THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE LATE TREATY OF PEACE Together VVith severall Letters of his Majesty to the Queen and of Prince Rupert to the Earle of Northampton which were intercepted and brought to PARLIAMENT WITH A Declaration of the Lords and Commons upon those Proceedings and Letters ORdered by the Lords and Commons that these Proceedings Letters and Declaration be forthwith Printed H. Elsing Cler. Parliament Dom. Com. LONDON Printed for Edwards Husbands and are to be sold at his Shop in the Middle Temple 1643. The humble Desires and Propositions of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled tendred unto his Majestie February the first 1642. WE your Majesties most humble and faithfull Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having in our thoughts the glory of God your Majesties honour and the prospetity of your People and being most grievously afflicted with the pressing meseries calamities which have overwhelmed your two Kingdomes of England and Ireland since your Majesty hath by the persuasion of evil Counsellors withdrawn your self from the Parliament raised an Army against it and by force thereof protected Delinquents from the Justice of it constraining us to take Arms for the defence of our Religion Laws Liberties Priviledges of Parliament and for the sitting of the Parliament in safety which fears and dangers are continued and increased by the raising drawing together and arming of great numbers of Papists under the command of the Earle of Newcastle likewise by making the Lord Herbert of Ragland and other known Papists Commanders of great forces whereby many grievous Oppressions Rapines and Cruelties have been and are daily exercised upon the persons and estates of your people much innocent bloud hath been spilt and the Papists have attained means of attempting and hopes of effecting their mischievous designe of rooting out the Reformed Religion and destroying the professors thereof In the tender sence and compassion of these evils under which your people and Kingdom lie according to the duty which we owe to God your Majesty and the Kingdom for which we are intrusted do most earnestly desire that an end may be put to these great distempers and distractions for the preventing of that desolation which doth threaten all your Majesties Dominions And as we have rendred and still are ready to render to your Majesty that subjection obedience and service which we owe unto you so we most humbly beseech your Majesty to remove the Cause of this war and to vouchsafe us that peace and protection which we and our Ancestors have formerly enjoyed under your Majesty and your Royall Predecessors and graciously to accept and grant these most humble desires and Propositions 1 THat your Majesty will be pleased to disband your Armies as wee likewise shall be ready to disband all those Forces which wee have raised And that you will be pleased to return to your Parliament 2. That you will leave Delinquents to a Legall Triall and judgment of Parliament 3. That the Papists may not onely be disbanded but disarmed according to Law 4. That your Majesty will be pleased to give your Royall assent unto the Bill for taking away Superstitious Innovations To the Bill for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Subdeans Deans Chapters Archdeacons Canons and Prebendaries and all Chanters Chancellors Treasurers Subtreasurers Succentors and Sacrists and all Vicars Chorall and Choristers old Vicars and new Vicars of any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church and all other their under-officers out of the Church of England To the Bill against scandalous Ministers To the Bill against Pluralicies And to the Bill for consultation to be had with godly religious and learned Divines That your Majesty will be pleased to promise to passe such other good Bils for setling of Church-government as upon consultation with the Assembly of the said Divines shall be resolved on by both houses of Parliament and by them be presented to your Majestie That your Majesty having exprest in Your Answer to the Nineteene Propositions of both houses of Parliament a hearty affection and Intentions for the rooting out of Poperie out of this Kingdome and that if both the houses of Parliament can yet sinde a more effectuall Course to disable Jesuites Priests and popish Recusants from disturbing the State or deluding the Lawes that you would willingly give your consent unto it That You would be graciously pleased for the better discovery and speedier conviction of Recusants That an Oath may be established by Act of Parliament to be Administred in such manner as by both Houses shall be agreed on wherein they shall abjure and renounce the Popes Supremacy The doctrine of Transubstantiation Purgatory worshipping of the consecrated Hoast Crucifixes and Images and the refasing the said Oath being tendred in such manner as shall be appointed by Act of Parliament shall be a sufficient Conviction Law of Recusancie And that your Majestie will be graciously pleased to give Your Royall assent unto a Bill for the Education of the children of Papists by Protestants in the Protestant Religion That for the more effectuall execution of the Lawes against popish Recusants your Majesty would be pleased to consent to a Bill for the true levying of the Panalties against them and that the same Penaltie may be levyed and disposed of in such manner as both houses of Parliament shall agree on so as your Majestie be at no loss And likewise to a Bill whereby the practise of Papists against the State may be prevented and the Laws against them duly executed 6. That the Earle of Bristoll may be removed from your Majesties Councells and that both he and the Lord Herbert eldest sonne to the Earle of Worcester may likewise be restrained from comming within the Verge of the Court and that they may not beare any Office or have my imployments concerning the State or Common-wealth 7. That Your Majestie will be graciously pleased by Act of Parliament to settle the Militia both by Sea and Land and for the Forts and Ports of the Kingdome in such a manner as shall be agreed on by both Houses 8. That Your Majestie will be pleased by Your Letters Patents to make Sir Iohn Brampston Chiefe Justice of Your Court of Kings Bench William Lentall Esquire the now Speaker of the Commons house Master of the Rolls and to continue the Lord chiefe Justice Bankes chiefe Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and likewise to make Master Serjeant Wilde Chiefe Baron of Your Court of Exchequer And that Master Justice Bacon may be continued And Master Serjeant Rolls and Master Serjeant Arkins made Justices of the Kings Bench. That Master Justice Reeves and Master Justices Foster may be continued and Master Serjeant Phesant made one of Your Justices of Your Court of Common Pleas That Master Serjeant Cresivell M. Samuel Browne and Master John Pulleston may be Barons of the Exchequer And that all these and all the Judges of the same Courts for
the time to come may hold their places by Letters Patents under the great Seale Quam diu se bene Gesserint and that he severall persons not before named that doe hold any of these places before inentioned may be removed That all such persons as have been put out of the Commissions of Peace or Oyer and Terminer or from being Custodes Rotulorum since the first day of April 1642. other then such as were put out by desire of both or either of the houses of Parliament may againe be put into those Commission and Offices And that such persons may be put out of those Commissions and Offices as shall be excepted against by both houses of Parliament That Your Majestie will be pleased to passe the Bill now presented to your Majestie to vindicate and secure the Priviledges of Parliament from the ill consequence of the late President in the Charge and proceeding against the Lord Kimbolton now Earle of Manchester and the five Members of the house of Commons That Your Majesties Royall Assent may bee given unto such Acts as shall be advised by both houses of Parliament for the satisfying and paying the debts and damages wherein the two houses of Parliament have ergaged the publicke Faith of the Kingdome That Your Majestie will be pleased according to a gracious Answer heretofore received from You to enter into a more strict Alliance with the States of the United Provinces and other Neighbour Princes and States of the Protestant Religion for the defence and maintenance thereof against all designes and attempts of the Popish and Jesuitical Faction to subvert and suppresse it whereby Your Subjects may hope to bee free from the mischiefes which this Kingdome hath endured through the power which some of that Partie have had in Your Counsells and will be much encouraged in a Parliamentary way for Your Ayde and Assistance in restoring your Royall Sister and the Prince Elector to those Dignities and Dominions which belong unto them and releeving the other distressed Protestant Princes who have suffered in the same Cause That in the Ganerall Pardon which your Majestie hath bin pleased to offer to your Subjects all offences and misdemeanours committed before the tenth of Ianuary 1641. which have been or shall be questioned or proceeded against in Parliament upon complaint in the House of Commons before the tenth of January 1643. shall be excepted which offences and misdemeanours shall neverthelesse be taken and adjudged to be fully discharged against all other inferiour Courts That likewise there shall be an exception of all offences committed by any person or persons which hath or have given any counsell assistance or encouragement to the Rebells there for the maintenance of the Rebellion As likewise an exception of William Earle of Newcastle and George Lord Digby That Your Majestie will be pleased to restore such Members of either house of Parliament to their several places of Services and Imployment out of which they have been put since the beginning of this Parliament That they may receive satisfaction and reparation for those places and for the profits which they have lost by such removalls upon the Petition of both houses of Parliament And that all others may be restored to their Offices and Imployments who have been put out of the same upon any displeasure conceived against them for any Assistance given to both houses of Parliament or obeying their Commands or forbearing to leave their Attendance upon the Parliament without licence or for any other occasion arising from these unhappy differences betwixt your Majestie and both houses of Parliament upon the like Petition of both houses These things being granted and performed as it hath alwayes beene out hearty prayer so shall we be enabled to make it our hopefull endeavour That your Majestie and your people may enjoy the blessings of Peace Truth and Iuffice The Royaltie and greatnesse of Your Throne may bee supported by the Loyall and bountifull affections of Your people Their Liberties and Priviledges maintained by your Majesties Protection and Iustice And this publicke honour and happinesse of your Majesty and all Your Dominions Communicated to other Churches and States of Your Alliance and derived to your Royall Posterity and the future Generations in this Kingdome for ever H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. His Majesties Answer to the Desires and Propositions of both Houses February the third 1642. Received at a Conference with the Lords February the sixt 1642. IF his Majesty had not given up all the faculties of his soul to an earnest endeavour of a Peace and reconciliation with his People or if he would suffer himself by any Provecation to be drawn to a sharpness of Language at a time when there seems somewhat like an Overture of Accommedation hee could not but resent the heavy charges upon him in the Preamble of these Propositions and would not suffer himself to be reproached with protecting of Delinquents by force from Justice his Majesties desire having always bin that all men should be Tryed by the knowne Law and having been refused it with raising an Army against his Parliament and to be told that Armes have been taken up against him for defence of Religion Laws Liberties Priviledges of Parliament and for the sitting of the Parliament in safety with many other particulars in that Preamble so often and so fully answered by his Majesty without remembring the World of the time and circumstances of raising those Arms against him when his Majsety was so far from being in a condition to invade other mens Rights that he was not able to maintain and defend his owne from violence And without telling his good Subjects that their Religion the true Protestant Religion in which his Majesty was born hath faithfully lived and to which he will die a willing Sacrisice thier Laws Liverties Priviledges and safety of Parliament were so amply setled and estavlished or offered to be so by his Majesty before any Army was raised against him and long before any raised by him for his defence that if nothing had been desired but that Peace and Protection which his Subjects and their Ancestors had in the best times enjoyed under his Majesty or his Royall Predecessors this misunderstanding and distance between his Majesty and his people and this generall misery and destraction upon the face of the whole Kingdome had not beene now the discourse of Christendome But his Majesty will forbeare any Expressions of Bitternesse or of a sence of his own sufferings that if it be possible the memory thereof may be lost to the World And therefore though many of the Propositions presented to his Majesty by both Houses appeare to him very derogatory from and destructive to his just power and Prerogative and no way beneficiall to his Subjects few of them being already due to them by the Laws established And how unparliamentary it is by Arms to requite new Laws all the World may judge yet because these may be waved or mollified
upon the matter all the Propositions made by his Majesty which did not in Tearmes agree with those presented to him are utterly rejected For these Reasons and that this Entrance towards a blessed Peace and Accommodation which hath already filled the hearts of the Kingdome with Joye and Hop may be improved to the wished end his Majesty desires that the Committee now sent may speedily have liberty to treate debate and agree upon the Articles of Cessation in which they and all the world shall find that his Majestie is lesse sollicitous for his owne Dignity and Greatness then for his subjects Ease and Liberty And Hee doubts not upon such a Debate all differences concerning the Cessation will be easily and speedily agreed upon and the benefit of a Cessation bee continued and confirmed to his People by a speedy disbanding of both Armies and a sudden and firme Peace which his Majesty above all things desires If this so reasonalbe equall and just Desire of his Majesty shall not be yeelded unto but the same Articles still insisted upon though his Majesty next to Peace desires a Cessation Yet that the not agreeing upon the one may not destroy the hopes of nor so much as delay the other He is willing however to Treate even without a Cessation if that bee not granted upon the Propositions themselves in that order as is agreed upon and desires the Committee here may be enabled to that effect In which Treaty Hee shall give all his Subjects that satisfaction That if any Security to enjoy all the Rights Priviledges and Liberties due to them by the Law or that happinesse in Church and State which the best times have seene with such farther acts of Grace as may agree with his Honour Justice and Duty to his Crowne and as may not render Him lesse able to protect His Subjects according to his Oath will satisfie them Hee is confident in the mercy of God that no more pretious blood of this Nation will be thus miserably spent My Lord and Gentlemen VVHereas by your former Instructions you are tyed up to a circumstance of time and are not to proceed unto the Treaty upon the Propositions untill the cessation of Arms be first agreed upon You are now authorized and required as you may perceive by the Votes of both Houses which you shall herewith receive to Treat and debate with His Majesty upon the two first Propositions according to those Instructions for four dayes after the day of the receipt hereof notwithstanding that the Cessation be not yet agreed upon Your Lordships most humble servant Manchester Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore March 24. 1642. Received March 25. Die Veneris 24. Martij 1642. Resolved upon the Question by the Lord and CoÌ„mons in Parliament THat the Committee at Oxon shall have power to Treat and Debate with His Majesty upon the two first Propositions according to their Instructions for four dayes after the day of the receipt of this Message notwithstanding that the Cessation is not yet agree upon Resolved c. THat the Committee formerly appointed to prepare the Articles of Cessation and Instructions for the Committee at Oxon shall consider of an Answer to be made to His Majesties Message this day received And likewise prepare Reasons to be sent to the Committee for them to presse in the Treaty and Debate upon the former Articles of Cessation And to shew His Majesty the grounds why the Houses cannot depart from those former Articles John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum The Votes of both Houses and the Copy of the answer to His Majesty Received Martii 25. 1642. May it please Your Majesty VVEe Your Loyall Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament having received a Message from Your Majesty In which you are pleased to expresse Your Selfe not to be satisfied with the Articles of Cessation Presented unto You by our Committee now attending You at Oxford and yet a signification of Your Majesties willingnesse to Treat upon the Propositions themselves even without a Cessation Do with all humblenesse give our consent that our Committee shall have power to Treat and debate with your Majesty upon the two first Propositions according to their Instructions for four dayes after the day of the receit of this Message notwithstanding that the Cessation be not yet agreed upon That as much as in us lyes there may be no delay in the proceedings for the obtaining of a blessed Peace and the healing up the miserable breaches of this distracted Kingdom And do purpose to represent very speedily unto your Majesty those just Reasons and grounds upon which we have sound it necessary to desire of your Majesty a Cessation so qualified as that is whereby we hope you will receive such satisfaction as that you will be pleased to assent unto it and being obtained we assure our selves it will be most effectuall to the safety of the Kingdom and that Peace which with so much zeal and loyall affection to your Royall person and in a deep sence of the bleeding condition of this poor Kingdom we humbly beg of your Majesties justice and goodnesse John Brown Cler. Parl. A Letter from the E of Manchester to the E. of Northumberland Received March 29. MY Lord I am commanded by the Peers in Parliament to send unto your Lordship the Reasons which both Houses think fit to offer unto His Majesty in pursuit of their adhering to their former Resolution concerning the Articles of the Cessation of Arms. MY Lord you shall likewise receive additionall Instructions from both Houses and a Vote which I send you here inclosed My Lord this is all I have in command as Your Lordships most humble servant Manchester Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore Mar. 27. Die Lunâ—… 27. Martii 1643. Resolved upon the Question by the Lords in Parliament THat the E. of Northumberland their Committee at Oxford is therby authorized to acquaint His Majesty with all their Instructions upon the two first Propositions Joh Brown Cler. Parl. Additionall Instructions March 29. Additionall Instructions agreed upon by the Lords and Commons in Parliament for Algernon Earl of Northumberland William Viscount Say and Seale William Pierpoint Esq Sir William Armine Baronet Sir John Holland Baronet and Bulstrode Whitlock Esq Committees attending His Majestie upon the Cessation and Treaty YOu shall alter the words mentioned in his Majesties third Article in this maner leaving out the words The Army raised by the Parliament and putting in these words The Army raised by both Houâ—es of Parliament You shall humbly present to his Majesty the Reasons herewithall sent from both Houses for their not assenting to those alterations and additions to the Articles of Cessation offered by his Majesty You shall presse the force of those Reasons or any other as there shall be occasion in the best manner you may to procure his Majesties aâ—sâ—… to those Articles of Cessation which if you shall obtain within two dayes after the day of
And that if those Rights which he received from his Predecessours were really so formidable That would have beene more feared before which is now feared so much and his Forts and Castles would either not have been attempted or at least have enabled him to defend and keep them and have kept this from being a Question now between them Which since they could not do his Majestie if he had as much inclination as he hath more right to Feares and Jelousies might have more reason to insist upon some addition of Power as a security to enable him to keepe his Forts when he hath them then they to make any diffcultie to restore them to him in the same condition they were before But as his Majesty contents himselfe with so he takes God to witnesse his greatest desire is alwaies to observe and maintain the Law of the Land and expects the same from his Subjects and beleeves the mutuall observance of that rule and neither of them to feare what the Law fears not to be on both parts a better cure for that dangerous disease of Fears and Jealousies and a better means to establish a happy and a perpetuall Peace then for his Majestie to devest himselfe of those trusts which the Law of the Land hath setled in the Crowne alone to preserve the power and dignity of the Prince for the better protection of the Subject and of the Law and to avoid those dangerous distractions which the interest of any Sharers with him would have infallibly produced Falkland The Papers concerning the Ships March 27. 1643. To that part of your Majesties first Proposition which cencerns your ships we humbly give this Answer That the Ships shall be delivered into the charge of such a noble person as your Majestie shall nominate to be Lord high Admirall of England and the two houses of Parliament confide in who shall receive the same Office by Letters Patents quà m diu se bene gesserit and shall have power to nominate and appoint all subordinate Commanders and Officers and have aâ—l other powers appertaining to the Office of high Admirall which Ships he shal imploy for the defence of the Kingdom against all forraigne Forces whatsoever and for the safeguard of Merchants securing of Trade and the guarding of Ireland and the intercepting of all supplies to be carried to the Rebels and shall use his utmost endeavour to suppresse all Forces which shall be raised by any person without your Majesties authority and consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament and shall seize all Armes and Ammunition provided for supply of any such Forces Northumberland W. Pierrepont J. Holland W. Armyne B. Whitelocke March 28. 1643. HIs Maiestie expects that his owne Ships bee forthwith delivered to him as by the Law they ought to bee And when hee shall please to nominate a Lord high Admirall of England it shall be such a noble person against whom no just exception can be made and if any shall be his Maiestie will alwayes leave him to his due triall and examination and grant his Office to him by such Letters Patents as have been used in the meane time his Maiestie will governe the said Admiraltie by Commission as in all times hath been accustomed And what ever Ships shall be set forth by his Maiestie or his authoritie shall be imployed for the Defence of the Kingdome against all Forraigne Forces whatsoever for the safeguaâ—d of merchants securing of Trade guarding of Ireland and the intercepting of all supplies to be carried to the Rebels and shall use their utmost endeavours to suppresse all Forces which shall be raised by any Person whatsoever against the Lawes and Satutes of the Kingdome and to sieze all Armes and Ammunition provided for the supply of any such Forces Falkland March 29. 1643. WE humbly desire your Majestie would be pleased to give a more a more full Answer to the clause for the Ships to be delivered minate to be Lord high Admirall of England and the two houses of Parliament confide in who shall receive the same Office by Letters Patents Quam diu se bene gesserit And to that clause to suppresse all Forces which shall be raised by any person without your Maiesties Authority and consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament Whereunto if your Majestie shall be pleased to give your assent we conceive we are then directed by our Instructions humbly to desire your Majestie to nominate such a noble Person to bee Lord high Admirall of England that we may forthwith certifie both houses of Parliament that thereupon they may expresse their confidence in that Person or humbly beseech your Majestie to name another and that in case such noble Person who shall be appointed to bee Lord High Admirall of England shall be removed or shall die within the space of three yeers next ensuing that the Person to be put in the same Office shall be such as both Houses shall confide in Northumberland Will. Pierrepont Will. Armyne Iohn Holland B. Whitelocke April 5. 1643. HIs Majestie conceives his former Answer of the 28. of March concerning his Ships to be so full that he can adde nothing thereunto in any part of it His Majestie conceiving it all the Justice in the world for him to insist that what is by Law his own and hath been contrary to Law taken from him be fully restored unto him without conditioning to impose any new limitation upon his Majesty or his ministers which were not formerly required from them by Law and thinking it most unreasonable to be prest to diminish his own just Rights himselfe because others have violated and usurped them Falkland April 10. 1643. BY Instructions yesterday received from both Houses of Parliament we are commanded humbly to insist upon the desires of both Houses expressed in our former Papers concerning the Ships And both houses of Parliament doe observe in your Majesties Answer not onely a deniall to all their desires but likewise a censure upon their proceedings Northumberland W. Pierrepont W. Armyne I. Holland B. Whitelocke Apil 14. 1643. HIs Majestie for the present forbears any farther Answer touching his Ships desiring first to receive the Answer of both Houses to his Message of the twelfth of this moneth But his Majestie will howsoever before their departure hence give them a further Answer Falkland April 15. 1643. HIs Majestie gave so cleare a reason to justifie what he insisted upon in the point of the Ships that he cannot but wonder to see the same againe prest to him and yet both the reason he gave left unanswered and no other Reason opposed to weigh against it His Majesties end in this was not to lay any censure upon their proceedings but it being necessary to the matter in Question for his Majestie to say what had been done and the matter of fact being such as it seems could not be repeated but it must appeare to bee censured his Majestie did not thinke himselfe bound to bee
words but wren I shall be wanting in any other way according to my wit and power of expressing my Love to thee then let all honest men hate and eschew me like a Monster and yet when I shall have done my part I confesse that I shall come short of what thou deservest of Me. H 3 189 â— 3 42 17 25 27 39 21 66 a 1 45 31 7 4 32 18 47 46 9 3 d 4 g 4 46 35 67 48 7 40 5 43 74 3 41 7 33 62 8 63 68 50 64 34 9 51 45 69 46 37 deer 45 31 7 1 33 18 49 47 19 21 10 70 13 7 45 58 8 9 41 10 this a 2 324 in the mean time 46 31 7 50 e 3 20 3 6 8 48 75 41 9 2 upon 60 19 50 61 27 26 7 69 12 19 47 45 8 24 Yesterday there was Articles of a Cessation brought me from London but so unreasonable that I cannot grant them yet to undeceive the people by shewing it is not I but those who have caused and fostered this Rebellion that desire the continuance of this warre and universall distraction I am framing Articles fit for that purpose both which by my next I mean to send thee 219 b 3 58 51 75 46 7 3 45 37 2 1 189 46 38 1 g 1 173 131 which I think fit to be done a 5 4 30 3 n 5 d 3 46 31 8 10 2 32 18 64 7 3 45 31 9 66 46 32 19 41 25 48 k 1 e 4 67 69 63 I am now confident that 173 is right for my service Since the taking of Cicester there is nothing of note done of either side wherefore that little news that is I leave to others only this I assure thee That the distractions of the Rebels are such that so many fine designes are laid open to Us We know not which first to undertake but certianly my first and chiefest care is and shall be to secure thee and hasten Our meeting So longing to hear from thee I rest eternally Thine Oxford 12 2 March 1643 2. C. R. THe last I received of thine was dared the 16 6 Febr. and I beleeve none of my four last are come to thee their are 13 1 23 23 25 15 Febru and 20 Febr. or March the 2. A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament upon the proceedings in the late Treaty and the aforesaid Letters THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament being deeply afflicted with a sorrowfull sence of miserable distractions of this Kingdom overwhelmed with the calamities of the worst kinde of War have by severall Petitions and many humble Addresses to His Majestie besought him by removing the causes thereof to put an end thereunto And although all their endeavours have not onely proved fruitlesse but some of their Petitions received a deniall even of Audience a favour not denied to the Rebels of Ireland which might very well justifie them before God and man to decline any further prosecution that way especially in a case where themselves and the kingdom are the parties injured and oppressed Yet their bowels did so much yearn after a happy peace that they resolved notwithstanding their former discouragements to break thorow all difficulties And yet once more most humbly to represent to His Majestie the miserable distempers of His two Kingdoms of England and Ireland and if possibly they could to endline His Royall heart really to act what he hath so often verbally professed To compose those unhappy distractions and restore His people to a blessed and lasting Peace And for that purpose about the first of February last They in all humblenesse presented their desires to His Majestie digested into fourteen Propositions and how reasonable and indifferent those Propositions were they expose them to the view of the world to judge resting assured that no indifferent man that shall duely weigh them with the time and circumstance will finde any thing contained in them but what was necessary for the maintenance and advancement of The true Protestant Religion The due execution of justice The preservation of the Liberty and Property of the Subject and The establishment of the Kingdoms Peace and safety And because they might with all speed take off the burthen under which this Kingdom did principally groan and stop the spring from whence most of these calamities did slow They in the first place propounded That the Armies and Forces raised on both sides might be disbanded which being effected the Kingdom might with the more ease and security expect the issue of the Treaty And therefore they were very carefull that no Proposition or circumstance touching the Treaty should precede this His Majestie having received and considered these Propositions he not long after returned his Answer wherein he Professeth to have given up all the faculties of his soul to an earnest endeavour of a Peace and reconciliation with his people and desires a speedy time and place might be agreed upon for the meeting of such persons as His Majestie and both Houses should appoint to discusse those Propositions and six other Propositions made by His Majestie and sent with that Answer whereof one was That to the intent the Treaty might not suffer interruption by any intervening accidents That a Cessation of Arms and free Trade might be first agreed upon which Answer the Lords and Commons did take into their consideration And because His Majestie did desire that a Cessation might be first agreed upon they did accordingly submit thereunto though they had purposely avoided it before being unwilling to waste the time about the shadow that would of it self vanish with the disbanding which they desired might be concluded in the first place But they were willing to give all satisfaction to His Majesties desires hoping thereby to incline him the more readily to consent to their just requests And according to their resolution they prepared ready the Articles of Cessation and that with as much equality and indifferency to both sides as possibly they could They likewise agreed to Treat upon the Propositions before the Disbanding in which Treaty so much of His Majesties Propositions as concerned His Majesties Revenue Magazines Forts and Ships and the Propositions of both Houses for the Disbanding should be first Treated of and concluded before the proceeding to Treat upon any other And that this Treaty should begin the fourth of March or sooner if it might be and that from the beginning of the Treaty the time might not exceed twenty dayes They fuâ—ther resolved that a Committee of both Houses should be appointed to attend His Majestie if His Majestie should so please to endeavour to give him all humble and fit satisfaction concerning the said Propositions All which their resolutions they forthwith by a Messenger dispatched for that purpose presented to His Majestie and not long after sent a Committee to attend him And though they hoped for a ready concurrence from His Majestie to the Articles of Cessation the
either aprove or recommend unto Him So that you declare before unto His Majesty the name of the persons whom you approve or recommend unlesse such persons shall be named against whom he shall have just and unquestionable exception which being declared by His Majesty Himself they had no cause to suspect a deniall being confident that His Majesty did intend what he spoke and if any ill Counsell could prevail to make Him recede from His word it must be admitted the Kingdom hath more cause to be further secured Fourthly For that to our sad experience it is well known That His Majesties power in this and other things is too much steered and guided by the advice of these secret and wicked Councellors that have been the Instruments of our present miseries And though His Majesty carryeth the name yet they will have the disposing of those places And the Lords and Commons thought it the more reasonable and necessary to insist thereupon Because that in the time when they were preparing their Propositions to His Majesty it did appear unto them by a Letter written by His Majesty to the Queen which they have caused to be here with Printed that the great and eminent places of the Kingdom were disposed by her advice and power and what Her Religion is and consequently how prevalent the Councells of Papists and Jesuites will be with Her may be easily conjectured and it is to be observed who the persons designed for preferment were even during the sitting of a Parliament The Lord Digby impeached in Parliament for high Treason and most if not all the rest impeached in Parliament and such as bear Arms against them Lastly admitting that these demands touching the Ships and Forts had been made even in a time of Peace and tranquility yet considering the attempts of Force and Violence made and practised against the Kingdom and this present Parliament as the Designes many years since to bring to this Kingdom the German Horse to compell the Subject to submit to an arbitrary Government The indeavour to bring up the late Northerne Armie by force and violence to awe the Parliament His Majestie coming in person to the House of Comments accompanied with many Armed men to demand their Members to be delivered up And the Treason of the Earle of Strafford to bring over the Irish Popish Armie to Conquer the Kingdom they might very well justifie nay they were in dutie bound in discharge of the trust reposed in them by the Common-wealth to make that Demand and expect the performance thereof to the end the people might be secured from any such violence hereafter yet to their inexpressible sorrow they must speak it neither the Reasonablenesse the Moderation or Justnesse of the Request nor the Peace of the Kingdom which probably would ensue thereupon could be Arguments prevalent enough to induce His Majesties cons ent thereunto and His Majesties offer of those Commanders that shall offend to leave them to Justice and Triall of the Law is an Answer more to shew His power to protect Delinquents then satisfaction to a Parliament being the due and right of the meanest Subject and yet intituled here as a favour done to both Houses of Parliament And though His Majestie is pleased to justifie His deniall with the Allegation That it is His right by Law they must appeal to the judgement of all indifterent men whether that be a satisfactory ground of refusall for admitting His Majesties power of disposing the Ships Forts and Castles and committing them into what hands He please to be by Law absolutely vested in His Majestie which they by no means can admit He being onely trusted with them for The defence and safetie of the Kingdom as He son for the King to refuse His consent to after that Law when by circumstance of time and affairs that power becomes destructive to the Common-wealth and safetie of the people The preservation whereof is the chief end of the Law and though the two Houses of Parliament being the representative body of the Kingdom are the most competent Judges thereof yet in this Case they do not proceed onely upon an implicite Faith but demonstrate it both by Reason and Experience That their demand is not only neccessary to secure the Kingdom from Fear and Jealousie but to preserve it even from ruine and destruction And surely had this Argument of being Their right by Law been prevailing with His Majestie Precedessours this Nation should have wanted many an Act of Parliament which now they have that was necessary for their being and subsistence And they coul heartily wish that the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom might be The rule of what is and what is not to be done acknowledging with His Majestie that the same is the onely rule between Him and His people the assurance of the free enjoyment thereof is their onely aime but how little fruit the people hath gathered from this true let the wofull experience of these last eighteen yeers judge where in a time of Peace and Plentie the power of issuing out Commissions to compell Loanes A power in the King at His pleasure to impose a charge upon the people to provide Ships without limitation of time or proportion A power in the Councell Board to commit men and determine businesse without distinction of persons or causes The power of laying Imposition both upon Forreign and Domesticke Commodities and many other Acts of oppressions was under the name and colour of a Legall right thereunto practised and put in execution Against which the Subject had no help of relief but necessitated to submit and lie under the burden And when at any time a Parliament was called being the onely cure and remedie for these griefs it could no sooner touch upon these sores but it was dashed in pieces by a sudden dislolution And now that a remedie is provided for that mischief by the Act for continance of this Parliament it is attempted by the force and power of an Army to effect that which formerly could have been done with more ease and readinesse And now they referre it to the censure of any honest man whether they have not the warrant of Reason and Necessitie to demand some securitie to enjoy that which His Majestie confesseth to be the peoples right And in reference to that whether their Demand of having the Forts Castles and Shipping to be put into such hand as both Houses shall have cause to confide in was not both moderate and reasonable And touching their Demand and His Majesties Answer to the Clause concerning the admission of Forces into those Forts Castles and Towns they must still submit it to all indifferent judgements how much reason and justice was comprehended in their Demand and how little satisfaction they received therein His Majesty answers That no Forces raised or brought in contrary to Law should be admitted which they could heartily wish heretofore had or hereafter would be really performed But they
Proposition which concernes Your Majesties Townes and Forts we humbly give this Answer THat the two houses of Parliament will remove the Garrisons out of all Towns and Forts in their hands wherein there were no Garrisons before these troubles and sleight all Fortifications made since that time and those Townes and Forts to continue in the same condition they were in before and that those Garrisons shall not be renewed nor the Fortifications repaired without consent of Your Majesty and both houses of Parliament That for those Townes and Forts which are within the jurisdiction of the Cinque-Pores they shall be delivered up into the hands of such a Noble Person as your Majesty shall appoint to be Warden of the Cinque-Ports being such a one as they shall confide in That the Towne of Portsmouth shall be reduced to the number of the garrison at was at the time when the Lords and Commons undertook the custody thereof and such other Forts Castles and Townes as were formerly kept by Garrisons as have beene taken by both houses of Parliament into their care and custody since the beginning of these troubles shall be reduced to such proportion of Garrison as they had in the yeere 1636. And shall be so continued And that all the said Townes Forts and Castles shall be delivered up into the hands of such persons of quality and trust to be likewise nominated by your Majesty as the two houses of Parliament shall confide in That the Warden of the Cinque-Ports and all Governours and Commanders of Townes Castles and Forts shall keep the same Townes Castles and Forts respectively for the service of your Majesty and the safety of the Kingdom and that they shal not admit into any of them any forraigne Forces or any other Forces raised without Your Majesties authority and consent of the two Houses of Parliament and they shall use their utmost endeavours to suppresse all Forces whatsoever raised without such authority and consent and they shall seize all Armes and Ammunition provided for any such Forces They likewise humbly propose to Your Majesty that you would remove the Garrisons out of Newcastle and all other Townes Castles and Forts where any Garrisons have been placed by Your Majesty since these troubles and that the Fortifications be likewise sleighted and the Towns and Forts left in such State and condition as they were in in the yeere 1636. That all other Towns Forts and Castles where there have been formerly Garrisons before these troubles may be committed to the charge of such persons to be nominated by Your Majesty as both Houses of Parliament shal confide in and under such Instructions as are formerly mentioned And that those new Garrisons shall not be renewed nor their Fortifications repaired without consent of your Majesty and both houses of Parliament Northumberland Will. Pierrepont Ioh. Holland Will. Armyne B. Whitelocke March 28. 1643. HIs Majesty is content that all the Garrisons in any Townes and Forts in the hands of any Persons imployed by the two houses of Parliament wherein there were no Garrisons before these troubles be removed and all Fortifications made since that time may be sleighted and those Townes and Forts shall for the future continue in the same condition they were in before For the Cinqueports they are already in the custody of a Noble person against whom his Majesty knowes no just exceptions and who hath such a legall interest therein that his Majesty cannot with Justice remove him from it untill some sufficient Cause be made appeare to him but is willing if hee shall at any time be found guilty of any thing that may make him unworthy of that trust that he may be proceeded against according to the rules of Justice The Town of Portsmouth and all other Forts Castles and Townes as were formerly kept by Garrisons shall be reduced to their ancient proportion and the Government of them put into the hands of such persons against whom no just exceptions can be made all of them being before these troubles by Letters Patents granted to severall persons against any of whom his Majesty knowes not any exceptions and who shall be removed if just cause shall be given for the same The Warden of the Cinqueports and all Governors end Commanders of Townes Castles and Forts shall keepe the same Townes Castles and Forts as by the Law they ought to doe for his Majesties service and the safety of the Kingdome and they shall not admit into any of them forraigne Forces or other Forces raised or brought in contrary to the Law but shall use their utmost endeavour to suppresse all such Forces and shall seize all Armes and Amunition which by the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom they ought to seize The Garrisons of Newcastle and all other Towns Castles and Forts in which Garrisons have been placed by his Majesty since these troubles shall be removed and all the Fortifications shall be sleighted and the Towne and Forts left in such state and condition as they were in the year 1636. All other Townes Forts and Castles where there have beene formerly Garrisons before these troubles she ll be committed to the charge of such Persons and under such cautions and limitations as his Majesty hath before exprest And now new Garrisons shall be renewed nor their Fortifications repaired otherwise then as by the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdome they may or ought to be Falkland March 29. 1643. COncerning the appointing of the Warden of the Cinque-ports and Governors of Your Majesties Townes Castles and Forts we humbly desire to know if Your Majesties Reply doth intend that both houses of Parliament may expresse their confidence of the persons to whose trust those places are to be committed for what we are directed by our instructions that if Your Majesty be pleased to assent thereunto that You would nominate persons of Quality to receive the charge of them That we may forthwith certifie both houses of Parliament that thereupon they may expresse their confidence in those persons or humbly beseech your Majesty to name others none of which persons to be removed during three yeares next ensuing without just cause to be approved by both houses of Parliament and if any be so removed or shall dye within the said space the persons to be put in the same Offices shall be such as both houses shall confide in We humbly desire to know if Your Majesty intends the Garrison of Portsmouth to be of such a proportion as it was about the yeare 1641. About which time a new supply was added to the former Garrison to strengthen it which both houses of Parliament think necessary to continue We humbly desire Your Majesty would be pleased to give a more full answer to this clause that they should not admit into them any forraigne or other forces Raised without Your Majesties authority and consent of the two houses of Parliament and that the shall use their utmost endeavours to suppresse all forces whatsoever Raised
Proposition from being treated on he would and ought to have done but though his Majesties Answers in the point of disbanding and return to his Parliament were as particular and as satisfactory as his Majesty had cause to make or could well give till this latter part were consented to be Treated upon yet out of His great desire of peace and of complying with both uses His Majesty hath made a full and particular Answer and Offer to both houses concerning as well the first part of their first Article upon which he hath treated with the Committee as that upon which they have yet no power to treat though His Majesty hath prest that such power might be given to them Faulkland April 14. 1643. WE received Instructions from both Houses of Parliament the ninth of this present April and in pursuance thereof we humbly presented a Paper to Your Majesty upon the tenth of this instant wherein those Instructions were expressed and the desire of both Houses concerning Your Majesties return to Your Parliament Northumberland Will Peirrepont Job Holland Will Armyne B. Whitelock April 15. 1643. HIs Majesty doth acknowledge to have received a Paper from the Committee upon the tenth of April expressing That they had received Instructions to declare unto His Majesty the desire of both Houses for His Majesties coming to His Parliament which they had often exprest with full offers of security to His Royall Person agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance and that they know no cause why His Majesty might not return thither with honour and safety But as the Committee had before acknowledged in a Paper of the sixth of April not to have any power or Instructions to treat with His Majesty concerning His Return to His two Houses of Parliament and as this Paper mentioned no Instructions to treat but only to deliver that single Message concerning it so His Majesty took it for granted that if they had received any new power or Instructions in that point they would have signified as much to Him and therefore conceiving it in vain to discourse and impossible to treat upon that with those who had no power to treat with Him His Majesty addrest that Answer concerning that point to both Houses of which His Majesty took notice to the Committee in a Paper of the seventh of April and which was shewed to them before He sent it And if both Houses will upon it but consent to give His Majesty such security as will appear to all indifferent Persons to be agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance those Tumults which drove Him from thence and what followed those Tumults being a most visible and sufficient reason why He cannot Return thither with His Honour and Safety without more particular offers of security then as yet they have ever made Him all disputes about that point between them will be soon ended and his Majesty speedily return to them and His whole Kingdom to their former Peace and Happynesse Faulkland His Majesties Letter to the Queens Majesty Oxford 20 Febru 23 Janu. DEar Heart Saturday and Sunday last I received two from thee of the 29 of December 9 of January both which gave me such contentment as thou mayest better judge then I describe the which that thou mayest the better do know I was full three weeks wanting but one day without hearing from thee besides skurvy London news of thy stay and lamenesse which though I did not beleeve yet it vext me so much the more that I could not prove them lyars So now I conjure thee by the Affections thou bearest me not only to judge but likewise participate with me in the contentment thou hast given me by assuring me of thy health and speedy return concerning 45. 31. 7. 4. 132. 300. I will answer thee in thy own words Je le remetteray a vous respondre per bouche being confident that way to give thee contentment in the mean time assure thy Self That I neither have nor will loose any time in that businesse and that I have not contented my Self with Generalls and though I hope shortly to have the happynesse of thy company yet I must tell thee of some particulars in which I desire both thy opinion and assistance I am persecuted concerning places and all desire to be put upon thee the which I cannot blame them and yet thou knowest I have no reason to do it Newarke desireth Savills place upon condition to leave it when his father dyeth Carenworth the same being contented to pay for it or give the profit to whom or how I please Digby and Dunsmore for to the Captain of the Pentioners Hartford once looked after it but now I beleeve he expects either to be Treasurer or of my Bed-chamber I incline rather to the latter if thou like it for I absolutely hold Cottington the fittest man for the other There is one that doth not yet pretend that doth deserve as well as any Im an Capell therefore I desire thy assistance to finde somewhat for him before he ask One place I must fill before I can have thy opinion It is the Master of the Wards I have thought upon Nicholas being confident that thou wilt not mislike my choice and if he cannot performe both Ned Hyde must be Secretary for indeed I can trust no other Now I have no more time to speak of more but to desire thee not to engage thy Self for any Dated Oxford 2â— Febru 23 Janu. So I rest eternally thine C. R. My Lord IT is His Majesties pleasure that there be something attempted upon the Castle of Warwick Therefore you are to send as many Musquetiers as you can horse with the Prince of Wales his Regiment of horse and your own This bearer La Roche will bring Petarrs and all things necessary for them you must march to morrow in the Evening to be there before break of the day on Saterday Oxford 2 of March 1643. Your faithfull friend Rupert For the Earl of Northampton at BANBURY My Lord I Have acquainted the King with the hinderance you have in your desire He was pleased to command me to tell you That your Lordship should send one of your Scouts to enquire if Ingrom be in the Castle if he be you may safely go on with your designe for knowing but of your coming he will make but little or no resistance and the sooner the better if after this you should think it feasible to raise the siege at Litchfield you have also that power to do it This bearer will informe you with some other particulars So I rest Oxford the 3 of March at 12 at night Your Lordships Most faithfull friend Rupert To the Earl of Northampton RUPERT His Majesties Letter to the Queen DEar Heart Though ever since Sunday last I had good hopes of thy happy Landing yet I had not the certain news thereof before yesterday when I likewise understood of thy safe coming to York I hope thou expects not welcome from me in
Members to their sitting and Votes It is observable that the demand is made without distinction of persons or offences so that be the persons never so criminous or the offences never so notorious and so the Judgement never so just yet all must be restored or no consent to disbanding And the reason and ground of the Demand is as observable Because they adhered to His Majesty in these distractions An Argument they must confesse much used by the Earl of Strafford in defence of his Treason who would have justified the most notorious Crimes laid to his charge by Authority and Commands derived from His Majesty and his zeal to advance His Majesties Service and profit and no doubt the same reason may be used for the Judges in case of Ship-money and most of the Monopolists and Projectors who by Letters Patents had not onely His Majesties Command and Authority for the doing what they did but brought in great Sums of Money to His use and benefit and that perhaps in times of necessity and want thereof And so consequently because these adhered to His Majesty for what they did was for his profit with the like reason it may be required That all Impeachments and Proceedings against them should be repealed and laid aside And surely nothing can be more destructive and dangerous both to Parliament and Kingdom then the consenting to that Demand For what can be more destructive to both Houses then to restore those persons to have their former suffrage and Votes in Parliament over the lives and Liberties of the People and the Priviledge of Parliament who have not onely disserted the Parliament disobeyed and contemned their Authority neglected the Trust reposed in them by those that sent them thither in whose behalf they were to attend and serve there but by private practises and open hostility have endeavoured to destroy both Parliament and people And it would be an objection of difficultie to answer whether in giving a consent to this demand the people who are to chuse these Members should not be deprived of their interest and freedom of choice and election now divolved unto them by putting out the Members already sent And to this they might adde the danger of the President and the reflection of dishonour that would fall upon both Houses should they consent to this which would be with the same breath as it were to give and repeal their judgement and pronounce sentence of injustice and rashnesse against themselves but they will not insist thereupon in a case otherwise so full of danger and inconveniencie to the publique And touching the Proposition of adjourning the Parliament twenty miles distant from London they shall not need in a case so apparant to spend many words to discover the inconveniencie and unreasonablenesse thereof for should they assent unto it to passe over the inconveniencies that would happen to such persons that should have occasion to attend the Parliament by removing it so far from the residencie of the ordinary Courts of Justice and the places where the Records of the Kingdom remain whereof there is frequent use to be made it would not onely give a tacite consent to those scandals so often pressed and affirmend in severall Declarations That is That His Majestie was forced for the safetie of His own person heretofore to withdraw and hitherto to absent himself from the Parliament which both Houses can by no means admit but must still deny But likewise to that high and dangerous aspersion of awing the Members of this Parliament raised without doubt purposely to invalide the Acts and proceeding thereof And by that engine in case the Popish Armie should prevail against the Parliament which they trust God in his goodnesse will never permit to overturn and nullifie all the good Lawes and Statutes made this Parliament And it would give too much countenance to those unjust aspesirons laid to the charge of the City of London whose unexsampled zeal and fidelity to the true Protestant Religion and the Liberty of this kingdom is never to be forgotten That His Majesty and the Members of both Houses cannot with safety to their persons reside there when as they are well assured That the loyalty of that City to His Majesty and their affections to the Parliament is such as doth equall if not exceed any other place or City in the Kingdom And with what safety the two Houses can sit in any other place when even in the place they now reside the House of Commons was in apparent danger of violence when His Majestie accompanied with some hundreds of armed men came thither to demand their Members let the world judge And now the Lords and Commons must appeal to the judgement of all impartiall men Whether they have not used their utmost and most faithfull endeavours to put an end to the distractions of this Kingdom and to restore it to a blessed and lasting Peace And whether their Propositions being the way thereunto were not such as were reasonable and necessary for them to make and just and Honourable for His Majesty to grant And whether His Mejesties Answer to these Propositions are satisfactory or correspondent to His Expression To have given up all the faculties of His soul to an earnest endeavour of a Peace and Reconciliation With His People But they must confesse that they had just cause to suspect That this would be the happy issue of the Treaty for the prevalency of the enemies thereof who like that evill spirit do most rage when they think they must be cast out was such that they would not proceed therein one step without some attempt or provocation layd in the way to interrupt and break it off for after they had resolved to present their humble desires and propositions to His Majesty their Committee must not without a speciall safe counduct and Protection from Him have accesse to Him a liberty incident to them not only as they are Members of the Parliament and employed by both Houses but as they were free born Subjects and yet when they passed over this His Majesty refused a safe conduct to the Lord Viscount Say and Seal being one of the Committee appointed by both Houses to be employed upon that occasion such a breach of priviledge that they beleeve is not to be paralelled by the example of former times and yet their desire was such to obtain the end they drive at that is a happy and lasting peace That they resolved not to interrupt the Treaty for that time by insisting upon it And then they had no sooner entred upon the Treaty but a Proclamation dated at Oxon the 16 of February 1642. entituled His Majesties Proclamation forbidding all His loving Subjects and the Counties of Kent Surrey Sussex and Hampshire to raise any Forces c. And another Proclamation dated the 8 of February forbidding the assessing and payment of all Taxes by vertue of an Ordinance of both Houses and all entring into Associations were published in
His Majesties Name containing most bitter invectives and scandalls against the proceedings of both Houses by stiling them and such as obeyed them Traitors and Rebels charging them under the name of Brownists Anabaptists and Atheists to endeavour to take away the Kings life and to destory His Posterity the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdoms with many other such scandalls and aspersions and even at this time were many designs practising against the Parliament which in all probability were the grounds and reasons of His Majesties confidence and deniall of their just desire Insomuch That His Majesty in a Letter sent from Him to the Queen and read in the House of Commons did declare That He had so many fine designs layd open to Him that He knew not which first to undertake One whereof probably was the most bloody and barbarous design upon Bristoll attempted though by Gods infinite mercy prevented during the Treaty And whether that of Sir Hugh Cholmleys in betraying of Scarborough Castle wherwith he was entrusted by the Parliament to the Queens hands and acted likewise during the Treaty And that of Killingworth Castle which should have been likewise betrayed and a design discovered by a Letter found in the Earle of Northamptons pocket slain neere Stafford written to him from Prince Rupert were some of the other designs mentioned in His Majesties Letter they cannot certainly affirm but conjecture And when this collaterall provocations and attempts could not prevaile to make them desert the Treaty then comes in His Majesties Message of the fourth of April which they have mentioned before charging them to abuse the people with imaginary dangers and pretended fears to use force and Rapines upon His good Subjects with publishing new doctrines That it is unlawfull for the King to do any thing and lawfull to do any thing against Him with malice and subtilty to abuse the people that their pleasure is all their bounds with many other such bitter expressions that no man could think such an Answer could be any part of a Treaty or at least to proceed from a heart that desired a happy issue thereunto Notwithstanding all which the Lords and Commons were so resolutely fixed to prosecute that Treaty and if possibly they could to bring it to a blessed and happy conclusion that they were content to lye under all these scandalls and endure all these wounds so they might make up the breaches of the Common-wealth And therefore they did forbear the returning of an Answer to any of these provocations And then when that Malignant and Popish party too too prevalent with his Majesty preceived their constancie not to be provoked to break that Treaty of their part they found it necessary to seduce His Majesty to refuse His consent to their most necessary and just desires and to propound such things as could not with the peace and safety of the Church and State be yeelded to and so effected their own desires All which The Lords and Commons thought it their duty to publish to the Kingdome to the end that they may see that what hath been long endeavoured by subtill and secret practises is now resolved to be effected by open violence and hostility That is the destruction of our Laws and the Protestant Religion and introducing of Popery and Superstition and that there is little or no hope by any endeavour of a Treaty to procure the peace of this Church and Kingdom unlesse both be exposed to the will and pleasure of the Popish party untill the Army and forces now raised and continued by them be first destroyed or suppressed And therefore the Lords and Commons do hope that not only such as are already convinced of their designe and malice but even those that by their subtile and false pretences have been ignorantly seduced to joyn with them that love their Liberty and the Protestant Religion will now with one heart and minde unite together to preserve their Religion and Liberty In the defence whereof The Lords and Commons are resolved to offer up themselves their lives and fortunes a willing Sacrifice Die Sabbati 6 May. 1643. A Declaration upon the Result of the Treaty brought in with some amendments was this day read in the House of Commons and Ordered to be delivered unto the Lords at a Conference And it is further Ordered by this House That this Declaration shall be Printed and Master Glyn do take care for the Printing of it and that none shall Print or re-Print it but such as Master Glyn shall appoint to the end That by his care the Records may be rightly cited and the Letters and other matters Ordered to be Printed with it be carefully Printed H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. Die Sabbati 6 May. 1643. IT is this day ordered by the Commons now Assembled in Parliament That all the Passages of the Treaty at Oxford shall be Printed and Master Whitlock take care for the Printing of it and none shall Print or re-Print it but such as Master Whitlock shall appoint to the end That the same may be truely Printed Hen. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. 18 May 1643. VVE do appoint Edward Husbands to Print the said Declaration Letters and proceedings in the late Treatie John Glyn. Bolstrode Whitlock FINIS