PROPOSITIONS FROM THE ADJUTATORS OF Five Regiaments of Horse presented to his Excellency on monday, Octob. 18. and appointed to be presented to the general council of the Army, at Putney, this present Thursday, Octob. 21. 1647. About sending to the Parliament for nulling all Orders against free Petitioning, redressing of al grievanâ—Źes, concerning Officers of his Majesties Court, For Halls in London to give account to the Companies for their Stocks, for regulating the Excise. All Monopolies to be put down, oppressions of prisoners removed: Statutes against tender consciences repealed, For proceedings in Law to be reformed, and Courts set up in Counties or hundreds. Protections above Law nulled. And all rights belonging to the poor in all parts of the Kingdom restored. October 20. 1647. THese papers being a true Copy of the Propositions( signed by the Adjutators, whose names are subscribed,) are authorized to be Printed, according to the Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament. Imprimatur, G. mat. Printed at London by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfield, near the Queenes-head Tavern, 1647. PROPOSITIONS FROM The ADJUTATORS of five Regiaments of Horse, Drawn up to be presented to the general council of the ARMY at Putney, this present Thursday, Octob. 21. 1647. I. FIrst, that all the orders, Votes, Ordinances or Declarations, that have passed either to discountenance petitions, suppress, prevent or burn petitions, imprison or declare against petitioners, being dangerous presidents against the freedom of the people, may be forthwith expunged out of the journal books, and the injustice of them clearly declared to all the people, and that in such a Declaration the soldiery be vindicated, as to the right and equity of their first petition, all those large sums of money that were allowed to needless pretended Officers of the Court, which did but increase wickedness and profaneness, may be reserved for a public treasure to be extended in paying those Lords that must be maintained, for the peoples safety, and whereas there is now 50 pound per diem, allowed for the Court, who offered that there might be three hundred pound per diem, allowed for the Court, to be paid out of the public treasury, through a good and faithful improvement of all the Lands pertaining to the Court, there must be as much reserved for levying the public charges, and easing the people. II. And it is further offered, that whereas millions of money, have been kept in dead stock in the City of London, the Halls and Companies, and the free men of the City could never obtain any account thereof, according to their right. That therfore a just and strict account may be forthwith given to all the Free-men of any those dead stocks, and yet whereas there hath been nothing paid out of those, nor for the Lands pertaining to the City, whiles the estates of others have been much wasted, by continual payments, that therfore proportionable sums to what other estates have paid, may be taken out of those dead stocks, and lands which would amount to such vast sums, as would pay much of the Souldiers arrears, without burdening the oppressed people. And it is further offered, that forest Lands, and deans and Chapters lands, bee immediately set apart for the Arrears of the Army, and that the Revenue of these, and the residue of Bishops lands unfold, till the time of sale, may be forthwith appointed to be paid unto our Treasury, to be reserved for the Souldiers constant pay. And it's to be wished that onely such part of the aforesaid lands be sold as necessity requires, to satisfy the soldiery for arrears, and that the residue bee reserved and improved for a constant revenue for the State, that the people may not be burdened, and that out of the revenues public debts may be paid, and not first taken out of their own purses to be repaid to them. And it's further offered for the peoples ease, that the arrears of all former assessments be duly collected from those who have sufficient estates, and have not been impoverished by the war. III. And whereas it is conceived that the Fees of Receivers of customs and Excise if they were justly computed, would amount to near as much as the Armies pay, it's therfore offered that speedy consideration be had of the multitude of those officers, and of their excessive fees, and profits, as 500. 600. 1000. 1200. l. per annum. As also that many excise men appoint whom they please as their substitute, and allow what they please for their pay, that the officers may be few, and constant stipends allowed them, none exceeding 200. l. per annum, that so more moneys may be brought into the public treasury. And for the ease and satisfaction of the people, it's further to be insisted on, that the charge of all the forces to be kept up in the kingdom by sea or land, be particularly computed and published, and that all taxes that shall be necessary, may be wholly proportioned, according to that charge; and there be an equal rate propounded throughout the kingdom in all assessments, that so one town may not bear double the proportion of another of the same value. IV. That all monopolies be forthwith removed, and no persons whatsoever may be permitted to restrain others from free trade. V. That the most sad oppressions of prisoners be forthwith eased and removed, and that no person that hath no estate real or personal, nor any person that shall willingly yield up his estate to satisfy his creditors may be detained in prison to the ruin of their persons and families, and likewise, that no person imprisoned in a criminal cause, may be detained from his legal trial any longer that the next term VI. That all Statutes for the Common Prayer book, and for enforcing all to come to Church, whereby many religious and conscientious people are daily vexed and oppressed, be forthwith repealed and nulled. As also that all Statutes against Conventicles, under the pretence of which, religious people are vexed for private meetings about the worship of God, may be likewise repealed and nulled. VII. That all the oppressive statutes, enforcing all persons though against their consciences to pay tithes, whereby the Husband man cannot eat the fruit of his labour, may be repealed and nulled. VIII. That all statutes enforcing the taking of oaths, as in towns corporate, the oath of Supremacy, &c. Wherein either the whole oath, or some clauses in them, are burdens and snares to conscientious people may be repealed and nulled. XI. That it be declared that no person or Court shal have power to be permitted to enforce any person to make oath, or answer to any Interrogatories concerning himself, in any criminal case. X. That a Committee of conscientious persons bee forthwith selected to consider of the most intolerable oppressions by unjust proceedings in the Law, that withall the laws might be reduced to a smaller number, to bee comprised in one volume in the English tongue, that every free Commoner might understand his own proceedings, that Courts might be set up in the respective Counties or Hundreds, that proceedings might become short and speedy, and that the numberless grievances in the law and Lawyers, might be redressed as soon as possible. XI. That all privileges and protections above the law, whereby some persons are exempted from the force and power thereof, to the insufferable vexation and ruin of multitudes of distressed people, may bee forthwith abbrogated. XII. That all the ancient rights and donations belonging to the poor, now embezzled and converted to other uses, as enclosed Commons, Alms-houses, &c. throughout all parts of the Land, may be forthwith restored to the ancient public use and service of the poor, in whose hands soever they be detained. Subscribed by Robert Everard, Agitator for lieutenant general Cromwells Regiament. George saddler, Agitator, for Lieutenant general Cromwels Regiament. George Garret, Agit. for come. Gen. Iretons Regiament. Thomas Beverly, Agit. for come. Gen. Iretons Regiam. William Prior, Agit. for Col. Fleetwoods Regiam. William Bryan. Agit. for Col. Fleetwoods Regiam. John Fletcher, Agit. for Col. Fleetwoods Regiam. Matthew Wealy, Agit. for Col. Whaleys Regiament. William russel, Agit. for Col. Whaleys Regiament. Richard seal, Agit. for Col. Whaleys Regiament. John Dober, Agit. for Col. Riches Regiament. William Hudson, Agit. for Col. Riches Regiament. These Propositions was presented to the general, Octob. 18, 1647. FINIS.