A Happy Handful, Statement 24 – Statement 25
THE DECLARATION OF Sir Charles Coot Knight and Baronet, Lord Preſident of the Province of CONNAƲGHT: And the reſt of the Council of Officers of the Army in IRELAND.
Preſent at DUBLIN Concerning the Re-admiſſion of the Sucluded Members.
SInce the Authority of Parliament became openly violated, and that by their own waged ſervants of the Army in England, by whom 41. of the Members of Parliament were torn from the Parliament Houſe in Dec. 1648. and impriſoned, and a 160. other Members denied entrance into the Houſe, and about fifty more voluntarily withdrew themſelves to avoid violence, making in all of ſecluded Members about two hundred and fifty, when the remaining Members charged the Army with the guilt of that force, and ſent to the then General of the Army for the reſtitution of thoſe excluded Members which was denied them, how many and manifold have been the miſeries and calamities under which theſe Nations have laboured, and do ſtil labour, is evident to all equal minded men. The godly Miniſters of the Goſpel deſpiſed: The Miniſtry it ſelf villified: Tythes, and other means of their maintenance (particularly in Ireland) taken from them, and miſ-applied; the Proteſtant Religion ſhaken, and almoſt overturned; Anabaptiſts, Quakers, and other Sectaries ſet up and countenanced; Hereſies and Schiſms increaſed; The fundamental Laws of the Land trampled upon, and an Arbitrary Government endeavoured to be introduced; The Civil Rights, Properties and Liberties of the people in their perſons and eſtates broken in pieces; Impoſitions and Taxes on the people without example laid and increaſed in an exceſſive manner and meaſure, whereby thouſands of Families have been ruined, and enforced to beg their bread; Manufacture at home diſcouraged, publick Trade and Commerce abroad interrupted; The Nations become deeply indebted, and generally impoveriſhed; the reformed Proteſtant Churches abroad expoſed to great danger, wanting the wonted ſupport of England, which (under God) was the Bulwark and chief ſtrength of the Proteſtant Religion throughout all Chriſtendome, and finally the Engliſh Nation (which was alwayes deſervedly) in ſo high honour and eſtimation at home and abroad, as it was a bridle and terrour to their Enemies, and a countenance and ſupport to their Friends, and Allies, is now become (we tremble and grieve to have ſo juſt cauſe to ſpeak it) a ſcorn and derſion to all Nations round about us; and all this is brought to paſs to ſatisfie the Avarice, Ambition, Luſts, and fears of a few inconſiderable perſons of Anabaptiſtical and other Fanatique ſpirits, who have made it their buſineſs to occaſion ſtill one trouble on the neck of another, ſo to imbroil and continue the Nations in Diviſion, War, and bloody confuſion, that ſober men might not have time or leiſure (with maturity of judgement or counſel) to look into the inwards of their deſigns or actings; And after we had beheld all this with bleeding hearts, and calling to minde that when in December 1648. the ſaid force was put upon the Parliament, the then remaining Members ſent ſundry times to the General to know why he impriſoned their Members, and deſired him to ſet them at liberty, which was not done; and we gathering from all this, that if the Houſe were once freed from the force of an Army, and they again reſtored to Freedome and Liberty of ſitting and and acting, they would then upon the firmer grounds (in conſcience of their duties to God and their Country, and in teſtimony of their high reſentment of that breach of priviledges of the Parliament, have taken into the Houſe thoſe excluded Members, and filled vacant places by due and orderly Elections of the People (and after ſo many years unhappy interruption unite again in a full and free Parliament, and there aſſert the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, and Liberties of the people, which from the very beginning of the War of England have been not the leaſt ground of their conteſt with the late King, and ever ſince, and joyn their counſels and endeavours for reſtoring theſe Nations to peace and tranquillity.
And thence it was, that on the 14. day of December 1659. ſeveral Officers of the Army here, on the behalf of themſelves, and thoſe under their Commands, by their joynt Declaration, declared and publiſhed their ſtedfaſt reſolutions to adhere to the Parliament in defence of its Priviledges, and the juſt Rights and Liberties of the people of theſe Nations as Men and Chriſtians; In which Declaration afterwards concurred the whole Army of Ireland, but now finding much contrary to our expectations, that when the Members of Parliament now aſſembled at Weſtminſter, were in Decemb. 1659. (by an extraordinary providence) reſtored to their Freedome and Liberty of ſitting and acting as in Parliament; and that divers of thoſe formerly excluded Members of Parliament on the 27. of Decem. 1659. (as they had formerly done in May 1659.) offered themſelves to diſcharge their Truſts for the ſeveral Counties and places for which they were Elected, and formerly ſerved thoſe their Fellow-members aſſembled at Weſtminſter, did not onelyonly deny them admittance, but alſo voted and ordered the utter excluſion of all the excluded Members with this further addition, that none of them ſhould be choſen in future Elections to ſit in this Parliament, whereby they have a more unnatural violence taken away from above the one half of the people of England, their Repreſentatives in Parliament, and limited and abridged in a high degree the Liberty and freedome of the people in further Elections, which denial and order of theirs in a time when they were under no force, is ſo much the more ſtrange, in regard that in December 1648. when they were under a force, they transferred that guilt for themſelves to the Army, and pretended a willingneſs to re-admit thoſe Members if it were in their power, as is formerly mentioned.
And whereas Lieut. Gen. Ludlow had placed in Ireland ſeveral Officers who are Anabaptiſts, and perſons of the like fanatique ſpirits, (many of whom had been very active in the late conſpiracies and actings of the factious part of the Army in England, even againſt thoſe Members of Parliament now ſitting at Weſtminster; of which Officers ſo placed by Lieut. Gen. Ludlow, it was found neceſſary to purge the Army, and to put in their places perſons more ſoberly minded and well affected to the Parliament; yet after all that done, and after Lieut. Gen. Ludlow ſtood juſtly deſervedly charged with High Treaſon, the ſaid Lieut. Gen. Ludlow himſelf, and ſome others of the like principles with him, were by a report from the Councel of State propoſed to be appointed to governe not onelyonly the Army, but alſo the whole Nation of Ireland, to the aſtoniſhment of the people and Army here, to the unſetling of thoſe perſons ſo well deſerving, to the hazard of the peace of the Nation and Army (and which is above all) to the endangering even of Religion it ſelfe. And here it is obſervable, that thoſe Members now ſitting at Weſtminſter, by their Declaration of 23. of January 1659. ſince their reſtitution to their preſent liberty of ſitting) have publiſhed that extravagant Councels and actions, have engaged the Nations in a great debt and charge, which it ſeems neceſſitates their laying a new increaſe of charge on the Nations, and yet ſo indulgent they are to thoſe perſons, that in a high degree created that neceſſity of ſo unreaſonably charging the people, and whoſe eſtates might well bear a great part of that burden, as without ſo much as any ſuit made to them by thoſe Delinquents, they granted them indempnity for their perſons and eſtates, whereby it ſeems the ſaid Members now ſitting at Weſtminſter, hold it fit, that thoſe who are of ſober ſpirits, and offended not the Parliament, ſhould out of their eſtates pay for thoſe extravagant mens Delinquency, rather than the Delinquents themſelves. And although the ſaid Lieut. Gen. Ludlow, and Miles Corbet Eſq. together with Col. John Jones, and Col. Mat. Tomlinſon, ſtand impeached from hence moſt juſtly of High Treaſon, and that charge againſt them, being known to the Houſe, and there remaing, yet they have admitted two of thoſe perſons, namely the ſaid Lieut Gen. Ludlow, and Miles Corbet actually to ſit in the ſaid Houſe.
And now the greatneſs of thoſe miſeries which have befaln theſe three Nations in General, by ſuch late actings in England, and thoſe heightned with many aggravations in the circumſtances of them (too many and too long to be repeated) as it hath begotten in us, and in all good men in the three Nations deep impreſſion of aſtoniſhment and horror, ſo it is evident, that if it be any longer continued, it will perpetually nouriſh diſhonour to God, grief to all god men, and (we doubt and fear) utter infamy and deſtruction to the three Nations.
In contemplation whereof, and conſidering how God hath in his juſtice blaſted all attempts that ſince the year 1648. have been made for re-ſetling of theſe Nations in peace and tranquillity, and that after all the trials and various changes of Government which we have in all that time with much longſuffering and patience endured, there is no way viſible to us under Heaven whence deliverance may be probably wrought or expected, but from the care and wiſdome of a Free and full Parliament in England, which (by the experience of all former ages hath been found the beſt and only expedient for providing remedies to be applied to ſo great and general miſchiefs ariſing in Church or State. And conſidering alſo that the marks of the true Reformed Religion according to the Word of God, and of the fundamental Laws of the Land, and of our now dying Liberties and Freedome, are not yet ſo utterly razed and defaced, but that ſome footſteps of them do yet remain, ſo as (by the wiſdome of a full and Free Parliament) they may be again renewed and firmly re-eſtabliſhed; and conſidering likewiſe that our hopes of having the ſaid excluded Members reſtored, and of new Elections to be made for vacant places, whereby there might be a full and free Parliament, as there was on Decem. 5. 1648. and the antient and long conteſted Liberties of the people might be aſſerted, are much contrary to our expectations, and contrary to the fundamental Laws of the Land, and indeed contrary to all juſtice and become fruſtrated; and conſidering further how unjuſt and unreaſonable a thing it is, that of above five hundred Members, whereof the Commons Houſe of Parliament uſually conſiſted, there were but four and forty or thereabouts, when that fatal Vote paſſed for the keeping out the aforeſaid excluded Members by the prevalency of a major part of the ſaid 44. perſons (not much exceeding thoſe who voted then on the contrary ſide) which aſſumes to it ſelf the Supreme Authority, not onelyonly of England, but alſo of the three Nations, without preſident or example of any former age, there being above two hundred and fifty which ſtand eleven years excluded, without ſo much as the leaſt offer of an Impeachment againſt them in all that time; which unexampled and unparallel'd aſſumption in thoſe men is not poſſible to continue but by the force of an Army poiſoned with Anabaptiſtical and corrupted principles, to the continual grief and unſupportable burden and charge of the three Nations.
And beſides that act of the aforeſaid perſons chaſing away (for ſo it now appears) about two hundred and fifty Members, of above five hundred choſen by all the ſeveral parts of England, according to the known Laws of the Land, to repreſent the whole Nation in Parliament; and after the forcible excluſion of ſo many, that the four and forty perſons remaining (amongſt whom we believe there are ſome worthy Patriots who are not ſo fully concurring in the actings of the reſt of their number, as violently over-voted them, which is a further aggravation of the others guilt) ſhould dare to uſurp to themſelves as is formerly mentioned, contrary to all the Laws, the Supreme power not only of England, but alſo of Ireland and Scotland, is a thing which none but Conquerors or Tyrants would attempt, and in all circumſtances is ſo hideous and monſtrous to be endured by a Free people, formerly famous to all the world for wiſdome and valour, as the Engliſh Nation have been, as it will be incredible to all poſterity
And laſtly conſidering, that as in all Ages, and more particularly ſince the beginning of the late horrid Rebellion in Ireland, our Brethren in England have abundantly manifeſted a tender and compaſſionate ſenſe of the condition in Ireland, and were careful to relieve us in our loweſt eſtate, as bone of their bone, and fleſh of their fleſh; which we do, and ſhal ever acknowledge with humble thankfulneſſe, and (as a debt which we well know to be due from us to them above all people in the world) ſhall be for ever as tender of their happineſſe and welfare, as of our own, which indeed is involved in theirs, and without whom Ireland cannot be happy. We therefore remaining conſtant in the reaſons of our ſaid Declaration of Dec. 14. 1659. for adhering to the Parliament in defence of its Priviledges, and the juſt Rights and Liberties of theſe Nations; all which we ſee now are apparently more and more violated by the▪ not admiſſion of the ſaid excluded Members, and by not filling the vacant Places, whereby the Houſe might be full; and being freed from force, might uninterruptedly Act according to their Judgements and Conſciences, towards re-ſetling the peace of theſe Nations, which otherwiſe in all humane probability can never be reſtored to Peace and Tranquillity.
We do therefore declare for a full and free Parliament in England, conſiſting not only of thoſe that ſate on Oct. 11. 1659. but alſo of all ſuch of the Members of Parliament impriſoned, excluded, or withdrawn in December 1648. as are yet living, whom we deſire may be reſtored to the freedome and liberty of ſitting, and acting according to the Truſt committed to them by the ſeveral Counties and places which did chuſe them, that ſo they may be no longer debarred from diſcharging their ſaid Truſt, and that vacant places may be ſpeedily ſupplied by free and due Elections of the people, yet ſo as none of the perſons to be Admitted or Elected, be any of thoſe who have been in Arms, or otherwiſe aiding, abetting, or aſſiſting the late King or his Son in the late War againſt the Parliament, and that the Houſe being ſo filled, may proceed unanimouſly to conſult the beſt meanes for re-ſetling the Peace of the Nations, the re-eſtabliſhment of true Religion (the ſureſt foundaon, as of all righteous Government, ſo of all the happineſſe of a Nation;) the fundamental Lawes of the Land (whereby all mens rights and properties are preſerved) and the liberties and freedom of the people which are ſupported by thoſe Lawes.
And for thoſe ends, and in diſcharge of our duty to God, and to our Country, We do reſolve, by the bleſſing of Almighty God) to joyn with our Brethren in England, Ireland, and Scotland, who have or ſhall joyn with us for the ends aforeſaid; and do reſolve, for the maintenance and preſervation thereof, to hazard our Lives and Eſtates, and all that is dear to us: And we doubt not but all our Brethren in the ſaid Nations, who diſdain to be made Slaves, will joyn with us herein, as being with wiſedom and reaſon deſirous to deliver over to their Poſterity that Liberty and Freedom which was conveyed to them at ſo dear a rate by our Anceſtors. And then we truſt, that by the great mercy of God, will ſpeedily follow a happy ſettlement of theſe yet miſerable and diſtracted Nations; and conſequently that the true Proteſtant Religion, in the power and purity thereof, may be eſtabliſhed; the Godly, Learned, and Orthodox Miniſters of the Goſpel maintained by their Tythes, and other their accuſtomed rights; their perſons ſupported and countenanced; the Univerſities and all other Seminaries of Learning cheriſhed; Hereſies and Schiſms ſuppreſſed, needleſs Impoſitions and Taxes on the people removed, and no charge to be laid on any of the Nations, without their own free conſents, given by their Repreſentatives, in their ſeveral and reſpective Parliaments; Manufactures, and Publique Trade and Commerce, at home and abroad advanced; Juſtice in its due and wonted courſe adminiſtred; the juſt debts of the Nation ſatisfied; the Treaſure and Revenues thereof preſerved, and returned to their right and proper Channels; the Arreares of the Army, and other publique debts duly ſatisfied; the Armies and Forces continued in due obedience to the Supreme Authority, and not preſume as ſome have done, to give Lawes thereunto, which hath been the root of a great part of our miſeries; the Nations enriched, united and ſtrengthened; the Reformed Proteſtant Chuches abroad ſupported and countenanced; the honour of the Engliſh Nation reſtored, to the comfort of Friends, and terror of Enemies; the Plantation of Ireland in the hands of Adventurers and Souldiers, and other Engliſh and Proteſtants advanced, as a farther acceſſion of honour and greatneſs to the Engliſh Nation: and ſo by the bleſſing of God, all will ſhortly terminate in the glory of God, the Peace and Tranquillity of theſe Nations, the ſtrengthening of them againſt forreign Invaſion, and inteſtine Rebellion, and the comfort, contentment of all the good People in theſe Nations, Which the Lord of his mercy grant.
Dated at Dublin, Febr. 16. 1659.
Sir Charls Coote
William L. Cawfield
Sir Theo. Jones
Sir Oliver St. Ceorge
Sir Hen. Ingoldsby
Sir John King
Col. Chidley Coote
Col. John Cole
Col. Will. Warden
Col. Richard Coote
Col. John Georges
Col. Hen. Owen
Lt. Col. Tho. Scot
Lt. Col. W. Purefoy
Lt. Col. Oliver Jones
Maj. Tho. Barrington
Maj. Alex. Staples
Maj. Rich. Bingley
Maj. George Pepper
Lt. Col. H. Smithwick
Capt. Henry Baker
Cap. Rob. fitz Gerald
Cap. Cha. Wenman.
Cap. Adam Molineux
Col. Hum. Barrow
Cap. Sam. Foley
Cap. John Salt
Cap. Simon Garſtin
Col. Cha. Blunt
Col. Hen. Slade
Cap. Ant. Stamp
Cap. Art. Purefoy
Cap. George S▪ George
Cap. Peter Purefoy
Cap. Thomas Curd
Cap. Tho. Newcomen
Cap. Tho. Newburgh
Cap. Hen. Thrimpton
Lt. Hugh Clotworthy
Lt. Peter Flower
Lt. Her. Langriſh
Lt. Rich. Morrick
Lt. Brian Jaques
Lt. Richard Butler
Lt. John Ottway
Lt. John Evelin
Lt. Tho. Flint
Lt. Edw. Harrington
Corn. Art. Ʋſher
Corn. Donw. Prothers
Corn. W. Pinſent
Enſign John Hiad
Tho. Sheppard. Mar.
Quarter-Maſter W. F.
John Payn Comptr.
A DECLARATION Of the GENTRY of Somerſet-ſhire, Who were of the late KINGS Party.
WHereas God by many gracious Appearances ha…h raiſed the hearts of this Nation to a great confidence, that their tottering condition draws near to an Eſtabliſhment, by the Re-ſettlement of their antient, juſt, and ſolid Foundations; We doe Declare, That in thankfulneſs to our great and good God, we hold our ſelves bound to look upon, and with humble longings; to wait for the accompliſhment of this great Work, as the largeſt National bleſſing we are capable of (being preſented to our hope without blood and ruine.) And likewiſe that we ſet up Pillars in every of our hearts to the honour of his Excellency the Lord General Monck, who hath not as others, either feared or affected the Tyrannical greatneſs of our Oppreſſors; but as he undertook the Redemption of his Countrey with ſingular Reſolution, and hath carried it on hitherto with unparallel'd prudence, ſo we doe not in the leaſt doubt, but that by the good hand of God he will perfect it with ſhining and glorious ſincerity.
And becauſe we finde (as we hope) the laſt Engine of the Enemies of our Peace now ſet on work for the embroiling of the ſpirits of the well-meaning people of England, by ſuggeſting an unchriſtian inclination remaining in us, of waiting opportunities of Revenge: We do here in the ſight of God, and to all the world, diſown and abhor all Animoſity and Revengeful remembrance of Sides and Parties in the late War: And do promiſe and reſolve to co-operate within our Sphere towards the publique Settlement, with ſuch faithfulneſs and conſtancy, as neither to occaſion or entertain the leaſt jealouſie upon the account of any paſt difference whatſoever, fully reſolving to ſubmit to the Determinations of the Parliament both in Eccleſiaſtical and Civil Affairs, which we hope will remove all occaſion of Jealouſie and Diſtinction for the future.
John Lord Paulett.
Sir Francis Paulett.
Sir Amos Paulett.
William Paulett Eſq.
Edward Phillips.
William Helliar.
Peregrine Palmer
Henry Barkley.
Charles Berkley.
Thomas Warr.
John Brice.
Robert Hawly.
John Bonvile.
Francis Windham.
Thomas Pigott.
William Wandrond.
George Waldrond.
Edward Berkley.
Francis Hawly.
George Speake.
John Tynt.
Sam. Gorges.
George Syddenham.
Francis Harvey, &c.