A LETTER From His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, TO Mr. SPEAKER; CONCERNING A Randezvouz of the Army, for the quieting of all Distempers therein, and recovering the Ancient Discipline thereof.  
With the Desires and Proposals of the General Council of the Army, for the easing the Country, and taking off Free Quarter.  

BY the Appointment of the General Council of the Army.  
Signed WIL CLARKE.   
Nou: 11th London, Printed for George Whittington, at the Blue Anchor in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange, 1647.   

A Letter from His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, to the Speaker of the House of Commons.  
SJR,  
BEing very much troubled at the sad distractions of the Kingdom for want of Pay, and such other necessary satisfaction as we have long waited upon you for, not taking so much pleasure to say whence the Cause of all this trouble comes, as to use my endeavour to give a timely and effectual remedy to so much thereof, as is of nearest concernment to me. I thought fit to let you know, That by the advice of the General Council of the Army, I have appointed a Randezvouz very speedily, and they have very unanimously offered to repair to their several charges, and improve to their utmost endeavours with the several Regiments; for the quieting of them and recovering of the ancient Discipline of the Army, thereby to render it more serviceable to the Parliament and Kingdom: And to the end, your expectations, and the Desires of all good men may be answered by a good issue in this work of so much concernment to the Kingdom. I think fit by the same advice to offer unto you these particulars enclosed, beseeching you, That if more weighty businesses of the Kingdom do not let you would bring them to a speedy determination; That so your care of the Army may appear, and myself and the Officers be thereby enabled to let the Soldiers see we take such consideration of them, as becomes us, and have engaged ourselves unto. And I doubt not, but thereby we shall be enabled to let you see, that this Army will appear as it hath ever professed; to be really seeking the good of this Kingdom, and approving itself faithful in Your service, which hath been, and ever shall be the desire of  
Your very humble Servant, T. Fairfax. Putney 8. Novem. 1647.  
For the Honourable Wil Lenthal Esq; Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons.   

The Proposals of the General Council of the Army to the Parliament.  
I. IT is desired, That six Weeks pay (if possihle) if not a Months pay presently sent down to the Army.  
TWO That the Arrears may be voted to be paid out of the remainder of Bishop's lands, Deans and Chapters Lands to be sold in the same manner as the Bishop's Lands, reserving a competency to those that have a legal interest therein, and have not forfeited the same by Delinquency, and two thirds out of Delinquents Compositions, who have not yet compounded, and out of Forrest Lands.  
III. We desire, that the house will be pleased either to make provision; That when this Months Pay is out, there shall be constant pay to enable the Soldier to avoid the Oppression of the People by free quarter, than which, nothing is more grievous unto Us: And in case they do so, we engage ourselves to make it death for any man to take free quarter, or if the Parl. do find, That the Counties will not so readily bring in their Money, we shall undertake, if enabled thereunto, so to dispose of the Army, and of the several Counties, as that the moneys shall be raised, and the People punctually satisfied for their quarter; provided that there may be an increase of the said Tax to an hundred thousand pound a Month, for the payment of this Army, and the other Forces continued in the Kingdom, and those that are to go for Ireland, and the disbanding of those that be supernumerary, until the Parliament shall otherwise provide, by Excise, or otherwise, for easing the said Taxes.  
IU. Lastly, we declare, That if this course be taken, that as we have engaged, that none shall upon pain of death, take any thing from any Inhabitant in this Kingdom against his will, wherein we shall be punctual depositive, so also we shall give assurance. That no man shall be forced to be quartered upon against his consent, provided there may be an allowance for lodging, firing, and candle, or the owners upon whose houses quarters are assigned, to be had in other places, to be allowed to those that shall quarter.   
FINIS.