A Vindication of the army, from some calumnious Quaeres, being not so much a particular answer to those nine several Quaeres, as to the scope of the Author in them.  By Jo: Harr: Esq. 
THe honest use of making queres was heretofore, to be instructed and attain satisfaction in those things whereof our reason doubted; not to justify our own wilful errors, and under colour of asking questions to vent opprobrious calumnies, and rail positively against the sense of other men. The nature therefore of queres is much mistaken by the Author of those nine against the Army; for I cannot discern in what point he desires to be instructed himself, or teach others; but instead of that, in a positive way, and with much bitterness, he inveighs against the proceedings of those gallant gentlemen, to whose successful valour, and indefatigable industry (next under God, without whose blessing all endeavours are fruitless) the kingdom of England is indebted to for the rescue of her sinking (and almost lost) laws and Liberties.  
If this Army have well deserved of the commonwealth, why should any man that loveth the commonwealth fly so high against them, as by way of prejudice to censure their intentions worse than their actions show. For no action of theirs hath yet produced any hurt. Can any candid or honest man harbour a suspicion, that the noble Fairfax and Cromwell, names honoured by the very enemies, whom no success could ever puff up, those miracles of modesty, in whom no self-seeking, no pride or ambition has in the least measure discovered itself; should now be guilty of such a monstrous ambition as to affect an arbitrary power, to trample upon the State, to subject the Parliament, and enslave the nation to their own will?  
But it appears by the queres (saith he) that they have broken the privileges of Parliament, and are therefore suspected to aim at wicked ends. Ay, for mine own part, do so much honour the Parliament, that I think every privilege belonging to it of so tender a nature, as is unfit to be trod upon, or rudely dealt with: But I confess I do more honour the essence and being of the Parliament than I do every small punctuality of privilege, and could be content rather to see the finger of it wounded (for these contesting times have taught us such distinctions) than the whole body perish. Some parts of a body may be a little afflicted sometimes, that the whole may live in the more health: Neither can I think that this Army which hath given so noble a testimony of their affections to the Parliament, as to preserve the very being of it; would now violate any part or privilege thereof, unless the safety of the whole did require such a seeming violation. Let honest Englishmen therefore suspect no hurt unless they see probable inducements to such a suspicion; but hope still, that this Parliament whom the swords of so many Lords and others of the English-Gentry could not cut down, whom the Votes of that Oxford Assembly (which the King called his mongrel Parliament) could not at all blast, nor many secret practices undermine, shall be still protected by Almighty God, and not ruined, but rescued from some inconveniences, which might have wrought a ruin, if not prevented.  
The particular queres are scarce worthy of several answers: but to the first, wherein he makes it so great a breach of privilege that the Army printed their Declarations, and Charge against the Members without leave of the House, I think it a sufficient answer, that there was no other way to make the clearness of their intentions appear, and vindicate themselves from farther jealousies, as their enemies might raise, who have been too apt to through causeless aspersions on them. I could rather wish that the London Presses were not too open in these days, to reproachful pamphlets of our greatest enemies, which are daily vented against the honour and essence of the Parliament itself.  
The second quere wherein this Religious and deserving Army is in many things compared to Cade and his fellow rebels, being so injurious as that it cannot be answered with patience enough, may with discretion be scorned and passed over. As likewise the third, wherein he compareth this demand of the Members to another, which was made heretofore, and judged by both Houses to be a great breach of privileges, of which because the case is so notoriously different, i think it not fit to speak at all; nor to say any thing at all to that cavil of his, because the Members are not particularly charged, because time must produce that, only to which it is referred.  
As for another comparison which he makes in a following quere betwixt the Armies proceedings, and those which Sleiden relates of the bloody & mad actions of those Anabaptists in Munster, i hope all judicious men will easily make a difference, without any vindication of mine, betwixt persons and actions so extremely discrepant.  
As for another imputation of hindering the relief of Ireland, it may easily appear, and i make no question but it will in time, that the cause of that may with more reason be imputed to the enemies of this Army, who by unjust provocations have diverted that important service.  
To spare therefore farther expressions in this kind, i shall only stay with patience, and expect what it will please God to produce of these jars, hoping that it may be such a blessing to this afflicted kingdom, as may rather justify the charity of them, who believed well of the Army, than their suspicions, who are jealous in the other kind.  
THE END.