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if you shall name another place; so We assure you and all Our good Subjects, that (to
the best of Our Understanding) nothing shall be therein wanting on Our part which
may advance the true Protestant Religion, oppose Popery and Superstition, secure the
Law of the land (upon which is built as well Our just Prerogative as the Propriety
and Liberty of the Subject) confirm all just Power and Priviledges of Parliament, and
render Us and Our People truly happy by a good understanding betwixt Us and Our
two Houses of Parliament. Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your Duty, and
let all Our People joyn with Us in Our Prayers to Almighty God for his blessing upon
this Work.If this Proposition shall be rejected by you, We have done Our duty so amply, that
God will absolve Us from the guilt of any of that Blood which must be spilt. And
what opinion soever other men may have of Our Power, We assure you nothing but
Our Christian and pious care to prevent the effusion of Blood hath begot this motion;
Our provision of Men, Arms and Money being such as may secure Us from further
Violence, till it please God to open the Eyes of Our People.IV. From ...... Sept. 5. MDCXLII.In pursuance of the former.WE will not repeat what means We have used to prevent the dangerous and
distracted Estate of the Kingdom, nor how these means have been interpre∣ted;
because being desirous to avoid effusion of Blood, We are willing to decline all
memory of former bitterness that might make Our offer of a Treaty less readily ac∣cepted.We never did declare, nor ever intended to declare both Our Houses of Parliament
Traytors, or set up Our Standard against them, and much less to put them and this
Kingdom out of Our protection; We utterly profess against it before God and the
World. And further, to remove all possible scruples which may hinder the Treaty
so much desired by Us, We hereby promise, so that a day be appointed by you for
the revoking of your Declarations against all Persons as Traytors or otherwise, for
assisting Us, We shall with all chearfulness upon the same day recal Our Proclamati∣ons
and Declarations, and take down Our Standard; in which Treaty We shall be rea∣dy
to grant any thing that shall be really for the good of Our Subjects: Conjuring you
to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland, and the dangerous condition of England,
in as high a degree as by these Our offers We have declared Our Self to do: And as∣suring
you that Our chief desire in this World is to beget a good Understanding and
mutual Confidence betwixt Us and Our two Houses of Parliament.V. From ...... Sept. 11. MDCXLII.In Replie to the Answer of both Houses to the former.WHO have taken most ways, used most endeavours, and made most real ex∣pressions
to prevent the present Distractions and Dangers, let all the World
judge, as well by former passages as Our two last Messages, which have been so fruit∣less,
that (though We have descended to desire and press it) not so much as a Treaty
can be obtained, unless We would denude Our self of all force to defend Us from a
visible strength marching against Us, and admit those persons accounted as Traytors to
Us, who according to their Duty, their Oaths of Allegiance and the Law, have ap∣peared
in defence of Us their King and Liege Lord, (whom We are bound in Consci∣ence
and Honour to preserve) though We disclaimed all Our Proclamations and De∣clarations,
and the erecting of Our Standard as against Our Parliament. All We have
now left in Our power is, to express the deep sense We have of the publick Misery of
this Kingdom, in which is involved that of Our distressed Protestants of Ireland; and
to apply Our self to Our necessary defence, wherein We wholly relie upon the Provi∣dence
of God, the Justice of Our Cause, and the Affection of Our good People, so
far We are from putting them out of Our Protection. When you shall desire a Treaty
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