A LETTER sent from several AGITATORS of the ARMY To their RESPECTIVE REGIMENTS: VIZ. The Generals Lieut. General's Commissary Generals Col. harrison's Col. horton's Col. fleetwood's Col. lilburn's Col. Whaleys. Wherein is discovered the ground of the present differences between them and the General Council, concerning the King; and the establishment of Common Right and Freedom, for all People in this Kingdom. With a true Account of the Proceed of the General Council thereupon. LONDON, Printed for John Harris. 1647. A Letter sent from the Agitators of several Regiments of the Army to their respective Regiments etc. Gentlemen and Fellow Soldiers, WE esteem it our duty to render you an Account of the present state of our affairs with us, and at the head quarter: We have been consulting about the most speedy and effectual settlement of your and all the people's Freedoms, whereby the people may be disposed into a capacity and willingness to provide constant pay, and secure our Arrears: we found by sad experience, that there was so possibility of obtaining either▪ so long as the settlement of the people's freedoms was delayed, and therefore as well in love and real respects, to you, and to our dear Country; we were constrained to propound the foundations of freedom to be forthwith establishe● by a mutual agreement between the people and you: and though we dare aver that there is nothing contained in that Agreement, or in the Case of the Army stated, which is propounded to be insisted on, but what is (at least) the equitable sense of our former Declarations and Remonstrances; yet we find many at the Head quarters, obstructing and opposing our proceed. We sent some to them to debate in Love, the matters and manner of the Agreement: And the first Article thereof, being long debated, it was concluded by Vote in the affirmative: viz. That all Soldiers and others, if they be not Servants or Beggars, aught to have voices in electing those which shall represent them in Parliament, although they have not forty shillings per annum in freehold Land; and there were but three voices against this your Native Freedom: after this they would refer all to a Committee: And the next General Council our friends obtained a general Rendezvouz, and a Letter from the Council to clear the Army from any desire or intent of constraining the Parliament to send new Propositions to the King, Whereby your Indemnity for fight against the King should be begged of the King, and so the guilt of innocent blood taken upon your own heads; and your Enemies should boast and insult over you, saying, you were forced to ask them to save you harmless: At the next meeting a Declaration was offered to the Council, wherein the King's Corrupt Interest was so intermixed, that in short time, if he should so come in, he would be in a capacity to destroy you and the people; and assure yourselves, if any power be but in the least given to him, he will improve it to the utmost to enslave or ruin you▪ that conquered him, and to advance your enemies to trample upon you: Upon this we desired only a free debate of his question, Whethen it were safe either for the Army or People to suffer any power to be given to the King: And Lieu. Gen. Crumwel and the rest professed as before God they would freely debate it; And Monday last a General Council was appointed for that purpose, but when they met they wholly refused, and instead of that, spoke very reproachfully of us and our actings, and declaimed against that which was passed the Council before concerning the voices of those in elections which have not forty shillings a year freehold; And against the Letter sent by the Council to the Parliament: and the day before Commissary General Ireton withdrew and protested he would act no more with them, unless they recalled that Letter. And to prevent any further debate they would have dissolved the Council for above a fortnight, and thus our hopes of agreeing together to settle your and the People's Freedoms were then frustrate: and though the chief of them had desired some of our friends not above three days before to go on in their actings; for they might come in when they should do us more service than at that time; yet there they made great out-cries against us and complaints of distempers in the Army, which were nothing but endeavours after their Rights and Freedoms. The next day they still waved and refused the free debate of the aforesaid question, and dissolved the Council for above a fortnight, and for a time resolved; they would only prepare some fair propositions to the Army, about Arrears and pay, and sent to the Parliament for a months pay against a Rendezvous; but they declared they would divide the Army into; parts, to Rendezvous severally and all this appears to be only to draw off the Army from joining together, to settle those clear foundations of freedom propounded to you, and to procure your Rights, as you are Soldiers effectually. Thus you may observe the strange unconstancy of those that would obstruct our way, and the great matter wherein the difference lies, and the candidnes of our Actings: but we hope it will be no discouragement to you, though your Officers, yea the greatest Officers should oppose you▪ it's well known, that the great Officers which now opposed, did as much oppose secretly, when we refused to disband, according to the Parliaments Order; and at last they confessed the providence of God was the more wonderful, because those Resolutions, to stand for freedom and justice; began amongst the Soldiers only; and yet now they would affright you from such actings, by telling you it's disobedience to the General's Command, and distempers, and mutinies: These were the words of that faction in Parliament which opposed you before; and you may consider, that you had done as much service for the people, by disobedience to the Parliament, as ever you did by obedience, if you had fulfilled your Declarations and Engagements which you then passed. As for the months pay, if it come, you may consider, it's but your due; and yet we believe none had been procured for you, unless we had thus appeared, and if any Declarations or Propositions about pay or Arrears be offered to you, remember you have been fed with Paper too long; we desire▪ that there may be a general Rendezvous, and no parting each from other, till we be fully assured, we shall not return to burden the Country by free quarter, and till our Arrears be actually secured, and the Foundations of our Freedom, peace and security in the Agreement established: And likewise, until a sure way be settled, for calling Committees, Sequestrators, and Parliament men, to account for the Country's money; that so the Country may know, we intent their Good and Freedom, we know some fair Overtures will be made to you about pay, Arrears, seeming Freedom and security; but we hope as you formerly rejected such Overtures from the parliament, knowing that without a settlement of Freedom, no constant pay or Arrears will be provided: so now we are confident you will not be deceived, and hope you are all resolved for a General Rendezvous, that we may all agree together in fulfilling our Declarations and Engagemetts to the people, that so we may not become the objects of scorn and hatred. We shall now add NOVEM. 11. 1647. We are yours, etc. Edward Sexby The General's Regiment. Robert Everet Of Lieut. General's Regiment. John Walter Of Lieut. General's Regiment. Edmont Bear Of Lieut. General's Regiment. Joseph Aleyn Col. harrison's. George Hassall Commissary General IRETONS. William Perkins Commissary General IRETONS. Tobias 〈◊〉 Col. horton's. William Russel Colonel WHALEYS. Richard Seal Colonel WHALEYS. Richard Hilyer Col. LI●BURNS Regiment. The George Col. LI●BURNS Regiment. john Nicholson Col. FLEETWOODS Regiment. Will. Pryer Col. FLEETWOODS Regiment. Will. Mitchel Live-Guard.