expressing their dislike of it, with a paper of their own principally
consisting of their desires, which was to have a Generall Councell
of the Army Consisting of two private Souldiers, and two Commission
Officers of each Regiment with the generall Officers, for
the prosecusion of the Engagement of the Army at Newmarkes
and Triploe Heath, as the only means of setling the Nation in freedome
and Liberty, But being disappointed of our ends, of having a
free debate with them, as conceiving that very necessary for the
begetting of a right undersatnding between us we sent two or three
messengers to them againe, desiring them to come to us, which at
last they did but when they were come, we saw a great indisposition
in them to debate any thing with us, telling us, That they had found
us so often breaking our Engagements with tehm, that they were
unwilling to come to us, we desired to know of them in what particulars
we had failed with them, and they answered us, in that of
the Engagement of the Army; But after many Arguments, and perswading
them to prosecure their desires with us joyntly and orderly,
we prevailed with them; so as to draw up with us some beads
of their grievances, in which (I am sorry to speak it) they said they
could not tell how to apply themselves to the Lord Generall as the
only means of redresse; Their Grievances and Petition was thus in
debate by us from Thursday until Saturday, we hoping that by offering
to joyn with them, in the prosecution of just and reasonable
things, it would have satisfied them, But finding in the issue their
desire, so unreasonable, we declared, we could not agree unto them,
yet telling of them (though we should be sorry to see it) that they
might have liberty to present them unto the Lord Generall, The
main of those particulars where in we did disagree with them were
these, Viz.
1 Against a generall Councell so con[unr]; (yet telling them
that we would petition for a generall councell of the Army and
that no lawfull means might be left unassayed by them, for the full
accomplishment of both our desire.)
2 That Tythes may not be taken away before there be some other
maintenance provided for a godly Ministry.
And 3. In that they would have all their Arrears Paid in moneys
within a month or six weeks without any deduction for Free quarter.
Then they propounded, to Know of us how they should be secured