THE DECLARATION OF Colonel Goring. To the house of COMMONS, Together with Mr Henry Piercies LETTER, to the EARL of Northumberland. And Presented to the House of COMMONS the 16 of June, 1641.  
Printed 1641.   

The Declaration of Colonel GORING, to the house of COMMONS. Together with Master HENRY PIERCIES Letter to the Earl of Northumberland, presented to the Parliament the 16 of june 1641.  
WHat with my own innocency, and the violence I hear is against me, I find myself much distracted, I will not ask your Counsel, because it may bring prejudice upon you, but I will with all faithfulness and truth tell you what my part hath been, that at least it may be cleared by you, whatsoever becomes of me.  
When there was 50000 li. designed by the Parliament for the English Army, there was as I take it, a sudden demand by the Scots at the same time of 25000 li. of which there was 15000 li. ready, this they pressed with much necessity, as the Parliament, after an order made, did think it fit for them to deduct 10000 pound out of the 50000 li. formerly granted, upon which, the soldiers in our host were much scandalised, amongst which I was one, and sitting by Wilmot, and Ashburnham, Wilmot stood up and told them, if that of the Scots would procure money, he doubted not but the Officers of the English Army might easily do the like, but the first order was reversed, notwithstanding, and 10000 li. given to the Scots, this was the cause of many discourses, of dislike amongst us, and came to this purpose, that they were dis-obliged by the Parliament, and not by the King, this being said often to one another, we did resolve that Wilmot, Ashburnham; Pollard, Oneale, and myself, to make some expressions of serving the King, in all things he would command us, that were honourable for him and us, being likewise agreeing unto the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, that so far we would live and die with him, this agreed upon with us, not having any communication with others, that I am coupled now withal, and further by their joint consent, I was to tell his Majesty thus much from them, but withal I was to order the matter so, as the King might apprehend this, as a great service done unto him, at this time, when his affairs were in so ill a condition, and they were most confident, that they would engage the whole Army thus far, but further they would undertake nothing, because they would neither infringe the liberties of the subjects, or destroy the Laws, to which I and every one consented, and having their sense, I drew the heads up in a paper, to the which they all approved, when I read it, and then we did by an oath promise one an other to be constant and secret in all this, and did all of us take that oath together, than I said, Well Sirs, I must now be informed what your particular desires are, that so I may be the better able to serve you, which they were pleased to do, and so I did very faithfully serve them therein, as far as I could: this is the truth, and all the truth upon my soul. In particular discourses, after that, we did fall upon the petitioning to the King and Parliament for moneys, there being so great arrears due to us, and so much delays made in the procuring of them, but that was never done.  
1. Concerning the Bishop's functions and votes.  
2. The not disbanding of the Irish Army, until the Scots were disbanded too.  
3. The endeavouring to settle his Majesty's Revenue to that proportion it was formerly.  
And it was resolved by us all, if the King should require our assistance in those things, that as far as we could we might contribute thereunto, without breaking the Laws of the Kingdom. And in case the King should be denied those things, being put to them, we would not fly from him, all these persons did act and concur in this as well as I, this being all imparted to the King by me from them, I perceived he had been treated with by others, concerning some things of our Army, which not agreed with what was purposed by me, but inclined a way more sharp, and high, not having limits either of honour or Law, I told the King he might be pleased to consider with himself what should be done, which way it was fit for him to hearken unto, for us we were resolved not to departed from our grounds, we should not be displeased, whosoever they were, but the particular of the designs, or the persons we desired not to know, though it was no hard matter to guess at them. In the end I believe the danger of the one, the justice of the other made the King tell me he would leave all thoughts of other propositions but ours, as things not practiceable, but desired, notwithstanding that Goring and Iermin, who were acquainted with the other proceed should be admitted amongst us, I told him I, though the other Gentry would never consent to it, but I would propose it, which I did, and we were all much against it; but the King did press it so much, as at the last it was consented unto, and Goring and jermin came to my Chamber, there I was appointed to tell them after they had sworn to secrecy, what we had proposed, which I did, but before I go into the debate of the way, I must tell you Iermin and Goring were very earnest Suckling should be admitted, which we did all decline, and was desired by all our men to be resolute in it, which I was, and gave many Reasons: whereupon Master Goring made answer, he was enggaed with Suckling, his being employed in the Army, but for his meeting with us, they were contented to pass it by. Then we took up again the ways which were proposed, which took great debate, and theirs differed from ours in violence and height, which we all protested against, and parted, disagreeing totally, yet remitted it to be spoken of by me and Iermin to the King, which we both did, and the King constant to his former Resolutions told him, these ways were all vain and foolish, and would think of them no more, I omit one thing of Master Goring, he desired to know how the chief Commanders were to be disposed off, for if he had not a condition worthy of him, he would not go along with us, we made answer that no body thought of that, we intended if we were sent down to go all in the same capacity we were in, he did not like that by no means, and that did work so with Master Chidley, that there was a Letter sent by some of the Commanders to make him Lieutenant General, and when he had ordered this matter at London, and Master Chidley had his instructions, than did he go to Portsmouth, pretending to be absent when this was a working, we all desired my Lord of Essex and Holland, that if there were a General at Newcastle, they were pleased to give out a report that I should be General of the Horse, but I protest neither to the King nor any else, did I ever so much as think of it, my Lord of Holland was made General, and so all things were laid aside, and this is the truth and all the truth I knew of these proceed, and this I will and do protest unto you upon my faith, and Willmat, Ashburnham, and Oneale, have at several times confessed and sworn, I never said any thing in the business, they did not every one agree unto and would justify: this Relation I sent you rather to inform you of the truth of the matter, that you may the better know to do me good, but I should think myself very unhappy to be made a betrayer of any body: what concerned the Tower or any thing else. I never meddled withal, nor never spoke with Goring, but that night before them all, and I said nothing but what was consented unto by any party, I, never spoke one word with Suckling, Carnarvan, Davenant, or any other creature, me think, if my friends and kindred knew the truth and justice of the matter, it were no hard matter to serve me in some measure.   

Colonel goring Declaration on his Examination, concerning the late Conspiracy against the State.  
HAving been told there was an intention to unite the forces of our Army, and to put it into a posture of being able, if not of purpose of being willing to interpose in the proceed of Parliaments,  
I hearkend to the propositions of soliciting a redress, for the miseries of the Soldiers being the first step to this, in respect of the present necessities of it, not any future consequence of trouble to those, that were to procure our relief.  
But lest the manner of ask this or the effects of it, being obtained, might be less just, than the thing itself which was desired, & I might be involved their crime that had, further ends, perhaps then merely the redress of our Armies grievances: I thought it not unsafe to take some witness of mine integrity along with me, and spoke to a noble Lord the very same day when I assured him there were some Officers of the Army, that were least thought on, that had greatest zeal to the proceed of this House, & I thought there would be an occasion to let him know more of it: within few days after, this Master jermin and I being admitted into a Consultation, where we were tied to secrecy by an Oath, in the company of those Gentlemen I have named in my Depositions, where their purpose was declared to us in some Propositions, which were to this effect.  
1. First putting our Army into a posture to serve the King.  
2. Secondly sending a Declaration to the Parliament, containing that no Act of Parliament should be made contrary to any former Act, which was expressed that Episcopacy would be kept up as it is now.  
3. Thirdly, and that the King's Revenue should be established.  
This I thought unlawful for our undertake, since I thought they intended to interpose the determinations of this House, and it belongs to an Army, to maintain, not to contrive Acts of State.  
I objected therefore against the propositions, and pressed more the follies and difficulties, than the illegalities of them, not only because I thought reason a greater Argument with them then Conscience, but because I am so unhappy of the two, 2 be thought a worse Commonwealth's man, than a Soldier, and in that quality could procure most credit to my words, and I endeavoured to show them that as the Design would be impious, if their most desperate Counsel had been followed, so it would have been the weakest that ever was undertaken, if it were admitted.  
And whereas I am said to have a part in this violent Counsel; till the day before this meeting, I never heard word of it, & knew not when I came to the Room, whether theirs were not the same with the other, this they may witness for me, and that I declared, that I would have to do with neither, and that I expressed a contempt in our meeting in that manner, but I rely upon the Testimony of some noble Lords of his Majesty's Counsel, and others, how I protested against all those violent Counsels, even in the birth of them, and with what pity I looked towards the person of his Majesty, and the whole Kingdom in this business.  
I appeal also to them, and to some members of this House, what my carriage was toward these Gentlemen, that were embarked in these undertake, intending rather to prevent a mischief, by abandoning their Counsels, then to ruin them, by disclosing them: but mistake me not, for had I known of any former plot proceeded in, that would endanger or disturb the quiet of his Majesty, or the peace of this Kingdom, I should not have been contented with declaring mine own innocence, nor have stayed till the command of this House, or an Oath extorted from me, a discovery: but by a hasty open Declaration, have broken the bonds of amity, and friendship, and all former ties, to preserve the duty of a Subject, and as freely exposed the knowledge of all to the view of the world, as I have been tender in publishing these purposes, even to my nearest friends, which had weight enough to crush nothing but the undertakers of it, and certainly if they had stayed where I left them, there was no conclusion at all. It appears there were two several intentions digested by others, before they were Communicated to me; And I knew not whether my harkening to them were a fault, but I am sure it was no misfortune.  
Finis.