proposals FROM NINE REGIAMENTS of HORSE, and SEVEN REGIAMENTS of FOOT, for a model of an AGREEMENT OF THE PEOPLE FOR A firm and present PEACE, upon grounds of common-right and freedom. As it was proposed by the Agents of the five Regiaments of Horse; to be offered to the joint concurrence of all the free Commons of England. And since adhered to by the general approbation of the ARMY. Novemb. 4. 1647. Imprimatur G. M. First Printed for the Agitators, and use of the Army, And Reprinted by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, 1647. GENTLEMEN, WE desire you may understand the reason of on extracting some principles of common freedom out of those many things proposed to you in the Case truly stated, and drawing them up into the form of an Agreement. Its chiefly, because for these things we first engaged against the King, he would not permit the peoples Representatives to provide for the Nations safety, by disposing of the Militia, and otherways, according to their trust, but raised a war against them, and we engaged for the defence of that power, & right of the people, in their Representatives. Therefore these things in the Agreement, the people are to claim as their native right, and price of their blood, which you are obliged absolutely to procure for them, And these being the foundations of freedom, itis necessary, that they should bee settled unalterably, which can be by no means, but this Agreement with the people. And we cannot but mind you, that the ease of the people in all their Grievances, depends upon the settling those principles or rules of equal Government for a free People, and were but this Agreement established, doubtless all the Grievances of the Army and People would be redressed immediately, and all things propounded in your Case truly Stated to be insisted on, would be fo●thwith granted. Then should the House of Commons have power to help the oppressed People, which they are now bereaved of by the chief Oppressors, and then they shall be equally concerned with you and all the people, in the se●tlement of the most perfect freedom: for they shall eq●ally suffer with you under any burdens, or partake in any freedom. We shall onely add, that the sum of all the Agr●●ment w●ich we herewith off●r to you, is but in order to the fulfilling of ●ur Declaration of June the 14. wherein we promised to the People▪ that wee would with our lives vindicate and clear their Right and power in their Parliaments. Lieuten. Gen. Reg. Edmond Bear, Robert Everard come. Gen. Reg. George Garret Thomas Beverley Col. Fleetwood Reg. William Prior William Brian Col. Whaley Reg. Matthew Wealey William russel Col. Rich Reg. John D●ber William Hudson Proposals from Nine Regiaments of Horse, and seven Regiaments of Foot, FOR A model of an Agreement of the People, for a firm and present Peace, upon grounds of common Right. HAving by our late labours, and hazards, made it appear to the world at how high a rate we value out just freedom, and God having so far owned our cause, as to deliver the enemies thereof into our hands: We do now hold ourselves bound in mutual duty to each other, to take the best care we can for the future, to avoid both the danger of returning into a slavish condition▪ and the chargeable remedy of another war: for it cannot be imagined that so many of our Country-men would have opposed us in this quarrel, if they had understood their own good; so may we safely promise to ourselves, that when our common Rights and Liberties shall be cleared, their endeavours will be disappointed, that seek to make themselves our Masters: since therefore our former oppressions, and scarce yet ended troubles have been occasioned, either by want of frequent national meetings in council, or by rendering those meetings ineffectual; We are fully agreed and resolved, to provide that hereafter our Representatives be neither left to an uncertainty for the time, nor made useless to the ends for which they are intended: In order whereunto we declare, I. That the people of England being at this day very unequally distributed by Counties, Cities, and Burroughs, for the election of their Deputies in Parliament, ought to be more indifferently proportioned, according to the number of the Inhabitants: the circumstances whereof, for number, place, and manner, are to be set down before the end of this present Parliament. II. That to prevent the many inconveniences apparently arising, from the long continuance of the same persons in authority, this present Parliament to be dissolved upon the last day of September, which shall be in the year of our Lord, 1648. III. That the People do of course choose themselves a Parliament once in two yeares, viz. upon the first Thursday in every second March, after the manner as shall be prescribed before this present Parliament end, to begin to sit upon the first Thursday in April following at Westminster, or such other place as shall be appointed from time to time by the preceding Representatives, and to continue till the last day of September, then next ensuing, and no longer. IV. That the power of this, and all future Representatives of this Nation, is inferior only to theirs who choose them, and extend; without the consent or concurrence of any other person or persons, to the enacting, altering, and repealing of laws; to the erecting and abolishing of Offices and Courts; to the appointing, removing, and calling to account Magistrates, and Officers of all degrees; to the making War and Peace, to the treating with foreign States: And generally, to whatsoever is not expressly, or impliedly reserved by the represented to themselves. Which are as followeth, 1. THat matters of Religion, and the ways of Gods Worship, are not at all entrusted by us to any human power, because therein we cannot remit or exceed a tittle of what our Consciences dictate to be the mind of God, without wilful sin: nevertheless the public way of instructing the Nation( so it be not compulsive) is referred to their discretion. 2. That the matter of impresting and constraining any of us to serve in the warres, is against our freedom; and therefore we do not allow it in our Representatives; the rather, because money( the sinews of war) being always at their disposal, they can never want numbers of men, apt enough to engage in any just cause. 3. That after the dissolution of this present Parliament, no person be at any time questioned for any thing said or done, in reference to the late public differences, otherwise then in execution of the Judgements of the present Representatives, or House of Commons. 4 That in all laws made, or to be made, every person may bee bound alike, and that tenor, Estate, Charter, Degree, Birth, or place, do not confer any exception from the ordinary Course of legal proceedings, whereunto others are subjected. 5 That as the Laws ought to bee equal, so they must bee good, and not evidently destructive to the safety and well-being of the people. These things we declare to be our native Rights and therefore are agreed and resolved to maintain them with our utmost possibilities, against all opposition whatsoever, being compelled thereunto, not onely by the examples of our Ancestors, whose blood was often spent in vain for the recovery of their freedoms, suffering themselves, through fraudulent accommodations, to bee still deluded of the fruit of their Victories, but also by our own woeful experience, who having long expected, and dearly earned the establishment of these certain rules of Government are yet made to depend for the settlement of our Peace and freedom, upon him that intended our bondage, and brought a cruel war upon us. The Names of the Regiaments which have already appeared for the Case, of The Case of the Army truly stated, and for this present Agreement, VIZ. Of Horse 1 Gen. Regiament. 2 lifeguard. 3 Lieut. Gen. Regiament. 4 come. Gen. Regiament. 5 Col. Whaleyes Reg. 6 Col. Riches. Reg. 7 Col. Fleetwoods Reg. 8 Col. Harrisons Reg. 9 Col. Twissdens Reg. Of Foot▪ 1 Gen. Regiament. 2 Col. Sir Hardr. Wallers Reg. 3 Col. Lamberts Reg. 4 Col. Rainsboroughs Reg. 5 Col. Overtons Reg. 6 Col. Lilburn's Reg. 7 Col. Backsters Reg. FINIS.