higher concernments to a Public Good, that rather than they will be unrighted in the matter of their honesty and integrity (which hath suffered by the Men they aim at and desire justice upon), or want the settlement of the Kingdom’s Peace, and their “own” and their fellow-subjects’ Liberties,—they will lose all. Which may be a strong assurance to you that it’s not your wealth they seek, but the things tending in common to your and their welfare. That they may attain “these,” you shall do like Fellow-Subjects and Brethren if you solicit the Parliament for them, on their behalf.
‘If after all this, you, or a considerable part of you, be seduced to take up arms in opposition to, or hindrance of, these our just undertakings,—we hope we have, by this brotherly premonition, to the sincerity of which we call God to witness, freed ourselves from all that ruin which may befall that great and populous City; having thereby washed our hands thereof. We rest, your affectionate Friends to serve you,
- ‘Thomas Fairfax.
- Oliver Cromwell.
- Robert Hammond.
- Thomas Hammond.
- Hardress Waller.
- Nathaniel Rich.
- Thomas Pride.
- Henry Ireton.
- Robert Lilburn.
- John Desborow.
- Thomas Rainsborow.
- John Lambert.
- Thomas Harrison.’[1]
This Letter was read next day in the Commons House,[2]— not without emotion. Most respectful answer went from the Guildhall, ‘in three coaches with the due number of outriders.’
On June 16th, the Army, still at St. Albans, accuses of treason Eleven Members of the Commons House by name, as chief authors of all these troubles; whom the Honourable House is respectfully required to put upon their Trial, and prevent from voting in the interim. These are the famed
