To His Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax, Captaine Generall of the Parliaments
forces, The humble Representation of the Officers and Souldiers of the five
Companies of the late Regiment of Major Generall Skippon now in
BRISTOLL.
Sheweth. THat our ingagements have been as much, and we trust our apprehension
of the sad condition of this Nation, for which we have ingaged,
are as serious as others, and our hearts are drawn forth with strong desires after
its full redemption, waiting with fervent expectations, when the jubilee triumph
of true liberty, and freedom (ever promised) will be blown, and indeed Sir we cannot
but be sensible with much thank fulnesse, and acknowledge that through the abundant
blessing of God, upon many carefull and hazardous indeavours, in which your Excellency
had not the least share, the dawning of this wished day began to glimmer
chearfully upon us, and we cannot but perceive much of ours and the peoples desires
to be accomplished severall particulars, mentioned in your last Declaration of the
12 of May 1649.
And therefore We are much troubled that some of our friends who have in the
greatest difficulties attend Englands liberty against oppression, (should now in the
day of its birth) we feare effecting either demination or reveng (and some misled with
pretences) use their utmost indeavors not only to strangle in the Wombe, but by
walking contrary to all rules of discipline, to bring forth blood and new disturbances:
And where as in severall papers; we have been reported Affectors and Abettors
of those irregularities, by what means we know not, unlesse occasioned by some of
our hands put to a late Petition,(never presented) In which our aime was only to
desire honest things, and to acquiesse in the presentation of it, to free cur selves from
guilt, and your Excellency and Councell from suspition, have thought it though
late, yet not altogether unseasonable (it especially being in our hearts long before to
declare that we have not, nor do owne any such actions, But as we have formerly
so we shall still readily observe such Commands as we shall still receive from your
Excellency, according to our Commission and duties and shall stand by your Excellency
in all your just undertakings, which may conduce to the peace and welfare of
this Nation.
Signed by all the Commission Officers here present with the
consent of all the Inferiour Officers and Souldiers.
We should have given you the last week the Copie of a Declaration to the Gen.
from the Town of Portsmouth, but wanting Roome, take it therefore now.
Top event the increase or continuation of that Jealousie which hath possessed
the minds of some, and to take off that suspicion of unfaithfullnesse
which hath been conserning us. We do declare our griefe of heart that any
such jealousies should arise and be entertained, as if we should betray that
trust committed unto us, and we do prosesse for the clearing of our selves in this
matter by giving satisfaction unto all that have conceived any grounds of suspition,
that in the businesse of the revolted Troops that we had not any hand at
all in it, either had they the least countenance from us, but we do utterly disavow
their irregular, and unlawfull actions, in disobaying his Excellencies Commands,
professing ourselves ready and willing to continue our obedience to his
Excellency according to the rules and disipline of Warre, and rather to part
with our lives then to saile in the trust committed to us by him. And We doe