THe manifold experiences we have had of your Excellencies happy conduct ever since the
goodness of God hath set you over us, and the many signall victories he hath bin pleased
to make you instruments in to the twice totall subduing of a powerfull enemy, together
with our sensibleness of Gods loye to this present parliament, in carrying them through
so great and glorious under takings for the good of the Common wealth, the benefit of which
we hope all honest men wil be sensible of[unr] In consideration of these things we are at a loss
within ourselves, that any generation of men amongst us (especially of such large professions)
who have tasted of same mercy we have done, should now though the pride and ambition
of their hearts so monifestdy disown God, by such munchristian and unheard of Rejection
through pride and ambition in casting off the authority of this present Parliament, and your
Excellency, as divers of late have not endevoured.
Therefore we the Officers, and Souldiers of L. Gen. Cromwels Regiment do in all humility
represent to your Excellency, That we have been, and are sadly afflicted in our spirits with
the thoughts of that horrid and unnaturall defection so lately made from the Parliaments and
your Excellencies authority; and each of us in perticuler profess, that we do from our hearts
disavow the having any hand directly or indirectly in owning or countenancing the Revolt
or Capitulation of the twelve Troops of you army, or any others, lately, or now opposing the
Parliaments or your Excellencies authority; and that we nither did nor do own or countenance
any of those late Papers which have scandalized the Parliament Councell of State, or
your Excellencies authority derived from them; and we desire to bless God who hath enabled
your Excellency so seasonably to reduce those who otherwise, by their destructive principles
might have brought great confusion upon the Nation.
And for the manifestation of our faithfulness and obedience wee further profess, that wee
shall by the grace of God hazard our lives, and all that is dear unto us, for the preservation
of this Parliament; the Supream authority of Nation in just authority of the people, according
to their late Acts and Declarations, and while wee are Souldiers cheerfully
submit unto your Excellencies authority over us, under them, and to the Discipline of the
army now practiced amongst us, against any person or person, that under any notion or pretence
whatsoever shall be disobedient to your Excellency in putting in execution
your comands, according to the power and authority given you by Parliament; withall resolving
to use our utmost endevours to discover all such persons that shall by way of agitators, or
otherwise endevour disturbance amongst us, to break the present Government and pace of thearmy.
June 1.
This Somer-moneth began with the adorning the three Benches with such Judges as are
wanting, and for that end the Parliament pitched upon six Gentlemen eminent for Religion
and good affection, and who, no doubt, will begin, continue, and wither, with no worse
savour then a Rose in [unr] For the Upper Bench, Serjeant Nichols and Mr. Aske were appointed:
For the Common Pleas, Serjeant Puliston and Mr. Peter warburton: And for the
Chequer, Serjeant Thorpe, and Mr. Alexander Rigby: For perfecting this so necessary a work
Patents or Commissions were ordered to drawn up for them under the great Scale, and
for those not Serjeants at Law, an Act to inable them so to be made, viz. Mr Aske and
Mr. Rigby, Master Broughton that lately attended to Trial of King and Lords, Voted
into the place of Clerke of the Crown instead of Mr. Aske now to be judge.
An Act was brought in declaring the grounds of the ensuing Thanksgiving, which is to
be printed, and by the Sheriffes and Justices disperst throughout the Nation. Those who
bad Order to give the thanks of the House to the Generall, made return of thanks from
the Generall for many favours bestowed and continued upon him. The Generall desired
also they own and approve of what Col. Pine had done, who raised the forces of the Countrey
to suppresse some that were up in favour of the Levellers, which action, as to the persons of
the Country, is variously reported, some saying that many of those who appeared were in
heart such, however, the one dismist the other, all are gone home to their houses; and the