A SUMMONS From His EXCELLENCY Sir Thomas Fairfax TO Sir RALPH HOPTON And his Forces now in CORNWALL.  
A Copy whereof was sent to the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army, and Appointed to be Printed.  
LONDON: Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. March 11. 1645.   

A Summons from His Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax to Sir Ralph Hopton and his Forces now in Cornwall.  
SIR,  
THrough the goodness of God to his people, and his just hand against their enemies, your forces being reduced to such condition, as (to my sense the same good hand of God continuing with us, wherein alone we trust) they are not like either to have subsistence or shelter long where they are, or to escape thence; nor (if they could) have they whither to go for better. I have thought good (for prevention of more bloodshed, or of further hardship or extremity to any, but such whose hearts God shall harden to their own destruction) to send you this Summons for yourself and them to lay down Arms, and withal a tender of such conditions (upon a present surrender & engagement, never more to bear Arms against the Parliament) as may be better than any thing they can rationally expect by further standing out.  
First therefore, to the Soldiery in general (English and Foreigners) I shall grant liberty, either to go beyond sea, or to their homes in England as they please; and to such English as shall choose to live at home, my Protection for the liberty of their persons, and for the immunity of their Estates from all plunder or violence of Soldiers, and all to go their ways with what they have, saving horses and arms.  
But for Officers in Commission, & Gentlemen of quality, I shall allow them to go with horses for themselves and one servant or more, suitable to their quality, and with arms befitting Gentlemen in a condition of peace, & such Officers as would go beyond sea for other service, to take with them their arms and full number of horses answerable to their Offices.  
To all Troopers and th'inferior sort of Horse. Officers (bringing in and delivering up their horses and arms) twenty shillings a man (in lieu of their horses) to carry them home.  
To English Gentlemen of considerable Estates, my Pass and Recommendation to the Parliament for their moderate composition.  
Lastly, for yourself (besides what is before employed to you in common with others) you may be assured of such mediation to the Parliament in your behalf, both from myself and others, as for one, whom (for personal worth and many virtues, but especially for your care of, and moderation towards the country) we honour and esteem above any other of your party, whose Error (supposing you more swayed with Principles of Honour and Conscience than others) we most pity, and whose happiness (so far as consistent with the public welfare) we should delight in more than in your least suffering.  
These things (not from any need or other ends then Humane, and Christian) having offered, I leave to your consideration and theirs whom they concern, desiring your and their speedy resolving, which I pray may be such, as shallbe most for the honour of God, the peace and welfare of this poor Kingdom, and for your and their good so far as may stand therewith.  
And having herein discharged (as I conceive) the duty of an honest man, a Soldier and a Christian, if God shall see't good to let your hearts be hardened against your own peace, I shall (though with some regret for that ill which shall ensue to any, yet with cheerfulness and rejoicing at the righteous judgements of God) pursue my charge and trust for the Public in another way, not doubting of the same presence and blessing which God hath hitherto vouchsafed in the same Cause, to the weak endeavours of  
T. F. March 5. 1645.  
FINIS.