THE DECLARATION OF THE BRITISH in the North of Ireland.  
With some Queries of Colonel MONK, And the Answers of the BRITISH to the QUERIES.   desolate landscape 
Printed Anno Dom. 1649.   


Queries propounded by Colonel Monk, to the Counsel of War, at Belfast, the 9 of April. 1649.  
I Desire to know what cause You have to distrust Me, for my faithfulness to the good Cause You stand for?  
2 Why do You grow upon Me daily by new Propositions, and are not satisfied with these which the Presbytery at first propounded, but assume an unlimited power to Yourselves?  
3. Why do you declare against that prevalent party in England without Order or advice from England, and thereby do in all appearance, prejudge the good Party oppressed there, by declaring yourselves sooner, than they think it seasonable: And yet to suffer Malignants in your Quarters contrare to Order.  
4. I desire to know, (in regard of our dependence upon England) whom it is that We shall serve for the present?   

Answers given by the Counsel of War, to Colonel MONK his  Queries.  
To the first nothing can be inferred from ouractions implying distrust of you, or your faithfulness to the good Cause; since we are willing and desireous yet to trust you.  
To the 2. It cannot be thought strange, that we have other propositions (besides the Presbyteries) in regard of ourdifferent relation, neither do we concieve that adding to our just desire, upon new Emergence, can be called an assumed unlimited Power.  
3. Albeit, when lawful Authority is suppresed, an Order be impossible to be obtained, yet as we are Christians, our duties to God, and lawful Authority, ●yes us to declare against the Public Enemies of our God, such as are now the prevalent party in England, who have overturned Authority, from which we night have expected Orders. And besides, the Protestation of many Members of both the Houses of Parliament, the Protestation of the Kingdom of Scotland, the Representation of the Ministry, the Apologetical Declaration of many thousand Citizens, in and about the City of LONDON, all against the present prevalent ●ourses of the Sectaries, may be unto us, in place of a strong advice, to join with them, in declaring against them, and dissalowing of their proceed ●s also for Malignants you understand we conceive, only such who were engaged against England; none whereof are by us Publicly owned, and if any be privately sheltered, when they are discovered, we shall take such course with ●hem, as shall be incumbent unto us.  
To the 4. As we have hitherto in relation to England, served the King & Parliament thereof, whose just Power rights and proviledges we are deeply sworn to ●antain and defend in our solemn League and Covenant, so we resolve faithfully and constantly to serve, and adhere unto them, though (now for a time) ●hey be violently bereft of the exercise of their just and lawful power.   

Propositions presented to Colonel MONK, by the Army.  
FIrst, that he and all under his Command, solemnly swear, and subscribe the Solemn League and Covenant.  
2. That He and They do sign the Declaration to be emitted by the Army at their meeting.  
3. That he shall not obey or execute any Order that shall be sent unto him, am the now Prevalent power in England.  
4. That until it please God to establish a free Parliament in England, that ●ee will act nothing wherein the Army is publicly concerned, or dispose of any artified Garrison, without the advice and consent of a Counsel of War, first ●●lled by him, consisting at least of two Officers out of each Regiment, whereof ●e a Field Officer, the other, a Captain chosen by consent of the Regiment.  
5. That He be pleased to give out of the Magazine unto each Regiment and ●oup, a proportionable quantity of Ammunition, and Arms to be in custody the Commander in Chief of every several Regiment, for the which He is be comptable. These are the most moderate desires, by assenting whereunto 〈◊〉 conceive our Religion and ourselves can be secured: Which being granted, 〈◊〉 do firmly oblige ourselves to obey His Commands.   

The Country's Propositions to Colonel MONK.  
FIrst that nothing be done wherein the Country is concerned, such as the equal and just distribution of the Quarters, the adding to, increasing, or diminishing the present standing Forces, or associating with any Party, and other particulars of the like nature, without the consent of a Committee, consisting of equal number of the Army and Country first called, the which is to be called upon any just Complaint.  
2. That if We shall be invited by any of our Covenanted Brethren in this Kingdom for their Defence in maintaining of the Covenant, against the opposers thereof, that the General, and this meeting, shall receive them in this association, for mutual defence, in so far as may contribute for the ends of the Covenant, and for their preservation in pursuance thereof.  
3. That in regard of apparent hazards, and the many Enemies of the Covenant, we desire that the Country may be presently put in a Posture of Defence, and that their Forces shall not be disposed of, without the consent of the Committee above mentioned.  
4. That before parting, an equal number of the Army and Country be chosen for the ordering of the business as is aforesaid.  
5. That as we have desired a proportionable quantity of Ammunition and Arms, may be given to the Army. We do likewise desire, that a competent number of arms with Ammunition, may be put into the several Regiments Magazines for their Quarters use upon necessity.  
6. Considering, that throw the General's declaring against the present prevailing Party in England, His proper means may be obstructed: Therefore We shall lay down a course, notwithstanding of the great poverty of the Country, for his subsistence, till means come from England.   

The Counsel of Wars Declaration.  
AS We cannot without great Rejoicing and Thanksgiving think upon the first blessed vowing of ourselves in the Land, by a solemn League and Covenant unto the Lord our God; So We cannot without grea● sorrow and remorse (We pray God give Us so much as we ought) call to mind the fearful back-slidings and out-breaking that have been in all manner of Persons, some by not endeavouring to perform what they did seem truly to intent, others by never intending what the genuine sense of the Oath did oblige them to perform, which do clearly appear by the great Defection of many from the Covenant, their joining in the late unlawful Engagement against England, and by the Actions, Discourses, and new Propositions of divers at this time, contrary to the same: For remedy of all which, that the just might not pass with the unjust, we hearty praise the Lord for the giving of his servants of the Ministry, here the boldness to move the renewing, and the rest of his people, the readiness and willingness to renew that solemn and sacred▪ vow: and lest after such mercies, We should grow secure, and suffer ourselves to fall into our former Errors, especially when so great powers have assembled themselves against the Lord and his Christ. We have thought it necessary, not to rest satisfied with the swearing of the Covenant, which many false Brethren formerly did, but with Daniel, who opened his windows towards the East, to witness his avouching of the service of his God, so by this Declaration do we testify to the world, that we have sincerely and faithfully without any equivocation sworn the said Oath according to the true and clear meaning of each Article thereof, as well Civil as Ecclesiastical, so we shall by the strength of God, with our lives ●nd fortunes, maintain the same against the opposers and Enemies thereof, as well private underminders, as public opposers; whether Papists, Sectaries, or Malignants, not doubting but their powers may be great; yet the Lord our God, will deliver us from them, or if he do not, yet we will not serve their gods, nor ●y any connivance, or politic lukewarmness, be any ways partakers of their inquities, lest we justly provoke our God to spew us out of his mouth, and suffer ●s to be swallowed up in their judgements, & having found of how dangerous, consequence, it is to leave power in the hands of these, as are refufers of the Covenant, ●● double minded at it, being so far against our Vows therein, made to the Lord ●f hosts; and such an apt means to breed division amongst ourselves, and advance the designs of these who wish its and our ruin: We do declare that we will have none in our Army, nor associate ourselves with any, but such as shall ●●ke and renew this solemn League and Covenant, and particularly, that we ●●all not receive into public charge into our Army, nor associate ourselves at ●ny time hereafter, with such as have been violent promoters of the late unlawful ●gadgement against England, nor with any who have formerly been known to ●ave been Malignantly affected, did go on upon the same, until there shall be a public way agreed upon by King and Parliament, for receiving of such upon ●●idence of their repentance, with the advice of the Church: Neither shall we ●ceave into charge, any whosoever have gone upon the former Ingadgement, ●efore they have first, not only given public signs of repentance to the Church, ●●t also, shall have satisfied the officers of the Army of their good deserving, and ●ocured a testimonial from the Presbytery, of their honest behaviour: nor shall ●e trust any other notorious Malignants; before they have given constant obedience of their resenting their former Malignant courses; and (if when upon such ●●nes given, they shall be received to charge, if they shall yet at any time vent ●●eir Malignancy by discourse, or otherwise, we shall instantly thereupon remove ●●em from their respective charges. And more especially, we shall not associate our ●●ves with the marquis of Ormond, not with any of his party, so long as they shall combyne with Papists, or other forementioned Malignants, and shall not swear and subscribe the solemn League and Covenant, as we have done here; and whereas the Sectarian party in England of late, hes usurped an illegal power over both King and Parliament, and are resolving an universal Toleration of Religion, and the subversion of lawful Government, by Kings, Lords, and Commons, and have taken upon them to proclaim all adherers to the foresaid just Government in the person of the present King, to be Rebels and Traitors. All which the said ●surped practices they visibly intent to force upon us in this Kingdom, so soon as they can transport their power thither, to be obeyed and received by us, contrare to our sworn solemn League and Covenant: and for this cause, we do faithfully obliedge ourselves unanimously with our estates and lives, to resist and oppose any such irregular Power which shall proceed from them, and that we shall maintain the Government of the Church here, together with the just power of the King and Parliament in the state, against the opposers thereof▪ And being confident that these our present intentions, will not want bitter and false aspersions of all sorts, and particularly that by this act we intent to, shake off our due obedience to the Crown of England, and desist from prosecuting the service against the Irish Rebels, wherein we were employed by King and Parliament; we do hereby declare, that we shall really demean ourselves as becometh faithful and loyal Subjects to the Crown of England, and shall at all times give due obedience to the King and free Parliament thereof. And until it shall please God to establish these according to our solemn League and Covenant, we shall prosecute, by God's help and assistance, sincerely the Common Enemy, and advance by God's assistance all the ends thereof. And least by misunderstanding, or carnal reasoning, we might be drawn to any thing contrare to the word of God, and our solemn Engagements, we are resolved to proceed to nothing, whatsomever in reference to Religion, without advice of God's Ministers and servants here given unto us in the same, but shall be ready according to our power, to prosecute every mean of surety to our Religion, which they shall propose to us according to the word of God, and the Covenant, and that they and our consciences may bear us witness of the integrity of our hearts, and that we may with the more confidence, expect the blessing of God upon our proceed, we shall take care that sin may be suppressed in our Army, all scandalous persons, and disobedient to Church censures, put out of it, and for removing of all jealousies, our Quarters may have that upon this change of affairs, they may suffer prejudice; we do hereby assure them, that we shall equally regard their respective stand, aswell as our own. These our resolutions being pondered by any well affected person, we are confident, will seem as just, as necessary: It is evident to the world our consciences in matters of Religion, loyal to our Sovereign the Lords anointed, whose Fathers unparaleld execution, our souls abhors▪ and we tremble to name, and whose just Succession, He giving security for maintaining all the Articles and ends of the solemn League and Covenant, before He be admitted to the exercise of His Royal Power, We are resolved to maintain with our Lives and Fortunes, to our duties, the Parliaments of the united Kingdoms, our own mutual Liberties, Lives and Safeties. Withal our solemn vows unto the Lord our God, which are likely to be most impiously violated. Neither We hope will any believe We precipitate, when they consider the present power of Sectaries, the secret and open enemies of the Kingdoms, the want of affection of many amongst ourselves, and the great opportunity they have by every day's delays, to subvert that which we are most obleidged to maintain. Lastly, the subscribers do faithfully and solemnly promise, that We do truly intent, and shall zealously prosecut by the assistance of God, with singleness of heart, having still God's glory and Honour before our eyes, all the several points of this Declaration, and as We earnestly desire, and obtest all good Christians to join with us, and now discharge their duty to God and the King, so we shall not be diverted from maintaining of all these who shall faithfully join herein, with an uninterested regard by what means soever, humbly praying the Almighty Lord, to direct us by his Spirit, and witness by his power, that he is our strong City and Rock in whom we trust. We the Gentry and others of the Country do assent to, and Cordially join with the Army in all the points of this Declaration, and shall be equally careful of their engagement, as of our own, and prosecution thereof, shall run all the hazards with them.   
FINIS.