TWO PETITIONS TO THE GENERAL'S EXCELLENCY, ONE From the County of Hartfordshire, concerning the Papers of the five Regiaments. AND The other from Rutland, concerning Tithes. ALSO A Declaration about North-wales, and the Taxes and Assessments; An Order concerning his Excellency's Lifeguard. Some VOTES presented to the General Council. THE General's Letter to Mr. Speaker, for the keeping of promises, and engagements, upon Articles approved. Novemb. 1. 1647. THese Papers are examined, and Printed, and published according to the Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament. Imprimatur, G. Ma.tie Printed at London by Robert Ibbitson, in Smithfi●●d, near the Queenes-head Tavern, 1647. To His Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, General of the Parliament ARMY, raised for Defence OF THE KINGDOM, The Humble Petition of divers, your Excellencies and the Kingdoms most humble Servants of the County of Hertford. Shows, THat your Petitioners having received great satisfaction and comfort, from the solemn engagement of the A●m● at New●●arkes, as also from many declarations and narrations solemnly set forth by your Excellency, and Army under your, command; all tending highly to the satisfaction of the Kingdom, and more especially to your Petitioners, and all the friends and wellwishers to your Excellency, & Army, And observing that some well known to be much dis-affected to the Army's engagement, Declarations, and Kingdoms peace have upon view of a book entitled, The case of the Army truly stated, had private meetings, and long consultations, to the great terror of your Petitioners, and many other of the Kingdoms most real servants. We therefore most humbly beseech your Excellency's care: that the endeavours of all those who upon the least occasions, are ready to take all advantages to raise, and foment new divisions may be frustrated; as also that there may be a settlement of the Kingdom answerable, and according to the solemn narrations and Declarations put forth by your Excellency and the Army under your command. And your Petitioners shall humbly pray etc. TO His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight Captain General of the Forces raised for the defence of the KINGDOM. The Humble Petition of the Inbabitants of the County of Rutland. Shows, THat your Petitioners do with all thankfulness acknowledge the great care & pains taken by your Excellency to restore the liber●●es, franchises, & immunities of the free born Subjects of this nation: Yet finding ourselves greatly oppressed with the payment of Tithes (our County being a champion County, and the greatest part there of, consisteth of tillage, and ti●●● of all profits are there paid in kind, which in open seilds (amounts to the fift part) at the least of men's e●●utes, to the great oppression ●nd burden of your said Petitioners, because many suits in Law have been commerced, and prosecuted against divers of your Petitioners: as also upon an Ordinance of Parliament bearing date the ninteenth of August 1647. giving power to the Justices of Peace to distrain and make sale of your Petitioners goods, and to give triple damages, many Judgements being Procured, and like to be procured, by some covetous and contentious Ministers, and Impropriators residing within the said County, if some speedy course be not taken for restraining them, it will prove a yoke too heavy to be borne. May it therefore please your Excellency to take into your serious consideration, this our unseparable burden and grievance and these we humbly beseech your Excellency to represent in our behalf unto the Parliament for some course to be taken therein, as to their wisdoms shall seem expedient. And your Petitioners shall ever honour and pray for your Excellency, etc. By the advice of His Excellency's Officers A DECLARATION to the Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen of North-Wales. Gentlemen, WHereas I am informed, that there hath been levied great sums of moneys upon your Countries without any Authority of Parliament, which hath much impoverished the inhabitants, and will totally disinable them, if the said levies be continued, from paying their share of the six thousand, pounds a month granted by Ordinance of Parliament for the subsistence of the Army, which I see your County is willing to submit unto, if they may be eased of all other unwarrented taxes. I have therefore thought it fit to let you know: That if you hereafter shall refuse the payment of any moneys attempted to be levied without Ordinance of Parliament, I ●●all not only protect you in so doing, but also call the actors to a strict account: And shall also desire you to inform me by a certificate under your hands of moneys since the reducements of your Counties to the service of the Parliament have been levied, and by whose warrants, that there may be such a proceeding against them, as in justice their offences will deserve. Papers presented by His Excellency's Officers, to the General Council, Octob. 29. 1647. 1 Resolved, that it be represented to the next general Council, That this Commi●●ce doth concur, it is not like to be effectual for the end in the firs● head expressed, to propound the course there offered to the Parliament, unless withal there may be offered something for the setting down of more moderate rates for compositions, then in the last Propositions of both Kingdoms, And that something be prepared by Sir H. Waller, Col. Overton, and Cap. Deane, to off or to the General Council, and (if it be there approved) to be tendered to the Parliament for some consideration of the Proposals of the Army, in that point of moderating Delinquents Compositions. 2. Resolved that consideration be had of the bodies of cathedrals, and the lands of persons continued in exceptions by particular names, to be offered for further security, and the lands and Estates, lying within this kingdom, that belong to persons within the compass of the Irish Rebellion. By His Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX WHereas I have received informations of the great burden that lies upon the County by the supernumery Gentlemen of the life guard, who are not upon roll, but rides in the Troop, in expectance of admittance, which gives great offence. I do therefore think fit that you give present order and directions to all the gentlemen who are supernumery, and not in the list of any Troop in the Army, that they be forthwith dismissed from quartering with the Troop, until such time as there can be sufficiency for their admittance into the lift of the lifeguard. Given under my hand the 22. of Octo. 1647. T. FAIREFAX. To Captain Cromwell, Captain of the Lifeguard, Or Cap. Leiuten. Ingram. Mr. Speaker, HAving lately received a Petition from divers gentlemen (comprised in the Articles of Exeter, and other Articles granted upon surrenders, and confirmed, or approved of by the House of Commons) expressing their great sufferings, and the many losses they have sustained, by the breach, or not performance of the said Articles: I hold myself obliged to represent the condition unto you, desiring, that you will please to move the Honourable House, that as they have by their Vote on Wednesday the 6th. of May 1647. Declared their approbation of the said Articles, they would beepleased to add thereunto, a command to all Committees, and other persons whom it may concern: That they do take notice of, observe, and not refringe the same. And that the concurrence of the House of Peers may be desired therein, as also in confirmation of all other Articles, which the House of Commons have approved, I also desire you to move the Honourable House of Commons, that since by their Order on Friday 23 of Octo. 1647. They have forbidden the permitting of any persons who have adhered to the Enemy against the Parliament to come again into any of their Churches, or to be admitted into any of the Sergeants Inns, Inns of Court, or Inns of Chancery, or to live in any of the said societies: The House would be pleased to declare: That the same order may not extend to the prejudice of any who have had Articles granted upon surrender of Garrisons, including that benefit: and particularly, not to the prejudice of those, who being comprised within the Articles of Exeter, have since compounded according to the Articles. Sir, My own, and the faith and reputation of the Army, and public justice, being so much concerned in these things, I am engaged and enforced thus to trouble you, For which I humbly crave the pardon of the House, And referring the particulars to their consideration, I remain. Your Hamble Servant, T. FAIRFAx. FINIS.