A MESSAGE SENT FROM THE OFFICERS & SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY, TO THE King's Majesty in the Isle of Wight, on Wednesday Novemb. 22. 1648. Communicating their last and final Resolutions, touching their disposal of his Royal Person. And their Remonstrance and Proposals, for the executing of speedy Justice, upon King, Lords, and Commons, who have acted contrary to the trust reposed in them by the People. With the Charge of the Army thereupon, and their Articles of High Treason. BY the appointment of his Excellency, the Lord General, and the general Council of Officers. Signed, John Rushworth Secretary London, Printed for R. Williamson, and are to be sold in St. Danstons' Churchyard, near Temple-bar, 1648. The Army's Message and Remonstrance. Whereas we have endeavoured to Remonstrate the danger and evil of the way you are in, and cleared the way unto what we have to propose, we shall with the same plainness and faithfulness, give you our apprehensions of the remedies; for which purpose upon all the reasons and considerations aforegoing, we proceed to offer, as followeth. First, we conceive and hope, that from what hath before been said, you may find abundant cause to forbear any further proceeding in this evil and most dangerous Treaty, and to return to your former grounds in the Votes of Non-addresses, and thereupon proceed to the settling and securing of the Kingdom without and against the King, upon such foundations as hereafter are tendered; but if notwithstanding all the evils and dangers remonstrated to lie even in the Treaty itself, you will ye proceed in such an evil way, we shall at least desire that you make sure to avoid that main venom and mischief attending it. viz. The King's restitution with impunity, etc. and that imperfect bargaining for partial justice against inferior offenders; And for the avoidance of these, we propound. 1. That you would reject those demands of the King, sent to you on his and his Parties behalf, and (especially in relation to that concerning his restitution or return to London with freedom, etc.) that it may be expressly declared and provided by you, that, notwithstanding any thing concluded, or to be concluded in this Treaty, the Person of the King may, and shall be proceeded against in a way of justice, for the blood spilt, and the other evils and mischiefs done by him, or by his Commission, Command or Procurement, and in order thereto shall be kept in safe custody as formerly. 2. That for other Delinquents you would lay a side that particular bargaining Proposition, which as we understand, the King hath refused in the terms you offered, and whereby all your justice and mercy too would be rendered, to be dependant upon particular contract, with, and grant from the King; and not upon the judicial power of the Kingdom in Parliament; We therefore desire. 1. That that capital and grand Author of our troubles, the Person of the King, by whose Commissions, Commands, or procurement, and in whose behalf, and for whose interest only, (of will and power) all our Wars and troubles have been, (with all the miseries attending them,) may be speedily brought to justice, for the treason, blood and mischief, he is therein guilty of. 2. That a timely and peremptory day may be set for the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of York, to come in and render themselves, by which time (if they do not) that then they may be immediately declared incapable of any Government, or trust in this Kingdom, or the Dominions thereunto belonging, or of any kind of Right within the same, and thence to stand exiled for ever, as enemies and traitors, to die without mercy, if ever after found and taken therein;) or if by the time limited, they or either of them do render themselves, that then the Prince for his Capital Delinquency (being in appearance next unto his Fathers,) may either be proceeded against in justice, or remitted, according as upon his appearance he shall give satisfaction or not; concerning his being drawn into the rebellious engagements, he has appeared to head; and the Dake, as he shall give satisfaction, or not concerning his carriage in and since his going out of the Kingdom (being without leave) and in opposition or contempt of the Parliament and to the prejudice of the public peace,) may accordingly be considered as to future trust, or not; But (however) that the Estate and Revenue of the Crown may be sequestered, and all the matter of costly pomp or state suspended for a good number of years, while the desolation and spoils of the poor people made, by and in behalf of that Family, and for that vain interest (the state and greatness thereof) may be in good measure repaired, or recovered; And that the Revenue (saving necessary allowances for the children's maintenance, and to old Servants and creditors of the Crown, not Delinquents) and also the 100000 l. per annum, Voted to the Crown in Liew of the Court of Wards, may for those years be disposed towards public charges, debts and damages for the easing and lessoning of the people's Contributions towards the same; so as the Estates neither of the friends to public interest, nor alone of the inferior Enemies thereto, may bear wholly the burden of that loss and charge, which by and for that Family, the Kingdom or the good people thereof have been or (for future security) shall be put unto. 3. That for further satisfaction to public justice, Capital punishment may be speedily executed upon a competent number of his chief instruments also, both in the former and latter War, and (for that purpose) that some such, of both sorts, may be pitched upon to be made examples of justice in that kind, as are really in your hands or reach, so as their exception from pardon, may not be a mockery of Justice in the face of God and men. 4. That the satisfaction of Arrears to the Soldiery. with other public debts. and the competent reparation of public Damages, (especially and primarily of such as voluntarily engaged for, and have constantly adhered to the common Cause, and suffered for the same) may be put into some orderly and equal, or proportionable way, etc. Now (after public justice, had 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. 1. 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. 2. 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. 1. 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 left 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 dessents 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 〈◊〉 only they may avoid the further trusting of such, but without further penalty to any for their free judgements there. 2. 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 heitherto) we propound, to be declared and provided by this Parl. 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, and 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 to be admitted to the Crown, or other person to any Office, or place of public trust, without express accord, and subscription to the same. We have thus plainly, and faithfully propounded our apprehensions, how the evil and danger of the present Treaty may in good measure be avoided, and our further conceptions of a way, wherein, hopefully through the blessing of God (if most men be not given up, some to unjust domination, or particular Interest, the rest to servitude) the Kingdom may be quieted, future disturbances prevented, the common Rights and Liberties provided for, and the Peace and Government of the Kingdom settled, to a just public Interest; and this we have set forth in such hands and particulars, which (if you'll but set aside, for the time, less importaint matters) may most of them be brought to effect, and the rest assured, and put into a good way of effect, within a few Months, so as you might then ease the Kingdom from the burden of the greatest part of that force, which otherwise (in case of Accommodation with the King) you will be necessitated, for a much longer time (probable for many years) to keep on, upon the public charge, unless, upon the Accommodation you would give up all to the King's power again, a●d expose those that have engaged against him, as sacrifices to his and the Cavaliers Revenge: And (for our parts) let but that way of justice be effectually prosecuted and the settlement of public Interest (upon which foundations as are afore propounded) be assured to us and the Kingdom, and put into a course of effect (and we shall not only embrace with cheerfulness, but shall with eagerness desire discharge from our present service, and shall be most ready to disband all, or part, as shall be though sit, the Arrears of the soldiers being satisfied. Novemb. 22. 1648. THere is a general Report, that the Army is engaged to expedite a Message to his Message, to advertise him of their proceed, and Overtures, for the executing of Justice, and bring of all Delinquents to a speedy Trial; to the end, that the enemies of peace, may be all remanded in, and the differences of this sanguishing Kingdom speedily united and composed. FINIS.