A Perfect and TRUE COPY OF THE several Grievances of the Army under his excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax. As it was presented at Saffron-Walden in ESSEX, unto Field-Marshall Gen. Skippon, Lieut. General cromwell, commissary Gen. Ireton, and Colonel Fleetwood Members of the House of Commons, and Commissioners for the Parliament there, BY Colonel Whaley, Col. Ingoldsby, Col. Hammond. Col. Rich. Col. Lambert. Col. Okey. Col. Henson. mayor Disborow mayor Cowley. With the names of above two hundred and forty Commission-Officers that did subscribe it, and presented in the House of Commons, By Lieutenant General cromwell, and Col. FLEETWOOD; together with an Order of the Generals, to every Regiment of Horse and Foot. Published at the instant desires of the Officers of the Army, to prevent mistakes which may arise from an imperfect copy already dispersed. Printed for, George Whittington at the blew Anchor in Corn-hill, near the royal Exchange 1647. To the right honourable Field-Marshall, general Skippon, Lieut. Gen. cromwell, commissary general Ireton, and Colonel Fleetwood. HAying received at the last convention of the Officers of this Army( at Walden) your commands and directions to our several Regiments; First, for the publishing the Votes of the House of Commons for the satisfaction of the Army in point of Arrears and. Indemnity. And secondly, for a faithful, diligent, and impartial enquiry into the present temper and disposition of the Army: In which, having accordingly( with diligence) endeavoured to answer your expectation in what you have enjoined us; we do according to the best of our understandings, represent unto you▪ That we find both Officers and Soldiers at present, quiet, and free from any visible distemper: nevertheless are sensible of many pressing grievances, which they having orderly and quietly made known unto us, we humbly in their, and our behalves, represent unto you as followeth. 1. That whereas it pleased the honourable Houses of Parliament, having received information of a dangerous petition in the Army, to declare and immediately publish in print to the kingdom, That that Pitition( which indeed was but onely intended to be presented to the general with submission to his approbation) did tend to put the Army into distemper and mutiny to obstruct the relief of Ireland, and to put conditions upon the Parliament, and declaring the Petitioners, if they shall continue in their distempered condition, and go on in promoting and advancing that Petition, shall be looked upon, and proceeded against as enemies to the State, and disturbers of the public peace. Which said information misrepresenting our intentions, hath caused that heavy charge which remains upon record, as a Memorandam of infamy upon us to posterity, wee cannot choose but with saduesse of spirit, be deeply sensible, that so humble and innocent an address intended to the general, could beget so strange an interpreta●ion, the substance of those things which we intended to sue for therein, being no other then what the Parliament promised, and frequently confirmed unto us by their Declarations. 2. That whereas those persons, who have by the foresaid Imformation, a●eemp●e● to our great prejudice, to beget misunderstandings betwixt the Parliament and their Army, by their surreptitious obtaining and misrepresenting our intention in the said Petition, and by divulging abroad scandalous letters from unknown hands,( the authors whereof are concealed, and not brought forth to make judicial proofs of those things laid to our charge, which wee cannot but look upon as a just cause of grief, that the suggesters of such things seemed to prevail so far as to gain encouragement, and we who are innocent, remain unjustified in the eyes of the kingdom. 4. That divers Officers of the Army of public and known integrity, have been sent for to the Parliament, some whereof at this present attend there, and have had no trial, nor any thing considerable, that we know of, laid to their charge. And more particularly, That ensign Nichols, a member of this Army, hath been illegally imprisoned by Capt. Dormer, a late Officer of this Army,( but now engaged for Ireland) his Pockets searched, and his Papers taken from him, contrary to the laws of the kingdom, or Discipline of war, and since( by order of the Commissioners) sent from Derby-House to treat with the Army about the relief of Ireland, was sent to London,( without the Generals privity,) where he is still kept prisoner) at great expenses, and not brought to trial; which president may equally extend to any or all in the Army. Which said particular, bearing with it the face of delay and protraction, we cannot but look upon as a just cause of trouble unto us. 4. That whereas we understand, that the Parliament hath voted a sudden disbanding of the Army, not having made sufficient provision for the auditing of our Arrears, and stating of our accounts so fully, as we may not be liable to further charges concerning them, our own reason, and the experience of others, doth make us sensible, how difficult, chargeable, and uncertain the obtaining thereof will be after we are disbanding, and dispersed to our several homes. 5 That no provision hath been made for the payment of our dearly earned wages, to the expense of our blood, and often hazard of our lives; saving a vote of six weekes pay upon disbanding( now at the consummation of our work) which is so small, that it will inevitably expose us( especially the private Soldiers) to great extremity, being scarce sufficient to maintain many of them in their journey to their our homes. 6 That nothing as yet hath been perfected for our future security for things done as Souldiers in relation to the war, which the exigency thereof, and diffiuclties therein, hath compelled, us unto the want whereof we cannot choose but be very sensible of, when we consider the many sad examples of bitter and rigorous prosecutions at Law, against Soldiers for acts done in order to the promotion of the kingdoms service. 7 That we stand in fear,( especially the private Soldiers) of being impressed or enforced to serve as Soldiers out of the kingdom; many having spent themselves freely and voluntarily in the public service, forsaking their trades, and friends, and livelihoods; to which many desire to return again for their better future subsistence. 8 That whereas divers of us( especially the private Soldiers) who were Apprentices in London, or other parts of the kingdom, have voluntarily engaged thtmselves in this service, being encouraged thereunto by the Parliaments Declarations, showing that the time they should so spend in the prosecution thereof, should be as effectual in order to their freedom, as if they had remained with their several respective Masters. Notwithstanding which, many have refused to give us freedom, who may justly claim it by the aforesaid Declarations for that purpose. 9 That many Soldiers who have lost their lives, widows their Husbands, and Children their Parents, in this service, and thereby are reduced to great poverty,( even to beggary) are not sufficiently provided for a future livelihood. 10 That whereas divers persons both privately and publicly laboured by evil aspersions and false calumnies to render us odious to the kingdom, thereby seeking to alienate their affections from us; in order to which they have published many Books, viz. Ma. Edwards his Gangraena, and divers others of that nature: and also very lately a report divulged abroad, that wee had petitioned his Majesty, inviting him to come to the head of the Army, and that wee would restore him to his crown, Throne and Dignity: A person of eminence averred before a very great and public convention in the city of London, that he saw a copy of that Petition which was delivered to his Majesty: And that the Army was no longer a New model, but had 4000. cavaliers in it, that he coming from the fountains head, perceived, that the King and cavaliers, have their single and whole dependency upon this Army. And others privately suggesting the same, by dispersing several copies of the said pretended petition; the several particulars whereof we protest against, as most false, and are most confident, that it proceeded not from any probable ground, which might argue such an intention in us, but singly from the malice of our enemies. 11. That notwithstanding the great care of the Committee and Treasurers for the Army, and the cheerful readiness of the most Counties in paying their assessments,( as these where we now quarter geneaally affirm;) nneverthelesse through want of pay, the private soldiers are necessitated to take free quarter for the present, which is very irksome to be so burdensome to the kingdom. Having thus according to your commands, as fully as we are able, accounted unto you what is the true genuine sense of the Army, and not their imaginary, but real grievances which inevitably fall upon us, except the Parliament in their wisdoms take some effectual course to prevent them; and as we, if the time allowed to us by you, would permit, we could clearly demonstrate unto you: we therefore assume the boldness to desire you to bee sensible with us, of▪ what we have offered unto you, and to present unto the Parliament the particulars aforesaid, in such humble way and manner as you conceive most effectual to the accomplishment of our future quiet, and well-being: That you will do us right if in case any of our actions be misrepresented to the Parliament: That you will( as far as justly you can) cover our weakness, if any thing of that nature hath stippt us in the transaction of this so weighty and considerable an importance, which we the more boldly desire of you, because we are confident, that the integrity of our hearts is not hide from you, and which we doubt not, but will clearly appear,( notwithstanding the malice, or secret workings of any person whatsoever seeking to asperse us, when our proceedings herein shall be thoroughly inquired into.) And if any thing expressed herein, may appear or bee understood otherwise, by the honourable Houses of Parliament, we desire you will declare the mind and sense of us all; which is that we have endeavoured to our utmost in all our expressions, to avoid things which might offend, or in the least manner entrench upon the honour and authourity of the Parliament, for which wee have adventuaed all we have in this world that is dear unto us. But if any reflection may seem to touch upon some particulars, our intentions are no other, then towards those who have abused the Parliament, kingdom, and a faithful Army. A List of the several respective Officers interested herein. colonels. Robert Hammond. jo. Lambert Richard Engolesby Edward whaley Jo: Okey. jo: Hewson Nathaniel Rich Lieut. colonels. Isaac Ewer. mark Grime Tho: Pride Edw. Salmon Tho. read jo. Iubbs Majors. Thomas Smith. wrath Rogers. jo: Wade Dan: Axtell jo: Desborough. Ad: scroop Geo: Sedacive Ro: huntingdon Thomas Horton Ro: Swallow William cowel. Captaines. John Reynolds. Tho. Disney jo. Pitchford jo. Carter. Hen. Binfield Sam. Grames Dan. Dale. jo. Grove. William Rainborough Walter bethel Tho. Ireton William Coleman William Evanson Azariah Husbands Sam. gardener Ben. burgess William Streeteham Jo. Jenkins Hen. pretty Rich. Zanchy Hen. Cannon Tho. Pennifather Jo. Spooner jo. Gladman captain Lieutenant. William read Ro. Kerby Cap. Lieut. Rich. ask Tobias Bridges Jo. clerk Edm. Rolfe Joseph Blisset Oriell Smith Rich. Hodden Ro. Gibbon Hen. Davis Lewis Awdeley captain Lieutenant. jo. Wallington captain Lieutenant. Edw. Orpin Ro. Anderson Tho. haws Cap. Lieu. Giles Sanders Rich. Sanders. John Shrimpton captain Lieutenant. Francis Allen jo. Grime Ia. Iarmin Tho. Price Fra. haws Wil. Arnop Cap. Lieu. Mat. Cadwell jo. Biscoe Sam. Rose Will. wear. Capt. Lieu. Re. red jo. Toppenden Alex. Brafield William Goffe Tho. Pa●sons George Gregson Roger Alsop joseph Salkeild Waldoff Lagoe jo: Mason Hen: Lilburne Abraham Holmes jer: Iolehurst Amos Stoddar. Lieutenants. Griffith I. Loyde. Edw: Scotton Tho: shears Nat: Wight Ben: Gifford samson Toogood Hen: Johnson John Merriman Hen: Martin Edm: Chillenden George Ensor. George Elsemore. Tho. Aldridge jo: perk jo: frank Gelm: tailor Stephen White jo: Barrow Rich: Kempe Rich: moss Ralph Parker Martin Jubbs Thomas Ellis Philo Price jo: haws jo: clerk Ro: tailor jo: Friend Rich: Tompson jo: Savage Tho: Camberlaine George Smith Ralph Gale Nat: chase Ralph wilson jo: Watson jo: Fi●kins Lewis Norcot William Farley Brian Smith Ale. Davis Ro: Lewis jo: Toppen Hugh jenkin jo: Nichola Edw: Dorney jo: Miller james clerk Edw: Farmer Thomas Day Randal Warner. Wil: G●uge Wil: Skelley Etherlbert Morgan Adrian Arwood jenkin Beven George Jenkin Wil: Hill jo: Ward● Tho: Barker Ed: Singeleton jo: friend Rich: Tompson Tho: Cassinghurst Andr: Edwards Sam: Axtell Fran: Wheeler John Potter Cornets. Wil: Barrington joh: Fox Rich: Southwood. Tho: Barkley Edm: Winstanly Wil: Whittington jo: Sabberton George joice Chry: Kember jo: cord George Tracy Wil: Beuck jo: clerk Wil: Leadbrooke Peter walls Samuel Packer Hen: Mills jo: Southwood James Wilson jo: Spencer Richard web Cha: Whitehead Abel Warren. Anth: Lacon Wil: Lurna Sammuel Boalley. ensigns. Cha: Bol●on ensign to the general. Robert Smith George clerk Wil: Jones Jer: Hand Samuel Bince Ro: Belded Tho: Rawli●s Je●: Camfield Tho: Newman Evan Jones Hen: Cedwath Fardmando green George Neckthey Francis Farmer Hen: Williams Tho: Lewis Rich: Bourne Wil: joice Wil: Galhampton Rob: Banning Wil: Everard jo: Mason Wil: Cooper Downehalt Gregory. Abinam Spooner Wil: Beard. Samuel Chase Edw: Evans Jo: Bishop Fra: Litler William Diisney Jo: Ward Richard Essex: Thomas Chambers Jo: Brett Abell Warren Quartermasters. William Williams James Goodwin Cales Leigh William Miller George Sanders. Rich Slaynor Edw: Warren Thomas Savage Nath: Chedi● philip Ramsey Thomas Stewart jo: Ad●s Ro: Agard jo: Kennet Hen: Ward jo: D●e Thomas Ward Philip Joanes Richard Hunt. I Desire you forthwith to take Order, that notice be given to the several Companies of your Regiment, that the grievances of the Army were on friday last presented to the House of Commons, and are by them admitted to be heard and taken into consideration. I do therefore require the Souldiers to forbear any further actings by themselves without their Officiers in any irregular ways: And all Officers are strictliy to see to it in their several charges, that there be no more such meetings or consultations of Souldiers at Bury or elsewhere. THOMAS FAIRFAX. To let colonel jackson, or the Officer in chief with the Regiment. Courteous Reader, I Have one word to say to thee, and that is to tell thee, that a very imperfect Copy of our grievances was surreptiously got, and as suddenly and unadvisedly printed; which Copy was not the Armies, and therefore to prevent all mistakes, and to show to all the world, especially to the Parliament and this kingdom, that there is no variance nor distemper in the Army, as some fond gather from that false Copy but altogether love and amity, and so I rest the Servant of the Parliament and kingdom. E. Ch. Lieutenant. FINIS.