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
and many things that are now darke or doubtfull in them cleered and explained upon debate his Majesty is pleased such is his sence of the miseries this Kingdome suffers by this unnaturall war and his earnest desire to remove them by a happy peace that a speedy time and place may be agreed upon for the meeting of such persons as his Majesty and both Houses shall appoint to discusse these Propositions and such others here following as His Majesty doth propose to them 1 THat his Majesties own Revenue Magazins Townes Forts and Ships which have been taken or kept from his by force be forthwith restored unto him 2 That whatsoever hath been done or published contrary to the known Laws of the Land or derogatory to his Majesties Legall and known power and rights he renounced and recalled that no seed may remaine for the like to spring out of for the future 3 That whatsoever illegall power hath bin claimed and exercised by or over his Subjects as imprisoning their persons without Law stopping thier Habeas Corpusses and imposing upon thier Estates without Act of Parliament c. either by both or either House or any Committee of both or either by any persons appointed by any of them be disclaimed and all such persons so committed forthwith discharged 4 That as His Majesty will readily consent having done so heretofore to the execution of all Laws already made and to any good Acts to be made for the suppressing of Popery and for the firme setling of the Protestant Religion now established by Law so hee desires that a good Bill may be framed for the better preserving of the Book of Common Prayer from the scorn and violence of Brownists Anabaptists and other Sectaries with such clauses for the ease of tender consciences as his Majesty hath formerly offered 5 That all such persons as upon the Treaty shall be excepted out of the Generall Pardon shall be tryed per Pares according to the usuall course and known Law of the Land and that it be left to that either to acquit or condemne them 6 And to the intent this Treaty may not suffer interruption by any intervening Accidents that a Cessation of Armes and free Trade for all his Majesties Subjects may be first agreed upon This offer and desire of His Majestie he hopes will be so cheerfully entertained that a speedy and blessed Peace may be accomplished If it shall be rejected or by insisting upon unreasonable Circumstances be made impossible which he hopes God in his mercy to this Nation will not suffer the guilt of the Bloud which will be shed and the desolation which must follow will lie upon the head of the Refusers However his Majesty is resolved through what accidents soever he shall be compelled to recover his Rights and with what prosperous successes soever it shall please God to bless him that by his earness constant endeavours to propagate and promote the true Protestant Religion and by his Governing according to the known Laws of the Land and upholding the just priviledges of Parliament according to his frequent Protestations made before Almighty God which he will always in violably observe The world shall see that he hath undergone all these difficulties and hazards for the defence and maintenance of those the zealous Preservation of which his Majesty well knows is the onely foundation and means for the true happiness of him and his People Hen. Elsing Cler. Parliament D.C. The Articles of Cessation sent to His Majesty Februar ultimo VVHereas the Lords and Commons in Parlia out of a tender sence of the present miseries and distractions of the Kingdome and for the obtaining and setling of a happy Peace between his Majesty and his People have humbly presented his Majesty divers Propositions to which he hath bin pleased to make this return That his desire was that a speedy time and place might be appointed for the discussing of those Propositions and likewise some others proposed by his Majesty It is thereupon agreed in both Houses that a Committee of both Houses shall be apponited to attend His Majesty on or before the fourth of March if his Majesty shall so please to endeavour to give him all humble and fit satisfaction concerning the said Propositions both his Majesties and their own And whereas for the more speedy removall of the bloudy and miserable effects of war his Majesty hath likewise been graciously pleased by a late Message to signifie his desire That for a voiding all intervening Accidents of war which might interrupt this Treaty there might be a Cessation of Arms under such particular conditions and limitations as should be agreed on Their humble desires therein concurring with his Majesty It is by them assented and agreed That a Cessation of Armes in Order to such a Treaty as is resolved upon by both Houses of Parliament may be enjoyned to all the Armies and Forces now on foot in the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales on either side under the restrictions and limitations hereafter following And that neither side shall be bound and limited by this Cessation in any otherwise or to any other purpose then is hereafter expressed 1 THat all manner of Armes Ammunition Victuals Money Bullion and all other Commodities passing without such a safe conduct as may warrant their passage may be staid and seized on as if no such Cessation were agreed on at all 2 That all manner of Persons passing without such a safe conduct as is mentioned in the Article next going before shall be apprehended and detained as if no such Cessation were agreed on at all 3 That his Majesties Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no neerer to Windsor then Wheatly and in Buckinghamshire no neer to Aylesbury then Brill and that in Berks the Forces respectively shall not advance neerer the one to the other then now they are And that the Parliament Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no neerer to Oxford then Henley and those in Buckingham no neerer to Oxford then Aylesbury And that his Majesties Forces shall take no new Quarters above twelve miles from Oxford any way And that the Parliament Forces shall take no new Quarters above twelve miles from Windsor any way 4 That no siege shall be begun or continued against Glocester And that his Majesties Forces now employed in the Siege shall return to Câ—…ester and Malmesbury or to Oxford as shall be most for their conveniencie And the Parliament Forces which are in Glocestershire shall remaine in the Cities of Glocester Bristoll and the Castle and Town of Berkley or retire neerer to Wondsor as they shall see cause And that those of Wales which are drawn to Glocester shall return into their Quarters where they were before they drew down to Glocestershire 5. That in cafe it be pretended on either side that the Cessation is violated no Act of Hostility is immediatly to follow but first the party complaining is to acquaint the Lord Generall on the other side
to allow three days after notice given for satisfaction And in case satisfaction be not given or accepted then five days notice to be given before hostility begin And the like to be observed in the Remoter Armics by the Commanders in Chief 6 Lastly that all other Force in the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales and not before mentioned shall remaine in the same Quatters Places as they are at the time of the publishing of this cessation and under the same conditions as are mentioned in the Articles before and that this Cessation shall not extend to restrain the setting forth or employing of any Ships for the defence of his Majesties Dominions All which they humbly desire his Majesty will be pleased to ratifie and confirm And that this Cessation may begin upon the fourth of March next or fooner if it may be and continue untill the five and twentieth of the same moneth and in the mean time to be published to the Commanders Officers and Souldiers And all other his Majesties loving Subjects on either side and that the Treaty intended may commence upon the fourth of March next or sooner if it may be and the continuance thereof not to exâ—…ed 20 days Hen. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com His Majestys Message to both his House of Parliament in answer to the Articles of Cessation received at a Conference Martii 6. 1642. HIs Majesty hoped the Treaty would have bin begun and the Cessation agreed on long since and that much might in this time have been concluded in Order to the Peace and happinesse of the Kingdom but since in almost a moneth for his Majesty Propositions were made on the third of February and he heard not since from both Houses till the first of March no consent hath beene yeelded to it Hee conceives the Cessation cannot begin so soone as the fourth of this Moneth by which time though his Majestie uses no delay in making his Answer the same can hardly be returned to them And many of the Articles now presented to him from both Houses concerning the Cessation are so strict that such of his good Subjects who are not of his Army and for whom generally hee shall alwayes have a principall just and compassionate regard receive not any benefit or are restored to any libertie thereby which his Majestie shall ever insist upon when in matters meerely concerning himselfe he may descend to easier Conditions and which he hath returned with such Alteterations as he doubts not both Houses will consent to and doe sufficiently manifest how sollicitous his Majestie is for the good of his people and how desirous he is that in this unnaturall Contention no more blood of his Subjects may be spilt upon which he lookes with much griefe compassion and tendernesse of heart even of those who have listed up their hands against him and his Majestie therefore desires against which he can imagine no objection can be made that the Cessation may begin upon the Twelfth of this Moneth or sooner if the Conditions of the Cessation shall be sooner agreed on and is willing the same shall continue for twenty dayes in which time he hopes by the Treaty and a cleere understanding of each other a full peace and happinesse may be established throughout in Kingdome And during that time his Majestie is willing that neither side shall be bound or limited by this Cessation in any otherwise or to any other purpose then is hereafter expressed 1 That all manner of Armes Ammunition Money Bullion and victuals passing for the use of either Army without a passe or safe conduct from the Generalls of each Army may be stayed and seized on as if no Cessation were agreed on at all 2 That all Officers and Souldiers of either Army passing without such licence or safe Conduct as aforesaid may be apprehended and detained as if no such Cessation were agreed on at all And that all manner of persons his Majesties Subjects of what quality or condition soever except Officers and Souldiers of either Army shall passe to and from the Cities of Oxford and London and backe againe at their pleasures during this Cessation as likewise to and from any other parts of his Majesties Dominions without any search stay or imprisonment of their persons or seizure and detention of their goods or estates And that all manner of Trade Traffique and Commerce be free and open betweene all his Majesties subjects excepting as aforesaid betweene the officers and souldiers of either Armie or for Armes Ammunition Money Bullion or victuals for the use of either Army without a Passe or safe Conduct as aforesaid which may be a good beginning to renew the trade and correspondence of the Kingdome and whereby his good Subjects may be restored to that liberty and freedome they were borne to and have so happily enjoyed till these miserable distractions and which even during this warre his Majestie hath to his utmost laboured to preserve opening the way by most strict Proclamations to the passage of all commodities even to the City of London it selfe 3 That his Majesties forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no neerer to Windsor then Wheatly and in Buckinghamshire no neerer to Aylesbury then Brill and that in Bark-shire the forces respectively shall not advance neerer the one to other then they shall be at the day to be agreed upon for the Cessation to begin And that the forces of the other Army in Oxfordshire shall advance no neerer to Oxford then Henley and those in Buckinghamshire no neerer to Oxford then Aylesbury And that the forces of neither Army shall advance their quarters neerer to each other then they shall be upon the day agreed on for the Cessation to begin otherwise then in Passage and communication betweene their severall Quarters respectively without any acts of Hostility each to other but any inlarge themselves within their owne Quarters respectively as they shall find convenient 4 That the forces of either army in Glocestershire Wiltshire and Wales as likewise in the Cities of Glocester Bristoll and the Castle and Towne of Berkley shall be guided by the Rule exprest in the later part of the precedent Article 5 That in case it be pretended on either side that the Cessation is violated no act of Hostility is immediately to follow but first the party complaining is to acquaint the Lord Generall on the other side and to allow three dayes after notice given for satisfaction and in case satisfaction be not given or accepted then five dayes notice to be given before hostility begin And the like to be observed in the remoter armies by the Commanders in chiefe 6 That all other forces the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales not before mentioned shall remaine in the same Quarters and places as they are at the time of publishing this Cessation otherwise then in passage and communication betweene their severall Quarters as is mentioned in the later part of the third Article And that this
Cessation shall not extend to restraine the setting forth or imploying and Ships for the defence of his Majesties Dominions Provided that his Majesty be first acquainted with the particulats and that such Ships as shall be set forth be commanded by such persons as his Majestie shall approve of 7 Lastly that during the Cessation none of his Majesties subjects be imprisoned otherwise then according to the knowne Lawes of the Land And that there shall be no plundring or violence offered to any of his Subjects And his Majesty is very willing if there be any scruples made concerning these propositions and circumstances of the Cessation That the Committee for the Treaty nevertheless may immediately come hither and so all matters concerning the Cessation may be here settled by him H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. His Majesties Answer to the Articles of Cessation sent to His Majestie HIS Majestie hath sent a safe Conduct for the Earle of Northumberland Mr. Pierpoint Sir William Ermyn Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitlocke but hath not admitted the Lord Say to attend him as being excepted against by name is his Proclamation at Oxford of the third of November and by Writ to the Sheriffe proclaimed then in that County in which his Majesties Intention is declared to proceed against him as a person guilty of high Treason and so falling to be within the case of Sir Iohn Evelin who upon the same Exception was not admitted to attend his Majestie with the rest of the Committee at Colebrooke in November last But his Majestie doth signifie that in case the House shall thinke fit to send any other person in the place of the Lord Say that is not included in the like Exception his Majesty hath commanded all his Officers Souldiers and other subjects to suffer him as freely to passe and repasse as if his name had been particularly comprised in this safe Conduct His Majestie is content that his Proposition concerning the Magazines Forts Ships and Revenue and the Proposition of both Houses for the disbanding of the Armies shall be first Treated of and agreed of before the proceeding to treat upon any of the other Propositions And that after the second of His Majesties and the second of theirs be treated on and agreed of and so on in the same order And that from the beginning of the Treaty the time may not exceed Twenty dayes in which he hopes a full Peace and right understanding may be established throughout the Kingdome H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. The last Articles of Cessation now sent to His Majestie THe Lords and Commons in Parliament being still carried on with a vehement desire of Peace that so the Kingdome may speedily be freed from the desolation and destruction wherewith it is like to be overwhelmed if the warre should continue Have with as much expedition as they could considered of the Articles of Cessation with those alterations and additions offered by his Majestie unto which they are ready to agree in such manner as is exprest in these ensuing Articles viz. 1 That all manner of Armes Ammunition Victuall Money Bullion and all other Commodities passing without a safe Conduct from the Generalls of both Armies as well of his Majesties as of the Armies raysed by the Parliament may be stayed and seized on as if no such Cessation were agreed at all 2 That all manner of persons passing without such a safe Conduct as is mentioned in the Articles next going before shall be apprehended and detained as if no such Cessation were agreed on at all 3 That his Majesties Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no neerer to Windsor then VVheatly and in Buckinghamshire no neerer to Aylesburie then Brill and that in Barkeshire the Forces respectively shall not advance neerer the one to the other then they shall be at the day to be agreed on for the Cessation to begin And that the Forces of the other Army raysed by the Parliament shall advance no neerer to Oxford then Henley and those in Buckinghamshire no neerer to Oxon then Alisbury and that the Forces of neither army shall advance their Quarters neerer to each other then they shall be upon the day agreed on for the Cessation to begin 4 That the Forces of either army in Glocestershire VVilts and VVales as likewise in the Cities of Glocester and Bristoll and the Castle and Towne of Berkley shall be guided by the rule exprest in the later part of the precedent Article 5 That in case it be pretended on either side that the Cessation is violated no act of Hostilitie is immediately to follow but first the party complayning is first to acquaint the Lord Generall on the other side and to allow three dayes after notice given for satisfaction and in case satisfaction be not given or accepted then five dayes notice to be given before Hostilitie begin and the like to be observed in the remoter armies by the Commanders in Chiefe 6 That all other forces in the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales not before-mentioned shall remayn in the same Quarters and places as they are at the time of the publishing of this Cessation and under the same Conditions as are mentioned in the Articles before And that this Cessation shall not extend to restrain the setting forth or employing of any Ships for the defence of his Majesties Dominions 7 That as soon as his Majesty shal be pleased to disband the Armies which both Houses earnestly desire may be speedily effected and to disarme the Papists according to Law the Subjects may then enjoy the benefit of peace in the liberty of their persons goods and Freedom of Trade in the mean time the Generals and Commanders of the Armies of both sides shall be enjoyned to keep the Souldiers from plundering which the two Houses of Parliament have ever disliked and forbidden And for the speedy setling of this so much desired Peace they have thought good to send their Committees with Instructions that if his Majesty be pleased to consent to a Cessation so limited and qualified they may forthwith proceed to treat upon the Propositions and because the time is so far elapsed in these preparations they desire the Cessation may begin the five and twentieth of this instant March or sooner if it may be and in the mean time notice to be given to all the Forces in the severall and remote parts and the Commanders Officers and Souldiers are enjoyned to observe this Cessation accordingly to which they hope and pray that God wil give such a blessing That thereupon Peace Safety and Happines may be produced and confirmed to his Majesty and all his People H. Elsing Cler. Parl. Dom. Com. Instructions agreed on by the Lords and Commons in Parliament for Algernoon Earle of Northumberland William Lord Viscount Say and Seale William Pierpoint Esquire Sir William Armyn Baronet Sir Iohn Holland Baronet and Bulstrode Whitlock Esquire Committees appointed to attend his Majestie upon the Propositions made by his Majestie
their reach and their army would then be at leisure to be emploied as Collectors aswell of the old impositions which in most places without their army they cannot leavy as of any such new one and vast sums would and might by this means be raised to the destruction of his Subjects extraordinary advantage to them and great disadvantage to his MAJESTIE Who can neither obtaine His owne Consent to take the like courses Nor in case Hee could is Hee so quartered as to have within the power of his army without breach of the cessation by drawing neerer to their forces any such Citie or so many so rich and so fresh Counties as they have to retire into to that purpose So that as nothing is more just in it selfe and for his people than such a limitation so nothing can be more unequall to His Majesty or more advantagious to them than the admission of or connivence to any such practises upon His people This cessation to begin on the 9. of April and to continue to the end of 20. dayes from the 25. of March. And His Majesty desires that the Treaty may proceed upon the Propositions in order upon which His Majesty hath an earnest desire that a firm and stable peace may be agreed on and both Armies speedily disbanded otherwise if during this cessation in the Articles of which His Majesty in order to peace hath yeilded to things manifestly unreasonable and prejudiciall to His Army the Treaty be not dispatched His Majestie cannot without manifest ruine to His Army principally that of the North be able to contain Himself beyond this time now limited for the cessation in the quarters in which He hath so long bin and now is and which will hardly be able to hold out so long but must bee forced to remove as He shall finde agreeable for His occasions And in case any delay be made in consenting to these His Majesties limitations or that the Houses shall reject this His offer of cessation His Majesty as He hath lately desired by a Proposition to both Houses delivered to their Committee to which He hath yet received no Answer so He doth earnestly continue to desire That the Treaty it self may not be delayed or interrupted by it but that their Committee may be enabled to proceed upon it in the mean while Copia vera Jo Brown Cler Parliamentorum Addition of four dayes longer to Treat April 4. 1643. VVE humbly acquaint Your Majesty that we received this morning the resolution of both Houses of Parliament whereby farther time is given to us to Treat upon the two first Propositions viz. The first Proposition of Your Majesty and the first Proposition of both Houses And that the time prescribed for the treaty upon the two first Propositions shall be untill Friday night Northumberland John Holland B. Whitelocke Will. Pierrepoint Will. Armyne A Letter from both Houses Received April 8. 1643. VVE are commanded to send these inclosed Instructions to you from both Houses of Parliament By which the resolutions of the Houses will appear unto you This is all we have in command and rest Westminster the 7 of April 1643. Your humble servants MANCHESTER Speaker pro tempore William Lenthall Speaker of the Commons House Instructions concerning the Cessation Received April 8. 1643. A farther Addition of Instructions agreed upon by the Lords and Commons in Parliament for Algernon Earl of Northumberland William Pierrepoint Esquire Sir William Armyne Baronet Sir John Holland Baronet and Bulstrode Whitelock Esquire Committees of both Houses of Parliament attending His Majesty at Oxon. YOu are hereby to take notice That the two Houses have considered his Majesties Answer to their reasons concerning the Cessation wherein there are divers expressions which reflect much upon the honor and Justice of the Houses and might occasion particular Replies Yet at this time they desire to decline all contestation their wishes and endeavours being earnestly bent upon the obtaining a speedy peace For which cause they do not think good to consume any more of that time allowed for the treaty in any farther debates upon the Cessation concerning which they find his Majesties expressions so doubtfull that is cannot be suddenly or easily resolved and the remainder of the time for the whole treaty being but seven dayes if the Cessation were presently agreed it would not yeild any considerable advantage to the kingdom Wherfore you shall desire his Majesty That he will be pleased to give a speedy and positive Answer to their first Propostion concerning the disbanding that so the people many not have only a shadow of peace in a short time of Cessation but the substance of it in such manner as may be a perpetuall blessing to them by freeing the Kingdome from those miserable effects of War the effusion of English bloud and desolation of many parts of the Land For the obtaining of which happinesse The Lords and Commons have resolved to enlarge your power That if you shall not have fully agreed upon the two first Propositions before Friday night you may notwithstanding any former restraint proceed to treat upon them according to the Instructions formerly given you although the Articles of the cessation are not agreed upon And those two first Propositions being concluded the two Houses will thereupon give you further instructions to proceed to the other Propositions that so the whole treaty may be determined within the twenty dayes formerly limited to be reckoned from the 25. of March last which can admit no alteration or enlargement without manifold prejudice and danger to the whole Kingdom John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum The Paper to the King upon the Instructions for disbanding Received April 8. 1643. BY Instructions this day received from both Houses of Parliament we humbly conceive that we are to acquaint Your Majesty That they have taken into consideration Your Majesties Answer to their reasons concerning the cessation wherein there are divers expressions which will occasion particular replies which at this time they desire to decline their wishes and endeavours being earnestly bent upon the obtaining a speedy peace for which cause they do not think good to consume any more of the time allowed for the treaty in any farther debates upon the cessation concerning which they find your Majesties expressions so doubtful that it cannot be suddenly or easily resolved and the remainder of the time for the whole treaty being but 7 dayes if the cessation were not presently agreed it would not yeeld any considerable advantage to the kingdom Wherfore we are required to desire your Majesty to give a speedy and positive answer to the first proposition concerning the disbanding that so your subjects may not only have a shadow of peace in a short time of cessation but the substance of it in such manner as may be a perpetuall blessing to them by freeing the Kingdom from those miserable effects of War the effusion of English bloud and desolation of many parts of the land Northumberland
Will. Pierrepoint Will. Armyne B. Witlocke Jo Holland The Kings Reply touching Cessation and desire to enable the Committee to treat upon the Propositions in the mean time and touching His coming to the Parliament C. R. IF the Comittee according to his Majesties desire had had but power to agree in the wording of expressions in the Articles of cessation His Majesties which are as cleer as the matter would bear and as he could make them had not appeared so doubtfull to any but that the cessation might have bin suddenly speedily resolved and that long before this time And if the expression of both Houses in their reasons had not necessitated his Majesty in his own defence to give such answers as could not upon those points deliver truth without some shew of sharpnes no expression of that kind in his Majesties answer had given any pretence for the rejection of or refusing so much as to treat upon this cessation which though it were at present for no long time yet was from the day named by themselves the 25th of March Whereas his Majesty first mov'd for a Cessation and treaty without any limitation at all in the time of either and his Majestie was most ready to have enlarg'd the time so that in the meane while the point of quarters might be so setled as that his Armies might subsist and which might have beene if they had pleas'd a very good and promising earnest and fore-runner of that great blessing of Peace for the obtaining of which the wishes and endeavours of all good men being earnestly bent a farther debate in order to so great a benefit did not deserve to be stiled a consumption of time And his Majesty cannot but conceive himselfe to be in a strange condition if the doubtfulnesse of expressions which must alwayes be whil'st the treaty is at such a distance and power is denied to those upon the place to helpe to cleere and explaine or his necessary Replying to charges layd upon him that hee might not seeme to acknowledge what was so charged or the limitation of the time of seven dayes for the treaty which was not limited by his Majesty who ever desired to have avoyded that and other limitations which have given great interruptions to it should bee as well believed to bee the grounds as they are made the arguments of the Rejection of that which next to Peace it selfe his Majesty above all things most desires to see agreed and setled and which his Majesty hopes if it may bee yet agreed on will give his people such a taste of such a blessing that after a short time of consideration and comparing of their severall conditions in war and Peace and what should move them to suffer so much by a change they will not thinke those their friends that shall force them to it or bee themselves ready to contribute to the renewing of their former miseries without some greater evidence of necessity than can appeare to them when they shall have seen as they shall see if this treaty be suffered to proceed That his Majesty neither asks nor denies any thing but what not only according to Law He may but what in Honor and care of his people He is oblig'd to ask or deny And this alone which a very short Cessation would produce His Majesty esteems a very considerable advantage to the Kingdom And therfore cannot but presse again and again that what ever is thought doubtfull in the expressions of the Articles may as in an hour it may well be done be expounded and whatsoever is excepted at may be debated and concluded and that power and instructions may be given to the Committee to that end That the miserable effects of War the effusion of English bloud and desolation of England untill they can bee totally taken away may by this means be staied and interrupted His Majesty supposes That when the Committee was last required to desire his Majesty to give a speedy and positive Answer to the first Proposition concerning disbanding His Answers in that point to which no Reply hath been made and which He hopes by this time have given satisfaction were not transmitted and received But wonders the Houses should presse his Majesty for a speedy and positive Answer to the first part of their first Proposition concerning disbanding when to the second part of the very same Proposition concerning his return to both Houses of Parliament they had not given any power or instructions to the Committee so much as to treat with his Majesty And when his Majesty if his desire of peace and of speeding the treaty in order to that had not been prevalent with him might with all manner of Justice have delayed to begin to treat upon one part untill they had beene enabled to treat upon the other In which point and for want of which power from them the only stop now remains His Majesties Answers to both parts of their first Proposition being given in transmitted and yet remaining unanswered To which untill the Houses shall be at leisure to make Answer that as little delay in this Treaty as is possible may be caused by it His Majesty desires likewise That the Committee may be enabled to treat upon the following Propositions in their severall orders A Letter from both Houses April 8. WE have sent unto you by this Gentleman Sir Peter Killegrewe some additionall Instructions by which your Lordship and the rest of the Committee will perceive the Resolutions which the Houses have taken upon the papers which they received this day from you This is all we have in command and remaine Westminster this 8 of April 1643. Your Lordships humble Servants MANCHESTER Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore WILLIAM LENTHALL Speaker of the Commons House in Parliament Instructions concerning the Insisting Received April 9. 1643. Additionall Instructions for Algernon Earle of Northumberland William Lord Viscount Say and Seale William Pierrepoint Esq Sir William Armyne and Sir John Holland Baronets Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire Committees from both Houses attending His Majesty at Oxford Magazines and enlarging the time THe two Houses of Parliament are unsatisfied with his Majesties Answer to that Clause of the first Proposition which concernes the Magazins Wherefore you are to desire his Majesty to make a further Answer in such manner as is exprest in the Instructions formerly given you And you shall let his Majesty know That the Lords and Commons do not think fit to enlarge the time of the Treaty beyond the twenty dayes formerly limited Cinque-Ports Towns Forts and Castles THey likewise remain unsatisfied with his Majesties Answer concerning the Cinque-Ports Towns Forts and Castles being in the most materiall points an expresse denyall Wherefore you are to insist upon their desire for another answer according to your Instructions Shipps THey observe in his Majesties Answer concerning the Ships not only a denyall to all the desires of both Houses But likewise a Censure upon their
to the severall Armies and see the disbanding speedily put in execution accordingly FALKLAND April 6. 1643. WE humbly desire to know if by the words By a happy and speedy conclusion of the present Treaty Your Majesty intends a conclusion of the present Treaty on Your Majesties first Proposition and the Proposition of both Houses for disbanding of the Armies or a conclusion of the Treaty on all the Propositions of both parts And what your Majesty intends to be a cleare evidence to your selfe and your good Subjects of future peace and no ground left for the continuance or growth of these bloody dissentions Northumberland Will. Pierrepoint Ioh. Holland Will. Armine B. Whitelocke April 6. 1643. HIs Majesty desires to know from the Committee of both Houses whether they acquiesce with His Majesties Replies to their Anwers concerning His first Proposition which yesterday they received from Him and to which they have yet made no returne His Majesty likewise desires to know whether they have yet received power and Instructions to Treat with his Majesty concerning his return to His two Houses of Parliament which is a part of the first Proposition of both houses Falkland April 6. 1643. WE shall transmit your Majesties Replies to our Answers concerning your first proposition to both houses of Parliament without farther reply We likewise humbly answer that we have not received any power or Instructions to treat with your Majesty concerning your return to Your two Houses of Parliament but we assure our selves they will give your Majesty satisfaction therein Northumberland Ioh. Holland Will. Pierrepont Will. Armyne B. Whitelock April 7. 1643. HIs Majesty conceives His Answers already given for he hath given two to be very cleere and significant And if the conclusion of the present Treaty on his Majesties first Proposition and the proposition of both Houses shall be so full and perfectly made that the Law of the Land may have a full free and uninterrupted Course for the defence and preservation of the rights of His Majesty both Houses and His good Subjects there will be thence a cleare evidence to his Majesty and His good Subjects of a future Peace and no ground left for the continuance and growth of these bloody dissentions and it will be such a conclusion as his Majesty intended His Majesty never intending that both Armies should remaine undisbanded untill all the Propositions of both sides were fully concluded But his Majesty is very sorry that in that point of the first Proposition of both Houses which hath seemed to be so much wished and which may be so concluded as alone much to conduce to the evidence desired viz. his returne to both houses to which his Majesty in his Answer hath expressed himselfe to be most ready whensoever he may doe it with honour and safety they have yet no manner of Power no instructions so much as to treat with his Majesty Falkland April 7. 1643. WE have not transmitted your Majesties answer to the Proposition of disbanding wherein your Majesty mentions your selfe to be most ready to return to both houses of Parliament whensoever you may doe it with honour and safety for that we humbly conceive we were to expect your Majesties answer to that Proposition this day received before we could give a due accompt thereof to both houses of Parliament the which we will presently send away without farther reply Northumberland I. Holland W. Pierrepont W. Armine B. Whitelock April 8. 1643. BY Instructions this day received from both Houses of Parliament we humbly conceive that we are to acquaint Your Majesty That they have taken into consideration Your Majesties answer to their reasons concerning the Cessation wherein there are divers expressions which will occasion particular replies which at this time they desire to decline their wishes and endeavours being earnestly bent upon the obtaining a speedy Peace for which cause they do not think good to consume any more of the time allowed for the Treaty in any farther debates upon the Cessation concerning which they find your Majesties expressions so doubtfull that it cannot be suddenly or easily resolved and the remainder of the time for the whole Treaty being but seven dayes if the Cessation were not presently agreed it would not yeeld any considerable advantage to the Kingdom Wherefore we are required to desire Your Majesty to give a speedy and positive answer to the first Proposition concerning the disbanding that so Your Subjects may not only have a shadow of peace in a short time of Cessation but the substance of it in such manner as may be a perpetuall blessing to them by freeing the Kingdom from these miserable effects of warre the effusion of English bloud and desolation of many parts of the Land Northumberland Job Holland Will. Pierrepont Will. Armyne B. Whitelock April 10. 1643. BY Instructions yesterday received from both Houses of Parliament we are commanded humbly to insist upon that part of the first Proposition of both Houses of Parliament concerning the disbanding according to the Papers we have formerly presented to Your Majesty thereupon And we are humbly to acquaint Your Majesty That both Houses of Parliament do conceive Your Majesties Answer concerning the disbanding to be in effect a denyall unlesse they dissert all those cautions and limitations which they have desired in their Answer to Your Majesties first Proposition Northumberland Will. Pierrepont Job Holland Will. Armyne B. Whitelock April 10. 1643. BY Instructions from both Houses of Parliament yesterday received we are commanded to declare unto Your Majesty the desire of both Houses for Your Majesties coming to Your Parliament which they have often expressed with full offers of Security to Your Royall Person agreeable to their duty and allegiance and they know to cause why Your Majesty may not return thither with Honour and Safety but they did not insert it into our Instructions becauses they conceived the disbanding of the Armies would have facilitated Your Majesties Resolution therein which they likewise conceived was agreeable to Your Majesties sense who in declaring Your consent to the order of the Treaty did only mention that part of the first Proposition which concerned the disbanding and did omit that which concerned Your Majesties coming to both Houses of Parliament Northumberland Will Pierrepont Job Holland Will Armyne B. Whitelock April 14. 1643. His Majesty had great reason to expect that as He answered to every part of the first Proposition of both Hooses so the Committee should likewise have had power and Instructions to Treat with His Majesty concerning both parts of the same not had the Houses any reason to suppose their course agreeable to His Majesties sense for his Majesty in declaring His consent to the order of the Treaty indeed mentioned their first Proposition by the stile of the first Proposition which concerned disbanding but did not stile it that part of the first Proposition which conerned disbanding as if he had meant to have excluded any part of that
Proposition proceeding from himself yet they received a return much contrary to their expectation where they found many scruples raised and other Articles propounded which being assented unto by them would inevitably destroy the Forces raised by them for The defence of themselves their Religion and Liberty and strengthen the Malignant and Popish Army raised against them which they made appear by their humble Answer to those Alterations and Articles which are herewith at large published and therefore do referre themselves thereunto And in the interim while His Majesty was considering of this their humble Answer they gave power to their Committee to Treat upon the two first Propositions for four dayes which after wards they enlarged to the end of twenty dayes And within some distance of time afterwards they received a very long Message from His Majestie which indeed carried not with it the face or semblance of a Treaty but in plain down right language was a bitter Invective against the two houses of Parliament and their proceedings so that by this time it might very well appear That the enemies of the Kingdoms peace so really prosecuted and likely to be effected by the earnest endeavours of both Houses thought it high time to cast in their tares of sedition to prevent the growth of so blessed a fruit In this Message after very heavy Taxes and unjust Scandals and Accusations laid to their charge forced in quite besides the question His Majestie condiscended to the Cessation in manner as was agreed on by both Houses to continue onely for five dayes expecting a liberty notwithstanding to be given the Committee to word it according to the reall Intention and so that His Majestie might not be understood to consent to any Imposing upon Leavying Distraining or Imprisoning of His Subjects to force them to Contribute expresly protesting against it and Inhibiting his Subjects to submit thereunto and requiring them to resist and so that there might not be a liberty for Seizing upon his Subjects by any Souldiers of the Army for not submitting to such Impositions Which offer of His Majesties being but a Cessation onely for five dayes and some part of that time to be first spent by the Committee in wording of it and limited with a Protestation against and a Command to resist that Power whereby their Forces must be paid and supported which if not answered and justified would by a consent to His Majesties offer imply a declining of that power which might indanger the Disbanding of their Army And if answered would necessarily have enforced them to some sharpnesse of language which the enemics of this Treaty would easily take occasion to quarrel at and perswade His Majestie to break off which the Lord and Commons out of their hearty zeal to bring it to a happy conclusion did purposely avoid and therefore they did not onely passely these Scandals and unjust Accusations laid to their charge by that Message but purposely declined to enter into any dispute of their power for maintaining the Forces raised for their own necessary defence And therefore thought it best to spend the remainder of the time in Treating upon the Propositions and for that end enjoyned their Committee as much as in them lay to hasten it especially that part touching the Disbanding which being concluded would not only produce a temporary Cessation but an absolute abolition of all acts of hostility The proceedings and issue of which Treaty the Lords and Commons think it necessary to publish to the Kingdom to the end the sincerity of their endeavours to procure a happy settlement of these miserable distractions may appear When they perceived that the most part of the time prescribed for the Treaty was like to be spent about the Cessation they gave power to their Committee in the mean time to Treat upon the Propositions in order as they had formerly Voted and therefore beginning with His Majesties first Proposition whereby His Majestie demanded That his own Revenue Magazines Towns Forts and Ships which had bin taken or kept from him by force should be forthwith restored unto him The Lords and Commons by their Committee made him this humble Answer First That as to his Revenue they had not made use of it but in a small proportion and a good part of that was imployed for the maintenance of his own children according to the allowance established by himself that what should remain due to His Majestie they would satisfie and would leave the same to His Majestie for the time to come They likewise thereupon propounded to His Majestie That he would restore what had been taken for his use upon any of the Bills assigned to other purposes by severall Acts of Parliament as out of the provision made for the Wars of Ireland which offer of theirs after some debate thereupon with the Committee was thought reasonable and in effect concluded And as to the Demand of the Towns Forts and Ships they in substance gave this humble answer That they would deliver up such as remained in their hands into the hands of such persons of worth qualitie and trust to be nominated by His Majestie as the two Houses of Parliament should confide in none of which persons to be removed during three yeers next ensuing without just cause to be approved of by both Houses That the Warden of the Cinque-Ports and all governours and Commanders of Towns Forts and Castles should keep the same respectively for the service of his Majestie and the safetie of the Kingdom and that they should not admit into them any Forraign Forces or any other Forces raised without His Majesties authoritie and consent of the two Houses of Parliament And they should use their uttermost indeavours to suppresse all Forces raised without such authoritie and consent and seize all Armes and Ammunition provided for any such Forces Unto which Offer of theirs His Majestie gave this conclusive Answer That His Majestie did not intend that both Houses of Parliament should expresse their confidence of the persons to whose trust the Cinque-Ports April 5. or other His Majesties Townes and Forts were or should be committed but that they should have libertie to proceed against them according to Law His Majestie claiming the nomination and free election to belong to him of right And to the Clause concerning the admission of Forces into those Forts Castles and Towns His Majestie would consent no further then these generall tearms That is That no Forces raised or brought in contrary to Law should be admitted and that all Arms and Ammunition should be seiâ—ed upon which by the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdom they ought to seize They made the like Answer concerning the Ships That they should be delivered into the hands of such noble Person as His Majestie should nominate to be Lord high Admirall of England and the two Houses of Parliament confide in To which offer His Majesty refused His consent declaring His Resolution to insist upon what by
desire it may be considered What security this will be to the Kingdom to prevent the raising or bringing in of Forces contrary to Law who shall be Judges of the Law when those Forces are once raised and once brought in Surely His Majesty will not acknowledge the two Houses of Parliament to be for His Majesty by severall Declarations hath expresly denyed them any such power For contrary to their Declarations fortified with Law and reason His Majesty published and affirmed the legallity of the Commission of Array and put the same in execution in most parts of the Kingdom Hath authorized the Papists of the Kingdom to take Arms to oppose the Parliament and their Proceedings and to rob spoyl and deprive the Protestants of this Kingdom of their estates and lives Hath by divers Proclamations and Declarations published the raising of Forces and taking up of Arms by the two Houses of Parliament and such as therein obey their Commands for their own defence and the defence of their Religion and Liberty assaulted by an Army of Papists and their adherents to be Rebellion and Treason and the taking up of Arms by the Papists and their adherents to be acts of duty and loyalty And all this urged and pretended to be warranted by the Law of the Land And they do not doubt but by the same Law persons legally impeached and accused in Parliament of high Treason as the Lord Digby Master Percy Master Jermyn Master Oneale and others are by the Power of an Army protected from the Justice of the Parliament And yet all this while the people have not onely his Majesties promise but His Oath to govern and protect them according to the Laws of the Land And now they appeal to the world Whether such a generall Answer That no Forces raised or brought in contrary to Law without admitting them so much as to declare their confidence in the persons that are to be entrusted with the Power be just or reasonable What is it otherwise in effect then to make those persons that are the Instruments to violate the Law Judges of that Law which to our sad experience is the wofull and miserable present condition of this Kingdom And though by what had hitherto passed they had little cause to suspect such a happy issue to the Treaty as they heartily wished and most earnestly laboured for discovering not the least inclination of complyance to their just Demands but all or most of them answered with a denyall and that not without some sharpnesse and acrimony yet resolving to be wanting in nothing of their parts they enjoyned their Committee to presse on the Proposition for disbanding and humbly desire His Majesties positive Answer thereunto which if assented unto by His Majesty would though not wholly take away the cause and perfectly cure the distractions of this Kingdom yet at least take off the smart and pain under which both Church and State do most miserably languish and so better enable them to endure the expectation of a thorow Cure The Committee applyed themselves to His Majesty accordingly and after some endeavour to protract the debate of this Proposition and desire that it might be deferred to the conclution of the Treaty and that the time of the Treaty might be enlarged His Majesty being earnestly importuned to a positive and speedy Answer to the end the Kingdom might know what they might trust to His Majesty was pleased to return this Answer That as soon as His Majesty were satisfied in His first Proposition concerning His own Revenue Magazines Ships and Forts Secondly as soon as all the Members of both Houses shall be restored to the same capacity of sitting and voting in Parliament as they had upon the first of January 1641 not intending to extend it to the Bishops Votes or to such in whose places upon new Writs new Elections have been made Thirdly as soon as His Majesty and both Houses might be secured from such tumultuous assemblies as formerly assembled about both Houses which security His Majestly explains can be onely setled by adjourning the Parliament to some place twenty miles from London His Majesty would consent that both the Armies should be disbanded and come to the Parliament which in terms plain enough is as much to say That untill both Houses shall consent to those demands he will not disband His Army He will continue the Warre And what reason or justice is either in the matter or manner of those demands Or what hope or expectation the people can have to see an end of their present calamities they leave it to themselves to judge His Majesty in the beginning of the Treaty in His answer to the Propositions of both Houses was pleased to expresse how unparliamentary it was by Arms to require new Laws but how to apply that the two Houses of Parliament they must confesse they are to seek they never having demanded any new Laws by Arms endeavouring onely what in them lieth to preserve and defend themselves their Religion and Laws from the violence of an Army first raised against them which being laid down and disbanded they offer to disband theirs without any other condition But they are well assured That by this His Majesties Answer here is not onely a requiring of new Laws but a repealing of the old by Arms For His Majesty must have this Parliament adjourned to another place which by a Statute made this present Parliament cannot be done without the consent of both Houses He must have the Members disabled to sit there by the respective judgement of both Houses restored to their former capacity of sitting and voting or he will not consent to disband And how destructive to the Liberties of the Parliament and dangerous to the Kingdom these Conditions required by His Majesty to precede the disbanding are any man that hath an eye to see may easily discern As first To satisfie his first Proposition in yeelding up the Magazines Ships and Forts into the hands of such persons as His Majestie shall appoint to receive the same without any admission to the two Houses to expresse their confidence in those persons which being performed were to yeeld up the principall part if not all the strength they have and expose themselves Religion and the Kingdom to the mercy of a powerfull Popish Army raised against them and submit it to them and to the will and pleasure of those Councellors whose interest with His Majesty hath brought this Kingdom to this desolate condition whether they would disband or not Secondly To satisfie Him in His Proposition touching His Revenue wherein He demands a restitution of what hath been taken from Him Which though it would prove no considerable Sum yet the time that the examination and agreement upon the accompt would necessarily take up would prove such as might very well make the Kingdom sink under the burden of two Armies before it came to a conclusion And touching His Majesties requiring a restitution of the
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