to Master Rily by the name of the Man in the Moone assures him The businesse goes on well at Oxford Promises of reward are made to Ryley and Violet Peace being the pretence Therefore Propositions are framed and agreed on fix in number by Read Sir Basil Brooke Ryley and Violet and seene by others and afterwards sent to Oxford A Petition for Peace being intended the better to induce that It was agreed that his Majestie must write a powerfull and promising letter to the Lord Major and Citizens to be read at a Common Hall and fit Instruments thought upon to be imployed to prepare my Lord Major before hand The Letter was written and agreed uponhere by Sir Basil Brook Master Ryley and Violet and sent to Oxford Violet a prisoner by Master Ryleys means was procured to be exchanged that he might from Oxford bring the letter and advises for the carrying on of the businesse At Oxford the businesse was so diligently sollicited by Read that at Violets coming all things were ready and after three houres discourse in his Majesties presence with the Queene the Dutches of Buckingham the Lord Digby Violet the same day being the Munday before the discovery dispatched from Oxford with his Majesties Letter altered in nothing save the Title and with another Letter from the Lord Digby to Sir Basil Brooke whereby the whole managing of the businesse is intrusted to Sir Basil Brook and it is wholly left to his Wisdom and Discretion whither the letter to the City shall be delivered or not Violet brought both the Letters to Sir Basil Brooke the Wednesday after and one Wood having formerly brought a Letter from Oxford to the City the same in matter with this that Violet brought which will be read unto you Sir Basil Brook delivered the Letter that came last from Oxford to Wood to be delivered to my Lord Major the next day after which was Thursday and with direction That it should have been published on the Fryday The delivery of it to my Lord Major by the discovery of it the same day was prevented and Sir Basil Brooke Ryley and Violet that night were examined Before the Reading of the Examinations Letters and Propositions unto you at large That the main designe to be made out by them as they are conjoyned and have relation to the precedent narrative may be the better understood I shall in brief touch upon the matter of them as likewise upon such Conclusions as may necessarily be deduced from them As first That no Peace was really intended appears throughout the whole transaction The propositions which upon the Supposition that this is no Parliament if anything were to have been the ground-work foundation of it which upon the reading you will finde so flight and frivolous that no man can conceive that our Peace could have been built upon such a foundation Nothing so much as spoken of concerning Ireland or the disengaging of of our â—elves from the Articles of Agreement with our Brethren of Scotland No provision for Reformation of Religion or preservation of that we have or of our Lawes and Liberties But in stead thereof there are quaedam iniqua the Excise must be continued beyond the war that out of it the King might have a benefit and the debts of the Enemies to the Parliament repayed and the City immediatly to be Treated with That no Peace was intended appeares further from the L Digbies Letter written within a day or two of that to the City to the Ki Agent at Brussels who writes that the French Treaty was at an end because the Parliament must not be acknowledged to be a Parliament that as the King for a long time had taken that for a ground so he held the same resolution still being thereunto advised by all his Lords at Oxford and by his resolution of holding a Great Counsell in the nature of a Parliament at Oxford the 22. of this Moneth And when his Majesties Letter shall be read you will finde no particulars whereupon a Peace should have been built save only kinde words in generalls This further appeares from the persons who were the first Designers and Contrivers and were to have been the chief managers from first to last of the businesse Read and Sir Basil Brook known Iesuited Papists and alwaies active in promoting Popish practizes This Peace must have been such as these persons shall contrive The prayer for our deliverance from the Gun powder Treason agreed upon in Parliament saith That the Faith of such Papists is faction Their practises the murdering of the soules and bodies of men Read he hath been a Contriver and prosecuter of the bloody Tragedies of the Protestants in Ireland the other not without suspicion to have had his hand in it what is said concerning the Queen in that particular is set forth by the Declaration of both or one of the Houses and the Articles of her Impeachment the Countesse of Buckingham beside that her husband hath appeared visibly in that Rebession is not free of other cause of suspition These as was said before assisted with the Lord Digby must be the Instruments of this Peace which as it is set forth in his Majesties Letter must be such as that whereby the true Protestant Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome must be maintained These Papists you see who had done so good service for the Protestant Religion in Ireland must lay the foundation for the preservation of it here Sir Basil Brook and Read well knew that the Pope and and Popery have been banished this Kingdome by the Parliaments of England and that the succeeding Parliaments to this time have alwaies endeavored the suppression of popery and therefore Degenerating from their Predecessors who in the Gun-powder Treason endeavoured for that cause to have blown up the parliament They must now endeavour the Preservation of the Parliament and the Lawes and the Liberties of the Kingdome The things which from this briefe Narrative the reading of the Examinations Propositions and Letters will appeare to have been designed are these First the dividing the Parliament from the City and the Parliament and the City within themselves First in respect that this Treaty of Peace was to have been immediately between the King and the City and that whereupon the Peace of the whole Kingdome should have been setled as appeares by his Majesties Letter what wide rents such a Treaty must have produced between the City and Parliament is obvious Again for the prosecution of the Treaty when entertained by the City safe conducts were to have been granted not only to those of the City but to such of the Members of either House as would have repaired to Oxford for that purpose Every man sees by this what division and confusion would have followed both in City and Parliament The Projectors were well acquainted with Machivels maxime divide impera The second was no lesse then the utter destruction the nulling and making voyd
of this present Parliament as will appeare by the Lord Digbyes letter to De vic and the summoning of the great Councell or Parliament at Oxford compared with the third of these Propositions By the letter to De vic this Parliament as the resolution then was at Oxford must not be acknowledged and by this third Proposition for that very cause the Parliament must be waved and the Treaty must be immediatly between the King and City The consequence whereof had been no lesse then the rendring of the Kingdome for ever uncapable of having any more Parliaments This Parliament It was called and continued according to the knowne Lawes and Usages of the Kingdome was afterwards by an Act of Parliament assented unto by his Majestie so acknowledged and made indissolvable without its own consent a greater Testimony of the validity of this Parliament then I think was ever given to any If neither the Common Lawes and usages of this Kingdome nor the concurrent Authority of an Act Parliament be able to support this Parliament when his Majestie shall declare the contrary I shall without more words leave to your judgements whether this doctrin doth not at once blow up the fundamentalls of all Parliaments Lawes of the Kingdome Libertie of the Subjects and of the whole pollicie and Government of this Kingdome which being destroyed what security you could have devised for the maintaining of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome as is promised you in his Majesties letter I know not 3. The third was not onely the preventing of the assistance of our Brethren in Scotland But that which is worse and must have necessarily followed thereupon the embroiling of both the Nations in divisions in all likelihood fat all unto both this will appeare by putting together what hath beene done by the Parliament those at Oxford and the transactions in this designe The Parliament long since have invited that Nation to our assistance in this common cause upon weighty considerations As first conceiving that by this meanes through Gods blessing this great cause which concernes our Religion Lawes Liberties and all we have would be assured and the event of the War otherwise doubtfull made more certaine 2. Secondly that by their assistance the war might be the sooner ended and so by consequence the calamities which of necessity must accompany it their assistance adding so considerable a strength to our party besides the reputation which the concurrence of a whole Nation with us will adde to the justnesse of the cause 3. And thirdly that as in likelihood by their joynt concurrence a better Peace for present might be procured so in all probability what shall be agreed upon would be the more lasting and durable both Nations being equally interested in what should be agreed upon Besides the Covenant maturely sworn and agreed upon by both Nations for the maintenance and defence of Religion and of the mutuall Lawes and Liberties of each Kingdome a solemne league and Treaty hath likewise beene mutually agreed upon between the Parliament here and that Kingdome concerning the manner of their assistance and great sums of money have been thereupon sent unto them In which Treaty one Article is That neither Nation shall entertaine any Treaty of Peace without the advice and consent of the other This in briefe containes the transactions between that Nation and the Parliament At Oxford by papers in the forme of Proclamations they have stiled this assistance an Invasion of the Kingdome and one end of the calling of that great Councell or Parliament is for opposing of the same In the carriage of the present designe by one of Reads letters to Ryley he saith That a dore is open by the comming in of the Scots for the destruction of this Kingdome That therefore this Peace must presently be concluded That all is lost unlesse it be done speedily The maine intent of the letter is for the speeding of it to that end The Lord Digbyes letter to Sir Basil Brooke referring the delivering of his Majesties letter to my Lord Mayor to his discretion he forthwith delivers it to Wood to be the next day delivered to my Lord Mayor and he next day after the delivery to be by him published He saw it necessary and so resolved at Oxford That we must speedily breake with the Scots Their assistance how necessary and by Gods blessing how beneficiall it is like to be unto us I think you see but this must be prevented The honour and publike faith of Nations how Sacred it is and from the rules of Religion and common policie how tenderly to be preserved each man knowes But this designe must violate and staine our honour in the highest For contrary to the Article before mentioned this Treaty must presently be set on foot without them such violations are alwayes deeply resented by the parties injured how dangerous therefore the consequence must needs have beene he that runnes may reade This was the Designe It was too Ugly It was too Black Bare fac'd to have been presented to your view and therefore it must be masqu't This hook must be baited with the sweet word Peace It hath been long since observed from the Ecclesiasticall proceedings of the Romish Church That in nomine Domini Incipit omne malum The Holy Name of God must bear out all their Spirituall wickednesses The end of all Civil Policie is the preserving of just and Honourable Peace and therefore these men when Divisions Violence and what is most contrary to Peace is intended yet for the compassing of these ends Peace must be pretended So was it by many of them about this time twelve moneth Designed in their Petition to the Parliament for a Peace and so was it in the bloodie plot upon the Citie and diverse Members of both Houses discovered the last Summer For upon the examinations of diverse of them It appeared that the ground of that plot was laid in the first Petition and that the second was to have been guilded over with a Petition for Peace These men I speak of these designes they cry Peace Peace that destruction might have come upon you as an armed man You shal now hear the examinations and other things read at large unto you SIR HENRY VANE JUNIOR His Introduction to the Reading the severall Examinations taken in this businesse Together with severall Observations delivered by him upon occasion thereof GENTLEMEN YOU have heard very fully the State of this bu sines by what the Persons that have already spoken have opened to you in generall that which you are now in the next place to have communicated to you are the Examinations as they proceeded from the mouthes of the Parties themselves that you may see the Design in its lively colours and that as you have had it summarily presented to you from this Noble Lord and worthy Gentleman you may now hear the parties themselves speak The first Examination that was taken was the 4. of Jan. 1643. and
A CVNNING PLOT TO DIVIDE AND DESTROY THE PARLIAMENT AND THE CITY OF LONDON Made knowne at a Common Hall by the Earle of Northumberland Master Solliciter and Sir Henry Vane The Design is fully discovered in the Severall Examinations and Confessions of Master RILEY Severall Examinations and Confessions of Sir BASILL BROOK Severall Examinations and Confessions of Master VIOLET Proclamations from his MAJESTY Letters from his MAJESTY Letters from the Lord DIGBY Letters from Colonell READ LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Peter Cole at his shop in Cron-Hill right over against Popes-Head Aily neare the Royall Exchange January 16. 1643. The Right Honourable the Earle of Northumberland his Speech MY Lord Maior and you Gentlemen of the City of London the two Houses of Parliament have not of late had any occasion to imploy us hither the reason hath been because that your readinesse and your forwardnesse have upon all occasions prevented any thing that they could ask or desire from you But now at this time we come from command of the two Houses to communicate unto you a discovery that hath been lately made under a fair and specious pretence of desiring peace to raise divisions and to make factions here in the City and between the City and the two Houses of Parliament What hath already passed and come to the knowledge of the Houses they have sent us here to acquaint you with the Papers and the Examinations will be here read unto you and likewise the Sense of the two Houses When you shall heare these read and consider the Instruments that were the Actors and the Persons imployed in this Negotiation you will be best able to judge of the businesse If you please to have the patience to heare these Examinations read these Gentlemen will read them A Narrative of a Designe and Practise upon the City of London lately discovered and some Observation upon it by Mr SOLLICITER MY Lord Mayor and you Gentlemen and worthy Citizens of this City You have heard by this Noble Lord that it hath pleased Almighty God out of his goodnesse within these few dayes to make a discovery to both the Houses of an intended practise upon the Parliament and City and so by consequence upon the whole Kingdome And in respect that the Stage whereupon this designe was to have been acted were the Houses of Parliament and principally this City and that some of the Actors in that Tragedy for so I may call it were members of this Citie And likewise in respect of that neere Conjunction between the Houses and you That as Hypocritus twins they are like to live and dye together Therefore they have commanded me and diverse other Gentlemen of the House of Commons to make known unto you what this designe and practice was But before I tell you either what it was or the dangerous consequence of it I think it will not be amisse that you should heare it from one of themselves who was an Actor and projector of it that is from the Lord Digby who in a letter writ to Sir Basil Brooke concerning this businesse doth professe That since these troubles did begin There was no design nor no practise that was so likely to have taken that was so likely to have produced that good effect as they stile it as this You may very well remember the bloody Designe upon the Parliament and this City discovered about half a yeare since he himselfe said That this is above all that hitherto hath been in agitation This is their sence upon it that were the Projectors and were to have been the Actors in it The thing in brief is thus It was a seditious and Iesuiticall Practice and Designe under the specious pretence of Peace to have rent the Parliament from the City and the City from the Parliament To have severed and disjoyned the Parliament within it self the City within it self Thereby to render up both Parliament and City to the Designes of the Enemy which is not all for the destruction and nulling of this present Parliament was intended as likewise the ingaging our selves in a Treaty of Peace without the advice or consent of our Brethren of Scotland contrary to the late Articles solemnly agreed upon by both Kingdomes to the perpetuall dishonour of this Nation by breach of our publique Faith ingaged therein to that Nation thereby not only utterly to frustrate our expectation of assistance from Scotland but which is worse in all likelihood to ingage the two Nations in broyles if not in a war This in briefe was the design the particulars whereupon it was framed and the parties that were Actors in it I shall likewise discover to you There was one Read who called himselfe Collonel Read a man I suppose well known by name to this City He had been heretofore many yeares since a common Agent for the Papists he was a principall person to whom the Packets and addresses from Rome were made it was he that did disperse them abroad in the Kingdome with whom for the advancing of the Popish Cause continued consultations were held who for advancing of the Catholique Cause as they call it went over into Ireland there fomented the Rebellion having been one of the Plotters of it and was taken Prisoner there and sent hither This was the man who was the principall contriver and Actor in the present businesse Who together with Sir Basil Brooke a known Jesuited Papist a great Stickler in all the Popish transactions and Treasurer of the monies lately contributed by the Papists in the War against Scotland both prisoners having laid the designe here Mr Reads enlargement must be procured that he might act his part at Oxford Sir Basil Brooke must lye ledger here But because so great a businesse required more mannagers therefore one Violet a broken Goldsmith and a Protestant in shew must be brought in as a fit person to go between these Papists and the parties in the City Mr Ryley by reason of his place of Scoutmaster of the City and his reputation amongst the Commoners must be gained who in these respects might be very usefull both in the way of Intelligence between Oxford and them as likewise by promoting it with the Citizens others in the City of principall note amongst the people are dealt withall The first thing Mr Ryley must act is the exchange of Read a prisoner for the Treason and Rebellion in Ireland under the name of Captain Read taken prisoner at Burleigh House in this Kingdome for one of no greater ranke than a Quarter-master That being done a Character of Intelligence was agreed on between Read Ryley and Violet Read to be knowne by the name of Collonel Lee Ryley by the name of The Man in the Moone and Violet by the name of James Morton After Reads going to Oxford the Queene the Dutches of Buckingham and the Lord Digby are consulted with These are the Managers at Oxford with his Maiesties knowledge Reade from Oxford by Letters
at nine of the clocke in expectation of Violets returne He further saith that the like note to this shewed him directed to the Man in the moone was delivered to him by Violet about a fortnight sithence and this Note was delivered to him by Sir Basil Brooke at the three Cranes on Munday or Tuseday last both of them comming from Colonell Read T. Riley So there he acknowledgeth both these Letters the one to be delivered him by this Violet the other by Sir Basil Brooke He further saith that the said Violet delivered this Examinant a paper of Propositions demanding this Examinants opinion who told him which he thought would be consented to by the Parliament and which not That the said Violet also asked this Examinant whether there might not bee thought on some Propositions that might please the King and Parliament Theophilus Riley Having proceeded to examine Master Riley thus farre the Committee did likewise send for Sir Basil Brooke who was Prisoner in the Kings Bench and his Examination is that which is next to be read to you and is the fifth of Ianuary 1643. Who saith That he knowes Colonell Read that he was the man as hee thinkes did designe the Treaty of peace now in agitation betweene the King and the City That hee knowes Thomas Violet that he acquainted this Examinant with Propositions which he knowes not whether himselfe drew or that hee did it with the assistance of others Who further saith that Master Violet told this Examinant that hee thought all those in the City that formerly shewed themselves for peace would doe so now among which was Alderman Gibbes who had made a Speech tending that way in the house of Commons that he knowes Master Riley upon occasion of this businesse and hath met with him at the three Cranes in the Vintrey two severall times where he desired to know of the said Riley whether if that a Letter came from the King it might bee a meanes to procure the City to move the Parliament for the procuring of a Treaty of peace To which Master Riley replyed he thought the Lord Major and Common Councell would acquaint the Parliament with it and that it was probable thereupon Propositions might be thought upon and a peace might insue This Examinant being shewed the note directed to the Man in the moone did confesse he received it from Master Read by Wood and that he delivered it with his owne hands to Master Riley at the three Cranes at their second meeting and saith that Violet told him this that by the Man in the moone was meant Master Riley This Examinant further saith that in lesse then a fortnight one Wood brought severall Letters from Oxford one from his Majesty to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and well-affected Citizens another from the Lord Digby to this Examinant and a Copy of the Kings Letter That Thomas Violet returned from Oxford on Wednesday night and brought with him Letters also from his Majesty to the Mayor Aldermen and Common Councell a Letter from the Lord Digby to this Examinant and a copy of his Majesties Letter that the later of the Kings Letters is in the hands of the said Wood and that the said Letter was given him on Thusday night with direction to deliver it to the Lord Mayor the rest of the Letters this Examinant hath in his power and undertakes to deliver them to this Committee and knoweth who hath the charge of them that the Kings Letters differed very little and were to this effect That the City had shewed great loyalty to the Kings predecessors and had received great favours from them and that he doubted not that he had many good subjects in the City that did desire Peace and were weary of their misery that he had sent these Letters to let them know he would confirme the Protestant Religion and the liberties of the subjects in any way they should devise and that hee would bee ready to receive their petition if they presented any to him and give safe conduct to them they should send with their Petition That the substance of the Lord Digbies Letter was to direct him to deliver the Kings Letter or to forbeare according as he found it probable the City were inclinable thereunto That Violet did tell this Examinant that hee conceived the City would be very well inclined to that the King expressed in his Letters and thereupon would acquaint the Parliament with it That Violet told this Examinant hee had spoken with Alderman Gibbes and Master Riley since his returne from Oxford and acquainted them that hee had brought a Letter from the King and though Alderman Gibbes refused to have any thing to doe in the businesse but in a publike way yet hee was conceived by Violet notwithstanding to be the same man hee was before inclinable towards peace He further saith that he desired Mr. Riley to promise him secresie in what he delivered to him which he did That Violet told this Examinant that the King promised him to requite him well if the businesse succeeded Riley also should bee well requited if a peace did follow That at the meetings betweene this Examinant and Master Riley at the three Cranes the said Riley told him he thought the said Alderman Gibbes and divers others in the City would be for peace and that hee thought that the Cities declaring for Peace would be the most probable and best way to draw the Parliament to joine and so to effect it Basil Brooke The next Examination which shall be read to you is the Confession of Violet written with his owne hand Tho. Violet saith that he being aboard the Ship called the Prosperous Sarah for his twentieth part hee did write two Letters to my Lord Mayor and Alderman Gibbes to entreat their assistance for bringing him on shoare which was done within foure or five dayes and he was committed to the prison of the Kings Bench. That about ten dayes after Master John Read was remanded from the aforesaid Ship to the prison of the Kings Bench and lay in the same house part of the time of his stay in prison where he procured to be exchanged for one that was taken by the Kings forces and carried to Oxford and understanding by Master Iohn Read that the Warrant for the exchange was in Master Rileys hands to take the security hee went twice over with Master Read to have the security taken and Master Read then telling Master Riley that if there were not a Peace there would needs come a great destruction upon this Kingdome that he would be a blessed Instrument that could procure peace which Master Riley seconded Therupon Mr. Read told Mr. Riley and me that when he came to Oxford he would intimate how he found things to incline to a peace and protested hee would to the utmost of his power doe good offices in that behalfe and that he would signifie how he found things to stand Whereupon hee sent a small note to me that
grace and favour of the King to be communicated in his gracious Letter that this grace and favour was of the coutrivement of Sir B. B. or M. Ryley and M. Violet here in this City before hand and that they gave reasons and arguments to the Court afterward why they should send it And in it Sir David Watkins that is named in this is a party it is true he was acquainted with this businesse but did discover it in part ten dayes before it came to light to some Members of the house of Commons and did freely come himselfe before he was sent for to the Committee and desired that it might be found out and searched This is the last Examination we shall read in this businesse after which you shall heare the Letters themselves of the Lord Digby and his Majesty the 7 of Ianuary 1643. The further Examination of Sir Bazill Brooke That George Wood mentioned in his former Examination is called Iohn Wood who was an Apprentice to a Merchant in the City and recommended by Read to this Examinat as a fit man to be trusted to carry Letters betweene Oxford and this placo in this businesse That Violet with the advice of of M. Ryley as this Examinat beleeveth framed some Propositions about 12 or 14 in number which were brought to this Examinat by Violet which mended the English of them which Propositions were reduced afterward to six by Violet Ryley or both and afterward was with the approbation of this Examinat That this Examinat at the three Cranes in the Vintry did meet with M. Ryley and Violet to confer upon the said Propositions and to consider of the probability of them to please this City and Parliament which afterward were carried to Oxford by the said Wood to Colonell Read who returned an answer that he thought the King would approve of them upon a Treaty which might be betweene the City and some Parliament men joyned with them That Wood also when he dwelt with his Master neere the Stocks and was imployed about taking up the exchange of monies and since that time the Examinat saith the said Wood told him he served in the wars particularly he served in the Battel at Newbury and being asked whether he knew the usuall abode of the said Wood or how to find him out upon occasion he saith he doth not know That the Propositions formerly mentioned this Examinat remembreth to be these or to this effect 1. That the City might be satisfied that the King would settle the Protestant Religion for without that neither the Parliament nor City would admit any Treaty 2. That the debts contracted upon the Publike Faith on either side by King or Parliament should be satisfied and the most likeliest way for the doing thereof was to settle the Excise for those purposes 3. That it was conceived that in respect of the Kings Declaration that the Parliament was no Parliament and that therefore the King could not Treat with them any more this Treaty was to be immediately betweene the King and the City and the City was to be the medium betweene the King and Parliament And this Examinat further saith That the said Wood told the Examinat that if any Parliament men would joyne with the City in this Treaty they also might come with them to Oxford under the safe conduct granted to the City though it were not exprest in the Kings Letter and that the said Wood received directions at Oxford for this Examinat to declare so much to whom he should thinke fit 4. That there must be an Act of oblivion for all parties and Delinquents whatsoever and a generall pardon that no Cessation should be expected during the Treaty if there had beene any That no mention was made in all these Propositions either of Scotland or Ireland That this Examinat doth remember That M. Alderman Gibs and M. Ryley were thought upon as fit men to be sent to Oxford about the Treaty as being persons inclined to the furtherance of Peace That VVood told this Examinat that it was wished from Oxford that the said parties might be imployed in this Treaty that Read being to procure his release first made a Petition to the Militia by the Name of Iohn Read Gent. to secure his quality as Colonell under pretence that he was a poore man and had children in great want in which businesse the said Read made use of some Citizens to promote this Petition That M. Ryley told the said Read when his release was obtained that he might perceive notwithstanding he might have beene hâ—ndred from his inlargement but that he said he knew no opposition and therefore he wished him to labour to requite this curtesie by endeavouring a peace betweene the King and City when he came to Oxford which he said he would doe Bazill Brooke Upon this examination you may observe that which will give you most light in this designe it was made so plausible not onely under the name of Peace but it must be that which must answer all mens expectations and that which most pinched which was that the debts of the Publike Faith should be paid by these propositions by the setling of the Excise when all things should be established that very thing which the Parliament in their wisedome and care would prevent that when your lawes have their freedome and when you injoy your liberties you should have no such extraordinary courses now on foot only for this extraordinary occasion this must be the way and the meanes when your liberties are setled to bring you under the greatest slavery that is to bring thosethings upon you that when you have said all that must not only pay you that have borne the brunt here but satisfie all the Delinquents on the Kings side also And secondly you may observe clcerely that now the Parliament must sit under a cloude by his treaty it must be by the King and the City the Parliament must be wholy obscured and waved The Kings Proclamation which is but a Paper and forme of a Proclamation must have anthority to abolish a Parliament setled by an Act of Parliament and that is the end that while you had a bait laid you for your liberties and peace to be setled you might have made such a president as never to have recovered a Parliament againe but in stead of that Act of Oblivion you might have made an Act for to have buried all Parliaments in Oblivion this was the right state of this Designe This Letter Gentlemen was directed to Sir Bazill Brooke in an outward Cover The Letter here which is for Sir Bazill Brooke it is under my Lord Digbies owne hand it is the Letter which Wood brought to Towne on Monday night last Oxford 29. Decemb 1643. Your affectionate Servant George Digby SIR THe King and Queene have both commanded me to give you thanks in their Name for your care and diligence in their service and His Majesty hath so much
him such a Petition he will then very willingly receive it The third thing is this That his Majesty declares that there is no art he hath hitherto passed in Parliament but he will be most willing to confirm a Declaration that is renewed upon all occasions but never otherwise observed then it is now for in the mean time that act whereby this Parliament is a Parliament whereby all other acts of Parliament and the whole frame of the Lawes of this Kingdome are confirmed and preserved that very act in this design is to be laid aside and utterly to be destroyed And this Treaty is brought about for no other ends but to destroy that so that you may plainly see upon what ground these things are got from his Majestie and upon what counsels and withall consider what colour of ground you can have to receive any fruit from any such Declarations and Protestations as these are when they must only serve to amaze you til this Parliament and in this all Parliaments are for ever rooted out and destroyed The next Letter that is to be offered to you is the Letter of the Lord Digby upon another occasion which was presented to the Houses by a Noble Lord that is here present his Excellencie my Lord Generall who intercepted it going beyond Sea you shall understand there yet more clearly what manner of counsels his Majesty is now upon at Oxford which Letter shall be now read unto you For my very worthy Friend Sir Henry De Vic. From Oxford the 27. Decemb. 1643. Your very effectionate Friend and Servant George Digby SIr My indisposition the last week fore'st me to refer you to my Secretary for an account of what Occurrences that offorded This week hath been so little productive of any thing Considerable that when I shall have told you of taking of Beston Castle in Cheshire by his Majestes Forces under the Lord Biron a place of huge Importance both for strength and Command of all those countries of Cheshier Lancashire and some parts of Stafford and Darbishiere I shall have told you all the Marquesse of New castle having attempted nothing since the taking of Winckfield Mannor Plimouth remaining still in its former condition besieged and there having been nothing done between my Lord Hopton and Sir Walliam Waller since the unlucky beating up of one of our Quarters at Alton But we are in daily expectation of a criticall Blow between them The Lord Wilmot being now joyned with the Lord Hopton with a fresh strength of a thousand Horse and both being under march to attain Waller who hath possess'd himself of Arundell-Town we having a strong Garrison in the Castle and it is probably hoped he cannot avoid fighting with him upon disadvantage Thus much for the Military part The Prince de Harcourts Negotiation by way of Intermise for an Accommodation is well nigh at an end as I beleeve for that the pretended Parliament will not hearken to any Propositions from him in any other way then of an avowed addresse by which they might seem either to be owned by him as a Parliament and applied to by him as an Ambassadour or else to be admitted by the King for somewhat more considerable then He hath in a long time owned them for A point which His Majestie may not suffer them to gain without subverting the grounds Maxime of all his late proceedings against them and that which He now goes upon by the advice of all his Nobility here as you will perceive by this inclosed Proclamation upon the effects thereof all the Eyes of the Kingdom are now fixed God send them to be as good actuated as they are in speculation for I am confident that in reason it carries Probability of the surest and readiest way to the reestablishment of His Majestie and his Iust Rights and powers of any course that hath been yet attempted This is all more then the heartiest respects of Your affectionated Servant George Digby I have received yours of the 19. and will by the next give you an account of that particular in it that concernes your self GEntlemen this letter for what concerneth the Military part of it I beleeve your own knowledges are able to give your selves the best judgement how that that Criticall blow that he there sperketh of is now fallen in great part upon their own heads and that thanks be to God Sir William Waller being now in the Castle of Arundell having taken above 1000. or 1200. prisoners and some 100. and odde Officers with all other things delivered to him we see which way the Criticall blow is fallen for which we have all cause to acknowledge the goodnesse of Almighty God The second part declareth to your consideration that boldnesse and confidence which breakes forth in the Lord Digbyes Pen that it seemeth he hath forgotten he hath been a Parliament man he calleth that Parliament which is setled by Act of Parliament the very name whereof ought to be sacred to the eares of all true English men and lovers of their Countrey he calls a pretended Parliament That which durst never be called sayd or written at any time heretofore in England by any whatsoever The second thing you may observe is this That that councell of Nobility which you will heare of by and by in a Proclamation must now not onely be of a Councell of Nobility there but of all those that have beene likewise expelled out of the house of Commons or house of Peeres or withdrawn themselves from their duty and the trust put in them by their Country all these now must assemble together and what to do To settle his Majesties just rights and Power and this just right and power is to make this Parliament though setled by an Act of Parliament a pretended Parliament or in a word to give our lawes liberties or rights a being or not a being solely in his Majesties pleasure how just that is you your selves may easily discerne and how destructive it would be to you A third thing considerable in this letter is that though his Majestie should have any inclination to doe his Parliament right to acknowledge them a Parliament yet my Lord Digby saith it is a point that must not be suffered It is a point which his Majestie must not permit to be gained though it be but to do the Parliament that right as to acknowledge what they are by Act of Parliament his faithfull and Supreame Councell But in stead of this as you will heare by a Proclamation of the 22. of December All the members of both Houses that have forsaken their Country deserted the cause contributed to undermine the State and Kingdome and expose them to the prey of the Irish Rebels This must be the wholesome advice about his Majestie and this wholesome advice must beheld up though with the unnaturall ruin of this Parliament which must not be acknowledged but another thing set up in forme of a Parliament somewhat like a Parliament
only darlings in his Majesties eye whereby they might have served their turns and their ends of you In that therefore you must have as fair and good words as possible may be But now in this on the contrary side when it is to work upon the Parliament then you must be called an odious and rebellious City to draw them from you to Oxford This sufficiently discovers how palpable and grosse they are that all this faire and foule weather is made up only to shift hands to work the same designe of sowing division and dissention among us that so their party might prevaile you may likewise observe from the title of this Proclamation which is by occasion of the invasion of the Scots that they themselves have forgotten the cessation of Ireland whereby they have let loose worse then a forraign nation a nation imbrued in the Protestant blood and settled upon principles for the utter destruction of the Religion and Lawes of this Kingdom I say you may discerne thereby how far forth the cessation of Ireland is forgotten that complyes with all this For after they had murthered almost all the Protestants there and after they have layd that Kingdom waste they must have an opportunity to be let into this Kingdome and no councell called about it to hinder them but rather the councell to bring them over and the princiall actors in that rebellion must be neerest his Majesties heart For the comming of the Scots I believe you all know very well that the Parliament did think fit finding how neer the interest of these two Nations were conjoyned in one finding the constant love and amity of that Kingdome to this and how in its greatest extremity it was very punctuall to it how that the last time it was here it was very punctuall and carefull to observe all conditions and at the desire of the Parliament return back again according to their promise they thought it fit to enter into a Treaty with them in a solemn Covenant which Treaty is now solemnly ratified by both Kingdomes yet this must be called an Invasion When they were last in the Kingdome if they would have joyned with that Army to have come up against the Parliament they might have had very large conditions but that is now forgotten the offers that were then made to them I believe you have heard of already which was that they should have the foure Northern Counties formerly esteemed their ancient bounds that they should have three hundred thousand pounds in mony paid them down at Newcastle that they should have the plunder of the City of London and that all manner of grace or honour that his Majesty could bestow upon particular persons this is that which those that have been in Scotland know was then sent by way of Proposition by Sir Iohn Hinderson who is now at Oxford they then rejected those with scorn and did refuse to make an Invasion upon this Parliament but kept true and faithfull to the Parliament And upon this experience the Parliament thought fit to make use of them again against the publike danger against the ruine of the Protestant Religion which is threaned in all his Majesties three Dominions and therefore as for that point though for the present we cannot give you the full and large Declaration as hereafter will come forth from both Houses yet it is necessary to acquaint you with thus much that you may not be amazed by any such printed Papers as these are Here is a second paper in the forme likewise of a Proclamation whereby you shall see the unevennesse and unsteddinesse of His Majesties Councels at least in appearance for though they be steddy and united in that which is to bring destruction and ruin upon the Parliament and Kingdom yet you may see them halt in their expressions Before you were called a famous Citie you had deserved so well and had all encouragements offered you here on the contrary you shall see what language is given you and because the welfare of this Citie consists much in the residence of this Parliament and Courts of Iustice that are here And of such persons of quality as are necessarily attendant thereupon It is not now only thought fit to call away the Parliament from you but the Courts of Iustice that so you might be left a miserable confused Citie notwithstanding all the faire words and promises that have been given you BY THE KING A Proclamation for the removing of the Courts of Kings-Bench and of the Exchequer from Westminster to Oxford WHereas the sole power of appointing the Place or Places in which Our Great Courts of Iustice shall be kept and of removing them from one place to another as urgent occasion shall move Vs by the Lawes of this kingdom is inherent in Our Royall Person And whereas it is of great importance to Our service in these times of difficulty and distraction to have Our Iudges of Our said Courts to attend neer unto Vs by whose advice We may the better proceed in in all those Cases wherein the Iudgement and knowledge of the Lawes is required And whereas more especially the Chancellor or Lord keeper of the Great Seal of England and the Iudges of Our Court called the Kings-Bench were and are to follow the King and Our Court of Exchequer being the proper Court of Our Revenue ought to attend Vs as We shall appoint And whereas Our Cities of London and Westminster have been and yet are the chief Causers and Maintainers of this present Rebellion against Vs. And We taking into Our serious consideration that while Our Courts of Kings-Bench Common-Pleas and of Our Exchequer are kept at Westminster many of Our good and Loyall Subjects might be compelled or injoyned by Process in Our name to make their appearance there which they could not do without hazard of Imprisonment or other dammage or violence from the fomentors of this Rebellion and many might suffer prejudice by Verdicts and Iudgements had and obtained against them by default or otherwise when they could not with safety come to make their just defences thereupon We did reâ—olve to remove those Courts from Westminster to Our City of Oxford whether other of Our Courts of Iustice hath been and are already removed by Our former Proclamation And to the end that there might not be any prejudice to any of Our Subjects by discontinuance of their Suits in those Courts or otherwise We did send Our severall Writs of Adjournment directed to Our Iudges of Our said Courts of Kings-Bench and Common-pleas and to Our Barons of Our Exchequer thereby commanding and giving Warrant and authority to them respectively to adjourn all Pleas and Process depending before them in and from the Two and Twentieth day of November last past to the first return of Hillary Terme next commonly called Octabis Hillary to be holden then at Our City of Oxford But our Messenger sent with those Writs as We have been informed for no other cause
but for doing his duty in carrying and delivering those Writs was imprisoned and in an unjust and illegall way Sentenced to die and brought to a place of execution and threatned to be Hanged as at that time another of Our Messengers for no other cause then for doing his duty in the like kinde in carrying Our Proclamations to London was then shamefully Hanged and Murthered an Act so Barbarous as no former age can paralell and We have not yet received any certain and particular information touching the execution of those Writs In pursuance therefore of Our former resolution of removing those Courts from Westminster to Our City of Oxford We do for the present by this Our Proclamâ—tion authorized under Our Great Seal of England Ordain and appoint and by these presents publish and Declare Our Will and Pleasure to be that Our said Courts of Kings-Bench and Exchequer shall for the next Hillary Terme at the usuall and accustomed time for holding of the same be holden and kept at Our said City of Oxford and not at Westminster and shall be continued and kept there during that whole Terme and afterwards at the severall times and Termes for holding and keeping of those Courts untill Our further pleasure be known and published for removing them from Oxford And We do hereby straightly charge and Command all Our Iudges of Our said Court of Kings-Bench and Our Barons of Our Exchequer and all Officers Prethonotaries Clerkes and Ministers of or belonging to either of those Courts or which are or ought to do or perform any duty or service in either of them That they according to their severall places and duties give their severall and respective attendances at our said City of Oxford and there do and perform their respective Offices and Duties during the Terme and time aforesaid at Our said City of Oxford and not elsewhere And that all such as have any Suit or other occasion to attend in either of Our said Courts in the said Terme of Saint Hillary next coming or which have any cause or command to appear then in either of the said Courts do give their attendances and make their appearances respectively in the said Courts at Our said City of Oxford and not elsewhere And We do hereby farther straightly Charge and Command all Our Iudges of our said Court of Kings-Bench and our Barons of the Exchequer and all officers Prothonotaries Clerkes Ministers and Atturnies of or belonging to either of the said Courts that they presuine not contrary to this Our command in any sort to meet sit or attend at Westminster or elsewhere then at Our said City of Oxford for the holding or keeping or upon pretence or colour of holding or keeping of either of the said Courts for the Terme and time aforesaid or any part thereof or in any sort to proceed in any Action Suite or Plaint or Award make or issue out any Process or do any Act or thing whatsoever proper or belonging to the said Courts or either of them in any other place then at Our said City of Oxford or where We shall hereafter appoint the same as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perills And We do hereby likewise charge and Command all Sheriffes Bayliffes and others that have to do in the execution or return of any Writs Precepts Warrants or Process that for such Writs Precepts Warrants or process as have issued out of either of our said Courts of Kings-Bench or the Exchequer and are not yet returned they make their severall Returnes of the same into the said Courts respectively at Our said City of Oxford and not at Westminster And that they presume not in any sort to obey or execute any Writ Precept Warrant or Process which shall hereafter be awarded made or issued contrary to the Tenor and effect of this Our Proclamation as they will answer the contrary at their Perills Given at Our Court at Oxford the first day of Ianuary in the nineteenth yeer of Our Reigne 1643. GOD SAVE THE KING GEntlemen you may remember that the Kings Letters that hath been read to you was dated the 26. of Decem. the later of them was dated the second of Ianuary and notwithstanding all those expressions that were there given you the Cities of London and VVestminster are in this Proclamation of the second Ianuary as if that they had forgot what they had set out before they are here called the principall Maintainers and Causers of this Rebellion but not only so but as was told you before an endeavour used to lay this Citie as much as in them lay desolate desolate from all traffick as you have had it before by Proclamation desolate from the great Councell of the Kingdom which is the Parliament by carrying it to Oxford desolate now of the Cours of Instice that should be here the life and preservation of all your affaires and businesses and yet this is that which in his Majesties letter you have so many faire expressions of affection and good inclination to settle your peace It is not to be doubted but upon the whole matter you will hereafter learne to understand all such Complements as these are and know how to mannage your Councels and to expresse your affections according to the advice of the two Houses wherein as the Houses are to acknowledge your faithfulnesse and readinesse to comply with them so they likewise have been willing to expose their lives estates and paines and all that lies in them to goe before you in that which may be for your preservation In the former Proclamation there was notice taken that the Major part of the two Houses were of the opinion or would be in all likelihood with the King at Oxford thus much we can declare to you that there is above 200. as I remember 13. score that have already solemnely taken the Covenant with us here and which we are confident of will be so tender of the honour of God and their owne honours and what they have promised in the Covenant that they will pursue that interest they have expressed and that they remaining here make the Major part you may easily judge And for this Proclamation we have Authority to declare to you that such is the care of the two Houses and such is their affection to your selves that they are resolved to establish the Courts of Justice here with fuller power then hitherto they have been that is they will fill the Judges upon the Benches and take care to have all the Courts setled here in a steddie way And all those that shall go to Oxford in compliance with this Proclamation they shall have their estates confiscate and they will proceede in such a course as you shall see the naturall care they have to preserve you in following their advice which all of us by the fundamentall lawes of this Kingdome are bound to do and thus much we have authority to declare unto you There is onely one thing more in this Proclamation which is onely a particular by the bye that gives you notice of that barbarous and unheard of usage of a spie that was here justly condemned by a Councell of war at the instance of the Houses of Parliament by Command from his Excellencie it is told you such a murther was never heard of the murther must now be put upon this when you may very well remember in your owne case how an honest Citizen at Reading was proceeded against with an unheard of murther indeed this being nothing but that necessary Justice which in times of war is to be expected in all such cases The Right Honourable the Earl of Northumberland his Speech MY Lord Major and you Gentlemen of the City of London you have fully heard delivered by these Gentlemen all the proceedings in their late discovery You are now well able to make a right judgement upon the whole matter I am commanded in the name of both Houses to read unto you here their Opinions and the sence that they have delivered and resolved of among themselves That the matter of this report containeth a sedicious and Jesuiticall practise and Designe under the fair and Specious pretence of Peace having its rise and fountain from known Iesuites and Papists to work Divisions betweene the Parliament and City of London to raise Factions in both thereby to render them up to the Designes of the Enemie and tending also to the breach of the Publique faith of this Kingdom unto our Brethren of Scotland engaged by the late solemn Covenant and Treaty entred into by both Nations thereby not onely to weaken us in our united force against our Popish and Common Enemies but to embroyle the two Nations in unhappy divisions FINIS
destruction of this Kingdome if there be not a peace which I pray God almighty to send speedily you must expect armies of strangers from severall places who are now preparing who certainly at their comming in will overrun the whole Kingdom and when it is past remedy you wil see your own errors and therefore to prevent more misery then I am able to express to this deplorable Kingdom and the effusion of the blood of millions of men women and children which must inevitably be this summer apply your selves in a humble and submissive way to his Majesty whom I know you will find ready with arms cutstretched to receive you to favour and mercy and grant you favours even beyond your expectation defer no time for Gods sake and what you will do do it speedily I say again doe it speedily and lose no time for reasons I may not write The direction of the letter by the same hand that it is written within is for the man in the Moone without date Upon the falling downe of this note to the ground we examined Master Riley upon it who did protest to us clearly hee did not know hee had this note about him who did thereupon declare as you shall heare that the note directed upon the backside to this examinant to the man in the Moone he confesseth to be sent him a fortnight since from Colonell Read that he received another to this effect before which is also here shall be read unto you The inscription upon the back of this letter is for the man in the Moon Sir I Assure you I have not bin wanting to further your good desires and if it be not your own faults I make doubt but things wil have a happy issue for I find those that are most concerned in it forward enough reflect now upon the misery of the times upon the groans and sufferings of those you see not which yet have bin nothing to what they will be if not speedily prevented by a Peace which to obtain I beseech you let it not only be your own care but the care of all those you love or have power with otherwise be confident of a generall ruine which certainly will be inevitable both to your selves and posterity and therefore take it into your serious consideration and let not causelesâ—e jealousies hinder you to apply your selves in a humble submissive manner to his Majesty who I am sure will yet look upon you with a gracious eye lose no time for the longer you delay it may prove more difficult no doubt TThe former of these letters in this examination which is sign dwith his own hand he doth acknowledge this letter which hath bin first read we shall read you his other examination wherein he likewise acknowledgeth this letter which hath bin since read and you may observe upon these letters that this Gentleman Colonell Read who as was told you is a famous lesuit hath bin the Ring-leader in the rebellion of Ireland O how tender hearted he is now to the Peace and liberty of this Kingdom he hath there in Ireland kindled a flame rais'd a rebellion to hinder the good indeavours of this Parliament which if it had not bin you might have injoyed your liberties without this war and blood that hath bin since spilt and now he returns a preacher here to exhort Mr. Riley for feare of this ruine which himselfe hath caused for to come to a Peace now upon Propositions of his owne contriving which are nothing else but a delivering your selves up to the designes of these Jesuites and Papist who would in the same manner bring our Protestant blood to be spilt here in England which with out mercy they have already done in Ireland I only tell you this by way of Observation Gent. This paper which was first read to you confest by Mr. Riley to be sent him from Col. Read falling thus strangely into our hands who knew nothing of it nor knew nothing at all of this conspiracy we did thereupon tell M. Rily that he could not but take notice of the finger of God that would bring the same to light and though from our tendernes and respect to him before we would not examine him of his papers that were about him wee now did desire he would pull out his papers from his pocket to let us see what he had beside having done so here is another paper directed like wise to M Theophitus Riley and it is but of four lines but that which did like wise discover another person that we knew not of to be interested in the businesse and that is Sir Bafil Brook It is directed for M Riley and it runs thus Good Mr. Riley these are to let you know that I am returned from Oxford with good sirccesse in my businesse and perceiving that you have appointed to meet B. B. at 9. of the Clock I pray without fail be here at the Eyon in South work before 8. of the clock to morrow morning It is subscribed T. V. that is Tho. Violet and dated Wednesday 3. Jan. 1643. which was the day Mr. Violet returned from Oxford was this good successe as he wrote here in the note and the next morning it seems Mr. Riley and Sir Basil Brooke appointed to meet at 9. of the Clock and he desired him to meet an houre before and M. Riley upon the examination coufest this B. B. was Sir Basil Brooke The further Examination of Theophilus Riley 4. Ianuar. 1643. This Examinant being further demanded concerning a Letter directed for Master Theophilus Riley and subscribed T. V. which was the Letter last read to you confesseth the said Letter was written to himselfe from Thomas Violet and sent to him this morning that B. B. mentioned in the Letter is Sir Basil Brooke as he conceives that he hath twice had conference with Sir Basil Brooke at the three Cranes in the Vintrey which time the said Thomas Violet was also there this Examinant being brought thither by the said Violet where they had discourse about the Treaty to be transacted by Colonell Read that Sir Basil Brooke sent for this Examinant on Tuseday last to the three Cranes where he told this Examinant a Letter of grace and favour would be sent from the King to the Lord Major that his Majesty would be willing to receive a Petition from the City Then Sir Basil Brooke shewed to this Exaninant a copy of the Kings letter which was to this effect as he remembers That whereas this City had been famous for their loyaltie to the King and that they had of late been disobedient yet if they would petition to him he would lovingly receive them and protested how hee had ever endevoured to maintaine the true Protestant Religion Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Subject that there was a Messenger come already about this businesse that Violet would returne within three of foure dayes and upon that appointed another meeting upon Friday
I should tell Master Riley he had moved him that was most concerned in the businesse and that he found him very willing to imbrace any occasion to have these differences reconciled And another Note he sent me to goe to Master Riley with a Superscription To the Man in the Moone in which he pressed earnestly that if they would take into their consideration the groanes and sufferings of them they see not and keep ruine from themselves and posterities the likeliest way was to petition his Majesty that so these great mischiefes might bee removed and things brought to a good end betweene the King and Parliament which Note I delivered to Master Riley Within a weeke after there was a Paper left at my Lodging wherein were about ten Questions propounded two of them I had formerly spoken of to Colonell Read which was That his Majesty would be pleased to passe an Act of Oblivion And that if his Majesty would come and fit with his Parliament there was revenue enough to satisfie all demands in a peaceable way by the Excise both for the King and Parliament But finding divers other Questions in the Paper I went to Master Riley who upon perusall usall of the Paper told me that some three or foure of them he did conceive might very well be taken into consideration and he did often desire before mee that some course might be taken that his Majesty would signifie to the Parliament or Citie that he would come up to the Parliament and that the City would petition him in that behalfe Whereupon I went to Sir David Watkins and knowing that he was a man zealous for the Parliament and Common-wealth I told him Sir I am come to you to aske your advice in a businesse of great concernment and if I did thinke there were any danger in the doing of it I would not meddle with it and therefore I am come to you to desire your opinion in these things I present to you and what you advise to doe in it Whereupon I shewed him the paper wherein the Questions were He asked me where I had them I told him I did conceive they came from Master Read and declared to him most of the foresaid passages but some of them I told him I had in the way of discourse spoken of to Master Read but for the greatest part I know nothing of it Sir David Watkins told me if I would leave the Papers with him he would aske a friend of his and take advice the next day I brought them to him and he told me he did conceive many of the questions were good wayes for a Peace and that the Parliament and City must first be moved in it and for the present he would not do any thing in it but would not speak of it to any one but wished it might bring a good peace and said the Excise would give content to both Wherupon I told Mr Riley that I would desire Sir Basil Brook to see if he could procure his Majesties Letters to the Parliament or City to desire an Accommodation And thereupon Sir Basil Brooke before he did write any thing desired to speak with Master Riley himselfe to know what he did esteeme the Excise to be worth and what way he desired to be taken concerning the Debts of the Publike Faith and how the Kings ingagements might be satisfied and what ground he had for what he should speake and what he conceived the Excise to be worth a yeare if the times were setled Whereupon Master Riley replyed he did esteeme it to be about three millions a yeare if the times were quiet which would quickly satisfie the debts on both sides and afterwards a proportion of what should bee agreed on might goe for the encreasing of his Majesties revenue Their meeting was at the three Cranes in the Vintrey about a month agoe and what assurance was spoken of if the King would assent to come to his Parliament he should have Sir Basil Brook told Master Riley that though he were a Papist he suffered as much by the war as any other for hee could not receive his rents and Souldiers were billeted in his house and therefore it concerned him to looke after peace as well as any other and he would thank God if he could be an instrument to bring a lasting and good Peace about Master Riley told him there was no Question to be made but if the King would send a Letter to the Militia to that effect as this which his Majesty hath sent they would petition the House about it for without their consent they could not meddle in any thing Which Sir Basil Brook told him he never expected or thought otherwise and to this effect was their discourse Whereupon he told Master Riley he would take some course to see if he could perswade the King by such friends as hee had about him to send a Letter to the Parliament or the City of London to signifie the desire he had for Peace and unitie with all his subjects Thereupon they parted and the next morning Sir Basil Brooke spake to me that he would write to my Lady Dutchesse of Buckingham to be a meanes to perswade the Queene to be a visible actor to procure a peace and that by that meanes she would procure the love of the people and that shee would procure his Majesty to give an exchange for me and that if I could have his Majesties Warrant to come to Oxford which when he told me of hee had written though I did not see it I made my petition to the Militia my Lord Mayor and Alderman Gibbes I writ a letter and desired Master Riley to deliver it to them desiring them to move the Militia that I might have liberty to goe to Oxford upon putting in baile to pay 70. li. or to return to London within 20 daies which was not granted Then I desired Mr Riley to find me an exchange which he did and I am now againe returned with the Kings pleasure in that busines concerning my exchange There was a Letter sent downe by Sir Basil Brook by Wood concerning what was desired but the King would not send it to the Parliament but writ the Letter as it is come up and in Sir Basil Brooks custody with a power in him onely from my L. Digby to deliver it if he thought it would work the effect of a blessed peace and upon my salvation never any thing entred into my heart but to do all things for the honour of the Parliament and good of the common wealth to my power When I came to Court on Tuseday morning I found the King in the garden and Read took me a way and brought me to the L. Digby and presently my L. Digby told me he had sent up the Kings letter by one Wood to the Lo. Mayor Aldermen and common Councell which was delivered to Sir Basil Brook to which letter I humbly refer my self and another letter was sent up to
Sir B. Brook if he saw good to deliver the letter under the L. Digbies hand which letter I brought up and delivered it to Sir Basil Brook and that was not to be delivered unles Sir Basil Brook saw good and that it would be a means to work a blessed peace since I came to Towne I told Sir David Watkins Alderman Gibs Rily Joseph Alderman Gibs his man and some others that there was hope of a blessed peace all which I humbly submit to your grave wisdomes That I was to tell my L. Major the King had directed his letter to him Lord Major of London which Read told me was his Majesties pleasure which he did hearing he was a moderate man in his place and for Alderman Gibs his Majesty did recommend it to his care that he would further the businesse as he should think best according to the Letters for accomplishing a happy peace M. Ryley told me that it could be no trouble to me to bring up these Letters for when they have brought up any Message to the Lord Major and Common-Councell they will doe nothing in it till they have acquainted the Parliament and receive their direction what answer to give Sir David Watkins told me that after it was recommended to the houss be would affist it both by himselfe and friends to the uttermost of his power for a peace and the reason he gave me was that if a peace was concluded he hoped to be reimbursed the mony he hath layd our and that the Parliament would looke well to the keeping of the Covenant the reason M. Ryley gave that the Letters should be directed to the City was that he did beleeve if the King did write to them he would not touch upon any thing of the differences between King Parliament but leave it to the City to Petition the Parliament without whose consent and privity he and Sir D. Watkins could or would doe nothing for it was resolved the House should know and give their directions for every thing Besides Sir B. B. in his directions from the King was to be assured that this Letter would be a meanes to work a blessed peace or else to forbear the delivery and afore Sir B. B. wrote about it he did speak to M. Ryley to know how he should be assured of the good inclination of the City for a Peace to whom M. Ryley reply'd there was no question of it but it would and it was resolved that â—int and request of the Militia for a peace to the houses was ground enough for the King to take notice of the inclination of many of his Subjects in London for a peace And to this last when I told Sir D. Watkins of the way which was intended the King would take notice of the inclination by that message he did approve of it that M. Ryley meeting at the Taverne in Cheapeside the signe of the man in the moon did give order to Read when he writ to him to write by that name Reads name was to be knowne by M. Lee and Thomas Violets name by Morton but that I never received any note from Read other then I have declared Tho. Violet You shall heare now a further Examination of Tho. Violet who being shewed a note beginning Sir I assure you an ending may prove the more difficult which was the former note I read that was delivered to M. Ryley by Violet himselfe He accknowledgeth he received this note from one Wood who told this Examinat it came from one Colonell Read whose hand writing he conceived it was but it was to be delivered to M. Ryley which this Examinat did accordingly in a day or two after his receipt by occasion of meeting the said M. Ryley and M. Ryle's inquiring of him what Read had done in the businesse of Peace He saith that Sir Bazill Brooke wished him to tell the Queene which he did that if she would be a mediator in this peace she would make her selfe very famous and glorious and get the love againe of all the people and that there would be enough as he did conceive out of the Excise to satisfie all Publique debts And that he should acquaint the Queene that M. Ryley had told him that as soone as the Kings Letter was brought up it should be communicated to the Common-Councell and from thence to the house which in all probability would be a certaine way for peace The Queene hereupon replyed that she would be glad with all her heart to be a mediator betweene the King and his people and that this Examinat should deserve very well in promoting this worke and took it very kindly from this Examinat and Sir Bazill Brooke and that she would study to requite it That the same Message that this Examinant delivered to the Queen he presented also to the King who expressed a good acceptance of the businesse This Examinant further saith that for the better effecting of the peace desired it was thought fit by consent of Sir Bazill Brooke and M. Ryley that this Examinat should prepare a rough draught of a Letter for the King to write to the City which was by this Examinat after it was drawne by himselfe to be communicated to M. Ryley and Sir Bazill Brooke for their advice concerning the same which was accordingly done by this Examinat and thereupon the said Sir Bazill Brooke in the first place did polish and amend the rough draught framed by this Examinat and M. Ryley after him did also make some alterations which done this Examinat did then communicate it to Sir David Watkins who approved thereof and thereupon this frame of the Letter was sent to Oxford by one VVood about foureteene dayes since and was delivered by VVood to Col. Read who procured the Kings Letter accordingly with some alterations in forme but little in substance which was brought to Sir B. B. by Wood upon monday last being the first of this instant Ianuary to present to the Lord Major Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell and from thence to Communicate it to the House of Parliament Tho. Violet The further Examination of Sir Bazill Brooke who saith that M. Violet did frame the rough draught of the Letter for his Majesty to write to the Cuy that when it was communicated by the said Violet to this Examinat he did polish and mend the English of it that afterward the said drought of the Letter was sent to Oxford about 14 dayes since or thereabouts and delivered by one John Wood to Colonell Read who procured the Kings Letter accordingly in substance though with some alterations in forme which Letter was brought under the Kings band Signet to Sir B. B. upon monday last being the first of this instant to present it to the L. Maior Court of Aldermen and Common-Councell and from them to be communicated to the Houses of Parliament Bazill Brook In this Examination observe onely thus much That whatever pretence there was of having the
confidence in your discretion and warinesse not to be deluded that in the hopes of the good effects towards a happy peace which you seeme to promise your selfe from this negotiation His Majesty is pleased to descend very far in writing so gratious a Letter to those who may seeme to have deserved so ill of him I send you herewithall a copy of the Letter it selfe which varies only in stile not in matter from that draught which was sent downe hither which if you like and continue your confidence that it might be effectuall to so blessed an end as peace and union you are to deliver to those parties seconded with assurance of his Majesties most gratious and sincere inclinations to give them full satisfaction in all their reasonable desires but if you shall finde cause to lessen the beliefe of a powerfull effect by this Letter of His Majesties It is then recommended to your discretion to forbeare the delivery of it since it would be a very unfit thing to expose so great a grace and condescending of his Majesty to hazards of being made frustrate and contemned God send you happy successe in this great undertaking I professe it is that whereth wih my beliefe and reason goe along more comfortably then with any thing I have known in projection since these troubles But it is not fit to ravell further into the businesse this hazardous way and therefore I shall adde no more but I am Oxford 29. Decemb 1643. Your very affectionate Servant GEORGE DIGBY GENTLEMEN If there had beene no Comment made upon this businesse this Letter would have beene enough This Letter acknowledgeth the draught that was sent from the City of London from those that had contrived it here and that it was past the Court at Oxford without any materiall alteration this Letter likewise acknowledgeth so much wisedome so much caution in Sir Bazill Brooke that known lesuited Papist as hath bin told you before so much tendernes of his Majesties Honour to be in him that all is left to his discretion as he thinks fit of If he finde the Temper of the City to be right to be delivered it is left to his caution to his warinesse to his sence and measure of his Majesties honour to doe in it as he pleaseth there is likewise held forth unto you that in his opinion which is my Lord Digbies opinion there was nothing that ever he observed of any projection It is his owne word and therefore you may the better observe it that he never observed any thing in projection or in designe all this Parliament tending this may that was more likely and probable to bring the Kings ends about And if you remember this till you heare another Letter of his read by and by which there declares plainly that the Kings end in his Councels now about him is never to acknowledge this to be a Parliament Compare that with this heere and then you may understand what a project this was In the last place you may observe that the Lord Digby his great inclinations as well as Sir Bazill Brookes for a blesled peace and a blessed union in this Kingdome when you know very well there hath not beene a more unhappy instrument to blow up jealousies and misunderstandings betweene his Majesty and his People and that durst not stand the iustice of Parliament but was fain to fly out of the Kingdom for it and at the beginning of these unhappy distraction he advised his Majesty to retire into some strong place the better to engage him in a warre upon his Subjects And yet no other phrase in his mouth but a happy peace and a blessed union to cozen poore people to lead them into snares This Letter on the outside is thus directed To Our Trusty and welbeloved Our Lord Major and Aldermen of Our City of London and all other our well affected Subjects of that City It is Superscribed Charles Rex And beneath By His Majesties Command George Digbie TRusty and welbeloved We greet you well When We remember the many Acts of Grace and favour We Our Royall Predecessours have conferred upon that Our City of London and the many Examples of eminent Dutie and Loyalty for which that City hath been likewise famous We are willing to beleeve notwithstand-the great defection We have found in that place that all men are not so far degenerated from their Affection to Vs and to the Peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now fell and therefore being informed that there is a desire in some principall Persons of that City to present a petition to Us which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Us and that Our City whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may be procured We have thought fit to let you know That We are ready to receive any such Petition and the Persons who shall be appointed to present the same to Us shall have a safe Conduct And you shall assure all Our good Subjects of that Our City whose hearts are touched with any sense of duty to Vs or of Love to the Religion and Lawes established in the quiet and peaceable Fruition whereof they and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happiness That We have neither passed any Act nor made any Profession or Protestation for the maintenance and Defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which We will not most strictly and Religiously observe and for the which we will not be alwaies ready to give them any security can be desired And of these Our Gracious Letters We expect a speedy Answer from you And so We bid you farewell Given at Our Court at Oxford in the 19. yeer of Our Raign 26. Decemb. 1643. GENTLEMEN In this Letter also you may observe some few particulars upon the reading of it over First the good informations his Majesty hath of the inclinations of his people here how that some principall men in this City as it seems was informed him were very willing for to petition him to peace the grounds of this you know upon what hath been offered already how they came to be presented to him and that by expressing of it here in his Letter it was rather to win your affections to it under these plausible pretences then that he had any reall or solid ground for any such thing In the second place you may observe thus much as hath been told you already that his Majesties scope in this Letter and the design of the Counsell about him is to invite you of this City to be his interposers for the peace of the whole Kingdom as if there were no Parliament sitting or as if you had quite forgot the trust that your selves have reposed in this present Parliament for he faith he understands that you have a minde to petition him for a peace that by that means the peace of the whole Kingdome may be effected and if you will fend
therby to delude simple people if it were possible that might take place to subvert the Lawes of this Kingdome and subject al our liberties to an arbitrary power under pretence of Law to the worst of all evils By this you may easily understand the drift of the Councels that are at Oxford and this use we ought to make of it to unite our selves with more strong resolutions and unwearied affections then ever with our purses lives and estates to labour to redeeme our selves from this misery and thraldome that is threatned us and now appearing in more cleare Demonstrations than ever yet it hath You shall now heare the Proclamation it selfe read this Paper that is now to be read to you is that which commeth in the forme of a Proclamation for as you well know the great Seale of England is now with the Parliament and the other great Seal by the Ordinance is made voide and such is the confidence they have of this good doctrine of theirs and to set up another Parliament in the roome of it and to proceede upon these principles and grounds they think it necessary to send it beyond sea hoping hereby to unite all Popish Princes upon this point who know very well the true Protestant Religion must inevitably be rooted out if this Protestant Parliament be made no Parliament or destroyed in which all our other Lawes at the same time and upon the same grounds are no Lawes but must perish also By the King A Proclamation for the Assembling the Members of both Houses at Oxford upon occasion of the Invasion by the Scots VVhereas we did by Our Proclamation hearing date the twentieth day of June last upon due consideration of the miseries of this kingdom and the true cause thereof warn all Our good Subjects no longer to be missed by the Notes Divers and pretended Ordinances of One or Both Houses by reason the Members do not enjoy the freedom and Liberty of Parliament which appears by severall instances of Force and Violence and by the course of their proceedings mentioned in Our said Proclamation and severall of Our Declarations since which time Our Subjects of Scotland have made great and Warlike preparations to enter and inhave this Kingdom with an Army and have already actually invaded the same by possessing themselves by force of Armes of Our Town of Barwick upon presence that they are invited thereunto by the desires of the two houses the which as we doubt not all Our good Subjects of this kingdom will look upon as the most insolent Act of ingratitude and dissoyalty and to the apparent breach of the late Act of Pacification so solemnly made between the Kingdoms and is indeed no other then a designe of Conquest and so impose new Lawes upon this Nation they not so much as pretending the least probecation or violation from this Kingdom so We are most assured that the Major part of both Houses of Parliament do from their souls abhorre the least thought of introducing that for raigne Power to encrease and make desperate the mile ries of their unhappy Country And therefore that it may appear to all the world how far the Maior part of both Houses is from such Actions of Treason and disloyalty and how grossely those few Members remaining at Westminster have and do impose upon Our People We do Will and require such of the Members of both Houses as well those who have been by the faction of the Malignant Party expelled for performing their duty to Us and into whose roomes no Persons have been since chosen by their Country as the rest who have been driven thence and all those who being conscious of their want of freedom now shall be willing to withdraw from that Rebellious City to assemble themselves together at Our City of Oxford on Munday the twenty second day of January where care shall be taken for their severall Accomodations and fit places appointed for their meeting and where all Our good Sujects shall see how willing We are to receive Advice for the preservation of the Religion Lawes and safety of the kingdom and as far as in Us lies to restore it to its former Peace and Security Our chief and only end from those whom they have trusted though We cannot receive it in the place where We appointed And for the better encouragement of those Members of either House to resort to us who may be conscious to themselves of having justly incurred Our displeasure by submitting to or concurring in unlawfull actions And that all the World may see how willing and desirous We are to forget the Injuries and Indignities offered to Us and by an Union of English hearts to prevent the lasting miseries which this forraigne Invasion must bring upon this kingdom We do offer a free and Generall Pardon to all the Members of either House who shall at or before the said twenty second day of January appear at Our City of Oxford and desire the same without Exceptions which considering the manifest Treasons committed against Us and the condition We are now in improved by Gods wonderfull blessing to a better degree then We have injoyed at any time since these Distractions is the greatest instance of Princely and fatherly Care of Our People that can be expressed and which Malice it self cannot suggest to proceed from any other ground And therefore We hope and are confident that all such who upon this Our gratious Invitation will not return to their duty and Allegiance shall be no more thought Promoters of the Religion Lawes and Liberty of the Kingdom which this way may be without doubt setled and secured but Persons engaged from the beginning out of their own Pride Malice and Ambition to bring confusion and desolation upon their Country and to that purpose having long once contrived the Designe to invite and joyne with a forraigne Nation to ruine and extinguish their own and shall according be pursued as the most desperate and malitious Enemies of the kingdom And Our Pleasure is That this Our proclamation be read in all Churches and Chappell 's within this Our kingdom and Dominion of Wales Given at Our Court at Oxford the 22th day of December in the Nineteenth yeer of Our Reigne 1643. God save the King GENTLEMEN I believe upon the reading of this Paper which is put forth in the forme of a Proclamation you cannot but discerne a great affinity in it to this present businesse that is now before you which is to occasion division between the City and the Parliament to raise factions in both and to say open as much as possible may be to the power and malice of their enemies howsoever they cover themselves under these fair and specious expressions which you have heard before This Proclamation doth very ill agred with his Majesties Letter here it is called the disobedient and Rebellious City in this Proclamation and here the Parliament is indeavoured to be brought from you though before you are the