ity, and that ratified by the king, for any illegal actions
of which, during the course of the war, the soldiers might have been
guilty; together with satisfaction in arrears, freedom from pressing,
relief of widows and maimed soldiers, and pay till disbanded.[*] The
commons, aware of what combustible materials the army was composed,
were alarmed at this intelligence. Such a combination, they knew, if
not checked in its first appearance, must be attended with the most
dangerous consequences, and must soon exalt the military above the civil
authority. Besides summoning some officers to answer for this attempt,
they immediately voted, that the petition tended to introduce mutiny,
to put conditions upon the parliament, and to obstruct the relief of
Ireland; and they threatened to proceed against the promoters of it as
enemies to the state, and disturbers of public peace.[**]

* Parl. Hist. vol. xv. p. 342

** Parl. Hist vol. xv. p. 344.

This declaration, which may be deemed violent, especially as the army
had some ground for complaint, produced fatal effects. The soldiers
lamented, that they were deprived of the privileges of Englishmen; that
they were not allowed so much as to represent their grievances; that,
while petitions from Essex and other places were openly encouraged
against the army, their mouths were stopped; and that they, who were
the authors of liberty to the nation, were reduced, by a faction in
parliament, to the most grievous servitude.

In this disposition was the army found by Warwick, Dacres, Massey, and
other commissioners, who were sent to make them proposals for entering
into the service of Ireland.[*] instead of enlisting, the generality
objected to the terms; demanded an indemnity; were clamorous for their
arrears; and, though they expressed no dissatisfaction against Skippon,
who was appointed commander, they discovered much stronger inclination
to serve under Fairfax and Cromwell.[**] Some officers, who were of the
Presbyterian party, having entered into engagements for this service,
could prevail on very few of the soldiers to enlist under them. And,
as these officers lay all under the grievous reproach of deserting the
army, and betraying the interests of their companions, the rest
were further confirmed in that confederacy which they had secretly
formed.[***]

To petition and remonstrate being the most cautious method of conducting
a confederacy, an application to parliament w