To His EXCELLENCY Thomas Lord Fairfax: GENERAL of all the Forces raised by the Parliament, for the Common Wealth of England.  
The Humble Representation of the Desires of the Officers and Soldiers in the Regiment of Horse, for the County of Northumberland.   printer's or publisher's device 
Printed in the Year. 1648.   

To his Excellency THOMAS LORD FAIRFAX General of all the Forces raised by the Parliament for the Commonwealth of England.  
The humble Representation of the Desires of the Officers and Soldiers in the Regiment of Horse for the County of Northumberland;  
Shows,  
THat the people of this Nation, both by Nature, and as they are Englishmen, are a Freeborn Generation; but by conquest and captivity, under William the sixth Duke of Nomandies' Bastard, they were made slaves, the property of their Lands removed from the British Natives, to the Norman Invaders; the lands which were vouchsafed to their occupation, translated from their own Free-Simples into strange Tennours, by Knight, Homage, Villain, and other services (to the conqueror and his Norman Earls, Lords, and Knights, which of his Commanders, he made in every County) their free customs abrogated, their Laws subverred, and shut up from the English understandings, into the French Tongue, and all Writs, Processes, and Proceed in Law, entered and issued forth in Latin, and the poor Commons (that were used to have all their suits ended in their several Hundreds once or twice a month) were forced then to trudge up to London from all parts of the Land, to the new made Norman courts; and none suffered in any Office, either in Church or Commonwealth, but those Foreign Invaders. And to infatuate and bewitch the people with an adoration and sacred Reverence of this Bastard's Person and his Succession, his Clergy (the better to settle his crown) then preached him up to be God's Vicegerent, the Lords Anointed, ascribing a certain Deity to his person, that in process of time, the people (through ignorance) fell down and worshipped the Bastard and his Successors, making the place of his usual presence as holy ground, to be reverenced even in his absence; also preaching up the power the Bastard had thus got over the land, to be the power of God, and he that did resist, to resist to his own damnation.  
And then, utterly to prevent the English of all recovery and relief by their Parliaments in future, he created Lords by his Patent and Prerogative, to sit by succession in Parliament, as Representers of his conquest and tyranny over us, and not by election of the people, as Representers and Patrons of the Commonwealth.  
And to add unto this, to make his usurpation firm and inviolable, he subdued the Law-giving power of the free people of England in their Parliaments, to the Negative voice of Himself and Posterity, and nothing to be had or held, neither Law, Land, or Liberty, but by Grace, by Royal Grant, or the like; as if ourselves were naturally their born slaves, and nothing our own of Right. And under the yoke of this Norman captivity and villanage in every of the Premises, with the most miserable effects and fruits thereof, we have been held by that succession, even to this Day.  
And this King, to uphold the constitution and settlement of those principles and forms of Tyranny, and in them h●s Dominion over us, brought a cruel and bloody war upon the Nation; against whom, with your Excellency, under the Authority of Parliament, we have freely engaged: to the end we might rescue the Legislative powers of our English Parliaments, our free customs, and Native Rights, from the bondage of that captivity, and so free ourselves and all the people, from the common oppressions of the Land, by a settlement of a just and equal Government of Right and Freedom. And now it hath pleased God to bless our Engagement with an happy conquest over the capital enemy of the people, and to subdue him and his party under the power of the Parliament; we have expected that the Parliament (being fully enabled) should set this Commonwealth at Freedom, remove our Oppressions, and bring the capital Offenders and Destroyer's of the People to justice, without respect of Persons. But instead of this discharge of their Trust, we find that they increase and multiply our oppressions, countenance our enemies, reject and slight the just Directions and Petitions of the People for common Right and Freedom; Discourage, and sometime Imprison, and otherwise persecute the Promoters and Presenters, and burn their Petitions by the hand of the common Hangman: (an Act so abhorred, as never to be forgotten!) and betake themselves to a compliance and Treaty with our conquered enemy, courting his pleasure, and allowing him a Negative Voice in the pasting of all Acts of Parliament; whereby our Indemnity, our Laws, and Liberties, are all subjected to his concession; his Will advanced above all Law, above the Parliament and People; and himself put out of the reach of justice, and made accountable to none.  
Unto which yoke of Norman captivity (after all the blood that hath been spilt against it) we are loath to be subjected again, as we see both we and all the People must needs be, except the Army interpose betwixt the people and their destroyers, and make good their Engagement at New-Market-Heath, with all their Remonstrances, Declarations, and Promises to the people  
May it therefore please your Excellency, to take these premises into your timous and serious thoughts, and before it be too late, to improve that opportunity of strength and power which God hath now put into your hands, for the relief and release of this oppressed long captivated Nation; that both we and all the people may thereby be made safe and free: And in Order thereunto, we humbly crave leave to propose these our subsequent des●res, in the behalf of ourselves and the Commonwealth.  
1. That all Monopolies relating either to Sea or Land yet remaining, be forthwith abolished.  
2. That the exaction of Tithes, and all manner of Impropriations, be removed; and that the public Ministry be otherwise provided for.  
3. That Excise upon all Inland commodities be taken off, and that no Taxes or Cesments be levied upon the People, but by the old way of Subsidies.  
4. That a sufficient competency out of the Bishops, Deans, and Chapters Lands, King's Revenues, and Delinquents Estates, be ordered and set apart for the discharge of the whole Arrears of the Soldiery, and constant payment of the Army, whereby the people may be wholly eased of all free quarter and taxes for the Army, and the Soldiery also satisfied.  
5. That all Parliament-members, Committees, Excise-men, Sequestrators, etc. be called to an impartial account for the moneys of the State.  
6. That all enclosed Commons, and other ancient donations and rights belonging to the poor (in the several Counties and Parishes of the Land) be restored to their ancient and proper use, for the good of the comunalty.  
7. That the ancient Tenors of Lands in the county of Northumberland, Cumberland, etc. which have been destroyed by several Earls and Lords of late times, to the undoing of the comunalty in those parts, and utterly disenabling them from all good Nurture in Learning or Trades, and forcing them from Generation to Generation, to be hinds, half hinds, quarter hinds, shepherds, and herdsmen, be now enquired into; and if no better, that the ancient right of the old rents (for the good of those counties and commonwealth) be restored again.  
8. That all destitute Widows and poor Orphans, which have lost their husbands and parents, and all Soldiers that have lost their limbs in the service of the Parliament against the King, be comfortably provided for, by way of constant stipend, and education of the children to Trades.  
9 That public work-houses be erected for prevention of beggars, vagabonds, and idle persons.  
10. That till the time of more easy provision of payment for the Soldiery, that no moneys for the Army be paid to the Parliament, their Committees, or Deputies; but to such Treasurers of the Army as your Excellency shall appoint, and to be collected by the Soldiery.  
11. That a trade of Fishing upon the English coasts be settled by the State, for the good of the commonwealth.  
12. That the capital delinquents and incendiaries of the people be brought to speedy justice; and in the first place, that the King (instead of a Treaty) be brought to a fair trial, to make answer for all the innocent blood that hath been spilt in the land, and for other things whereof he stands charged by the Parliaments own Declaration; which showeth the reasons of making no farther Address unto him.  
13. That the charge of the Army against the eleven impeached members be made good; and all the members that sare in the juncto, when the Parliament fled to the Army for refuge, be expelled the House.  
14. That encouragement and protection be given to such as shall prosecute any lawful charge or impeachment of treason, or other crime against any member in Parliament; and that the members in Parliament, without respect of persons, be disrobed of their protection, and left open and liable to the Law.  
15. That Inquisition be made after the blood of colonel Rainsborough.  
16. That all judges, and other ministers of the State, be severely interdicted from receiving any indictment or charge against any person, for any thing done in relation to the first or second war against the King; and that all such so imprisoned, be discharged; with reparations out of their prosecuters estates; and in case of in ability, the said prosecuters to be answerably imprisoned.  
17. That a period be set to this Parliament.  
18. That an equal proportion throughout the several counties for the Representatives in Parliament be assigned.  
19 That a constant succession of Parliaments be settled, to be called and chosen of course by the people, at a fixed day every year, or two years, as shall be judged most safe and needful, and the same to end of course.  
20. That our Parliaments for the future be secured and cleared from the Negative Voice of any single person or persons whatsoever.  
21. That no man henceforth presume to fit in this, or any other Parliament, by patent or prerogative, or that is not elected by the free choice of the people.  
22. That all Statutes, Laws, and Acts of Parliament, be made and ru● only in the Name of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament.  
23. That no persons whatsoever that are Lawmakers, be Law-executioners, but that a clear distinction be preserved and kept inviolable betwixt these two principles and pillars of the Commonwealth for ever, that they be not confounded together in the same persons, for fear of mine to the freedom of the people.  
24. That all Officers of the Common wealth be made to enjoy their places but at a certain limited time: at the expiration whereof themselves to give an account of their Stewardship, and continue no longer in their places, except by a new election.  
25. That no Parliament Magistrate, or other person whatsoever have power to make any compulsive Law, or execute any Mulct or punishment touching matters of Conscience and Religion: but that all civil people subject to the Laws of the common wealth, though of several opinions and practices, (not being destructive to the State) be protected and saved from all violence and injury in good Name, person and estate.  
26. That all Warrants and Commitments by virtue of any pretended Privilege or Prerogative, of during pleasure, not showing the particular fact or crime, be with the greatest severity intirdicted and declared void, for ever; with provision for future security from such Arbitrary violence upon the people. That all such 〈◊〉 are so imprisoned be with Reparations released; and that Lient. Col. john Lilburn and many others that have long suffered in that nature by the House of Lords, may have ample and full Reparations out of their Lordship's Estates.  
27. That the cruelties and extortions of Gaolers be severely provided against; and that for future no Fees be exacted from prisoners; but that fitting accommodation both for lodging and diet for them, and a sufficient competency of livelihood for Gaolers at the public cost be provided.  
28. That no man be kept in prison above a month; but in that space to be brought to a trial by a lawful jury of his equals; or else to be discharged of course.  
29. That no man be impressed to serve in the Wars.  
30. That our Laws be few and plain, free from all ambiguous meanings, and all in the English Tongue; and to be digested and printed in a Volume; and one to be provided to be kept in every Church throughout the land; and to be read over at several seasons in open Congregation.  
31. That all persons stand alike liable to the Laws of the Land, in all cases, both criminal and civil: and that all protections by any pretended privilege or prerogative whatsoever, be declared Void.  
32. That no more trudging up to Westminster from all parts of the Land, for the trial of suits of Law be had, but that (as of old) all suits both criminal and civil, be ended in the several Hundreds.  
33. That no person whatsoever, that hath Lorn Arms for, or assisted the King, in his Rebellion against the Parliament and people; or that otherwise is found an enemy to this foundation of justice and Freedom, be neither chosen, nor have Voice in the choice of any Parliament Members, or other Officers, or Ministers of State whatsoever.  
34. That a solemn Contract upon there and the like Principles of Common Right and Freedom be drawn betwixt the People and their Representors, to be unalterable for ever.  
35. That the respective Regiments of the Army (in order to their solemn Engagement made at New market Heath) do with all possible expedition choose two (or more) Deputies or trusties (persons of known approved fidelity, for the freedom of the Common wealth,) and each County also to do the like, jointly to sit, consult and act in the behalf of themselves, the people, and Army; and that the removal of our oppressions, and obtainment of our Freedom, according to the premises abovesaid, be the only work of their Agitation.  
36. That the said Deputies or trusties be limited in their Session, to the space of two months; at the expiration whereof their Session to terminate; except continued by a new Election: and twelve days before the said Term be expired, a new choice successively and of course, to be made till the accomplishment of the Work; and that the former Deputies be made accountable to the succeeding.  
37. That this Council be a free Council, no Member thereof to be awed or discountenanced in his Vote, by threats and frowns from any superior Officer: and that no person whatsoever therein have a Negative Voice.  
38. That till the accomplishment of this Work, in behalf of the Army and People, that no disbanding of any part of the Soldiery be: except of persons ill affected and dissentors from this Expedition.  
For these things we declare, and with our Swords in our hands, as we are Soldiers we challenge them as the price and purchase of our Blood, to live and die for them against all opposers whatsoever: and as we are English men we do claim them as our own Inheritance and Birthright: And humbly beg of your Excellency That you will be pleased to give us and the Soldiery encouragement therein, and so to appear before us, for the happy accomplishment of these things: that both we and all the people, and the Generations that are yet unborn may have just cause to bless God for your righteous conduct.  
Signed in behalf of the Regiment. 

Joshua Wetwang.  
Edw. Hawnby.  
Edward Leake.  
John Moores.  
John Grice.  
Francis Bartholomew.  
Edmund Badger.  
William Farrow.  
John Pain.  
Tho. Baxter.  
John Baynes.  
John Griffin.  
Richard Leake.  
John Harison.