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The Chief Heads of the Remonstrance of the Army, presented to the House of Commons, Nov. 20. MDCXLVII.
To the Right Honourable the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament.
The humble Remonstrance of his Excellency the Lord General Fairfax, and his Gene∣ral Council of Officers held at St. Albans, Thursday the 16. of Novemb. 1648.
[The Remonstrance it self being very long, and serving only to introduce their Propositi∣ons in the end, we have thought fit to represent only the Propositions themselves, as they are contracted in their own Abridgment.]
FIrst, That the Capital and grand Author of our Troubles, the Person of the King, by whose procurement, and for whose Interest only of will and power, all our Wars have been, may be brought to Justice for the Treason, Blood, and Mischief he is therein guilty of.
Secondly, That a timely day may be set for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York to come in, by which time if they do not, that then they may be immediately declared incapable of any Government or Trust in this Kingdom or its Dominions, and thence to stand exil'd for ever as Enemies and Traitors, to dye without mercy if ever after found and taken therein. Or if by the time limited they do render themselves, that then the Prince be proceeded with as on his appearance he shall give satisfaction or not; and the Duke, as he shall give satisfaction, may be considered as to future Trust or not. But however, that the Revenue of the Crown (saving necessary allowances for the Children, and for Servants and Creditors to the Crown) be sequestred, and the costly Pomp suspended for a good number of years; and that this Revenue be for that time disposed toward publick Charges, Debts and Damages, for the easing of the People; so as the Estates neither of Friends to publick Interest, nor alone of inferior Enemies thereto, may bear wholly the burthen of that loss and charge which by and for that Family, the Kingdom hath been put unto.
Thirdly, That Capital punishment be speedily executed upon a competent number of his chief Instruments also, both in former and later Wars; and that some of both sorts be pitcht upon as are really in your hands or reach.
Fourthly, That the rest of the Delinquents English, may upon rendring themselves to Justice have mercy for their Lives; and that only Fines be set upon them, and their persons declared incapable of any publick Trust, or having any voice in Elections thereto, at least for a good number of years: And that a short day may be set, by which all such Delinquents may come in; and for those who come not in by that day, that their Estates be absolutely confiscate and sold to the publick use, and their per∣sons stand exil'd as Traitors, and to die without mercy if ever found after in the King∣dom or its Dominions.
Fifthly, That the satisfaction of Arrears to the Soldiery, with other publick Debts, and competent reparations of publick Damages, may be put into some orderly way: And therefore that the Fines and Compositions of Delinquents be disposed to those uses only, as also the Confiscations of such who shall be excluded from Pardon, or not come in by the day assigned.
Now after publick Justice thus far provided for, we proceed in order to the general satisfaction and settling of the Kingdom.
First, That you would set some reasonable and certain period to your own Power.
Secondly, That with a period to this Parliament, there may be a settlement of the Peace, and future Government of the Kingdom.
First, That there may be a certain succession of future Parliaments, Annual, or Biennial, with secure provision, 1. For the certainty of their sitting, meeting, and end∣ing; 2. For equal Elections; 3. For the Peoples meeting to elect, provided that none en∣gaged in War against the Kingdom may elect or be elected, nor any other who op∣pose this Settlement; 4. For clearing the future power of Parliaments as supreme, only they may not give away any Foundation of Common Right; 5. For liberty of entring