AN abridgement Of the late REMONSTRANCE OF THE ARMY.  
With some marginal Attestations, for the better Understanding, Remembrance, and Judgement of the PEOPLE.  
Collected by special Order for more public satisfaction, and to undeceive the kingdom as to the false Glosses by some put upon the said REMONSTRANCE Printed.  
By the Appointment of the Lord general, and his general council of Officers.  
Decem. 27. 1648. Signed, JO RUSHWORTH.  
LONDON, Printed for Laurence Blaiklocke, and are to be sold in the Old-bailey. 1648.   

An abridgement of the late Remonstrance of the Army, with some marginal Attestations, both for the better understanding, remembrance, and judgement of the People.  
To the Right Honourable the Commons of England assembled in Parliament, the humble Remonstrance of his Excellency Lord general Fairfax, and his general council of Officers, held at Saint Albans, Thursday November 16. 1648.  
Our tender regard to the freedom of Parliament and the offence taken at our least interposing in any thing of civil consideration to the Parliament, have made us attend in silence the counsels of Parliament. But finding you upon those transactions, whereupon the life or death of all our civil interest doth depend, and 
a As in public fires all must lift up their voice and hands, bringing what ladders, buckets, or other assistanc they can, non expectandus praefectus vigilum si obdormiat, non praefectus urbis si cunctetur; Certatim quisque aquam hauriat tectum s●andat, flammam arceat oportet  seeing no effectual help from elsewhere to appear, we cannot be wanting in aught we can honestly say or do to hold off impending ruin 
b As a part of the people in arms, or an Army interposed against the standding authority for the life of good Jonathan. 1. Sam. 14.45  from an honest people and a good cause.  
We are not ignorant that the rule Salus Populi suprema Lex, is most apt to be misapplied, some men framing pretences of public extremity.  
Therefore though we are full of sad apprehensions of the extremity at hand, yet 
c Commanders of the forces of the kingdom have been taken into the council and execution of important matters, as in the deposing of a Tyrant and enthroning a young King upon terms or agreement. 2. Chro. 23.1.14 20. 2. King's 11.1.7. so in the slaying of Joram and making Jehu King. 2. King 1.9. ●ea David consulted with such in matters of Religion. 1. Chron. 13.1.15.25.25.1. Trajan the Emperor making Captain of the Praetorian band by the ceremony of giving him a Sword, said, use this for me if I reign well, and against me if ill.  we shall first with all soberness and clearness (as God shall enable us) remonstrate to you our apprehensions both of the danger at hand and of the remedy with our grounds in both.  
We must first mind you of your votes once past concerning no more addresses to the King, and our engagement to adhere to you therein.  
In this none can say you were acted beyond your own free judgements, we are sure by no impulsion from the Army, the juster resolutions of the House did in this reclaim us, it pleased God instantly to lead you into such order, whereby the burden of free quarter was taken off, supernumerary forces disbanded, the rest put into an established way of pay; but when the house being called on purpose for a settlement began to entertain motions tending to the unsettlement of what they had resolved, the minds of men without also became propor●ionably unsettled in expectations which way things would bend, seeing such uncertainty of any end of troubles upon the Parliamentary account alone; then began your Enemies to hope and work your trouble, and their own advantages, and in all the disturbances, so to execute all the other interests pretended, that at last they might set up that of the King and their own above all others. Thus the Army which would not be won to desert the Parliamentary and public interest to serve their turns, was by them rendered the only common Enemy, and this new formed party at first profess for a full and free Parliament, and to free it from the force of an Army, 
d as Joseph was accused to his master Gen. 39.8 3.17.  Whereas the latest quarrel against it was that it would not force the Parliament to comply with the interest of the King. They likewise pretended to be for the easing of the people of taxes to an Army, whereas indeed their workings did necessitate the Parliament to continue an Army, and taxes for it. They also pretended for the Covenant against an Army of Sectaries, and for all these ends a personal Treaty with the King must be held forth as the only sovereign salve. And thus the People were taught mainly to depend upon the King for all, and to Petition for these things, and in pretence of them to levy war against the Parliament on the King's behalf, and his party is brought into the manage of it. Yet they drive on the whilst the Treaty to deceive you by old Malignants, and a late discontented party in City and Parliament, the Lords closeing readily with the desires of them and the Prin●e, though in the war for your and the kingdom's defence, or in declaring with you against the Scotch Army and others, they would neither lead nor follow. And when in any thing of the Treaty concerning the very life of your Cause you made some stick, clamorous Petitions with Menaces come thick upon you, and forces listed daily about you, the City neither taking course, nor suffering their Major general to do it. And thus you were at their mercy whiles your army was engaged at distance against your enemies in arms. Therefore we cannot conceive that in those resolutions for a Treaty, the judgement of Parliament was with due and former freedom. And we wish you to consider the evils of this Treaty in laying designs for the King's escape, and settling future correspondencies, and further whether it can be just or safe in relation to public interest.  
The sum of public interest of a Nation in relation to common Right, and in opposition to tyranny of Kings or others, is, that for all matters concerning the whole they have a Parliament consisting of deputies or Representers freelly chosen and with as much equality as may be, And that the power of making or altering laws and of final judgement be in them, and that it may not be left in the will of the King, or any other particular persons to make void their determinations or proceedings. And where the offence is in public Officers against their trust, this same counsel may call to account and punish such offenders either according to the Law, or where it hath not provided 
e Which is the ground of their enacting any Law  according to their own judgement.  
Against these matters of public interest this King hath all along his reign opposed to uphold the interest of his and his Posterities Will, and Power: First that there might be no such Common council to restrain him, but that all things of supreme trust concerning safety might rest in his breast alone without limit from any, or account to any on earth. 
1639.  And for this he raised his first and second arms against his people in both kingdoms; 
1640.  then he fell to play lower that none of those things of supreme and absolute trust might be exercised by any others without him, no not by all the trusties of the, Land, nor in any case though never so necessary for relief or saving of the People, 
1641.  and for this he raised his third arms, and when these his other claims so far failed, he would make you know that neither Parliament nor any power on earth (what ever ill he had done) might meddle with his sacred person, no not so much as to secure him from doing more evil; and for this last part of his Interest his fourth arms were raised. There have also fallen in other particulars with these interests, 
1648.  as on the Parliaments part to protect Religious men, and to give freedom to the gospel and take away those corrupt forms by which snares were laid for such conscientious men▪ But on the King's part the interest was to do contrary▪ So that the Parliamentary and public interests hath been made very much one with the interest of the Godly, and the King interest one with their greatest opposites, now we suppose that where a person trusted 
f Rom. 13.3.4. Paul speaks of authority or Magistracy in its constitution (not of a person abusively exercising it) to be God's instrument of good to every one, and an encourager of good in every man, and an enemy to evil. Therefore the Kings of the Israelites must know the Law for a Rule, Deut. 17. And Joash being 7. years old had a Crown put upon his head, and the testimony in his hand 2. King's 11 12. that being elder he might remember the rule which David avoucheth to be from Heaven as a rule for all Rulers 2 Sam. 23.3. he that ruleth among men, must be just ruling in the fear of God.  with limited power to rule according to laws, shall not only pervert that trust but assume also hurtful powers never committed to him, and take away foundations of liberty and redress, such a person so doing forfeits all that power and trust he had, and 
g 2. Chron. 21 10 Lib●ah which a city belonging to (the priests. Iosh 21.13) revolted ne subjecti esset ei [junt) from all subjection, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers.  absolving the people from the bonds between him and them, doth set them free to take their best advantage and proceed in judgement against Him: Much more when he on these terms shall maintain a war, and by division within and invasions from abroad lengthen it well to uphold the interest of his will and power against the Common interest of his people; such a person we may justly say is Guilty of the highest treason against the 
h which is the safety of the People.  highest law amongst men, now we may conclude that this King hath been the Author and contriver of an unjust war, and so is Guilty of all the blood and mischief to the kingdom; and then how can the public justice of the kingdom be satisfied, the blood avenged, 
i Numb. 35.4. hang them up that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. Deum 19.13. thine eyes shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. 2. Sam. 21.3.5.6.14 wherewith shall I make the atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord, and they answered the man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed, let 7 men of his sons be delivered to us and we will hang them, & the King said I will give them; and after that god was entreated for the Land.  the wrath of God for the same appeased without judgement executed against him, and consequently how far can an accommodation with him (when God hath given him so clearly into your power to do justice) can be just before god, or good men without somuch as a judicial trial or evident remorse for his fault he hath so long in word and practice denied it, & never 
k Not so much as Acban who yet suffered Ios, 7.20, 25  confessed it till all other ways of force & fraud had failed him, & now confesseth it conditionally so as you satifie him in other things which is great 
l Iob. 34 30. that the Hypocrite reign not lest the people be ensnared.  hypocrisy, and while he thus in word confesseth it yet in 
m Proverbs 28.13. Divine mercy to confessing and forsaking, but Ex. 9.17 34. Pharaoh hardened to destruction, though he Confesseth, yet when the dreadful thunders are gone his sin returns.  practice he denies it by continuing Commissions to the Prince and other English rebels and Revolters, yea to Ormond and his associate Irish. And what public benefit can be from reunion of such contrary principles of Tyranny, and liberty, godliness and superstition?  
Concerning the safety of such an agreement for his restitution especially supposing no real remorse or change, but the same principles and affections first, how apt are princes in such case to take advantages for a breath, and secondly how easily may they do it after such agreement. For the former how apt it such a prince to do it when the 
n What other right soever any Prince hath, there must be such bonds Covenant or Agreement between him and his people, Besides samuel's anointings from God, David had that o Judah, 2. Iam. 2.4. and made a League with all Israel before the Lord. 2. Sam. 5.3. and afterward they anointed him King over Israel. And at the Coronation of Joash, 2. K. 11 17. There is a Covenant also between the King and people. Therefore 1. Pet. 2.13. the particular form & Subject of Government is called an human creature.  bonds once accepted by him with unquestioned freedom at his admission to the Throne and the Oath of God betwixt him and his people, would not hold him, but of his own mind have been all violated by him, and to justify the same the law of force set up to the utmost? how can it be expected that the bonds of new concessions and agreements imposed by force and vincible necessity should be of more power to hold him when an advantage to recover what he lost doth offer itself, for the faith keeping of this King his Accords with the Scottish Nation do witness for his revengefullnes; these petty revenges after several parliaments which were taken against such patriots as had appeared for Common liberty against his INTEREST.  
Next for 
o Dan 8.25. through his policy shall he cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many, Dan. 11.23.24. and after the leag●● made wi●h him he shall work deceitfully, he shall enter peaceably even upon the lat● places of the Province and shall do that which his Fathers have not done, nor his father's Fathers,  facility of Princes finding occasion and quarrel after such agreement, and yet with some †coalerable† saving to his honour, we know the Court maxims concerning some crown Rights which a King cannot give away nor oblige his Heirs in; besides some matters of supreme trust are in the propositions barganed for with and taken as by Lease from the King, so as to confirm his claim of Right; but from the force or necessity lying upon the King in this Treaty, there is a ground of evasion from the whole agreement as not obliging him what soever is drawn from him, and this is avowed publicly by the Prince and his council in answer to the Earl of Warwick, where the Prince clearly says, the King in truth is still in prison. And consider the Prince as heir, it serves to acquit himself, and as the next visible head of the King's party, the King being in durance, it may serve on behalf of the King and his heirs and party as a protestation against any conclusion by his Treaty; and the King himself hath insinuated the same sense of the Treaty, and that not without grounds to gain belief, he being still confined within your Garrisons and guards and upon his parole; so that if you proceed upon so rotten a foundation and be cozened, ye cozen yourselves, and cannot blame him or his. And the King coming in thus may rest secure and wait his advantage (having go your hands bound) till he finding it shall strike the first stroke which 'tis like he will make a sure one if he can. To proceed, the King comes thus in with reputation of having long sought peace and that in a personal Treaty, which you after a long denial at last granting are rendered by his friends as refusers of peace, so long in that the King's way he comes also with the reputation of having granted for peace sake, all that stood you upon, although it will appear nothing at all to the public interest. And if after this accommodation to satisfy the people you shall disband your forces, you are at the King's 
p As the Sheep dismissing their 〈…〉 with the wolves. And have the English people suffered so many things in vain.  courtesy still, and are but where you were at first. But the King in much fairer possibility to revi●e the old quarrel and carry it without fighting: for after so much blood and trouble for no thing, 'tis not like, you'll find a competent party for the opposing of him; & if you continue a sufficient strength & taxes they will be the more grevous, because deemed unnecessary, the King having granted what yourselves did ask, we might reflect upon his numerous party engaged by interest, or necessity to serve him, so long as he remains in possibillity to head them, while he by his supposed impunity whatsoever he does, hath encouragement to make all possible trial of them, and they hope if he ever prevail, he may make them amends: whereas this being once confuted by an example of justice upon him for such attempts, they would not be feared in relation to his posterities heeding of them; besides these, we cannot but consider the vast possibilities after his restitution to make or use factions amongst yourselves, and your adherents, and do not all men acknowledge him most exquisite at it? and if he had that faculty to avail at distance, much more in your bosoms, each party will be apt to strive which shall most and first comply with him, of which you and we have seen sad experiences already; yet we refused aught of private contract or trust with him and his; and all was with saving for the public interest; yet in that degree of our compliance with him, we find matter of acknowledgement before the Lord concerning our error therein; and we bless him that preserved us from worse▪ And if from the divisions we have, such compliances have been with, and such advantages given to the King's party while acknowledged enemies, what worse may we not expect, when by a Peace made they shall have the reputation of friends? To conclude this, we confess our fears from the act of this Parliaments unlimited continuance. If he form 
q As he often hath in particular Votes.  a balancing party in the house of Commons for his interest, that which should be our conservative, would be our bane, and yet we should be debarred from change of medicine; or if a period be set to this Parliament, and no provision for certain succession, and sitting of Parliaments, without dependence on the King's will; or if no provision for a more due constitution by more equal Elections; then the success will be less hopeful and safe than the present, and you have not in this Treaty made any provision for any of these things. But to proceed, to show the certain insecurity to public interest, in an accommodation with a restitution of the King. For you the supreme Judicatory of the kingdom (when he is in your power to do justice upon) to decline that way, and instead thereof to seek to him your Prisoner in way of Treaty, what speaks it less than that he is indeed above all human 
r And laws which is to be more than man as Persian and Roman Emperors have been flattered to be; for just laws being from God (Themis the daughter of Jove) who is not ever under them, owns not his subjection to God, whereas God hath not put that distance betwixt a King and other men, they are his brethren though his subjects, Deut. 17. ult. So David calls his subjects 1 Chro. 28.2.  justice not accountable to or 
s if any King because a King be unpunishable by men, than all Kings are so, and no man may justly punish any King, but when a people to be punished, should spare their King as Saul (the people then admiring haply the persons as well as government of Kings) spared Agag, 1 Sam. 15.9. but we find God's Instruments fixing more solemn punishment on wicked Kings then on their wicked people, Josuah slays all their Kings Ios. 11.17. being thirty one, 12. Cap. last, and hangs up some Iosh. 10.24.28.30.40. Gideon more solemnly executes the Kings of Midian then other enemies, judges 8.1.21. Ebud slays King Eglon, Judg. 3.21. So Jehoiadah, and the Commanders put Athalia to death, 2 Chro. 23.14. and if it be said that these two last Princes came to the Crown by force & blood, and so were without a title, it may be replied, that such was the ontrance of the first of the English, French, &c. Royal race from whom the present King's claim; live further, these two had reigned, and the people been subject to them (which makes the most usual title,) the one for 18. years, Iudg. 3.14. the other six years, 2 Chro. 22.12. Jehu did slay both the Kings of Israel and Jedah 2 Kings 9 and Asaph psalm 83.11. prays that Nobles and Princes of Enemies may be used after former examples. And as this rank of men is opposing Christ in the last times; so are they by him and his people to be punished Psal. 2. Psalm. 110.5. the Lord 〈◊〉 right hand shall strike through (Kings in the day of thy wrath Psa. 149.8.9. to bind their Kings with chains, and their Nobles with Fetters of Iron to execute upon them the judgement written Rev. 19.17.18. the fowls invited to eat the flesh of Kings and Capt. are slaughtered by the Lambs As for David sparing Saul, it was necessary for David a private person, and under private and personal hate and injury, and therefore could not within his bounds, and without scandalous appearance of revenge or ambition have done otherwise, and it was only declared against the succeeding of his Race not the continuance of his person, but the State and people not taking course against Saul, did smart in his other way of punishment, as for David, it appears that he forbore him not merely out of reverence to his authority, for he took up Arms to defend himself against him and would (if that part of the people would have joined) have maintained Kailah against him, 1 Sam. 23. now all this was contrary to subjection, and intimates that David, if he had been put to it, and he could no otherwise have escaped, would have used force against Saul, and as for David being spared, who can thence conclude that he should be so; and if he should be spared then who can conclude the like for every offending King, since there was something special in his case not appliable to every case, besides other there was his public repentance undoubtedly acknowledged by God to be true, also God's declaring how he should be punished himself, taking the matter in hand, yet so, that the people shared in his sufferings further, his miscarriage was but an act, and against a person not a cause (or against a Nation.)  punishable do any power on earth, what ever he does, & that kings cannot err or do wrong, whereas one example in this kind made, would be of more terror and avail then the execution of his whole party, yea then all satisfaction you can imagine.  
If our King claim by 
t And in no other way will the people yield themselves to the discretion of a Prince to be destroyed or not.  conquest: God hath given you the same against him to fix your justice first upon the head, and thereby let his successors see what themselves may expect if that they attempt the like. This may hopefully discourage them from heading any more what Instruments they might find in the like quarrel; but to punish only Instruments, and let the head go free, leads 
u 2 Chr. 23. ul● And the City was quiet afte● they had slain Athaliah with the Sword.  to endless trouble; besides it seems a most unequal 
w Num. 25.4, 5, 9 The chief men guilty were first hanged, being 1000; and then inferior men slain, being 23000 as 1 Cor. 10.8. both making 24000.  and partial way of justice; and the same principles that exempt Kings from justice would 
x As for infallibleness and superiority to the Law would excuse Abraham in slaying his son, Gen. 22. and did the Israelites in robbing, Exod 12.35.  absolve their inferior Ministers for what they do in pursuance of such commands.  
If any object the Covenant as obliging us to perpetual addresses to the King as being the only way consistent with the preservation of his person and authority. We answer, the Covenant engageth to matters of public interests, primarily, and absolutely without limitation, and after that to the preservation of the King's person and authority with the restriction to wit, in the preservation of the true Religion and liberties of the kingdoms, so that it obligeth thereto no further, nor in any other way than shall be consistent with this restriction, yea this obligation to preserve his person and authority should be fulfilled in the preservation and defence of Religion and Liberty, otherwise the whole proceedings of both Kingdoms in's making war against him for preservation of Religion or liberties, were questionable for breach of Covenant since that way of preserving them did tend probably to the destruction, and was not with any safe provision for his person or that authority which is in conjunction with it, also where several persons joining in Covenant for the good and union of themselves (who are present and parties to it) do withal make a clause to the benefit of another person to the end he might join with them in the agreement, and partake the benefit thereof; if the absent party do not accept, but refuse the agreement, as he keeps himself free from it, so he excludes himself from claim to any benefit there from. Upon all the reasons and considerations aforegoing we propound.  
First, that it may be expressly declared and provided by you, that notwithstanding any thing concluded in the Treaty, the person of the 
y Even a servant by the civil Law may accuse his Master as guil●y of Treason, ●o, liberti certis le causis p●ssant capitalem accusationem adversus patronos in●●ituere.  King may and shall be proceeded against in way of justice for the blood spilled, and other evils and mischiefs done by him or by his Commission or procurement, and in order thereto shall be kept in safe custody as formerly.  
Secondly, that for other Delinquents, you would lay aside that particular barganing proposition, and declare that all Delinquents shall submit to the judicial power of the Parliament, to be thereby proceeded against according to justice or mercy, as cause shall appear, and that none shall be exempt therefrom, nor pardonable by any other power then that of the Kingdom in Parliament.  
The power of Justice and mercy being thus saved, we proceed in order to the actual dispensing thereof in relation to the late wars, and to peace with God, and quiet amongst men, to propound, as followeth:  
First, that the 
z God hates all workers of iniquity, Psalm 5.5. and excepteth not the person of Princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, Job 34.19. and therefore he saith, Levit. 19.15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement, thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty; Reformation were better begin at the Majorites than the Minorites, Num. 25.17. and the 31 &c. Midianites▪ and Psalm 140.9. David prays against the head of those that compass him about; and he gives a general Law for punishment of murderers, Gen. 9.6. and Num. 35.33. So you shall not pollute the Land wherein ye are, for blood it defiles the Land, and a Land cannot be cleansed of blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it, 2 Chron. 25.27. Now after the time that Amaziah did turn from following the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him, Vajiksher gnalaiv kesher, ligaverunt contra enim ligationem or ligam, some copies of 70 read Syndesmos, a Combination, League, or confederacy against him; the words signifies any conjunction, as Job 38.31. of the Pleiades, and Nehem. 4.6. of the wall, and it is of a warrantable combyning of Jehu, 2 Kings 9.14. and this against Amaziah was in Jerusalem the seat of the chief State or great council of the kingdom, and it was done (as it seems) by public Authority, for he fled to Lachish, and there as Junius. 2 Kings 14.21. lived a private life for eleven years, in the mean while when they so conspired or combined against him, the whole people of Judah made Azariah King instead of his father; yet though they deferred the execution, they did not omit it, but after the said years, sent after Amaziah to Lachish, ubi morte offecerunt eum vamitha hac Ethana to Sea, they put him to death. So that this was done in an open public, (not in a sudden and clandestine, or tumultuous) way, which itself was not afterward punishable, as in this case of Amaziahs' father, 2 Kings 12.10. & 14 chap. 5. and of wicked Ammon, the people slew them servants of his that slew him in his own house, 2 Kings 21.23, 24.  capital and grand author of our troubles, the person of the King, by whose procurement, and for whose interest only of will and power, all our wars have been, may be brought to Justice for the Treason, blood, and mischief he is therein 
a It cannot be unjust to desire justice, and that on, and as a guilty man, and no further.  guilty of.  
Secondly, that a timely day may be set for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York to come in, by which time if they do not, that then they may be immediately declared incapable of any government or trust in this Kingdom or its Dominions, & thence to stand exiled for ever as Enemies and traitors, to die without mercy if ever after found and taken therein. Or if by the time limited they do render themselves, that then the Prince be proceeded with as on his appearance he shall give satisfaction, or not. And the Duke as he shall give satisfaction, may be considered as to future trust, or not. But however that the Revenue of the Crown (saving necessary allowances for the Children, and for Servants and Creditors to the Crown) be sequestered; And the costly pomp suspended for a good number of years; and that this Revenue be for that time disposed toward public Charges, Debts and damages, for the easing of the people, so as the estates neither of friends to public interest, nor alone of inferior enemies thereto, may bear wholly the burden of that loss and charge, which by and for that Family, the kingdom hath been put unto.  
Thirdly, that capital punishment be speedily executed upon a competent number of his chief instruments also, both in former and latter wars; and that some of both sorts be pitched upon as are really in your hands or reach.  
Fourthly, that the rest of the Delinquents English, may upon rendering themselves to justice have mercy for their lives; and that only Fines be set upon them, and their persons declared incapable of any public trust, or having any voice in elections thereto, at least for a good number of years. And that a short day be set by which all such Delinquents may come in, and for those who come not in by that day, that their estates be absolutely confiscate and sold to the public use, and their persons stand exiled, as traitors, and to die without mercy if ever found after in the kingdom, or its Dominions.  
Fifthly, that the satisfaction of arrears to the soldiery, with other public Debts, and competent reparations of public damages may be put into some orderly way. And therefore that the Fines and Compositions of Delinquents be disposed to those uses only, as also the Confiscations of such who shall be excluded from pardon, or not come in by the day assigned.  
Now after public justice thus far provided for, we proceed in order to the general satisfaction and settling of the Kingdom.  
First, that you would set some reasonable and certain period to your own power.  
Secondly, that with a period to this Parliament, there may be a settlement of the peace and future government of the Kingdom.  
First, that there may be a certain succession of future Parliaments, annual or biennial, with secure provision, 1. For the certainty of their sitting, meeting, and ending. 2. For equal elections. 3. For the people's meeting to elect, provided that none engaged in war against the Kingdom may elect, or be elected, nor any other who oppose this settlement. 4. For clearing the future power of Parliaments, as supreme only, they may not give away any foundation of common Right. 5. For liberty of entering dissents in the said Representatives, that the people may know who are not fit for future trust, but without any further penalty for their free judgements.  
Secondly, that no King be hereafter admitted 
* 2 Chro. 23.3. All the Congregation made a Covenant with the King, 2 Sam. 16.18, whom the Lord and his people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be.  but upon election of, and as upon trust from the people by such their Representatives, not without first disclaiming all pretence to a negative voice against the determinations of the Commons in Parliament, and this to be done in some form more clear than heretofore in the Coronation Oath.  
These matters of general settlement we propound to be provided by the Authority of the Commons in this Parliament, and to be further established by a general Contract or agreement of the people with their subscriptions thereunto. And that no King be admitted to the Crown, nor other person to any Office of public trust, without express accord and subscription to the same.  
For our parts, let but that way of justice be effectually prosecuted, and the settlement of the public interest be assured to us and the Kingdom, we shall desire discharge from our present service, and shall be ready to disband all or part, as shall be thought fit, the Arrears of the soldiery being satisfied: We therefore desire that you would leave all private matters, and things of ordinary Justice and Right to the Laws and proper Officers, and commit all ordinary matters of State to the manage of a fit council of State, and apply your counsels to such things as are the proper work of Parliament, to wit, the Reformation of evils in present Laws and administrations. And in order to such things that you would in time and place consider the Petitions of well-wishers to public good. We again desire that even from henceforth the aforesaid liberty of entering dissents may be admitted amongst you, as in the Scotch Parliament; or at least, that such liberty be taken by all honest and faithful Members.  
By the appointment of his Excellency the Lord general, and his general council of Officers, Signed J. RUSHWORTH, Sce. Decemb. 27. 1648.  
FINIS.