THE REPRESENTATIONS AND Consultations of the General Council of the ARMY at S. Alban.  
WITH Several Propositions to the L. General, from the Officers of divers Regiments of the Army, about the present settlement of the Kingdom.  
ALSO A DECLARATION OF His Excellency Thomas L. Fairfax, concerning the KING'S Majesty, and the present proceed in the Treaty at the Jsle of Wight. With the Demands of of the Soldiers which guard His Majesty and the Commissioners in the said Island, when the Treaty is ended: And a Copy of his Excellency's Letter thereupon.  
London: Printed for R. A. 1648.   


Several Papers of the daily proceed of the General Council of the Army, some Speeches made by the Officers, and the Lord-generalls' Declaration to assist the King and Parliament in such an agreement as shall be concluded between them.  
THe first day of the meeting of the General Assembly of the Army being Tuesday the 7. of this instant, his Excellency and many of his chief Officers met in the Church at S. Albans, and after prayers for seeking a blessing upon their assembling together, and a Sermon, they debated on certain Papers formerly presented to the Lord-Generall in the name of some particular Regiments of the Army, but nothing concluded on this day, for the time of their sitting on these affairs was not long, and several Officers not yet come to the Headquarters.  
Wednesday, 8. Nou. the General Council of the Army was fuller than the day before, and it was agreed that the matters first insisted on should be the quartering of the Army in such a way, as might afford most ease to the Country; and for that it is impossible that without pay an Army should not be burdensome to the places where they quarter, they hold it necessary to consider of certain Proposals for ascertaining the pay of the Soldiery.  
2. The Officers of the Army expressed an exceeding great sense of the loss of Colonel Rainsborough, and thought fit that inquiry should be made about that wicked murder, and that justice should be done therein.  
Novemb. 9 Some Speeches were made by divers Officers of the Army, expressing, that they apprehended a design of stopping of pay for the Army, on purpose to cast an Odium upon them, and render them the more burdensome, and less useful to the Kingdom: And notwithstanding the great care of the Committee and Treasurers of the Army, and the cheerful readiness of most Counties for the payment of Assessments, as those where they now quarter do affirm, nevertheless the private Soldiers are necessitated to take Freequarter for the present, which is very irksome unto them to be so burdensome to their friends, neither are those widows who lost their husbands in the last engagement, or in the first service, and children that lost their parents, sufficiently provided for, but are for want of maintenance reduced to great extremities, even to beggary, having not sufficient provision for their subsistence, and future livelihood.  
There be also some Papers from Commissary Gen. Iretons Regiment and others of the Army, (besides their late Petition to the Lord General) to be considered on, wherein they set forth that no certain Provision hath been made for the payment of their dearly earned wages by the expense of their blood and often hazard of their lives, nor any thing yet perfected for their future security for things done, as Soldiers in relation to the war which the exegincy thereof hath compelled thereunto, the want whereof they cannot choose but be very sensible of, when they consider the many sad examples of bitter and rigorous proceed at Law against soldiers for acts done in order to the promotion of the Parliaments service.  
Novemb. 10. further time was spent in debate on the present affairs of the Kingdom, and particularly concerning the settling of a firm peace, and divers speeches were made by Colonels of the Army, declaring, that they desire nothing more than to see this Kingdom restored to a flourishing condition in peace and amity, and that the hearts of King and people may be knit together in a threefold cord of love; some things were also moved concerning the former Proposals, and bringing Delinquents to trial, it hath been also desired, that those who endeavour to render his Excellency's Army odious by aspersions, and thereby to deprive them of that honour which they so dearly bought, and to incense the Kingdom and Soldiers against them, may be proceeded against according to justice.  
Novemb. 11. a Petition was read at the General Counsel in the name of the Officers of Col. Kich his Regiment, and several others of the Army with the representations following: viz.  
1. That speedy and impartial Justice may be executed upon all the fomentors, contrivers, 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 summons.  
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 present 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 and 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 fotthwith 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 away the Delinquents Estates that should have done it.  
His Excellency the Lord General hath also declared as followeth.  
That he may not be the dissatisfaction of his friends, the subject of his Enemy's malice, and the suspicion of many in the Kingdom, he shall in faithfulness and clearness declare, that no worldly thing is so dear unto him, as the complete settling of the liberties and peace of the Kingdom, and that he will proceed to such things as may give most hopes of Justice and righteousness to flow down equally to all, without any overture tending to overthrow the government of the Kingdom, and that he will clearly commit his stock or share of interest in this Kingdom, into the common bottom of Parliaments. And when his Majesty shall give his concurrence to what is tendered, and what else shall be proposed by the Parliament, necessary for procuring the Rights and Liberties of the People, his Excellency will (to the utmost of his endeavours) maintain and defend his Majesty and his Parliament in that just long desired Agreement. And whereas it hath been suggested, or suspected, that the proceed of the Army have been to overthrow Presbytery, or hinder the settlement thereof, and to have the Independent Government up, he doth clearly disclaim and dissavour any such design.   

His Excellency the Lord Gen. FAIRFAX hath sent a Letter to the Committee for the Army in these words.  
HAving had a meeting of divers Officers of the Army, 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 ere this we should have received some good fruit of your last being with us, the matters then agreed, being of such public concernment, and 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 otherways delay therein may produce. I request you to communicate this to the House: so hoping to hear speedily from you, I remain  
Your very assured Friend, FAIRFAX.   
FINIS.