THE DECLARATION OF General MASSEY, AND Colonel General POYNTZ.  
Showing the true Grounds and Reasons that induced them to departed from the City, and for a while from the Kingdom.  
With their Resolutions what they intent for their own safety, and the preservation of Religion and Covenant, and the King and Kingdom.   blazon or coat of arms 
LONDON, Printed for J. L. in the year, 1647.   

The Declaration of General MASSEY, and Colonel General POYNTZ, Showing the true grounds and Reasons that induced them to departed from the City, and for a while from the Kingdom.  
Being one of us elected lately by the Common-council of the famous City of London, to be their Commander in chief, for the defence of the King and Parliament, the Kingdom and the City; And being resolved both of us, to the uttermost of our power to defend the same, with and above all, the Covenant which we had so often and so solemnly undertaken for the preservation of Religion, and finding that by the combination of another party, (which closely lay as well by policy as by force to undermine us) that we were both left destitute of all promised helps, and being not able thereby to perform the work conducing so much to the Covenant we had taken, that Religion in the first place, might be preserved inviolable and entire, but that amongst many other, we were exposed ourselves to the greatest infamy and danger, that could almost fall on any men, but especially those, who by the mercy of God have so faithfully and successfully deported themselves for the preservation of the Kingdom, both thought it requisite; as well for the general satisfaction of the Kingdom, as the particular obligation of our own honours, to give the world notice of the integrity and Candour of our intentions in this our following Declaration.  
We taken no pleasure in the first place (as many do who are against us) to insinuate into the affections of the people, by repeating what great things God hath done by us in the North and West parts of the Kingdom, especially the latter.  
When all the power and Arms of the united West, having no less than the King himself and two Princes for their Commanders did sit down before the City of Gloucester, which not long before, a small party out of Wales, under the command of the Lord of Raglan● (since made Earl of Glamorgan) did make full account to master.  
There is no delight taken to repeat with what faithfulness and courage that City was then and afterwards preserved by the one of us, and the whole Kingdom (as affairs then stood) in relation unto it 〈…〉 to declare that the most able and the most 〈…〉 soldiers of the King being there sorely hurt, or slain outright. I made a way not only to facilitate the Victories to come, but to put the chief staff of command into those hands also, who since have born it. For though that not long after the Earl of Essex did break both the head and the heart of the King's Army at Newbury, he could not have the honour to see the great work accomplished in himself. It was the virtue indeed and the vigilance of Lucullus to overcome the puissant Mithridates of Asia, a Monarch of more than three Kingdoms, and to break at first that mighty and almost invincible body of his Horse, but it was the fortune afterwards Pompey to ride in triumph for it at Rome. Whilst we declare the Virtues of one great Commander, we take not from the merits of another, and we are confident there is no breast of honour can accuse us of detraction in giving the dead their due. We shall for our own parts forbear to mention the services achieved for the State both in Gloucestershire, and the County of Wilts, at Newarke, and in Cheshire, etc. And what especially was performed in Summersetshire, when first the great body of General G●rings horse was beaten. Doubtless there will be hereafter a review of all, and pens that now lie dormant, will be roused up to tell the mistaken their errors: But let others voice our praise, it shall be enough for us to declare our integrity.  
The first beginning of the Distaste was, when one of us did use his best endeavours to appease the mutiny and mutineers at York. There are no good works but are attended with envy, and Ambition is so heady that it will know nothing more eminent than itself. Services beg●n by command of the State grew first into suspicion, and afterwards into offence. It was a crime to do any thing but what must be cried up by those who would have all things to dance according to the motions of their own sphere. All things were made subject unto change, and under tenderness of Conscience even (that which is most to be lamented) became most spiritual, our Religion also. And the other of us when by order of Parliament, being a Member of it, I was employed into the Army to make experience what forces could be drawn from thence for the service in Ireland, in which (I thank them) I had an eminent place of dignity conferred on me, where I left nothing unattempted for the dispatching of that service, well knowing how much it concerned the honour of England, and the necessity of Ireland. Being there daily in the heads of the Regiments, I observed in many of them some threescore, and in others more or less of the Soldiers, who heretofore had served under my Command, who were willing all to adventure their lives with me in that service, and to that purpose they were drawn up, but so dow-baked were the examples of some others in the Army, and their proceed so left handed, that what was resolved on overnight, found no effect on the morning following. But these things are so evidently known, and so apparent to the whole Kingdom, that we shall not need to insist upon any further discourse thereof.  
It shall suffice that since our departure, we will not presume to deliver any thing of our own sense upon that which hath been altered, acted, or consented unto or shall be by the instant interposition or the importunity of the Army, but only to give a true account unto the Kingdom upon what grounds and reasons we have been induced to forsake the City. For finding all things so uncertain, and nothing answering to what was promised or expected, we held it safer wisdom to withdraw to our own friends, whom we have always found fast and entire to their first principles, then to continue with those who like ways are beaten with every wind, and do take or receive Counsels as their fears do prompt them, but not without this confession, that we acknowledge the General himself to be an excellent personage, and free from those violent distempers and hears of passion in which other men do delight and perish.  
And we do protest that as fare as in us lies, (wheresoever God shall call us) we will improve our utmost abilities for the true settling of Peace in this Kingdom, for the restoring of the Covenant to Religion, and for the restoring of his Majesty to his just Rights and Authority, and for the meintaining of the privileges of the Parliament, and preserving of the people in their lawful Liberties, and proprieties, and for the relieving our distressed brethren the Protestants in Ireland. And we profess in the conclusion, that we have been-necessitated to this Declaration, to give satisfaction to the World, that the honour, safety, and happiness of this Kingdom shall be evermore the delight and earnest of our devotion and endeavours, for we shall always labour to keep ourselves in that posture both with Heaven and Earth, as to be ready to wade through a Sea of blood, and to increase it with our own, that the Gospel of truth may flourish, and that the Peace of the King, the Parliament, and the Kingdom, may grow high and happy.  


Edw. Massey,  
Syd. Pointz.