A PETITION FROM Several Regiments of the Army, viz. 

Colonel fleetwood's,  
Colonel Whalies'.  
Colonel barkstead's, etc.    
PRESENTED To his Excellency, Thomas Lord Fairfax, at St. Albon, on Saturday the 11. of this present November, 1648.  
WHEREIN They set forth their Desires for a speedy, safe, and just settlement, that thereby the Kingdom may be freed from the heavy burdens that now they lie under, especially that of Free Quarter.  
ALSO, A Letter from his Excellency, to the Committee of the Army, concerning the said grievances.  
London, Printed for George Whittington, at the Blue Anchor in Cornhill, near the Royal-exchange.   


A LETTER FROM HIS Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, ●o the Committee for the Army.  
SIR,  
HAving had a meeting of divers Officers of the Army, I apprehend their general sad Resentment of the many pressures now lying upon the Kingdom, in particular, that of free Quarter, whereby they (and the Soldiers under their Command who have faithfully served their Generation) are even a burden to themselves, because they are so much to the poor Country, which is the more grievous to them, because they have generally paid their Taxes, and yet the Army not enabled to pay their Quarters, or provide themselves necessaries against the injury of the approaching season. I hoped ●re this we should have received some good fruit of your last being with us, the matters then agreed, being of such public concernment, & so much requiring expedition. I desire you to improve your utmost endeavour for a quick dispatch in providing effectually for the premises to prevent those ill consequences which otherwaye delay therein may produce. I request you to communicate this to the House: so hoping to hear speedily from you, I remain  
St. Alban● 9 Novemb. 1648. For the Honoured, R 〈…〉 Scowen Esq in the Chair of the Committee for the Army. Your very assured friend FAIRFAX.   

To his Excellency, Thomas Lord Fairfax, General of all Forses raised by the Parliament, in the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales.  
The humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers in Col. fleetwood's. Col. Whalies, and Col Bark steads Regiments, under your Excellency's Command.  
Shows,  
THat through the blessing of God upon the Army, under your Excellencies Conduct, the enemies of this Nation's Peace and Freedom, have been twice subdued.  
That as we engaged in Judgement and Conscience against them, to preserve this Nation from slavery, so we hope the Parliament (by whom we were invited to engage) would have executed Justice, upon the public & grand Enemies thereof, and immediately have settled a just Government, under which every man's freedom, right, and property might have been preserved.  
That your Petitioners had some hope of that happy fruit of their labours, hazard, & expense of blood, when the Parliament voted no more addresses to the King, and hereupon your Excellency and your Petitioners did testify their approbation of those Votes, and did engage to adhere, and stand by them, in the settlement of the Nation without, and against the King, or any other that should partake with him, and your Excellency, & your Petitioners received the thanks of both Houses for the same.  
That notwithstanding a bloody War hath been since raised by the Prince his Commission, a foreign Nation invited to (which did) invade us (and as there is ground to believe) by the King's consent, thereby to enslave us, to his exorbitant will and lust.  
Yet when through the great mercy and favour of God, All their Forces were suppressed, instead of having our expectations answered (as to a just settlement) we find.  
That the wicked and bloody Designs of the Enemies of this Kingdom still continue, As of that of Ireland by Ormond, & that home, threatening the lives of every well-affected person. And this we humbly conceive they are the more emboldened unto, because of the prevalency of some in greatest authority, that will let not Justice be executed upon the grand fomentors, contrivers, & actors, in the first and late War. So that the innocent blood of many of our dear friends (that hath been spilt) the Rapines robberies, burning & spoiling many well-affected Towns and Persons, of all livelihood is forgotten, just Government subverted, and such Petitions tending to a feeling of a just and equal Government, (as that of the 11. of Septemb. last, from the City of London and Westminster) slighted the intolerable burden of free Quarter still continued, no redress of public grivances, by reason of which the implacable malice of our twice conquered Enemies, seems to steal credit in the hearts of many (whose weakness hinders them from discerning their evil ends) so that their bloody intentions against the well-affected in this Nation, doth begin to manifest itself, both against the Parl. men, and the Army, as is apparent by that most desperate and inhuman murdering of Col. Rainsborough.  
That as we conceive, your Excellency and the Army, next under God, are the only Bar, that lieth in their way, hindering the accomplishing of their ends: so their main design is, how to destroy you and it. And that they endeavour by continuing us on free Quarter, yet providing Ordinances, against it, and instructions to enter into no man's house (except Inns, Alehouses, & Taverns) against their wills, which was by us joyfully excepted, that thereby the Country might beeased of that devouring Creature free quarter, yet when the Army was thus quartered for the ease of the Country, we were content to make hard shift to maintain ourselves out of our pay though it was small, as 2 s. per diem for horse, & 8 d. for foot, but that through the subtlety of our Enemies, hath been kept from us, we having not received any pay in 5. months together. So that we must either starve and lie in the streets, or else still oppress the Country by free Quarter, which renders us odious to the people. And it cannot be otherwise, seeing the Assessments of 60000 l. per mensem, if it were all assessed and gathered (besides money for providing Arms for the Horse and Foot, Recruit Horses, Ammunition for the Army and Garrisons, Coles, Stockings, Shoes for Foot Soldiers, and other incident Charges) will not amount to the Personal Pay of the Army by 12000 l. per mensem.  
Now we being pressed in our Judgements, by our Enemies hellish & bloody designs, & their insolent & barbarous Carriage, and also our hearts burdened with the unsettled condition of this poor Kingdom, are bold to present to your Excellency's consideration th●se things following.  
1. That speedy & impartial Justice may be executed upon all the fomentors, contrivors, and actors in the first and late War.  
2. That inquisition be made for the blood of Col. Rainsborough.  
3. That the supreme power may be declared and determined, that the want thereof may not be the ground of future, (as it hath been of these former) Wars.  
4. That a period be set for this present Parl. to end as soon as may be with safety, and provisions made for future parliaments to meet certain without writ or sumons.  
5. That rules may be set down between the people and their Representatives.  
6. That Laws may be made in things civil to bind all men, so that no man in case of offence, may be freed from that Law whereunto another is subject.  
7. That all those common grievances and desires in our Declarations of June 14. and June 23 1647 and expressed in the London Petition, be speedily granted and redressed.  
8. That prsenr Provision be made for the Constant pay of the Army.  
9 That the arrears due from the 15 of January: may be paid off, before we be Commanded to pay Quarters, and that there may be no other abatement from Officers or Soldiers for free Quarter, then according to the rates set down in the Ordinance of Parliament, of the 24. day December last.  
10. That the Country may be paid for our free Quarter, according to the Deduction out of our pay out of their Assessments.  
11. That in as much as the Assessments fall short to pay the Army. That therefore there may be Additionall supplies monthly out of the Estates of the old and new Delinquents, that there be no more Tax or Charge to the Commonwealth.  
12. That forth with an Account be called for from all persons that have been betrusted with any thing for the State, that the Kingdom may be satisfied therein.  
13. That the Deans, and Chapters Lands may be given to pay the Soldier's Arrears, seeing the Parl. have given a way the Delinquents Estates that should have done it.  
These things being the proper Issue of our serious thoughts, we implore your Excellency through the many blessings, deliverances, Victories and successes, the Lord hath crowned you withal, The dangers you have been preserved from, the miseries of this bleeding Nation, the blood of the innocent, the Outcry of the Widow, and Fatherless, the sad Omen of future troubles, to consider the necessity of attaining these things, that we may be no longer the scorn & contempt of the Nation, nor the object of our enemy's malice, by the want of just peace and settlement; but with an undaunted courage, to desire the Parl. that these things may be forthwith established, that we may with safety be released, from this troublesome and hazardous employment, which by reason of the grievous oppression thereof, we profess we are weary of which things we challenge as ●urs and the Kingdoms due, twice bought with our blood: In the doing of which your Excellency shall not fail of their assistance, who are ready to wade through a Sea of troubles to have them established, though they perish in the work.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, etc.   
FINIS.