undoubted Rights doth oblige Him to insist And when His Majesty shall think fit to make an Admiral as near as He can He shall be such an one against whom no just Exception can be made and if any shall be offered He will readily leave him to the tryal of the Law Falkland The Papers concerning an Oath for Officers March 29. 1643. WE are humbly to desire Your Majesty that all Generals and Commanders in any of the Armies on either side as likewise the Lord Admiral of England the Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports all Commanders of any Ships and Commanders of any Town Castle or Fort may take an Oath to observe the Articles formerly mentioned and to use their utmost power to preserve the true Reformed Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom against all Foreign Forces and all other Forces raised without Your Majesty's Authority and Consent of the two Houses of Parliament Northumberland W. Pierrepont W. Armyne J. Holland B. Whitelocke April 5. 1643. HIS Majesty conceives the Oaths which all those Officers are already by Law obliged to take to be very fully sufficient But if any thing shall be made appear unto Him necessary to be added thereunto when there shall be a full and peaceable Convocation in Parliament His Majesty will readily consent to an Act for such an addition Falkland April 10. 1643. BY Instructions yesterday received from both Houses of Parliament we are commanded humbly to inform Your Majesty that both Houses of Parliament conceive the ordinary Oaths of the Officers mentioned in Your Answer concerning the same are not sufficient to secure them against the extraordinary causes of Jealousie which have been given them in these troublesome times and that Your Majesty's Answer lays some tax upon the Parliament as if defective and thereby uncapable of making such a provisional Law for an Oath Therefore we are humbly to insist upon our former desires for such an Oath as is mentioned in those Papers which we have formerly presented to Your Majesty concerning this matter Northumberland John Holland W. Armyne W. Pierrepont B. Whitelocke April 14. 1643. HIS Majesty did not refuse by His former Answer to consent to any such Oath as shall be thought necessary though He did and doth still conceive the Oaths already settled by Law to be sufficient neither did He ever suppose the Parliament incapable of making a provisional Law for such an Oath but as He would be willing to apply any proper remedy to the extraordinary causes of Jealousies if He could see that there were such causes so He will be always most exact in observing the Articles agreed on in preserving the true Reformed Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom against Foreign Forces and other Forces raised or imployed against Law And when both Houses shall prepare and present such an Oath as they shall make appear to His Majesty to be necessary to those ends His Majesty will readily consent to it Falkland The Papers concerning the Disbanding of the Armies March 28. 1643. His MAJESTY's Answer to the first Proposition of both His Houses of Parliament HIS Majesty is as ready and willing that all Armies be disbanded as any person whatsoever and conceives the best way to it to be a happy and speedy conclusion of the present Treaty which if both Houses will contribute as much to it as His Majesty shall do will be suddenly effected And that this Treaty may the sooner produce that effect His Majesty desires that the time given to the Committee of both Houses to treat may be enlarged And as His Majesty desires nothing more than to be with His two Houses so He will repair thither as soon as He can possibly do it with His Honour and Safety Falkland March 29. 1643. WE are directed by our Instructions humbly to desire Your Majesty's speedy and positive Answer concerning the Disbanding of the Armies to which if Your Majesty be pleased to assent we are then to beseech Your Majesty in the name of both Houses that a near day may be agreed upon for the Disbanding of all the Forces in the remote parts of Yorkshire and the other Northern Counties as also in Lancashire Cheshire and in the Dominion of Wales and in Cornwall and Devonshire and they being fully disbanded another day may be agreed on for the Disbanding of all Forces in Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire and all other places except at Oxford and the Quarters thereunto belonging and Windsor and the Quarters thereunto belonging and that last of all a speedy day may be appointed for the Disbanding of those two Armies at Oxford and Windsor and all the Forces members of either of them That some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet to agree of the manner of the Disbanding and that fit persons may be appointed by Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament who may repair to the several Armies and the see Disbanding put in speedy execution accordingly Northumberland W. Pierrepont J. Holland W. Armyne B. Whitelocke March 29. 1643. COncerning Your Majesty's Answer to the Proposition of both Houses for Disbanding of the Armies We humbly desire to know if by the words By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the present Trevty Your Majesty do intend a Conclusion of the Treaty on Your Majesty's first Proposition and their Proposition for Disbanding the Armies or a Conclusion of the Treaty in all the Propositions of both parts We have given speedy notice to both Houses of Parliament of Your Majesty's desires that the time given to the Committee of both Houses to treat may be enlarged To the last Clause we have no Instructions Northumberland Will. Pierrepont Will. Armyne Joh. Holland B. Whitelocke April 5. 1643. HIS Majesty intended by the words By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the Treaty such a Conclusion of or in the Treaty as there might be a clear evidence to Himself and His good Subjects of a future Peace and no ground left for the continuance or growth of these bloody Dissentions which He doubts not may be obtained if both Houses shall consent that the Treaty may proceed without further interruption or limitation of days Falkland April 5. 1643. WHEN the time for Disbanding the Armies shall be agreed upon His Majesty well approves that some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet to agree of the manner of Disbanding and that fit persons may be appointed by His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament who may repair to the several Armies and see the Disbanding speedily put in execution accordingly Falkland April 6. 1643. WE humbly desire to know if by the words By a happy and speedy conclusion of the present Treaty Your Majesty intends a Conclusion of the present Treaty on Your Majesty's first Proposition and the Proposition of both Houses for Disbanding of the Armies or a Conclusion of the Treaty on all the Propositions of both parts And what Your Majesty intends to be a clear evidence to Your Self and Your good
prevent the Miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole Nation by a Civil War and tho' all Our endeavours tending to the composing of those unhappy Differences betwixt Us and our two Houses of Parliament though pursued by us with all zeal and sincerity have been hitherto without that success We hoped for yet such is Our constant and earnest care to preserve the publick Peace that we shall not be discouraged from using any expedient which by the blessing of the God of Mercy may lay a firm foundation of Peace and Happiness to all Our good Subjects To this end observing that many mistakes have arisen by the Messages Petitions and Answers betwixt Us and Our two Houses of Parliament which happily may be prevented by some other way of Treaty wherein the matters in difference may be more clearly understood and more freely transacted We have thought fit to propound to you that some fit persons may be by you enabled to treat with the like Number to be authorized by Us in such a manner and with such freedom of debate as may best tend to that happy conclusion which all good men desire The peace of the Kingdom wherein as We promise in the word of a King all safety and encouragement to such as shall be sent unto Us if you shall chuse the place where We are for the Treaty which we wholly leave to you presuming on the like care of the safety of those We shall imploy if you shall name another place so We assure you and all Our good Subjects that to the best of Our Understanding nothing shall be therein wanting on Our part which may advance the true Protestant Religion oppose Popery and Superstition secure the Law of the land upon which is built as well Our just Prerogative as the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject confirm all just Power and Priviledges of Parliament and render Us and Our People truly happy by a good understanding betwixt Us and Our two Houses of Parliament Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your Duty and let all Our People joyn with Us in Our Prayers to Almighty God for his blessing upon this Work If this Proposition shall be rejected by you We have done Our duty so amply that God will absolve Us from the guilt of any of that Blood which must be spilt And what opinion soever other men may have of Our Power We assure you nothing but Our Christian and pious care to prevent the effusion of Blood hath begot this motion Our provision of Men Arms and Money being such as may secure Us from further Violence till it please God to open the Eyes of Our People IV. From ...... Sept. 5. MDCXLII In pursuance of the former WE will not repeat what means We have used to prevent the dangerous and distracted Estate of the Kingdom nor how these means have been interpreted because being desirous to avoid effusion of Blood We are willing to decline all memory of former bitterness that might make Our offer of a Treaty less readily accepted We never did declare nor ever intended to declare both Our Houses of Parliament Traytors or set up Our Standard against them and much less to put them and this Kingdom out of Our protection We utterly profess against it before God and the World And further to remove all possible scruples which may hinder the Treaty so much desired by Us We hereby promise so that a day be appointed by you for the revoking of your Declarations against all Persons as Traytors or otherwise for assisting Us We shall with all chearfulness upon the same day recal Our Proclamations and Declarations and take down Our Standard in which Treaty We shall be ready to grant any thing that shall be really for the good of Our Subjects Conjuring you to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland and the dangerous condition of England in as high a degree as by these Our offers We have declared Our Self to do And assuring you that Our chief desire in this World is to beget a good Understanding and mutual Confidence betwixt Us and Our two Houses of Parliament V. From ...... Sept. 11. MDCXLII In Replie to the Answer of both Houses to the former WHO have taken most ways used most endeavours and made most real expressions to prevent the present Distractions and Dangers let all the World judge as well by former passages as Our two last Messages which have been so fruitless that though We have descended to desire and press it not so much as a Treaty can be obtained unless We would denude Our self of all force to defend Us from a visible strength marching against Us and admit those persons accounted as Traytors to Us who according to their Duty their Oaths of Allegiance and the Law have appeared in defence of Us their King and Liege Lord whom We are bound in Conscience and Honour to preserve though We disclaimed all Our Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of Our Standard as against Our Parliament All We have now left in Our power is to express the deep sense We have of the publick Misery of this Kingdom in which is involved that of Our distressed Protestants of Ireland and to apply Our self to Our necessary defence wherein We wholly relie upon the Providence of God the Justice of Our Cause and the Affection of Our good People so far We are from putting them out of Our Protection When you shall desire a Treaty of Us We shall piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel and chearfully embrace it And as no other reason induced Us to leave Our City of London but that with Honour and Safety We could not stay there nor to raise any force but for the necessary defence of Our Person and the Law against Levies in opposition to both so We shall suddenly and most willingly return to the one and disband the other as soon as those causes shall be removed The God of Heaven direct you and in Mercy divert those Judgments which hang over this Nation and so deal with Us and Our Posterity as We desire the preservation and advancement of the true Protestant Religion and the Law and Liberty of the Subject the just Rights of Parliament and the Peace of the Kingdom VI. From BRAINFORD Nov. 12. MDCXLII After the Defeat of the Parliament Forces at EDGE-HILL and at BRAINFORD WHereas the last Night being the eleventh of November after the departure of the Committee of both Our Houses with Our gracious Answer to their Petition We received certain information having till then heard nothing of it either from the Houses Committee or otherwise that the L. of Essex had drawn his Forces out of London towards Us which hath necessitated Our sudden resolution to march with Our Forces to Brainford We have thought hereby fit to signifie to both Our Houses of Parliament that we are no less desirous of the Peace of the Kingdom than We express in Our
We utterly profess against it being most confident of the Loyalty good Affections and Integrity of the intentions of that great Body and knowing well that very many of both Houses were absent and many dissented from all those particulars We complain of But we do believe and accordingly profess to all the world that the Malignity of this Design as dangerous to the Laws of this Kingdom the Peace of the same and the Liberties of all Our good Subjects as to Our Self and Our just Prerogative hath proceeded from the subtle Informations mischievous Practices and evil Counsels of ambitious turbulent Spirits disaffected to God's true Religion and the Unity of the Professors thereof Our Honour and Safety and the publick Peace and Prosperity of Our People not without a strong influence upon the very actions of both Houses But how faulty soever others are We shall with God's assistance endeavour to discharge Our Duty with uprightness of heart and therefore since these Propositions come to Us in the name of both Houses of Parliament We shall take a more particular notice of every of them If the 1 2 3 4 5 9 10 15 16 19. Demands had been writ and printed in a tongue unknown to Us and Our People it might have been possible We and they might have charitably believed the Propositions to be such as might have been in order to the ends pretended in the Petition to wit the establishing of Our Honour and Safety the Welfare and Security of Our Subjects and Dominions and the removing those Jealousies and Differences which are said to have unhappily fallen betwixt Vs and Our People and procuring both Vs and them a constant course of Honour Peace and Happinss But being read and understood by all We cannot but assure Our Self that this Profession joyned to these Propositions will rather appear a Mockery and a Scorn the Demands being such as We were unworthy of the Trust reposed in Us by the Law and of Our Descent from so many great and famous Ancestours if We could be brought to abandon that Power which only can inable Us to perform what We are sworn to in protecting Our People and the Laws and so assume others into it as to devest Our Self of it although not only Our present Condition which it can hardly be were more necessitous then it is and We were both vanquish'd and a Prisoner and in a worse condition then ever the most unfortunate of Our Predecessours have been reduced to by the most criminal of their Subjects and though the Bait laid to draw Us to it and to keep Our Subjects from indignation at the mention of it the promises of a plentiful and unparallel'd Revenue were reduced from generals which signifie nothing to clear and certain particulars since such a Bargain would have but too great a resemblance of that of Esau's if We should part with such Flowers of Our Crown as are worth all the rest of the Garland and have been transmitted to us from so many Ancestours and have been found so useful and necessary for the Welfare and Security of Our Subjects for any present Necessity or for any low and sordid considerations of Wealth and Gain And therefore all men knowing that those Accommodations are most easily made and most exactly observed that are grounded upon reasonable and equal Conditions We have great cause to believe that the Contrivers of these had no intention of setling any firm Accommodation but to increase those Jealousies and widen that Division which not by Our fault is now unhappily fallen between Us and both Houses It is asked That all the Lords and others of Our Privy Council and such We know now what you mean by such but We have cause to think you mean all great Officers and Ministers of State either at home or beyond the Seas For care is taken to leave out no Person or Place that Our Dishonour may be sure not to be bounded within this Kingdom though no subtle Insinuations at such a distance can probably be believed to have been the cause of our Distractions and Dangers should be put from our Privy Council and from those Offices and imployments unless they be approved by both Houses of Parliament how faithful soever We have found them to Us and the publick and how far soever they have been from offending against any Law the only rule they had or any others ought to have to walk by We therefore to this part of this Demand return you this Answer That We are willing to grant that they shall take a larger Oath then you your selves desire in your Eleventh Demand for maintaining not of any part but of the whole Law and We have and do assure you That We will be careful to make election of such Persons in those places of trust as shall have given good testimonies of their abilities and integrities and against whom there can be no just cause of exception whereon reasonably to ground a diffidence That if We have or shall be mistaken in Our election We have and do assure you that there is no man so near to Us in place or affection whom we will not leave to the Justice of the Law if you shall bring a particular charge and sufficient proofs against him and that We have given you the best pledge of the effects of such a promise on Our part and the best security for the performance of their duty on theirs a Triennial Parliament the apprehension of whose Justice will in all probability make them wary how they provoke it and Us wary how We chuse such as by the discovery of their faults may in any degree seem to discredit Our Election But that without any shadow of a Fault objected only perhaps because they follow their Conscience and preserve the established Laws and agree not in such Votes or assent not to such Bills as some persons who have now too great an Influence even upon both Houses judge or seem to judge to be for the publick good and as are agreeable to that new Vtopia of Religion and Government into which they endeavour to transform this Kingdom for We remember what names and for what Reasons you left out in the Bill offered Us concerning the Militia which you had your selves recommended in the Ordinance We will never consent to the displacing of any whom for their former Merits from and Affection to Us and the publick We have intrusted since We conceive that to do so would take away both from the affection of Our Servants the care of Our Service and the Honour of Our Justice And We the more wonder that it should be ask'd by you of Us since it appears by the Twelfth Demand That your selves count it reasonable after the present turn is served that the Judges and Officers who are then placed may hold their places quamdiu se bene gesserint And We are resolved to be as careful of those We have chosen as you are of those you would
chuse and to remove none till they appear to Us to have otherwise behaved themselves or shall be evicted by Legal proceedings to have done so But this Demand as unreasonable as it is is but one link of a great Chain and but the first round of that Ladder by which Our Just Ancient Regal Power is endeavoured to be fetched down to the ground For it appears plainly that it is not with the Persons now chosen but with Our chusing that you are displeased For you demand That the persons put in the places and imployments of those who shall be removed may be approved by both Houses which is so far as to some it may at the first sight appear from being less then the power of nomination that of two things of which We will never grant either We would sooner be content that you should nominate and We approve than you approve and we nominate the meer nomination being so far from being any thing that if We could do no more We would never take the pains to do that when We should only hazard those whom We esteemed to the scorn of a refusal if they happened not to be agreeable not only to the Judgment but to the Passion Interest or Humour of the present major part of either House Not to speak now of the great factions animosities and divisions which this power would introduce in both Houses between both Houses and in the several Countries for the choice of persons to be sent to that place where that power was and between the persons that were so chosen Neither is this strange Potion prescribed to Us only for once for the cure of a present pressing desperate disease but for a Diet to Us and Our Postetity It is demanded That Our Counsellors all Chief Officers both of Law and State Commanders of Forts and Castles and all Peers hereafter made as to voting without which how little is the rest be approved of that is chosen by them from time to time and rather then it should ever be left to the Crown to whom it onely doth and shall belong if any place fall void in the intermission of Parliament the major part of the approved Council is to approve them Neither is it only demanded that We should quit the Power and Right our Predecessors have had of appointing Persons in these places but for Counsellors We are to be restrained as well in the Number as in the Persons and a power must be annext to these places which their Predecessors had not And indeed if this power were past to them it were not fit We should be trusted to chuse those who were to be trusted as much as We. It is demanded That such matters as concern the publick and are proper for the High Court of Parliament Which is Our Great and Supreme Council may be debated resolved and transacted only in Parliament and not elsewhere and such as presume to do any thing to the contrary shall be reserved to the Censure and Judgment of the Parliament and such other matters of State as are proper for Our Privy Council shall be debated and concluded by such of Our Nobility though indeed if being made by Us they may not vote without the Consent of both Houses We are rather to call them your Nobility and others as shall be from time to time chosen for that place by approbation of both Houses of Parliament and that no publick Act concerning the affairs of the Kingdom which are proper for Our Privy Council may be esteemed of any validity as proceeding from the Royal Authority unless it be done by the Advice and Consent of the major part of Our Council attested under their hands Which Demands are of that nature that to grant them were in effect at once to depose both Our Self and Our Posterity These being past We may be waited on bare-headed We may have our hand kist the style of Majesty continued to Us and the Kings Authority declared by both Houses of Parliament may be still the style of your Commands We may have Swords and Maces carried before Us and please Our Self with the sight of a Crown and Scepter and yet even these Twigs would not long flourish when the Stock upon which they grew were dead but as to true and real Power We should remain but the outside but the Picture but the Sign of a King We were ever willing that Our Parliament should debate resolve and transact such matters as are proper for them as far as they are proper for them and We heartily wish that they would be as careful not to extend their Debates and Resolutions beyond what is proper to them that multitudes of things punishable and Causes determinable by the ordinary Judicatures may not be entertained in Parliament and so cause a long chargeable fruitless attendance of Our People and by degrees draw to you as well all the Causes as all the faults of Westminster-Hall and divert your proper Business That the course of Law be no ways diverted much less disturbed as was actually done by the stop of the proceedings against a Riot in Southwark by Order of the House of Commons in a time so riotous and tumultuous as much increased the danger of Popular Insolencies by such a countenance to Riots and discountenance of Law That you descend not to the leisure of recommending Lecturers to Churches nor ascend to the Legislative Power by commanding the Law not having yet commanded it that they whom you recommend be received although neither the Parson nor Bishop do approve of them and that the Refusers according to the course so much formerly complained of to have been used at the Council Table be not sent for to attend to shew cause at least that you would consider Conveniency if not Law and recommend none but who are well known to you to be Orthodox Learned and Moderate or at least such as have taken Orders and are not notorious depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer a care which appeareth by the Discourses Sermons and Persons of some recommended by you not to have been hitherto taken and it highly concerns both you in duty and the Commonwealth in the consequences that it should have been taken That neither one Estate transact what is proper for two nor two what is proper for three and consequently that contrary to Our declared will Our Forts may not be seized Our Arms may not be removed Our Moneys may not be stop'd Our legal Directions may not be countermanded by you nor We desired to countermand them Our Self nor such entrances made upon a real War against Us upon pretence of an imaginary War against you and a Chimoera of Necessity So far do you pass beyond your limits whilst you seem by your Demand to be strangely streightned within them At least we could have wish'd you would have expressed what matters you meant as fit to be transacted only in Parliament and what you meant by only in Parliament You
the eighteenth day of June in the eighteenth year of Our Reign 1642. Votes of the Lower House for raising an Army against the KING Die Martis 12 Julii 1642. Resolved upon the Question THAT an Army shall be forthwith raised for the Safety of the King's Person defence of both Houses of Parliament and of those who have obeyed their Orders and Commands and preserving of the true Religion the Laws Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom Resolved upon the Question That the Earl of Essex shall be the General Resolved upon the Question That this House doth declare that in this Cause for the Safety of the King's Person defence of both Houses of Parliament and of those who have obeyed their Orders and Commands and preserving of the true Religion the Laws Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom they will live and die with the Earl of Essex whom they have nominated General in this Cause MDCXLII Aug. 8. A Declaration of the Lords and Commons for raising of Forces against the KING Together with His MAJESTY'S Declaration in Answer to the same A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the raising of all Power and Force as well Trained Bands as others in several Counties of this Kingdom to lead against all Traitors and their Adherents and them to Arrest and Imprison and to Fight with Kill and Slay all such as shall oppose any of His Majesty's loving Subjects that shall be imployed in this Service by either or both Houses of Parliament WHereas certain Information is given from several parts of the Kingdom That divers Troops of Horse are imployed in sundry Counties of the Kingdom and that others have Commission to raise both Horse and Foot to compel His Majesty's Subjects to submit to the Illegal commission of Array out of a Traiterous intent to subvert the Liberty of the Subject and the Law of the Kingdom and for the better strengthening themselves in this wicked attempt do joyn with the Popish and Jesuitical Faction to put the Kingdom into a Combustion and Civil War by levying Forces against the Parliament and by these Forces to alter the Religion and the Antient Government and lawful Liberty of the Kingdom and to introduce Popery and Idolatry together with an Arbitrary Form of Government and in pursuance thereof have Traitorously and Rebelliously levied War against the King and by force robb'd spoil'd and slain divers of His Majesty's good Subjects travelling about their lawful and necessary occasions in the King's Protection according to Law and namely that for the end and purpose aforesaid the Earl of Northampton the Lord Dunsmore Lord Willoughby of Eresby Son to the Earl of Lindsey Henry Hastings Esquire and divers other unknown persons in the Counties of Lincoln Nottingham Leicester Warwick Oxford and other places the Marquess of Hartford the Lord Paulet Lord Seymour Sir John Stawel Sir Ralph Hopton John Digby Esquire and other their Accomplices have gotten together great Forces in the County of Somerset The Lords and Commons in Parliament duly considering the great Dangers which may ensue upon such their wicked and traitorous Designs and if by this means the Power of the Sword should come into the hands of Papists and their Adherents nothing can be expected but the miserable ruine and desolation of the Kingdom and the bloody massacre of the Protestants they do Declare and Ordain That it is and shall be lawful for all His Majesty's loving Subjects by force of Arms to resist the said several Parties and their Accomplices and all other that shall raise or conduct any other Forces for the ends aforesaid and that the Earl of Essex Lord General with all his Forces raised by the Authority of Parliament as likewise the Lord Say Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Earl of Peterborough Lieutenant of Northamptonshire Lord Wharton Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire Earl of Stamford Lieutenant of Leicestershire Earl of Pembroke Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Hampshire Earl of Bedford Lieutenant of Somersetshire and Devon Lord Brook Lieutenant of Warwickshire the Lord Cranborne Lieutenant of Dorsetshire the Lord Willoughby of Parham Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and all those who are or shall be appointed by Ordinance of both Houses to perform the place of Deputy-Lieutenants and their Deputy-Lieutenants respectively Denzil Hollis Esquire Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol and the Mayors and Sheriffs of the City and Deputy-Lieutenants there and all other Lieutenants of Counties Sheriffs Mayors Deputy-Lieutenants shall raise all their Power and Forces of their several Counties as well Trained Bands as others and shall have power to conduct and lead the said Forces of the said Counties against the said Traitors and their Adherents and with them to fight kill and slay all such as by force shall oppose them and the Persons of the said Traitors and their Adherents and Accomplices to Arrest and Imprison and them to bring up to the Parliament to answer these their Traiterous and Rebellious Attempts according to Law and the same or any other Forces to transport and conduct from one County to another in aid and assistance one of another and of all others that shall joyn with the Lords and Commons in Parliament for the defence of the Religion of Almighty God and of the Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom and in pursuit of those wicked and Rebellious Traitors the Conspirators Aiders and Abettors and Adherents requiring all Lieutenants of Counties Sheriffs Mayors Justices of Peace and other His Majesty's Officers and loving Subjects to be aiding and assisting to one another in the Execution hereof And for so doing all the parties above-mentioned and all others that shall joyn with them shall be justified defended and secured by the Power and Authority of Parliament Die Lunae Aug. 8. 1642. Ordered that this Declaration be forthwith Printed and Published Hen. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com. His MAJESTY's Declaration in Answer to a Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the raising of all Power and Force as well Trained Bands c. AS much experience as We have had of the inveterate Rancour and high Insolence of the Malignant Party against Us We never yet saw any expression come from them so evidently declaring it as the Declaration entituled A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the raising of all Power and Force as well Trained Bands as others in several Counties of this Kingdom to lead against all Traitors and their Adherents c. In which that Faction hath as it were distilled and contracted all their Falshood Insolence and Malice there being in it not one period which is not either Slanderous or Treasonable And nothing can more grieve Us than that by their infinite Arts and Subtilty employed by their perpetual and indefatigable Industry and by that Rabble of Brownists and other Schismaticks declaredly ready to appear at their Call they should have been able so to draw away some and drive away others of Our good Subjects from Our
judge as well by former Passages as by Our two last Messages which have been so fruitless that though We have descended to desire and press it not so much as a Treaty can be obtained unless We would denude Our Self of all force to defend Vs from a visible strength marching against Vs and admit those Persons as Traitors to Vs who according to their Duty their Oaths of Allegiance and the Law have appeared in defence of Vs their King and Liege Lord whom We are bound in Conscience and Honour to preserve though We disclaimed all our Proclamations and Declarations and the erecting of Our Standard as against Our Parliament All We have now left in Our Power is to express the deep sense We have of the publick Misery of this Kingdom in which is involved that of Our distressed Protestants of Ireland and to apply Our Self to Our necessary Defence wherein We wholly rely upon the Providence of God the Justice of Our Cause and the Affection of Our good People so far We are from putting them out of Our Protection When you shall desire a Treaty of Vs We shall piously remember whose blood is to be spilt in this Quarrel and chearfully embrace it And as no other Reason induced Vs to leave Our City of London but that with Honour and Safety We could not stay there nor raise any Force but for the necessary defence of Our Person and the Law against Levies in opposition to both so We shall suddenly and most willingly return to the one and disband the other as soon as those causes shall be removed The God of Heaven direct you and in mercy divert those Judgments which hang over this Nation and so deal with Vs and Our Posterity as We desire the Preservation and Advancement of the true Protestant Religion the Laws and the Liberty of the Subject the just Rights of Parliament and the Peace of the Kingdom But as if all these gracious Messages had been the effects only of Our Weakness and instances of Our want of Power to resist that torrent they deal at last more plainly with Us and after many sharp causeless and unjust Reproaches they tell Us in plain English that without putting Our Self absolutely into their hands and deserting all Our own Force and the Protection of all those who have faithfully appeared for Us according to their Duty there would be no means of a Treaty although Our extraordinary desire of Peace had prevailed with Us to offer to recall Our most just Declarations and to take down Our Standard set up for Our necessary defence so their unjustifiable Declarations might be likewise recalled Their Answer follows in these words WE the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do present this our humble Answer to Your Majesty's Message of the 11th of this instant Month of September When we consider the Oppressions Rapines Firing of Houses Murthers even at this time whilst Your Majesty propounds a Treaty committed upon Your good Subjects by Your Soldiers in the presence and by the Authority of their Commanders being of the number of those whom Your Majesty holds Your self bound in Honour and Conscience to protect as Persons doing their Duties We cannot think Your Majesty hath done all that in You lies to prevent or remove the present Distractions nor so long as Your Majesty will admit no Peace without securing the Authors and Instruments of these Mischiefs from the Justice of the Parliament which yet shall be ever dispens'd with all requisite Moderation and distinction of Offences although some of those Persons be such in whose Preservation Your Kingdom cannot be safe nor the unquestionable Rights and Priviledges of Parliament be maintain'd without which the Power and Dignity thereof will fall into contempt We beseech Your Majesty therefore to consider Your Expressions That God should deal with You and Your Posterity as Your Majesty desires the Preservation of the just Rights of Parliament which being undeniable in the Trying of such as we have declared to be Delinquents we shall believe Your Majesty both towards Your self and Parliament will not in this Priviledge we are most sensible of deny us that which belongs unto the meanest Court of Justice in this Kingdom Neither hath Your Majesty cause to complain that You are denied a Treaty when we offer all that a Treaty can produce or Your Majesty expect Security Honour Service Obedience Support and all other effects of an Humble Loyal and Faithful Subjection and seek nothing but that our Religion Liberty Peace of the Kingdom Safety of the Parliament may be secured from the open Violence and cunning Practices of a wicked party who have long plotted our ruin and destruction And if there were any Cause of Treaty we know no competent Persons to Treat betwixt the King and Parliament and if both Cause and Persons were such as to invite Treaty the Season is altogether unfit whilst Your Majesty's Standard is up and Your Proclamations and Declarations unrecalled whereby Your Parliament is charged with Treason If Your Majesty shall persist to make Your self a shield and defence to those Instruments and shall continue to reject our faithful and necessary Advice for securing and maintaining Religion and Liberty with the Peace of the Kingdom and Safety of the Parliament we doubt not but to indifferent judgments it will easily appear who is most tender of that Innocent Blood which is like to be spilt in this Cause Your Majesty who by such persisting doth endanger Your self and Your Kingdoms or we who are willing to hazard our selves to preserve both We humbly beseech Your Majesty to consider how impossible it is that any Protestation though published in Your Majesty's name of Your tenderness of the Miseries of Your Protestant Subjects in Ireland of Your Resolution to maintain the Protestant Religion and Laws of this Kingdom can give satisfaction to reasonable and indifferent men when at the same time divers of the Irish Traitors and Rebels the known Favourers of them and Agents for them are admitted to Your Majesty's presence with Grace and Favour and some of them imployed in Your service when the Cloaths Munition Horses and other Necessaries bought by your Parliament and sent for the supply of the Army against the Rebels there are violently taken away some by Your Majesty's Command others by Your Ministers and applied to the maintenance of an unnatural War against Your People here All this notwithstanding as we never gave Your Majesty any just cause of withdrawing Your self from Your great Council so it hath ever been and shall ever be far from us to give any impediment to Your Return or to neglect any proper means of curing the Distempers of the Kingdom and closing the dangerous Breaches betwixt Your Majesty and Your Parliament according to the great Trust which lies upon us and if Your Majesty shall now be pleased to come back to Your Parliament without Your Forces we shall be ready to secure Your Royal Person
the desire of both Houses of His Majesty's coming to His Parliament which they have often exprest with as full offers of security to His Royal Person as was agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance and they know no cause why His Majesty may not repair hither with Honour and Safety but they did not insert it into your Instructions because they conceived the Disbanding of the Armies would have facilitated His Majesty's Resolution therein which they likewise conceived was agreeable to His Majesty's Sense who in declaring His Consent to the Order of the Treaty did only mention that part of the first Proposition which concerned the Disbanding and did omit that which concerned His coming to the Parliament Oath of Officers They conceive the ordinary Oaths of the Officers mentioned are not sufficient to secure them against the extraordinary causes of Jealousie which have been given them in these troublesome times and that His Majesty's Answer lays some tax upon the Parliament as if defective and thereby uncapable of making such a Provisional Law for an Oath therefore you shall still insist upon their former desires of such an Oath as is mentioned in your Instructions If you shall not have received His Majesty's positive Answer to the humble desire of both Houses in these two first Propositions according as they are exprest in your Instructions before the twenty days limited for the Treaty shall be expired you shall then with convenient speed repair to the Parliament without expecting any further direction Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum CHARLES REX TO shew to the whole World how earnestly His Majesty longs for Peace and that no Success shall make Him desire the continuance of His Army to any other end or for any longer time than that and until things may be so settled as that the Law may have a full free and uninterrupted course for the defence and preservation of the Rights of His Majesty both Houses and His good Subjects 1. As soon as His Majesty is satisfied in His first Proposition concerning His own Revenue Magazines Ships and Forts in which He desires nothing but that the just known Legal Rights of His Majesty devolved to Him from His Progenitors and of the Persons trusted by Him which have violently been taken from both be restored unto Him and unto them unless any just and legal exceptions against any of the Persons trusted by Him which are yet unknown to His Majesty can be made appear to Him 2. As soon as all the Members of both Houses shall be restored to the same capacity of sitting and voting in Parliament as they had upon the first of January 1641. the same of right belonging unto them by their birth-rights and the free election of those that sent them and having been voted from them for adhering to His Majesty in these Distractions His Majesty not intending that this should extend either to the Bishops whose Votes have been taken away by Bill or to such in whose places upon new Writs new Elections have been made 3. As soon as His Majesty and both Houses may be secured from such tumultuous assemblies as to the great breach of the Priviledges and the high dishonour of Parliaments have formerly assembled about both Houses and awed the Members of the same and occasioned two several complaints from the Lords House and two several desires of that House to the House of Commons to joyn in a Declaration against them the complying with which desire might have prevented all these miserable Distractions which have ensued which security His Majesty conceives can be only settled by adjourning the Parliament to some other place at the least twenty miles from London the choice of which His Majesty leaves to both Houses His Majesty will most chearfully and readily consent that both Armies be immediately disbanded and give a present meeting to both His Houses of Parliament at the time and place at and to which the Parliament shall be agreed to be adjourned His Majesty being most confident that the Law will then recover the due credit and estimation and that upon a free debate in a full and peaceable convention of Parliament such provisions will be made against seditious Preaching and Printing against His Majesty and the established Laws which hath been one of the chief causes of the present Distractions and such care will be taken concerning the legal and known Rights of His Majesty and the Property and Liberty of His Subjects that whatsoever hath been publisht or done in or by colour of any illegal Declaration Ordinance or Order of one or both Houses or any Committee of either of them and particularly the power to raise Arms without His Majesty's Consent will be in such manner recalled disclaimed and provided against that no seed will remain for the like to spring out of for the future to disturb the Peace of the Kingdom and to endanger the very Being of it And in such a Convention His Majesty is resolved by His readiness to consent to whatsoever shall be proposed to Him by Bill for the real good of His Subjects and particularly for the better discovery and speedier conviction of Recusants for the education of the Children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion for the prevention of practices of Papists against the State and the due execution of the Laws and true levying of the Penalties against them to make known to all the World how causless those Fears and Jealousies have been which have been raised against Him and by that so distracted this miserable Kingdom And if this Offer of His Majesty be not consented to in which He asks nothing for which there is not apparent Justice on His side and in which He defers many things highly concerning both Himself and People till a full and peaceable convention of Parliament which in Justice He might now require His Majesty is confident that it will then appear to all the World not only who is most desirous of Peace and whose default it is that both Armies are not now disbanded but who hath been the true and first cause that this Peace was ever interrupted or these Armies raised and the beginning or continuance of the War and the destruction and desolation of this poor Kingdom which is too likely to ensue will not by the most interessed passionate or prejudicate person be imputed to His Majesty His MAJESTY's Questions before the Treaty and the Committees Answers March 25. 1643. Mis MAJESTY desires to be answered these Questions in writing by the Committee of both Houses 1. WHether they may not shew unto Him those Instructions according to which they are to Treat and Debate with His Majesty upon the two first Propositions of which the last Message from both Houses takes notice and refers unto 2. Whether they have power to pass from one Proposition to the other in the Debate before His Majesty have exprest His mind concerning the Proposition first entred into 3. Whether they have power
Prince RUPERT to the Earl of Northampton Oxford 3. June 1643. THough His Majesty be assured it cannot but be of great Advantage to Him to have such an occasion as is now given Him by the late Declaration of both Houses to shew to all His good People who it is that is really in fault that the last Treaty so much desired by His Majesty and only begun upon His Desire broke off so abruptly as He doubts not to do if those who govern in the remaining part of both Houses have but so much ingenuity left as to suffer what He says to be equally freely published to His People yet His Majesty cannot without great grief of Soul see that Treaty which He hoped and expected should have begot the settled Peace and Happiness of His Subjects in stead thereof beget nothing but Disputes and Declarations yet it will be some Cordial to Him when He shall be forced to see the Desolation of this Kingdom and the Misery of His People that not only it is not He that hath made that Desolate and them Miserable but that He is able to demonstrate to all the World that He hath used His utmost and most earnest endeavours to prevent it as will appear at large by the following state of the Case After that the Conspiracy of some Persons against the present establisht Government both Ecclesiastical and Civil had made means to infuse into part of the People by publishing unheard-of Declarations obtain'd and past in a new and unheard-of manner sometimes but by eleven Voices after seventeen hours sitting and that but in one House strange Fears and Jealousies of the other House and of His Majesty and by them given the Rise to those insufferable Tumults and Seditious unparliamentary Petitions at once to and against the Lords which they afterwards avowed publickly to protect and encourage and forced the Lords House by fearing them to seem to fear with them and to joyn with them first in requiring and next in forcing no less security for those Fears from His Majesty who was then in condition to have most real Cause of Fear Himself than almost all that Power which the Law had trusted to Him for the security of the Crown and the Protection of His People after that His Majesty and most of the Members were forced away from the Parliament and that His share in making new Laws was denyed to Him in any case in which they would pretend Necessity and every Subject that would not submit to any new extravagant extemporary legislative Declaration or Order of one or both Houses against the antient known Law of the Land was become sent for up and imprisoned as a Delinquent and whosoever would assist them against the known Law was not only-protected by them in that but in any other Case although they were of them who had been most apparently active in those former Pressures upon the People which they now afresh impute to His Majesty so that to be of their side was now become a known Sanctuary after that nothing was left undone or unsaid that might render His Majesty both weak and odious and that all that He could say or do to clear Himself was either supprest or interpreted in a contrary and impossible sense so that His very offer to venture His Royal Person against the Irish Rebels was voted to be an Encouragement to that Rebellion after that from declaring of Law they came to declaring of Thoughts and forgetting that the Hearts of Kings are inscrutable presumed to dive into His and without Apparence and contrary to Truth had declared that He meant to make War upon His Parliament and made that Declaration a ground to levy a real War against Him and then made that War a ground to begin to make War upon His People forcing away the Arms and Money of all such as they pleased to suspect of the Crimes of Allegiance and Loyalty after that they had so far exprest and discovered the true end of all these Actions as to propose the total Change of the present Government both Ecclesiastical and Civil in the Nineteen Propositions as the only way to Peace and that His Majesty might by all this have been sufficiently perswaded that it was impossible for Him to obtain Peace from them but either by Submission or by the Sword yet after all this His Majesty was so averse to the latter Course as to descend to so great a degree of the former as from Nottingham to propose to and desire from them a Treaty for Peace and being there twice openly and absolutely refused it yet did then declare that He would notwithstanding be ready to receive it whensoever they would propose it And to shew that these Offers proceeded not from His Condition but from His Inclination after His Victory at Edge-hill and after that the Earl of Essex had so far forgot his Errand as to return to London alone in stead of bringing up His Majesty and those His good Subjects whom they call'd Delinquents His Answer at Colebrook will shew to all the World that He was still of the same mind as when He sent His Messages from Nottingham and His Message so carefully sent from Colebrook to prevent all mis-construction of that march of His which they had necessitated to Brainceford and His pressing still that a Treaty might go on in that and several other Messages all slighted and neglected shewed sufficiently who really was desirous of and who were averse to Peace But when the Petition of so many Citizens that a Treaty might be accepted finding so little countenance or acceptance from the House of Commons and the Injuries and Imprisonments which the Petitioners suffered for it from Alderman Pennington and others finding so much countenance from them did so far begin to open the eyes of the People that the Aversion to Peace began to be imputed to them who were truly guilty and that they found this Discovery made men generally unwilling to part with their money to make themselves miserable and that again encouraged many of the Members to appear for Peace too and that consequently their too open and avowed desire of War would but render them unable to continue it they thought it necessary to make some Propositions which might deceive the People so far as to make them believe they desired Peace and yet resolved to make them so unreasonable as they might notwithstanding be sure to be out of all danger of effecting Peace by them and sent those down to His Majesty Which though they pretend now to be such as no indifferent man will find any thing contained in them but what was necessary for the maintenance and advancement of the true Protestant Religion the due execution of Justice the Preservation of the Liberty and Property of the Subject and the establishment of the Kingdoms Peace and Safety yet His Majesty is confident that even those who are not very indifferent are yet able to see that no
We are to receive Advice for the Preservation of the Religion Laws and Safety of the Kingdom and as far as in Us lyes to restore it to its former Peace and Security Our chief and only end from those whom they have trusted though We cannot receive it in the place where We appointed And for the better encouragement of those Members of either House to resort to Us who may be conscious to themselves of having justly incurred Our Displeasure by submitting to or concurring in unlawful Actions and that all the World may see how willing and desirous We are to forget the Injuries and Indignities offered to Us and by an Union of English Hearts to prevent the lasting Miseries which this Foreign Invasion must bring upon this Kingdom We do offer a free and General Pardon to all the Members of either House who shall at or before the said twenty second day of January appear at Our City of Oxford and desire the same without Exceptions which considering the manifest Treasons committed against Us and the Condition We are now in improved by God's wonderful blessing to a better degree than We have enjoyed at any time since these Distractions is the greatest instance of Princely and Fatherly Care of Our People that can be expressed and which malice it self cannot suggest to proceed from any other Ground And therefore We hope and are confident that all such who upon this our gracious Invitation will not return to their Duty and Allegiance shall be no more thought Promoters of the Religion laws and liberty of the Kingdom which this way may be without doubt setled and secured but Persons engaged from the beginning out of their own Pride Malice and Ambition to bring Confusion and Desolation upon their Country and to that purpose having long since contrived the Design to invite and joyn with a Foreign Nation to ruine and extinguish their own and shall accordingly be pursued as the most desperate and malicious Enemies of the Kingdom And Our pleasure is That this Our Proclamation be read in all Churches and Chapels within this Our Kingdom and Dominion of Wales Given at Our Court at Oxford the two and twentieth day of December in the Nineteenth year of Our Reign 1643. God Save the KING MDCXLIII IV. A Letter from the Lords at Oxford and other Lords whose Names are subscribed to the Lords of the Privy-Council and the Conservators of the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland Our very good Lords IF for no other Reason yet that Posterity may know we have done our Duties and not sate still while our Brethren of Scotland were transported with a dangerous and fatal mis-understanding that the Resolution now taken among them for an Expedition into England is agreeable to their obligation by the late Treaty and to the Wishes and Desires of this Kingdom expressed by the two Houses of Parliament we have thought it necessary to let your Lordships know That if we had dissented from that Act it could never have been made a Law And when you have examined and considered the Names of us who subscribe this Letter who we hope are too well known to your Lordships and to both Kingdoms to be suspected to want Affection to Religion or to the Laws and Liberties of our Country for the Defence and maintenance of which we shall always hold our Lives a cheap Sacrifice and when you are informed that the Earls of Arundel and Thanet and the Lords Stafford Stanhope Coventry Goring and Craven are in the parts beyond the Seas and the Earl of Chesterfield Westmorland and the Lord Mountague of Boughton under restraint at London for their Loyalty and Duty to His Majesty and the Kingdom your Lordships will easily conclude how very few now make up the Peers at Westminster there being in truth not above five and twenty Lords present or privy to those Councils or being absent consenting or concurring with them whereas the House of Peers consist of above one hundred besides Minors and Recusant Lords neither of which keep us company in this Address to your Lordships How we and the major part of the House of Commons come to be absent from thence is so notorious to all the World that we believe your Lordships cannot be strangers to it How several times during our sitting there Multitudes of the meanest sort of People with weapons not agreeing with their condition or custom in a manner very contrary and destructive to the privilege of Parliament fill'd up the way between both Houses offering Injuries both by words and actions to and laying violent hands upon several Members and crying out many Hours together against the established Laws in a most tumultuous and menacing way How no remedy would be submitted to for preventing those Tumults After which and other unlawful and unparliamentary Actions many things rejected and setled upon solemn debate in the House of Peers were again after many Threats and Menaces resumed altered and determined contrary to the Custom and Laws of Parliaments and so many of us withdrew ourselves from thence where we could not Sit Speak and Vote with Honour Freedom and Safety and are now kept from thence for our Duty and Loyalty to our Sovereign And we must therefore protest against any Invitation which hath been made to our Brethren of Scotland to enter this Kingdom with an Army the same being as much against the Desires as against the Duty of the Lords and Commons of England And we do conjure your Lordships by our common Allegiance and Subjection under one gracious Sovereign by the Amity and Affection between the two Nations by the Treaty of Pacification which by any such Act is absolutely dissolved and by all Obligations both Divine and Humane which can preserve Peace upon earth to use your utmost endeavours to prevent the effusion of so much Christian blood and the Confusion and Desolation which must follow the unjust Invasions of this Kingdom which we and we are confident all true English men must interpret as a Design of Conquest and to impose new Laws upon us And therefore your Lordships may be assured we shall not so far forget our own Interests and the Honour of our Nation as not to expose our Lives and Fortunes in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom But if your Lordships in truth have any doubts or apprehensions that there now is or hereafter may be a purpose to infringe your Laws or Liberties from any Attempt of this Kingdom we do engage our Honours to your Lordships to be our selves most religious observers of the Act of Pacification and if the Breach and violation do not first begin within that Kingdom we are most confident you shall never have cause to complain of this And having thus far expressed Our selves to your Lordships we hope to receive such an Answer from you as may be a means to preserve a right understanding between the two Nations and lay an Obligation upon us to continue Your Lordships
approbation and consent of the Presbyters or the major part of them That competent maintenance and provision be established by Act of Parliament to such Vicarages as belong to Bishops Deans and Chapters out of the Impropriations and according to the value of those Impropriations of the several Parishes That for the time to come no Man shall be capable of two Parsonages or Vicarages with Cure of Souls That towards the settling of the publick Peace one hundred thousand pounds shall be raised by Act of Parliament out of the Estates of Bishops Deans and Chapters in such manner as shall be thought fit by the King and two Houses of Parliament without the Alienation of any of the said Lands That the Jurisdiction in Causes Testamentary Decimal Matrimonial be settled in such manner as shall seem most convenient by the King and two Houses of Parliament And likewise that one or more Acts of Parliament be passed for regulating of Visitations and against immoderate Fees in Ecclesiastical Courts and the abuses by frivolous Excommunications and all other abuses in the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in such manner as shall be agreed upon by His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament And if your Lordships shall insist upon any other thing which your Lordships shall think necessary for Reformation we shall very willingly apply our selves to the consideration thereof 13. February FOR the confirmation of the Ordinances concerning the Calling and Sitting of the Assembly of Divines and the taking the Covenant we conceive neither of them need be insisted on if the alterations of Church-Government be agreed upon between us and if they be not it will not be reasonable that we consent to those Ordinances And for the Covenant we cannot advise His Majesty to swear and sign the same nor consent that an Act of Parliament should pass for enjoyning the taking thereof by His Majesty's Subjects 13. February VVE do not yet conceive that the Directory for publick Worship delivered to us by your Lordships ought to be enacted or that it is so likely to procure and preserve the Peace of this Kingdom as the Liturgy or Common-Prayer-Book already established by Law against which we have not yet received from your Lordships any Objections which Liturgy as the same was compiled by many Learned and Reverend Divines of whom some dyed Martyrs for the Protestant Religion we conceive to be an Excellent Form for the Worship of God and hath been generally so held throughout this Kingdom till within these two or three years at the most And therefore since there are no Inconveniences pretended to arise from the Book of Common-Prayer to which we conceive the Directory is not more liable and since there is nothing commendable in the Directory which is not already in the Book of Common-Prayer we conceive it much better and more conducing to the Peace of this Kingdom still to observe the said Form with such Dispensations as we have expressed in our first Paper now presented to your Lordships and if there shall be any Alterations proposed by your Lordships of such particulars in the Book of Common-Prayer as good men are scrupled at we shall willingly endeavour to give your Lordships satisfaction in those particulars but as yet can make no further or other Answer than we have already done but shall be ready to receive such Objections as your Lordships shall think fit to make against the Book of Common-Prayer and your Reasons for introducing the Directory And for the Proposition concerning Church-Government annexed to your first Paper we have no Information how that Government shall be constituted in particular or what Jurisdiction shall be established or by whom it shall be granted or upon whom it shall depend And therein also we desire further Information from your Lordships 13. February VVE desire to see the Bills for the Observation of the Lord's day for suppressing of Innovations in Churches and Chapels and for the better advancement of the Preaching of God's Holy Word which are mentioned in your Lordships Paper of the 11. of Febr. we being very ready to consent to the subject Matter of those Bills We have expressed in our Paper delivered to your Lordships what we conceive fit to be done in the business of Pluralities which will prevent any inconveniences that way And when your Lordships shall give us your Demands concerning Papists and when we shall see the Acts for the regulating and reforming of both Universities of the Colleges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton and for the Education and Marriage of His Majesty's Children and the Children of His Heirs and Successors in the true Protestant Religion we shall give your Lordships such Answers as shall be fit being very willing to concur with your Lordships in any good means for the suppressing of Popery and advancement of the Protestant Religion And we are well assured that His Majesty hath taken a pious care for the Education of all His Children in the true Protestant Religion and having already married one of His Children to the satisfaction we conceive of all His good Subjects we are confident in due time His Majesty will so dispose of the rest in Marriage as shall be most for the advancement of Religion and the good and welfare of all His Dominions Their Answer to the First 13. February VVHereas we expected your Lordships resolution for His Majesty's assent unto the Bill for the utter Abolishing of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. we find by your Paper given in this Evening that your Lordships are not yet satisfied that the Bill should pass and you are pleased to express several Reasons and Objections against it which were at large answered and cleared at the publick Debate But what was then said by us is now by your Lordships wholly omitted nor may we in writing represent it again unto your Lordships it not being agreeable to the usage of Parliament to deliver Reasons for or against a Bill though we were willing by Conference in the Treaty to satisfy all doubts and remove all scruples which remained with you And so far were we from consenting that Episcopacy hath continued from the Apostles times by continual Succession that the contrary was made evident unto your Lordships and the Unlawfulness of it fully proved And as for that which your Lordships have propounded for uniting and reconciling all differences in the matter of Religion it is a new Proposition which wholly differs from ours is no way satisfactory to our desires nor consisting with that Reformation to which both Kingdoms are obliged by their solemn Covenant therefore we can give no other Answer to it but must insist to desire your Lordships that the Bill may be past and our other Demands concerning Religion granted The King's Commissioners Reply thereunto 13. February VVE conceive that our Answer to your Lordships concerning the Bill for the utter Abolishing of Arch-bishops Bishops c. was so reasonable that it clearly appears thereby that the passing that
of the said Trust which being considered as the Security is mutual so neither part can be supposed to violate the Agreement without very evident inconvenience and danger to that part who shall so violate it the whole Kingdom being likely and indeed obliged to look upon whosoever shall in the least degree violate this Agreement as the Authors of all the miseries which the Kingdom shall thereby suffer And as it is most reasonable that for this Security his Majesty should part with so much of his own Power as may make him even unable to break the Agreement which should be now made by him and on his part so it is most necessary that all apprehension and danger of such breach being over that Sovereign Power of the Militia should revert into the proper Chanel and be as it hath always been in his Majesties proper and peculiar Charge And therefore we have proposed that the time limited for that Trust should be for three years which by the Blessing of God will produce a perfect understanding between his Majesty and all his People and if there should be any thing else necessary to be done in this Argument either for power or time that the same be considered after the settlement of Peace in Parliament but whatever is now or hereafter shall be thought necessary to be done we desire may be so settled that this Kingdom may depend upon it self and not be subject to the Laws or Advice of Scotland as we think fit that Scotland should not receive Rules or Advice from this having offered the like for Scotland as for England In the business of Ireland your Lordships propose not onely that his Majesty disclaim and make void the Cessation made by his Royal Authority and at the desire of the Lords Justices and Council of that Kingdom and for the preservation of the remainder of his poor Protestant Subjects there who were in evident danger of Destruction both by Famine and the Sword but also to put the whole managery of that War and disposal of the Forces within that Kingdom and consequently the Government of that Kingdom into the hands of the Scots General to be managed by the Advice of a joynt Committee of both Kingdoms wherein each should have a Negative Voice In Answer to which we have acquainted your Lordships with the just grounds of his Majesties proceedings in the business of Ireland which we are confident being weighed without prejudice may satisfie all men of his Majesties Piety and Justice therein and we are very ready and desirous to joyn with your Lordships in any course which may probably preserve and restore that miserable Kingdom Having put your Lordships in mind of these particulars as they have a general reference to the publick good of the Kingdoms we beseech your Lordships to consider that we have this great Trust reposed in us by his Majesty and to remember how far these Propositions trench upon his peculiar Kingly Rights without any or any considerable recompence or compensation In the business of Religion your Lordships propose the taking away his whole Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction his Donations and Temporalties of Bishopricks his First Fruits and Tenths of Bishops Deans and Chapters instead whereof your Lordships do not offer to constitute the least dependance of the Clergy upon his Majesty and for that so considerable a part of his Revenue you propose onely the Bishops Lands to be settled on his Majesty reserving a power to dispose even those Lands as you shall think fit whereas all the Lands both of Bishops Deans and Chapters if those Corporations must be dissolved do undoubtedly belong to his Majesty in his own Right In the business of the Militia as it is proposed his Majesty is so totally devested of the Regal Power of the Sword that he shall be no more able either to assist any of his Allies with aid though men were willing to engage themselves voluntarily in that Service or to defend his own Dominions from Rebellion or Invasion and consequently the whole Power of Peace and War the acknowledged and undoubted Right of the Crown is taken from him In the business of Ireland the power of nominating his Lieutenant or Deputy and other Officers there of managing directing or in the least manner of medling in that War or of making a Peace is proposed to be taken from him And to add to all these attempts upon his Kingly Rights it is proposed to bereave him of the Power of a Father in the Education and Marriage of his own Children and of a Master in the rewarding his own Servants And therefore we refer it to your Lordships whether it be possible for us with a good Conscience and discharge of the Trust reposed in us to consent to the Propositions made to us by your Lordships Lastly we must observe to your Lordships that after a War of near four years for which the Defence of the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Property of the Subject and the Priviledges of Parliament were made the Cause and grounds in a Treaty of Twenty days nor indeed in the whole Propositions upon which the Treaty should be there hath been nothing offered to be Treated concerning the breach of any Law or of the Liberty or Property of the Subject or Priviledge of Parliament but onely Propositions for the altering a Government established by Law and for the making new Laws by which almost all the old are or may be cancelled and there hath been nothing insisted on of our part which was not Law or denied by us that you have demanded as due by Law All these things being considered and being much afflicted that our great hope and expectation of a Peace is for the present frustrated by your Lordships Declaration that no more time will be allowed for this Treaty we are earnest Suitors to your Lordships that you will interpose with the two Houses to whom we believe you have transmitted the Answers delivered by us to your Lordships upon Religion the Militia and Ireland that this Treaty though for the present discontinued may be revived and the whole matter of their Propositions and those sent to them by his Majesty which have not yet been Treated on may be considered and that depending that Treaty to the end we may not Treat in Blood there may be a Cessation of Arms and that the poor People of this Kingdom now exposed to Plunderings and Spoils and other direful effects of War may have some earnest of a blessed Peace And because this Treaty is now expiring if your Lordships cannot give a present Resolution we desire when you have represented this to the two Houses his Majesty may speedily receive their Answer Their Answer 22. Feb. WE conceive your Lordships cannot in reason expect an Answer to the long Paper delivered to us very late this Night at the close of the Treaty a thing of many days labour which we apprehend to be rather a Declaration upon the Treaty than
is more than an even lay that they may one day see themselves punished by that way they offended Had this Parliament as it was in its first Election and Constitution sate full and free the Members of both Houses being left to their freedom of Voting as in all Reason Honour and Religion they should have been I doubt not but things would have been so carried as would have given no less content to all good men than they wished or expected For I was resolved to hear Reason in all things and to consent to it so far as I could comprehend it But as Swine are to Gardens and orderly Plantations so are Tumults to Parliaments and Plebeian Concourses to publick Counsels turning all into Disorders and sordid Confusions I am prone sometimes to think that had I called this Parliament to any other place in England as I might opportunely enough have done the sad Consequences in all likelihood with Gods Blessing might have been prevented A Parliament would have been welcom in any place no place afforded such confluence of various and vicious humours as that where it was unhappily convened But we must leave all to God who orders our Disorders and magnifies his Wisdom most when our Follies and miseries are most discovered But thou O Lord art my refuge and defence to Thee I may safely fly who rulest the raging of the Sea and the Madness of the People The floods O Lord the floods are come in upon Me and are ready to overwhelm Me. I look upon My Sins and the Sins of My People which are the tumults of our Souls against Thee O Lord as the just cause of these Popular inundations which Thou permittest to over-bear all the banks of Loyalty Modesty Laws Justice and Religion But Thou that gatheredst the waters into one place and madest the dry land to appear and after didst asswage the Flood which drowned the World by the word of thy power rebuke those Beasts of the People and deliver Me from the Rudeness and strivings of the Multitude Restore we beseech Thee unto us the freedoms of our Councels and Parliaments make us unpassionately to see the light of Reason and Religion and with all order and gravity to follow it as it becomes Men and Christians so shall we praise thy Name who art the God of Order and Counsel What man cannot or will not repress thy Omnipotent Justice can and will O Lord give them that are yet living a timely sense and sorrow for their great sin whom Thou knowest guilty of raising or not suppressing those Disorders Let Shame here and not Suffering hereafter be their Punishment Set bounds to our Passions by Reason to our Errors by Truth to our Seditions by Laws duly executed and to our Schisms by Charity that we may be as thy Jerusalem a City at unity in it self This grant O my God in thy good time for Jesus Christ's sake Amen V. Vpon His MAJESTIES passing the Bill for the Triennial Parliaments and after setling this during the pleasure of the Two Houses THAT the World might be fully confirmed in my purposes at first to contribute what in Justice Reason Honour and Conscience I could to the happy success of this Parliament which had in Me no other design but the general Good of my Kingdoms I willingly passed the BILL for Triennial Parliaments which as gentle and seasonable Physick might if well applied prevent any distempers from getting any head or prevailing especially if the Remedy proved not a Disease beyond all remedy I conceived this Parliament would find work with convenient recesses for the first three years but I did not imagine that some men would thereby have occasioned more work than they found to do by undoing so much as they found well done to their hands Such is some mens activity that they will needs make work rather than want it and chuse to be doing amiss rather than do nothing When that first Act seemed too scanty to satisfie some mens Fears and compass publick Affairs I was perswaded to grant that BILL of Sitting during the pleasure of the Houses which amounted in some mens sense to as much as the perpetuating this Parliament By this Act of highest Confidence I hoped for ever to shut out and lock the door upon all present Jealousies and future Mistakes I confess I did not thereby intend to shut My self out of doors as some men have now requited Me. True it was an Act unparallel'd by any of my Predecessors yet cannot in reason admit of any worse interpretation than this of an extreme Confidence I had that My Subjects would not make ill use of an Act by which I declared so much to trust them as to deny My self in so high a point of my Prerogative For good Subjects will never think it just or fit that My condition should be worse by my bettering theirs Nor indeed would it have been so in the events if some men had known as well with moderation to use as with earnestness to desire advantages of doing good or evil A continual Parliament I thought would but keep the Common-weal in tune by preserving Laws in their due execution and vigor wherein My interest lies more than any mans since by those Laws My Rights as a KING would be preserved no less than My Subjects which is all I desired More than the Law gives Me I would not have and less the meanest Subject should not Some as I have heard gave it out that I soon repented Me of that setling Act and many would needs perswade Me I had cause so to do but I could not easily nor suddenly suspect such ingratitude in men of Honour that the more I granted them the less I should have and enjoy with them I still counted My self undiminished by My largest Concessions if by them I might gain and confirm the love of my People Of which I do not yet despair but that God will still bless Me with increase of it when Men shall have more leisure and less prejudice that so with unpassionate representations they may reflect upon those as I think not more Princely than friendly contributions which I granted towards the perpetuating of their Happiness who are now only miserable in this That some mens ambition will not give them leave to enjoy what I intended for their good Nor do I doubt but that in Gods due time the Loyal and cleared affections of My People will strive to return such retributions of Honour and Love to Me or My Posterity as may fully compensate both the acts of My Confidence and My Sufferings for them which God knows have been neither few nor small nor short occasioned chiefly by a perswasion I had that I could not grant too much or distrust too little to men that being professedly My Subjects pretended singular Piety and Religious strictness The Injury of all Injuries is that which some men will needs load Me withal as if were a wilful and resolved Occasioner of
also was abolished under pretence of a Spiritual Liberty for it was accused of putting a restraint upon the Spirit but in truth because it had so frequent Offices for the King To these were added the Covenant the Fetters of the Scotish Slavery this was to bind the whole Nation to the Interest of the Faction and was used as the Water of Jealousie to discover those whom they did suspect Therefore all the Conspirators of what Sect soever whether Independents or Anabaptists though they refused to take it themselves because it did oblige to the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority yet were as eager Imposers of it as the Presbyterians who in simplicity urged it as the Fundamental Constitution of their Empire upon all who they thought would not prostitute their Souls to their Designs or had any thing fit to be made their Spoils And by this onely Engine many thousand Persons and Families were miserably ruined especially of the Clergy To oblige more fastly those that had no patience to expect nor hopes to receive any Reward for their Service against their Prince in the other life and so would not be satisfied with the shews of Religion but sought more solid Encouragements in the Spoils of it the Lands of the Bishops were exposed to Sale and that at such easie Rates as might invite the hazard of the Purchase satiate their boundless Covetousness and engage them in a pertinacious Faith to their Merchants To cement all these distinct Humours in one common Pleasure the Archbishop of Canterbury was prepared for a Sacrifice and about this time began his Tryal which continued a whole Year being when the Houses were at leisure called by several Months and Weeks to answer to his Charge that by his frequent Passages as a Prisoner he might give a pleasant Diversion to the Rabble who are delighted with the Ruines and Misfortunes of Great Persons and by their Injuries and Reproaches he might be reduced to such a weakness of Spirit as was not competent with the defence of his Cause But his Cause and his Conscience were impregnable and he overthrew their Slanders though he could not their Power By these Arts and Ways was the Winter spent to prepare for the Attempts of the following Summer An. 1644 wherein though the Parliaments Forces encreased by the Scotish Succours had the Success over several bodies of the Royallists yet that small Number that followed the King's Person and were guided by His own Counsels and Example obtained two great Victories For His Majesty having once more provided for the Safety of the Queen in sending Her to Excester there to lay down the burden of Her Love and from thence to seek for Shelter in France taken contrary to their hopes His last Farewel of Her and left Oxford strengthned against the Siege which the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller threatned that Place with He with a small Party draws out intending to form His Counsels according to the future Occurrences This made the Enemy divide and Essex was designed to reduce the West But Waller with whom usually went Sir Arthur Hasilrigge a Person fitter to raise Seditious Tumults than manage Armies was to hunt the King upon the Mountains of Wales towards which He seemed to direct His Course But hearing of the Resolutions of these two jealous Generals He wheels about to Oxford and from thence drew the greatest strength of that Garrison and with that falling upon Waller at Cropredy-bridge obtained a great Victory which would have been more prejudicial to the Enemy had not the Tenderness of His Subjects Blood restrained Him from prosecuting His Success to a greater Slaughter But contenting Himself to have diverted Injuries from His own Breast He only used this Victory for an advantage to Peace which in a Letter from Evesham July 4. He moves the Parliament unto But the unquiet Criminals rendred it vain and fruitless and represented to the People their yet prevailing Forces in the North and their Army in the West which had now taken in some considerable places to their obedience Therefore to remove their Confidence in Essex's power the King follows him and so closely pursues him that He drove him up into Cornwall and there did as it were besiege him During which He sent a Letter to him which was seconded by another from the Lords and Gentlemen in His Army to sollicite His endeavours for the Peace and Quiet of the bleeding and wasted Kingdom But it met not its desired effect Because that Earl either valued not that solid Glory of being the happy Author of a Nation 's Settlement or feared that his past Actions had wholly despoiled him of hopes of Security in a return to Obedience or knew that his Authority was not so great to put an issue to those Crimes which he had led others to commit For every inconsiderable person may be powerful at Disturbances but to form Peace requires much Wisdom and great Vertues Which last was generally believed for he had found and complained that his Credit declined with the Faction that they were distrustful lest their own Arts might teach him to have no faith to them because he often sollicited them to a composing of the Kingdoms Distractions Therefore making no return to those Letters he provided for his own safety in a Cock-boat and ignominiously deserted his Army of which the Horse taking the advantage of a dark night made their escape but the Commanders of the Foot did capitulate for their Lives and left their Arms Cannon Baggage and Ammunition to the Disposal of the King The speedy and prudent acquisition of these two Victories shewed the King had those Abilities that might have inserted Him in the Catalogue of the Bravest Commanders and had not want of Success in His following Enterprises clouded the Glory of this Summer He had been as eminent among the Masters of War as He was among the Sons of Peace the Honour of which last He most eagerly thirsted as rendring Him most like that Majesty He did represent Therefore after this Victory by a Letter from Tavestock Sept. 8. He re-inforces that from Evesham for an Accord with the Parliament being not transported from His Lenity by the Violence with which Victory uses to hurry humane breasts to an insolence But He knew that Peace though it is profitable to the Conquered yet it is glorious for the Conquerour To busie His Army while He expected their Answer and formed an Association in the Western Counties He sits down before Plymouth but finding this Message had an equal reception with the former and that the Faction intended not to sacrifice their ill-acquired Power and usurped Interests to the publick Tranquillity He rises from thence and marches towards London from whence were by this time in the way to meet Him Essex and Waller recruited and joyned with the Earl of Manchester's Forces that were now returned from their Northern Services And at Newbery both sides joyn in an eager
Fight which being varied with different successes in the several divisions each party drew off by degrees and neither found cause to boast of a Victory The King being returned to Oxford the Parliament wearied with the Complaints of the oppressed Nation who now grew impatient under the Distractions take into Consideration His Majesty's two Messages for Peace and sent Propositions for it in the name of the two Parliaments of England and Scotland united by Solemn League and Covenant Which though they seemed the desires of minds that intended nothing less than the common Tranquillity yet the King neglects them not but hoping that in a Treaty Commissioners might argue them into Reason offers it which with much difficulty the Houses are drawn to accept but yet would have it at Vxbridge a place but about fifteen miles distant from London and above twice that distance from Oxford And accordingly Commissioners from both Parties met on Jan. 30. While the King was providing for the Treaty and forming Instructions for His Ministers the Faction found the Parliament other work by new designs and to habituate the People to an abhorrency of Peace fed them with blood The two Hothams first were to be the Sport of the Multitude and that the Father might have more than a single death he was drawn back in his journey to the Scaffold Decemb. 31. that his Son might be executed before him as he was Jan. 10. when after he had expressed his fury to those Masters whom they had served to their ruines his Head was chopt off And on Jan. 20. the Father is brought to the place that was defiled with his Son's blood and had his own added to it These were not much lamented by any for the memory that they first kindled the Flame of the Nation kept every eye dry The People thus fed with courser blood a cleaner Sacrifice was afterwards presented William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England He had indured Imprisonment four years and passed through a Trial of many months in which he had acquitted himself with such a confidence as became the Innocency and Constancy of a Christian Bishop and Confessor but yet must fall to please the Scots and those merciless men who imputed God's anger in the difficulties of Success against their Prince to the continuance of this Prelate's life therefore he was voted guilty of High Treason by the House of Commons and was condemned in the House of Peers though they have no power over the life of the meanest Subject without the concurrence of the King when there were but seven Lords present and all those not consenting to the Murder to be drawn hanged and quartered And this was the first Example of murdering men by Votes of killing by an Order of Parliament when there is no Law It was moved they say by some that he might be shipp'd over to New-England to die by the Contempt and Malice of those People But this seemed too great an Honour because it would make his end as his life was much like that of the Primitive Bishops who for their Piety were banished to Barbarous Coasts or condemned to the Mines Or else it would be like an Athenian Ostracism and confess him too great and good to live among us Therefore this motion was rejected yet the Lords upon his Petition to the distaste of some Commons changed the manner of that vile Execution to that more generous of being beheaded To the Scaffold he was brought Jan. 10. after he had endured some affronts in his Antichamber in the Tower by some sons of Schism and Sedition who unseasonably that morning he was preparing himself to appear before the great Bishop of our Souls would have him give some satisfaction to the Godly for so they called themselves for his Persecutions which he called Discipline To whom he answered That he was now shortly to give account of all his Actions at an higher and more equal Tribunal and desired he might not be disturbed in his Preparations for it When he came to the Scene of his death he appeared with that chearfulness and serenity in his face as a good Conscience doth beautifie the owners with and it was so conspicuous that his Enemies who were ashamed to see his Innocency pourtraited in his Countenance did report he had drunk some Spirits to force his nature from a paleness He preached his own Funeral Sermon on that Text Heb. 12. 2. and concluding his life with Prayer submitted himself to the stroke of the Ax. He was a Person of so great Abilities which are the Designations of Nature to Dignity and Command that they raised him from low beginnings to the highest Office the Protestant Profession acknowledges in the Church And he was equal to it His Learning appear'd eminent in his Book against Fisher and his Piety illustrious in his Diary although published by One that was thirsty of his blood and polluted with many malicious comments and false Surmises to make him odious He was of so Publick a Spirit that both the Church and State have lasting Monuments of the Vertuous use of his Prince's favour at his Admittance into which he dedicated all the future Emoluments of it to the Glory of God and the Good of Men by a Projection of many noble Works most of which he accomplished and had finished the rest had not the Fate of the Nation checked the current of his Designs and cut off the Course of his Life He was not contented by himself only to serve his Generation for so he might have appeared more greedy of Fame than desirous of the Universal Benefit but he endeavoured to render all others as Heroick if they aimed at a Capacity for his Friendship for I have heard it from his Enemies no great man was admitted to a confidence and respect with him unless he made his Address by some Act that was for the Common Good or for the Ornament and Glory of the Protestant Faith Learned men had not a better Friend nor Learning it self a greater Advancer he searched all the Libraries of Asia and from several parts of the World purchased all the Ornaments and Helps of Literature he could that the English Church might have if possible by his Care as many Advantages for Knowledge as almost all Europe did contribute to the Grandeur of that of Rome The Outward Splendour of the Clergy was not more his Care than their Honour by a grave and pious Conversation he would put them into a power of doing more good but was severe against their Vices and Vanities He scorned a private Treasure and his Kindred were rather relieved than raised to any greatness by him In his Election of Friends he was determinated to the Good and Wise and such as had both Parts and Desires to profit the Church had his closest Embraces if otherwise it happened their frauds not his choice deserved the blame Both Papists and Sectaries were equally his Enemies one Party feared
their Honour that it should not be any prejudice to Him But His Majesty had no sooner read it than they finding it not to the Gust of those that sent them notwithstanding the Faith they had given cause their Just Soveraign to be kept close Prisoner force away His Chaplains Dr. Sheldon now Lord Bishop of London and Dr. Hammond both which He highly valued for their Integrity Wisdom Piety and Learning and His other Servants even those whom the Parliament had placed formerly about Him and in whom His Goodness had wrought both an Affection and Admiration of Him and permit none about him but such as they hoped would be a Watch upon Him and whose barbarous Souls might trample on His Fortune Besides they set strict Guards at His Doors and Windows lest any Letters might come to Him or be sent from Him The like reception His Letter found with the Parliament For Cromwell and his Officers were resolved to go on with their Design and having so long used the Adjutators as served to frighten the King into the Toils they had set they soon quiet them which was not difficult being a Company of hot-headed Fellows that could only talk not form a Counsel or a Party to endure a Storm by executing some of their most pertinacious Leaders and being free of that Care applied their Practices wholly to the Destruction of His Majesty To this purpose they mould the Four Votes for No Addresses to the King but before they bring them into Publick they send into their several Counties about Forty or Fifty of the Principal Members who they thought would oppose them to raise Money for the Souldiers Nevertheless the first of those Votes was contested against so strongly that the Debates lasted from Ten of the Clock in the Morning till Seven in the Evening and though they thus wearied the more Honest Party yet could it not pass till the Conspirators had engaged that no worse thing should be done to the King The remaining Votes were dispatched in half an Hours time when those of the most sober Principles were gone forth to refresh themselves and the Conspirators still kept their Seats The House of Peers were not so hasty in them as the Commons had been and their Debates vexed the Conspirators with Delays till those who were sent by the Army to thank the Lower House for their Consent to these Desires of the Souldiers did also threaten the Upper for their long Deliberations some new Terrors were also added for they quartered two of their Regiments at White-Hall under colour of guarding the Parliament but in truth to work upon the Lords which had its effect for many that had the most Honourable thoughts in this Business forsook the Parliament and then three or four which often was the fullest Number about those times in that House joyn with the Commons in their Votes for no Addresses This prodigious Perfidiousness in Parliament and Army both which had so frequently declared and engaged themselves by Oaths and Promises to preserve the King in his Just Rights fill'd all men with amazement and indignation to see how little they valued their Faith who pretended so high to Religion therefore each of them were put to satisfie the Common Fame Cromwell to some would have cover'd this Impiety with another that as He was praying for a Blessing from God on his Vndertakings to restore the King to His Pristine Majesty his Tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth that he could not speak one word more which he took as a return of Prayer and that God had rejected Him from being King To others he did impudently assert That it was lawful to circumvent a wicked man with deceit and frauds The Conspirators in the Parliament strove to honest their Proceedings by a Declaration and assign in it for Causes of their Perjuries all the Calumnies that had been raised against the King by His most professed Enemies or from those uncertain Rumours which themselves had invented adding and repeating others which had even in the Parliament House been condemned as Forgeries yet now were used as necessary Veils for a more execrable Falshood Which infamous Libel they caused to be sent to all the Parishes of the Kingdom to be divulged supposing that none did dare to refute their black and most malicious Slanders or that none could publickly do it because they set strict Watches upon all the Printing-Presses They likewise commanded the Curates to read it in their several Churches and commend it to the People And that these might the more readily observe their Orders they at the same time strictly enjoyn the payment of Tithes and Vote that the Dean and Chapiter's Lands which they had designed for profane Uses and never intended they should be for the Emolument of Church-men should be set apart for Augmentations for their Preachers pretending a servent zeal for the propagation of the Gospel when they did most dishonour it By their Agents and the Anabaptists with other Hereticks and Schismaticks they sollicite the unacquainted Rabble to sign to Gratulatory Addresses to approve what they had already done and petition for a speedy progress in the Ruine of His Majesty But all these their cursed Projects failed for several Answers to their Defamations were published One writ by the King Himself another by Sir Edward Hyde and a third by Dr. Bates all which proved the Monstrous Falshoods of their Paper and that the Faction were guilty of what they imputed to the King and this with such Evidence that none of their most mercenary Writers or the most foul-mouthed Conspirators did dare or hope with Success to reply unto The Curates coldly if at all observed their Orders and there came so few Petitions and those signed by such contemptible and lewd persons as they rather loaded the Faction with more hatred than gave them any credit While generally in every place none of the People could contain their Fury against these Impostors but publickly cursed them and their Infamous Adherents For their Miserie 's made them sensible of the want of that Prince whose gentle and just Rule had brought them to such an inebriating Prosperity that they had forgot the Minister of their Happiness But now they found Government when it was out of His hand like Moses's Rod cast on the ground transformed to a Serpent and that those who pretended to free them from Tyranny had deluded them into the most insufferable Slavery wherein they were either totally despoiled of all things that render our Being comfortable or they were not secure in the use of them Religion the Ornament of the present and the Pledge of a future Life was so dishonoured by Schisms and Heresies somented to weaken the People by Divisions to a tameness under their Oppressors by Fasts for the most impious Designs and Thanksgivings for prosperous Crimes that some men concluded it to be nothing else but the Invention of Tyrants and the Disguise of Villains
and therefore did forsake it and turn Atheists Others that did still find the Inward Consolations of it yet feared openly to profess it lest they should be taken for those that pretended a Love to God that they might more securely destroy men Liberty also was now but an empty name for all the Common Prisons were too narrow to receive even those that did not dare to break the Laws so that the Houses of Noble men were converted to Gaols for those that were unfortunate in honest Enterprises where they were to languish with want and sickness and not be called to know their Offence or their Accusers because they had not guilt enough for a publick Condemnation Some were put a Ship-board in the midst of Summer there to contract Diseases Others were sold Slaves to forein Plantations Many to escape such nasty Confinements or an ignominious Torture fled from their Native Soil either to the Neighbouring Countries where they were the Evidences of the Infamy and Barbarousness of our Nation or seeking for Shelter in the Isles and Deserts of America polluted those Rocks and Seas with English Blood Propriety was no longer hedged up by Law but whom the Violence of the Souldier did not impoverish the Frauds of Committee-men would from whose Rapines none were secure that had not been as criminal as themselves and few safe that did not seek their favour and bow down to their Greatness These men taking advantage of the common evils to satisfie either their private revenge or lusts for their Proceedings were not regulated by the known Laws but the secret Instructions of their Masters in Parliament and Army or their own Pleasures were the Rules of administring Justice An honest Fame likewise was a Mark for Ruine for if any by just Arts had got the Esteem of the People and the Affections of His Neighbourhood and did not comply with their Interest first he was vexed with Slanders and Reproaches and afterwards with Sequestration especially if he were a Minister and it was their common Principle that an Honest Cavalier was the worst Enemy and a Cavalier Saint did the most hurt so that both their Vices and Vertues were equally hated Common Converse was dangerous for they had Informers in every place and Spies almost in every Family of Note Servants were corrupted to accuse their Masters and the Differences in Religion did injealous and arm the nearest Relations one against another Men out of a mutual distrust would hasten from Company to consult in private their peculiar Safety for they knew their Words were observed and their Secrets sought after Few Families but had by the Civil War some Loss to bewail some mourned over their disagreeing Members in different Camps and had cause to fear which side soever prospered they must be miserable in some part These and many more Miseries were more highly embittered by the uncertainty of a Remedy For the Parliament that had the name of Government were guilty of all these Reproaches of a Community being Slaves to those whose interest it was to keep us thus miserable and if at any time they were free from the yoke of the Army the two Sects kept them so divided each Party labouring by Votes and Counsels to circumvent the other that they could not mind the Universal Benefit Besides the power they exercised was too much to be well used for they engrossed the Legislative Authority and the Exercise of Jurisdiction So that they would make Laws according to their Interest and execute them according to their Lust this day's Vote should contradict the former day's Order and to morrow we must violate what to day we solemnly swore to observe so that men knew not what to obey nor where to rest Thus all hopes of Liberty and Peace were lost in the Confinement of the King who only was found able and willing to determine our Miseries For His Principles were Uniform and His Endeavours for a Settlement constant besides His Adversities had illustrated if not calcined His Endowments For now when He had no Friends Counsellors or Secretaries His Discourses with Commissioners upon their several Addresses and His Declarations of His own Injuries the Nations Slavery the Injustice of His and their Adversaries were so excellently and prudently managed that they undeceived the greatest part and reconciled many of His bitter Enemies therefore the whole Nation now panted for a Return to the Obedience of such an inestimable Prince These Considerations caused several attempts for His Deliverance some Private and others more Publick The first was managed by those Servants whom the Parliament had placed about Him for these won by His Goodness of which they were daily witnesses twice plotted His Escape and ventured their Lives for His Liberty but failed in both designs and the last being discovered before it could be put into action One Rolfe a bloody Villain that had also endeavoured to poison Him for which though he was publickly accused yet was acquitted by that Judge whom the Conspirators had employed to hear that Cause waited to kill Him as He should descend from His Chamber The more publick was that of the whole Nation An. 1648 for inraged with their own Oppressions and the Miseries of their Prince men in most Counties even of those that had adhered to the Parliament but now vexed that they had been so basely deluded draw up Petitions for a Personal Treaty with the King that the Armies Arrears being paid they should immediately be disbanded that Relief should be sent into Ireland and England quite eased of the Contribution which they could no longer bear To these Petitions there were such innumerable Subscriptions that the Officers of the Army and Parliament were mad to see their Threats of Sequestration Imprisonment and Death to make no Impression and the Promises they likewise made were slighted because discredited by their former Perjuries The first Petitioners were the Essex men who came in such Numbers as had not been seen before as if they would force not intreat for what was necessary After them those of Surrey whom by the command of the Officers and Parliament-men the Souldiers assault at the Parliament-Doors kill some wound more and plunder all and for this brave Exploit upon unarmed Petitioners they have the Thanks of the Commons and a Largess for their Valour that so the People might be affrighted from offering Petitions which before the very same men had declared to be the Birth-right of every English-man While men see and admire the Returns of the Divine Justice and the reciprocal motions of the Popular heat that the very same Parliament that first stirr'd up this way of tumultuary Petitions against the King now complained that the Honour and Safety of Parliaments was indangered by Petitions But all their Tyranny upon the complaining Nation prevailed nothing but to provoke them to a higher Indignation and more frequent Petitions And when they perceived they dealt with men obstinate to their own Interests which were not
to be gained but by the Publick Ruine they fly from Prayers to Arms and intitle their just War For the Liberty of King and People And in several places as in Kent Essex Suffolk Norfolk Cornwall Yorkshire Wales and at last in Surrey multitudes take Arms for this Righteous Cause The Navy also fall off and setting Rainsbrough their levelling Admiral on Shore seventeen Ships deliver themselves up to the Prince of Wales The Scots likewise by an Order of their own Parliament send into England to recover the Liberty and Majesty of the King an Army under Hamilton But all was in vain God had decreed other Triumphs for His Majesty and to translate Him to another Kingdom For the English being but tumultuarily raised having no train of Artillery nor Ammunition considerable were soon supprest by a veterane Army provided with all necessaries The Scots either through weakness or wickedness of their Commanders who made so disorderly a March that their Van and Reer were forty miles asunder were easily worsted by Cromwell who surprised their main Body and Hamilton was taken Prisoner Cromwell follows the scattered Parties into Scotland where they were likewise assaulted by Argyle a domestick Enemy and forced to submit those Arms the Parliament had put into their hands to the Faction of that false Earl who calls another Parliament from which all were excluded that in the former Voted for the King's Delivery and all the Orders of that Convention made void Cromwell had the Publick Thanks and the private Faith of Argyle to endeavour as opportunity permitted the extirpation of Monarchy out of Scotland The Navy also deserts the Prince being corrupted by the Earl of Warwick who was appointed for this Service and when he had ingloriously bought off their Faith to their lawful Prince himself was ignominiously cashiered by the Conspirators These great disappointments and overthrows of just Enterprises men variously attributed to different Causes Some to the Perfidiousness others to the Weakness of those that managed them as also to the Treachery of some Presbyterians who in hatred to the Army first incouraged and then in Jealousie of the Royalists basely deserted them For the Rabbies of the Kirk cursed Hamilton in the beginning of his Enterprise Another sort thought them unhappy because the greatest part of the Undertakers were such that formerly had either fought against the King or else had betrayed Him and God would not now bless their unexpiated Arms. And some to the Fate of the Kingdom which God had decreed to give over to numerous and impious Tyrants because of their unthankfulness and impatience under so Incomparable a Prince But while these things were managed by the Army that were now at a distance and Cromwell's Terrors were greater in Scotland than here the less guilty Parliament-men seriously considering how impatient the People who in London and other places had gotten innumerable Subscriptions to a Petition for a Personal Treaty now were of those Injuries that were done to their Sovereign how hateful themselves grew because they had betrayed and inslaved their own Privileges together with the Liberties of the Subject to an insatiable and Phanatick Army and how an evident Ruine attended even their Conquests of Him whom it was unlawful to assault did at last though too late contrary to the clamours of their factious and Democratick Members Repeal those Votes which they had formerly made of No more Addresses to the King This being passed in both Houses they afterwards with a strong Consent vote a Treaty with the King in Honour Freedom and Safety The factious Party in the Parliament found themselves too few and weak to oppose this impetuous tendency of the Two Houses and the whole Kingdom to Peace But yet they endeavoured to frustrate the labours of their more sincere Members and to baffle the People's just desires of it by imposing many unequal Conditions and obstructive restrictions For they procured that the Treaty should be in the Isle of Wight and not at London that it should be by Commissioners and not immediately with the two Houses as was petitioned The Propositions that were sent to be treated were the same which had before been offered to the King at Hampton-Court and were then rejected by Him and also condemned by the Army it self as too unjust The Commissioners were so streightned in Power that it was not lawful for them to soften any one of the Conditions of Peace not to alter the Preface or change the Order of the Propositions nor to debate a Subsequent till the Precedent were agreed on They could conclude nothing they were only to propose the Demands urge Reasons for the Royal Assent receive the King's Answer and refer all in writing to the Parliament whose slow Resolves and the delays of sending were supposed would consume that narrow measure of time which was appointed to debate so many and so different things for they were limited to forty days The Commissioners they sent were five of the Lord's House and twelve of the Commoners and with them some of their Presbyterian Ministers who were to press importunately for their Church-government to elude the King's Arguments for Episcopacy and only to impose not to dispute their own With all these upon so many several and different Propositions some relating to the Law of the Land others to Reason of State and some to the practice of the Apostolical Primitive Churches the King was to deal without publick assistance For though He was permitted the ministry of some Officers of State Counsellours and Divines yet were they but of private advice and to stand behind the Curtain He only Himself was to speak in the debate and singly to manage matters of Policy with their most exercised Statists and the points of Divinity with their best-studied Divines The Vulgar to whom the arts of these men were not so obvious were much pleased with the Name of a Treaty and now hoped to exchange their Servitude under so many importunate Tyrants for the moderate and easie Government of one Lawful King Others that had a clearer insight and observed with what difficulties it was burthened hoped for no benefit from it Because that if His Majesty should not consent as they believed he would not then He would be the object of the popular impatience And if He should consent He that now was thought to be most injuriously dealt with would then be conceived not to deserve the Pity even of his Friends nor could He gain any other thing by His Concessions than to be ruined with more Dishonour So that considering both the inviolable Integrity of His Majesty and the implacable Malice of His Enemies they despaired of any happy Issue But beyond the Faith of these men and the Hopes of the other the King 's incredible Prudence had found Temperaments for their most harsh Propositions And by a present Judgment and commanding Eloquence did so urge His own and refel their Arguments that He forced an Admiration of Himself
the Corruptions of men is more efficacious to Impiety than to Vertue could not do that His Law should and He would restrain those Vices which He could not extirpate Religion was never used by Him to veil Injustice for this was peculiar to His Adversaries who when they were plotting such acts as Hell would blush at they would fawn and smile on Heaven and they used it as those subtle Surprisers in War who wear their Enemies Colours till they be admitted to butcher them within their own Fortresses But His Majesty consulted the Peace of His Conscience not only in Piety to God but also in Justice to Men. He was as a Magistrate should be a speaking Law It was His usual saying Let me stand or fall by My own Counsels I will ever with Job rather chuse Misery than Sin He first submitted His Counsels to the Censure of the Lawyers before they were brought forth to Execution Those acts of which the Faction made most noise were delivered by the Judges to be within the Sphere of the Prerogative The causes of the Revenue were as freely debated as private Pleas and sometimes decreed to be not good which can never happen under a bad Prince The Justice of His Times shewed that of His Breast wherein the Laws were feared and not Men. None were forced to purchase their Liberty with the diminution of their Estates or the loss of their Credit Every one had both security and safety for His Life Fortune and Dignity and it was not then thought as afterwards to be a part of Wisdom to provide against Dangers by obscurity and Privacies His Favours in bestowing Great Offices never secured the Receivers from the force of the Law but Equity overcame His Indulgences For He knew that Vnjust Princes become Odious to them that made them so He submitted the Lord Keeper Coventrey to an Examination when a querulous person had accused him of Bribery He sharply reproved one whom He had made Lord Treasurer when he was petitioned against by an Hampshire Knight on whose Estate being held by Lease from the Crown that Treasurer had a design and He secured the Petitioner in his right The greatest Officer of His Court did not dare to do any the least of those injuries which the most contemptible Member of the House of Commons would with a daily Insolency act upon his weaker Neighbour In the Civil Discords He bewailed nothing more than that the Sword of Justice could not correct the illegal Furies of that of War Though by His Concessions and Grants He diminished His Power yet He thought it a Compensation to let the World see He was willing to make it impossible for Monarchy to have an unjust Instrument and to secure posterity from evil Kings Although He proved to a Leading Lord of the Faction That a People being too cautious to bind their King by Laws from doing Ill do likewise fetter Him from doing Good and their fears of Mischief do destroy their hopes of Benefit And that such is the weakness of Humanity that he which is intrusted only to Good may pervert that Power to the extremest Ills. And indeed there is no security for a Community to feel nothing in Government besides the Advantages of it but in the Benignity of Providence and the Justice of the Prince both which we enjoyed while we enjoyed Him Though He was thus in Love with Justice yet He suffered not that to leven His Nature to Severity and Rigour but tempered it with Clemency especially when His Goodness could possibly find out such an Interpretation for the Offence that it struck more at His Peculiar than the Publick Interest He seemed almost stupid in the Opinion of Cholerick Spirits as to a sense of His own Injuries when there was no fear lest His Mercy should thereby increase the Miseries of His People And He was so ambitious of the Glory of Moderation that He would acquire it in despight of the Malignity of the times For the Exercise of this Vertue depends not only on the temper of the Prince but the frame of the People must contribute to it because when the Reverence of Majesty and fear of the Laws are proscribed sharper Methods are required to from Obedience Yet He was unwilling to cut off till He had tried by Mercy to amend even guilty Souls Thus He strove to oblige the Lord Balmerino to peaceful practices by continuing that Life which had been employed in Sedition and forfeited to the Law Soon after His coming into the Isle of Wight by which time He had experienced the numerous Frauds and implacable Malice of His Enemies being attended on by Dr Sheldon and Dr Hammond for they were the earliest in their duties at that time a discourse passed betwixt His Majesty and the Governour wherein there was mention made of the fears of the Faction that the King could never forgive them To which the King immediately replies I tell thee Governour I can forgive them with as good an appetite as ever I eat My Dinner after an hunting and that I assure you was not a small one yet I will not make My self a better Christian than I am for I think if they were Kings I could not do it so easily This shewed how prone His Soul was to Mercy and found not any obstruction but what arose from a sense of Royal Magnanimity He sooner offered and gave life to His captive Enemies than their Spirits debauched by Rebellion would require it and He was sparing of that blood of which their fury made them Prodigal No man fell in battel whom He could save He chose rather to enjoy any Victory by Peace and therefore continually sollicited for it when He seemed least to need it than make one triumph a step to another and though He was passionate to put all in Safety yet He affected rather to end the War by Treaty than by Conquest The Prisoners He took He used like deluded men and oftener remembred that God had made them His Subjects than that the Faction had transformed them to Rebels He provided for them while in His Power and not to let them languish in Prison sent them by Passes to their own homes only ingaging them by Oath to no more injuries against that Sovereign whom they had felt to be Gracious for so He used those that were taken at Brainford But yet the Casuists of the Cause would soon dispense with their Faith and send them forth to die in contracting a new guilt Those whom the fury of War had left gasping in the Field and fainting under their wounds He commends in His Warrants as in that to the Mayor of Newbury to the care of the Neighbourhood either tenderly to recover or decently bury and His Commands were as well for those that sought to murther Him as those that were wounded in His Defence This made the Impudence and Falshood of Bradshaw more portentous when in his Speech of the Assassination he belch'd
Advocate Rives and D. Duck. And afterward in a Letter of one of the Commissioners for the two Houses He sent inclosed this Note Nov. 2. C. R. The Bishop of Armagh the Bishop of Excester the Bishop of Rochester the Bishop of Worcester Dr. Ferne Dr. Morley XXXVIII From NEWPORT Sept. 29. MDCXLVIII Containing His Concessions HIS Majesty did use many earnest endeavours for a Personal Treaty which He hoped might have been obtained at Westminster between Him and His two Houses of Parliament immediately yet they having made choice of this way by you their Commissioners His Majesty did gladly and chearfully accept thereof in this place as a fit means to begin a Treaty for Peace which might put an end to His own sad condition and the Miseries of His Kingdom For an entrance whereunto His Majesty hath already expressed His consent to the First Proposition But finding you are limited by Instructions which you have no warrant to communicate unto Him and having cause by your Paper of the twentieth of this present to believe that you have no power to omit or alter any thing though He shall give you such reasons as may satisfie you so to do without transmitting the Papers to the two Houses at a far distance where His Majesties reasons expressions and offers upon debate cannot be fully represented and from whence their Answers cannot be returned without much waste of the time allotted for the Treaty here and having lately received another Paper concerning the Church containing in it self many particulars of great importance and referring to divers Ordinances Articles of Religion and other things eleven or twelve in number of great length and some of them very new and never before presented to His Majesty the due consideration whereof will take up much time and require His Majesties presence with His two Houses before a full resolution can well be had in matters of so high consequence To the end therefore that the good Work now in hand may by God's blessing proceed more speedily and effectually to an happy conclusion and that His two Houses of Parliament may at present have further security and an earnest of future satisfaction His Majesty upon consideration had of yours makes these Propositions following Concerning the Church His Majesty will consent that the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster be confirmed for three years by Act of Parliament And will by Act of Parliament confirm for three years the Directory for the publick Worship of God in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales And will likewise confirm for three years by Act of Parliament the Form of Church-Government which ye have presented to Him to be used for the Churches of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales Provided that His Majesty and those of His Judgment or any others who cannot in Conscience submit thereunto be not in the mean time obliged to comply with the same Government or Form of Worship but have free practice of their own profession And that a free consultation and debate be had with the Assembly of Divines at Westminster in the mean time twenty of His Majesties nomination being added unto them whereby it may be determined by His Majesty and His two Houses of Parliament how the said Church-Government and Form of Publick Worship after the said time may be setled or sooner if Differences may be agreed and how also Reformation of Religion may be setled within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Dominion of Wales And the Articles of Christian Religion now delivered to Him may in like manner be then considered of and determined and care taken for the ease of tender Consciences And concerning the Bishops Lands and Revenues His Majesty considering that during these troublesom times divers of His Subjects have made contracts and purchaces and divers have disbursed great summs of moneys upon security and engagement of those Lands His Majesty for their satisfaction will consent to an Act or Acts of Parliament whereby legal estates for lives or for years at their choice not exceeding 99 years shall be made of those Lands towards the satisfaction of the said Purchasers Contractors and others to whom they are engaged at the old Rents or some other moderate Rent whereby they may receive satisfaction And in case such Leases shall not satisfie His Majesty will propound and consent to some other way for their further satisfaction Provided that the propriety and inheritance of those Lands may still remain and continue to the Church and Church-men respectively according to the pious intentions of the Donors and Founders thereof and the rent that shall be reserved to be for their maintenance His Majesty will give his Royal assent for the better observation of the Lord's day for suppressing of Innovations in Churches and Chappels in and about the Worship of God and for the better advancement of the Preaching of God's Holy Word in all parts of this Kingdom and to an Act against enjoying pluralities of Benefices by Spiritual persons and Non-residency and to an Act for regulating and Reforming both Universities and the Colledges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton His Majesty will consent to an Act for the better discovery and speedy conviction of Popish Recusants as is desired in your Propositions and also to an Act for the education of the children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion As also to an Act for the true levying of the penalties against Papists to be levied and disposed in such manner as both Houses shall agree on and as is proposed on His Majesties behalf As also to an Act to prevent the practices of Papists against the State and for putting the Laws in Execution and for a stricter course to prevent hearing and saying of Mass But as to the Covenant His Majesty is not yet therein satisfied that He can either sign or swear it or consent to impose it on the Consciences of others nor doth He conceive it proper or useful at this time to be insisted on Touching the Militia His Majesty conceives that your Proposition demands a far larger power over the persons and estates of His Subjects than hath ever hitherto been warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm Yet considering the present Distractions require more and trusting in His two Houses of Parliament that they will make no further use of the power therein mentioned after the present Distempers setled than shall be agreeable to the legal exercise thereof in times past or just necessity shall require His Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament That the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England now assembled or hereafter to be assembled or such as they shall appoint during the space of ten years shall arm train and discipline or cause to be armed trained or disciplined all the Forces of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales the Isles of Gernesey and Jersey and the Town of Barwick
the end of the last Session was not to challenge Tonnage and Poundage as of Right but de bene esse shewing you the Necessity not the Right by which I was to take it until I had it granted unto Me assuring My self according to your general professions that you wanted time not will to grant it unto Me. Wherefore now having opportunity I expect that without loss of time you make good your professions and so by passing the Bill put an end to all Questions arising from this subject especially since I have cleared all scruples that may trouble you in this business To conclude Let us not be jealous of one anothers Actions for if I had been easily moved at every occasion the Order made on Wednesday last might have made Me startle there being some shew to suspect that you had given your selves the liberty to be Inquirers after Complaints the words of your Order being somewhat largely penned but looking into your Actions I find you here only Complainers not seeking Complaints for I am certain you neither intend nor desire the liberty to be Inquisitors after mens Actions before particular Complaints be made This I have spoken to shew how slow I am to believe harshly of your Proceedings likewise to assure you that the Houses Resolution not particular mens speeches shall make Me judge well or ill Not doubting but according to mine example you will be deaf to ill reports concerning Me until My Words and Actions speak for themselves but this Session beginning with Confidence one towards the other it may end with a perfect good understanding between us which God grant XV. To the Lords and Commons in Answer to their Petition for a Publick Fast January 31. MDCXXVIII IX MY Lords and Gentlemen the chiefest motive of your Fast being the deplorable estate of the Reformed Churches abroad is too true and our duties are so much as in us possibly lyeth to give them help But certainly Fighting will do them more good than Fasting Though I do not wholly disallow the latter yet I must tell you that this Custom of Fasts every Sessions is but lately begun and I confess I am not so fully satisfied with the necessity of it at this time Yet to shew you how smoothly I desire our business to go on eschewing as much as I can Questions and Jealousies I do willingly grant your request herein But with this note that I expect that this shall not hereafter be brought into Precedent for frequent Fasts except upon great occasions As for the Form and Time I will advise with My Lords the Bishops and then send you a particular to both Houses XVI To the House of Commons in Answer to their Declaration concerning Tonnage and Poundage Feb. 3. MDCXXVIII IX YOur Declaration being somewhat long may by reason require some time to reply unto it since as most of you cannot but judge that this giveth Me no satisfaction Therefore I shall give you some short Notes upon it I cannot think that whereas you alledge that the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage was brought in against the Priviledge of your House that you will offer to take so much Priviledge from any one of your Members as not to allow them the liberty to bring in any Bill whatsoever though it be in your power when it is brought in to do with it what you think good And I cannot imagine how coming hither only by My Power and to treat of things I propound unto you you can deny Me that Prerogative to recommend or offer any Bill unto you Though in this particular I must profess that this Bill was not to have been offered you in My Name as that Member of your House can bear Me witness As for the cause of delay of My business being Religion there is none of you shall have a greater care for the true preservation of it than My self which since it is confessed by your Answer ye must either think I want Power which cannot be or that I am very ill-counselled if it be in such danger as you affirm Though I may say much of this point I will say no more but that for all this I shall not stop My Ears unto you upon this subject so that in form and matter you transgress not your limits As for Tonnage and Poundage I do not desire it out of greediness being perswaded you will make no stop in it when you take it in hand as out of a desire to put an end to all Questions that daily arise between Me and some of My Subjects thinking it a strange thing if you should give ear unto those Complaints and not take the sure and speedy way to decide them Besides I must think it strange that this business of Religion should be only a hinderer of My Affairs whereas I am certainly informed that all other things go on according to their ordinary course Therefore I must still be instant with you that you proceed with this business of Tonnage and Poundage with diligence not looking to be denied in so just a desire And you must not think it much if finding you slack I shall give you such further quickening as I find cause XVII To the House of Lords at the Dissolving of His Third Parliament at WESTMINSTER Mar. 10. MDCXXVIII IX MY Lords I never came here upon so unpleasing an occasion it being the Dissolution of a Parliament Therefore men may have some cause to wonder why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission it being a general Maxime of Kings to leave harsh Commands to their Ministers Themselves only executing pleasing things Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of Vertue as punishing of Vice I thought it necessary to come here to day to declare to you My Lords and all the world that it was merely the undutiful and seditious carriage of the Lower House that hath caused the Dissolution of this Parliament and that You My Lords are so far from being causes of it that I take as much Comfort in your dutiful demeanours as I am justly distasted with their Proceedings Yet to avoid mistakings let Me tell you that it is so far from Me to adjudge all that House guilty that I know there are many there as dutiful Subjects as any in the world it being but some few Vipers among them that cast this Mist of undutifulness over most of their Eyes Yet to say truth there was a good number there that would not be infected with this Contagion insomuch that some did express their duties in speaking which was the general fault of the House the last day To conclude As these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment so you My Lords may justly expect from Me that Favour and Protection that a Good King oweth to His loving and dutiful Nobility And now My Lord Keeper do what I have commanded you XVIII To the Speaker of the House of Commons April MDCXL MAster Speaker I
will only say one word to you Now that you are the Speaker I command you to do the office of a Speaker which is faithfully to report the great Cause of the Meeting that My Lord Keeper in My Name did represent unto you the last day with this assurance That you giving Me your timely help in this great Affair I shall give a willing ear to all your just Grievances XIX To the House of Lords at WESTMINSTER April 24. MDCXL His Majesty said THAT the cause of His coming was to put them in mind of what had been delivered by the Lord Keeper in His Name unto both Houses the first day of the Parliament and after at White-Hall How contrary to His expectation the House of Commons having held Consultation of matter of Religion Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament and voted some things concerning those three Heads had therefore given them the precedence before the matter of His Supply That His Necessities were such they could not bear delay That whatsoever He had by the Lord Keeper promised He would perform if the House of Commons would trust Him For Religion that His Heart and Conscience went together with the Religion established in the Church of England and He would give Order to His Arch-Bishops and Bishops that no Innovation in matter of Religion should creep in For the Ship-money that He never made or intended to make any profit to Himself of it but only to preserve the Dominion of the Seas which was so necessary that without it the Kingdom could not subsist But for the way and means by Ship-money or otherwise He left it to them For Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament He ever intended His People should injoy them holding no King so Great as he that was King of a rich and free People and if they had not Property of Goods and Liberty of Persons they could be neither rich nor free That if the House of Commons would not first trust Him all His Affairs would be disordered and His business lost That though they trusted Him in part at first yet before the Parliament ended He must totally trust them and in conclusion they must for execution of all things wholly trust Him Therefore since the matter was no more than who should be first trusted and that the trust of Him first was but a trust in part He desired the Lords to take into their consideration His and their own Honour the Safety and Welfare of this Kingdom with the great Danger it was in and that they would by their Advice dispose the House of Commons to give His Supply the precedence before the Grievances XX. To the Lords and Commons at the Dissolving of His Fourth Parliament at WESTMINSTER May 5. MDCXL MY Lords There can no occasion of My coming to this House be so unpleasing to Me as this is at this time The fear of doing that which I am to do at this day made Me not long agoe come to this House where I expressed as well My fears as the remedies I thought necessary for the eschewing of it Unto which I must confess and acknowledge that you My Lords of the Higher House did give me so willing an ear and with such affection did shew your selves thereafter that certainly I may say if there had been any means to have given an happy end to this Parliament you took it So that it was neither your Lordships fault nor Mine that it is not so Therefore in the first place I must give your Lordships thanks for your good endeavours I hope you remember what My Lord Keeper said to you the first day of the Parliament in My Name what likewise he said in the Banquetting-House in White-Hall and what I lately said to you in this place My self I name all this unto you not in doubt that you do not well remember it but to shew that I never said any thing in way of favour to My People but that by the Grace of God I will really and punctually perform it I know that they have insisted very much on Grievances and I will not say but that there may be some though I will confidently affirm that there are not by many degrees so many as the publick voice doth make them Wherefore I desire you to take notice now especially at this time that out of Parliament I shall be as ready if not more willing to hear and redress any just Grievances as in Parliament There is one thing which is much spoken of though not so much insisted on as others and that is Religion Concerning which albeit I expressed My self fully the last day in this place to your Lordships yet I think it fit again on this occasion to tell you that as I am most concerned so I shall be most careful to preserve that purity of Religion which I thank God is so well established in the Church of England and that as well out as in Parliament My Lords I shall not trouble you long with words it being not My fashion wherefore to conclude What I offered the last day to the House of Commons I think is well known to you all as likewise how they accepted it which I desire not to remember but wish that they had remembred how at first they were told in My Name by My Lord Keeper That Delay was the worst kind of Denial Yet I will not lay this fault on the whole House for I will not judge so uncharitably of those whom for the most part I take to be Loyal and well-affected Subjects but that it hath been the malicious cunning of some few seditiously-affected men that hath been the cause of this Misunderstanding I shall now end as I began in giving your Lordships thanks for your affection shewed to Me at this time desiring you to go on to assist Me in the maintaining of that Regal Power that is truly Mine And as for the Liberty of the People that they now so much seem to startle at know My Lords that no King in the World shall be more careful to maintain them in the Property of their Goods Liberty of their Persons and true Religion than I shall be And now My Lord Keeper do what I have commanded you XXI To the Great Council of Lords at YORK September 24. MDCXL MY Lords Upon sudden Invasions where the dangers are near and instant it hath been the custom of My Predecessors to assemble the Great Council of the Peers by their Advice and Assistance to give a timely remedy to such evils as cannot admit a delay so long as must of necessity be allowed for the assembling the Parliament This being our condition at this time and an Army of Rebels lodged within the Kingdom I thought it most fit to conform My self to the practice of My Predecessors in like cases that with your advice and assistance we might joyntly proceed to the chastisement of their Insolencies and securing of Our good Subjects In the first
place I must let you know that I desire nothing more than to be rightly understood of My People and to that end I have of My self resolved to call a Parliament having already given order to My Lord Keeper to issue out the Writs instantly so that the Parliament may be assembled by the third of November next Whither if My Subjects bring the like good affections as I do it shall not fail on My part to make it a happy Meeting In the mean time there are two points to be considered wherein I shall desire your Advice which indeed is the chief cause of your Meeting First What Answer to give to the Petition of the Rebels and in what manner to treat with them Of which that you may give a sure judgement I have ordered that your Lordships shall be clearly and truly informed of the state of the whole business and upon what reasons the Advices that My Privy Counsel unanimously gave Me were grounded Secondly How My Army shall be kept on foot and maintained till the supplies of a Parliament may be had For so long as the Scots Army remains in England I think no man will counsel Me to disband Mine for that would be an unspeakable loss to all this part of the Kingdom by subjecting them to the greedy appetite of the Rebels beside the unspeakable dishonour that would thereby fall upon this Nation XXII To the Lords and Commons at the Opening of His Fifth Parliament at WESTMINSTER November 3. MDCXL MY Lords The knowledge that I had of the Designs of My Scotish Subjects was the cause of My calling the last Assembly of Parliament wherein had I been believed I sincerely think that things had not fallen out as now we see But it is no wonder that men are so slow to believe that so great a Sedition should be raised on so little ground But now My Lords and Gentlemen the Honour and Safety of this Kingdom lying so nearly at stake I am resolved to put My self freely and clearly on the love and affections of My English Subjects as those of My Lords that did wait on Me at York very well remember I there declared Therefore My Lords I shall not mention Mine own Interest or that Support I might justly expect from you till the Common Safety be secured Though I must tell you I am not ashamed to say those charges I have been at have been meerly for the securing and good of this Kingdom though the success hath not been answerable to My desires Therefore I shall only desire you to consider the best way both for the safety and security of this Kingdom wherein are two things chiefly considerable First the chasing out of the Rebels and secondly that other in satisfying your just Grievances wherein I shall promise you to concur so heartily and clearly with you that all the world may see My intentions have ever been and shall be to make this a glorious and flourishing Kingdom There are only Two things more that I shall mention to you The one is to tell you that the lone of Money which I lately had from the City of London wherein the Lords that waited on Me at York assisted Me will only maintain My Army for two months from the beginning of that time it was granted Now My Lords and Gentlemen I leave it to your considerations what dishonour and mischief it might be in case for want of Money My Army be disbanded before the Rebels be put out of this Kingdom Secondly the securing the Calamities the Northern People endure at this time and so long as the Treaty is on foot And in this I may say not only they but all this Kingdom will suffer the harm Therefore I leave this also to your Consideration For the ordering of these Great Affairs whereof you are to treat at this time I am so confident of your love to Me and that your care is such for the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom that I shall freely and willingly leave to you where to begin Only this that you may the better know the state of all the Affairs I have commanded My Lord Keeper to give you a short and free account of those things that have happened in this interim with this Protestation that if his account be not satisfactory as it ought to be I shall whensoever you desire it give you a full and perfect account of every particular One thing more I desire of you as one of the greatest means to make this an happy Parliament That you on your parts as I on Mine lay aside all suspicion one of another As I promised My Lords at York it shall not be My fault if this be not a happy and good Parliament XXIII To the House of Lords at WESTMINSTER Nov. 5. MDCXL MY Lords I do expect that you will hastily make Relation to the House of Commons of those Great Affairs for which I have called you hither at this time and of the trust I have reposed in them and how freely I put My self on their love and affections at this time And that you may know the better how to do so I shall explain My self concerning one thing I spake the last day I told you the Rebels must be put out of this Kingdom 'T is true I must needs call them so so long as they have an Army that does invade us although I am under Treaty with them and under My Great Seal do call them Subjects and so they are too But the state of My Affairs in short is this It 's true I did expect when I did will My Lords and Great ones to be at York to have given a gracious Answer to all their Grievances for I was in good hope by their Wisdoms and Assistances to have made an end of that business but I must tell you that My Subjects of Scotland did so delay them that it was not possible to end there Therefore I can no ways blame My Lords that were at Rippon that the Treaty was not ended but must thank them for their pains and industry And certainly had they as much power as affections I should by this time have brought these distempers to a happy period So that now the Treaty is transported from Rippon to London where I shall conclude nothing without your knowledge and I doubt not but by your approbation for I do not desire to have this great Work done in a corner for I shall lay open all the steps of this Misunderstanding and the causes of the great Differences between Me and My Subjects of Scotland And I doubt not but by your assistance to make them know their Duty and also by your assistance to make them return whether they will or no. XXIV To the Lords and Commons at the Banquetting-House in WHITE-HALL Jan. 25. MDCXL XLI MY Lords and you the Knights Citizens and Burgesses The principal cause of My coming here at this time is by reason of the slow proceedings in Parliament
was informed it related not to the Date but the Execution of the Warrant His Majesty said It might have been better expressed then and that it was a high thing to tax a King with breach of Promise As for this Declaration I could not have believed the Parliament would have sent Me such an one if I had not seen it brought by such persons of Honour I am sorry for the Parliament but glad I have it For by that I doubt not to satisfie My People though I am confident the greater part is so already Ye speak of ill Counsels but I am confident the Parliament hath had worse Informations than I have had Counsels His Majesty asking what he had denied the Parliament the Earl of Holland instanced that of the Militia His Majesty replyed That was no Bill The Earl then said It was a necessary request at this time His Majesty also replied He had not denied it What passed next day when His Majesty delivered His Answer The Earl of Holland having read His Majesty's Answer to the rest of the Committee endeavoured to perswade His Majesty to come near the Parliament To which His Majesty answered I would you had given Me cause but I am sure this Declaration is not the way to it and in all Aristotle's Rhetoricks there is no such Argument of Perswasion The Earl of Pembrook thereupon telling His Majesty that the Parliament had humbly besought His Majesty to come near them as aforesaid His Majesty replyed He had learnt by their Declaration that words were not sufficient The Earl again moving His Majesty to express what He would have His Majesty said He would whip a Boy in Westminster School that could not tell that by His Answer And That they were much mistaken if they thought His Answer of that a Denial The Earl of Pembrook then asking whether the Militia might not be granted as was desired by the Parliament for a time His Majesty answered Not for an hour You have ask'd that of Me in this was never ask'd of a King and with which I will not trust My Wife and Children His Majesty also said The business of Ireland will never be done in the way that you are in Four hundred will never do that work it must be put into the hands of One. If I were trusted with it I will pawn My Head to end that work And though I am a Begger My self yet speaking with a strong asseveration I can find Money for that XXXIX To the Gentry of Yorkshire when they presented their Petition April 5. MDCXLII MAster Sheriff and Gentlemen I believe you expect not a present and particular answer to your Petition because it is new to Me. Only in general I must tell you that I see by it that I am not deceived in the Confidence I have in the affections of this County to my Person and State And I assure you that I will not deceive your Confidence which at this time you have declared in your Petition to have in Me and I am glad to see that it is not upon mistaken grounds as other Petitions have been to Me since I came to this place Concerning which let Me observe unto you that my Answers were to clear those mistakings for I never did go about to punish or discourage them from Petitioning to Me in an humble way though the subject did not agree with My sense albeit within the memory of man people have been discouraged and threatned to be punished for Petitions I observe that your Petition is so modest that it doth not mention any particular for your own good which indeed I expected as knowing that in some particulars you have great reason to do it And therefore that you may not fare the worse for your Modesty I will put you in mind of three particulars which I conceive to be for the good of this Country The first is concerning your trained Bands to reduce them to a lesser number for which I confess to stand ingaged by promise to you which I had performed long since if I had been put in mind of it And now I tell you shew Me but the way and when you shall think fit I shall instantly reduce them to that number which I promised you two years ago The second is that which is owing to this Countrey for Billet-money The truth is that for the present I cannot repay it Only I will say this that if all the water had gone to the right Mill upon My word you had been long ago satisfied in this particular And so I leave to your discretions which way you will advise and assist Me to comply with the engagements to you in this point The third is that for which I was petitioned as I came up the last year both by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this City and likewise by divers others of this County as I went Southward and that is concerning the Court of York And first let me tell you that as yet I know no legal Dissolution of it for hitherto formally there is nothing come to me either directly or indirectly for the taking of it away therefore I may say it is rather shaken in pieces than dissolved Now my desire is in compliance to what I answered the last year unto the several Petitions delivered to me upon this subject that you would consult and agree among your selves in what manner you would have the Court established most to your own contentments and to the good of all these Northern parts in such a Legal way as that it may not justly be excepted against and I assure you in the word of an honest man that you shall not blame me if you have not full satisfaction in it Within a day or two ye shall have a particular Answer to your Petition which shall be such an one as I am confident will give you good satisfaction and put you into such away as I hope may produce good effects to the good of all this Kingdom XL. To the Gentry of Yorkshire at YORK May 12. MDCXLII GEntlemen I have cause of adding not altering what I meant to say when I gave out the summons for this daies appearance I little thought of these Messengers or of such a Message as they brought The which because it confirms me in what I intend to speak and that I desire you should be truly informed of all Passages between me and the Parliament you shall hear read first my Answer to the Declaration of both Houses concerning Hull the Answer of the Parliament to my two Messages concerning Hull together with my reply to the same and my Message to both Houses declaring the Reasons why I refused to pass the Bill concerning the Militia All which being read His Majesty proceeded I will make no Paraphrases upon what ye have heard it is more befitting a Lawyer than a King Only this observation Since Treason is countenanced so near me it is time to look to my Safety I avow
of War And Justice stands a Prisoner at the Bar. This Scene was like the Passion-Tragedy His Saviour's Person none could Act but He. Behold what Scribes were here what Pharisees What Bands of Souldiers what false Witnesses Here was a Priest and that a Chief one who Durst strike at God and His Vicegerent too Here Bradshaw Pilate there This makes them twain Pilate for Fear Bradshaw condemn'd for Gain Wretch couldst not thou be rich till Charles was dead Thou might'st have took the Crown yet spar'd the Head Th' hast justifi'd that Roman Judge He stood And washt in Water thou hast dipt in Blood And where 's the Slaughter-House White-hall must be Lately His Palace now His Calvary Great CHARLES is this Thy dying-place And where Thou wer 't our KING art Thou our MARTYR there Thence thence Thy Soul took flight and there will we Not cease to Mourn where Thou didst cease to Be. And thus blest Soul He 's gone a Star whose fall As no Eclipse proves Oecumenical That Wretch had skill to sin whose Hand did know How to behead three Kingdoms at one blow England hath lost the Influence of her KING No wonder that so backward was her Spring O dismal Day but yet how quickly gone It must be short Our SUN went down at Noon And now ye Senators is this the Thing So oft declar'd is this your Glorious King Did you by Oaths your God and Country mock Pretend a Crown and yet prepare a Block Did you that swore you 'd Mount CHARLES higher yet Intend the Scaffold for His Olivet Was this Hail Master Did you bow the knee That you might murther Him with Loyalty Alas two Deaths what Cruelty was this The Axe design'd you might have spar'd the Kiss London didst thou Thy Prince's Life betray What could Thy Sables vent no other way Or else didst thou bemoan His Cross then ah Why would'st thou be the cursed Golgotha Thou once hadst Men Plate Arms a Treasury To bind thy KING and hast thou none to free Dull beast thou should'st before thy Head did fall Have had at least thy Spirits Animal Did You Ye Nobles envy CHARLES His Crown Jove being fal'n the Puny-gods must down Your Raies of Honour are eclip'st in Night The Sun is set from whence You drew your Light Religion Veils her self and Mourns that she Is forc'd to own such horrid Villany The Church and State do shake that Building must Expect to fall whose Prop is turn'd to Dust But cease from Tears-CHARLES is most blest of men A God on Earth more than a Saint in Heav'n THE END A COLLECTION OF DECLARATIONS TREATIES AND OTHER Principal Passages concerning the DIFFERENCES BETWIXT King Charles I. AND HIS TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Clearly Manifesting The Justice of His Cause His Sincerity in Religion His Constant Endeavours for Peace Bona agere mala pati Regium est LONDON Printed MDCLXXXVII THE PREFACE TO THE NOBILITY and GENTRY OF ENGLAND I Might call this Collection A Complete Body of English Politicks as comprehending both the Duty and the Interest of all true English-men and those largely set forth in some of the most excellent Discourses that were ever written in this kind Which for their own sakes might claim some better respect from the present Age than to be cast aside as out-dated Pamphlets or at the best confusedly scattered like the Leaves of Sibylla without any care of conserving and transmitting them to Posterity The sad Experience of so many years hath taught this Nation to their cost how miserable even the greatest Subjects make themselves by incroaching upon that Soveraignty which alone can protect them from the Injuries and the Scorn of their Inferiours Here you will discover the Arts the Means and the Degrees by which those Mischiefs were attempted and atchieved Which whensoever you see repeated you will know the Plot is as well against your Privilege and the Liberty of your Countrey as the Prerogative of your Prince Indeed If it were as easie to root out the remembrance of the ill Examples as it is to remit the punishment of the Crimes by Acts of Grace and Pardon and Oblivion it were perhaps no Imprudence to let those Mischiefs sleep with their Authors and leave their Memories buried in the Ruines they have made But since many that are content to take the utmost advantage of a Pardon are yet too good to acknowledge they ever stood in need of any since most will remember only What hath been done and few trouble themselves to inquire How or Why it cannot be thought impertinent together with the Actions to represent also the true Causes that have produced such Effects and the Circumstances that attended them which may remain as Marks to warn Posterity of those Errors which have cost the present Age so dear This is here done not from the private phancies or observations of any one Person or Party but from the Publick and Authentick Writings of Both digested in such order that the Reader may compare what both sides had to say for themselves and thereby discern whose Designs and what Counsels tended most to the Peace and Welfare of the Nation A study most proper for those Ranks of men whom the Favour of Princes hath raised above the Common Multitude to this one End that they may assist Them in the administration of Their Government and in keeping Peace and good order in their Countries To have Collected all that passed in these great Contests would have been the Work of many Volumes But the most material and most necessary to carry on the Series of Times and Things which in a manner comprehend the Sum or at least shew the Result of all the rest are here disposed according to their most natural order of time under these few heads I. His Majesties Declarations concerning His Proceedings in His Four first Parliaments p. 217. II. Declarations and Papers concerning the Differences betwixt His Majesty and His Fifth Parliament p. 241. III. Declarations and Paper concerning the Treaty of Peace at Oxford MDCXLII III. p. 325. IV. A Declaration concerning the Cessation in Ireland Also Declarations and Passages of the Parliament at Oxford p. 401. V. Papers and Passages concerning the Treaty of Peace at Vxbridge p. 437. VI. Messages Propositions and Treaties for Peace With divers Resolutions and Declarations thereupon MDCXLV VI. VII VIII p. 547. HIS MAJESTIES DECLARATIONS CONCERNING HIS PROCEEDINGS IN HIS FOUR FIRST PARLIAMENTS A Declaration of the true Causes which moved His MAJESTY to Assemble and after inforced Him to Dissolve the First and Second Meetings in Parliament THE King 's most Excellent Majesty since His happy access to the Imperial Crown of this Realm having by His Royal Authority summoned and assembled two several Parliaments the first whereof was in August last by adjournment held at Oxford and there dissolved and the other begun in February last and continued until the fifteenth day of this present month of June and then to the unspeakable grief
of Himself and as He believeth of all His good and well-affected Subjects dissolved also although He well knoweth the the calling adjourning proroguing and dissolving of Parliaments being His Great Council of the Kingdom do peculiarly belong unto Himself by an undoubted Prerogative inseparably united to His Imperial Crown of which as of His other Regal Actions He is not bound to give an account to any but to God only whose immediate Lieutenant and Vicegerent He is in these His Realms and Dominions by the Divine Providence committed to His Charge and Government yet forasmuch as by the assistance of the Almighty His purpose is so to order Himself and all His Actions especially the great and publick Actions of State concerning the weal of His People as may justifie themselves not only to His own Conscience and to His own People but to the whole World His Majesty hath thought it fit and necessary as the Affairs now stand both at home and abroad to make a true plain and clear Declaration of the causes which moved His Majesty to assemble and after inforced Him to dissolve these Parliaments that so the mouth of Malice it self may be stopped and the doubts and fears of His own good Subjects at home and of His Friends and Allies abroad may be satisfied and the deserved blame of so unhappy accidents may justly light upon the Authors thereof When His Majesty by the death of His dear and Royal Father of ever-blessed memory first came to the Crown He found himself ingaged in a War with a potent Enemy not undertaken rashly nor without just and honourable grounds but inforced for the necessary defence of Himself and His Dominions for the support of His Friends and Allies for the redeeming of the ancient honour of this Nation for the recovering of the Patrimony of His dear Sister her Consort and their Children injuriously and under colour of Treaties and Friendship taken from them and for the maintenance of the true Religion and invited thereunto and incouraged therein by the humble advice of both the Houses of Parliament and by their large promises and protestations to His late majesty to give Him full and real assistance in those Enterprises which were of so great importance of this Realm and to the general Peace and Safety of all His Friends and Allies But when His majesty entred into a view of His Treasure He found how ill provided He was to proceed effectually with so great an Action unless He might be assured to receive such Supplies from His loving Subjects as might inable Him to manage the same Hereupon His majesty being willing to tread in the steps of His Royal Progenitors for the making of good and wholsome Laws for the better government of His people for the right understanding of their true Grievances and for the supply of moneys to be imployed for those publick services He did resolve to summon a Parliament with all convenient speed He might and finding a former Parliament already called in the life of His Father He was desirous for the speedier dispatch of His weighty affairs and gaining of time to have continued the same without any alteration of the members thereof had He not been advised to the contrary by His Judges and Counsel at Law for that it had been subject to question in Law which He desired to avoid But as soon as possibly He could He summoned a new Parliament which He did with much confidence and assurance of the love of His People that those who not long before had with some importunity won his Father to break off his former Treaties with Spain and to effect it had used the mediation of his now majesty being then Prince and a member of the Parliament and had promised in Parliament their uttermost assistance for the inabling of his late majesty to undergo the War which they then foresaw might follow would assuredly have performed it to his now majesty and would not have suffered him in his first Enterprise of so great an expectation to have run the least hazard through their defaults This Parliament after some adjournment by reason of his majestie's unavoidable occasions interposing being assembled on the eighteenth day of June it is true that his Commons in Parliament taking into their due and serious consideration the manifold occasions which at his first entry did press his majesty and his most important affairs which both at home and abroad were then in action did with great readiness and alacrity as a pledge of their most bounden Duty and Thankfulness and as the first-fruits of the most dutiful affections of his loving and loyal Subjects devoted to his service present his majesty with the free and chearful gift of two entire Subsidies which their gift and much more the freeness and heartiness expressed in the giving thereof his majesty did thankfully and lovingly accept But when he had more narrowly entred into the consideration of his great affairs wherein he was imbarked and from which he could not without much dishonour and disadvantage withdraw his hand He sound that this summe of money was much short of that which of necessity must be presently expended for the setting forward of those great actions which by advice of his Council he had undertaken and were that Summer to be pursued This his majesty imparted to his Commons House of Parliament but before the same could receive that debate and due consideration which was fit the fearful visitation of the Plague in and about the Cities of London and Westminster where the Lords and the principal Gentlemen of quality of his whole Kingdom were for the time of this their service lodged and abiding did so much increase that his majesty without extream peril to the lives of His good Subjects which were dear unto him could not continue the Parliament any longer in that place His Majesty therefore on the eleventh day of July then following adjourned the Parliament from Westminster until the first day of August then following to the City of Oxford and his Highness was so careful to accommodate his Lords and Commons there that as He made choice of that place being then the freest of all others from the danger of that grievous Sickness so He there fitted the Parliament-men with all things convenient for their entertainment and his Majesty himself being in his own heart sincere and free from all ends upon his people which the Searcher of hearts best knoweth He little expected that any misconstruction of His Actions would have been made as He there found But when the Parliament had been a while there assembled and His Majestie 's Affairs opened unto them and a further supply desired as necessity required He found them so slow and so full of delays and diversions in their resolutions that before any thing could be determined the fearful Contagion daily increased and was dispersed into all the parts of this Kingdom and came home even their doors where they were assembled His
on either part would have ruled the cause which His Majesty allowed they were not therewith content but in their intemperate passions and desires to seek for errors in another fell into a greater error themselves and not only neglected to give just satisfaction to His Majesty in several cases which happened concerning His Regality but wholly forgot their ingagements to His Majesty for the publick defence of the Realm whereupon His Majesty wrote a Letter to the Speaker dated the ninth day of June 1626. in these words TRusty and well-beloved We greet you well Our House of Commons cannot forget how often and how earnestly We have called upon them for the speeding of that aid which they intend unto Vs for Our great and weighty Affairs concerning the safety and honour of Vs and Our Kingdoms and now the time being so far spent that unless it be presently concluded it can neither bring Vs money nor credit by the time which themselves have prefixed which is the last of this month and being further deferred would be of little use We being daily advertised from all parts of the great preparation of the Enemy ready to assail us We hold it necessary by these Our Letters to give them Our last and final admonition and to let them know that We shall account all further delays and excuses to be express denials and therefore We will and require you to signifie unto them that We do expect that they forthwith bring forth their Bill of Subsidy to be passed without delay or condition so as it may fully pass that House by the end of the next week at the furthest which if they do not it will force Vs to take other resolutions But let them know that if they finish this according to Our desire that We are resolved to let them sit together for the dispatch of their other affairs and after their recess to bring them together again the next Winter And if by their denial or delay any thing of ill consequence shall fall out either at home or abroad We may call God and man to witness that We have done Our part to prevent it by calling Our people together to advise with Vs by opening the weight of Our occasions unto them and by requiring their timely help and assistance in those Actions wherein We stand ingaged by their own Counsels And We will and command you that this Letter be publickly read in the House Notwithstanding which Letter read in the House being a clear and gracious manifest of His Majesty's resolutions they never so much as admitted one reading to the Bill of Subsidies but in stead thereof they prepared and voted a Remonstrance or Declaration which they intended to prefer to His Majesty containing though palliated with glosing terms as well many dishonourable aspersions upon His Majesty and upon the Sacred memory of His deceased Father as also dilatory excuses for their not proceeding with the Subsidies adding thereto also coloured conditions crossing thereby His Majestie 's direction which His Majesty understanding and esteeming as He had cause to be a denial of the promised Supply and finding that no admonitions could move no reasons or perswasions could prevail when the time was so far spent that they had put an impossibility upon themselves to perform their promises when they esteemed all gracious Messages unto them to be but interruptions His Majesty upon mature advisement discerning that all further patience would prove fruitless on the fifteenth day of this present month He hath dissolved this unhappy Parliament the acting whereof as it was to his Majesty an unexpressible grief so the memory thereof doth renew the hearty sorrow which all His good and well-affected Subjects will compassionate with Him These passages his Majesty hath at the more length and with the true Circumstances thereof expressed and published to the world lest that which hath been unfortunate in it self through the Malice of the authors of so great a mischief and the malevolent Report of such as are ill-affected to this State or the true Religion here professed or the fears or jealousies of Friends and dutiful Subjects might be made more unfortunate in the Consequences of it which may be of worse effect than at the first can be well apprehended And his Majesty being best privy to the integrity of His own heart for the constant maintaining of the sincerity and unity of the true Religion professed in the Church of England and to free it from the open contagion of Popery and secret infection of Schism of both which by His publick Acts and Actions He hath given good testimony and with a single heart as in the presence of God who can best judge thereof purposeth resolutely and constantly to proceed in the due execution of either and observing the subtilty of the adverse party He cannot but believe that the hand of Joab hath been in this disaster that the common Incendiaries of Christendom have subtilly and secretly insinuated those things which unhappily and as his Majesty hopeth beyond the intentions of the Actors have caused these diversions and distractions and yet notwithstanding His most Excellent Majesty for the comfort of His good and well-affected Subjects in whose loves He doth repose Himself with confidence and esteemeth it as his greatest riches for the assuring of his Friends and Allies with whom by God's assistance He will not break in the substance of what he hath undertaken for the discouraging of his Adversaries and the adversaries of his Cause and of his Dominions and Religion hath put on this resolution which He doth hereby publish to all the world That as God hath made him King of this great People and large Dominions famous in former Ages both by Land and Sea and trusted him to be a Father and Protector both of their persons and fortunes and a Defender of the Faith and true Religion so He will go on chearfully and constantly in the defence thereof and notwithstanding so many difficulties and discouragements will take his Scepter and Sword into his hand and not expose the persons of the people committed to his charge to the unsatiable desires of the King of Spain who hath long thirsted after an universal Monarchy nor their Consciences to the yoke of the Pope of Rome and that at home he will take care to redress the just Grievances of his good Subjects as shall be every way fit for a good King And in the mean time his Majesty doth publish this to all his loving Subjects that they may know what to think with truth and speak with duty of his Majesties Actions and Proceedings in these two last dissolved Parliaments Given at His Majestie 's Palace at White-Hall this thirtieth day of June in the Second year of His Majestie 's Reign of Great Britain France and Ireland His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His Loving Subjects of the Causes which moved Him to dissolve His Third Parliament Published by His Majestie 's special command By the
KING A Proclamation about the dissolving of the Parliament WHereas We for the general good of Our Kingdom caused Our High Court of Parliament to assemble and meet by Prorogation the twentieth day of January last past sithence which time the same hath been continued and although in this time by the malevolent dispositions of some ill-affected persons of the House of Commons We have had sundry just causes of offence and dislike of their proceedings yet We resolved with patience to try the uttermost which We the rather did for that We found in that House a great number of sober and grave persons well affected to Religion and Government and desirous to preserve Unity and Peace in all parts of Our Kingdom and therefore having on the five and twentieth day of February last by the uniform Advice of Our Privy Council caused both Houses to be adjourned until this present day hoping in the mean time that a better and more right understanding might be begotten between Us and the Members of that House whereby this Parliament might have an happy end and issue and for the same intent We did again this day command the like Adjournment to be made until the tenth day of this month It hath so happened by the disobedient and seditious carriage of those said ill-affected persons of the House of Commons that We and Our Regal authority and Commandment have been so highly contemned as Our Kingly Office cannot bear nor any former Age can parallel And therefore it is Our full and absolute resolution to dissolve the same Parliament whereof We thought good to give notice unto all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and to the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of this present Parliament and to all others whom it may concern that they may depart about their needful affairs without attending any longer here Nevertheless We will that they and all others should take notice that We do and ever will distinguish between those who have shewed good affection to Religion and Government and those that have given themselves over to Faction and to work disturbance to the Peace and good order of our Kingdom Given at Our Court at White-hall this second day of March in the fourth year of Our Reign of Great Britain France and Ireland God save the KING His MAJESTIE's Speech at the Dissolving of the Parliament My Lords I Never came here upon so unpleasant an occasion it being the Dissolution of a Parliment Therefore men may have some cause to wonder why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission it being a general Maxim of Kings to leave harsh commands to their Ministers Themselves only executing pleasing things Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of Vertue as punishing of Vice I thought it necessary to come here to day to declare to you and all the world that it was meerly the undutiful and seditious carriage in the lower House that hath made the Dissolution of this Parliament And you my Lords are so far from being causes of it that I take as much comfort in your dutiful demeanors as I am justly distasted with their proceedings Yet to avoid mistakings let me tell you that it is so far from me to adjudge all the House alike guilty that I know that there are many there as dutiful Subjects as any in the world it being but some few Vipers amongst them that did cast this mist of undutifulness over most of their eyes yet to say truth there was a good number there that could not be infected with this contagion insomuch that some did express their duties in speaking which was the general fault of the House the last day To conclude as these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment so you my Lords may justly expect from Me that favour and protection that a good King oweth to His loving and dutiful Nobility And now my Lord Keeper do what I have commanded you His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His loving Subjects of the Causes which moved Him to Dissolve the Parliament HOwsoever Princes are not bound to give account of their Actions but to God alone yet for the satisfaction of the minds and affections of Our loving Subjects We have thought good to set down thus much by way of Declaration that We may appear to the world in the truth and sincerity of Our own Actions and not in those colours in which We know some turbulent and ill-affected Spirits to masque and disguise their own wicked intentions dangerous to the State would represent Us to the publick view We assembled Our Parliament the seventeenth day of March in the third year of Our Reign for the safety of Religion for securing Our Kingdoms and Subjects at home and Our Friends and Allies abroad and therefore at the first sitting down of it We declared the miserable afflicted estate of those of the Reformed Religion in Germany France and other parts of Christendom the distressed extremities of Our dearest Uncle the King of Denmark chased out of a great part of his Dominions the strength of that party which was united against Us that besides the Pope and house of Austria and their ancient Confederates the French King professed the rooting out of the Protestant Religion that of the Princes and States on Our party some were over run others diverted and some disabled to give assistance For which and other important motives We propounded a speedy supply of Treasure answerable to the necessities of the Cause These things in the beginning were well resented by the House of Commons and with much alacrity and readiness they agreed to grant a liberal aid But before it was brought to any perfection they were diverted by a multitude of questions raised amongst them concerning their Liberties and Priviledges and by other long disputes that the Bill did not pass in a long time and by that delay Our affairs were put into far worse case than at the first Our forein actions then in hand being thereby disgraced and ruined for want of timely help In this as We are not willing to derogate from the merit and good intentions of those wise and moderate men of that House to whose forwardness We attribute it that it was propounded and resolved so soon so We must needs say that the delay of passing it when it was resolved occasioned by causless jealousies stirred up by men of another temper did much lessen both the reputation and reality of that supply and their spirit infused into many of the Commissioners and Assessors in the Country hath returned up the Subsidies in such a scanty proportion as is infinitely short not only of Our great Occasions but of the precedents of former Subsidies and of the intentions of all well-affected men in that House In those large disputes as We permitted many of Our high Prerogatives to be debated which in the best times of Our Predecessors had never been questioned without punishment or sharp reproof so We
did endeavour to have shortned those debates for winning of time which would have much advantaged Our great Affairs both at home and abroad And therefore both by Speeches and Messages We did often declare Our gracious and clear resolution to maintain not only the Parliament but all Our People in their ancient and just liberties without either violation or diminution and in the end for their full satisfaction and security did by an answer framed in the from by themselves desired to their Parliamentary Petition confirm their ancient and just Liberties and Rights which We resolve with all Constancy and Justice to maintain This Parliament howsoever besides the setling Our necessary Supply and their own Liberties they wasted much time in such proceedings blasting Our Government as We are unwilling to remember yet We suffered to sit until themselves desired us to appoint a time for their recess not naming either Adjournment or Prorogation Whereupon by advice of Our Council We resolved to Prorogue and make a Session and to that end prefixed a day by which they might as was meet in so long a sitting finish some profitable and good Laws and withal gave order for a gracious pardon to all Our Subjects which according to the use of former Parliaments passed the higher House and was sent down to the Commons All which being graciously intended by Us was ill entertained by some disaffected persons of that House who by their artifices in a short time raised so much heat and distemper in the House for no other visible cause but because We had declared Our resolution to prorogue as Our Counsel advised and not to adjourn as some of that House after Our resolution declared and not before did manifest themselves to affect that seldom hath greater passion been seen in that House upon the greatest occasions And then some glances in the House but open rumors abroad were spread that by the Answer to the Petition We had given away not only Our Impositions upon goods exported and imported but the Tonnage and Poundage whereas in the debate and hammering of that Petition there was no speech or mention in either House concerning those Impositions but concerning Taxes and other charges within the Land much less was there any thought thereby to debar Us of Tonnage and Poundage which both before and after the Answer to that Petition the House of Commons in all their Speeches and Treaties did profess they were willing to grant And at the same time many other misinterpretationss were raised of that Petition and Answer by men not well distinguishing between well-ordered liberty and licentiousness as if by Our Answer to that Petition We had let loose the Reins of Our Government And in this distemper the House of Commons laying aside the pardon a thing never done in any former Parliament and other businesses fit to have been concluded that Session some of them went about to frame and contrive a Remonstrance against Our receiving of Tonnage and Poundage which was so far proceeded in the night before the prefixed time for concluding the Session and so hastened by the contrivers thereof that they meant to have put it to the Vote of the House the next morning before We should prorogue the Session And therefore finding Our gracious favaours in that Session afforded to Our people so ill requited and such sinister strains made upon Our Answer to that Petition to the diminution of Our Profit and which was more to the danger of Our Government We resolved to prevent the finishing of that Remonstrance and other dangerous intentions of some ill-affected persons by ending the Session the next morning some few hours sooner than was expected and by Our own mouth to declare to both Houses the causes thereof and for hindring the spreading of those sinister interpretations of that Petition and Answer to give some necessary directions for setling and quieting Our Government until another meeting which We performed accordingly the six and twentieth of June last The Session thus ended and the Parliament risen that intended Remonstrance gave Us occasion to look into that business of Tonnage and Poundage And therefore though Our necessities pleaded strongly for Us yet We were not apt to strain that point too far but resolved to guide Our self by the practice of former Ages and examples of Our most Noble Predecessors thinking those Counsels best warranted which the wisdom of former Ages concurring with the present occasions did approve And therefore gave order for a diligent search of Records upon which it was found that although in the Parliament holden in the first year of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage was not granted unto that King but was first granted unto him by Parliament in the third year of his Reign yet the same was accounted and answered to that King from the first day of his Reign all the first and second years of his Reign and until it was granted by Parliament and that in the succeeding times of King Richard the Third King Henry the Seventh King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage was not only enjoyed by every of those Kings and Queens from the death of each of them deceasing until it was granted by Parliament unto the Successor but in all those times being for the most part peaceable and not burthen'd with like charges and necessities as these modern times the Parliament did most readily and chearfully in the beginning of every of those Reigns grant the same as a thing most necessary for the guarding of the Seas safety and defence of the Realm and supportation of the Royal Dignity And in the time of Our Royal Father of blessed memory He enjoyed the same a full year wanting very few days before his Parliament began and above a year before the Act of Parliament for the grant of it was passed and yet when the Parliament was assembled it was granted without difficulty And in Our own time We quietly received the same three years and more expecting with patience in several Parliaments the like grant thereof as had been made to so many of Our Predecessors the House of Commons still professing that multitude of other business and not want of willingness on their part had caused the setling thereof to be so long deferred And therefore finding so much reason and necessity for the receiving of the ordinary duties in the Custom-House to concur with the practice of such a Succession of Kings and Queens famous for Wisdom Justice and Government and nothing to the contrary but that intended Remonstrance hatched out of the passionate brains of a few particular persons We thought it so far from the wisdom and duty of a House of Parliament as We could not think that any moderate and discreet man upon composed thoughts setting aside passion and distemper could be against receiving of Tonnage and Poundage especially since We do
it to be read A most audacious insolency for any to presume to do that of their own heads which if the whole House had done in that manner had been above their power and had deserved the highest censure But the Speaker refusing to read it the Author of it took on him most seditiously and factiously to declare the contents of it and he and other his Adherents required it should be put to the question Which being misliked by many grave and wise men in the House and refused by the Speaker as We doubt not but all good men will believe he had cause and even abhor the memory of that insolent and seditious Act yet many bitter taunts and invectives were uttered against the Speaker by those factious persons and the doors being fast locked such as were well-affected to Our service were against their wills kept in the House all the time of this tumult and disorder And when some Advertisement came to Us that the House was in great distemper We first sent for the Serjeant of the House whom they after they knew Our pleasure therein presumptuously detained And after We sent a Message unto them by the Gentleman-usher of the Higher House but he coming to the door and declaring that he had a Message from Us was refused to be admitted and being kept at the door a long time at last the House adjourned themselves without receiving Our Message A proceeding so irregular as no Parliament can parallel when Our absolute Commands warranted by Law and precedents of former times were disobeyed the Speaker violated Our Messenger and message excluded which ought to have been admitted if they were a House and if they were not a House they ought not at all to have disputed much less to blast the honour of Our Servants to proscribe Our best Subjects and give Law to Sovereignty striking at the very essence of Monarchy By all which it appears that there wanted not men in that House that would get themselves a name by setting Diana's Temple on fire and make themselves popular by putting all the Kingdom in combustion For what other end could there be in that malicious speech whereby a wicked Shimei at that time would make Us odious in the eyes of all Our people as if it were meant to transfer all Trade and give the fatness of the Land to Strangers A conceipt We call God to witness which never entred into Our Soul and We think never harboured in any heart but that seditious heart which first broached it For God forbid We should love any ends so well as by any necessity to be driven to forget that indissoluble bond between Us and Our people We could and would have expected longer had We conceived any hope of their returning to their duty Whilest the Duke of Buckingham lived He was intituled to all the distempers and ill events of former Parliaments and therefore much endeavour was used to demolish him as the only wall of separation between us and Our people But now he is dead no alteration was found amongst those envenomed spirits which troubled then the blessed harmony between Us and Our Subjects and continue still to trouble it For now under the pretence of publick care of the Common-wealth they suggest new and causeless fears which in their own hearts they know to be false and devise new engines of mischief so to cast a blindness upon the good affections of Our people that they may not see the truth and largeness of Our heart towards them so that now it is manifest the Duke was not alone the mark that those men shot at but was only as a near Minister of Ours taken upon the by and in their passage to their more secret designs which only were to cast Our Affairs into a desperate condition to abate the powers of Our Crown and to bring Our Government into obloquy that in the end all things may be overwhelmed with anarchy and confusion We do not impute these disasters to the whole House of Commons knowing that there were amongst them many religious grave and well-minded men but the sincerer and better part of the House being over-born by the practices and clamors of the other who careless of their duties and taking advantage of the Times and Our Necessities have forced Us to break off this meeting which had it been answered with like duty on their parts as it was invited and begun with love on Ours might have proved happy and glorious both to Us and this whole Nation We have thus declared the manifold causes We had to dissolve this Parliament whereby all the world may see how much they have forgotten their former ingagements at the entry into the War themselves being perswaders to it promising to make us feared by Our Enemies and esteemed by Our Friends and how they turned the necessities grown by that War to enforce Us to yield conditions incompetible with Monarchy And now that Our people may discern that these provocations of evil men whose punishment We reserve to a due time have not changed Our good intentions to Our Subjects We do here profess to maintain the true Religion and Doctrine established in the Church of England without admitting or conniving at any backsliding either to Popery or Schism We do also declare that We will maintain the ancient and just Rights and Liberties of Our Subjects with so much constancy and justice that they shall have cause to acknowledge that under Our Government and gracious protection they live in a more happy and free estate than any Subjects in the Christian world Yet let no man hereby take the boldness to abuse that Liberty turning it to licentiousness nor misinterpret the Petition by perverting it to a lawless liberty wantonly or frowardly under that or any other colour to resist lawful and necessary Authority For as We will maintain Our Subjects in their just Liberties so We do and will expect that they yield as much submission and duty to Our Royal Prerogatives and as ready obedience to Our Authority and Commandments as hath been performed to the greatest of Our Predecessors And for Our Ministers We will not that they be terrified by those harsh proceedings that have been strained against some of them For as We will not command any thing unjust or dishonourable but shall use Our Authority and Prerogatives for the good of Our People so We will expect that Our Ministers obey Us and they shall assure themselves We will protect them As for Our Merchants We let them know We shall always endeavour to cherish and enlarge the trade of such as be dutiful without burthening them beyond that which is fitting but the duty of five in the hundred for the guarding of the Seas and defence of the Realm to which We hold Our selves still obliged and which duty hath continued without interruption so many successions of Ages We hold no dutiful or good Subject will deny it being so necessary for the good of
and informed in the Rights of Our Sovereignty And because the Trials in Our several Courts by the formalities in pleading will require a long protraction We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you all to require your Judgment in the Case as it is set down in the inclosed Paper which will not only gain time but also be of more authority to over-rule any prejudicate opinions of others in the point Given under Our Signet at Our Court of White-hall the second day of February in the twelfth year of Our Reign 1636. C. R. CHARLES R. WHen the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger whether may not the King by Writ under the Great Seal of England command all the Subjects in His Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victuals and Munition and for such time as He shall think fit for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom from such danger and peril and by Law compel the doing thereof in case of refusal or refractoriness And whether in such case is not the King the sole judge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided The Answer of the Judges MAY it please Your most Excellent Majesty We have according to Your Majestie 's command severally and every man by himself and all of us together taken into serious consideration the Case and Questions signed by Your Majesty and inclosed in Your Letter And We are of opinion That when the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger Your Majesty may by Writ under Your Great Seal of England command all the Subjects of this Your Kingdom at their charge to provide and furnish such number of Ships with Men Victual Munition and for such time as Your Majesty shall think fit for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom from such peril and danger And that by Law Your Majesty may compel the doing thereof in case of refusal or refractoriness And we are also of opinion that in such case Your Majesty is the sole judge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided John Bramston John Finch Humphrey Davenport John Denham Richard Hutton William Jones George Crook Thomas Trevor George Vernon Robert Barkly Francis Crauley Richard Weston His MAJESTIE's Declaration to all His loving Subjects of the Causes which moved Him to dissolve His Fourth Parliament THE King 's most Excellent Majesty well knoweth that the Calling Adjourning Proroguing and Dissolving of Parliaments are undoubted Prerogatives inseparably annexed to His Imperial Crown of which He is not bound to render any account but to God alone no more than of His other Regal actions Nevertheless His Majesty whose Piety and Goodness have made Him ever so order and govern all things that the clearness and Candor of His Royal heart may appear to all His Subjects especially in those great and publick matters of State that have relation to the weal and safety of His People and the Honour of His Royal Person and Government hath thought fit for avoiding and preventing all sinister constructions and misinter pretations which the Malice of some persons ill-affected to His Crown and Soveraignty hath or may practise to infuse into the minds an ears of His good and faithful Subjects to set down by way of Declaration the true Causes as well of His Assembling as of His Dissolving the late Parliament IT is not unknown to most of His Majestie 's loving Subjects what discouragements He hath formerly had by the undutiful and seditious carriage of divers of the lower House in preceding Assemblies of Parliament enough to have made Him averse to those ancient and accustomed ways of calling His People together when in stead of dutiful expressions towards His Person and Government they vented their own Malice and disaffections to the State and by their subtle and malignant courses endeavoured nothing more than to bring into contempt and disorder all Government and Magistracy Yet His Majesty well considering that but few were guilty of that seditious and undutiful behaviour and hoping that time and experience had made His loving Subjects sensible of the distemper the whole Kingdom was in danger to be put into by the ill-govern'd actions of those men and His Majesty being ever desirous to tread in the steps of His most noble Progenitors was pleased to issue forth His Writs under the great Seal of England for a Parliament to be holden on the thirteenth day of April last At which day His Majesty by the Lord Keeper of His great Seal was graciously pleased to let both Houses of Parliament know how desirous He was that all His people would unite their hearts and affections in the execution of those Counsels that might tend to the Honour of His Majesty the Safety of His Kingdoms and the good and preservation of all His people and withal how confident He was that they would not be failing in their duties and affections to Him and to the publick He laid open to them the manifest and apparent mischiefs threatned to this and all His other Kingdoms by the mutinous and rebellious behaviour of divers of the Scotish nation who had by their examples drawn many of His Subjects there into a course of disloyalty and disobedience not fit for His Majesty in Honour Safety or Wisdom to endure How to strengthen themselves in their disloyal courses they had addrest themselves to forein States and treated with them to deliver themselves up to their protection and defence as was made apparent under the proper hands of the prime Ring-leaders of that Rebellious Faction These courses of theirs tending so much to the ruine and overthrow of this famous Monarchy united by the descent of the Crown of England upon His Majesty and his Father of blessed Memory His Majesty in His great Wisdom and in discharge of the trust reposed in Him by God and by the Fundamental Laws of both Kingdoms for the protection and government of them resolved to suppress and thereby to vindicate that Sovereign power entrusted to Him He had by the last Summers trial found that his Grace and Goodness was abused and that contrary to his expectation and their faithful promises they had since his being at Berwick and the Pacification there made pursued their former rebellious designs and therefore it was necessary now for his Majesty by power to reduce them to the just and modest condition of their Obedience and subjection which whenever they should be brought unto or seeing their own Errors should put themselves into a way of Humility and Obedience becoming them his Majesty should need no other Mediatours for Clemency and Mercy to them than his own Piety and Goodness and the tender affection he hath ever born to that his native Countrey This being of so great weight and consequence to the whole Kingdo
and the charge of an Army fit to master such a business amounting to so great a sum as his Majesty had no means to raise having not only emptied his own coffers but issued between three and four hundred thousand pounds which he borrowed of his servants upon security out of his own estate to provide such things as were necessary to begin such an action with his Majesty after the example of his Predecessors resorted to his People in their representative Body the Parliament whom he desired with all the expressions of Grace and Goodness which could possibly come from him that taking into serious and dutiful consideration the nature of these bleeding evils and how dangerous it was to lose the least minute of time lest thereby those of Scotland should gain opportunity to frame their parties with forein States that they would for a while lay aside all other debates and pass an Act for the speedy payment of so many Subsidies as might enable his Majesty to put in readiness for this Summer those things which were to be prepared before so great an Army could be brought into the field For further supply necessary for so great an undertaking his Majesty declared that He expected it not till there might be a happy conclusion of that Session and till their just Grievances might be first graciously heard and relieved Wherein as His Majesty would most willingly have given them the precedence before matter of Supply if the great necessity of his occasions could have permitted so he was graciously pleased for their full assurance and satisfaction therein to give them His Royal word That without determining the Session upon granting of the Subsidies He would give them before they parted as much time as the season of the year and the great affairs in hand would permit for considering all such Petitions as they should conceive to be good for the Commonwealth and what they could not now finish they should have full time to perfect towards Winter His Majesty graciously assuring them that He would go along with them for their advantage through all the expressions of a gracious and pious King to the end there might be such a happy conclusion of that as might be the cause of many more meetings with them in Parliament From their first assembling until the 21 of April the House of Commons did nothing that could give His Majesty any content or confidence in their speedy supplying of Him whereupon He commanded both the Houses to attend Him in the Banquetting House at White-Hall in the afternoon of that 21 day of April Where by the Lord Keeper His Majesty put them in mind of the end for which they were assembled which was for His Majestie 's Supply that if it were not speedy it would be of no use unto Him part of the Army then marching at the charge of above a hundred thousand pounds a month which would all be lost if His Majesty were not presently supplied so as it was not possible to be longer forborn Yet His Majestie then exprest that the Supply He for the present desired was only to enable Him to go on with His designs for three or four months and that He expected no further Supply till all their just Grievances were relieved And because His Majesty had taken notice of some misapprehensions about the levying of the Shipping-money His Majesty commanded the Lord Keeper to let them know That He never had any intention to make any Revenue of it nor had ever made any but that all the money collected had been paid to the Treasurer of the Navy and by Him expended besides great sums of money every year out of His Majestie 's own purse That His Majesty had once resolved this year to have levied none but that He was forced to alter His resolution in regard He was of necessity to send an Army for reducing those of Scotland during which time it was requisite the Seas should be well guarded And besides His Majesty had knowledge of the great Fleets prepared by all neighbouring Princes this year and of the insolencies committed by those of Algiers with the store of Ships which they had in readiness And therefore though His Majesty for this present year could not forbear it but expected their concurrence in the levying of it yet for the future to give all His Subjects assurance how just and Royal His intentions were and that all His aim was but to live like their King able to defend Himself and them to be useful to His friends and considerable to His enemies to maintain the Soveraignty of the Seas and so make the Kingdom flourish in trade and commerce He was graciously pleased to let them know that the ordinary Revenue now taken by the Crown could not serve the turn and therefore that it must be by Shipping-money or some other way wherein He was willing to leave it to their considerations what better course to find out and to settle it how they would so the thing were done which so much imported the honour and safety of the Kingdom and His Majesty for His part would most readily and chearfully grant any thing they could desire for securing them in the propriety of their Goods and Estates and in the Liberty of their Persons His Majesty telling them it was in their power to make this as happy a Parliament as ever was and to be the cause of the King 's delighting to meet with His people and His People with Him That there was no such way to effect this as by putting obligations of trust and confidence upon Him which as it was the way of good manners with a King so it was a surer and safer course for themselves than any that their own jealousies and fears could invent His Majesty being a Prince that deserved their trust and would not lose the honour of it and a Prince of such a gracious nature that disdained His People should overcome Him by kindness He had made this good to some other Subjects of His and if they followed His counsel they should be sure not to repent it being the people that were nearest and dearest to Him and Subjects whom He did and had reason to value more than the Subjects of any His other Kingdoms His Majesty having thus graciously expressed Himself unto them He expected the House of Commons would have the next day taken into consideration the matter of Supply and laid aside all other debates till that were resolved of according to His desire But in stead of giving an Answer therein such as the pressing and urgent occasions required they fell into discourses and debates about their pretended Grievances and raised up so many and of so several natures that in a Parliamentary way they could not but spend more time than His Majestie 's great and weighty Affairs could possibly afford His Majesty foreseeing in His great Wisdom that they were not in the way to make this an happy Parliament which He
so much desired and hoped that nothing might be wanting on His part to bring them into the right way for His Honour the safety of the Kingdom and their own good He resolved to desire the assistance of the Lords of the higher House as persons in rank and degree nearest to the Royal Throne and who having received Honour from Him and His Royal Progenitors He doubted not would for those and many other reasons be moved in honour and dutiful affection to His Person and Crown to dispose the House of Commons to express their duties to His Majesty in expediting the matter of Supply for which they were called together and which required so present a dispatch For this purpose His Majesty in His Royal Person came again to the Lords House on Wednesday the 24. day of April where Himself declared to the Lords the cause of His coming which was to put them in mind of what had been by the Lord Keeper in His name delivered unto both Houses the first day of the Parliament and after at White-Hall how contrary to His expectation the House of Commons having held consultation of matter of Religion Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament and voted some things concerning those three heads had thereby given them the precedence before the matter of His Supply that His necessities were such they could not bear delay that whatever He had by the Lord Keeper promised He would perform if the House of Commons would trust Him For Religion that His Heart and Conscience went together with the Religion established in the Church of England and He would give order to His Archbishops and Bishops that no Innovation in matter of Religion should creep in For the Ship-money that He never made or intended to make any profit to Himself of it but only to preserve the Dominion of the Seas which was so necessary that without it the Kingdom could not subsist but for the way and means by Ship-money or otherwise He left it to them For Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament He ever intended His People should enjoy them holding no King so great as He that was King of a rich and free people and if they had not Property of Goods and Liberty of Persons they could be neither rich nor free That if the House of Commons would not first trust Him all His affairs would be disordered and His business lost That though they trusted Him in part at first yet before the Parliament ended He must totally trust them and in conclusion they must for execution of all things wholly trust Him Therefore since the matter was no more than who should be first trusted and that the trust of Him first was but a trust in part His Majesty desired the Lords to take into their considerations His and their own Honour the Safety and welfare of this Kingdom with the great danger it was in and that they would by their advice dispose the House of Commons to give His Supply the precedence before the Grievances His Majesty being departed the Lords took into serious consideration what His Majesty had commended to their care and forthwith laying aside all other debates such was their Lordships dutiful and affectionate carriage they remembring well what had been formerly declared in His Majestie 's name to both Houses His Majestie 's gracious promises and expressions then and at this time with the pressing and urgent occasions which so much imported the Honour of His Majesty and the good of this Kingdom their Lordship 's delivered their votes in these words We are of opinion that the matter of His Majestie 's Supply should have precedence and be resolved of before any other matter whatsoever and we think fit there shall be a Conference desired with the House of Commons to dispose them thereunto Accordingly the next day being Saturday the 25. day of April a Conference was had in the Painted Chamber by a Committee of both Houses where the Lord Keeper by the Lords command told the House of Commons of His Majestie 's being the day before in person in the higher House how graciously he had expressed Himself in matter of Religion Property of Goods and Liberty of Parliament and that He would therein graciously hear and relieve them and give them what in reason could be desired with the effect of what else had been graciously delivered unto them by his Majesty as well touching His constant Zeal and affection to the Religion established in the Church of England as touching the Ship-money and the necessity of His affairs which was such that delay was as prejudicial as denial and that if time were lost both Houses could not recover it and therefore their Lordship's though they would move nothing nor give any advice concerning Subsidies but decline it as that which naturally was to begin with the House of Commons yet being alike interessed and concerned in the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom they held it fit to let them know their opinions and desires which was That they should go first on with the matter of his Majestie 's Supply as that which was most necessary and fit to have precedence and that being done they would chearfully joyn with them in the presenting of their Grievances The House of Commons having heard their Lordships opinion and desire in stead of concurring with their Lordships in preferring the consideration of his Majestie 's Supply before their Grievances they spent the whole day on Monday following being the 27 of April in taking causless exceptions to what had been at the Conference related to them and the next day being Tuesday the 28. of April they desired a Conference with the Lords and their Lordships meeting them presently in the Painted Chamber they were so far from their expressing of any willingness to joyn with their Lordships in what had been upon so weighty reasons recommended unto them that on the contrary they challenged the Lords for invading the Privileges of the House of Commons alledging That the Lords having in the former Conference acknowledged that the matter of Subsidie and Supply ought to begin in the House of Commons had in their voting that it was fit and most necessary that matter of Supply should have precedence before all other business not only been transported beyond the bounds which their Lordships had formerly set to themselves but by medling with matter of Supply had as far as in them lay concluded both the matter and order of proceeding which the House of Commons took to be a breach of their Privilege and for it desired reparation of their Lordships And because the Lords had in the first Conference enumerated those three particulars of Religion Propriety of Goods and Privilege of Parliament the House of Commons collected they had taken notice of some proceedings in their House concerning those particulars and thereby broken another great Privilege of the House of Commons established in Parliament and called the Indempnity of the Commons
This how strange and unexpected soever the Lords heard with patience and being desirous to remove all impediments and clear any mistakings that might retard or avert the resolutions of supplying his Majesty they seriously debated in the higher House what had been objected by the House of Commons and resolved first That their Lordships former voting That in their opinions His Majestie 's Supply should have precedence before all other matters was no breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons and secondly That it was no breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons for their Lordships to hear what His Majesty declared to them and thereupon to report the same to the House of Commons And to the end the House of Commons might have a right understanding of their Lordships proceedings their Lordships desired another Conference with them which was accordingly had on Friday the first of May in the Painted Chamber where by the Command of the Lords the Lord Keeper declared to the House of Commons That the Lords of the higher House had as in duty and affection to his Majestie 's Crown and Government they were bound taken into serious consideration the great and weighty motives of his Majestie 's calling this Parliament the great evils and calamities that hung over their heads and the apparent danger the Kingdom was like to run into if by speedy and fitting supply his Majesty were not enabled to prevent it how insupportable delay and protraction was and how impossible for both Houses to recover the loss of time in a matter of so pressing and urgent necessity that his Majesty had both in the higher House and in the banqueting house at White-Hall expressed his gracious and Princely desire to do all that from a just and gracious King might be expected whereby this Parliament might have a happy conclusion how his Majesty had promised all their just Grievances should be graciously heard and relieved that their Lordships were witnesses His Majesty had given His Royal word herein which their Lordships for their parts did as much trust and confide in as ever Subjects did It was also then further declared unto them That His Majesty had lately honoured their House with His presence again and had there renewed the remembrance of what had before been delivered to both Houses with the impossibility of admitting delay and the clearness of His Majestie 's intentions and resolutions to give all just satisfaction to what with reason could be desired of Him That His Majesty had taken notice of somewhat voted in the House of Commons concerning Religion Propriety of Goods and Liberty of Parliament by which His Majesty conceived the matter of His Supply set aside which He had so often and with such weight of reason desired might have precedence That His Majesty after very gracious assurances of His constant affection and zeal for true Religion and for preventing all Innovations therein relterating His often promises for relieving all their just Grievances with His Royal intentions in that particular of Ship-money which he found much stood upon was pleased to desire their Lordships as persons in rank and degree nearest Him in Honour as much or more concern'd than others and in the safety and prosperity of the Kingdom at least equally interessed with others that in a case of this great and important weight their Lordships would by their counsel and perswasion encline the House of Commons to give His Majesty a speedy answer and resolution in the matter of Supply That their Lordships had taken His Majestie 's desire into serious and dutiful consideration and upon great and solemn debate had only voted in these words We are of opinion that the matter of His Majestie 's Supply should have precedence and be resolved of before any other matter whatsoever and that they did think fit there should be a Conference dâsired with the House of Commons to dispose them thereunto which as it was just and honourable for their Lordships to do so it was no breach of any Privilege of the House of Commons For though their Lordships did admit that the Bill of Subsidies ought to begin in the House of Commons and when it is agreed unto by the Lords must be returned back and be by their Speaker presented and therefore their Lordships disclaimed to meddle with Subsidy or Supply by such beginning in the higher House or by naming the number of Subsidies times of payment or any such circumstances incident to a Bill yet their Lordships might confer and talk about Supplies in general and give their advice therein that being no whit derogatory to the Privileges of the House of Commons their Lordships in all reason being likelier to communicate in the Counsels and secrets of State as those that were nearer to the Royal Throne and having just cause therein to impart their fears and foresight of dangers to the House of Commons That such proceedings of their Lordships as they were grounded upon just and weighty reason so they were agreeable to ancient usage and custom and were fully justified by that establishment in Parliament mentioned by the House of Commons at the last Conference being made at Gloucester in the 9th year of Henry the Fourth and styled not The Indempnity of the Commons as had been said but The Indempnity of Lords and Commons And for the other breach of Privilege which had been objected their Lordships declared That His Majesty had told them the House of Commons had resolved something concerning those three heads of Religion Propriety of Goods and Privilege of Parliament How His Majesty knew of this resolution belonged not to their Lordships to enquire into their Lordship 's not medling with any thing that others said to the King but what the King said to them And that their Lordships were so far from holding it any violation of the Privileges of the House of Commons for their Lordships to hear what the King declared to them and for them thereupon to report the same to the House of Commons that on the contrary in duty to His Majesty their Lordships could do no other and the communicating of it was an argument of affection and desire of good correspondence with the House of Commons and merited no such misconstruction as had been made of it neither did that establishment in Parliament 9 H. 4. contain any words that could be construed to make their Lordships proceedings in this behalf any breach of the Privileges of the House of Commons Their Lordships proceedings and intentions being thus cleared the Lord Keeper by their Lordships command added further That their Lordships could not but return to their first grounds and resolutions which were in all fair and affectionate manner to stir up in those of the House of Commons the just consideration of those great and imminent Dangers that threatned the Kingdom at this time and how dangerous and irrecoverable delay was and withal to dispose them to take into their first and best
of the State of the Kingdom THE Commons in this present Parliament assembled having with much earnestness and faithfulness of affection and zeal to the publick good of this Kingdom and His Majesties Honour and Service for the space of twelve months wrastled with the great Dangers and Fears the pressing Miseries and Calamities the various Distempers and Disorders which had not only assaulted but even overwhelmed and extinguisht the Liberty Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom the comfort and hopes of all His Majesties good Subjects and exceedingly weakned and undermined the foundation and strength of His own Royal Throne do yet find an abounding malignity and opposition in those Parties and Factions who have been the cause of those evils and do still labour to cast aspersions upon that which hath been done and to raise many difficulties for the hinderance of that which remains yet undone and to foment Jealousies betwixt the King and the Parliament that so they may deprive Him and His People of the fruit of his own gracious intentions and their humble desires of procuring the publick Peace Safety and Happiness of this Realm For the preventing of those miserable effects which such malicious endeavours may produce We have thought good to declare First The Root and the growth of these mischievous Designs Secondly The Maturity and ripeness to which they have attained before the beginning of the Parliament Thirdly The effectual Means which have been used for the extirpation of those dangerous evils and the Progress which hath therein been made by His Majesties Goodness and the wisdom of the Parliament Fourthly The ways of Obstruction and Opposition by which that progress hath been interrupted Fifthly The courses to be taken for the removing those Obstacles and for the accomplishing of our most dutiful and faithful intentions and endeavours of restoring and establishing the ancient Honour Greatness and Security of this Crown and Nation The Root of all this mischief we find to be a malignant and pernicious design of subverting the Fundamental Laws and Principles of Government upon which the Religion and Justice of this Kingdom are firmly establish'd The Actors and Promoters hereof have been First The Jesuited Papists who hate the Laws as the obstacles of that Change and subversion of Religion which they so much long for Secondly The Bishops and the corrupt part of the Clergy who cherish Formality and Superstition as the natural effects and more probable supports of their own Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Vsurpation Thirdly Such Counsellors and Courtiers as for private ends have engaged themselves to further the interests of some foreign Princes or States to the prejudice of His Majesty and the State at home The Common Principles by which they moulded and governed all their particular Counsels and Actions were these First To maintain continual Differences and Discontents betwixt the King and the People upon questions of Prerogative and Liberty that so they might have the advantage of siding with Him and under the notions of men addicted to His Service gain to themselves and their parties the places of greatest trust and power in the Kingdom A Second To suppress the purity and power of Religion and such persons as were best affected to it as being contrary to their own ends and the greatest impediment to that Change which they thought to introduce A Third to conjoyn those parties of the Kingdom which were most propitious to their own ends and to divide those who were most opposite which consisted in many particular observations to cherish the Arminian part in those Points wherein they agreè with the Papists to multiply and enlarge the Differences betwixt the common Protestants and those whom they call Puritans to introduce and countenance such Opinions and Ceremonies as are fittest for accommodation with Popery to encrease and maintain ignorance looseness and prophaneness in the People that of those three parties Papists Arminians and Libertines they might compose a body fit to act such Counsels and resolutions as were most conducible to their own ends A Fourth To disaffect the King to Parliaments by Slanders and false Imputations and by putting Him upon other waies of supply which in shew and appearance were fuller of advantage then the ordinary course of Subsidies though in truth they brought more loss than gain both to the King and People and have caused the great Distractions under which we both suffer As in all compounded bodies the Operations are qualified according to the predominant Element so in this mixt party the Jesuited Counsels being most active and prevailing may easily be discovered to have had the greatest sway in all their determinations and if they be not prevented are likely to devour the rest or to turn them into their own nature In the beginning of His Majesties Reign the party begun to revive and flourish again having been somewhat dampt by the breach with Spain in the last year of King James and by His Majesties Marriage with France the Interests and Counsels of that State being not so contrary to the good of Religion and the prosperity of this Kingdom as those of Spain and the Papists of England having been evermore addicted to Spain then France yet they still retained a purpose and resolution to weaken the Protestant parties in all parts and even in France whereby to make way for the Change of Religion which they intended at home The first effect and evidence of their recovery and strength was the dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford after there had been given two Subsidies to His Majesty and before they received relief in any one Grievance many other more miserable effects followed The loss of the Rochel Fleet by the help of our Shipping set forth and delivered over to the French in opposition to the advice of Parliament which left that Town without defence by Sea and made way not only to the loss of that important place but likewise to the loss of all the strength and security of the Protestant Religion in France The diverting of His Majesties course of Wars from the West Indies which was the most facile and hopeful way for this Kingdom to prevail against the Spaniard to an expenceful and succesless attempt upon Cales which was so ordered as if it had rather been intended to make us weary of War then to prosper in it The precipitate breach with France by taking their Ships to a great value without making recompence to the English whose goods were thereupon imbarg'd and confiscate in that Kingdom The Peace with Spain without consent of Parliament contrary to the promise of King James to both Houses whereby the Palatine Cause was deserted and left to chargeable and hopeless Treaties which for the most part were managed by those who might justly be suspected to be no friends to that Cause The charging of the Kingdom with billetted Souldiers in all parts of it and that concomitant design of Germane horse that the Land might either submit with fear or
Bills of the Triennial Parliament for the Continuance of this present Parliament and in the Preamble to the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage the matter of which having begot so many disturbances in late Parliaments We were willing to remove that no Interest of Ours might hereafter break that correspondence abundantly contenting Our self with an Assurance which we still have that We should be repaired and supplyed by a just proportion of Confidence Bounty and Obedience of Our People In the Bills for the taking away the High-Commission and Star-chamber Courts We believed We had given that real satisfaction that all jealousies and apprehensions of arbitrary pressures under the Civil or Ecclesiastical State would easily have been abandoned especially when they saw all possible doubts secured by the visitation of a Triennial Parliament These and others of no mean consideration We had rather should be valued in the hearts and affections of Our People then in any mention of Our own not doubting but as We have taken all these occasions to render their condition most comfortable and happy so they will always in a grateful and dutiful relation be ready with equal tenderness and alacrity to advance Our Rights and preserve Our Honour upon which their own Security and subsistence so much depends And We will beso careful that no particular shall be presented unto Us for the compleating and establishing that Security to which We will not with the same readiness contribute Our best assistance If these Resolutions be the effects of Our present Councils and We take God to witness that they are such and that all Our loving Subjects may confidently expect the benefit of them from Us certainly no ill design upon the Publick can accompany such Resolutions neither will there be great cause of suspicion of any Persons preferred by Us to degrees of Honour and places of Trust and imployment since this Parliament And We must confess that amongst Our misfortunes We reckon it not the least That having not retained in Our Service nor protected any one person against whom Our Parliament hath excepted during the whole sitting of it and having in all that time scarce vouchsafed to any man an instance of Our Grace and Favour but to such who were under some eminent character of Estimation amongst Our People there should so soon be any misunderstanding or jealousie of their Fidelity and uprightness especially in a time when We take all occasions to declare that We conceive Our self only capable of being served by honest men and in honest ways However if in truth We have been mistaken in such Our election the particular shall be no sooner discovered to Us either by Our own observation or other certain information then We will leave them to publick Justice under the marks of Our Displeasure If notwithstanding this any Malignant Party shall take heart and be willing to sacrifice the Peace and Happiness of their Country to their own sinister ends and ambitions under what pretence of Religion and Conscience soever if they shall endeavour to lessen Our Reputation and Interest and to weaken Our lawful Power and Authority with Our good Subjects if they shall go about by discountenancing the present Laws to loosen the Bonds of Government that all Disorder and Confusion may break in upon Us We doubt not but God in his good time will discover them unto Us and the wisdom and courage of Our High Court of Parliament joyn with Us in their suppression and punishment Having now said all that We can to express the clearness and uprightness of Our Intensions to Our People and done all We can to manifest those Intentions We cannot but confidently believe all Our good Subjects will acknowledge Our part to be fully performed both in Deeds past and present Resolutions to do whatsoever with Justice may be required of Us and that their quiet and prosperity depends now wholly upon themselves and is in their own power by yielding all obedience and due reverence to the Law which is the inheritance of every Subject and the only security he can have for his Life Liberty or Estate and the which being neglected or disesteemed under what specious shews soever a great measure of Infelicity if not an irreparable Confusion must without doubt fall upon them And We doubt not it will be the most acceptable Declaration a King can make to His Subjects that for Our part We are resolved not only duely to observe the Laws Our Self but to maintain them against what opposition soever though with the hazard of Our Being And Our hope is that not only the Loyalty and good Affections of all Our loving Subjects will concur with Us in the constant preserving a good understanding between Us and and Our People but at this time their own and Our Interest and compassion of the lamentable condition of Our poor Protestant Subjects in Ireland will invite them to a fair Intelligence and Unity amongst themselves that so We may with one heart intend the relieving and recovering that unhappy Kingdom where those barbarous Rebels practise such inhumane and unheard-of Outrages upon Our miserable people that no Christian ear can hear without horrour nor Story parallel And as We look upon this as the greatest affliction it hath pleased God to lay upon Us so Our unhappiness is increased in that by the Distempers at home so early remedies have not been applyed to those growing evils as the expectation and necessity there requires though for Our part as We did upon the first notice acquaint Our Parliament of Scotland where We then were with that Rebellion requiring their aid and assistance and gave like speedy intimation and recommendation to our Parliament here so since Our return hither We have been forward to all things which have been proposed to Us towards that Work and have lately Our Self offered by a Message to Our House of Peers and communicated to Our House of Commons to take upon Us the care to raise speedily ten thousand English Voluntiers for that Service if the House of Commons shall declare that they will pay them Which particulars We are in a manner necessitated to publish since We are informed that the Malice of some persons hath whispered it abroad That the no speedier advancing of this business hath proceeded from some want of alacrity in Us to this great Work whereas we acknowledge it a high crime against Almighty God and inexcusable to Our good Subjects of Our three Kingdoms if We did not to the utmost imploy all Our powers and faculties to the speediest and most effectual assistance and protection of that distressed People And we shall now conjure all Our good Subjects of what degree soever by all the Bonds of Love Duty or Obedience that are precious to good men to joyn with Us for the recovery of the Peace of that Kingdom and the preservation of the Peace of this to remove all their Doubts and Fears which may interrupt their Affection to Us
the advice of private men or by any unknown or unsworn Counsellors but that such matters as concern the publick and are proper for the High Court of Parliament which is Your Majesties great and supreme Council may be debated resolved and transacted only in Parliament and not elsewhere and such as shall presume to do any thing to the contrary shall be reserved to the censure and judgment of Parliament And such other matters of State as are proper for Your Majesties Privy Council shall be debated and concluded by such of the Nobility and others as shall from time to time be chosen for that place by approbation of both Houses of Parliament And that no publick Act concerning the Affairs of the Kingdom which are proper for Your Privy Council may be esteemed of any validity as proceeding from the Royal Authority unless it be done by the advice and consent of the major part of Your Council attested under their hands And that Your Council my be limited to a certain number not exceeding twenty five nor under fifteen And if any Counsellors place happen to be void in the Intervals of Parliament it shall not be supplied without the assent of the major part of the Council which choice shall be confirmed at the next sitting of the Parliament or else to be void III. That the Lord High Steward of England Lord High Constable Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal Lord Treasure Lord Privy Seal Earl Marshal Lord Admiral Warden of the Cinque-Ports chief Governor of Ireland Chancellor of the Exchequer Master of the Wards Secretaries of State two Chief Justices and Chief Baron may always be chosen with the approbation of both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by assent of the major part of the Council in such manner as is before exprest in the choice of Counsellors IV. That he or they unto whom the government and education of the King's Children shall be committed shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliaments by the assent of the major part of the Council in such manner as is before exprest in the choice of Counsellours And that all such Servants as are now about Them against whom both Houses shall have any just exception shall be removed V. That no Marriage shall be concluded or treated for any of the King's Children with any foreign Prince or other person whatsoever abroad or at home without the consent of Parliament under the penalty of a Praemunire unto such as shall so conclude or treat any Marriage as aforesaid and that the said Penalty shall not be pardoned or dispensed with but by the consent of both Houses of Parliament VI. That the Laws in force against Jesuites Priests and Popish Recusants be strictly put in execution without any toleration or dispensation to the contrary and some more effectual course may be enacted by authority of Parliament to disable them from making any disturbance in the State or eluding the Law by trusts or otherwise VII That the Votes of Popish Lords in the House of Peers may be taken away so long as they continue Papists And that His Majesty would consent to such a Bill as shall be drawn for the Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion VIII That Your Majesty will be pleased to consent that such a Reformation be made in the Church-Government and Liturgy as both Houses of Parliament shall advise wherein they intend to have consultations with Divines as is expressed in their Declaration to that purpose And that your Majesty will contribute Your best assistance to them for the raising of a sufficient maintenance for Preaching Ministers through the Kingdom And that Your Majesty will be pleased to give Your consent to Laws for the taking away of Innovations and Superstition and of Pluralities and against Scandalous Ministers IX That Your Majesty will be pleased to rest satisfied with that course that the Lords and Commons have appointed for ordering the Militia until the same shall be further setled by a Bill And that Your Majesty will recall Your Declarations and Proclamations against the Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons concerning it X. That such Members of either House of Parliament as have during this present Parliament been put out of any Place and Office may either be restored to that Place and Office or otherwise have satisfaction for the same upon the Petition of that House whereof he or they are Members XI That all Privy-Counsellours and Judges may take an Oath the form whereof to be agreed on and setled by Act of Parliament for the maintaining of the Petition of Right and of certain Statutes made by this Parliament which shall be mentioned by both Houses of Parliament And that an inquiry of all the breaches and violations of these Laws may be given in charge by the Justices of the King's Bench every Term and by the Judges of Assize in their Circuits and Justices of Peace at the Sessions to be presented and punished according to Law XII That all the Judges and all Officers placed by approbation of both Houses of Parliament may hold their places Quam diu bene se gesserint XIII That the Justice of Parliament may pass upon all Delinquents whether they be within the Kingdom or fled out of it And that all persons cited by either House of Parliament may appear and abide the censure of Parliament XIV That the General Pardon offered by Your Majesty may be granted with such Exceptions as shall be advised by both Houses of Parliament XV. That the Forts and Castles of this Kingdom may be put under the Command and Custody of such persons as Your Majesty shall appoint with the approbation of Your Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament with the approbation of the major part of the Council in such manner as is before expressed in the choice of Counsellours XVI That the extraordinary Guards and Military Forces now attending Your Majesty may be removed and discharged And that for the future You will raise no such Guards or extraordinary Forces but according to Law in case of actual Rebellion or Invasion XVII That Your Majesty will be pleased to enter into a more strict Alliance with the States of the United Provinces and other neighbour-Princes and States of the Protestant Religion for the defence and maintenance thereof against all designs and attempts of the Pope and his adherents to subvert and suppress it whereby Your Majesty will obtain a great access of strength and reputation and Your Subjects be much encouraged and enabled in a Parliamentary way for Your aid and assistance in restoring Your Royal Sister and the Princely Issue to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them and relieving the other distressed Protestant Princes who have suffered in the same Cause XVIII That Your Majesty will be pleased by Act of Parliament to clear the Lord Kimbolton and the
they please to call it of the tenth of June will surely believe the Peace of this Kingdom to be extreamly shaken and at least the King himself to be consulted with and privy to these Propositions But We hope that when Our good Subjects shall find that this goodly pretence of the Defence of the King is but a specious bait to seduce weak and inconsiderate men into the highest Acts of Disobedience and Disloyalty against Us and of Violence and Destruction upon the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom they will no longer be captivated by an implicite Reverence to the name of both Houses of Parliament but will carefully examine and consider what number of persons are present and what persons are prevalent in those Consultations and how the Debates are probably managed from whence such horrid and monstrous Conclusions do result and will at least weigh the Reputation Wisdom and Affection of those who are notoriously known out of the very horrour of their Proceedings to have withdrawn themselves or by their skill and violence to be driven from them and their Counsels Whilst their Fears and Jealousies did arise or were infused into the people from Discourses of the Rebels in Ireland of Skippers at Roterdam of Forces from Denmark France or Spain how improbable and ridiculous soever that bundle of Informations appeared to all wise and knowing men it is no wonder if the easiness to deceive and the willingness to be deceived did prevail over many of Our weak Subjects to believe that the Dangers which they did not see might proceed from Causes which they did not understand But for them to declare to all the world That We intend to make War against Our Parliament whilest We sit still complaining to God Almighty of the Injury offered to Us and to the very Being of Parliaments and that We have already begun actually to levy Forces both of Horse and Foot whilest We have only in a Legal way provided a smaller Guard for the security of Our own Person so near a Rebellion at Hull than they have had without lawful Authority above these eight Months upon imaginary and impossible Dangers to impose upon Our peoples Sense as well as Understanding by telling them We are doing that which they see We are not doing and intending that they all know as much as Intentions can be known We are not intending is a boldness agreeable to no power but the Omnipotence of those Votes whose absolute Supremacy hath almost brought Confusion upon King and People and against which no Knowledge in matter of Fact or Consent and Authority in matter of Law they will endure shall be opposed We have upon all occasions with all possible Expressions professed Our fast and unshaken Resolutions for Peace And We do again in the presence of Almighty God Our Maker and Redeemer assure the World that We have no more thought of making a War against Our Parliament than against Our own Children that We will maintain and observe the Acts assented to by Us this Parliament without Violation of which that for the frequent assembling of Parliaments is one and that We have not or shall not have any thought of using any force unless We shall be driven to it for the security of Our Person and for the defence of the Religion Laws and Liberty of the Kingdom and the just Rights and Privileges of Parliament And therefore We hope the Malignant Party who have so much despised Our Person and usurped Our Office shall not by their specious fraudulent insinuations prevail with Our good Subjects to give credit to their wicked Assertions and so to contribute their Power and Assistance for the ruine and destruction of Us and themselves For Our Guard about Our Person which not so much their Example as their Provocation inforced Us to take 't is known it consists of the prime Gentry in Fortune and Reputation of this County and of one Regiment of Our Trained Bands who have been so far from offering any Affronts Injuries or Disturbance to any of Our good Subjects that their principal end is to prevent such and so may be Security can be no Grievance to our People That some ill affected persons or any persons have been employed in other parts to raise Troops under colour of Our Service or have made large or any offers of Reward and Preferment to such as will come in is for ought We know and as We believe an Untruth devised by the Contrivers of this false Rumour We disavow it and are confident there will be no need of such Art or Industry to induce Our loving Subjects when they shall see Us oppressed and their Liberties and Laws confounded and till then We shall not call on them to come in to Us and to assist Us. For the Delinquents whom We are said with a high and forcible hand to protect let them be named and their Delinquency and if We give not satisfaction to Justice when We shall have received satisfaction concerning Sir John Hotham by his legal Trial then let Us be blamed But if the Design be as it is well known to be after We have been driven by force from Our City of London and kept by force from Our Town of Hull to protect all those who are Delinquents against Us and to make all those Delinquents who attend on Us or execute Our lawful Commands We have great reason to be satisfied in the Truth and Justice of such Accusation lest to be Our Servant and to be a Delinquent grow to be terms so convertible that in a short time We be left as naked in Attendance as they would have Us in Power and so compel Us to be waited on only by such whom they shall appoint and allow and in whose presence We should be more miserably alone than in Desolation it self And if the seditious Contrivers and Fomenters of this Scandal upon Us shall have as they have had the power to mis-lead the major part present of either or both Houses to make such Orders and send such Messages and Messengers as they have lately done for the apprehension of the great Earls and Barons of England as if they were Rogues or Felons and whereby Persons of Honour and Quality are made Delinquents merely for attending upon Us and upon Our Summons whilst other men are forbid to come near Us though obliged by the Duty of their Places and Oaths upon Our lawful Commands 't is no wonder if such Messengers are not very well intreated and such Orders not obeyed Neither can there be a surer and a cunninger way found out to render the Authority of both Houses scorned and vilified than to assume to themselves merely upon the Authority of the Name of Parliament a power monstrous to all Understandings and to do Actions and to make Orders evidently and demonstrably contrary to all known Law and Reason as to take up Arms against Us under colour of defending Us to cause Money to be brought in to
Parliament as to prevail with the major part remaining of both Houses how much soever that major part be the smaller in comparison of the whole to suffer that name whose Reverence by all means We desire to preserve to be so soyl'd as to be prefixed to a Paper of this unsufferable nature that tends not only to the Destruction of Our Person but to the Dissolution of this Government and of all Society If at least this Declaration which We rather see cause to hope it hath not have so much as been seen in the Houses and be not the single work of the same Omnipotent Committee to which is devolved the whole power of the Parliament and which as We understand is trusted without acquainting the Houses to break up any Man's House and take away the Arms and Mony intended to defend and feed him if they shall see cause to suspect that he meant to assist his Sovereign with them and may well be as fully and implicitly trusted to Declare as to Act whatsoever they please And though We doubt not but to their utmost they will continue that injury to Us and that violation of the Subjects Liberty and of publick Right to vex and imprison those who shall publish any of Our Answers to their Declarations and indeed whilst they affirm against all Truth and command against all Law it concerns them to take care that nothing be heard but what they say yet Our comfort is that Our Intentions and the Duty of Our Subjects are so well and so generally known to Our People that We cannot fear from whomsoever it come and though no Answer came out with it that either what is there said should be believed or what is there commanded should be obeyed Who knows not that Our Commissions for Horse and Foot were not granted out till not only our Prerogative but Our Propriety Our Goods Arms Towns Militia and Negative Voice were taken from Us and all the Kingdom commanded to be in Arms and invited to bring in Horse Plate and Mony to frame an Army against Our Command and Proclamation and till Horse were raised and mustered accordingly and then with no intention nor hath any Action in any of Our Ministers given the least suspicion of such an Intention by them to compel Our Subjects to submit to Our Commissions of Array or make use of them against the Parliament but to regain Hull held out in Rebellion against Us and to suppress all such as without Our Authority and against Our Commands should raise Forces in this Our Kingdom and levy War against Us under pretence of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses And such traitorous Assemblies and Marches have been the only lawful and necessary Occasions of our good Subjects which have not been so much as interrupted by any Troops of Ours And what is affirmed of the spoiling and killing them as they were so travelling under our Protection and according to Law is a most malicious Affirmation as well without truth as without instance invented at once to make Our Troops terrible and Us odious to Our People What care have We taken that by this means the power of the Sword should not come into the hands of Papists who have by Our Proclamation strictly charged that no Papist should presume to list himself either as Officer or Soldier in this Our Army having directed how he should be discovered if he did presume and suffer if he were discovered What care have We taken to avoid Combustion and Civil War offering to lay down Our Arms when they shall have lay'd down their in whom it was Treason to take them up and restored Us those things which could not without Treason as well as Injustice be forced away and kept from Us Our Arms Ships Town c. And when We might meet both Our Houses in a safe and secure place to debate freely of all the Differences in a Parliamentary way And by whose Influences these Propositions were rejected and whether the Proposer or Rejecters were most careful to avoid this Ruine and Desolation of the Kingdom We leave all the World to judge and whether they who divert the Men and Mony collected for the relief of Distressed Ireland to raise Forces against their Prince who asks them nothing but what is Legal nor will deny them any thing that is do not joyn with the Popish and Jesuitical Faction in the bloody Massacre of many Thousand Protestants in that miserable Kingdom We propose likewise to every Man's judgment whether the declaring those to be Traitors who execute Our Commission of Array issued in so many Kings Reigns agreed upon by Parliament and there yielded to by the King to be settled as now it is as a matter of great grace and since that time which was in the 5 Hen. IV. in no Parliament complained of whilst Our good Subjects are vexed and imprisoned not only for resisting but for humbly petitioning so as may seem but to insinuate something against their most illegal Commands concerning the Militia To which power of commanding no Title can be made by any Statute or any Precedent nor can We ever find by search nor obtain to be told what those Fundamental Laws are by which it is pretended so deep those Foundations are laid beyond all means of discovery and the declaring that those who raise Men by virtue of Our Command and Commission the only Legal way traitorously and rebelliously levy War against the King and ordaining it to be lawful for all Our Subjects by force of Arms to resist them and their Accomplices and the raising of Forces by Authority of Parliament that is by the remaining part of both Houses never in the most outragious times before attempted and commanding several persons whom they call Lieutenants to lead and giving them power to transport from one County to another the Forces of several of Our Counties against them and to kill and slay all such as by force shall oppose them Our Self not excepted commanding all Our Officers and Subjects to be assisting to them and undertaking to secure them for so doing by the Power and Authority of Parliament which is first to allow and next to command and then to pardon Treason be not to have already subverted as much as in them lies the Liberty of the Subject the Law of the Land and altered the Ancient Government of the Kingdom leaving Our Subjects without all Rule to walk by when the most clear Laws cannot direct and secure them and they see all those Ancient bounds passed over which were ever as much known to be the Duty of both Houses to observe as it was evident that there were and that it was necessary that there should be Two Houses of Parliament and at once behold the Law which is to defend and protect the Subject and Us Who are to protect and defend the Law need Defence and Protection We doubt not therefore but all Our good Subjects will come in
endeavouring to make any excuse for the Actions of Our Ministers That the measure of Our Justice and Favour by way of Reparation should far exceed the proportion of the Sufferings Our good Subjects had undergone by Us which We were confident would beget so mutual an Affection and confidence between Us that such a foundation of firm and stable Happiness would immediately have been laid for the whole Kingdom that all memory of former Grievances would have been easily buried and that this Parliament should receive a glorious celebration both by King and People to the end of the world And therefore upon the first Convention on the third of November We declared Our resolution in that point and then or soon after desired that whatever mistaking had grown in the Government either of Church or State might be removed and all things reduced to the Order of the time the memory whereof is justly precious to this Nation of Queen Elizabeth and for any expression of their Affection to Us in supply of Our known Necessities We were so far from pressing We resolved not to think of it till all Our good People should be abundantly satisfied in all necessary provision for their Liberty and Property and whatsoever else might disturb them in their Estates or Consciences How firmly We have kept Our Self to this Resolution is evident to all the world At the beginning of the Parliament We quickly discerned by some Circumstances of their proceedings that they meant not to confine or contain themselves within the Paths of their Predecessors which We imputed to the disorder and impatience the former Sufferings of the Kingdom had begot in them and therefore We resolved to take no exceptions to any particular but to do Our part in any point of Reformation as soon and as often as any opportunity should be offered unto Us believing that as soon as they should find themselves restored to their old security and the matter and substance of their Doubts and Fears to be removed they would easily and willingly reduce themselves into their good old way and apply themselves to the usual form of their Predecessors in the course of their proceedings And though We well knew the Combination entred into by several persons for an alteration in the Government of the Church which could not but have an Influence upon the Civil Government of the State too and observed that those men had greatest Interest and power of perswading in both Houses who had entred into such Combination yet Our Resolution was so full for the publick satisfaction of Our People that We believed even those men would either have been converted in their Consciences by the clearness and justice of Our Actions or would have appeared so unreasonable or been discovered so seditious that their Malice and Fury would not have been able to have done mischief And therefore We took no notice of the great labour and skill the prime Leaders amongst them had used to get men of their Faction nominated and elected to serve as Members of the House of Commons and did use to remove others whom they knew to be of different Opinions though they were fairly and legally elected wherein there was no other measure or Rule of Justice observed than singly with reference to the Opinions or Affections of the Persons witness besides their putting out or keeping in men upon questionable Elections without the least colour or shadow of Justice their Order whereby they at one clap expelled a very great number of Persons fairly elected by their Country upon pretence that they had some hand or their names used in some Project Monopoly or Patent without charging them with any Crime or to this day proceeding against them and yet they continue amongst them Sir Henry Mildmay Master Laurence Whitakers and others whose Affections and Opinions they are well pleased with though the first of them is notoriously known to be the chief Promoter of the business of the Gold and Silver Thred a Commission complained of viewed and examined and therefore his name might have been easily taken notice of and the other as conversant and as much imployed as a Commissioner in matters of that nature as any Man We speak not this to excuse Monopolies the Inconveniences of which We are sensible of and shall for the future prevent but to shew the partiality of that Faction and the use they make of them to their own advantage The first Remedy after the impeaching several Persons of High Treason whom they looked upon as the chief causes of the publick Sufferings they proposed was The Bill for the Triennial Parliament to the which though We might justly have paused upon several Expressions and Clauses in it and might very well have insisted upon Our old Priviledge and Custom not to pass any Bill till the end of the Session yet since We really did believe most of the Mischiefs then complained of proceeded from the too-long intermission of Parliaments and were resolved for the future to communicate freely and frequently that way with Our Subjects We passed over those Exceptions and consented to it especially upon this Confidence That when such other Acts should be agreed upon for the ease and security of Our People as We desired and expected should be preferred to Us this Act would be a sufficient earnest and assurance that all those Acts should be faithfully observed by Us and so there should be no room left for any Fears and Jealousies which might prevent that mutual Confidence between Us and Our People We earnestly desired to raise and for some time after the passing this Act We found such an acknowledgment from both Houses of Our singular Grace and Favour in consenting to it and so great expressions of their Affections and purposes towards Us that We believed the sense of it would never have been forgotten and were as much pleased that We had taken that way of obliging Our People as they were with the Benefit it self But We were very well able to discover that whatsoever seemed to be asked of Us or to be complained of to Us there was still a Faction of a few Ambitious Discontented and Seditious persons who under pretence of being enemies to Arbitrary Power and of compassion towards those who out of Tenderness of Conscience could not submit to some things enjoyned or commended in the Government of the Church had in truth a desire and had entred into a Combination to that purpose to alter the Government both of Church and State which they were yet to disguise till by their Art or Industry they had infected some with their Opinions and by their cunning Demeanour and Managery of the publick Interests they had seduced others to an implicite confidence in their Power Wisdom and Integrity And against this Design We only opposed a resolution to contribute all Our assistance for the Peace Happiness and Security of Our People and so to convince their Understandings if their Error proceeded from Weakness
Members and further offfered to grant such a free and a general Pardon to all Our loving Subjects as should be thought fit by the advice of both Houses which We thought to be the best way to compose all Fears and Jealousies of what kind soever But the Business of these Men could not be done that way a general Pardon would never have settled the Militia and dispossessed Us of those Rights and that Power without which they could not compass their Designs They now resort to their old refuge the Common People of the City and Suburbs and whatever they desired these Men must ask for the satisfaction of the Fears and Jealousies of the City The City had been desired to lend a hundred thousand pounds for the relief of Ireland and their Answer is drawn up to their hands of their inability to lend and such Reasons given as might advance what had been upon general Discourses neglected The ten thousand Men proffered by the Scots for Ireland were not accepted A Bill having been offered Us for Pressing and in it a Clause not necessary to the present and therefore purposely as We conceive put in in hope We would upon that refuse it declaring Us to have no power to press a Power constantly practised by Our Ancestors and even in the blessed times of Queen Elizabeth Our pause upon it was urged as a Design to lofe that Kingdom although We had offered to raise ten thousand Voluntiers for that purpose if they would pay them The not securing the Cinque-ports though the Custody of them was in a Noble Person against whom the least exception could not be made and the not settling the Kingdom in a Posture of Defence the not removing Sir John Byron from being Lieutenant of the Tower whereby through distrust they were forced to forbear the bringing in of Bullion to the Mint when'tis notoriously known there was more Bullion brought in to Our Mint in the time that Gentleman was Lieutenant than in the same quantity of time in any Mans Remembrance the Votes of the Bishops and the Popish Lords in the House of Peers and all others things which were then in Design and had in vain been attempted by them by the refusal of the House of Peers several times to joyn with them were now urged as principal reasons by this Petition of London why they could not lend a hundred thousand pounds to Ireland and were pressed by several other Petitions contrived by them and presented to both Houses or to the House of Commons And these Petitions are carried up to the Lords by Master Pym who takes upon him to reproach them for not concurring with the House of Commons and impudently lays that Scandal upon Us That We had suffered many to pass by Our own immediate Warrant who were since Commanders in the head of the Rebels A false and abominable Scandal raised by his own Malice to draw Our good Subjects against Us without the least colour or shadow of truth as appears by those Answers they have published to Our Exception in that point wherein there is not the least Evidence of any such Warrant granted by Us though Master Pym be so great a Person that We can have no Reparation against him for that Calumny but had credit enough with the House of Commons to perswade them to charge themselves unjustly to excuse him and to take upon them that he had said nothing in that Speech but by their directions All this had not that quick operation with the Lords with whom though they had committed Twelve Bishops for Treason a thing themselves blush at and the Popish Lords had absented themselves they could not prevail to joyn in matters so unreasonable in themselves and dishonourable to Us therefore the House of Commons by themselves Petition Us thank Us for Our Message of the twentieth of January though they have since declared it to be a breach of Privilege resolving to take it into serious and speedy Consideration only desire for their security That We will put the Tower of London and all the Forts of the Kingdom and the whole Militia into such hands as should be recommended unto Us by them for the House of Peers had refused to joyn with them and so were upon the matter petitioned against and left out in the power of recommendation Sure this was the strangest Petition that till that time had ever been presented by the House of Commons to their King yet We returned a gracious Answer That if any particular should be presented to Us whereby it might appear that the Lieutenant of the Tower was unfit for the trust We had committed to him We would immediately remove him otherwise We were obliged in Honour and Justice not to put such a Disgrace upon him For the Forts and Castles that We were resolved they should be always in such hands and only in such as Our Parliament should have cause to confide in that We would have the nomination of them Our Self but that they should be always left if any thing were objected against them to the Wisdom and Justice of the Parliament For the Militia that when some particular course should be proposed to Us for the ordering of it We should return an Answer agreeable to Honour and Justice as appears more at large in Our Answer of the 28. of February to that Petition This gave them no better satisfaction than the former but finding that without the Consent of the House of Peers of whom much the major part though the Popish Lords and the Bishops were absent dissented from them and against Our Consent they were not like to prevail over Our People they resolve of another Attempt upon them their old friends the Multitude must be again brought down by the great Conductor Captain Venne who is notoriously known and proof thereof offered to be produced by Master Kirton to the House of Commons to have several times sent to and solicited People to come down out of the City with Swords and Pistols when he hath told them or sent them word by his Wife that the worser Party was like to have the better of the good Party and for all which publick offer neither was Master Venne then suffered to answer to this Charge nor Master Kirton allowed any time though many days were set to bring in the particulars and witnesses Many Persons are importuned to set their hands against the Lieutenant of the Tower That they durst not bring in any Bullion to the Mint for want of Confidence when they never brought in any in their lives and being asked how they could set their hands to such a Certificate when it was known that never greater quantity was brought in than at that time answered That they were directed by Parliament-men to do so or else they could not compass their Ends. And having gotten Multitudes of People of several Counties OF such as pretended to be so to deliver Petitions to both Houses and to desire leave
and any found so unjust so illegal as the proceedings against the Gentlemen of Kent for preparing and presenting a Petition agreeable in form and matter to all the Rules of Law and Justice by which Men are to be informed to ask any thing as the judgment against Mr. Binyon that he should be disfranchised be incapable of ever bearing Office in the Commonwealth imprisoned in the Gaol at Colchester for the space of two years and to pay three thousand pounds fine nothing being charged and proved against him that any Law or Reason could tell him he was not to do Though the Sentences in the other Courts were in some cases too severe and exceeded the measure of the offence there was still an offence somewhat done that in truth was a crime but here Declarations Votes and Judgments pass upon Our People for matters not suspected to be crimes till they are punished And have such proceedings ever been before this Parliament If Monopolies have been granted to the prejudice of Our People the calamity will not be less if it be exercised by a good Lord by a Bill than itt was before by a Patent and yet the Earl of Warwick thinks fit to require the Letter-Office to be confirmed to him for three lives at the same time that 't is complained of as a Monopoly and without the alteration of any Circumstance for the ease of the Subject and this with so much greediness and authority that whilest it was complained of as a Monopoly he procured an Assignment to be made of it to him from the person complained of after he had by his Interest stopped the proceedings of the Committee for the space of five Months before that Assignment made to him upon pretence that he was concerned in it and desired to be heard Of such soveraign Power was his Name as it could be no longer a Grievance to Our People if it might prove an Advantage to him A Precedent very likely to be followed in many Monopolies if they may be assigned to Principal members or their friends witness the connivence now given to Sir John Meldram for his Lights since his undertaking their Service at Hull Have Partiality and Corruption in Judges obstructed the course of Justice was there ever such Partiality and Corruption when their fellow-Members of either House are by them importuned and solicited for their Votes in causes before them and no other measure or Rule to the Justice of that faction than the opinions of the persons contending What sums of mony have been given to and what contracts have been made with some Members of either House who are of this powerful Faction We complain of for preserving this Man from being questioned and promoting an Accusation against that Man for managing such a Cause and procuring such an Order We are very well able to give particular Information which We shall willingly do when there may be such a sober and secure debate as becomes the Dignity and Freedom of Parliament and the Witnesses now within their reach may neither be awed nor tampered with before Trial. For how little care there is taken for discoveries of this nature appears by that which upon complaint of a slander against Master Pym was justified and the Author averred against him for taking thirty pound Bribe to preserve a Papist from legal prosecution which hath been so long suffered to sleep at a Committee Our Case is truly stated so truly that there is scarce any Particular urged or alledged by Us which is not known to many and the most to all Men. And must Our Condition be now irreparable Are the Injuries committed against Us and the Law justifiable And must We be censured for using all possible means to be freed from them or to be repaired for them because they seem to carry the Name Consent and Authority of both Our Houses of Parliament There is not a Particular of which We complain that found not eminent opposition in both Houses and yet for the most part not above a moiety of either House present The Order of the ninth of September an Order to suspend the execution of Laws in force passed when there were not above eighty Commoners of which many dissented and but twenty Lords whereof eleven the major part expresly contradicted it The first unseasonable Remonstrance the fountain from whence all the present mischiefs have flowed was carried but by eleven Voices after fifteen hours sitting when above two hundred were absent and was never approved by the Lords The business of the Militia was at least twice rejected by double their number in the House of Peers who consented to it there being no Popish Lord present and twelve Bishops in the Tower and yet this proposed again the House being made thin of those Lords who had formerly opposed it who went out immediately it being their usual course to watch such opportunities to effect their businesses after Master Hollis his Threats and then carried The Declaration against Us sent to New-market was carried but by one Voice in the House of Peers and by a small number in the House of Commons The justifying Sir John Hotham in his Act of High Treason was opposed by many Persons of great worth though neither House had half its number And We are very far from censuring all those Persons who concurred in these or any other particulars We believe very many of them stood not in so clear a light to discern the Guilt Malice Ambition or Subtilty of their Seducers But if in truth there were a consent entirely in both Houses of Parliament as We are most assured there will never be to alter the whole frame of Government must We submit to those Resolutions and must not Our Subjects help and assist Us in the defence of Laws and Government established because they do not like them Did We intend when we called them to that great Council or did Our good Subjects intend when they sent them thither in their behalfs that they should alter the whole frame of Government according to their own Fancies and Ambition and possess those Places during their Lives What Our opinion and resolution is concerning Parliaments We have fully expressed in Our Declarations We have said and will still say they are so essential a part of the Constitution of this Kingdom that We can attain to no Happiness without them nor will We ever make the least attempt in our thoughts against them We well know that our Self and Our two Houses make up the Parliament and We are like Hippocrates Twins We must laugh and cry live and dye together that no Man can be a friend to the one and an enemy to the other the Injustice Injury and Violence offered to Parliaments is that which We principally complain of and We again assure all Our good Subjects in the presence of Almighty God that all the Acts passed by Us this Parliament shall be equally observed by Us as We desire those to be which
their Actions are declared Treasonable and their Persons Traitors and thereupon Your Majesty hath set up Your Standard against them whereby You have put the two Houses of Parliament and in them this whole Kingdom out of Your Protection so that until Your Majesty shall recall those Proclamations and Declarations whereby the Earl of Essex and both Houses of Parliament and their Adherents and Assistants and such as have obeyed and executed their Commands and Directions according to their Duties are declared Traitors or otherwise Delinquents and untill the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations be taken down Your Majesty hath put us into such a condition that whilest we so remain we cannot by the fundamental Priviledges of Parliament the publick Trust reposed in us or with the general good and safety of this Kingdom give Your Majesty any other Answer to this Message Joh. Brown Cler. Parliament H. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com. This strange Answer might well have discouraged Us from any thought of proceeding further this way and informed Us sufficiently what spirit still governed amongst those few who continued still in both Houses otherwise after so many bitter and invective Messages and Declarations sent to Us and published against Us We should not have been reproached with Our Proclamations and Declarations set forth by Us as the effect of such evil Counsel as was unparallel'd by any former Examples We believe indeed such Proclamations and Declarations have never been before set forth but were former times ever acquainted with such intolerable Provocations Were there ever before these twelve months Declarations published in the name of eitheir or both Houses of Parliament to make their King odious to the People Have either or both Houses ever before assumed or pretended to a Power to raise Armes or levy War in any Cause or can both Houses together exercise such a Power Are those Actions which the Law hath defined literally and expresly to be Treasonable or such Persons to be Traitors not so because they are done by Members of either House or their appointment And must not We declare such who March with Arms and Force to destroy Us to be Traitors because the Earl of Essex is their General Those whom We have or do accuse We have named together with their Crimes notorious by the known Law of the Land a favour not granted to Our Evil Counsellors and appeal to that known Law to judge between Us And now that by this We should have put the whole Kingdom out of Our Protection in whose behalf We do all that We have done is a corrupt Gloss upon such a Text as cannot be perverted but by the cunning practices of such who wish not well to King or People Yet that no weak persons might be misled by that Imputation upon Us we sent a Reply to that Answer in these words WE will not repeat what means We have used to prevent the dangerous and distracted estate of the Kingdom nor how those means have been interpreted because being desirous to avoid effusion of blood We are willing to decline all memory of former bitterness that might make Our offer of a Treaty less readily accepted We never did declare nor ever intended to declare both Our Houses of Parliament Traitors or set up Our Standard against them and much less to put them and this Kingdom out of Our Protection We utterly profess against it before God and the World And further to remove all possible Scruples which may hinder the Treaty so much desired by Vs We hereby promise so that a day be appointed by you for the revoking of your Declarations against all Persons as Traitors or otherways for assisting of Vs We shall with all chearfulness upon the same day recall Our Proclamations and Declarations and take down Our Standard In which Treaty We shall be read to grant any thing that shall be really for the good of Our Subjects Conjuring you to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland and the dangerous condition of England in as high a degree as by these Our Offers We have declared Our Self to do and assuring you that Our chief desire in this World is to beget a good understanding and mutual confidence betwixt Vs and Our two Houses of Parliament This Message produced an Answer little differing from the former like Men who had no other measure of the justice of their Cause than their Power to oppress Us forgetting their own Duties they sharply inform Us of Ours in these words May it please Your Majesty IF we the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled should repeat all the ways we have taken the endeavours we have used and the expressions we have made unto Your Majesty to prevent those Distractions and Dangers Your Majesty speaks of likely to fall upon this Kingdom we should too much enlarge this Reply Therefore as we humbly so shall we only let your Majesty know that we cannot recede from our former Answer for the reasons therein expressed for that Your Majesty hath not taken down Your Standard recalled Your Proclamations and Declarations whereby You have declared the Actions of both Houses of Parliament to be Treasonable and their Persons Traitors And You have published the same since Your Message of the 25th of August by Your late Instructions sent to Your Commissioners of Array Which Standard being taking down and the Declarations Proclamations and Instructions recalled if Your Majesty shall then upon this our humble Petition leaving Your Forces return unto Your Parliament and receive their faithful Advice Your Majesty will find such expressions of our Fidelities and Duties as shall assure You that Your Safety Honour and Greatness can only be found in the affections of Your People and the sincere Counsels of Your Parliament whose constant and undiscouraged Endeavours and Consultations have passed through Difficulties unheard-of only to secure Your Kingdoms from the violent Mischiefs and Dangers now ready to fall upon them and every part of them who deserve better of Your Majesty and can never allow themselves representing likewise Your whole Kingdom to be balanced with those Persons whose desperate Dispositions and Counsels prevail still so to interrupt all our endeavours for the relieving of bleeding Ireland as we may fear our labours and vast expences will be fruitless to that distressed Kingdom As Your Presence is thus humbly desired by us so is it in our hopes Your Majesty will in your reason believe there is no other way than this to make Your Self happy and Your Kingdom safe John Brown Cler. Parliament Without any bitterness or reprehension of their neglect of Us and the publick Peace to express Our deep sense of the Calamities at hand We yet once more hoping to awake them to a Christian tenderness towards the whole Kingdom sent to them in these words WHo have taken most ways used most endeavours and made most real expressions to prevent the present Distractions and Dangers let all the World
Your Crown and Dignity with our Lives and Fortunes Your Presence in this Your great Council being the only means of any Treaty betwixt Your Majesty and them with hope of Success And in none of our Desires to Your Majesty shall we be swaied by any particular man's advantage but shall give a clear Testimony to Your Majesty and the whole World that in all things done by us we faithfully intend the good of Your Majesty and of Your Kingdoms and that we will not be diverted from this End by any private or self-respects whatsoever Jo. Brown Cler. Parliament They will not believe We have done all that in Us lies to prevent and remove the present Distractions because of the Oppressions Rapines and the like committed upon Our good Subjects by Our Soldiers Let them remember who have compelled Us and against Our Souls desire forced Us to raise those Soldiers and then if the Oppressions and Rapines were indeed such as are falsly pretended Our poor Subjects who suffer under them will look on them and only on them as the Authors of all the Miseries they do or can undergo We confess with grief of heart some Disorders have and many more may befal Our good People by Our Soldiers but We appeal to all those Counties through which We have passed what care We have taken to prevent and what Justice We daily inflict upon such Offendors neither hath the least complaint been ever made to Us of Violences and Outrages which We have not to Our utmost Power repaired or punished however those false and treasonable Pamphlets are suffered which accuse Us of giving Warrant for plundring of Houses Our Mercy and Lenity is so well known to the contrary that it is usually made an excuse by those who against their Consciences assist this Rebellion against Us that they chuse rather to offend Us upon the confidence of Pardon than provoke those Malignant Persons who without Charity or Compassion destroy all who concur not with them in Faction and Opinion How far We are from Rapine and Oppression may appear by Our Lenity to the Persons and Estates of those who have not only exercised the Militia the seed from whence this Rebellion against Us hath grown but contributed Mony and Plate to the maintenance of that Army which now endeavours to destroy Us as of Nottingham Leicester and many other places through which We have passed many of whom then were and now are in that Army to let pass Our passing by Chartly the House of the Earl of Essex without other pressures than as if he were the General of Our own Army and Our express Orders to restrain the liberty Our Soldiers would otherwise have used upon that Place and his Estate about it How contrary the proceedings are of these great Assertors of the publick Liberties appears fully by the sad instances they every day give in the plundring by publick Warrant the Houses of all such whose Duty Conscience and Loyalty hath engaged them in Our Quarrel which every good Man ought to make his own by their declaring all Persons to be out of the Protection of Parliament and so exposing them to the Fury of their Soldiers who will not assist this Rebellion against Us their anointed King by the daily Outrages committed in Yorkshire when contrary to the desire and agreement of that County signed under the hands of both Parties they will not suffer the Peace to be kept but that the Distractions and Confusion may be universal over the whole Kingdom direct their Governour of Hull to make War upon Our good Subjects in that County and so continue the robbing and plundring the Houses of all such who concur not with them in this Rebellion lastly by the barbarous Sacrilegious Inhumanity exercised by their Soldiers in Churches as in Canterbury Worcester Oxford and other Places where they committed such unheard-of Outrages as Jews and Atheists never practised before God in his good time will make them examples of his Vengeance We never did nor ever shall desire to secure the Authors and Instruments of any mischiefs to the Kingdom from the Justice of Parliament We desire all such Persons may be speedily brought to condign Punishment by that Rule which is on ought to be the Rule of all punishment the known Law of the Land If there have seemed to be any interruption in proceedings of this nature it must be remembred how long Persons have been kept under general Accusations without Trial though earnestly desired that the Members who were properly to judge such Accusations have by Violence been driven thence or could not with Honour and Safety be present at such Debates that notorious Delinquents by the known Laws were protected against Us from the Justice of the Kingdom and such called Delinquents who committing no Offence against any known Law were so voted only for doing their Duties to Us and then there will be no cause of complaint found against Us. And for the Priviledges of Parliament We have said so much and upon such reasons which have never been answered but by bare positive Assertions in Our several Declarations that We may well and do still use the same expression That We desire God may so deal with Us and Our Posterity as We desire the preservation of the just Rights of Parliament the violation whereof in truth by these desperate Persons is so clearly known to all Men who understand the Priviledges of Parliament that their Rage and Malice hath not been greater to Our Person and Government than to the Liberty Priviledge and very Being of Parliaments witness their putting in putting out and suspending what Persons they please as they like or dislike their Opinions their bringing down the Tumults to assault the Members and awe the Parliament their posting and prosecuting such Members of either House as concurred not with them in their Designs and so driving them from thence for the safety of their Lives their denying Us against the known established Law and the Constitution of the Kingdom to have a Negative Voice without which no Parliament can consist their making close Committees from whence the Members of the Houses are exempted against the Liberty of Parliament and lastly resolving both Houses into a close Committee of Seventeen persons who undertake and direct all the present Outrages and the managery of this Rebellion against Us in the absence of four parts of five of both Houses and without the privity of those who stay there which is not only contrary but destructive to Parliaments themselves By these gross unheard-of Invasions and Breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament and without them they could not have done the other they made way for their attempts upon the Law of the Land and the introduction of that unlimited Arbitrary Power which they have since exercised to the intolerable Damage and Confusion of the whole Kingdom And We assure Our good Subjects the vindication of these just Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament thus violated
by Your Letters Patents to make Sir John Brampston Chief Justice of Your Court of Kings Bench William Lenthal Esquire the now Speaker of the Commons House Master of the Rolls and to continue the Lord Chief Justice Banks Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and likewise to make Master Serjeant Wilde Chief Baron of Your Court of Exchequer and that Master Justice Bacon may be continued and Master Serjeant Rolls and Master Serjeant Atkins made Justices of the Kings Bench that Master Justice Reeves and Master Justice Foster may be continued and Master Serjeant Phesant made one of Your Justices of Your Court of Common Pleas that Master Serjeant Creswel Master Samuel Brown and Master John Puleston may be Barons of the Exchequer and that all these and all the Judges of the same Courts for the time to come may hold their places by Letters Patents under the great great Seal quamdiu se bene gesserint and that the several persons not before named that do hold any of these places before mentioned may be removed IX That all such persons as have been put out of the Commissions of Peace or Oyer and Terminer or from being Custodes Rotulorum since the first day of April 1642. other than such as were put out by desire of both or either of the Houses of Parliament may again be put into those Commissions and Offices and such that persons may be put out of those Commissions and Offices as shall be excepted against by both Houses of Parliament X. That Your Majesty will be pleased to pass the Bill now presented to Your Majesty to vindicate and secure the Privileges of Parliament from the ill consequence of the late Precedent in the Charge and Proceeding against the Lord Kimbolton now Earl of Manchester and the five Members of the House of Commons XI That Your Majesty's Royal Assent may be given unto such Acts as shall be advised by both Houses of Parliament for the satisfying and paying the Debts and Damages wherein the two Houses of Parliament have ingaged the Publick Faith of the Kingdom XII That Your Majesty will be pleased according to a Gracious Answer heretofore received from You to enter into a more strict Alliance with the States of the United Provinces and other Neighbour Princes and States of the Protestant Religion for the defence and maintenance thereof against all designs and attempts of the Popish and Jesuitical Faction to subvert and suppress it whereby Your Subjects may hope to be free from the mischiefs which this Kingdom hath endured through the power which some of that Party have had in Your Counsels and will be much encouraged in a Parliamentary way for Your Aid and Assistance in restoring Your Royal Sister and the Prince Elector to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them and relieving the other distressed Protestant Princes who have suffered in the same Cause XIII That in the General Pardon which Your Majesty hath been pleased to offer to Your Subjects all Offences and Misdemeanours committed before the tenth of January 1641. which have been or shall be questioned or proceeded against in Parliament upon complaint in the House of Commons before the tenth of January 1643. shall be excepted which offences and misdemeanours shall never the less be taken and adjudged to be fully discharged against all other inferiour Courts That likewise there shall be an exception of all Offences committed by any person or Persons which hath or have had any hand or practice in the Rebellion of Ireland which hath or have given any counsel assistance or encouragement to the Rebels there for the maintenance of that Rebellion as likewise an exception of William Earl of Newcastle and George Lord Digby XIV That Your Majesty will be pleased to restore such Members of either House of Parliament to their several places of Services and Imployment out of which they have been put since the beginning of this Parliament that they may receive satisfaction and reparation for those places and for the profits which they have lost by such removals upon the Petition of both Houses of Parliament and that all others may be restored to their Offices and Imployments who have been put out of the same upon any displeasure conceived against them for any Assistance given to both Houses of Parliament or obeying their Commands or forbearing to leave their Attendance upon the Parliament without licence or for any other occasion arising from these unhappy Differences betwixt Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament upon the like Petition of both Houses These things being granted and performed as it hath always been our hearty Prayer so shall we be enabled to make it our hopeful Endeavour That Your Majesty and Your People may enjoy the blessings of Peace Truth and Justice the Royalty and Greatness of Your Throne may be supported by the Loyal and bountiful Affections of Your People their Liberties and Privileges maintained by Your Majesty's Protection and Justice and this publick Honour and Happiness of Your Majesty and all Your Dominions communicated to other Churches and States of Your Alliance and derived to Your Royal Posterity and the future Generations in this Kingdom for ever H. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com. His MAJESTY'S Answer to the Desires and Propositions of both Houses February the third 1642. Received at a Conference with the Lords February the sixth 1642. IF His Majesty had not given up all the faculties of His Soul to an earnest endeavour of a Peace and Reconciliation with His People or if He would suffer Himself by any Provocation to be drawn to a sharpness of Language at a time when there seems somewhat like an Overture of Accommodation He could not but resent the heavy charges upon Him in the Preamble of these Propositions and would not suffer Himself to be reproached with protecting of Delinquents by force from Justice His Majesty's desire having always been that all Men should be tryed by the known Law and having been refused it with raising an Army against His Parliament and to be told that Arms have been taken up against Him for the defence of Religion Laws Liberties Privileges of Parliament and for the sitting of the Parliament in safety with many other Particulars in that Preamble so often and so fully answered by His Majesty without remembring the world of the time and circumstances of raising those Arms against Him when His Majesty was so far from being in a condition to invade other mens Rights that He was not able to maintain and defend His own from violence and without telling His good Subjects that their Religion the true Protestant Religion in which His Majesty was born hath faithfully lived and to which He will die a willing Sacrifice their Laws Liberties Priviledges and safety of Parliament were so amply settled and established or offered to be so by His Majesty before any Army was raised against Him and long before any raised by Him for His defence that if nothing had
Members of either of them That some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet to agree of the manner of the disbanding and that fit Persons may be appointed by His Majesty and the Parliament who may repair to the several Armies and see the disbanding put in speedy execution accordingly That his Majesty do likewise remove the Garrisons out of Newcastle and all other Towns Castles and Forts where any Garrisons have been placed by Him since these Troubles and that the Fortifications be likewise slighted and the Towns and forts left in such state and condition as they were in the year 1636. That all other Towns Forts and Castles where there have been formerly Garrisons before these Troubles be committed to the charge of such Persons to be nominated by His Majesty as the Parliament shall confide in and under such Instructions as are formerly mentioned That if His Majesty shall be pleased to assent to these Propositions concerning the Towns Forts Castles Magazines and Ships that then His Majesty be humbly intreated to name Persons of Quality to receive the charge of the several Offices and Forts Castles and Towns to be forthwith certified to the two Houses of Parliament that thereupon they may express their confidence in those persons or humbly beseech His Majesty to name others none of which Persons shall be removed during three years next ensuing without just cause to be approved by Parliament and if any be so removed or shall dye within the said space the Person to be put into the same Office shall be such as both Houses shall confide in That all Generals and Commanders in any of the Armies on either side as likewise the Lord Admiral of England the Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports all Commanders of any Ships and Commanders of any Town Castle or Fort shall take an Oath to observe these Articles afore-mentioned and to use their uttermost power to preserve the true Reformed Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom against all Forein Force and all other Forces raised without His Majesties Authority and Consent of the two Houses of Parliament You shall move His Majesty that for the better dispatch of the Treaty and the free intercourse of Instructions and Advertisements betwixt the two Houses of Parliament and the Committee there may be a free pass of Messengers to and from the Parliament and the Committee without search or interruption and His Majesty's safe Conduct to be obtained to that effect to such Persons as are or shall be appointed for that service viz. for Master John Rushworth Master Mithael Welden Master John Corbet of Graies Inn and Master James Standish H. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com. The KING's Message concerning the Cessation 23 Martii 1642. CHARLES R. HIS Majesty hath immediately upon their arrival admitted the Committee sent to Him from both Houses of Parliament as the Messengers of Peace to His Royal Presence and received the Articles of Cessation brought by them which are in effect the same His Majesty formerly excepted to though their expression in the Preface to these Articles of their readiness to agree to those Alterations and Additions offered by His Majesty in such manner as is expressed made Him expect to have found at least some of the real Alterations and Additions made by Him admitted which He doth not discover I. His Majesty desired that Provision might be made and Licence given to His good Subjects for their freedom of Trade Traffick and Commerce though in matters which concerned Himself more immediately as in Arms Ammunition Mony Bullion and Victual for the use of His Army and the Passage of all Officers and Souldiers of His Army He was contented the restraint should be in such manner as was proposed of which His Majesty is so tender that as he hath provided for the same by His gracious Proclamations so He doth daily release and discharge such Merchandize and Commodities as are contrary to those Proclamations stayed by any of His Majesties Forces To this Freedom and Liberty of His good Subjects there is not the least admission given by these Articles so that they have not any ease or benefit by this Cessation which His Majesty desires both Houses to consider of and whether if His Majesty should take the same course to stop and interrupt the Trade of the Kingdom as the other Army doth a general Loss and Calamity would not seize upon His good Subjects II. His Majesty to the end that a full Cessation might be as well at Sea as at Land and He might be secured that the Ships proposed to be set forth for the Defence of His Majesties Dominions should be employed only to that end and purpose desired that they might be put under the Command of Persons to be approved of by His Majesty which is not consented to by these Articles but their former to which His Majesty excepted strictly and entirely insisted on by which besides that part of Hostility remains the conveying of any number of Forces from any part to any other by that means remains free to them III. For the prevention of any Inconveniences which might arise upon real Differences or Mistakes upon the latitude of Expressions as if His Majesty should now consent to these Articles proposed in the Terms proposed He must confess the Army of which He complains to be raised by the Parliament and either Himself to be no part of the Parliament or Himself to have raised that Army and for prevention of that Delay which He foresaw could not otherwise be avoided if upon every Difference the Questions must be remitted to London His Majesty desired that the Committee for whom He then sent a safe Conduct might have liberty to debate any such Differences and Expressions and reconcile the same that all possible Expedition might be used to the main Treaty In this point of so high Concernment no power is given in these Articles and the Committee confessed to His Majesty they have no Power given but are strictly and precisely bound to the very words of the Articles now sent and that before these are consented to by Us they cannot enter into any Treaty concerning the other Propositions IV. His Majesty desired that during the Cessation none of His good Subjects might be imprisoned otherwise than according to the known Laws of the Land This is in no degree consented to but the priviledge and liberty to which they were born reserved from them till the disbanding of both Armies though they are no part of either Army and so have no benefit by this Cessation V. His Majesty desired that during this Cessation there should be no Plundering or Violence offered to any of His Subjects In the Answer to which His desire against Violence is not at all taken notice of nor is His desire against Plundering any ways satisfied His Majesty not only intending by it the robbing of the Subject by the unruliness of the uncommanded Souldier which their Clause of requiring the Generals and
Towns and Forts which are within the Jurisdiction of the Cinque-Ports they shall be delivered up into the hands of such a Noble Person as Your Majesty shall appoint to be Warden of the Cinque-ports being such a one as they shall confide in That the Town of Portsmouth shall be reduced to the number of the Garrison as was at the time when the Lords and Commons undertook the custody thereof and such other Forts Castles and Towns as were formerly kept by Garrisons as have been taken by both Houses of Parliament into their care and custody since the beginning of these Troubles shall be reduced to such proportioon of Garrison as they had in the year 1636. and shall be so continued and that all the said Towns Forts and Castles shall be delivered up into the hands of such persons of quality and trust to be likewise nominated by Your Majesty as the two Houses of Parliament shall confide in That the Warden of the Cinque-ports and all Governours and Commanders of Towns Castles and Forts shall keep the same Towns Castles and Forts respectively for the Service of Your Majesty and the Safety of the Kingdom and that they shall not admit into any of them any forein Forces or any other Forces raised without Your Majesty's Authority and Consent of the two Houses of Parliament and they shall use their utmost endeavours to suppress all Forces whatsoever raised without such Authority and Consent and they shall seize all Arms and Ammunition provided for any such Forces They likewise humbly propose to Your Majesty that you would remove the Garrisons out of Newcastle and all other Towns Castles and Forts where any Garrisons have been placed by Your Majesty since these Troubles and that the Fortifications be likewise slighted and the Towns and Forts left in such state and condition as they were in in the year 1636. That all other Towns Forts and Castles where there have been formerly Garrisons before these Troubles may be committed to the charge of such persons to be nominated by Your Majesty as both Houses of Parliament shall confide in and under such Instructions as are formerly mentioned And that those new Garrisons shall not be renewed nor their Fortifications repaired without Consent of Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament Northumberland Will. Pierrepont John Holland Will. Armyne B. Whitelocke March 28. 1643. HIS Majesty is content that all the Garrisons in any Towns and Forts in the hands of any persons imployed by the two Houses of Parliament wherein there were no Garrisons before these Troubles be removed and all Fortifications made since that time may be slighted and those Towns and Forts shall for the future continue in the same condition they were in before For the Cinque-ports they are already in the Custody of a Noble person against whom His Majesty knows no just Exceptions and who hath such a Legal Interest therein that His Majesty cannot with justice remove Him from it untill some sufficient Cause be made appear to Him but is willing if He shall at any time be found guilty of any thing that may make him unworthy of that Trust that he may be proceeded against according to the rules of Justice The Town of Portsmouth and all other Forts Castles and Towns as were formerly kept by Garrisons shall be reduced to their ancient proportion and the government of them put into the hands of such persons against whom no just Exceptions can be made all of them being before these Troubles by Letters Patents granted to several persons against any of whom His Majesty knows not any Exceptions and who shall be removed if just cause shall be given for the same The Warden of the Cinque-ports and all Governors and Commanders of Towns Castles and Forts shall keep the same Towns Castles and Forts as by the Law they ought to do for His Majesty's Service and the Safety of the Kingdom and they shall not admit into any of them Forein Forces or other Forces raised or brought in contrary to the Law but shall use their utmost endeavour to suppress all such Forces and shall seize all Arms and Ammunition which by the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom they ought to seize The Garrisons of Newcastle and all other Towns Castles and Forts in which Garrisons have been placed by His Majesty since these Troubles shall be removed and all the Fortifications shall be slighted and the Towns and Forts left in such state and condition as they were in the year 1636. All other Towns Forts and Castles where there have been formerly Garrisons before these Troubles shall be committed to the charge of such persons and under such cautions and limitations as His Majesty hath before exprest And no new Garrisons shall be renewed nor their Fortifications repaired otherwise than as by the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom they may or ought to be Falkland March 29. 1643. COncerning the appointing of the Warden of the Cinque-ports and Governors of Your Majesty's Towns Castles and Forts we humbly desire to know if Your Majesty's Reply doth intend that both Houses of Parliament may express their Confidence of the persons to whose trust those places are to be committed for that we are directed by our Instructions that if Your Majesty be pleased to assent thereunto that You would nominate persons of Quality to receive the charge of them that we may forthwith certifie both Houses of Parliament that thereupon they may express their Confidence in those persons or humbly beseech Your Majesty to name others none of which persons to be removed during three years next ensuing without just cause to be approved by both Houses of Parliament and if any be so removed or shall dye within the said space the persons to be put in the same Offices shall be such as both Houses shall confide in We humbly desire to know if Your Majesty intends the Garrison of Portsmouth to be of such a proportion as it was about the year 1641. about which time a new supply was added to the former Garrison to strengthen it which both Houses of Parliament think necessary to continue We humbly desire Your Majesty would be pleased to give a more full Answer to this Clause that they should not admit into them any forein or other Forces Raised without Your Majesty's Authority and Consent of the two Houses of Parliament and that they shall use their utmost endeavours to suppress all Forces whatsoever Raised without such Authority and Consent and that those Garrisons should not be renewed or their Fortifications repaired without Consent of Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament Northumberland J. Holland Will. Armyne B. Whitelocke Will. Pierrepont April 5. 1643. HIS Majesty doth not intend that both Houses of Parliament shall express their Confidence of the persons to whose trust the Cinque-ports or other His Majesty's Towns Castles and Forts now are or shall be committed but only that they shall have liberty upon any just Exceptions to proceed
of their first Article upon which He hath treated with the Committee as that upon which they have yet no power to Treat though His Majesty hath prest that such power might be given to them Falkland April 14. 1643. WE received Instructions from both Houses of Parliament the ninth of this present April and in pursuance thereof we humbly presented a Paper to Your Majesty upon the tenth of this instant wherein those Instructions were expressed and the desire of both Houses concerning Your Majesty's return to Your Parliament Northumberland Will. Pierrepont Joh. Holland Will. Armyne B. Whitelocke April 15. 1643. HIS Majesty doth acknowledge to have received a Paper from the Committee upon the tenth of April expressing that they had received Instructions to declare unto His Majesty the desire of both Houses for His Majesty's coming to his Parliament which they had often exprest with full offers of security to His Royal Person agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance and that they know no cause why His Majesty might not return thither with Honour and Safety But as the Committee had before acknowledged in a Paper of the sixth of April not to have any power or Instructions to Treat with His Majesty concerning His Return to His two Houses of Parliament and as this Paper mentioned no Instructions to Treat but only to deliver that single Message concerning it so His Majesty took it for granted that if they had received any new power or Instructions in that point they would have signified as much to Him and therefore conceiving it in vain to discourse and impossible to Treat upon that with those who had no power to Treat with Him His Majesty addrest that Answer concerning that point to both Houses of which Mis Majesty took notice to the Committee in a Paper of the fourteenth of April and which was shewed to them before He sent it And if both Houses will upon it but consent to give His Majesty such Security as will appear to all indifferent Persons to be agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance those Tumults which drove Him from thence and what followed those Tumults being a most visible and sufficient Reason why He cannot return thither with His Honour and Safety without more particular offers of Security than as yet they have ever made Him all disputes about that point between them will be soon ended and His Majesty speedily return to them and His whole Kingdom to their former Peace and Happiness Falkland The Message mentioned in the two last Papers of His Majesty is that of the 12 of April p. 353. Vpon the receit of which the Two Houses presently recalled their Committees Mis MAJESTY's Letter to the Queens Majesty Oxford 23 Jan. 2 Feb. Dear Heart SAturday and Sunday last I received two from Thee of the 29 of December 9 of January both which gave Me such Contentment as Thou mayest better judge than I describe the which that Thou mayest the better do know I was full three weeks wanting but one day without hearing from Thee besides scurvy London news of Thy stay and lameness which though I did not believe yet it vext Me so much the more that I could not prove them liars So now I conjure Thee by the Affection Thou bearest Me not only to judge but likewise participate with Me in the Contentment Thou hast given Me by assuring Me of Thy health and speedy return Concerning 45. 31. 7. 4. 132. 300. I will answer Thee in Thy own words Je le remetteray a vous respondre per bouche being confident that way to give Thee contentment In the mean time assure Thy self that I neither have nor will lose any time in that business and that I have not contented My Self with Generals And though I hope shortly to have the happiness of Thy company yet I must tell thee of some particulars in which I desire both Thy opinion and assistance I am persecuted concerning Places and all desire to be put upon Thee for the which I cannot blame them and yet Thou knowest I have no reason to do it Newark desireth Savil's place upon condition to leave it when his Father dieth Carenworth the same being contented to pay for it or give the profit to whom or how I please Digby and Dunsmore for to be Captain of the Pentioners Hartford once looked after it but now I believe he expects either to be Treasurer or of My Bed-chamber I incline rather to the latter if Thou like it for I absolutely hold Cottington the fittest man for the other There is one that doth not yet pretend that doth deserve as well as any I mean Capel therefore I desire Thy assistance to find somewhat for him before he ask One place I must fill before I can have Thy opinion it is the Master of the Wards I have thought upon Nicholas being confident that Thou wilt not mislike My choice and if he cannot perform both Ned Hyde must be Secretary for indeed I can trust no other Now I have no more time to speak of more but to desire Thee not to engage Thy Self for any So I rest Eternally Thine C. R. Dated Oxford 2 Feb. 23 Jan. My Lord IT is His Majesty's pleasure that there be something attempted upon the Castle of Warwick therefore you are to send as many Musquetiers as you can horse with the Prince of Wales his Reigment of Horse and your own this bearer La Roche will bring Petarrs and all things necessary for them you must march to morrow in the Evening to be there before break of the day on Saturday Your Faithful Friend Rupert Oxford 2 of March 1643. For the Earl of Northampton at Banbury My Lord I Have acquainted the King with the hinderance you have in your desire He was pleased to command me to tell you that your Lordship should send one of your Scouts to enquire if Ingram be in the Castle if he be you may safely go on with your design for knowing but of your coming he will make but little or no resistance and the sooner the better If after this you should think it feisible to raise the siege at Litchfield you have also that power to do it This bearer will inform you with some other particulars So I rest Your Lordship 's most faithful Friend Rupert Oxford the 3 of March at 12 at night To the Earl of Northampton Rupert His MAJESTY's Letter to the Queen Dear Heart THough ever since Sunday last I had good hopes of Thy happy Landing yet I had not the certain news thereof before yesterday when I likewise understood of Thy safe coming to York I hope Thou expected not welcome from Me in words but when I shall be wanting in any other way according to My wit and power of expressing My Love to Thee then let all honest Men hate and eschew Me like a Monster And yet when I shall have done My part I confess that I shall come short of what Thou deservest of Me.
that his Consent was as much forced from Him as these Particulars were forced from His Majesty or if they were so far out of Danger of any farther Encroachments upon their Power that He could have no cause of Fears and Jealousies in granting some of these to them nay that their advice in the Choice arose wholly from His Majesty's Desire and not their Demand then the Precedents fit not this Case and so make nothing for their purpose But now that the Perpetuity of this Parliament hath so far encouraged those who by Arts and Violence have gotten Power over it that they may probably hope to make this Power as perpetual as it and have given so sufficient Evidence what further use they would make of any Power His Majesty supposes Himself to have more reason to be cautious in that Point than any of His Predecessors who were content to share any part of this Power but for once with but a temporary Assembly especially since their several Propositions have shewed how much more they wish and M. Prinne's Books printed by Order of a Committee of the House of Commons signified by Warrant under M. White 's hand have shewed how much more they pretend to and since any Grant of His is desired by these Men but to enable them to obtain the rest of their pretences or desires what he yielded to them concerning my Lord of Essex and Sir John Conyers being Lieutenants of Yorkshire and the Tower being prest in these very Precedents as an Argument to Him why he should grant all they ask now On the other side if his Majesty should make use of their own kind of Weapon and do the same or as great things or make them the like or as great demands as their Predecessors have tacitely approved of or directly assented to when they were done or made by His as in the just Famous time of Queen Elizabeth in the Case of Stanhope and Savile or in the same time in Wentworth's Case or in the Reign of Henry the Eighth in the Power given to Him to dispose of the Kingdom by His Will and Testament and others of the like and near as high kinds He believes both Houses would think what others then did to be no Argument to perswade them either to approve or consent but would rather for ever wave all Arguments from Precedents than direct themselves by the same Rule Their third Argument is That His Majesty had formerly exprest that His Forts and Castles should be only in such hands as both Houses might safely confide in And His Majesty expresseth still as much and till some just legal cause be shewed him why the Persons now in those Commands cannot be safely Confided in by them He conceives they might safely confide in them if they pleas'd But His Majesty did likewise once say He would put all those places both of the Forts and Militia into such hands as both Houses should approve or recommend unless such were named against whom He had just and unquestionable Exceptions To which His Majesty replies That His Offer not giving them satisfaction then for they would then limit no time for the Militia which was the Condition of that Offer of His Majesty's and since it seems it would give none yet for they now ask no less for the Ships than for those and more for both as to the time and other Circumstances than He then offered for these and they by forcing those Places from Him since and some of the Persons legally vested in those Places by their faithfulness to him in this War having given Him so much more cause not to yield to it now He conceives the case to be so altered by all these differences that though out of His earnest desire to satisfie them as long as He thought them capable of satisfaction by it He then intended what He spoke yet He may insist upon what He now insists without being said to have receeded from His Word Did not they refuse to accept of four Persons named in His Majesty's Bill concerning the Militia which themselves had but newly offered Him in their Ordinance concerning it And had those Persons in that time given them so great cause for that refusal as His Majesty hath had given Him for this And yet will they confess that ill Counsel prevail'd with them to recede from their Words and that therefore His Majesty had the more cause to be farther secured Their fourth Argument is That unless these Limitations be granted those secret and wicked Councellors that have been Instruments of the present Miseries will have the disposing of those Places and His Majesty carry but the Name To this His Majesty replies That knowing who have been the Instruments of these Miseries He should by that believe the secret and wicked Councellors spoken of to be the active part of the close Committee for if He have any wicked Councellors about him He confesseth they have cause to call them Secret as well as Wicked since they have not only wholly concealed themselves from Him but He having often press'd to have some named could never obtain from them the Name so much as of one nor since hath heard so much as one proof or charge either of being wicked Councellors or of any Legal Crime against any of His Servants whom they have named though they have publisht them withal to be incapable of Pardon However He finds that if what they say were true the ends of these Councellors and of their violent Party is but just the same that is to dispose of these Places and that His Majesty may only carry the Name But they have found a Letter of His Majesty 's to the Queen which shews that the great and eminent Places of the Kingdom are disposed of by Her Advice and then conclude from Her Religion that they are by consequence disposed of by the advice of Papists and Jesuits and that the Persons there named even during the sitting of Parliament are either all impeacht by them or bear Arms against them To this His Majesty replies First That He cannot but deplore the condition of the Kingdom when Letters of all sorts of Husbands to Wives even of His Majesty to His Royal Consort are intercepted read brought in Evidence and publisht to the World Secondly That if they will remember how far many of those Persons of both Sexes who have received most notable marks of Favour from Her Majesty are even in their own Opinion from so much as inclining to Popery they must confess her Favours and Recommendations not to be disposed of by Priests and Jesuits Thirdly That the Places there named in which Her Majesty's Advice may seem to be desired are not places as they call it of the Kingdom but private menial places a Treasurer of the Household a Captain of the Pensioners and a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber That concerning the other more publick Places His Majesty absolutely declares Himself without leaving room for Her Advice
Viscount Muskery and the rest of the above-named Persons hath put his Hand and Seal And the said Viscount Muskery Sir Lucas Dillon Knight Nicholas Plunket Esquire Sir Robert Talbot Baronet Sir Richard Barnewell Baronet Torlogh O-Neale Geffry Brown Ever Mac-Gennis and John Walsh Esquires to that part of the Articles remaining with the said Marquess of Ormond have put their Hands and Seals the day and year above written Muskery Lucas Dillon Nic. Plunket Rob. Talbot Rich. Barnewell Torl O-Neale Geffry Browne Ever Mac-Gennis Jo. Walsh An Instrument touching the manner of payment of 30800. pound Sterling by several Payments VVHereas by an Instrument bearing Date with these presents we have in the behalf and by Authority from the Roman Catholicks of this Kingdom freely given unto His Majesty the Sum of thirty thousand pounds Sterling wherein the times or manner of payments are not expressed we do therefore hereby agree that the same shall be paid in manner following viz. 5000. pounds within one Month next after the Date of these presents the one half in money and the other half in goods and merchantable Beeves not under four or above ten years old at the rate of 30 pounds the score at the City of Dublin 5000 pounds more within one month next after the said first month the one half in money and the other half in Beeves as aforesaid at the like rates at the City of Dublin aforesaid also within two months next after 5000 pounds more whereof one half of Beeves as aforesaid at the like rates and the other half in money one other 5000 pounds at or before the last of February next and the Sum of 10000 pounds being the last payment of the said thirty thousand pounds at or before the last day of May next which shall be in the year 1644. And we hereby further agree that 800 pounds more shall be paid to His Majesty's use to whom the Lords Justices shall appoint at the Garrison of Naas within two months next ensuing the one half by one months end next after the Date hereof and the other half by the end of one month more next after the first month All other payments in money save the eight hundred pounds shall be paid at Dublin and the rest of the Beeves save the said first two payments to be paid within the several Provinces to His Majesty's use to such persons as shall be appointed by His Majesty's Lords Justices or other chief Governour or Governours in this Kingdom they first giving notice to us or any one or more of us of their pleasures therein In witness whereof we have hereunto put our Hands and Seals the sixteenth day of September 1643. Muskery Lucas Dillon Nic. Plunket Rob. Talbot R. Barnewell Tor. O-Neale Geffry Browne Ever Mac-Gennis Jo. Walsh VVHereas the Lord Marquess of Ormond hath demanded the Opinions as well of the Members appointed from the Council-board to assist his Lordship in the present Treaty as of other Persons of Honour and Command that have since the beginning thereof repaired out of several parts of this Kingdom to his Lordship they therefore seriously considering how much His Majesty's Army here hath already suffered through want of relief out of England though the same was often pressed and importuned by His most Gracious Majesty Who hath left nothing unattempted which might conduce to their support and maintenance and unto what common Misery not only the Officer and Souldier but others also His Majesty's good Subjects within this Kingdom are reduced and further considering how many of his Majesty's principal Forts and places of strength are at this present in great distress and the imminent danger the Kingdom is like to fall into and finding no possibility of prosecuting this War without large Supplies whereof they can apprehend no hope nor possibility in due time they for these causes do conceive it necessary for His Majesty's Honour and Service that the said Lord Marquess assent to a Cessation of Arms for one whole Year on the Articles and Conditions this day drawn up and to be perfected by virtue of His Majesty's Commission for the preservation of this Kingdom of Ireland Witness our Hands the fifteenth day of September 1643. Clanrickard and St. Albans Roscomon Richard Dungarvan Edward Brabazon Inchequin Thomas Lucas James Ware Michael Ernly Foulk Huncks John Powlet Maurice Eustace Edward Povey John Gifford Philip Percival Richard Gibson Henry Warren Alanus Cooke Advocatus Regis MDCXLIII By the King A Proclamation for the Assembling the Members of both Houses at Oxford upon occasion of the Invasion by the Scots VVHereas We did by our Proclamation bearing date the twentieth day of June last upon due consideration of the Miseries of this Kingdom and the true Cause thereof warn all Our good Subjects no longer to be mis-led by Votes Orders or pretended Ordinances of One or Both Houses by reason the Members do not enjoy the Freedom and Liberty of Parliament which appears by several instances of Force and Violence and by the course of their Proceedings mentioned in Our said Proclamation and several of Our Declarations since which time Our Subjects of Scotland have made great and Warlike preparations to enter and invade this Kingdom with an Army and have already actually invaded the same by possessing themselves by force of Arms of Our Town of Berwick upon pretence that they are invited thereunto by the desires of the two Houses the which as We doubt not all Our good Subjects of this Kingdom will look upon as the most insolent Act of Ingratitude and Disloyalty and to the apparent breach of the late Act of Pacification so solemnly made between the Kingdoms and is indeed no other than a design of Conquest and to impose new Laws upon this Nation they not so much as pretending the least Provocation or Violation from this Kingdom so We are most assured that the major part of both Houses of Parliament do from their Souls abhor the least thought of introducing that Foreign Power to increase and make desperate the Miseries of their unhappy Country And therefore that it may appear to all the World how far the major part of both Houses is from such Actions of Treason and Disloyalty and how grossly those few Members remaining at Westminster have and do impose upon Our People We do Will and require such of the Members of both Houses as well those who have been by the Faction of the Malignant party expelled for performing their Duty to Us and into whose rooms no Persons have been since chosen by their Country as the rest who have been driven thence and all those who being conscious of their want of Freedom now shall be willing to withdraw from that Rebellious City to assemble themselves together at our City of Oxford on Munday the twenty second day of January where care shall be taken for their several Accommodations and fit places appointed for their meeting and where all Our good Subjects shall see how willing
by His Majesty or us in order to Peace here being so great a Condescending from a King to Subjects all indifferent Advantages left to them both for time and place of Treaty and choice of Persons to Treat But what their Intentions to Peace are will appear by their Letter enclosed in one from their General to the Earl of Forth both which are as followeth My Lord I Am commanded by both Houses of Parliament to send a Trumpeter with the inclosed Letter to His Majesty which I desire your Lordship may be most humbly presented to His Majesty I rest Essex-House March 9. 1643. Your Lordships humble Servant Essex May it please Your MAJESTY WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England taking into our Consideration a Letter sent from Your Majesty dated the third of March instant and directed to the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster which by the Contents of a Letter from the Earl of Forth unto the Lord General the Earl of Essex we conceive was intended to our selves have resolved with the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland to represent to Your Majesty in all humility and plainness as followeth That as we have used all means for a just and safe Peace so will we never be wanting to do our utmost for the procuring thereof But when we consider the Expressions in that Letter of Your Majesty's we have more sad and dispairing thoughts of attaining the same than ever because thereby those Persons now assembled at Oxford who contrary to their Duty have deserted Your Parliament are put into an equal Condition with it and this present Parliament convened according to the known and Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom the continuance whereof is established by a Law consented unto by Your Majesty is in effect denied to be a Parliament The Scope and Intention of that Letter being to make provision how all the Members as is pretended of both Houses may securely meet in a full and free Convention of Parliament Whereof no other conclusion can be made but that this present Parliament is not a full nor free Convention and that to make it a full and free Convention of Parliament the presence of those is necessary who notwithstanding that they have deserted that great Trust and do levy War against the Parliament are pretended to be Members of the two Houses of Parliament And hereupon we think our selves bound to let Your Majesty know That seeing the Continuance of this Parliament is settled by a Law which as all other Laws of Your Kingdoms Your Majesty hath sworn to maintain as we are sworn to our Allegiance to Your Majesty these obligations being reciprocal we must in duty and accordingly are resolved with our Lives and Fortunes to defend and preserve the Just Rights and full Power of this Parliament And do beseech Your Majesty to be assured that Your Majesty's Royal and hearty Concurrence with us herein will be the most effectual and ready means of procuring a firm and lasting Peace in all Your Majesty's Dominions and of begetting a perfect understanding between Your Majesty and Your People without which Your Majesty's most earnest Professions and our most real Intentions concerning the same must necessarily be frustrated And in case Your Majesty's three Kingdoms should by reason thereof remain in this sad and bleeding Condition tending by the continuance of this unnatural War to their Ruine Your Majesty cannot be the least nor the last Sufferer God in his goodness incline Your Royal Breast out of pity and compassion to those deep Sufferings of Your Innocent People to put a speedy and happy issue to these desperate Evils by the joynt Advice of both Your Kingdoms now happily united in this Cause by their late solemn League and Covenant Which as it will prove the surest Remedy so is it the earnest prayer of Your Majesty's Loyal Subjects the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England Westminster the 9 of March 1643. Gray of Wark Speaker of the House of Peers in Parliament pro tempore William Lenthall Speaker of the Commons House in Parliament Whosoever considers that this should be a Letter from Subjects might well think it very unbeseeming Language in them to call His Majesty's earnest endeavours for Peace but Professions and their own feigned pretence most real Intentions but much more menacing Language that is Majesty cannot be the least or last Sufferer which expressions from Subjects in Arms to their Soveraign what dangerous Construction they may admit we are unwilling to mention But we need not wonder at the manner of their expressions when we see in this Letter the Parliament it self as far as in them lies destroyed and those who here style themselves the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England not to resolve upon their Answer to their King without the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners as they call them of the Kingdom of Scotland If they had only taken the Advice of the Scotish Commissioners they had broken the Fundamental Constitution of Parliament the very Writs of Summons the Foundation of all Power in Parliament being in express terms for the Lords to treat and advise with the King and the Peers of the Kingdom of England and for the Commons to do and consent to those things which by that Common-Council of England should be ordained thereby excluding all others But their League it seems is gone further the Scots must consent as well as advise so that they have gotten a negative voice and they who in the former Letter would be the Kings only Council are now become no Council without the Scotish Commissioners The truth is they have besides the solemn League and Covenant with the Scots which their Letter mentions a strange and traitourous presumption for Subjects to make a Covenant and League with Subjects of another Kingdom without their Prince made private bargains with the Scots touching our Estates and a private agreement not to treat without their consent as some of themselves being afraid of a Treaty openly declared to the Common-Council of London And therefore 't is no wonder that being touched to the quick with the apprehension that they are not nor can be in this condition a full and free Convention of Parliament they charge us with deserting our Trust and would have us to be no Members of the Parliament They may remember it was our want of freedom within and the seditious Tumults without their many multiplied Treasons there and imposing traitourous Oaths which inforced our absence But concerning that and the want of freedom in Parliament we shall say no more here that being the Subject of another Declaration only we wish them to consider by what Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom which they have lately wrested to serve all turns they can exclude us from our Votes in Parliament who were duely summoned chosen and returned Members of Parliament and
take in those of another Kingdom to their Resolutions who are not bound by our Laws But what violation soever they make of the Laws they are forward to put the King in mind of His Duty and therefore tell Him That He is sworn to maintain the Laws as they are sworn to their Allegiance to Him these Obligations being reciprocal It is true in some sense that the Oath of the King and Subjects is reciprocal that is each is bound to perform what they swear the King as well as the Subjects but he that will well weigh their Letter and make one part have connexion with the other and examine that part of their Covenant whereby they swear they will defend the Kings Person and Authority no further or otherwise than in preservation of their Religion and Liberties may easily find another construction viz. That the Subjects Allegiance is no longer due than the King performs His Duty nay no longer than He in their opinion observes His Duty whereof they themselves must be Judges and if He fail in His Duty they may take up Arms against Him A Principle which as it is utterly destructive to all Government so we believe they themselves dare not plainly avow it lest as they now make use of it against the King so the People finding their failure of Duty and breach of Trust should hereafter practise it by taking up Arms against them and so shake of that yoak of Tyranny imposed by their fellow Subjects which lies so heavy upon them It were well as they still press upon the King maintenance of the Laws they would also know that their Obligation to observe the same is reciprocal and while they here resolve to defend and preserve the full Power of this Parliament which in their sense can be no other than the Power they have exercised this Parliament they would take notice that they are therein so far from observation of the Laws that they desperately resolve an utter subversion of them For what can more tend to the destruction of the Laws than to usurp a Power to themselves without the King and against His will to raise Arms to attribute to their Orders or pretended Ordinances the power of Laws and Statutes to inforce Contributions Loans and Taxes of all sorts from the Subject to imprison without cause shewed and then prohibit Writs of Habeas Corpus for their enlargement to lay Excises upon all Commodities to command and dispose of the Lives and Estates of the free-born Subjects of this Kingdom at their pleasure to impose Tonnage and Poundage contrary to the Law declared in the late Act for Tonnage and Poundage and all this done and justified as by a legal civil Power founded and inherent in them All which are manifest breaches of the Petition of Right and Magna Charta the great Evidence of the Liberties of England which Charter by express words binds them and us though assembled in Parliament as well as the King And though it be not now as heretofore it hath been taken by solemn Oath on the Peoples part as well as on the Kings nor a Curse as heretofore pronounced on the Violators yet they having taken a Protestation to maintain the Laws and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and inclusively that Charter let them take heed whilst they make use of this their pretended Power to the destruction of the Law lest a Curse fall upon them and upon their Posterity God knoweth and it is too certain a truth that our selves and many other good Subjects in this Kindom even under the Power of the Kings Army have suffered exceedingly in Liberty and Estates during this present Rebellion by many heavy Charges the sad consideration whereof makes our hearts bleed because we can see no way for relief so long as this unnatural Rebellion continues But as these things were first practised by them and thereby necessitated upon the Kings Army so it was never yet pretended that they were done by virtue of a Law but either by Consent or by the unhappy and unavoidable exigences of War and to expire with the present Rebellion which God in mercy hasten For our parts we have the inward comfort of our own Consciences witnessing with us that we have improved all opportunities and advantages for the restoring of this Kingdom to its former Peace and we must witness for His Majesty His most hearty desires thereof And though both His Majesty and our endeavours therein have been made frustrate yet God in his great goodness hath raised up our spirits not to desert our Religion our King our Laws our Lives the Liberties of us English free-born Subjects and by God's assistance and His Majesty's concurrence we do resolve to unite our selves as one Man and cheerfully adventure our Lives and Estates for the maintenance and defence of the true Reformed Protestant Religion of the Church of England of which we profess our selves to be for the defence of the Kings Person and Rights of His Crown for the regaining and maintaining the Rights and Privileges of Parliament and the Liberty of the Subjects Person and Property of his Estate according to the known Laws of the Land to repel those of the Stotish Nation that have in a warlike manner entred this Realm and to reduce the Subjects thereof now in Rebellion to the Kings Obedience And we doubt not but the same God will enlighten the eyes of the poor deceived People of this Land like true-hearted honest English-Men to joyn unanimously with us in so just and pious a work And the God of Heaven prosper us according to the goodness of the Cause we have in hand The Names of the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Oxford who did subscribe the Letter to the Earl of Essex dated January 27. 1643. CHARLES P. YORK CUMBERLAND Ed. Littleton C. S. Fra. Cottington D. Richmond M. Hartford E. Lindsey E. Dorset E. Shrewsbury E. Bath E. Southampton E. Leicester E. Northampton E. Devonshire E. Carlisle E. Bristol E. Berkshire E. Cleveland E. Rivers E. Dover E. Peterburgh E. Kingston E. Newport E. Portland V. Conway L. Digby L. Mowbray and Maltravers L. Wentworth L. Cromwell L. Rich. L. Paget L. Chandois L. Howard of Charleton L. Lovelace L. Savile L. Mohun L. Dunsmore L. Seymour L. Percy L. Wilmott L. Leigh L. Hatton L. Jermyn L. Carrington JOhn Fettiplace Esq Sir Alex. Denton Sir John Packington Sir Tho. Smith F. Gamul Esq Jo. Harris Esq Joseph Jane Esq Rich. Edgcombe Esq Jonathan Rashleigh Esq G. Fane Esq P. Edgcombe Esq Will. Glanvill Esq Sir Ro. Holborne Sir Ra. Sydenham Fra. Godolphin Esq Geo. Parry D. of Law Amb. Manaton Esq Ri. Vivian Esq Jo. Polewheele Esq John Arundell Esq Tho. Lower Esq Sir Edw. Hide Will. Allestree Esq Sir Geo. Stonehouse Ed. Seymour Esq Peter Sainthill Esq Sir Will. Poole Roger Matthew Esq Ri. Arundell Esq Ro. Walker Esq Giles Strangwaies Esq Sir John Strangwaies Sir Tho. Hele. Sir Ger. Naper Sam. Turner
Estates of the Parliament in Scotland or the said Commissioners of that Kingdom whereof they are Subjects and that in those cases of joynt concernment to both Kingdoms the Commissioners to be directed to be there all or such part as aforesaid to act and direct as joynt Commissioners of both Kingdoms 4. To order the War of Ireland according to the Ordinance of the 11 th of April and to order the Militia and conserve the peace of the Kingdom of Ireland XVIII That His Majesty give His assent to what the two Kingdoms shall agree upon in prosecution of the Articles of the large Treaty which are not yet finished XIX That by Act of Parliament all Peers made since the day that Edward Lord Littleton then Lord Keeper of the great Seal deserted the Parliament and that the said great Seal was surreptitiously conveyed away from the Parliament being the 21. day of May 1642. and who shall be hereafter made shall not sit or Vote in the Parliament of England without consent of both Houses of Parliament and that all Honour and Title conferred on any without consent of both Houses of Parliament since the 20. day of May 1642. being the day that both Houses declared That the King seduced by evil Counsel intended to raise War against the Parliament be declared null and void The like for the Kingdom of Scotland those being excepted whose Patents were passed the great Seal before the 4. of June 1644. XX. That by Act of Parliament the Deputy or chief Governour or other Governours of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament or in the Intervals of Parliament by the Commissioners to continue during the pleasure of the said Houses or in the Intervals of Parliament during the pleasure of the said Houses or in the Intervals of Parliament during the pleasure of the aforementioned Commissioners to be approved or disallowed by both Houses at their next sitting And that the Chancellor or Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports Chancellors of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Judges of both Benches and of the Exchequer of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland be nominated by both Houses of Parliament to continue quamdiu se bene gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the aforementioned Commissioners to be approved or disallowed by both Houses at their next sitting The like for the Kingdom of Scotland adding the Justice General and in such manner as the Estates in Parliament there shall think fit XXI That by Act of Parliament the Education of Your Majesty's Children and the Children of Your Heirs and Successors be in the true Protestant Religion and that their Tutors and Governours be of known Integrity and be chosen by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms or in the Intervals of Parliaments by the aforenamed Commissioners to be approved or disallowed by both Parliaments at their next sitting and that if they be Male they be married to such only as are of the true Protestant Religion if they be Female they may not be marryed but with the advice and consent of both Parliaments or in the Intervals of Parliament by their Commissioners XXII That Your Majesty will give Your Royal Assent to such ways and means as the Parliaments of both Kingdoms shall think fitting for the uniting of the Protestant Princes and for the entire Restitution and Re-establishment of Charles Lodwick Prince Elector Palatine His Heirs and Successors to His Electoral Dignity Rights and Dominions Provided that this extend not to Prince Rupert or Prince Maurice or the Children of either of them who have been the Instruments of so much blood-shed and mischief against both Kingdoms XXIII That by Act of Parliament the concluding of Peace or War with Foreign Princes and States be with advice and consent of both Parliaments or in the Intervals of Parliaments by their Commissioners XXIV That an Act of Oblivion be passed in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively relative to the Qualifications in the Propositions aforesaid concerning the joint Declaration of both Kingdoms with the exception of all Murderers Thieves and other Offenders not having relation to the War XXV That the Members of both Houses of Parliaments or others who have during this Parliament been put out of any Place or Office Pension or Benefit for adhering to the Parliament may either be restored thereunto or otherwise have Recompence for the same upon the humble desire of both Houses of Parliament The like for the Kingdom of Scotland XXVI That the Armies may be Disbanded at such time and in such manner as shall be agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms or such as shall be Authorized by them to that effect XXVII That an Act be passed for the granting and confirming of the Charters Customs Liberties and Franchises of the City of London notwithstanding any Non-user Mis-user or Abuser That the Militia of the City of London may be in the ordering and Government of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council assembled or such as they shall from time to time appoint whereof the Lord Major and Sheriffs for the time being to be three And that the Militia of the Parishes without London and the Liberties within the weekly Bills of Mortality may be under Command of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council of the said City to be ordered in such manner as shall be agreed on and appointed by both Houses of Parliament That the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City of London and the chief Officer and Governour thereof from time to time be nominated and removable by the Common-Council That the Citizens or Forces of London shall not be drawn out of the City into any other parts of the Kingdom without their own consent and that the drawing of their Forces into other parts of the Kingdom in these distracted times may not be drawn into example for the future And for prevention of Inconveniences which may happen by the long intermission of Common-Councils it is desired that there be an Act that all By-Laws and Ordinances already made or hereafter to be made by the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council assembled touching the calling continuing directing and regulating of the same shall be as effectual in Law to all intents and purposes as if the same were particularly enacted by the Authority of Parliament and that the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council may add to or repeal the said Ordinances from time to time as they shall see cause That such other Propositions as shall be made for the City for their farther Safety Welfare and Government and shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament may be granted and confirmed by Act of Parliament Upon consideration of which Propositions His Majesty sent the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton with this Message of the 13. of December HIS Majesty hath seriously
the latter part what Jurisdiction the Commissioners shall have who may determine all differences that shall be by breach of the Articles of Peace and by what Law and Rule they shall proceed to hear and determine the same is clearly set down in our further Answer of the 15. of this instant to your second Paper delivered in to us the day before The King's Commissioners Answer thereunto 17. Feb. VVE had great reason to desire a perfect and full Answer from your Lordships to our first and second Papers delivered by us to your Lordships on the 15. of Feb. and we desire your Lordships to consider how difficult a thing it is for us to give your Lordships a satisfactory Answer to your Propositions as they relate to either or both Kingdoms or to the Power of the Commissioners of both Kingdoms as they are to be a joynt Committee to hear and determine all differences according to Instructions from both Houses of Parliament of England or the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland before your Lordships are pleased to inform us whether you intend the Commissioners of Scotland shall have any Power or Authority in the settling all Forces by Sea and Land in this Kingdom and what Authority they shall have and whether the Advice Instructions or Orders of the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland shall have any influence upon the affairs of this Kingdom or the Commissioners to be named according to those Propositions otherwise than as the said Advice Instructions or Orders shall be approved and confirmed by the two Houses of Parliament of England and what Jurisdiction you intend the Commissioners shall have who are to determine all differences that may occasion the breach of the Articles of the Peace and by what Law or Rule they shall proceed try and judge in the hearing and determining the same In all which particulars we are very sorry that we can receive no Answers from your Lordships for want whereof we may fail in giving your Lordships so satisfactory Answers to your Propositions as otherwise we might be enabled to do Their Reply 17. Feb. IT is clearly expressed in our Propositions delivered to your Lordships that all Forces by Sea and Land in this Kingdom are to be settled by the two Houses of the Parliament of England and in the Kingdom of Scotland by the Estates of the Parliament there and we conceive that the Advice Instructions or Orders of either Kingdom are to have no influence upon the affairs of the other but such as is and shall be mutually agreed upon by the two Houses of the Parliament of England and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland and for the Jurisdiction of the Commissioners and by what Law or Rule they shall proceed we have given your Lordships a full and clear Answer thereunto in our 5. Paper of the 15. of February The King's Commissioners Paper 17. Feb. IN the twelfth Proposition your Lordships desire an Act to be passed for confirmation of the late Treaty for the settling of the Garrison of Berwick of the 29 of Novem. 1643. which relating to the business of the Militia we hold it necessary to see before we can make our full Answer upon the whole and desire it accordingly of your Lordships Their Answer 17. Feb. AS for what concerns the Act for Confirmation of the late Treaty and for setling the Garrison of Berwick it is not now to be Treated upon but is reserved to its proper time The King's Commissioners Paper 17. Feb. VVE desire to know whether by the joynt Power mentioned in your Lordships Propositions to be given to the Commissioners for both Kingdoms to preserve the Peace between the Kingdoms and the King and every one of them your Lordships do intend any other than Military power for suppressing Forces only which is expressed after in a distinct Clause by it self and if your Lordships do intend any further Power that your Lordships would declare the same in certainty and particular Their Answer 17. Feb. VVE conceive the Power of the Commissioners mentioned in the 17. Proposition is there fully expressed to preserve the Peace betwixt the Kingdoms to prevent the violation of it or any Troubles arising in the Kingdoms by breach of the Articles and to hear and determine all differences which may occasion the same according to the Treaty and to raise Forces to resist Foreign Invasion and suppress intestine Insurrections as is more at large set down in the Proposition to which we refer your Lordships The King's Commissioners Paper 17. Feb. VVE desire to know whether the Commissioners of both Kingdoms meeting as a joynt Committee the Commissioners of each Kingdom shall have a Negative Voice so as nothing can be done without their joynt consent in matters of joynt concernment and how and by whom it shall be decided what are cases of joynt concernment to both Kingdoms Their Answer 17. Feb. IN all matters of joynt concernment the Commissioners of both Kingdoms are to act joyntly and when they shall meet as a joynt Committee upon such matters of joynt concernment the Commissioners of each Kingdom are to have a Negative Voice and in doubtful cases not expressed in the 17. Proposition to be of joynt concernment where the Commissioners cannot agree whether or no they be of joynt concernment they are to represent them to the two Houses of Parliament of England and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively to be by them determined if they be sitting and in the Intervals of Parliament if the cases be such as cannot without prejudice to both or either Kingdom admit of delay we conceive the Commissioners of each Kingdom are to act severally and to be accomptable for it to the two Houses of Parliament of England and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively at their next sitting The King's Commissioners Paper 17. Feb. VVE desire to know whether by the Propositions for settling the Forces in Commissioners to be nominated by both Houses of Parliament such as both Kingdoms may confide in your Lordships do intend that the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland shall approve or except against the Commissioners to be nominated for the Kingdom of England both at present and from time to time as the Commissioners shall dye or be removed or altered Their Answer 17. Feb. VVE conceive it to be plain by the Proposition it self that the Commissioners of both Kingdoms are respectively to be nominated by the Parliaments of either Kingdom and neither Parliament hath power to except against or approve the persons chosen by the other and we are confident there will be no cause of exception but who are chosen by either will be such as both may confide in The King's Commissioners Paper 14. Feb. VVE desire to know whether your Lordships intend by your Proposition concerning the settling of the Admiralty of Scotland by Act of Parliament to alter the inheritance of any person which is
already settled by the Laws of that Kingdom Their Answer thereunto 15. February TO your Lordships fourth Paper of the 14. of Feb. it is answered that by our Propositions for settling the Admiralty of Scotland by Act of Parliament it is intended that the Admiralty and Forces at Sea c. shall be settled in such manner as the Estates of Parliament there shall think fittest for the safety and security of that Kingdom And as touching the inheritance of any person which is already settled by the Laws of that Kingdom the Estates of Parliament will do that which is agreeable to Justice The King's Commissioners Paper 15. February VVE desire to know whether the Papers delivered to us touching the Militia contain all your Lordships Propositions touching the Militia of England and Scotland and if they do not that your Lordships will deliver the rest that we may make our Answers upon the whole Their Answer 15. Feb. VVHatsoever is contained in the Propositions concerning the Militia of England and Scotland is delivered in to your Lordships except the 23. Proposition and the last Article in the 26. Proposition which are reserved for their proper place After all these passages the King's Commissioners delivered in this Paper in further Answer to their Propositions concerning the Militia 17. Feb. VVE had no purpose in our Answer delivered by us to your Lordships on the sixth day of February to divide our Answers concerning the Militia of the two Kingdoms otherwise than in point of time and till we might receive satisfaction from your Lordships concerning the Powers to be given to the Commissioners of both Kingdoms and the other particulars mentioned in our Papers since delivered to your Lordships wherein we are not as yet satisfied by any Papers delivered by your Lordships to us Our further Answer to those Propositions concerning the Militia is That we are willing and do agree that the like course shall be taken and observed touching the Militia of the Kingdom of Scotland as is offered in our said Paper of the sixth of February and as shall be hereafter agreed on for the Kingdom of England which we conceive to be a full security for the performance and observation of all Articles which shall be agreed upon between us in order to a blessed Peace which we are so desirous may be punctually and exactly observed that we are willing that His Majesty be desired to take a most solemn strict Oath for the full observation thereof and likewise that all persons of any immediate trust by office or attendance on His Majesty and any other whom you shall think fit shall take such Oath for the due observance of the same with such reasonable Penalties as shall be proposed by your Lordships and agreed to by us in which we believe we shall not differ with your Lordships being willing that whosoever shall in the least degree infringe the Agreement which shall be made between us may be looked upon and accounted as most pernicious Enemies to King and Kingdoms And if it shall be thought necessary to make any additional settlement of the Militia with a general reference to the good of the Kingdoms respectively we desire the same may be done after the Peace established by the joynt consent of His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament in England and His Majesty and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively And as we shall desire and endeavour to remove all occasions that may interrupt the Peace and Tranquillity of that Kingdom and a perfect Amity with them and shall not desire any change of or to intermeddle in their Laws or Government or give them cause to apprehend any disturbance or violation of them from this Kingdom so are we obliged with all tenderness to preserve the Honour Dignity and Constitution of this Realm And therefore as we are yet satisfied we cannot consent that any Persons authorized by the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland or any advice from thence shall have any influence upon the Militia of this Kingdom or further interpose in the affairs of this Kingdom than is already provided by the Act of Pacification And we offer to your Lordships considerations whether unless there could be an union of the Laws of both Kingdoms such a mixture of Power as is now proposed and the influence thereof both upon Martial and Civil affairs may not prove very inconvenient and prejudicial to both Kingdoms and give cause of Jealousies to each other to the disturbance of that mutual Amity so much desired But if this intermingling of Power in both Kingdoms shall be further insisted on by your Lordships we propound that the same may be settled as after a Peace established shall be agreed by the joynt consent of His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament of England and of His Majesty and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland and if your Lordships shall insist on any thing further for necessary Security we shall apply our selves to the consideration thereof if we shall have further time so to do according to our desires grounded upon His Majesty's Letter Their Paper 17. Feb. WE do conceive that we have in our former Papers punctually satisfied your Lordships in all you desired to know concerning the Powers of the Commissioners of both Kingdoms and the other particulars mentioned by your Lordships And what your Lordships now offer concerning the Militia of the Kingdom of Scotland that the like course shall be taken in it as is expressed in your Lordships Paper of the 6 th of Feb. to be observed for the Militia of this Kingdom your Lordships may remember that in our Answer to that Paper we told your Lordships it was differing from what we had proposed and unsatisfactory to our just and necessary desires for securing the Peace of the Kingdoms and it cannot be expected that what was so then for the Kingdom of England should now be thought other for the Kingdom of Scotland And though both Kingdoms be now united in the same Cause and labouring under the same Dangers and therefore necessitated to a mutual and reciprocal Assistance of each other had proposed a joynt remedy and security by that Commission desired in our 17 th Proposition we find your Lordships say that as yet you are satisfied you cannot consent unto it To which we answer That we believed we had given your Lordships such convincing Reasons as might have satisfied you and we doubt not but they may if you will recollect your memories concerning them and rightly weight them This being the last day we are to Treat upon this Subject it cannot be expected and as we conceive it is altogether needless to use any more Arguments we do therefore desire your Lordships will be pleased now at the last to give us your full and positive Answer to our Demands as we have often already pressed your Lordships And whereas your Lordships do propound that if we shall further insist upon the
the Lords Justices and Council there yet we were assured even by some who were of the Council at that time when the Letters were written that the same was done only to press for Supplies from hence without the least intention in them of inducing a Cessation neither do the Copies contain any thing tending to a Cessation or the least mention thereof And we have cause to grieve not only at what your Lordships express concerning the complaints from Ireland and their great extremities but that the same being procured and increased by the Popish Party yet we should find such earnest endeavours to lay the blame and neglect therein upon the two Houses of Parliament here who have been so zealous for their Relief and whose only care under the Blessing of God hath been their Preservation and that in the heat of our own miserable Distractions have continued their Supplies and from our own great Wants have not spared to afford our Brethren there the means of their subsistance The Protestants in Munster Connaught and Vlster who opposed this Cessation were many of them English and both they and the Scots suffering under as great Wants and Failer of Supplies as the Protestants in other places and in no better posture of their own defence notwithstanding in a true sense of their own Duty and Conscience they have opposed and still do oppose the same neither were the English there neglected as your Lordships have been misinformed by such who labour to destroy both Nations and as a means thereto to divide them Besides the Goods seised near Coventry we have mentioned other particulars asserted to be seised not without His Majesties own knowledge and direction as we are informed and are most unwilling to believe Neither do we understand it to be an excuse for seising some Goods to say that His Majesty did forbear to seise others in His Power but when His Majesty shall rightly ponder the horridness of that Rebellion we hope those wicked Instruments who contrived and do support the same will have no power to alter His Majesties tender sense of the miseries of His Protestants Subjects in that Kingdom nor at all to lessen His Piety and gracious Care for quenching the Flames of that unhappy Rebellion We do again affirm unto your Lordships the truth of what we said before concerning the Supplies of Ireland by the two Houses and it seems strange that what hath been lately sent should not be looked upon as a Support of the War against the Rebels by which only the Protestants were enabled to defend themselves and to infest their Enemies nor can we imagine any other means as a Support of that just War being most assured that if this had not been done the Rebels must certainly have prevailed and the remnant of His Majesties good Subjects of that Kingdom have perished Your Lordships are pleased to remember some moneys by us imployed particularly one hundred thousand Pounds which was raised for Ireland all which have been re-satisfied with advantage and we must as often as you are pleased to repeat it refer your Lordships to our former just and clear Answers concerning the same and the like for the Forces under the Command of the Lord Wharton And we believe what your Lordships express concerning the Forces brought hither to His Majesty out of Ireland after the Cessation it being one end for which the Cessation was made that those Forces might be imployed against the two Houses of Parliament here and those Scotish Forces which came over were not sent for We know of no Persons who have returned into Ireland since the Cessation except such as were Agents for the procuring thereof and divers principal Rebels who presumed to address themselves unto His Majesty at Oxford and were there countenanced It is probable that some might endeavour to alienate the hearts of the Officers of the Army there from the two Houses whereby their Service against the Rebels might be interrupted To that particular of the Subscriptions of the Officers and of the Committee sent into Ireland and of the diversions of moneys alledged and of the Copies of Letters given us by your Lordships without the Names of those who subscribed them we have already given your Lordships a full and clear Answer but have not received satisfaction concerning the denial of the Lord Wharton's Commission whereby the Service of that Kingdom was much prejudiced It is so far from being made appear that His Majesties English Protestant Subjects in Ireland could not subsist without a Cessation that the contrary is undeniable and that His Majesties Protestant Subjects there both English and Scotish who have opposed that Cessation have subsisted and do still subsist and we are sorry to find any inclination to continue that Cessation which whensoever made will be esteemed by all good Protestants a countenancing of that bloody Rebellion We do insist upon our former Demands concerning Ireland and doubt not but those being granted notwithstanding our present miserable Distractions here we shall by the Blessing of God bring those bloody Rebels to a speedy and just Punishment and settle that unhappy Kingdom in their due Obedience to His Majesty and the Crown of England Their other Paper 22. Feb. IT is not possible for us to give a more clear Answer than we have done to shew that there can no such Inconvenience follow upon confirming the Ordinance of the 11. of April by Act of Parliament as your Lordships do imagine it being desired that the Treaty of the sixth of August be in like manner confirmed by which the Commanders of the Scotish Forces in Ireland are to be answerable to His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament of England for their whole deportment and proceeding there and it being desired by the 13. Proposition that the Prosecutions of the War of Ireland should be settled in both Houses of Parliament all which taken together it cannot follow that upon any Disagreement between the Committees there the Earl of Leven may carry on the War according to his own discretion As for our Expression when there shall be a Lieutenant in Ireland which was used in Answer to your Lordships second Paper of the 20. of February it was to satisfie your Lordships that there could be no interfering between the Powers of the Lord Lieutenant and of the Earl of Leven and still we say when there shall be a Lord Lieutenant chosen as is expressed in our 20. Proposition for we do not admit the Marquiss of Ormond to be so the Commander in chief of the Scotish Army is to receive Instructions from him in such manner as we have laid it down in that Answer of ours to your Lordships Paper above-mentioned which will we hope satisfie your Lordships other Objection that this is not to deliver over the whole Kingdom of Ireland into the hands of His Majesties Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland seeing such of that Nation as are there imployed are to be subordinate
both Houses of the Parliament of England having Power and Commission from the said Honourable Houses and the Commissioners of the Convention of the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland authorized by the Committee of the said Estates concerning the solemn League and Covenant and the Assistance demanded in pursuance of the Ends expressed in the same WHereas the two Houses of the Parliament of England out of a just and deep sense of the great and iminent Danger of the true Protestant Religion in regard of the great Forces of Papists Prelates Malignants and their Adherents raised and imployed against the constant Professors thereof in England and Ireland thought fit to send their Commissioners unto the Kingdom of Scotland to Treat with the Convention of Estates and general Assembly there concerning such things as might tend to the preservation of Religion and the mutual good of both Nations and to that end to desire a more near and strict Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the Assistance of the Kingdom of Scotland by a considerable Strength to be raised and sent by them into the Kingdom of England and whereas upon a Consultation held betwixt the Commissioners of the Parliament of England the Committees of the Convention of Estates and General Assembly no means was thought so expedient to accomplish and strengthen the Union as for both Nations to enter into a solemn League and Covenant and a form thereof drawn and presented to the two Houses of Parliament of England the Convention of Estates and General Assembly of Scotland which hath accordingly been done and received their respective Approbation and whereas the particulars concerning the Assistance desired by the two Houses of the Parliament of England from their Brethren of Scotland were delivered in by the English Commissioners August the 19. to the Convention of Estates who did thereupon give power to their Committee to consider and debate further with the English Commissioners of what other Propositions might be added or concluded whereby the Assistance desired might be made more effectual and beneficial and in pursuance thereof these Propositions following were considered of and debated by the Commitee and Commissioners aforesaid to be certified with all convenient speed to the two Houses of the Parliament of England and the Convention of Estates of Scotland by their respective Committees and Commissioners to be respectively taken into their consideration and proceeded with as they should find cause which being accordingly done and these ensuing Propositions approved agreed and concluded of by the Houses of the Parliament of England and the Committee of the Estates of Scotland respectively and power by them given to their respective Committees and Commissioners formally to agree and conclude the same as may appear by the Votes of both Houses dated the first of November and the Order of the Committee bearing date the seventeenth of November We the said Commissioners and Committees according to their Votes and Orders do formally conclude and agree upon these Articles following and in confirmation thereof do mutually subscribe the same 1. It is agreed and concluded that the Covenant represented to the Convention of Estates and General Assembly of Scotland and sent to both Houses of the Parliament of England in the same form as it is now returned from the two Houses of the Parliament of England to their Brethren of Scotland and allowed by the Committee of Estates and Commissioners of the General Assembly be sworn and subscribed by both Kingdoms as a most near Tye and Conjunction between them for their mutual defence against the Papists and Prelatical Faction and their Adherents in both Kingdoms and for pursuance of the Ends expressed in the said Covenant 2. That an Army to this purpose shall be levied forthwith consisting of Eighteen thousand Foot effectivè and Two thousand Horse and One thousand Dragooners effectivè with a suitable Train of Artillery to be ready at some general Rendezvous near the Borders of England to march into England for the purposes aforesaid with all convenient speed the said Foot and Horse to be well and compleatly Armed and provided with Victuals and Pay for forty days and the said Train of Artillery to be fitted in all points ready to march 3. That the Army be commanded by a General appointed by the Estates of Scotland and subject to such Resolutions and Directions as are and shall be agreed and concluded on mutually between the two Kingdoms or by Committees appointed by them in that behalf for pursuance of the Ends above-mentioned 4. That the Charge of levying arming and bringing the said Forces together furnished as also the fitting the Train of Artillery in readiness to march be computed and set down according to the same Rates as if the Kingdom of Scotland were to raise the said Army for themselves and their own Affairs All which for the present is to be done by the Kingdom of Scotland upon Accompt and the Accompt to be delivered to the Commissioners of the Kingdom of England and when the Peace of the two Kingdoms is settled the same to be repay'd or satisfied to the Kingdom of Scotland 5. That this Army be likewise pay'd as if the Kingdom of Scotland were to imploy the same for their own occasions and toward the defraying thereof it not amounting to the full Months pay shall be Monthly allowed and pay'd the sum of Thirty thousand Pounds sterling by the Parliament of England out of the Estates and Revenues of the Papists Prelates Malignants and their Adherents or otherwise and in case the said Thirty thousand Pounds Monthly or any part thereof be not pay'd at the time when it shall become due and payable the Kingdom of England shall give the Publick Faith for the paying of the remainder unpay'd with all possible speed allowing the rate of Eight Pounds per centum for the time of the performance thereof And in case that notwithstanding the said Monthly sum of Thirty thousand Pounds pay'd as aforesaid the States and Kingdom of Scotland shall have just cause to demand further satisfaction of their Brethren of England when the Peace of both Kingdoms is settled for the pains hazard and charges they have undergone in the same they shall by way of Brotherly assistance have due recompence made unto them by the Kingdom of England and that out of such Lands and Estates of the Papists Prelates Malignants and their Adherents as the two Houses of the Parliament of England shall think fit and for the assurance thereof the Publick Faith of the Kingdom of England shall be given them 6. And to the end the said Army in manner aforesaid may be enabled and prepared to march the Kingdom of England is to pay in ready Money to their Brethren of Scotland or such as shall have power from the Estates of that Kingdom the sum of One hundred thousand Pounds sterling at Leith or Edenburgh with all convenient speed by way of advance before-hand which is to be discounted back again
Commissioners should have the Power but for seven years yet We should not have it after those seven years nor at any time unless they and We could agree in it so much would they have gained by this seeming compliance in point of limitation of this Power to a time though not to that time of three years which We proposed But they justifie the Reasonableness of it for whereas Our Commissioners in their Paper to which this of theirs is applied as an Answer tell them that if the time for this Power be unlimited We and Our Posterity shall for ever part with Our peculiar Regall Power of being able to resist Our Enemies or protect Our good Subjects and with that undoubted and never-denied Right of the Crown to make War and Peace or ever more to have Jurisdiction over Our own Navy and Fleet at Sea the Command thereof being also a part of this great Power to be given to these Commissioners they answer plainly They cannot admit of this peculiar Regall Power which Our Commissioners mention to reside in Vs concerning the Militia and to make Peace and War or that it is otherwise to be exercised then by Authority from Vs and both Houses of the Parliament of England and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively We approve of their ingenuity that now at the breaking off of the Treaty they tell Us in plain terms what they mean Though the Common-Law-books and Records of Parliament have mentioned that the sole Power of protecting the Subjects belongs to the King and that He alone hath Power to make Peace and War though it hath been the language of former Parliaments even of the last Parliament and at the beginning of this Parliament That the Power of Peace and War is in the King but if He will have Money from His Subjects to maintain the Wars He must have their Consents and though the universal consent and common Opinion heretofore hath gone accordingly yet they cannot admit thereof as to have been Our Right for the Answer is made to the assertion concerning Our Right And not admitting it it seems their Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy to defend Our Crown and Dignity and to assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges and Authorities belonging to Us oblige them not And as they do not admit this Power in Right to have been in Us alone for the time past so neither will they admit it for the time to come in Us or Our Successors to be able to resist Our Enemies or protect Our Subjects or to make Peace or War but it must be by Authority from Vs and the two Houses and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively They are to be associated in these Regal Powers and the Scepter and the Sword may in Pictures or Statues but are not in deed to be in the Kings hand alone Upon these grounds We wonder not that they would have the Navy and Fleet at Sea to be put into the hands of their Commissioners for seven years as the Militia for the Land and after the seven years to be commanded in such manner as they and We should agree and not otherwise for the say the Reasons are the same for them as for the Militia by Land It is a principal means they say of their security and We cannot find they think themselves to have any security if We and Our Successors have any Power But if We will part with Our Power wholly unto them We and Our Posterity shall be fully secured by the Affections of Our Subjects that is by the Lords and Commons now at VVestminster who in their sense represent all the People who by themselves during the Parliament or when they shall please to make any Recesses by their Commissioners during the Intervals will free Us from the burthen of the Militia and of Our Navy and so of protecting Our Subjects and will save Us the Charge of Our Navy because it is to be principally maintained by the free gift of the Subject out of Tonnage and Poundage and other Impositions upon Merchandise And having taken this care for Our Security suitable to all their Actions these three years last past they say that for security of those who have been with Vs in the War an Act of Oblivion is desired to be passed whereby all Our Subjects would have been put in one and the same condition and under the same protection with some Exceptions mentioned in the Propositions We are not willing to mention those Exceptions by which not only most of Our best Subjects who have been with Us in the War according to their Duties by express or general terms are excepted but all the Estates of some of them and a great part of the Estates of the rest of them for that very cause because they were with Us in the War are to be forfeited As for securing them by an Act of Oblivion they have less cause to desire it than they who propose it as being more secured by the Conscience of doing their Duties and the protection of the known Common Law of the Land if it might take place than any protection under the two Houses or their Commissioners for the Militia yet we were not unwilling for the security of all Our Subjects to have assented to an Act of Oblivion being willing as much as in Us lies to have made up these Breaches and buried the memory of these unhappy Divisions It was urged by Our Commissioners that according to the literal sense of the Propositions in the Powers given to the Commissioners for the Militia That Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and other legal Ministers could not raise the Posse Comitatus or Forces to suppress Riots without being liable to the interpretation of the Commissioners To this they answer That this is no part of the Militia to be exercised by the Commissioners but in executing of Justice and legal Process nor can be intended to be any disturbance but for the preservation of the Peace We shall admit that to be their meaning but it being by the Propositions made Treason in any who shall levy any Forces without Authority or consent of the Commissioners to the disturbance of the publick Peace it is apparent that the Sheriffs or Justices of Peace if they raise any Forces to suppress any tumultuous Assembly which it is possible some of the Commissioners may countenance or for executing of other legal Acts may not only be liable to the interpretation of being disturbers of the Publick Peace but feel the punishment of it And whereas they say That the Power given by the Propositions to the Commissioners for the Militia of both Kingdoms as a joynt Committee for the hearing and determining Civil Actions and Differences cannot be extended further than preservation of the Articles of the Peace to be made We conceive that a Court being thereby allowed to them for the hearing and determining of Civil matters for the preservation of
the Articles of the Peace they may in order thereunto upon pretence it is for the preservation of the Peace entertain and determine any Cause or Difference they please especially their Power by the Propositions being not only to preserve the Peace but to prevent the violation of the Articles of the Peace and having the power of the Sword in their hands and being not tied up to any certain Law whereby to judge for ought appears by their Answers to the Questions proposed by Our Commissioners and the Common Law not being the Rule in such case because part of them are to be of the Scotish Nation they may without controul exercise what Arbitrary Power they please And whereas it is insisted upon in this Paper That an Answer be given to the fifteenth Proposition which is That the Subjects be appointed to be Armed Trained and Disciplined in such manner as both Houses shall think fit which Our Commissioners thought fit to have deferred till after the Peace established and then to be settled by Us and the two Houses it is apparent that Proposition concerned not that which was desired as the end of their Propositions the security for the observation of the Articles and We conceive there is already sufficient Provision made by the Law in such cases and if there were not it were fit that that defect were supplied by Law not to be left at large as the two Houses should think fit without expressing the manner of it but to proceed by a Bill wherein We might see before We consented to it how Our Subjects should be charged We being as much concerned and sensible of the burthen to be put upon Our Subjects as the two Houses can be who We are sure since they took upon them the Authority of imposing upon their fellow-Subjects without Us have laid the heaviest Impositions that ever were And whereas they say The scope of these their Propositions touching the Militia was to take away occasions of future Differences to prevent the raising of Arms and to settle a firm and durable Peace If We look upon the whole frame of their Militia as they have proposed it to Us We cannot but conclude those Propositions to be most destructive to those ends For first they have proposed it to Us as they have settled it already by their Ordinance That the whole Militia of Ireland as well of Our English Subjects as Scotish shall be Commanded by Lesley Earl of Leven their Scotish General and be managed by the joynt Advice of the Scotish and English Commissioners and therein the Scotish as well as the English to have a Negative Voice and so by consequence subjecting the whole Government of that Kingdom to the manage of Our Scotish Subjects And having thus ordered the Militia of Ireland where they will be sure to keep Forces on Foot for that is another part of the Propositions That we shall assent to whatsoever Acts shall be proposed for Moneys for the VVar of Ireland which Forces shall be ready upon all occasions to serve them for the Militia and Navy of England that is likewise to be ordered and Commanded by these Commissioners and though We their Sovereign are denied to nominate any to be joynt-Commissioners they are content to admit those of Scotland who though Our Subjects yet are strangers to their Government to a nomination of Scotish Commissioners to be joyned with them These Scotish Commissioners in matters wherein both Kingdoms are joyntly concerned and they may easily call and make what they will to be of joynt concernment are to have a Negative Voice so that the English can do nothing without them not so much as to raise Force to suppress a Commotion or prevent an Invasion if the Scotish Commissioners though not a third part of the number of the English say it is of joynt concernment and in matters solely concerning England the Scotish Commissioners to a third part of the whole number of the Commissioners are to reside in England and to Vote as single Persons These Commissioners as well Scotish as English as they have the sole Power of the Forces by Sea and Land so they must have a Court in a Civil way to hear and determine whatsoever Civil action that shall tend to the preservation of the Peace or whatsoever else is for the prevention of the violation of it within which general words and in order thereunto they may comprehend any cause or thing they please And as these Commissioners as well Scotish as English are to name all Commanders and Officers in Our Forts and Ships so in the Intervals of Paliament lest there should be too much dependance upon Us they are to name all the great Officers and Judges of both Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland To these so unreasonable Propositions wherein the Parliament and Subjects of Scotland would have so great an Influence and Power over the Kingdoms of England and Ireland if as reflecting meerly upon Our selves and not entertaining such thoughts of Our Scotish Subjects as perhaps some may by the danger of such a Power We should have agreed as hoping that the good Affections of Our Subjects in Scotland might in time have restored Us to that Power which the two Houses of England would take away yet when We consider that We are in Conscience obliged to maintain the Rights of Our Crown so far as to be able to protect Our Subjects and what jealousies and heart-burnings it might probably produce betwixt Our Subjects of the two Kingdoms what reluctancy all Our Subjects here may have when they shall see Our Power so shaken and they must have so much dependency upon their fellow Subjects both English and Scotch We conceive it so far from being a Remedy to the present Distempers as they affirm in their Papers that as at present it would alter the whole frame and constitution of the Government of this Kingdom both Civil and Military so in the conclusion it would occasion the Ruin and Desolation of all Our Kingdoms His MAJESTIES Answer to the two Papers concerning Ireland IT hath been one of the chiefest designs of the Authors of the present Distractions to insinuate unto Our People that We were either privy to the Rebellion in Ireland or assenting to the continuance of it and if it could not be personally fixed upon Our self yet to perswade them into a belief that evil Counsellors and others prevalent with Us did encourage and assist it By this means having a colour to raise Forces and to levy Money for the supply of those Forces they might so dispose of both as under a pretence of suppressing the Rebels in Ireland they might thereby also raise a War in England for the effecting of their Ambitious and Covetous desires in both Kingdoms And they so carried on this Design that whereas out of Our earnest desire of the relief of Our poor Subjects in Ireland and to shew the great sense We had of their Miseries We had
of such late Members of either House of Parliament as sate in the unlawful Assembly at Oxford and shall not have rendred themselves before the first of December 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom 3. Branch That one full moiety of the Estates of such Persons late Members of either of the Houses of Parliament who have deserted the Parliament and adhered to the Enemies thereof and shall not have rendred themselves before the first of Decemb. 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom 10. Qualification That a full third part on the value of the Estates of all Judges and Officers towards the Law Common or Civil and of all Serjeants Councellors and Attorneys Doctors Advocates and Proctors of the Law Common or Civil and of all Bishops Clergy-men Masters and Fellows of any Colledge or Hall in either of the Universities or elsewhere and of all Masters of Schools or Hospitals and of Ecclesiastical Persons who have deserted the Parliament and adhered to the Enemies thereof and have not rendred themselves before the first of December 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom That a full sixth part on the full value of the Estates of the Persons excepted in the sixth Qualification concerning such as have been actually in Arms against the Parliament or have counselled or voluntarily assisted the Enemies thereof and are disabled according to the said Qualification to be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom 11. Qualification That the Persons and Estates of all common Souldiers and others of the Kingdom of England who in Lands or Goods be not worth two hundred pounds Sterling and the Persons and Estates of all common Souldiers and others of the Kingdom of Scotland who in Lands or Goods be not worth one hundred pounds Sterling be at liberty and discharged 1. Branch This Proposition to stand as to the English and as to the Scots likewise if the Parliament of Scotland or their Commissioners shall so think fit 2. Branch That the first of May last is now the day limited for the persons to come in that are comprised within the former Qualification That an Act be passed whereby the Debts of the Kingdom and the Persons of Delinquents and the value of their Estates may be known and which Act shall appoint in what manner the Confiscations and Proportions before mentioned may be levied and applied to the discharge of the said Engagements The like for the Kingdom of Scotland if the Estates of Parliament or such as shall have power from them shall think fit XVII That an Act of Parliament be passed to declare and make void the Cessation of Ireland and all Treaties and Conclusions of Peace or any Articles thereupon with the Rebels without Consent of both Houses of Parliament and to settle the Prosecution of the War of Ireland in both Houses of the Parliament of England to be managed by them and the King to assist and to do no Act to discountenance or molest them therein That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be setled in the Kingdom of Ireland by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses of the Parliament of England have agreed or shall agree upon after Consultation had with the Assembly of Divines here That the Deputy or chief Governour or other Governours of Ireland and the Presidents of the several Provinces of that Kingdom be nominated by both the Houses of the Parliament of England or in the Intervals of Parliament by such Committees of both Houses of Parliament as both Houses of the Parliament of England shall nominate and appoint for that purpose and that the Chancellour or Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer Commissioners of the great Seal or Treasury Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Chancellour of the Exchequer and Dutchy Secretaries of State Master of the Rolls Judges of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Vice-Treasurer and Treasurers at Wars of the Kingdom of Ireland be nominated by both Houses of the Parliament of England to continue quam diu se bene gesserint and in the Intervals of Parliament by the fore-mentioned Committees to be approved or disallowed by both Houses at their next sitting The like for the Kingdom of Scotland concerning the nomination of the Lords of the Privy Council Lords of Session and Exchequer Officers of State and Justice General in such manner as the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit XVIII That the Militia of the City of London and Liberties thereof may be in the ordering and government of the Lord Maior Aldermen and Commons in Common Council assembled or such as they shall from time to time appoint whereof the Lord Maior and Sheriffs for the time being to be three to be imployed and directed from time to time in such manner as shall be agreed on and appointed by both Houses of Parliament That no Citizen of the City of London nor any of the Forces of the said City shall be drawn forth or cempelled to go out of the said City or Liberties thereof for Military service without their own free Consent That an Act be passed for the granting and confirming of the Charters Customs Liberties and Franchises of the City of London notwithstanding any Non-user Misuser or Abuser That the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City of London and the chief Officer and Governour thereof from time to time be nominated and removeable by the Common-Council And for prevention of inconveniences which may happen by the long intermission of Common-Councils it is desired that there may be an Act that all by-Laws and Ordinances already made or hereafter to be made by the Lord Maior Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council assembled touching the calling continuing directing and regulating the same Common-Councils shall be as effectual in Law to all Intents and Purposes as if the same were particularly Enacted by the Authority of Parliament and that the Lord Maior Aldermen and Commons in Common-Council may add to or repeal the said Ordinances from time to time as they shall see cause That such other Propositions as shall be made for the City for their further Safety Welfare and Government and shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament may be granted and confirmed by Act of Parliament XIX That all Grants Commissions Presentations Writs Process Proceedings and other things passed under the Great Seal of England in the custody of the Lords and other Commissioners appointed by both Houses of Parliament for the custody thereof be and by Act of Parliament with the Royal Assent shall be declared and Enacted to be of like full force and effect to all intents and purposes as the same or like Grants Commissions Presentations Writs Process Proceedings and
Westminster with that Honour which is due to their Sovereign there solemnly to confirm the same and legally to pass the Acts before mentioned and to give and receive as well satisfaction in all the remaining particulars as likewise such other pledges of mutual Love Trust and Confidence as shall most concern the good of Him and His People Upon which happy Agreement His Majesty will dispatch His Directions to the Prince His Son to return immediately to Him and will undertake for his ready Obedience thereunto Holdenby May 12. 1647. MDCXLVII Jul. The Londoners Petition and Engagement To the Right Honourable the Lord Maior the Right Worshipful the Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in the Common or Guild-Hall of the City of London assembled The Humble Petition of the Citizens Commanders Officers and Soldiers of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries the Young men and Apprentices of the Cities of London and VVestminster Sea-Commanders Sea-men and Water-men together with divers other Commanders Officers and Soldiers within the Line of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bills of Mortality Sheweth THat your Petitioners taking into serious consideration how Religion His Majesties Honour and Safety the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject are at present greatly endangered and like to be destroyed and also sadly weighing with our selves what means might likely prove the most effectual to procure a firm and lasting Peace without a further effusion of Christian English Blood have therefore entred into a solemn Engagement which is hereunto annexed and do humbly and earnestly desire that this whole City may joyn together by all lawful and possible means as one man in hearty endeavours for His Majesties present coming up to His two Houses of Parliament with Honour Safety and Freedom and that without the nearer approach of the Army there to confirm such things as He hath granted in His Message of the 12. of May last in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdoms and that by a Personal Treaty with his two Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled and a firm and lasting Peace established All which we desire may be presented to both Houses of Parliament from this Honourable Assembly And we shall pray c. A solemn Engagement of the Citizens Commanders Officers and Soldiers of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries the Young men and Apprentices of the Cities of London and VVestminster Sea-Commanders Sea-men and Water-men together with divers other Commanders Officers and Soldiers within the Line of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality WHereas we have entred into a solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and Happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland all which we do evidently perceive not only to be endangered but ready to be destroyed we do therefore in pursuance of our said Covenant Oath of Allegiance Oath of every Free-man of the Cities of London and Westminster and Protestations solemnly engage our selves and vow unto Almighty God That we will to the utmost of our power cordially endeavour that His Majesty may speedily come to His two Houses of Parliament with Honour Safety and Freedom and that without the nearer approach of the Army there to confirm such things as He hath granted in His Message of the 12. of May last in Answer to the Propositions of both Kingdoms and that by a Personal Treaty with His two Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled and a firm and lasting Peace established For effecting whereof we do protest and re-oblige our selves as in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts with our Lives and Fortunes to endeavour what in us lies to preserve and defend His Majesties Royal Person and Authority the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of the Subject in their full and constant Freedom the Cities of London and Westminster Lines of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bills of Mortality and all others that shall adhere with us to the said Covenant Oath of Allegiance Oath of every Freeman of London and VVestminster and Protestation Nor shall we by any means admit suffer or endure any kind of Neutrality in this Common Cause of God the King and Kingdom as we do expect the Blessing of Almighty God whose help we crave and wholly devolve our selves upon in this our Undertaking A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament Die Sabbathi 24. Julii 1647. THE Lords and Commons having seen a printed Paper intituled A Petition to the Right Honourable the Lord Maior the Right VVorshipful the Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in the Common or Guild-Hall of the City of London assembled under the Name of divers Citizens Commanders Officers and Soldiers of the Trained Bands Auxiliaries and others Young men and Apprentices Sea-Commanders Sea-men and VVater-men together with a dangerous Engagement of the same persons by Oath and Vow concerning the King 's present coming to the Parliament upon Terms far different from those which both Houses after mature deliberation have declared to be necessary for the good and safety of this Kingdom casting Reflections upon the Proceedings both of the Parliament and Army and tending to the imbroiling the Kingdom in a new War and the said Lords and Commons taking notice of great endeavours used by divers ill-affected persons to procure Subscriptions thereunto whereby well-meaning people may be misled do therefore declare That whosoever after Publication or notice hereof shall proceed in or promote or set his Name to or give Consent that his Name be set unto or any way joyn in the said Engagement shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of High Treason and shall forfeit Life and Estate as in cases of High Treason accustomed H. Elsynge Cler. Par. Dom. Com. Die Lunae 26. Julii 1647. BE it ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That the Declaration of the twenty fourth of this instant July which declares all those Traitors and so to forfeit Life and Estate who shall after Publication thereof act thereupon to get Subscriptions be Null and Void any thing in the said Declaration to the contrary notwithstanding Joh. Browne Cler. Par. Hen. Elsynge Cler. Par. Dom. Com. Die Lunae 26. Julii 1647. REsolved upon the Question That His Majesty shall come to Londo Die Saturni 31. Julii 1647. Resolved upon the Question That the King's Majesty come to one of His Houses nearer London that Propositions may be sent and Address made to His Majesty from both Houses of the Parliament of England and the Kingdom of Scotland for Peace MDCXLVII His MAJESTIES Declaration and Profession disavowing any Preparations in Him to levy War against His two Houses of Parliament CHARLES R. THere having been many
thereunto Provided always and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That nothing herein before contained shall extend to the taking away of the ordinary Legal Power of Sheriffs Justices of Peace Maiors Bailiffs Coroners Constables Headboroughs or other Officers of Justice not being Military Officers concerning the Administration of Justice so as neither the said Sheriffs Justices of Peace Maiors Bailiffs Coroners Constables Headboroughs and other Officers or any of them do levy conduct imploy or command any Forces whatsoever by colour or pretence of any Commission of Array or extraordinary Command from His Majesty His Heirs or Successors without the Consent of the said Lords and Commons and that if any persons shall be gathered and assembled together in Warlike manner or otherwise to the number of Thirty persons and shall not forthwith separate and disperse themselves being required thereto by the said Lords and Commons or Command from them or any by them especially authorized for that purpose then such person and persons not so separating and dispersing themselves shall be guilty and incur the pains of High Treason being first Declared guilty of such Offence by the said Lords and Commons any Commission under the Great Seal or other Warrant to the contrary notwithstanding and he or they that shall offend herein shall be incapable of any Pardon from His Majesty His Heirs and Successors and their Estates shall be disposed as the said Lords and Commons shall think fit and not otherwise Provided also further That the City of London shall have and enjoy all their Rights Liberties and Franchises Customs and Usages in the raising and imploying the Forces of that City for the Defence thereof in as full and ample manner to all intents and purposes as they have or might have used or enjoyed the same at any time before the sitting of this present Parliament Soit baillé aux Seigneurs A ceste Bille les Seigneurs sont assentuz An Act for justifying the Proceedings of Parliament in the late War and for Declaring all Oaths Declarations Proclamations and other Proceedings against it to be void WHereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have been necessitated to make and prosecute a War in their just and lawful Defence and thereupon Oaths Declarations and Proclamations have been made against them and their Ordinances and Proceedings and against others for adhering unto them and for executing Offices Places and Charges by Authority derived from them and Judgments Indictments Outlawries Attainders and Inquisitions for the causes aforesaid have been had and made against some of the Members of the Houses of Parliament and other his Majesties good Subjects and Grants have been made of their Lands and Goods Be it therefore Declared and hereby Enacted by the Kings Majesty and by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and by Authority of the same That all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations heretofore had or made against both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any the Members of either of them for the causes aforesaid or against their Ordinances or Proceedings or against any for adhering unto them or for doing or executing any Office Place or Charge by any Authority derived from the said Houses or either of them and all Judgments Indictments Outlawries Attainders Inquisitions and Grants thereupon made and all other Proceedings for any the causes aforesaid had made done or executed or to be had made done or executed whether the same be done by the King or any Judges Justices Sheriffs Ministers or any others are void and of no effect and are contrary to and against the Laws of the Realm And be it further Enacted and hereby Declared by the Authority aforesaid That all Judges Justices of the Peace Maior Sheriffs Constables and other Officers and Ministers shall take notice hereof and are hereby prohibited and discharged in all time to come from awarding any Writ Process or Summons and from pronouncing or executing any Judgment Sentence or Decree or any way proceeding against or molesting any of the said Members of the two Houses of Parliament or against any of the Subjects of this Kingdom for any the causes aforesaid Soit baillé aux Seigneurs A ceste Bille les Seigneurs sont assentuz An Act concerning Peers lately made and hereafter to be made BE it Enacted by the Kings Majesty and by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament That all Honour and Title of Peerage conferred on any since the twentieth day of May 1642. being the day that Edward Lord Littleton then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal deserted the Parliament and that the said Great Seal was surreptitiously conveyed away from the Parliament be and is hereby made and declared Null and Void Be it further Enacted and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no Person that shall hereafter be made a Peer or His Heirs shall sit or vote in the Parliament of England without consent of both Houses of Parliament Soit baillé aux Seigneurs A ceste Bille les Seigneurs sont assentuz An Act concerning the Adjournments of both Houses of Parliament BE it Declared and Enacted by the Kings Majesty and by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and by the Authority of the same That when and as often as the Lords and Commons assembled in this present Parliament shall judge it necessary to adjourn both Houses of this present Parliament to any other place of the Kingdom of England than where they now sit or from any place adjourn the same again to the place where they now sit or to any other place within the Kingdom of England that then such their Adjournment and Adjournments to such places and for such time as they shall appoint shall at all times and from time to time be valid and good any Act Statute or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding Provided always and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Adjournment or Adjournments to be had or made by reason or colour of this Act shall be deemed adjudged or taken to make end or determine any Session of this present Parliament And they also commanded us to present to Your Majesty these ensuing Propositions Heads of the Propositions 1. That the new Seal be confirmed and the old Great Seal and all things passed under it since May 1642. be made void 2. That Acts be passed for raising Moneys to satisfie Publick Debts 3. That Members of both Houses put from their places by the King be restored 4. That the Cessation in Ireland be made void and the War left to both Houses 5. That an Act of Indemnity be passed 6. That the Court of Wards be taken away and such Tenures turned into common Soccage 7. That the Treaties between the English and Scots be confirmed and Commissioners appointed for Conservation of the Peace between the Kingdoms 8. That the Arrears of the Army be paid out of the Bishops Lands forfeited Estates and Forests 9. That an Act be
reforming both Universities and the Colleges of Westminster Winchester and Eaton His Majesty will consent to an Act for the better discovery and speedy conviction of Popish Recusants as is desired in your Propositions and also to an Act for the Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion As also to an Act for the rrue levying of the Penalties against Papists to be levied and disposed in such manner as both Houses shall agree on and as is proposed on His Majesties behalf And also to an Act to prevent the practises of Papists against the State and for putting the Laws in execution and for a stricter course to prevent hearing and saying of Mass But as to the Covenant His Majesty is not yet therein satisfied that He can either sign or swear it or consent to impose it on the Consciences of others nor doth conceive it proper or useful at this time to be insisted on Touching the Militia His Majesty conceives that your Proposition demands a far larger power over the Persons and Estates of His Subjects than hath ever hitherto been warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm yet considering the present Distractions require more and trusting in His two Houses of Parliament that they will make no further use of the Power therein mentioned after the present Distempers setled than shall be agreeable to the Legal exercise thereof in times past or just necessity shall require His Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament That the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England now assembled or hereafter to be assembled or such as they shall appoint during the space of ten years shall Arm Train and Discipline or cause to be Armed Trained or Disciplined all the Forces of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and Dominion of Wales the Isles of Gernesey and Jersy and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed already raised both for Sea and Land-service and shall from time to time during the space of ten years raise levy arm train and discipline or cause to de raised levied armed trained and disciplined any other Forces for Land and Sea-service in the Kingdoms Dominions and places aforesaid as in their judgments they shall from time to time during the said space of ten years think fit to appoint And that neither the King His Heirs or Successors or any other but such as shall act by the Authority or approbation of the said Lords and Commons shall during the said space of ten years exercise any of the Powers aforesaid That Moneys be raised and levied for the maintenance and use of the said Forces for Land-service and of the Navy and Forces for Sea-service in such sort and by such ways and means as the said Lords and Commons shall from time to time during the said space of ten years think fit and appoint and not otherwise That all the said Forces both for Land and Sea-service so raised or levied or to be raised or levied and also the Admiralty and Navy shall from time to time during the said space of ten years be imployed managed ordered and disposed by the Lords and Commons in such sort and by such ways and means as they shall think fit and appoint and not otherwise And the said Lords and Commons or such as they shall appoint during the said space of ten years shall have power 1. To suppress all Forces raised or to be raised without Authority and Consent of the said Lords and Commons to the disturbance of the Publick Peace of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Dominion of Wales the Isles of Gernesey and Jersey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed or any of them 2. To suppress any Foreign Forces who shall invade or endeavour to invade the Kingdoms of England and Ireland Dominion of Wales the Isles of Gernesey and Jersey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed or any of them And after the expiration of the said ten years neither the King His Heirs or Successors or any person or persons by colour or pretence of any Commission Power Deputation or Authority to be derived from the King His Heirs or Successors or any of them shall without the Consent of the said Lords and Commons raise arm train discipline employ order manage disband or dispose any the Forces by Sea or Land of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland the Dominion of Wales Isles of Gernesey and Jersey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed nor exercise any of the said Powers or Authorities herein before mentioned and expressed to be during the space of ten years in the said Lords and Commons nor do any act or any thing concerning the execution of the said Powers or Authorities or any of them without the Consent of the said Lords and Commons first had and obtained And with the same Provisoes for saving the ordinary Legal Power of Officers of Justice not being Military Officers as is set down in your Propositions And with a Declaration That if any persons shall be gathered and assembled together in a Warlike manner or otherwise to the number of thirty persons and shall not forthwith disperse themselves being require thereto by the said Lords and Commons or command from them or any by them especially authorized for that purpose then such person or persons not so dispersing themselves shall be guilty and incur the pains of High Treason being first declared guilty of such offence by the said Lords and Commons any Commission under the Great Seal or any other Warrant to the contrary notwithstanding And he or they that shall so offend herein to be uncapable of any Pardon from His Majesty His Heirs or Successors And likewise that it be provided that the City of London shall have and enjoy all their Rights Liberties c. in raising and imyloying the Forces of that City in such sort as is mentioned in the said Proposition With these Provisoes following to be inserted in the said Act. First That none be compelled to serve in the Wars against their wills but in case of coming in of strange Enemies into this Kingdom And that the Powers above mentioned as concerning the Land-Forces other than for keeping up and maintenance of Forts and Garisons and the keeping up mantaining and pay of this present Army so long as it shall be thought fit by both Houses of Parliament be exercised to no other purposes than for the suppressing of Forces raised or to be raised without Authority and Consent of the said Lords and Commons as aforesaid or for suppressing of any Foreign Forces which shall invade or endeavour to invade the Kingdoms Dominions or places aforesaid And that the Monies be raised by general and equal Taxations saving that Tonnage and Poundage and such Imposts as have been applyed to the Navy be raised as hath been usual And that all Patents Commissions and other Acts concerning the Premisses be made and acted in His Majesties Name by Warrant signified by the Lords and Commons or
the Church of England as well by their personal Subscriptions as otherwise so attested and declared and which Himself in His Judgment and Conscience hath for so many years been and yet is perswaded to be at least of Apostolical Institution and Practice Truly His Majesty cannot but wonder what should be the reason of your great shiness and unwillingness to discover your minds in a matter of so great and necessary consequence and for a final conclusion of this whole Dispute which His Majesty thinketh fit to shut up with this Paper He must plainly tell you That your endeavours to have given Him satisfaction in the Questions proposed would have added much in His opinion to the reputation of your Ingenuity in the whole undertaking it being not probable you should work much upon His Judgment whilst you are fearful to declare your own nor possible to relieve His Conscience but by a free discharge of yours Nevertheless His Majesty liketh well of your Prayer in the close of your Paper and thinketh you should do very well to joyn therewith your utmost possible endeavours towards the settling of Truth and a happy Peace in this unsettled Church and Kingdom THE END ÎÎÎΩΠÎÎΣÎÎÎÎÎ THE POURTRAICTURE OF HIS SACRED MAJESTY IN HIS SOLITUDES and SUFFERINGS I. Vpon His MAJESTIES Calling this last PARLIAMENT THIS last Parliament I called not more by others advice and necessity of my Affairs than by my own choice and inclination who have always thought the right way of Parliaments most safe for my Crown as best pleasing to my People And altho I was not forgetful of those sparks which some mens distempers formerly studied to kindle in Parliaments which by forbearing to convene for some years I hoped to have extinguished yet resolving with My self to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires and to redress all publick Grievances in Church and State I hoped by my freedom and their moderation to prevent all misunderstandings and miscarriages in this In which as I feared affairs would meet with some Passion and Prejudice in other men so I resolved they should find least of them in My self not doubting but by the weight of Reason I should counterpoise the over-balancings of any Factions I was inded sorry to hear with what Partiality and Popular heat Elections were carried in many places yet hoping that the Gravity and Discretion of other Gentlemen would allay and fix the Commons to a due temperament guiding some mens well-meaning zeal by such rules of moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health of all States and Kingdoms no man was better pleased with the convening of this Parliament than My self who knowing best the Largeness of my own Heart toward my Peoples good and just contentment pleased My self most in that good and firm understanding which would hence grow between Me and my People All Jealousies being laid aside My own and My Childrens Interests gave Me many obligations to seek and preserve the Love and welfare of my Subjects the only temporal Blessing that is left to the ambition of just Monarchs as their greatest Honour and Safety next Gods Protection I cared not to lessen My self in some things of my wonted Prerogative since I knew I could be no loser if I might gain but a recompence in my Subjects Affections I intended not only to oblige my Friends but mine Enemies also exceeding even the desires of those that were factiously discontented if they did but pretend to any modest and sober sense The Odium and offences which some mens Rigor or Remisness in Church and State had contracted upon my Government I resolved to have expiated by such Laws and regulations for the future as might not only rectify what was amiss in Practice but supply what was defective in the Constitution No man having a greater zeal to see Religion setled and preserved in Truth Unity and Order than My self whom it most concerns both in Piety and Policy as knowing that No flames of civil Dissentions are more dangerous than those which make Religious pretensions the grounds of Factions I resolved to reform what I should by free and full advice in Parliament be oonvinced of to be amiss and to grant whatever my Reason and Conscience told Me was fit to be desired I wish I had kept My self within those bounds and not suffered my own Judgment to have been overborn in some things more by others importunities than their Arguments My confidence had less betrayed My self and my Kingdomes to those advantages which some men sought for who wanted nothing but Power and Occasions to do mischief But our Sins being ripe there was no preventing of Gods Justice from reaping that Glory in our Calamities which we robb'd him of in our Prosperity For Thou O Lord hast made us see that Resolutions of future Reforming do not always satisfie thy Justice nor prevent thy Vengeance for former miscarriages Our Sins have overlaid our Hopes Thou hast taught us to depend on thy Mercies to forgive not on our purpose to amend When Thou hast vindicated thy Glory by thy Judgments and hast shewed us how unsafe it is to offend Thee upon presumptions afterwards to please Thee then I trust thy Mercies will restore those Blessings to us which we have so much abused as to force Thee to deprive us of them For want of timely Repentance of our sins Thou givest us cause to repent of those remedies we too late apply Yet I do not repent of my calling this last Parliament because O Lord I did it with an upright intention to thy Glory and my peoples good The Miseries which have ensued upon Me and My Kingdoms are the just effects of thy displeasure upon us and may be yet through thy mercy preparative of us to future Blessings and better hearts to enjoy them O Lord tho Thou hast deprived us of many former comforts yet grant Me and My people the benefit of our afflictions and thy chastisements that thy rod as well as thy staff may comfort us Then shall we dare to account them the strokes not of an Enemy but a Father when thou givest us those humble affections that measure of Patience in Repentance which becomes thy Children I shall have no cause to repent the Miseries this Parliament hath occasioned when by them thou hast brought Me and My people unfeignedly to repent of the Sins we have committed Thy Grace is infinitely better with our Sufferings than our Peace could be with our Sins O thou soveraign Goodness and Wisdom who over-rulest all our Counsels over-rule also all our hearts That the worse things we suffer by thy Justice the better we may be by thy Mercy As our Sins have turned our Antidotes into poyson so let thy Grace turn our poysons into Antidotes As the Sins of our Peace disposed us to this unhappy War so let this War prepare us for thy blessed Peace That although I have but troublesom Kingdoms here yet I may
Martyrdom Jan. 30. 1648 9. p. 206 APPENDIX Concerning Church-Government Of the Differences between His Majesty and the two Houses in point of Church-Government See Icon Basil XVII p. 687 The Papers which passed betwixt His Majesty and Henderson concerning the Change of Church-Government 1646. p. 75 The Papers which passed betwixt His Majesty and the Divines attending the Commissioners of both Houses at Newport 1648. Append. p. 612 seqq THE END The Duke of Lenox the Earl of Arran in Scotland Some Writers who since have been convinced of their misinformation have named amongst those seven Lords the Lord Bruce Earl of Elgin but his Lordship upon the first notice of this report did to several Persons of Quality and Honour he conversed with and since hath affirmed to me that he was not then present and that his heart could never consent to the shedding of the blood of that excellent Prelate * A full Answer â The Regal Apology His Majestie 's Religion His Justice His Clemency His Fortitude His Patience His Humility His Choice of Ministers of State His Affection to His People His Obliging Converse His Fidelity His Chastity His Temperance His Frugality His Intellectual Abilities His Skill in all Arts. His Eloquence His Political Prudence The Censure of His Fortune A Presage of His Fall and the future State of the Royal Family His Recreations The Features of His Body His Children Acts 14. 23. Acts 6. 6. 1 Cor. 16. 1. 1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor. 5. 5. 3 Joh. 9 10. 1 Tim. 5. 22. Tit. 1. 5. Revel 2. 3. 1 Tim. 5. 19. Tit. 3. 10. * 5 15 26 29. of Decemb. 84 15. of Jan. 1645. * Jan. 23. 2 Feb. Passed by the Fag-end of the House of Commons Jan. 4. having been cast out by the Lords Jan. 2. Hereabout I was stopt and not suffered to speak any more concerning Reasons * defiance * Answer * four for it seems some came in after Here a Lady interposed saying Not half the People but was silenced with threats Upon the Earl of Strafford Pointing to the Bishop Turning to some Gentlemen that wrote Pointing to the Bishop These words were spoken upon occasion of private Discourse between His Majesty and the Bishop concerning the several Stages of man's life and his course through them in allusion to Posts and Stages in a Race * Cook 7. Report Calvin's Case Mr. Stroud Mr. Pym. Sir John Biron Lord Say His Majesty's gracious Message to both Houses of Parliament sent from Nottingham Aug. 25. 1642. by the Earls of Southampton and Dorset Sr. John Culpeper Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sr. William Vdal The Answer of the Lords and Commons to His Majesty's Message the 25. of Aug. 1642. His Majesty's Reply to an Answer sent by the two Houses of Parliament to His Majesty's Message of the 25 of August concerning a Treaty of Accommodation The humble Answer and Petition of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament unto the Kings last Message The humble Answer of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament unto His Majesty's last Message Message of Feb. 20. * to the Votes of both Houses and to their desire of a safe Conâuct His Majesty's Message of Apr. 12. at the end of the Treaty Inserted before pag. 353. * were presently His Majesty's Message replying to this Paper is inserted before p. 250. In His Message of April 12. pag. 353. Pag. 353. April 5. * The fourth of Edward the Third Artic. 1. against Roger Mortimer The King had put to him four Bishops four Earls and four Barons without whose consent or of four of them no great business was to be transacted Rot. Parliam 13 E. 3. N. 15 16. The whole Navy disposed of by Parliament N. 13 14. Admirals appointed and Instructions given to them N. 32. Instructions for the defence of Jersey and a Deputy-Governour appointed in Parliament N. 35. Souldiers of York Nottingham c. to go at the cost of the Countrey and what they are to do N. 36. A Clark appointed for payment of their wages by the oversight of the Lord Percy and Nevil N. 38. Sir Walter Creak appointed Keeper of Berwick N. 39. Sir Tho. de Wake appointed to set forth the Array of Soldiers for the County of York and N. 40 41 42 43. others for other Counties 14 E. 3. N. 36. The Parliament agreeth that in the Kings absence the Duke of Cornwal shall be Keeper of England N. 35. They appoint the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earls of Lancaster Warren and Huntington Councellors to the Duke with power to call such others as they shall think fit N. 19. Certain appointed to keep the Islands and Sea-coasts N. 42. The Lord of Mowbray appointed Keeper of Berwick N. 48. Commission to the Lord Mowbray of the Justices of Lentham N. 53 54 c. Commissions of Array to the Earl of Angois and others 15 E. 3. N. 15. That the Chancellors chief Justices Treasurers Chancellors and Barons of the Exchequer c. may be chosen in open Parliament and there openly sworn to observe the Laws Answer thus That as they sall by death or otherwise it shall be so done in the choice of a new with your assents c. 50 E. 3. N. 10 11. Ordered in Parliament That the King should have at the least ten or twelve Counsellors without whom no weighty matters should pass c. N. 15. A Commission to the L. Percy and others to appoint able persons for the defence of the Marches of the East-Riding 1. R. 2. N. 18 19. The Parliament wholly disposeth of the Education of the King and of the Officers c. N. 51. Officers for Gascoign Ireland and Artois Keepers of the Ports Castles c. 2. R. 2. Rot. Parl. par 2. artic 39. The Admiralty N. 37. In a Schedule is contained the order of the E. of Northumb. and others for the defence of the North Sea-coasts and confirmed in Parliament 6 R. 2. N. 11. The Proffer of the Bishop of Norwich to keep the Sca-coasts and accepted in Parliament 8 R. 2. 11 16. The names of the chief Officers of the Kingdom to be known to the Parliament and not to be removed without just cause 11 R. 2. N. 23. No persons to be about the King or intermeddle with the Affairs of the Realm other than such as be appointed by Parliament 15 R. 2. N. 15. The Commons name the person to treat of a Peace with the Kings enemies Rot. Parl. 1 H. 4. N. 106. That the King will appoint able Captains in England and Wales Stat. 4. H. 4. cap. 31 32 33. printed The Welch-men shall bear Office 5 H. 4. N. 16. The King at the request of the Commons removed his Confessor and three other Men from about him N. 37. At the request of the Commons nameth divers Privy-Councellors 7 and 8 H. 4 26. Power given to the Merchants to name two persons to be Admirals 7 and 8 H. 4. N. 31. Councellors appointed by
be enforced with rigour to such Arbitrary Contributions as should be required of them The dissolving of the Parliament in the second year of His Majesties reign after a Declaration of their intent to grant five Subsidies The exacting of the like proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament dissolved by Commission of Loan and divers Gentlemen and others imprisoned for not yielding to pay that Loan whereby many of them contracted such Sicknesses as cost them their lives Great sums of Money required and raised by privy Seals An unjust and pernicious attempt to extort great payments from the Subject by way of Excise and a Commission issued under Seal to that purpose The Petition of Right which was granted in full Parliament blasted with an illegal Declaration to make it destructive to it self to the power of Parliament to the Liberty of the Subject and to that purpose printed with it and the Petition made of no use but to shew the bold and presumptuous injustice of such Ministers as durst break the Laws and suppress the Liberties of the Kingdom after they had been so solemnly and evidently declared Another Parliament dissolved 4 Car. the Priviledge of Parliament broken by imprisoning divers Members of the House detaining them close Prisoners for many months together without the liberty of using Books Pen Ink or Paper denying them all the comforts of life all means of preservation of health not permitting their Wives to come unto them even in time of their Sickness and for the compleating of that Cruelty after years spent in such miserable durance depriving them of the necessary means of Spiritual consolation not suffering them to go abroad to enjoy God's Ordinances in God's House or God's Ministers to come to them to administer comfort unto them in their private Chambers and to keep them still in this oppressed condition not admitting them to be bailed according to Law yet vexing them with Informations in inferiour Courts sentencing and fining some of them for matters done in Parliament and extorting the payments of those Fines from them enforcing others to put in Security of good behaviour before they could be released The imprisonment of the rest which refused to be bound still continued which might have been perpetual if necessity had not the last year brought another Parliament to relieve-them of whom one died by the cruelty and harshness of his Imprisonment which would admit of no relaxation notwithstanding the imminent danger of his life did sufficiently appear by the declaration of his Physician and his release or at least his refreshment was sought by many humble Petitions And his blood still cries either for vengeance or repentance of those Ministers of State who have at once obstructed the course both of His Majesties Justice and Mercy Upon the dissolution of both these Parliaments untrue and scandalous Declarations were published to asperse their proceedings and some of their Members unjustly to make them odious and colour the violence which was used against them Proclamations set out to the same purpose and to the great dejecting of the hearts of the people forbidding them even to speak of Parliaments After the breach of the Parliament in the fourth year of His Majesty Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in upon us without any restraint or moderation and yet the first project was the great sums exacted through the whole Kingdom for default of Knighthood which seemed to have some colour and shadow of a Law yet if it be rightly examined by that obsolete Law which was pretended for it it would be found to be against all the rules of Justice both in respect of the persons charged the proportion of the Fines demanded and the absurd and unreasonable manner of their proceedings Tonnage and Poundage hath been received without colour or pretence of Law many other heavy Impositions continued against Law and some so unreasonable that the sum of the charge exceeds the value of the Goods The Book of Rates lately inhanced to a high proportion and such Merchants as would not submit to their illegal and unreasonable payments were vexed and oppressed above measure and the ordinary course of Justice the common Birth-right of the Subject of England wholly obstructed unto them And although all this was taken upon pretence of guarding the Sea yet a new and unheard-of Tax of Ship-money was devised upon the same pretence By both which there was charged upon the Subject near 700000 l. some years and yet the Merchants have been left so naked to the violence of the Turkish Pirats that many great Ships of value and thousands of His Majesties Subjects have been taken by them and do still remain in miserable slavery The enlargement of Forests contrary to Charta de Foresta and the composition thereupon The exactions of Coat and Conduct-Money and divers other Military charges The taking away the Arms of the Trained Bands of divers Counties The desperate design of engrossing all the Gun-powder into one hand keeping it in the Tower of London and setting so high a rate upon it that the poorer sort were not able to buy it nor could any have it without Licence thereby to leave the several parts of the Kingdom destitute of their necessary defence and by selling so dear that which was sold to make an unlawful advantage of it to the great charge and detriment of the Subject The general destruction of the Kings Timber especially that in the Forest of Dean sold to Papists which was the best Store-house of this Kingdom for the maintenance of our Shipping The taking away of mens Right under colour of the Kings title to Land between high and low water-Marks The Monopolies of Sope Salt Wine Leather Sea-coal and in a manner of all things of most common and necessary use The restraint of the Liberties of the Subjects in their Habitation Trades and other Interest Their vexation and oppression by Purveyors Clarks of the Market and Salt-Peter-men The sale of pretended Nusanzes as Buildings in and about London conversion of Arable into Pasture continuance of Pasture under the name of depopulation have drawn many Millions out of the Subjects Purses without any considerable profit to His Majesty Large quantities of Common and several Grounds have been taken from the Subject by colour of the Statute of Improvement and by abuse of the Commission of Sewers without their consent and against it And not only private Interest but also publick Faith have been broken in seizing of the Money and Bullion in the Mint and the whole Kingdom like to be robb'd at once in that abominable project of Brass Money Great numbers of His Majesties Subjects for refusing those unlawful charges have been vext with long and expensive suits some fined and censured others committed to long and hard imprisonments and confinements to the loss of health in many of life in some and others have had their Houses broken up their Goods seized some have been restrained from their lawful Callings Ships have