A New-year's Gift: PRESENTED BY THO. Lord FAIRFAX, And the General-councel of Officers, In several PROPOSITIONS For the general satisfaction, and settling the Peace of the Kingdom;  
BY 

Equal distribution of Elections  
An equal Representative of the whole People electing  
Making of Laws, Constitutions and Offices for the future Government of the Kingdom.    
By the appointment of his Excellency, the Lord General, and his general Council of Officers.  
Signed, JOHN RUSHWORTH.   
With the Charge against His MAJESTY.  
London, Printed for R. Smithurst, 1648.   

To the Sons of Freedom.  
COUNTRYMEN,  
CUstom (amongst the obedient) is become of such a force, that it enableth the Tyrant to reign, and the Cruel to oppress. Custom (by reason of its antiquity) is become a Conqueror of all opposers. Custom (for it excludeth not all good) is often the performer of many good offices among friends: and this Custom (under the later notion) doth in vite me at this time to present unto thee (courteous Countryman) this small Newyears gift, which thou mayst entitle, Propositions which would settle Peace. And indeed, I think it very seasonable to begin with the year, for that I presume it will not in all things be accomplished by the end of it (so great is the retardment of carnal Counsels.) For the contents, rendereth it to be even a Catalogue of the Princely Privileges of a Freeborn people, whose splendour hath hitherto been imprisoned in that sad dungeon of darkness, Royal Tyranny; which if a single Champion did at any time oppose, there hath still been some whited-wall-Magistrate to cause him to be smitten on the mouth. Now therefore, if thou wilt but vouchsafe to look back upon past times, and consider the indigentness of the Subjects liberty in those days, and compare it with the Freedom due unto them (which thou hast here presented unto thee,) thou wilt say (if thou take not up a prejudicated opinion thereof) That he is assuredly thy friend that endeavoureth to procure it, as he desireth to be which presenteth it to thee.  
NOw (after public justice, and therewith the present quieting of the kingdom thus far provided for) we proceed in order, to the general satisfaction, and settling of the Kingdom, as followeth:  
I. That you would set some reasonable and certain period to your own power, by which time that great and supreme Trust reposed in you, shall be returned into the hands of the People, from, and for whom you received it, that so you may give them satisfaction and assurance that what you have contended for against the King (for which they have been put to so much trouble, cost, and loss of blood) hath been only for their Liberties and common interest, and not for your own personal Interest, or power.  
II. That (with a period to this Parliament, to be assigned as short as may be, with safety to the Kingdom, and public Interest thereof) there may be a sound settlement of the peace and future government of the Kingdom, upon grounds of Common Right, Freedom and safety, to the effect here following:  
First, that from the end of this, there may be a certain succession of future Parliaments (Annual, or biennial) with secure provision.  
1. For the certainty of their meeting, sitting and ending.  
2. For the equal distribution of Elections thereunto, to render the House of Commons, as near as may be, an equal Representative of the whole People electing.  
3. For the certainty of the People's meeting (according to such Distributions) to elect, and for their full freedom in elections, provided, That none who have engaged or shall engage in War, against the right of Parliament, and interest of the Kingdom therein, or have adhered to the enemies thereof, may be capable of electing, or being elected (at least during a competent number of years) nor any other, who shall oppose, or not join in agreement to this settlement.  
4. For future clearing, and ascertaining the power of the said Representatives; in order to which, that it be declared, That (as to the whole interest of the People of England) such Representatives have, and shall have the supreme power and trust, as to the making of Laws, Constitutions, and Offices, for the ordering, preservation, and Government of the whole; and as to the altering, and repealing, or abolishing of the same, the making of War, or Peace; and as to the highest and final Judgement, in all civil things, without further appeal to any created standing power; and that all the people of this Nation, and all Officers of Justice, and Ministers of State (as such) shall, in all such things be accountable and subject thereunto, and bound and concluded thereby; provided, That,  
1 They may not censure or question any man after the end of this Parliament, for any thing said or done in reference to the late Wars, or public differences, saving in execution of such determinations of this Parliament, as shall be lest in force at the ending thereof, in relation to such as have served the King against the Parliament.  
2 They may not render up, or give, or take away any the foundations of common Right, Liberty or Safety contained in this settlement and Agreement. But that the power of these two things, last mentioned, shall be always understood to be reserved from, and not entrusted to the said Representatives.  
5. For liberty of entering dissents in the said Representatives, That, in case of corruption, or abuse in these matters of highest trust, the People may be in capacity to know who are free thereof, and who guilty, to the end only they may avoid the further trusting of such, but without further penalty to any for their free judgements there.  
Secondly, that no King be hereafter admitted, but upon the election of, and as upon trust from the People, by such their Representatives, nor without first disclaiming and disavowing all pretence to a Negative voice, against the determinations of the said Representatives, or Commons in Parliament; and that to be done in some certain form, more clear than heretofore in the Coronation Oath.  
These matters of general settlement (viz. That concerning a period to this Parliament, and the other particulars thence following hitherto) we propound to be declared and provided by this Parliament, or by the authority of the Commons therein, and to be further established by a general Contract, or Agreement of the People, with their subscriptions thereunto, as that (withal) it may be provided, That none may be capable of any benefit by the Agreement, who shall not consent and subscribe thereunto; nor any King be admitted to the Crown, or other person to any Office, or place of public Trust, without express accord and subscrption to the same.  
THe Charge against the King is drawn up, and runs thus: That Charles Stuart hath acted contrary to his trust, in departing from the Parliament, setting up his Standard, making a War against them, and thereby been occasion of much bloodshed and misery to the people, whom he was set over for good: That he gave Commissions, and was occasion of a second War, with besides what done contrary to the Liberties of the Subject, and tending to the destruction of the fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom; all which amounts to a forfeiture of the said trust. With much more to this effect.  
FINIS.