the same were particularly enacted by the Authority of Parliament And that the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common-Councell may adde to or repeale 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 Vpon consideration of which Propositions His Majesty sent the Duke of Richmond and the Earle of Southampton with this Message of the 13th of December HIs Majesty hath seriously considered your Propositions II. and findes it very difficult in respect they import so great an alteration in Government both in Church and State to returne a particular and positive answer before a full debâ—te wherein thosâ— Propositions and all the necessary Explanations and reasons for assenting dissenting or qualifying and all inconveniences and mischiefes which may ensue and cannot otherwise be so well foreseen may be discussed and weighed His Majesty therefore proposeth and desireth as the best expedient for Peace That you will appoynt such number of Persons as you shall think fit to Treat with the like number of Persons to be appoynted by His Majesty upon the said Propositions and such other things as shall be proposed by His Majesty for the preservation and defence of the Protestâ—nt Religion with due regard to the ease of tender Consciences as His Majesty hath often offered The Rights of the Crowne The Liberty and Property of the Subject and the Priviledges of Parliament And upon the whole matter to conclude a happy and blessed Peace Vnto which Message this Answer of the 27th of December was returned to His Majesty May it please your Most Excellent Majesty WEE Your Majesties humble and Loyall Subjects of both Kingdomes have considered of Your Maiesties Message III. of the 13. of December 1644. sent by the Duke of Richmond and the Earle of Southampton directed to the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and to the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland now at London And doe in all humblenesse returne this Answer That we doe consent there be a Treaty for a safe and well grounded Peace But find that it will require some time to resolve concerning the Instructions and manner of that Treaty And therefore that Your Majesty might not be held in suspence touching our readinesse to make use of any opportunity for attayning such a blessed and happy Peace in all Your Majesties Dominions We would not stay Your Majesties Messengers till we did resolve upon all thâ—se particulars which we will take into our serious consideration and present our humble desires to Your Majesty with all convenient speed Westminster the 20 â—h of Decemb. 1644. Gray of Wark Speaker of the House of Peeres pro tempore Signed in the name and by warrand of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland LOWDON William Lenthall Speaker of the Commons House Assembled in Parliament And afterwards upon the 18th of January following Sir Peter Killigrew brought this farther Answer to His Majesty May it please Your Most Excellent Majesty WEE Your Majesties humble and Loyall Subjects the IV. Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland do make our further answer to Your Majesties Message of the 13th of December last 1644. Concerning a Treaty for Peace as followeth We do consent that there be a Treaty for a safe and well grounded Peace between your Majesty and your humble and Loyall Subjects assembled in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes And for the present have appoynted Algernon Earle of Northumberland Philip Earle of Pembrook Mountgomery William Earle of Salisbury Bâ—sill Earle of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzill Hollis William Pierrepoint Sir Henry Vane Junior Oliver St Iohn Bulstrode Whitlock Iohn Crew Edmund Prideaux for the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster And Iohn Earle of Lowdon Lord Chancellor of Scotland Archibald Marquisse of Argyle Iohn Lord Maitland Iohn Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Iohnston Sir Charles Erskin George Dundas Sir Iohn Smith M r Hugh Kennedy and M r Robert Barclay for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland together with Master Alexander Henderson upon the Propositions concerning Religion who or any Ten of them there being alwayes some of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes are appointed and authorized to meet at Vâ—bridge on what day Your Majesty shall be pleased to set downe before the last day of this present Ianuary with such Persons as Your Majesty shall appoint under Your Signe Manuall for that purpose And the number of the persons to Treat not to exceed seventeen on either part unlesse the persons named for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland now not here or any of them shall come and then Your Maiesty may have the like number if you please There to Treat upon the Matters conteined in the Propositions we lately sent unto Your Majesty according to such Instructions as shall be given unto them And the Propositions for Religion the Militia and for Ireland to be first Treated on and agreed and the time for the Treaty upon the said Propositions for Religion the Militia and for Ireland not to exceed Twenty dayes and for the things mentioned in Your Message to be propounded by Your Maiesty when the Persons sent by Your Maiesty shall communicate the same to the Committees appointed by us as aforesaid We have directed them to send the same to us That they may receive our Instructions what to doe therein And to the end that the Persons that are to be sent from Your Majesty and from us with their retinue not exceeding the number of one Hundred and Eight on either part may repaire to Vxbridge stay there and returne at their pleasure without interruption That mutuall safe Conducts be granted to the said Persons according to the severall Lists of their Names Signed by Order of the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England as Westminster Signed in the name and by warrant of the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland LOWDON Gray of Wark Speaker of the House of Peeres pro tempore William Lenthall Speaker of the Commons House in the Parliament of England Whereunto His Majesty returned an Answer inclosed in a Letter from Prince Rupert to the Earle of Essex dated the 21 of January which Letter and Answer were as followeth The Letter My Lord I Am commanded by His Majesty to returne this His answer V. Together with this inclosed in a Letter from Prince Rupert to the Earle of Essex His Majestie sent a safe Conduct for their Commissioners and their retinue to the Message lately sent Him from the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland by Sir Peter Killigrew I
Lord Culpeper Sir Edward Nicholas Knight one of Our principall Secretaries of State Sir Edward Hide Knight Chancellour and Vnder-Treasurer of Our Exchequor Sir Richard Lane chiefe Baron of Our said Exchequor Sir Thomas Gardiner Sir Orlando Bridgeman M Iohn Ashburnham and M. Ieffrey Palmer together with Doctor Richard Steward upon these Propositions concerning Religion to be Our Commissioners touching the premisses And do hereby give unto them and to any ten or more of them full power and authority to meet and on Our part to Treat with Algernoun Earle of Northumberland Philip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery William Earle of Salisbury Basill Earle of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzill Hollis William Pieirepoynt Esquires Sir Henry Vane the yonger Knight Oliver S. Iohn Bulstrode Whitlock Iohn Crew and Edmund Prideaux Esquires for the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and Iohn Earle of Lowdon Lord Chancellour of Scotland Archibald Marquesse of Argile Iohn Lord Maytland Iohn Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Iohnston Sir Charles Erskin George Dundaâ— Sir Iohn Smith M. Hugh Kennedy and M. Robert Barclay for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland together with M. Alexander Henderson upon the Propositions concerning Religion or with any ten or more of them upon and touching the matters contained in the said Propositions Answers and Messages or any other according to the manner and agreement therein specified or otherwise as they or any ten or more of them shall think fit and to take all the premisses into their serious considerations and to compose conclude and end all differences arising thereupon or otherwise as they or any tenne or more of them in their wisdomes shall think fit And upon the whole matter to conclude a safe and well grounded Peace if they can And whatsoever they or any ten or more of them shall do in the premisses We doe by these presents ratifie and confirme the same Given at Our Court at Oxford the Eight and Twentieth day of Ianuary in the Twentieth yeare of Our Raigne 1644. Their Commission to the English Commissioners Die Martis 28. Ianuary 1644. BEE it Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in XI Parliament That Algernoun Earle of Northumberland Philip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery William Earle of Salisbury Bazill Earle of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzill Hollis William Pierrepont Sir Henry Vane Junior Oliver St. Iohn Bulstrode Whitlock Iohn Crew and Edmund Prideaux shall have power and authority and are hereby authorized to joyne with the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland together with Alexander Henderson upon the Propositions concerning Religion only To Treat with the Lord Duke of Richmond Marquisse of Hertford the Earle of Southampton the Earle of Kingston the Lord Dunsmore Lord Capell Lord Seymour Sir Christopher Hatton Sir Iohn Culpeper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hide Sir Richard Lane Sir Orlando Bridgeman Sir Thomas Gardiner M. Iohn Ashbornham M. Ieffery Palmer or any tenne of them upon the Propositions formerly sent to His Maiesty for a safe and well grounded Peace from His Maiesties humble and Loyall Subiects assemblâ—d in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes together with Dr Steward upon the Propositions concerning Religion only and upon his Maiesties Propositions according to such Instructions as have been given to them or as they from time to time shall receive from both Houses of Parliament Iohn Browne Cler. Parliamentor Their Commission to the Scots Commissioners AT Edinburgh the saxteint day of Iulij The Èeir of God XII M. Vj c fourtye four Èeires The Estaistes of Parliament presentlie conveined be vertew of the last act of the last Tarliament haldin by His Majesty and thrie Estaites in Anno. 1641. Considdering that this Kingdome efter all uther meanes of supplicationnes Remonstrances and sending of Commissionaris to His Majesty have bein used without success Did enter into a solemne league Covenant with the Kingdom ParliameÌ„t of England for Reformationne defence of Religionne the honor happines of the King the peace safety of the thrie Kingdoms of Scotland England Ireland And ane Treattie aggried upon ane Armie and Forces raised and sent out of yis Kingdom for these endis Quhairupone the Conventionne of Estaistes of this Kingdome the nynt of Iannuary last being desirous to use all good and lawfull meanes that Treuth and Peace might be established in all His Majesties Dominions with such a blessed Pacificationne betwixt His Maiesty and His Subiectis as might serve most for His Maiesties trew honor and the safety and happines of His people Granted Commissione to Iohn Erle of Lowdounne heigh Chancellor of Scotland Iohne Lord Mai t and than and Èit in England Sir Archibald Iohnestounne of Wariestounne ane of the Lordis of Sessionne and Maister Robert Barclay now in England to repaire to England with power to thame or any twa of yame to endeavoure the effectuating of ye foirsaides endis conforme to the Commmissione and instructiones than giving to thame as the Commissione of the dait foirsaid proportis Lyke as the saides Iohne Lord of Maitland Sir Archibald Iohnestounne and Maister Robert Barclay have evir since attendit in England in the discharge of the foirsaid Commissione Qunhill lately that Sir Archibald Iohnestounne returned with some Propositiones prepaired by the Committie of both Kingdomes to be presented to the Estaites of Scotland and to both howss of the Parliament of England and by thame to be revised and considderit and than by mutuall advyse of both Kingdomes to be presented for ane safe and weill grounded peace Qwhilkies Propositiones ar revised and considderit and advysed be the Estaites of Parliament now conveined and their sense and resultis drawin up yrupone Whiche Commissione is to endure while the comming of the Commissionars underwrittin And heirewith also considderin That the endis for the whilk the samen was granted ar not Èit effectuate and that the Propositiones with ye Estaites thair resultis yrupone ar to be returned to ye Parliament of England Thairfore the Estaites of Parliament be thir presentis gives full powar and Commissione to the said Iohne Erle of Lowdonne Lord heigh Chancellor of yis Kingdome Archibald Marqueis of Argyle and Iohne Lord Balmerino for the Nobility Sr Archibald Iohnestounne of Wariestonne Sir Charles Erskyne of Cambuuskenneth and Maister George Dundas of Maner for the Barrones Sr Iohne Smyth of Grottâ—ll Proveist of Edenburgh Hew Kennedy Burges of Air and Master Robert Barclay for the Burrowes the thrie Estates of yis Kingdom and to Iohne Lord Maitland supernumerarie in this Commissione or to any thrie or mae of the haill number thair being ane of ilk Estate as Commissionaris from the Estaites of Parliament of this Kinkdome to repaire to the Kinkdome of England sick of them as ar not thair already and with powar to thame or any thrie or mae of the whole number thair being ane of ilk Estaite to endeavour the
have likewise sent your Lordship His Majesties safe Conduct for the persons desired and also a List of the names of those His Majesty hath appoynted to Treat for whom together with their Retinue His Majesty hath desired a safe Conduct The Answer inclosed HIs Majesty having received a Message by Sir Peter Killigrew from the Lords and Commons assembled in the VI. Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners oâ— the Parliament of Scotland concerning a Treaty returns this answer That His Majesty doth very willingly consent that there be a Treaty upon the Matters contained in the Propositions lately sent unto him in such manner as is proposed and at the place appoynted in the said Message and to that purpose His Majesty will send the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford the Earle of Southampton the Earle of Kingston the Earle of Chichester the Lord Capell the Lord Seymour the Lord Hatton the Lord Culpeper Secretary Nicholas M. Chancellour of the Exchequer the L. Cheife Baron Lane Sr Orlando Bridgman S â— Thomas Gardiner M. John Ashburnham M. Ieffery Palmer together with Dr Steward Clerk of His Majesties Closet upon the Propositions concerning Religion to meet with the persons mentioned in the said Message at Vxbridge on wednesday night the 29th of this instant Ianuary the Treaty to begin the next day Which persons or any ten of them shall be sufficiently authorised by His Majestie to Treat and conclude on His Majesties part And to the end that the persons aforesaid and their Retinue may repaire to Vxbridge stay there and returne at their pleasure without interruption or goe or send during their abode there to His Majestie as often as occasion shall require His Majesties desires that a safe Conduct may accordingly be sent for the said persons and their Retinue according to a List of their names herewith sent And then also inclosed in a Letter from Prince Rupert to the Earle of Essex His Majestie sent Propositions to be Treated upon on His Maiesties part which Letter and Propositions follow My Lord I am commanded by His Majestie to send these enclosed Propositions VII Prince Ruperts Letter to your Lordship to be presented to the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland to the end that there may be as little losse of time as is possible but that the same may be treated on assoone as may be thought convenient after the entry upon the Treaty His MAjESTIES Propositions to the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland for a safe and well grounded Peace 1. THat His Majesties owne Revenue Magazines VIII His Majesties Propositions Townes Forts and Ships which have been taken or kept from Him by force be forthwith restored unto Him 2. That whatsoever hath been done or published contrary to the knowne Lawes of the Land or derogatory to His Majesties Legall and knowne Power and Rights be renounced and recalled That no seed may remaine for the like to spring out of for the future 3. That whatsoever illegall Power hath been claimed or exercised by or over His Subjects as imprisoning or putting to death their Persons without Law stopping their Habeas Corpusses and imposing upon their Estates without Act of Parliament c. either by both or either House or any Committee of both or either or by any persons appointed by any of them be disclaimed and all such persons so committed forthwith discharged 4. That as His Majesty hath alwayes professed His readinesse to that purpose so He will most cheerfully consent to any good Acts to be made for the suppression of Popery and for the firmer setling of the Protestant Religion established by Law As also that a good Bill may be framed for the better preserving of the Book of Common-Prayer from scorne and violence And that another Bill may be framed for the ease of tender Consciences in such particulars as shall be agreed upon For all which His Majesty conceives the best expedient to be that a Nationall Synod be legally called with all convenient speed 5. That all such persons as upon the Treaty shall be excepted and agreed upon on either side out of the Generall Pardon shall be tryed Per Pares according to the usuall course and knowne Law of the Land and that it be left to that either to acquit or condemne them 6. And to the intent this Treaty may not suffer interruption by any intervening Accidents That a Cessation of Armes and free Trade for all His Majesties Subjects may be agreed upon with all possible speed Given at the Court at Oxford the 21th day of Jan. 1644. The Earle of Essex upon receipt hereof returned to Prince Rupert together with a safe Conduct this Letter of the 25. of Ianuary Sir I Am commanded by both Houses of the Parliament of England and desired by the Commissioners of the Kingdome of IX Scotland to desire your Highnesse to let His Majesty know That they doe agree that their Committees doe begin the Treaty aâ— Vxbridge on Thursday the 30th of this January with the Persons appointed by His Majesty on the matters contained in the Propositions lately sent unto His Majesty in such manner as was proposed And their Committees shall have Instructions concerning the Propositions sent from His Majesty in your Highnesse Letter And you will herewith receive a safe Conduct from the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England for the Persons that are appointed by His Majesty to come to Vxbridge to Treat on the Propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace with their Retinue in a List hereunto annexed Sir I am Westminster 25th Jan. 1644. Your Highnesse humble Servant ESSEX Thursday the 30th of Ianuary all the Commissioners named by His Maiestie and Commissioners named by the two Houses of Parliament in England and the Estates of the Parliament in Scotland did meet at Vxbridge where their Commissions were mutually delivered in and read and are as followeth His MAjESTIES Commission CHARLES R. WHEREAS after severall Messages sent by us to the X. Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster expressing Our desires of Peace certaine Propositions were sent from them and brought unto Vs at Oxford in November last by the Earle of Denbigh and others and upon Our Answers Messages and Propositions to them and their returns to Vs it is now agreed That there shall be a Treaty for a safe and well grounded Peace to begin at Vxbridge on Thursday the 30th of this instant Ianuary as by by the said Propositions Answers Messages and Returnes in writing may more fully appeare We do therefore hereby appoynt assigne and constitute James Duke of Richmond and Lenox William Marquisie of Hâ—rtford Thomas Earle of Southampton Henry Earle of Kingston Francis Earle of Chichester Francis Lord Seymour Arthur Lord Capell Christopher Lord Hatton John
effectuating of ye foirsaides endis the concluding of the Propositions with the Estaites th aire results thairupon And all suche uyr matteris conceruing the good of bothe Kingdomes as ar or all be from time to time committed unto thame be the Estaites of yis Kingdome or Committies thairof according to the instructiones givin or to be givin to the Commissionaris abovenameit or their quuorums And for this effect The Estaites Ordeanes Iohne Erle of Lowdonne Chancellor Iohne Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Iohnstounne of Wariestounne Sir Charles Erskyne of Cambuskenneth and Hew Kennedy repaire with all dilligence to the Kingdome of England to the effect before rehearsit conforme to this Commissione and instructiones As also the Estaites Ordeanes ye saides ArchibaldMarqueis of Argyle M. George Dundas of Maner and Sir Iohne Smyth Proveist of Edenburgh to repaire to ye Kingdome of England with all sick conventencie as the occasione of ye businesse shall require or as they sall be commandit ather be the Committie from the Parliament heir they being in Scotland or be the Committie with the Army they being in England And Ordeanes thame to joyne with the remanent Commissionaris to the affect above mentionat conforme to the Commissionâ— and instructiones givin or to be givin to the Commissionais or thair quuorums thair anent be the Estaites of this Kingdome or Committies yrof And the Estaites of Parliament be thir presents haldis and sall halde firme and stable all and what summ evir thinges the Commissionaris abovenameit or any thrie or mae of thame sall doe conforme to this Commisionne and to the instructionnes given or to be given to thame Extractit furthe of the butkes of Parliament be me Sir Alexander Gibsone of Dunâ—ie Knyt Clerk of His Majesties Registers and Rollis under my signâ— and subscriptionne Mannuall Alexander Gibsonne Cler. Regist After the Commissions read their Commissioners delivered to His Majesties Commissioners this paper Ianuary the 30. WEE are directed by Our Instructions to Treat with XIII your Lordships upon the Propositions concerning Religion the Militia and Ireland three daies a peice alternis vicibus during the space of twenty dayes from the 30 of Ianuary beginning first with the Propositions of Religion and accordingly we shall deliver unto your Lordships a Paper to morrow morning upon those Propositions Accordingly the Treaty did proceed upon those subjectâ— three daies a piece Alternis vicibus beginning with that of Religion upon Friday the last of Ianuary and so continuing Saturday the first and Monday the third of February which was after resumed Tuesday the 11 Wednesday the 12 and Thursday the 13 of February and again the two last daies of the 20. And the like course was held touching the Militia and Ireland But because the passages concerning each subject severally will be more clearly understood being collected and disposed together under their severall heads therefore all those which concerne Religion the Militia and Ireland are put together And in like manner the passages preparatory to the Treaty concerning the Commissions the manner of the Treaty and a seditious Sermon made the first day appoynted for the Treaty And such as hapned in the Treaty touching His Majesties Propositions The demands of farther time to Treat and other emergent passages which have no Relation to those of Religion the Militia and Ireland are in like manner digested under their severall heads with their particular dates And first those which concerne the Commissions Friday the last of Ianuary His Majesties Commissioners delivered unto Their Commissioners this paper Vlt. Ianuary WEE having perused the power granted to your Lordships XIV in the Paper delivered by the Earle of Northumberland and finding the same to relate to instructions we desire to see those instructions that thereby we may know what power is granted to you and we ask this the rather because by All their Commissioners were not then come to Vxbridge the Powers we have seen we doe not find that your Lordships in the absence of any one of your number have power to Treat Their Answer 31. Ianuary BY Our Instructions we or any tenne of us whereof some of either XV. House of the Parliament of England and some of the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland to be present have power to Treat with your Lordships Their farther Answer Vlt. Ianuary VVHereas your Lordships have expressed unto us a desire XVI of seeing our Instructions to know what Power is granted us and this the rather because you say you find not by what you have seen that in the absence of any one of our number we have power to Treat To this we returne in Answer that since the Paper already delivered in by us declaring that by our Instructions any tenne of us whereof some of either House of the Parliament of England and some of the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland to be present had power to Treat with your Lordships hath not given you satisfaction in the particular of the Quorum We shall send unto the two Houses of Parliament to have the Quorum inserted in the Commission and doe expect the returne of it so amended within two or three daies when we shall present it unto your Lordships But as for your desire in generall to see our Instructions it is that for which we have no Warrant nor is it as we conceive at all necessary or proper for us so to doe for that the Propositions upon which we now Treat have been already presented from the Parliaments of both Kingdoms unto His Majesty and whatsoever is propounded by us in order unto them is sufficiently warranted by what both Parliaments have done in the passing and sending of those Propositions and by the Commissions authorising us to Treat upon them already shewn unto your Lordships so as there can be no need to shew any other power Accordingly on Saturday the first of February they did deliver their Commission for the English Commissioners renewed as followeth Die Sabbatis primo Febr. BE it Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that Algernon Earle of Northumberland Philip XVII Earle of Pembrook and Montgomery William Earle of Salisbury Bazil Earle of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzill Hollis William Pierrepont Sir Henry Vane junior Oliver St Iohn Bulstrode Whitlock Iohn Crew and Edmund Prideaux shall have power and authority and are hereby authorized to joyne with the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland together with Alexander Henderson upon the Propositions concerning Religion only or any tenne of them Whereof some of either House of the Parliament of England and some of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland are to be present To treat with the Lord Duke of Richmond the Marquisse of Hertford the Earle of Southampton the Earle of Kingston the Lord Dunsmore Lord Capell Lord Seymour Sir Christopher Hatton Sir Iohn Culpeper Sir Edward Nicholas Sir Edward Hyde Sir Richard Lane
Powder no strength of serviceable Horse no visible means by Sea or Land of being able to preserve that Kingdom and that though the Winds had in many dayes often formerly stood very faire for accessions of supplies forth of England the two Houses having then and ever since the full Command of those Seas yet to their vnexpressible greif after full six moneths waiting and much longer patience and long suffering they found their expectations answered in an inconfiderable quantity of provisions viz. 75 Barrells of Butter and 14 Tunn of Cheese being but the 4th part of a small Vessells-loading which was sent from London and arrived there on the 5th of May. which was not above 7 or 8 days provisions for that part of the Army in and about Dublin No monâ—y or victuals other then that inconsiderable proportion of victuals having arrived there as sent from the Parliament of England or from any other forth of England for the use of the Army since the beginning of Novem. before And besides these whereof we have Copies to your Lordships it was represented to Hiâ— Majesty by Petition from that Kingdom That all meanes by which comfort and life should be conveyed to that Gasping Kingdom seemed to be totally obstructed and that unlesse timely releife were afforded His Loyall Subjects there must yeeld their fortunes for a Prey their lives for a sacrifice and their Religion for a scorn to the mercylesse Rebels Vpon all which deplorable passages represented by persons principally interessed in the managing of the affaires of that Kingdom and the War there in which number were Sr William Parsons Sr Iohn Temple Sr Adam Loftus and Sr Robert Merideth persons of great estimation with your Lordships to which we could add many other advices and letters from severall men of repute and quality but that we will not trouble your Lordships with repetition of private advices we cannot think but your Lordships are now satisfied that the necessities of that Kingdom which were the ground of the Cessation there were reall and not pretended and therefore for excuses we leave them to them who stands in need of them and we desire your Lordships to consider as the distracted condition of this Kingdom was what other way could be imagined for the preservation of that Kingdom then by giving way to that Cessation and though it is insisted on in your Lordships paper that some Protestants in Vlster Munster and Connaught who have refused to submit to that Cessation have yet subsisted yet your Lordships well know these were generally of the Scottish Nation who had strong Garrisons provided and appointed to them and were in these parts of Ireland neere the Kingdom of Scotland whence more ready supplies of Victuals might be had then the English could have from England and for whose supply as His Majesty hath bin credibly informed and we beleive that your Lordships know it to be true speciall care was taken when the English Forces and other English Protestant Subjects there were neglected whereby they were exposed to apparent destruction by Sword and Famine and we cannot but wonder at the assertion that His Majesties Forces have as much as lay in them endeavoured to prevent those supplies for Ireland and at the mention of the intercepting those provisions near Coventry with His Majesties own knowledge and direction whereas as we have formerly acquainted your Lordships it was not known to His Majesty that those provisions which were taken neere Coventry going thither when His Majesties Forces were before it were intended for Ireland till after the seisure there of when it was impossible to recover them from the Souldiers which might have bin prevented if a safe Conduct had bin desired through His Maiesties Quarters which we are assured He would have readily granted for those or any other supplies for that Kingdom but was never asked of Him and as there is no particular instance of any other provisions for Jreland intercepted by His Majesties Forces but those neere Coventry which were considerable so we can assure your Lordships that when His Maiestie was in the greatest wants of all provisions and might have readily made use of some provided for Ireland lying in Magazines within His Quarters yet he gave expresse order for the sending them away which was done accordingly and would haue supplied them further out of His own store if he had bin able and no man can be unsatisfied of His Maiesties tender sence of the miseries of His Protestant Subiects in Jreland when they shall remember how readily he gave His Royall assent to any Proposition or Acts for raising of men monyes and Armes for them that he offered to passe over in Person for their releife which His Maiesties Subiects of Scotland approved and declared it to be an argument of care in His Maiestie and if that had proceeded it might in possibility have quenehed the flames of that unhappy Rebellion as long before it miâ—ht probably haue bin prevented if the Army of Jrish Natives there had bin suffered to have bin transported out of that Kingdom as was directed by His Maiestie What Provisions are Iately sent or are now sending to Ireland from the two Houses we know not But His Majesty hath been informed that even those provisions are designed in pursuance of the late Treaty concerning Ireland made with His Subjects of Scotland without His Majesties Consent and onely for such who have deelared themselvea against His Majesties Ministers and in opposition to that Cessation to which many of them had formerly consented though they have since upon private Interest and the incouragement and solicitations of others opposed the same and therefore His Majesty cannot look upon those Supplied as a support for the Warre against the Irish Rebels or as a repayment of those monyes which being raised by Acts of Parliament for that Warre have been formerly diverted to other uses of which Money 100000l at one time was issued out for the payment of the Forces under the Earle of Essex And as to dâ—verting the Forces provided for the reducing of Ireland though we conceiv'd it ought not to be objected to His Maiesty considering the Forces under the Command of the Lord Wharton raised for Ireland had been formerly diverted and imployed against him in the Warre here in England yet it is evident they were not brought over till after the Celsation when they could no longer subsist there And that there was no present use for them and before those Forces brought over there was an attempt to bring the Scottish Forces in Ireland as likewise divers of the English Officers there into this Kingdome and since the Earle of Leven their Generall and divers Scotch Forces were actually brought over To the Allegations that many Persons of all sorts have forsaken the Kingdome rathen then they would submit to that Cessation we know of none But it is manifest that divers who had left that Kingdom because they would have been famished if they
Cessation we have already given your Lordships We hope cleare information For the persons whose advice His Maiestie followed therein your Lordships have not thought fit to make them knowne unto us and we cannot conceive their interest in that Kingdom to be of such consideration as is by your Lordships supposed But we know very well that many persons of all sorts have forsaken that Kingdome rather then they would submit unto this Cessation and great numbers of considerable persons and other Protestants yet remaining there have opposed and still do oppose that Cessation as the visible meanes of their destruction The two Houses sent their Committees into Ireland for the better supplying and encouraging of the Armies there and to take an account of the State of the Warre to be represented hither that what should be found defective might be supplied What Warrants they issued we are ignorant off but are well assured that what they did was in pursuance of their duty and for advancement of the publique service and suppressing of that horrid Rebellion and we cannot but still affirme they were discountenanced and commanded from the Councell there where the prosecution of that Warre was to be managed and that iâ— was Declared from His Majesty that he disapproved of the subscriptions of the Officers of the Army by meanes whereof that course was diverted Concerning the monies raised for Ireland we have in our former Papers given your Lordships a full and iust answer and we are sorry the same cannot receive credit those monyes raised upon charitable collections we do positively affirme were only imployed to those ends for which they were given and we cannot but wonder the contrary should be suggested we are confident the Commission desired by the two Houses for the Lord Wharton and which your Lordships acknowledge was denied was only such as they conceived most necessary for advancement of that service and the deniall thereof proved very prejudiciall thereunto And we must againe informe your Lordships that it was well knowne at the time when the goods were seised by His Maiesties Forces as your Lordships alledge neare Coventry that the same were then carrying for the supply of the Protestants in Ireland and some other provisions made and sent for the same purpose were likewise seised taken away by some of his Maiesties Forces as we have bin credibly informed not without his Maiesties own knowledge direction your Lordships may believe that those who signed the Letters mentioned in your Papers have done nothing but what they may well iustifie and if the same be well done they need not feare to give an Accompt thereof nor your Lordships to suppose that if they come within our Quarters they shall be otherwise dealt withall then shall be agreeable to Justice Vpon the whole matter notwithstanding the allegations pretences and Excuses offered by your Lordships for the Cessation made with the Rebels in Ireland we are clearly satisfied that the same was altogether uniust unlawfull and destructive to His Maiesties good Subiects and of advantage to none but the Popish bloudy Rebels in that Kingdom And therefore we still earnestly insist as we conceive our selves in Conscience and duty obliged upon our former demands concerning Irelanâ— which we conceive most iust and honourable for His Maâ—esty to consent unto We know no other wayes to propound more probable for the reducing of the Rebels there but these being granted we shall chearfully proceed in the managing of that War and doubt not by â—ods blessing we shall speedily settle that Kingdome in their due Obedience to His Maiesty Their other Paper 20. Feb. VVE cannot understand how out of any of the Papers Articles CLXXIV and Ordinances delivered by us unto your Lordships there should be a ground for your opinion that upon any differences between the Committees or Commanders imployed about the Warre of Ireland the Warre should stand still or be dissolved nor doe we find that the Ordinance of the 11th of Aprill can produce any such inconvenience as your Lordships do imagine Nor doth the making of the Earle of Leven Commander in chiefe of the Scottish and Brittish Forces and the setling of the prosecution of the Warre of Ireland in the two Houses of the Parliament of England to be managed by the joynt advice of both Kingdoms take away the relation to His Majesties authority or of the two Houses of Parliament or of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland For in the first place His Majesties consent is humbly desired and the whole power is derived from him only the execution of it is put into such a way and the Generall is to carry on the Warre according to the Orders he shall receive from the Committee of both Kingdoms and in case of disagreement in the Committee the two Houses of Parliament are to prosecute that Warre as is expressed in our Answer to your Lordships second Paper of the 19. of February And when there shall be a Lieutenant of Ireland and that he shall joyne with the Commander in chiefe of the Scottish Army the said Commander is to receive Instructions from him according to the Orders of the Commissioners of both Kingdoms as we have said in our answere to your Lordships second Paper of this day nor doth the naming of the Earle of Leven to be Generall any more take away the power of the two Houses then if he were a Native of this Kingdome or is there any part of the Kingdom of Ireland delivered over into the hands of His Majesties Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland who doe only joyne with their Councells and Forces for carrying on the Warre and reducing that Kingdom to His Majesties obedience And we conceive it most conducing for the good of His Majesties service and of that Kingdom that the Lieutenant and Judges there should be nominated by the two Houses of Parliament as is expressed in the 20. Proposition who will recommend none to be imployed by His Maiesty in places of so great trust but such whose known ability and integrity shall make them worthy of them which must needs be best known to a Parliament Nor are they to have any greater power conferred upon them by the granting this Proposition then they have had who did formerly execute those places And we know no reason why your Lordships should make difficulty of His Maiesties consenting to such Acts as shall be presented unto Him for raising moneys and other necessaries from the Subiect which is without any charge to Himselfe for no other end but the setling of the true Protestant Religion in that Kingdom and reducing it to His Maiesties Obedience for which we hold nothing too deare that can be imployed by us And we cannot but wonder that your Lordships should make the prosecution of the Warre of Ireland which is but to execute Justice upon those bloody Rebels who have broken all Lawes of God and Man their Faith their Alleageance all bonds of Charity all rules
had continued thene since that Cessation have returned Touching the Committee sent into Ireland we have already answered they were not discountenanced by His Majesty in what they lawfully might doe although they went without his Privity but conceive your Lordships will not insist that they should sit with the Privy Councell there and assume to themselves to advise and interpose as Privy Councellors And we againe deny the Subscriptions of the Officers of the Army was diverted by His Majesty and it is well knowne that some Officers apprehending upon some Specches that the drift in requiring Subscriptions was to engage the Army against His Majesty in detestation there of upon those Speeches rent the book of Subscription in peeces For the diversion of the moneys raised for that Warre if they had been since repayed the contrary whereof is credibly informed to His Majesty yet that present diversion might be and we beleeve was a great meanes of the future wants of that Kingdome which indueed the Cessation As to the Lord Wharton's Commission we conceive we have already fully satisfied your Lordships the just reasons thereof For the Letters whereof your Lordships had Copies we conceive that you being thereby satisfied of the Contents and that they came from the Lord Iustices and Councell there your Lordships need not doubt of the truth of the matter And for the names of the single persons subscribing we cannot conceive it is desired for any other purpose then to be made use of against such of them as should come into your Quarters you having not granted though desired that it shall not turn to their prejudice if we should give in their Names Vpon what hath been said it appeares That His Majesties English Protestant Subjects in Ireland could not subsist without a Cessation And that the Warre there cannot be maintained or prosecuted to the subduing of the Rebels there during the continuance of this unnaturall Warre here it is evident to any man that shall consider that this Kingdome labouring in a Warre which imployes all the Force and wealth at home cannot nor will spare considerable Supplies to send abroad or if it could yet whiles there are mutuall Iealousies that there cannot be that concurrence in joynt advices betwixt the King and the two Houses as will be necessary if that Warre be prosecuted And that His Majesty cannot condescend or your Lordships in reason expect His Maiesty should by his Consent to Acts of Parliament for the managing of that Warre and raising monyes to that purpose put so great a power into their hands who during these Troubles may if they will turne that power against Him And it is apparent that the continuance of the Warre here must inevitably cause the continuance of the miseries there and endanger the rending of that Kingdome from this Crowne The King's Commissioners other Paper 10. February WE do very much wonder that it doth not clearly appeare CLXXVI to your Lordships that upon any difference between the Committees of both Kingdoms in the managing the War of Ireland in the manner proposed by your Lordships the War there must stand still or be dissolved for if the Ordinance of the 11th of April be by His Majesties Royall assent made an Act of Parliament as your Lordships desire all the Forces of that Kingdom both Brittish and Scottish are put under the absolute Command of the Earle of Leven the Scottish Generall and the managing the War commited wholy to the Committee of both Kingdoms without any reference to the two Houses of the Parliament of England by themselves so that whatsoever your Lordships say of your intentions that the two Houses of Parliament here shall upon such difference mannage the War which yet you say must be observing the Treaty of the 6th of August and the said Ordinance of the 11th of April it is very evident if that Ordinance should be made a Law the War must stand still or be dissolved upon difference of opinion between the Committee of both Kingdoms or else the Earle of Leven must carry on that War according to his discretion for he is in no degree bound to observe the Orders or directions of the Houses of Parliament in England by themselves neither doth the asking His Maiesties consent at all alter the case from what we stated it to your Lordships in our paper of the 20 of this instant for we said then and we say still that if His Maiesty should consent to what you propose He would devest Himself of all His Royall Power in that Kingdom and reserve no power or authority in Himselfe over that War which is most necessary for His Kingly office to do for your Lordships expression when there shall be a Leivtenant of Ireland we presume your Lordships cannot but be informed that His Maiesty hath made and we doubt not but you acknowledg He hath power to make the Lord Marquisse of Ormond His Leivtenant of that Kingdome and who is very well able to manage and carry on that War in such manner as shall be thought necessary for the good of that Kingdom and there is no question but that the naming the Earle of Leven to be Generall to receive Orders only from the ioynt Committee of both Kingdoms doth more take away the power of the two Houses here then if he were a Native of this Kingdom and to obey the Orders of the two Houses And we conceive it evident that the giving the absolute Command of all Forces both Brittish and Scottish to the Earle of Leven Generall of the Scottish Forces who is to manage the Warre according to the Directions of the ioynt Committee of both Kingdoms doth not amount to lesse then to deliver the whole Kingdom of Jreland over into the hands of His Maiesties Subiects of the Kingdom of Scotland therefore we must aske your Lordships pardon to believe out selves obliged in prudence honour Conseience very much to insist on that Consideration and very earnestly to recommend the same to your Lordships And we conceive it most conducing to the good of His Majesties Service and of that Kingdom that the Lievtenant and Iudges there be nominated as they have alwayes been by His Majesty who will be sure to imploy none in places of so great Trust but such whose knowne ability and integrity shall make them worthy and if at any time he shall find himself deceived by those he shall choose can best make them examples of His Iustice as they have bin of His Grace Favour and we beseech your Lordships to consider how impossible it is for His Maiestie to receive that measure of duty everence and application which is due to Him and His Royall Progenitors have alwayes enjoyed if it be not in His owne immediate power to reward those whom he shall by experience discern worthy of publick trust imployment We have made no difficulty to your Lordships of His Maiesties consenting to Acts for the raising of moneys and
their hands who during these troubles may turne that power against Vs. And lastly that if the distractions continued here the Forces and Wealth of this Kingdome would be so imployed at home that the prosecution of that Warre to the subduing of the Rebels was impossible but probably might be destruction of the remainder of Our good Subjects For the power given to Our Scottish Subjects in that Kingdom Our Commissioners urged that Generall Leven being to Command all the Forces in Ireland and the Committee of Scotland having a Negative voyce upon difference of opinion that Warre must either stand still to the ruine of Our Subjects there or be carryed as the Earle of Leven pleased whose power was not bounded by any refeerence to Vs or Our Lievtenant of Ireland no nor to the Houses of England and though it had bin answered that in cases of disagreement betwixt the Committee the two Houses might prosecute the War observing the Treaty of the sixt of August and the Ordinance of the 11th of April yet by referring to that Ordinance which is desired to be enacted and by that Ordinance the power being thereby put into the Earle of Leven and that Committee without mention of the two Houses it was apparent the Earle of Leven would not be bound to observe the directions of the Houses of England by themselves But they Reply in this last Paper of theirs That as the Ordinance of the 11th of April 1644. so the Treaty of the 6th of August 1642. is desired to be confirmed by which the Commander of the Scottish Forces in Ireland was to be answerable to Vs and the two Houses of the Parliament of England for his whole deportment But this is apparently no answer at all for this Treaty of the sixt of August binds not the Coommittee who are to manage that War and relates to the Scottish Generall as Generall of the Scots only the other of April 1644. being later in time giving him power also as Commander in cheife over the English Forces in Ireland and according to this later he is to receive his Orders from the Committee without reference to us or the two Houses neither can the two Houses be hereby brought in to have Command over this Scottish Generall or Committee more then Our Selves whom they intend wholly to exclude yet We cannot but observe even upon these Articles of the Treaty of the sixt of August how little cause there is to expect this Scottish Generall will manage that Warre for the good of this Kingdome who being by those Articles to be answerable to Vs as well as to the two Houses for then though the same designe was on foot yet their outward pretences were somewhat more modest then now they are did without directions from Vs leave his charge in Ireland to bring an Army into England against Vs. Well they say at last they had by the 13th Proposition desited the prosecution of the Warre to be setled in the two Houses and so taking all together that the Earle of Levâ—n cannot manage that Warre according to his owne discretion But we must remember them the Proposition is not barely to settle the prosecution of the Warre in the two Houses but to settle it in the two Houses to be managed by the joynt advice of both Kingdomes and that joynt advice is by a joynt Committee according to the Ordinance of the 11th of April in which Committee they confesse those of Scotland have a Negative Voyce and by the last part of the 17th Proposition the Warre of Ireland is to be ordered according to that Ordinance But they say The Scottish Commander is to receive Orders from the Lievtenant of Ireland if a Lord Lievtenant shall be chosen by the two Houses for a Lievtenant nominated by Vs is not allowed by them to give Orders to the Scottish Generall This indeed though not warranted by their Propositions upon which neverthelesse they insist yet being admitted in this latitude might seem to give some power to the two Houses over the Scotch Generall in the manage of the Warre as giving the Lievtenant such a power and by consequence the two Houses who have power over this Lievtenant But they say not generally that he shall receive Instructions from the Lievtenant but that he shall receive Instructions from the Lievtenant in such manner aâ— they have set downe in their Paper of the 20th of February that is when it shall be necessary for the good of that Service that he and the Commander in chiefe of the Scottish Army joyne but how shall it be for the service that he joyne with him when he shall Command no Forces with which he may joyne the Scotch Generall being by the Ordinance of the 11th of April to Command all the Forces whatsoever in Ireland But admit them to have joyned Then the Scotch Generall is to receive Instructions from the Lievtenant according to the Orders which shall be given by the Commissioners of both Kingdoms so and no otherwise Still the case is the same The Scottish Generall is not bound to obey any Orders but such as shall come mediately or immediately from the Committee of both Kingdomes And whatsoever evasions and disguises are made to cover it from Our Peoples Eyes the Scottish Committee being an equall number and having an equall share in the Counsells and their Generall having the Command of all the Forces It is apparent the whole power over that Kingdome is in effect to be transferred to them But should We admit that these Propositions did not give so great power in Ireland to Our Subjects of Scotland yet how should it be imagined that We should put the prosecution of this Warre in the two Houses in such manner as is insisted on by them so long as they maintaine a Rebellion against Vs in this Kingdom It is not denied but by their authority diverse Forces raised and the Moneys levied for Ireland were imployed against us in England and upon the same pretences that they made use of those aydes because as they alleadge in their Declaration upon that Subject that the subsistance of Ireland depended upon their wellfare here they may still make use of such Power as shall be given them for the manage of that Warre and raising Moneys for that purpose against Vs in England neither if a Peace should be concluded here could we assent that the prosecution of the warre should be setled in the two Houses excluding Our Selves as they intend it by those words The King not to molest them therein Queen Elizabeth managed the Warre in Ireland solely when the two Houses were sitting and excluded them though we insist not upon that example we should be wanting to the trust we have received from God and that care of our Subjects which lies upon us and of which We are to give him an account to exclude Our selfe They themselves know great bodies are not so fit to carry on the warre as a few and