinquency: And to the end, the just expectations of the Soldiery (in reference to their great Arteares) may be put into a speedy way of satisfaction, we desire the House will be pleased to put the said Lands into the hands of certain trusties, that so they may be sold out of hand for the uses aforesaid, and that there may be a present public prohibition of any further proceed in renewing of Leases, enlarging of Estates, or cutting down of Woods or any other waste upon the said land: and as we think, we may justly expect the like care and expedition in this business as hath been manifested to our Brethren the Scots, in order to their satisfaction before their departure out of England. As for the Rents of Papists, that have been in Arms, we crave leave to make our Exception against that security, and to represent (according to our former Declarations) that we do not desire, That Papists in Arms (qua Papists) should be excepted from Pardon, or made less capable of Composition than others, nor have their Estates exposed to sale, wherefore in lain of those Lands of Papists in Arms, we renew our desires, concerning Forest Lands, with a due Consideration, of the adjacent Poor, that they be to ways damnified thereby; and forasmuch as the Arrears of the Soldiery is so great, that the securities formerly desired, in regard of the Exceptions contained in them, which heretofore have not been so obvious to us, will not be sufficient to discharge them: We likewise desire,  
That all such Moneys as shall arise upon Compositions of Delinquents, past or to come, may be charged as further security for the said Arrears, to take place after the monies already charged upon the same shall be satisfied.  
It is further desired,  
That the whole matter of s●●curity for Arrears of the Soldiers, may be included amongst the Propositions for peace, and that the other Particulars in our late Paper of the one and twentieth of September, about our Concernments as Soldiers, may also be taken into consideration, and what is or shall be resolved thereupon, may be inserted into the propositions to be sent down to his Majesty.  
And forasmuch as we have made divers addresses to the Parliament, for the settling of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdom, and satisfying them in their just deuce and necessary concernments, as aforesaid, and we find little hath as yet been done to that end, and for that we conceive the Consideration thereof is of so great concernment, as that it is the first foundation of any settlement that can be to the public affairs.  
We humbly desire, That the Houses will be so sensible thereof, as to make it their business to insist upon the speedy Consideration of these things, until they may be fully provided for.  
By the appointment of his Excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the General Council of the Army. WIL CLARKE. Putney. 27. October. 1647.   
FINIS.