A declaration from His Excellence Sir Thomas Fairfax and the generall councel of the army, held at Putney, on Thursday September 16, 1647 concerning the delaies in raising monies for supply of the army, and other forces of the kingdome : and their humble offers and desires in relation thereto : tendred to the Right Honourable Commissioners of Parliament residing with the army, and by them to be presented to the Houses : with His Exceliencies letter to the commissioners concerning the same : also a narrative of the souldiers behavior towards the L. Lauderdale.

A Narrative of the Souldiers demea∣nour towards the Lord Lauderdale at the Court at VVoburne, in lu∣ly last, presented to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, under the hand of Colonel VVhalley, and by him sent to the Commissioners of Parliament in the Army; with a letter from his Excellency concer∣ning the same.

TOwards the latter end of July last, when the King lay at Woburne, the Lord Lauder∣dale came one morning about foure or five of the Clock to the Court, lost no time▪ but presently made his repairs to His Ma∣jesty with whom he had much private Communication. It was commonly reported and generally believed that he had come post all the night before. But whether so or not, I know not, but this I know, that his early coming, and hasty speaking with His Majesty at that Conjun∣cture of time, when that unparalleld violence was com∣mitted

upon the Parliament, and that treasonable engage∣ment for fetching the King to London, and preparations for a new Warre, were so violently prosecuted in the City, drove the Court into feares, and the Souldiers into jea∣lousies, that his Lordship came to indeavour the perfe∣cting at Court that designe, which was begun and prose∣cuted in the City, and that which made them (as I con∣ceive) the more jealous of his intentions, was a common report, that his Lordship was a fomenter of the Cities Tumults, or corresponding with the Authours of them. And indeed I finde, that the Souldiers had long entertain∣ed harsh thoughts of the Lord Lauderdale ever since his Relation, concerning His Majesties going from Holmsby, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the painted Chamber so much to the prejudice, and disadvantage of the Army; and his undertaking there to engage the whole Kingdome of Scotland, as one man against the Army; they were playn•• with him at New-Market, the•• minding him of it, and told him he had publikely declared himselfe their enemy; therefore they could not but think he came to do them, and the Kingdome in Offices: And had not my selfe and o••her Officers interposed, they had then at least perswaded him away from the Court, but at that time the Souldiers in∣dured his stay, though with some regret; But his Lord∣ships second appearance at that time and manner as be∣fore related, so hightened, (it seemes their former jealo∣sies, and exasperated them into such resolution•• as that divers of them (whose names I protest I know n•••• not so much as one for present) being of severall R••••iments came about five or six of the Clock, next morning▪ to his Lordship▪ Chamber doore, desired to speake with him upon notice whereof, I hastened to the Earle of Lauder∣dales Lodgings, and the Earle of Denby with me: Wee found the Souldiers and the Lord Lauderdaile reasoning very calmly together, his Lordship telling them he was a publike person, and they could offer him no affront, but

it would reflect upon the Kingdome of Scotland, and tend to divide the 2. Nations, the Souldiers told him, they found he many times acted as a private person, as when in the painted Chamber he undertooke for all Scotland to engage as one man against the Army, (which as they heard) he had no Commission for from the State of Scot∣land, what they did was in Reference to the Lord Lau∣derdale, and not to the Scottish Nation; and had his Lord∣ship shewed them any Commission, passe, or warrant, testifying his being sent or imployed thither as a publike person from the States of Scotland, or their Commissioners, I conceive it might have satisfied; The Earle of Denbigh endeavoured with all the Reasons and Arguments he could to perswade them to let the Earle of Lauderdale stay, and not meddle with him, and my selfe comman∣ded them some to their Guard, and the rest to be gone: But from commanding, (the discontent being very high) I was inforced for the present, to fall to perswading, I confirmed what the Earle of Denby before had said to them, that it might be construed as an injurie to the State of Scotland, that it would be an offence to the Parli∣ament of England, and added that it was a contemning of the Generalls power, when they would not obey com∣mands, and would expose both themselves, and me to danger, but all in vaine; for indeed that horrid violence so lately done to the Parliament, and the forced flight of the Members of both Houses (whereby that highest Authori∣ty of the Kingdome s••emed to be at a st••••d) 〈…〉〈…〉 both the City and mo•••• parts of the Kingdome into a monstrous ••••in of conf••sion▪ and of distracted and licentious workings, and weakned (for present) the hands of all men in Authority under the Parlia∣ment, so it wanted not its influence of like nature upon the Army and Souldiery throughout the Kingdom, so as Officers could not (at that time) have the like command of their Souldiers, as formerly, nor as now again, since

the Authority of the Parliament hath been vindicated, and both Houses (through Gods blessing) restored to their Honour and Freedom: For my own part as affairs then stood) I am confident the Lord Denbigh will witness it for me: I did my utmost endeavours to have gotten the Souldiers away, I commanded, I perswaded, but nei∣ther commands, nor perswasions wou••d prevail, the soul∣diers being unanimously resolved his Lordship should not stay at Court, nor speak again with the King for that time: And therefore they would not depart till his Lord∣ship was ready and willing to take coach. When I saw I could not exercise my commanding power for the present in that matter, nor by it, nor by perswasion divert them from their Resolutions: I desired them at least to be ci∣vill towards his Lordship which they performed, not gi∣ving his Lordship an ill word, nor laying any hands upon him, Mr. Cheasley his Lordships Secretary likewise secon∣ded me, desiring the Souldiers to be civill, and to give his Lordship leave to say his Prayers, the Souldiers answered with all their hearts, they would joyne with him; but his Lordship told them he had not the gift of prayer, he would not pray publikely, and presently after went quietly to his Coach, the Souldiers attending him.

Thus have I given a true Relation of the demeanour, and Carriage of that towards the Lord Lauderdale at W••bur••••, for the conformation whereof I refer my selfe to the Earle of Denby, who was present all the while, and in testimony▪ of the truth hereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

September 11.1647.

EDWARD WHALLEY.

Vera Copia,

William Clarke.