The Humble Advice AND EARNEST DESIRES Of certain well-affected MINISTERS, LECTURERS of BANBURY in the County of Oxen, and of BRACKLY in the County of Northampton, To his Excellency THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX, General of the Forces raised by the Authority of PARLIAMENT; and to the General Council of WAR: Presented January 25. 1649, by two of the Subscribers.  
ALSO, A LETTER to the Reverend Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London, Dated the 21 of this instant January.  
Imprimatur: James Crauford, Jan. 25. 1649.  
LONDON, Printed for James Boler, at the Marigold in Fleetstreet. 1649.   

To his Excellency the Lord General FAIRFAX, and his General Council of WAR,  
The humble Advice and earnest Desires of certain well-affected Ministers, Lecturers of Banbury and Brackley.  
MAy it please your Excellency, and You, Honoured Gentlemen, Whereas by the blessing of God upon your unwearied endeavours, subduing the common enemy more than once, we were in a fair way of being restored to a long desired enjoyment of our Religion in purity, our Persons and Estates in freedom; we accept at all times, and this day acknowledge it with great thankfulness. Nevertheless, when we compare the sacred and solemn Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, by Statute Law, the Protestation and Nationall Covenant by authority of both Houses of Parliament (obliging us to the Reformation of Religion, preservation of his Majesty's Person and just Power, the defence of the Privileges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject) tendered unto, pressed upon, and all or most taken by us, and so considerable a part of this Kingdom: Together with some late Petitions, Declarations and Representations to your Excellency and the General Council of War, and your late Remonstrance to the Commons of England assembled in Parliament, and some proceed thereupon, both in relation to his Majesty, and several Members of Parliament: And withal, our own Station and Commission from God to be Watchmen and Seers to his people, to stand upon our Watchtower and give warning either of approaching sin or ruin to the Nation: We cannot without wounding our own consciences, and betraying the trust reposed in us, sit down in silence; but are constrained, with all due respects to your Excellency and your Council (and we hope, without the least offence) to represent and desire as followeth.  

First, In reference to his Majesty.  
That although we are not ignorant of, nor can in the least approve the profanation and abuse of our solemn Covenant by the late unlawful Engagement from Scotland; yet we cannot but represent to you, and manifest to the world our utter dissent from all proceed against his Majesty's Crown and Life: and that upon these ensuing grounds of Conscience and Prudence.  
1. The sacred Scripture (the only unerring rule for all undertake) neither by precept, or precedent, or other way doth warrant or countenance such actings of Subjects against their lawful Sovereign: But this remaineth upon divine Record, That when the ten Tribes forsook their King, they also forsook their God, and had neither a good King, nor scarce a good day afterwards. And our own Chronicles do sadly tell us of a Deluge of blood and calamities overflowing our Ancestors upon the Deposition of Edward the Second, and Richard the Second, both Kings of England.  
2. Our Law-books (as we are informed by Parliament Declarations, and as hath been lately acknowledged by your Remonstrance) suppose the King can do no wrong: If so, then (as we conceive) he cannot by any written Law forfeit his Crown and Life to his people.  
3. We have solemnly bound ourselves by Oaths and Covenant (from which no Authority on earth can absolve us) not to prejudice the Person, nor diminish the just Authority of the King; and therefore, without manifest perjury (as we conceive) we cannot consent either to the Deposition of his Majesty, or the deprivation of his life. And here we humbly present to your most serious consideration God's remarkable avenge upon the House of Saul, of the breach of Covenant made by Joshuah with the Gibeonites some hundreds of years before; and that although the Scriptures tell us, he did it out of his zeal to the House of Israel and Judah.  
Fourthly, The way of proceeding against his Majesty will be so far from speeding a Settlement, that we believe, it will unvaoydably tend to the scandal and hazard of Religion, and loss of Liberty.  
1. In the judgement of our enemies: This will be thought to verify those foul aspersions so often abjured by the Parliament, us, and other their friends, that the design in our late just Defence, was the ruin of his Majesty, and the subversion of Regal Government.  
2. It will hazard Religion, by rendering the Professors of it odious to the Common Enemy without, by shaking the foundation of our Union with Scotland, and by making an irreparable breach amongst men of the same pious and honest interest at Home.  
3. As for Liberty, (so much contended for) it cannot be denied but it must be an invitation to foreign Princes to invade us; (their interest being the same:) And the rather, considering the German-Peace so lately concluded, by means whereof they cannot but be supplied with Armies of Mercinaries that gape after such an opportunity.  
But principally (we fear) this may give Life to the present design now on foot in Ireland (which your and our Souls abhor) for the utter ruin of our Friends there, and speedy invading of this Kingdom.  
And finally, that this may tend to a perpetual engagement of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland in blood, all being so deeply interessed in the person of the King; and that inevitably, because the Prince of Wales (the Heir apparent to the Crowns of all the three Kingdoms) is now at liberty, and may probably be proclaimed and crowned in Scotland and Ireland, and so not likely to want power to seat him on his Father's Throne here in England, yea, and that possibly without Conditions, to the utter ruin of all that have adhered to the Parliament.  
Fifthly, whereas it is said, That by his Majesty's departing from his Parliament, setting up his Standard, and levying War against his People; they are absolved from their allegiance to him, notwithstanding the Oaths before mentioned: We well remember that those Oaths, together with the Covenant, have been Constantly pressed upon several Members of the Parliament, and other Subjects in this Kingdom, to the Time of the Late Treaty▪ if not since; and that notwithstrnding the aforesaid particulars now charged against his Majesty, and therefore must needs be either vain, (and so a High profanation of the dreadful name of God) or else obligatory. And were they not so judged, we know no convincing reason why they should be now suspended or abolished. As to the execution of Justice upon Delinquents covenanted for, we protest that the Dethroning or death of his Majesty, in prosecution of Justice, never entered into our hearts: The same Covenant making special provision for the preservation of his Majesty's Person, Honour and Authority.  
Sixthly and lastly, His Majesty was not taken in Battle, but having a Military power, and strong Garrisons in England, besides forces in Scotland and Ireland, did (being invited and encouraged (as we think) by several joint Declarations and Protestations of the Parliament of both Kingdoms, (promising security to his Royal person) surrender himself to the Army of our Brethren of Scotland, and by them was delivered to the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, upon express promise (as we are in formed) that no violence should be offered to his Person; and farther, when His Majesty went from Hampton Court, we suppose him at Liberty to have gone for Scotland or Ireland, but in the forementioned confidence in Parliamentary Declarations, and the reality of the Armies intentions towards him, (for we are ignorant of other sufficient cause) he voluntarily betook himself to the Isle of Wight, then in your power.   

Secondly, we declare in reference to the Parliament, and Privileges thereof;  
That calling to mind his Majesty's attempt to seize upon the five Members, which was declared by the Parliament, and acknowledged by the King himself a breach of Privilege, and withal the Ordinance of Parliament of the 20 of August, 1647. declaring the accessitated absence of divers Members of both Houses, by reason of the horrid force upon them, to be a ground sufficient for the making nul● and void all votes passed in both or either House of Parliament, from the 26 of July, to their return August 6; we cannot but conceive the seizing and secluding of divers Members (many of them being well known to us to be faithful Patriots, and (we are confident) have not apostatised to the contrary party) to be a breach of Privilege of Parliament, which in our Covenant we are sworn in our places to defend; and do therefore crave leave to descent.   

Thirdly, We declare in reference to Religion,  
That although our souls abhor that grand design of the Devil and his Agents, to decry all religious and zealous professors, under the name of Sectaries and Independents; and although we do willingly grant, and hearty desire that the interest of all Godly and honest men may be carefully provided for, and secured as far as is consistent with the word of God, our Covenant and public Peace, and that men of different apprehensions in matters of less importance, may not therefore be rendered utterly uncapable of all Offices of power and trust; yet considering of what dangerous consequence an universal Toleration in matter of Religion, so much laboured after in the beginning of Reformation, by the Jesuitical party, must needs prove to Church and State; we presume timously to declare, That such a Toleration is no way consonant to the Word of God, and is repugnant to our National Covenant.  
And now having herein according to our consciences so fully and freely discharged our duties to God and the Kingdom, and as much as in us lieth, freed ourselves from the guilt of the blood, misery and ruin that threaten us and the whole Kingdom, if not timely prevented: We most humbly desire as followeth:  
First, that your Excellency will be pleased (for the more speedy settlement of the true Protestant Religion and public peace of the Kingdom, to improve your utmost, That the imprisoned and secluded Members, that cannot justly be charged for betraying their Trust, may be forthwith restored; and such as shall be charged to be tried by Parliament, according to their Privilege.  
Secondly, that weighing in a just balance the reasons before alleged, with many more that may be added in relation to his Majesty, we humbly desire your Excellency will be pleased by all lawful means to endeavour the suspending of all proceed against his Majesty's Crown and Life, until advice had (in point of Conscience) with the Reverend Assembly of Divines, and the Church of Scotland, touching the several Oaths that lie both upon us and them, and in point of prudence, with the Kingdom of Scotland, who are jointly concerned with us in his Majesty.  
Thirdly, and lastly, that you will endeavour a right understanding, a good correspondence and mutual confidence between King, Parliament, City, Army, and all the well-affected persons of the Kingdom, as also between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, thereby to frustrate the great expectations of the Popipsh arty, who are high in their hopes, by reason of our present sad divisions and distractions promising to themselves (and do not stick to declare it) a greater advantage to them and their Religion now, then if the King had prevailed by an absolute Conquest. As also to hasten relief to our poor Brethren in bleeding and gasping Ireland, for whom England hath kept the solemn monthly Fast, near seven years together.  
But (to draw towards a conclusion) we do here solemnly profess, That it is not the least receding from our first sound principles upon which either with our persons, prayers, purses, or all we engaged with the Parliament in the first and second war; nor our own interest in Church patrimony or power, (God will provide) or indeed any other bias of self-ends, or respects whatsoever, did move us thus to declare ourselves, but the mere Conscience of the many Oaths of God, in which the Parliament, You, We, and the generality of the well-affected in the Kingdom indispensably stand bound before God, Angels and Men, That we desire to wash our hands, as from the blood of all men, so especially of our dread Sovereign; and to approve ourselves innocent of all that blood and misery the deposing and taking away his Majesty's life, will (in our apprehension) involve us, our posterity, and all men professing godliness in the three Kingdoms in. We do therefore from our soul beseech and importune you, and every one of you, as Men, Gentlemen, and Christian Soldiers, by all that is or can be dear to good men, as you desire to render a good account of your actions at the great Day to the righteous Judge of heaven & earth, That you will forbear doing aught in the premises, which may wound the conscience, or pierce the hearts of any of God's people (who are all alike with you, or any of you, precious to him as the apple of his eye) which may rend and tear the bowels of this your and our native Country, and occasion the common Enemy to blaspheme the Majesty, Truth and Cause of our God and your God: And further to contribute the utmost skill, study and endeavours of you and every of you in your proper places, (and the great Counsellor and mighty God direct you all) to remove ours and the Kingdoms fears, to remedy the present abounding distempers, and present and universal destruction; That we and the generations to come may rise up and call you blessed, and so eminent a Preservation of the Kingdom in such an extremity, may be had in everlasting remembrance.  

Zach. Breedon Minister of Croton.  
William Palmer Minister of Rowsam.  
Josias Bunn Minister of Turry-Weston.  
John Hoffman Minister of Wotton.  
Thomas Harris Minister of Brackley.  
Robert Harris Minister of Shalston.  
Edward Whirley Minister of Steeple-Aston.  
John Cave Minister of Middleton-Chynie.  
Samuel Welles Minister of Banbury.  
Edward Archer Minister of Sommerton.  
Robert Wild Minister of Ayenho.  
Tho. Hodges' Minister of Souldern.  
Richard White Minister of Wigginton.  
Stephen Sedgwick Minister of Tinswick.  
Creswell Whately Minister of Tad-Marton.  
John Eyre Minister of Laurence-Marston.  
John Bayly Minister of Frenhford.  
Timothy Perkins Minister of Evenly.  
Samson Smart Minister of Gritworth.     

Reverend, and Worthy in the Lord,  
THe great breaches which now for some time have, and still are made upon those public Endearments to us, (viz.) Religion, our King and Parliament, do sorely press us, and wound us deeply; What shall we do? We cannot keep silence, we dare not; if we should, our Consciences would not. Great are our fears, but greater are our duties, for the performance of which, we have trampled down all our fears, and through God's mercy have met together, and resolved with one heart and voice to own the Vows of God upon us, and according to their obligation (if we can do no more, yet) at least to deliver our own souls. In order whereunto, we, and some others of our Brethren have chosen and sent up our Brethren, Mr. Samuel Welles Minister of Banbury, and Mr. John Bayly Minister of Frenckford, to wait upon you at London: whose Labours in this very thing also, according to the wisdom and zeal given you, we hear of, and rejoice in, praying for you, that they may not be in vain in the Lord: They will acquaint you with our Humble Advice to the Lord General and his General Council; which (though of itself it be a poor nail hammered by us inferior Workmen) yet being fastened by the hands of such Masters of the Assemblies as yourselves) may enter the deeper, and stick the faster. We beseech you to peruse it, and to direct them in all things conducing to the right managing of it; and to admit our few mites into the Treasury of your Religion and Loyalty. And the God and Father of lights direct and assist you and us to shine as lights in the midst of a froward generation. To his Mercies we commend you, and rest  
Your Brethren and fellowlabourers in the Gospel of Christ, 

Thomas Hodges.  
John Eyre.  
Timothy Perkins.  
Robert Harris.  
Zach. Breedon.  
John Cave.  
Josias Bunn.  
Thomas Harris.  
Samson Smart.  
Edw. Archer.  
Rob. Wild.    
FINIS.