Sir B. Brook if he saw good to deliver the letter under the L. Digbies hand which letter I brought up and delivered it to Sir Basil Brook and that was not to be delivered unles Sir Basil Brook saw good and that it would be a means to work a blessed peace since I came to Towne I told Sir David Watkins Alderman Gibs Rily Joseph Alderman Gibs his man and some others that there was hope of a blessed peace all which I humbly submit to your grave wisdomes That I was to tell my L. Major the King had directed his letter to him Lord Major of London which Read told me was his Majesties pleasure which he did hearing he was a moderate man in his place and for Alderman Gibs his Majesty did recommend it to his care that he would further the businesse as he should think best according to the Letters for accomplishing a happy peace M. Ryley told me that it could be no trouble to me to bring up these Letters for when they have brought up any Message to the Lord Major and Common-Councell they will doe nothing in it till they have acquainted the Parliament and receive their direction what answer to give Sir David Watkins told me that after it was recommended to the houss be would affist it both by himselfe and friends to the uttermost of his power for a peace and the reason he gave me was that if a peace was concluded he hoped to be reimbursed the mony he hath layd our and that the Parliament would looke well to the keeping of the Covenant the reason M. Ryley gave that the Letters should be directed to the City was that he did beleeve if the King did write to them he would not touch upon any thing of the differences between King Parliament but leave it to the City to Petition the Parliament without whose consent and privity he and Sir D. Watkins could or would doe nothing for it was resolved the House should know and give their directions for every thing Besides Sir B. B. in his directions from the King was to be assured that this Letter would be a meanes to work a blessed peace or else to forbear the delivery and afore Sir B. B. wrote about it he did speak to M. Ryley to know how he should be assured of the good inclination of the City for a Peace to whom M. Ryley reply'd there was no question of it but it would and it was resolved that â—int and request of the Militia for a peace to the houses was ground enough for the King to take notice of the inclination of many of his Subjects in London for a peace And to this last when I told Sir D. Watkins of the way which was intended the King would take notice of the inclination by that message he did approve of it that M. Ryley meeting at the Taverne in Cheapeside the signe of the man in the moon did give order to Read when he writ to him to write by that name Reads name was to be knowne by M. Lee and Thomas Violets name by Morton but that I never received any note from Read other then I have declared Tho. Violet You shall heare now a further Examination of Tho. Violet who being shewed a note beginning Sir I assure you an ending may prove the more difficult which was the former note I read that was delivered to M. Ryley by Violet himselfe He accknowledgeth he received this note from one Wood who told this Examinat it came from one Colonell Read whose hand writing he conceived it was but it was to be delivered to M. Ryley which this Examinat did accordingly in a day or two after his receipt by occasion of meeting the said M. Ryley and M. Ryle's inquiring of him what Read had done in the businesse of Peace He saith that Sir Bazill Brooke wished him to tell the Queene which he did that if she would be a mediator in this peace she would make her selfe very famous and glorious and get the love againe of all the people and that there would be enough as he did conceive out of the Excise to satisfie all Publique debts And that he should acquaint the Queene that M. Ryley had told him that as soone as the Kings Letter was brought up it should be communicated to the Common-Councell and from thence to the house which in all probability would be a certaine way for peace The Queene hereupon replyed that she would be glad with all her heart to be a mediator betweene the King and his people and that this Examinat should deserve very well in promoting this worke and took it very kindly from this Examinat and Sir Bazill Brooke and that she would study to requite it That the same Message that this Examinant delivered to the Queen he presented also to the King who expressed a good acceptance of the businesse This Examinant further saith that for the better effecting of the peace desired it was thought fit by consent of Sir Bazill Brooke and M. Ryley that this Examinat should prepare a rough draught of a Letter for the King to write to the City which was by this Examinat after it was drawne by himselfe to be communicated to M. Ryley and Sir Bazill Brooke for their advice concerning the same which was accordingly done by this Examinat and thereupon the said Sir Bazill Brooke in the first place did polish and amend the rough draught framed by this Examinat and M. Ryley after him did also make some alterations which done this Examinat did then communicate it to Sir David Watkins who approved thereof and thereupon this frame of the Letter was sent to Oxford by one VVood about foureteene dayes since and was delivered by VVood to Col. Read who procured the Kings Letter accordingly with some alterations in forme but little in substance which was brought to Sir B. B. by Wood upon monday last being the first of this instant Ianuary to present to the Lord Major Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell and from thence to Communicate it to the House of Parliament Tho. Violet The further Examination of Sir Bazill Brooke who saith that M. Violet did frame the rough draught of the Letter for his Majesty to write to the Cuy that when it was communicated by the said Violet to this Examinat he did polish and mend the English of it that afterward the said drought of the Letter was sent to Oxford about 14 dayes since or thereabouts and delivered by one John Wood to Colonell Read who procured the Kings Letter accordingly in substance though with some alterations in forme which Letter was brought under the Kings band Signet to Sir B. B. upon monday last being the first of this instant to present it to the L. Maior Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell and from them to be communicated to the Houses of Parliament Bazill Brook In this Examination observe onely thus much That whatever pretence there was of having the
to Master Rily by the name of the Man in the Moone assures him The businesse goes on well at Oxford Promises of reward are made to Ryley and Violet Peace being the pretence Therefore Propositions are framed and agreed on fix in number by Read Sir Basil Brooke Ryley and Violet and seene by others and afterwards sent to Oxford A Petition for Peace being intended the better to induce that It was agreed that his Majestie must write a powerfull and promising letter to the Lord Major and Citizens to be read at a Common Hall and fit Instruments thought upon to be imployed to prepare my Lord Major before hand The Letter was written and agreed uponhere by Sir Basil Brook Master Ryley and Violet and sent to Oxford Violet a prisoner by Master Ryleys means was procured to be exchanged that he might from Oxford bring the letter and advises for the carrying on of the businesse At Oxford the businesse was so diligently sollicited by Read that at Violets coming all things were ready and after three houres discourse in his Majesties presence with the Queene the Dutches of Buckingham the Lord Digby Violet the same day being the Munday before the discovery dispatched from Oxford with his Majesties Letter altered in nothing save the Title and with another Letter from the Lord Digby to Sir Basil Brooke whereby the whole managing of the businesse is intrusted to Sir Basil Brook and it is wholly left to his Wisdom and Discretion whither the letter to the City shall be delivered or not Violet brought both the Letters to Sir Basil Brooke the Wednesday after and one Wood having formerly brought a Letter from Oxford to the City the same in matter with this that Violet brought which will be read unto you Sir Basil Brook delivered the Letter that came last from Oxford to Wood to be delivered to my Lord Major the next day after which was Thursday and with direction That it should have been published on the Fryday The delivery of it to my Lord Major by the discovery of it the same day was prevented and Sir Basil Brooke Ryley and Violet that night were examined Before the Reading of the Examinations Letters and Propositions unto you at large That the main designe to be made out by them as they are conjoyned and have relation to the precedent narrative may be the better understood I shall in brief touch upon the matter of them as likewise upon such Conclusions as may necessarily be deduced from them As first That no Peace was really intended appears throughout the whole transaction The propositions which upon the Supposition that this is no Parliament if anything were to have been the ground-work foundation of it which upon the reading you will finde so flight and frivolous that no man can conceive that our Peace could have been built upon such a foundation Nothing so much as spoken of concerning Ireland or the disengaging of of our â—elves from the Articles of Agreement with our Brethren of Scotland No provision for Reformation of Religion or preservation of that we have or of our Lawes and Liberties But in stead thereof there are quaedam iniqua the Excise must be continued beyond the war that out of it the King might have a benefit and the debts of the Enemies to the Parliament repayed and the City immediatly to be Treated with That no Peace was intended appeares further from the L Digbies Letter written within a day or two of that to the City to the Ki Agent at Brussels who writes that the French Treaty was at an end because the Parliament must not be acknowledged to be a Parliament that as the King for a long time had taken that for a ground so he held the same resolution still being thereunto advised by all his Lords at Oxford and by his resolution of holding a Great Counsell in the nature of a Parliament at Oxford the 22. of this Moneth And when his Majesties Letter shall be read you will finde no particulars whereupon a Peace should have been built save only kinde words in generalls This further appeares from the persons who were the first Designers and Contrivers and were to have been the chief managers from first to last of the businesse Read and Sir Basil Brook known Iesuited Papists and alwaies active in promoting Popish practizes This Peace must have been such as these persons shall contrive The prayer for our deliverance from the Gun powder Treason agreed upon in Parliament saith That the Faith of such Papists is faction Their practises the murdering of the soules and bodies of men Read he hath been a Contriver and prosecuter of the bloody Tragedies of the Protestants in Ireland the other not without suspicion to have had his hand in it what is said concerning the Queen in that particular is set forth by the Declaration of both or one of the Houses and the Articles of her Impeachment the Countesse of Buckingham beside that her husband hath appeared visibly in that Rebession is not free of other cause of suspition These as was said before assisted with the Lord Digby must be the Instruments of this Peace which as it is set forth in his Majesties Letter must be such as that whereby the true Protestant Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome must be maintained These Papists you see who had done so good service for the Protestant Religion in Ireland must lay the foundation for the preservation of it here Sir Basil Brook and Read well knew that the Pope and and Popery have been banished this Kingdome by the Parliaments of England and that the succeeding Parliaments to this time have alwaies endeavored the suppression of popery and therefore Degenerating from their Predecessors who in the Gun-powder Treason endeavoured for that cause to have blown up the parliament They must now endeavour the Preservation of the Parliament and the Lawes and the Liberties of the Kingdome The things which from this briefe Narrative the reading of the Examinations Propositions and Letters will appeare to have been designed are these First the dividing the Parliament from the City and the Parliament and the City within themselves First in respect that this Treaty of Peace was to have been immediately between the King and the City and that whereupon the Peace of the whole Kingdome should have been setled as appeares by his Majesties Letter what wide rents such a Treaty must have produced between the City and Parliament is obvious Again for the prosecution of the Treaty when entertained by the City safe conducts were to have been granted not only to those of the City but to such of the Members of either House as would have repaired to Oxford for that purpose Every man sees by this what division and confusion would have followed both in City and Parliament The Projectors were well acquainted with Machivels maxime divide impera The second was no lesse then the utter destruction the nulling and making voyd
destruction of this Kingdome if there be not a peace which I pray God almighty to send speedily you must expect armies of strangers from severall places who are now preparing who certainly at their comming in will overrun the whole Kingdom and when it is past remedy you wil see your own errors and therefore to prevent more misery then I am able to express to this deplorable Kingdom and the effusion of the blood of millions of men women and children which must inevitably be this summer apply your selves in a humble and submissive way to his Majesty whom I know you will find ready with arms cutstretched to receive you to favour and mercy and grant you favours even beyond your expectation defer no time for Gods sake and what you will do do it speedily I say again doe it speedily and lose no time for reasons I may not write The direction of the letter by the same hand that it is written within is for the man in the Moone without date Upon the falling downe of this note to the ground we examined Master Riley upon it who did protest to us clearly hee did not know hee had this note about him who did thereupon declare as you shall heare that the note directed upon the backside to this examinant to the man in the Moone he confesseth to be sent him a fortnight since from Colonell Read that he received another to this effect before which is also here shall be read unto you The inscription upon the back of this letter is for the man in the Moon Sir I Assure you I have not bin wanting to further your good desires and if it be not your own faults I make doubt but things wil have a happy issue for I find those that are most concerned in it forward enough reflect now upon the misery of the times upon the groans and sufferings of those you see not which yet have bin nothing to what they will be if not speedily prevented by a Peace which to obtain I beseech you let it not only be your own care but the care of all those you love or have power with otherwise be confident of a generall ruine which certainly will be inevitable both to your selves and posterity and therefore take it into your serious consideration and let not causelesâ—e jealousies hinder you to apply your selves in a humble submissive manner to his Majesty who I am sure will yet look upon you with a gracious eye lose no time for the longer you delay it may prove more difficult no doubt TThe former of these letters in this examination which is sign dwith his own hand he doth acknowledge this letter which hath bin first read we shall read you his other examination wherein he likewise acknowledgeth this letter which hath bin since read and you may observe upon these letters that this Gentleman Colonell Read who as was told you is a famous lesuit hath bin the Ring-leader in the rebellion of Ireland O how tender hearted he is now to the Peace and liberty of this Kingdom he hath there in Ireland kindled a flame rais'd a rebellion to hinder the good indeavours of this Parliament which if it had not bin you might have injoyed your liberties without this war and blood that hath bin since spilt and now he returns a preacher here to exhort Mr. Riley for feare of this ruine which himselfe hath caused for to come to a Peace now upon Propositions of his owne contriving which are nothing else but a delivering your selves up to the designes of these Jesuites and Papist who would in the same manner bring our Protestant blood to be spilt here in England which with out mercy they have already done in Ireland I only tell you this by way of Observation Gent. This paper which was first read to you confest by Mr. Riley to be sent him from Col. Read falling thus strangely into our hands who knew nothing of it nor knew nothing at all of this conspiracy we did thereupon tell M. Rily that he could not but take notice of the finger of God that would bring the same to light and though from our tendernes and respect to him before we would not examine him of his papers that were about him wee now did desire he would pull out his papers from his pocket to let us see what he had beside having done so here is another paper directed like wise to M Theophitus Riley and it is but of four lines but that which did like wise discover another person that we knew not of to be interested in the businesse and that is Sir Bafil Brook It is directed for M Riley and it runs thus Good Mr. Riley these are to let you know that I am returned from Oxford with good sirccesse in my businesse and perceiving that you have appointed to meet B. B. at 9. of the Clock I pray without fail be here at the Eyon in South work before 8. of the clock to morrow morning It is subscribed T. V. that is Tho. Violet and dated Wednesday 3. Jan. 1643. which was the day Mr. Violet returned from Oxford was this good successe as he wrote here in the note and the next morning it seems Mr. Riley and Sir Basil Brooke appointed to meet at 9. of the Clock and he desired him to meet an houre before and M. Riley upon the examination coufest this B. B. was Sir Basil Brooke The further Examination of Theophilus Riley 4. Ianuar. 1643. This Examinant being further demanded concerning a Letter directed for Master Theophilus Riley and subscribed T. V. which was the Letter last read to you confesseth the said Letter was written to himselfe from Thomas Violet and sent to him this morning that B. B. mentioned in the Letter is Sir Basil Brooke as he conceives that he hath twice had conference with Sir Basil Brooke at the three Cranes in the Vintrey which time the said Thomas Violet was also there this Examinant being brought thither by the said Violet where they had discourse about the Treaty to be transacted by Colonell Read that Sir Basil Brooke sent for this Examinant on Tuseday last to the three Cranes where he told this Examinant a Letter of grace and favour would be sent from the King to the Lord Major that his Majesty would be willing to receive a Petition from the City Then Sir Basil Brooke shewed to this Exaninant a copy of the Kings letter which was to this effect as he remembers That whereas this City had been famous for their loyaltie to the King and that they had of late been disobedient yet if they would petition to him he would lovingly receive them and protested how hee had ever endevoured to maintaine the true Protestant Religion Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Subject that there was a Messenger come already about this businesse that Violet would returne within three of foure dayes and upon that appointed another meeting upon Friday
at nine of the clocke in expectation of Violets returne He further saith that the like note to this shewed him directed to the Man in the moone was delivered to him by Violet about a fortnight sithence and this Note was delivered to him by Sir Basil Brooke at the three Cranes on Munday or Tuseday last both of them comming from Colonell Read T. Riley So there he acknowledgeth both these Letters the one to be delivered him by this Violet the other by Sir Basil Brooke He further saith that the said Violet delivered this Examinant a paper of Propositions demanding this Examinants opinion who told him which he thought would be consented to by the Parliament and which not That the said Violet also asked this Examinant whether there might not bee thought on some Propositions that might please the King and Parliament Theophilus Riley Having proceeded to examine Master Riley thus farre the Committee did likewise send for Sir Basil Brooke who was Prisoner in the Kings Bench and his Examination is that which is next to be read to you and is the fifth of Ianuary 1643. Who saith That he knowes Colonell Read that he was the man as hee thinkes did designe the Treaty of peace now in agitation betweene the King and the City That hee knowes Thomas Violet that he acquainted this Examinant with Propositions which he knowes not whether himselfe drew or that hee did it with the assistance of others Who further saith that Master Violet told this Examinant that hee thought all those in the City that formerly shewed themselves for peace would doe so now among which was Alderman Gibbes who had made a Speech tending that way in the house of Commons that he knowes Master Riley upon occasion of this businesse and hath met with him at the three Cranes in the Vintrey two severall times where he desired to know of the said Riley whether if that a Letter came from the King it might bee a meanes to procure the City to move the Parliament for the procuring of a Treaty of peace To which Master Riley replyed he thought the Lord Major and Common Councell would acquaint the Parliament with it and that it was probable thereupon Propositions might be thought upon and a peace might insue This Examinant being shewed the note directed to the Man in the moone did confesse he received it from Master Read by Wood and that he delivered it with his owne hands to Master Riley at the three Cranes at their second meeting and saith that Violet told him this that by the Man in the moone was meant Master Riley This Examinant further saith that in lesse then a fortnight one Wood brought severall Letters from Oxford one from his Majesty to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and well-affected Citizens another from the Lord Digby to this Examinant and a Copy of the Kings Letter That Thomas Violet returned from Oxford on Wednesday night and brought with him Letters also from his Majesty to the Mayor Aldermen and Common Councell a Letter from the Lord Digby to this Examinant and a copy of his Majesties Letter that the later of the Kings Letters is in the hands of the said Wood and that the said Letter was given him on Thusday night with direction to deliver it to the Lord Mayor the rest of the Letters this Examinant hath in his power and undertakes to deliver them to this Committee and knoweth who hath the charge of them that the Kings Letters differed very little and were to this effect That the City had shewed great loyalty to the Kings predecessors and had received great favours from them and that he doubted not that he had many good subjects in the City that did desire Peace and were weary of their misery that he had sent these Letters to let them know he would confirme the Protestant Religion and the liberties of the subjects in any way they should devise and that hee would bee ready to receive their petition if they presented any to him and give safe conduct to them they should send with their Petition That the substance of the Lord Digbies Letter was to direct him to deliver the Kings Letter or to forbeare according as he found it probable the City were inclinable thereunto That Violet did tell this Examinant that hee conceived the City would be very well inclined to that the King expressed in his Letters and thereupon would acquaint the Parliament with it That Violet told this Examinant hee had spoken with Alderman Gibbes and Master Riley since his returne from Oxford and acquainted them that hee had brought a Letter from the King and though Alderman Gibbes refused to have any thing to doe in the businesse but in a publike way yet hee was conceived by Violet notwithstanding to be the same man hee was before inclinable towards peace He further saith that he desired Mr. Riley to promise him secresie in what he delivered to him which he did That Violet told this Examinant that the King promised him to requite him well if the businesse succeeded Riley also should bee well requited if a peace did follow That at the meetings betweene this Examinant and Master Riley at the three Cranes the said Riley told him he thought the said Alderman Gibbes and divers others in the City would be for peace and that hee thought that the Cities declaring for Peace would be the most probable and best way to draw the Parliament to joine and so to effect it Basil Brooke The next Examination which shall be read to you is the Confession of Violet written with his owne hand Tho. Violet saith that he being aboard the Ship called the Prosperous Sarah for his twentieth part hee did write two Letters to my Lord Mayor and Alderman Gibbes to entreat their assistance for bringing him on shoare which was done within foure or five dayes and he was committed to the prison of the Kings Bench. That about ten dayes after Master John Read was remanded from the aforesaid Ship to the prison of the Kings Bench and lay in the same house part of the time of his stay in prison where he procured to be exchanged for one that was taken by the Kings forces and carried to Oxford and understanding by Master Iohn Read that the Warrant for the exchange was in Master Rileys hands to take the security hee went twice over with Master Read to have the security taken and Master Read then telling Master Riley that if there were not a Peace there would needs come a great destruction upon this Kingdome that he would be a blessed Instrument that could procure peace which Master Riley seconded Therupon Mr. Read told Mr. Riley and me that when he came to Oxford he would intimate how he found things to incline to a peace and protested hee would to the utmost of his power doe good offices in that behalfe and that he would signifie how he found things to stand Whereupon hee sent a small note to me that
of this present Parliament as will appeare by the Lord Digbyes letter to De vic and the summoning of the great Councell or Parliament at Oxford compared with the third of these Propositions By the letter to De vic this Parliament as the resolution then was at Oxford must not be acknowledged and by this third Proposition for that very cause the Parliament must be waved and the Treaty must be immediatly between the King and City The consequence whereof had been no lesse then the rendring of the Kingdome for ever uncapable of having any more Parliaments This Parliament It was called and continued according to the knowne Lawes and Usages of the Kingdome was afterwards by an Act of Parliament assented unto by his Majestie so acknowledged and made indissolvable without its own consent a greater Testimony of the validity of this Parliament then I think was ever given to any If neither the Common Lawes and usages of this Kingdome nor the concurrent Authority of an Act Parliament be able to support this Parliament when his Majestie shall declare the contrary I shall without more words leave to your judgements whether this doctrin doth not at once blow up the fundamentalls of all Parliaments Lawes of the Kingdome Libertie of the Subjects and of the whole pollicie and Government of this Kingdome which being destroyed what security you could have devised for the maintaining of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome as is promised you in his Majesties letter I know not 3. The third was not onely the preventing of the assistance of our Brethren in Scotland But that which is worse and must have necessarily followed thereupon the embroiling of both the Nations in divisions in all likelihood fat all unto both this will appeare by putting together what hath beene done by the Parliament those at Oxford and the transactions in this designe The Parliament long since have invited that Nation to our assistance in this common cause upon weighty considerations As first conceiving that by this meanes through Gods blessing this great cause which concernes our Religion Lawes Liberties and all we have would be assured and the event of the War otherwise doubtfull made more certaine 2. Secondly that by their assistance the war might be the sooner ended and so by consequence the calamities which of necessity must accompany it their assistance adding so considerable a strength to our party besides the reputation which the concurrence of a whole Nation with us will adde to the justnesse of the cause 3. And thirdly that as in likelihood by their joynt concurrence a better Peace for present might be procured so in all probability what shall be agreed upon would be the more lasting and durable both Nations being equally interested in what should be agreed upon Besides the Covenant maturely sworn and agreed upon by both Nations for the maintenance and defence of Religion and of the mutuall Lawes and Liberties of each Kingdome a solemne league and Treaty hath likewise beene mutually agreed upon between the Parliament here and that Kingdome concerning the manner of their assistance and great sums of money have been thereupon sent unto them In which Treaty one Article is That neither Nation shall entertaine any Treaty of Peace without the advice and consent of the other This in briefe containes the transactions between that Nation and the Parliament At Oxford by papers in the forme of Proclamations they have stiled this assistance an Invasion of the Kingdome and one end of the calling of that great Councell or Parliament is for opposing of the same In the carriage of the present designe by one of Reads letters to Ryley he saith That a dore is open by the comming in of the Scots for the destruction of this Kingdome That therefore this Peace must presently be concluded That all is lost unlesse it be done speedily The maine intent of the letter is for the speeding of it to that end The Lord Digbyes letter to Sir Basil Brooke referring the delivering of his Majesties letter to my Lord Mayor to his discretion he forthwith delivers it to Wood to be the next day delivered to my Lord Mayor and he next day after the delivery to be by him published He saw it necessary and so resolved at Oxford That we must speedily breake with the Scots Their assistance how necessary and by Gods blessing how beneficiall it is like to be unto us I think you see but this must be prevented The honour and publike faith of Nations how Sacred it is and from the rules of Religion and common policie how tenderly to be preserved each man knowes But this designe must violate and staine our honour in the highest For contrary to the Article before mentioned this Treaty must presently be set on foot without them such violations are alwayes deeply resented by the parties injured how dangerous therefore the consequence must needs have beene he that runnes may reade This was the Designe It was too Ugly It was too Black Bare fac'd to have been presented to your view and therefore it must be masqu't This hook must be baited with the sweet word Peace It hath been long since observed from the Ecclesiasticall proceedings of the Romish Church That in nomine Domini Incipit omne malum The Holy Name of God must bear out all their Spirituall wickednesses The end of all Civil Policie is the preserving of just and Honourable Peace and therefore these men when Divisions Violence and what is most contrary to Peace is intended yet for the compassing of these ends Peace must be pretended So was it by many of them about this time twelve moneth Designed in their Petition to the Parliament for a Peace and so was it in the bloodie plot upon the Citie and diverse Members of both Houses discovered the last Summer For upon the examinations of diverse of them It appeared that the ground of that plot was laid in the first Petition and that the second was to have been guilded over with a Petition for Peace These men I speak of these designes they cry Peace Peace that destruction might have come upon you as an armed man You shal now hear the examinations and other things read at large unto you SIR HENRY VANE JUNIOR His Introduction to the Reading the severall Examinations taken in this businesse Together with severall Observations delivered by him upon occasion thereof GENTLEMEN YOU have heard very fully the State of this bu sines by what the Persons that have already spoken have opened to you in generall that which you are now in the next place to have communicated to you are the Examinations as they proceeded from the mouthes of the Parties themselves that you may see the Design in its lively colours and that as you have had it summarily presented to you from this Noble Lord and worthy Gentleman you may now hear the parties themselves speak The first Examination that was taken was the 4. of Jan. 1643. and
I should tell Master Riley he had moved him that was most concerned in the businesse and that he found him very willing to imbrace any occasion to have these differences reconciled And another Note he sent me to goe to Master Riley with a Superscription To the Man in the Moone in which he pressed earnestly that if they would take into their consideration the groanes and sufferings of them they see not and keep ruine from themselves and posterities the likeliest way was to petition his Majesty that so these great mischiefes might bee removed and things brought to a good end betweene the King and Parliament which Note I delivered to Master Riley Within a weeke after there was a Paper left at my Lodging wherein were about ten Questions propounded two of them I had formerly spoken of to Colonell Read which was That his Majesty would be pleased to passe an Act of Oblivion And that if his Majesty would come and fit with his Parliament there was revenue enough to satisfie all demands in a peaceable way by the Excise both for the King and Parliament But finding divers other Questions in the Paper I went to Master Riley who upon perusall usall of the Paper told me that some three or foure of them he did conceive might very well be taken into consideration and he did often desire before mee that some course might be taken that his Majesty would signifie to the Parliament or Citie that he would come up to the Parliament and that the City would petition him in that behalfe Whereupon I went to Sir David Watkins and knowing that he was a man zealous for the Parliament and Common-wealth I told him Sir I am come to you to aske your advice in a businesse of great concernment and if I did thinke there were any danger in the doing of it I would not meddle with it and therefore I am come to you to desire your opinion in these things I present to you and what you advise to doe in it Whereupon I shewed him the paper wherein the Questions were He asked me where I had them I told him I did conceive they came from Master Read and declared to him most of the foresaid passages but some of them I told him I had in the way of discourse spoken of to Master Read but for the greatest part I know nothing of it Sir David Watkins told me if I would leave the Papers with him he would aske a friend of his and take advice the next day I brought them to him and he told me he did conceive many of the questions were good wayes for a Peace and that the Parliament and City must first be moved in it and for the present he would not do any thing in it but would not speak of it to any one but wished it might bring a good peace and said the Excise would give content to both Wherupon I told Mr Riley that I would desire Sir Basil Brook to see if he could procure his Majesties Letters to the Parliament or City to desire an Accommodation And thereupon Sir Basil Brooke before he did write any thing desired to speak with Master Riley himselfe to know what he did esteeme the Excise to be worth and what way he desired to be taken concerning the Debts of the Publike Faith and how the Kings ingagements might be satisfied and what ground he had for what he should speake and what he conceived the Excise to be worth a yeare if the times were setled Whereupon Master Riley replyed he did esteeme it to be about three millions a yeare if the times were quiet which would quickly satisfie the debts on both sides and afterwards a proportion of what should bee agreed on might goe for the encreasing of his Majesties revenue Their meeting was at the three Cranes in the Vintrey about a month agoe and what assurance was spoken of if the King would assent to come to his Parliament he should have Sir Basil Brook told Master Riley that though he were a Papist he suffered as much by the war as any other for hee could not receive his rents and Souldiers were billeted in his house and therefore it concerned him to looke after peace as well as any other and he would thank God if he could be an instrument to bring a lasting and good Peace about Master Riley told him there was no Question to be made but if the King would send a Letter to the Militia to that effect as this which his Majesty hath sent they would petition the House about it for without their consent they could not meddle in any thing Which Sir Basil Brook told him he never expected or thought otherwise and to this effect was their discourse Whereupon he told Master Riley he would take some course to see if he could perswade the King by such friends as hee had about him to send a Letter to the Parliament or the City of London to signifie the desire he had for Peace and unitie with all his subjects Thereupon they parted and the next morning Sir Basil Brooke spake to me that he would write to my Lady Dutchesse of Buckingham to be a meanes to perswade the Queene to be a visible actor to procure a peace and that by that meanes she would procure the love of the people and that shee would procure his Majesty to give an exchange for me and that if I could have his Majesties Warrant to come to Oxford which when he told me of hee had written though I did not see it I made my petition to the Militia my Lord Mayor and Alderman Gibbes I writ a letter and desired Master Riley to deliver it to them desiring them to move the Militia that I might have liberty to goe to Oxford upon putting in baile to pay 70. li. or to return to London within 20 daies which was not granted Then I desired Mr Riley to find me an exchange which he did and I am now againe returned with the Kings pleasure in that busines concerning my exchange There was a Letter sent downe by Sir Basil Brook by Wood concerning what was desired but the King would not send it to the Parliament but writ the Letter as it is come up and in Sir Basil Brooks custody with a power in him onely from my L. Digby to deliver it if he thought it would work the effect of a blessed peace and upon my salvation never any thing entred into my heart but to do all things for the honour of the Parliament and good of the common wealth to my power When I came to Court on Tuseday morning I found the King in the garden and Read took me a way and brought me to the L. Digby and presently my L. Digby told me he had sent up the Kings letter by one Wood to the Lo. Mayor Aldermen and common Councell which was delivered to Sir Basil Brook to which letter I humbly refer my self and another letter was sent up to
grace and favour of the King to be communicated in his gracious Letter that this grace and favour was of the coutrivement of Sir B. B. or M. Ryley and M. Violet here in this City before hand and that they gave reasons and arguments to the Court afterward why they should send it And in it Sir David Watkins that is named in this is a party it is true he was acquainted with this businesse but did discover it in part ten dayes before it came to light to some Members of the house of Commons and did freely come himselfe before he was sent for to the Committee and desired that it might be found out and searched This is the last Examination we shall read in this businesse after which you shall heare the Letters themselves of the Lord Digby and his Majesty the 7 of Ianuary 1643. The further Examination of Sir Bazill Brooke That George Wood mentioned in his former Examination is called Iohn Wood who was an Apprentice to a Merchant in the City and recommended by Read to this Examinat as a fit man to be trusted to carry Letters betweene Oxford and this placo in this businesse That Violet with the advice of of M. Ryley as this Examinat beleeveth framed some Propositions about 12 or 14 in number which were brought to this Examinat by Violet which mended the English of them which Propositions were reduced afterward to six by Violet Ryley or both and afterward was with the approbation of this Examinat That this Examinat at the three Cranes in the Vintry did meet with M. Ryley and Violet to confer upon the said Propositions and to consider of the probability of them to please this City and Parliament which afterward were carried to Oxford by the said Wood to Colonell Read who returned an answer that he thought the King would approve of them upon a Treaty which might be betweene the City and some Parliament men joyned with them That Wood also when he dwelt with his Master neere the Stocks and was imployed about taking up the exchange of monies and since that time the Examinat saith the said Wood told him he served in the wars particularly he served in the Battel at Newbury and being asked whether he knew the usuall abode of the said Wood or how to find him out upon occasion he saith he doth not know That the Propositions formerly mentioned this Examinat remembreth to be these or to this effect 1. That the City might be satisfied that the King would settle the Protestant Religion for without that neither the Parliament nor City would admit any Treaty 2. That the debts contracted upon the Publike Faith on either side by King or Parliament should be satisfied and the most likeliest way for the doing thereof was to settle the Excise for those purposes 3. That it was conceived that in respect of the Kings Declaration that the Parliament was no Parliament and that therefore the King could not Treat with them any more this Treaty was to be immediately betweene the King and the City and the City was to be the medium betweene the King and Parliament And this Examinat further saith That the said Wood told the Examinat that if any Parliament men would joyne with the City in this Treaty they also might come with them to Oxford under the safe conduct granted to the City though it were not exprest in the Kings Letter and that the said Wood received directions at Oxford for this Examinat to declare so much to whom he should thinke fit 4. That there must be an Act of oblivion for all parties and Delinquents whatsoever and a generall pardon that no Cessation should be expected during the Treaty if there had beene any That no mention was made in all these Propositions either of Scotland or Ireland That this Examinat doth remember That M. Alderman Gibs and M. Ryley were thought upon as fit men to be sent to Oxford about the Treaty as being persons inclined to the furtherance of Peace That VVood told this Examinat that it was wished from Oxford that the said parties might be imployed in this Treaty that Read being to procure his release first made a Petition to the Militia by the Name of Iohn Read Gent. to secure his quality as Colonell under pretence that he was a poore man and had children in great want in which businesse the said Read made use of some Citizens to promote this Petition That M. Ryley told the said Read when his release was obtained that he might perceive notwithstanding he might have beene hâ—ndred from his inlargement but that he said he knew no opposition and therefore he wished him to labour to requite this curtesie by endeavouring a peace betweene the King and City when he came to Oxford which he said he would doe Bazill Brooke Upon this examination you may observe that which will give you most light in this designe it was made so plausible not onely under the name of Peace but it must be that which must answer all mens expectations and that which most pinched which was that the debts of the Publike Faith should be paid by these propositions by the setling of the Excise when all things should be established that very thing which the Parliament in their wisedome and care would prevent that when your lawes have their freedome and when you injoy your liberties you should have no such extraordinary courses now on foot only for this extraordinary occasion this must be the way and the meanes when your liberties are setled to bring you under the greatest slavery that is to bring thosethings upon you that when you have said all that must not only pay you that have borne the brunt here but satisfie all the Delinquents on the Kings side also And secondly you may observe clcerely that now the Parliament must sit under a cloude by his treaty it must be by the King and the City the Parliament must be wholy obscured and waved The Kings Proclamation which is but a Paper and forme of a Proclamation must have anthority to abolish a Parliament setled by an Act of Parliament and that is the end that while you had a bait laid you for your liberties and peace to be setled you might have made such a president as never to have recovered a Parliament againe but in stead of that Act of Oblivion you might have made an Act for to have buried all Parliaments in Oblivion this was the right state of this Designe This Letter Gentlemen was directed to Sir Bazill Brooke in an outward Cover The Letter here which is for Sir Bazill Brooke it is under my Lord Digbies owne hand it is the Letter which Wood brought to Towne on Monday night last Oxford 29. Decemb 1643. Your affectionate Servant George Digby SIR THe King and Queene have both commanded me to give you thanks in their Name for your care and diligence in their service and His Majesty hath so much
him such a Petition he will then very willingly receive it The third thing is this That his Majesty declares that there is no art he hath hitherto passed in Parliament but he will be most willing to confirm a Declaration that is renewed upon all occasions but never otherwise observed then it is now for in the mean time that act whereby this Parliament is a Parliament whereby all other acts of Parliament and the whole frame of the Lawes of this Kingdome are confirmed and preserved that very act in this design is to be laid aside and utterly to be destroyed And this Treaty is brought about for no other ends but to destroy that so that you may plainly see upon what ground these things are got from his Majestie and upon what counsels and withall consider what colour of ground you can have to receive any fruit from any such Declarations and Protestations as these are when they must only serve to amaze you til this Parliament and in this all Parliaments are for ever rooted out and destroyed The next Letter that is to be offered to you is the Letter of the Lord Digby upon another occasion which was presented to the Houses by a Noble Lord that is here present his Excellencie my Lord Generall who intercepted it going beyond Sea you shall understand there yet more clearly what manner of counsels his Majesty is now upon at Oxford which Letter shall be now read unto you For my very worthy Friend Sir Henry De Vic. From Oxford the 27. Decemb. 1643. Your very effectionate Friend and Servant George Digby SIr My indisposition the last week fore'st me to refer you to my Secretary for an account of what Occurrences that offorded This week hath been so little productive of any thing Considerable that when I shall have told you of taking of Beston Castle in Cheshire by his Majestes Forces under the Lord Biron a place of huge Importance both for strength and Command of all those countries of Cheshier Lancashire and some parts of Stafford and Darbishiere I shall have told you all the Marquesse of New castle having attempted nothing since the taking of Winckfield Mannor Plimouth remaining still in its former condition besieged and there having been nothing done between my Lord Hopton and Sir Walliam Waller since the unlucky beating up of one of our Quarters at Alton But we are in daily expectation of a criticall Blow between them The Lord Wilmot being now joyned with the Lord Hopton with a fresh strength of a thousand Horse and both being under march to attain Waller who hath possess'd himself of Arundell-Town we having a strong Garrison in the Castle and it is probably hoped he cannot avoid fighting with him upon disadvantage Thus much for the Military part The Prince de Harcourts Negotiation by way of Intermise for an Accommodation is well nigh at an end as I beleeve for that the pretended Parliament will not hearken to any Propositions from him in any other way then of an avowed addresse by which they might seem either to be owned by him as a Parliament and applied to by him as an Ambassadour or else to be admitted by the King for somewhat more considerable then He hath in a long time owned them for A point which His Majestie may not suffer them to gain without subverting the grounds Maxime of all his late proceedings against them and that which He now goes upon by the advice of all his Nobility here as you will perceive by this inclosed Proclamation upon the effects thereof all the Eyes of the Kingdom are now fixed God send them to be as good actuated as they are in speculation for I am confident that in reason it carries Probability of the surest and readiest way to the reestablishment of His Majestie and his Iust Rights and powers of any course that hath been yet attempted This is all more then the heartiest respects of Your affectionated Servant George Digby I have received yours of the 19. and will by the next give you an account of that particular in it that concernes your self GEntlemen this letter for what concerneth the Military part of it I beleeve your own knowledges are able to give your selves the best judgement how that that Criticall blow that he there sperketh of is now fallen in great part upon their own heads and that thanks be to God Sir William Waller being now in the Castle of Arundell having taken above 1000. or 1200. prisoners and some 100. and odde Officers with all other things delivered to him we see which way the Criticall blow is fallen for which we have all cause to acknowledge the goodnesse of Almighty God The second part declareth to your consideration that boldnesse and confidence which breakes forth in the Lord Digbyes Pen that it seemeth he hath forgotten he hath been a Parliament man he calleth that Parliament which is setled by Act of Parliament the very name whereof ought to be sacred to the eares of all true English men and lovers of their Countrey he calls a pretended Parliament That which durst never be called sayd or written at any time heretofore in England by any whatsoever The second thing you may observe is this That that councell of Nobility which you will heare of by and by in a Proclamation must now not onely be of a Councell of Nobility there but of all those that have beene likewise expelled out of the house of Commons or house of Peeres or withdrawn themselves from their duty and the trust put in them by their Country all these now must assemble together and what to do To settle his Majesties just rights and Power and this just right and power is to make this Parliament though setled by an Act of Parliament a pretended Parliament or in a word to give our lawes liberties or rights a being or not a being solely in his Majesties pleasure how just that is you your selves may easily discerne and how destructive it would be to you A third thing considerable in this letter is that though his Majestie should have any inclination to doe his Parliament right to acknowledge them a Parliament yet my Lord Digby saith it is a point that must not be suffered It is a point which his Majestie must not permit to be gained though it be but to do the Parliament that right as to acknowledge what they are by Act of Parliament his faithfull and Supreame Councell But in stead of this as you will heare by a Proclamation of the 22. of December All the members of both Houses that have forsaken their Country deserted the cause contributed to undermine the State and Kingdome and expose them to the prey of the Irish Rebels This must be the wholesome advice about his Majestie and this wholesome advice must beheld up though with the unnaturall ruin of this Parliament which must not be acknowledged but another thing set up in forme of a Parliament somewhat like a Parliament