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Auction: 14035 - Postal History, Autographs and Historical Documents
Lot: 3008

Historical Documents
Sir Thomas Fairfax
1648 (16 November) A remonstrance of this Excellency, Thomas Lord Fairfax, Lord Generall of the Parliaments Forces and of the Generall Councell of Officers Held at St Albans... A complete 71 page publication regarding an important meeting of the senior officers in the Parliamentary Army including Thomas Fairfax, Ireton Oliver Cromwell and others at St Albans. Published by John Partridge & George Whittington at the Blue Anchor, Cornhill in 1648. Size 6" × 7¾. Some peripheral wear and soiling, the pages uncut at top. Photo

The General Council convened in St Albans Abbey on 7 November 1648. After discussion of the petitions and general grievances of the soldiers, Ireton presented the draft of the Army Remonstrance on 10 November. It was initially rejected by Fairfax and the moderate officers but their opposition evaporated after 15 November when the House of Commons voted to allow the King to return to London on completion of the Newport Treaty and to restore his lands and revenues. Fearing that Parliament intended to grant an unconditional restoration, the Army united behind Ireton's Remonstrance. After some last-minute amendments to ensure the support of the Levellers, the Remonstrance was adopted by the General Council on 18 November 1648.
Under the maxim salus populi suprema lex ("the safety of the people is the supreme law"), the Remonstrance proclaimed the sovereignty of the people under a representative government. Divine providence would prove the righteousness or otherwise of the government's actions, and would also thwart unjustified rebellion against authority. Thus, the defeat of King Charles in the Second Civil War vindicated the actions of the Army as the defenders of the people. It was argued that the King should be brought to account because he had broken the sacred covenant with his people and attempted to place himself above the law. This sealed the fate of the King.

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