Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

The KING's Message concerning the Cessation. 23 Martii, 1642.

CHARLES R.

HIS Majesty hath immediately upon their arrival admitted the Committee sent to Him from both Houses of Parliament (as the Messengers of Peace) to His Royal Presence, and received the Articles of Cessation brought by them, which are in effect the same His Majesty formerly excepted to, though their expression in the Preface to these Ar∣ticles, of their readiness to agree to those Alterations and Additions offered by His Majesty in such manner as is expressed, made Him expect to have found at least some of the real Alterations and Additions made by Him admitted, which He doth not discover.

I. His Majesty desired that Provision might be made, and Licence given to His good Subjects for their freedom of Trade, Traffick and Commerce (though in matters which concerned Himself more immediately, as in Arms, Ammunition, Mony, Bullion and Victual, for the use of His Army, and the Passage of all Officers and Souldiers of His Army, He was contented the restraint should be in such manner as was proposed) of which His Majesty is so tender, that as he hath provided for the same by His gracious Proclamations, so He doth daily release and discharge such Merchandize and Commodi∣ties as are contrary to those Proclamations stayed by any of His Majesties Forces.

To this Freedom and Liberty of His good Subjects there is not the least admission given by these Articles, so that they have not any ease or benefit by this Cessation; which His Majesty desires both Houses to consider of, and whether, if His Majesty should take the same course to stop and interrupt the Trade of the Kingdom as the other Army doth, a general Loss and Calamity would not seize upon His good Subjects.

II. His Majesty, to the end that a full Cessation might be as well at Sea as at Land, and He might be secured, that the Ships proposed to be set forth for the Defence of His Majesties Dominions should be employed only to that end and purpose, desired, that they might be put under the Command of Persons to be approved of by His Majesty; which is not consented to by these Articles, but their former, to which His Majesty excepted, strictly and entirely insisted on, by which (besides that part of Hostility remains) the conveying of any number of Forces from any part to any other by that means remains free to them.

III. For the prevention of any Inconveniences which might arise upon real Differen∣ces or Mistakes upon the latitude of Expressions (as if His Majesty should now consent to these Articles proposed in the Terms proposed, He must confess the Army of which He complains to be raised by the Parliament, and either Himself to be no part of the Parlia∣ment, or Himself to have raised that Army) and for prevention of that Delay which He foresaw could not otherwise be avoided, if upon every Difference the Questions must be remitted to London, His Majesty desired that the Committee (for whom He then sent a safe Conduct) might have liberty to debate any such Differences and Expressi∣ons, and reconcile the same, that all possible Expedition might be used to the main Treaty.

In this point of so high Concernment no power is given in these Articles, and the Committee confessed to His Majesty they have no Power given, but are strictly and pre∣cisely bound to the very words of the Articles now sent, and that before these are con∣sented to by Us, they cannot enter into any Treaty concerning the other Propositions.

IV. His Majesty desired, that during the Cessation none of His good Subjects might be imprisoned, otherwise than according to the known Laws of the Land.

This is in no degree consented to, but the priviledge and liberty, to which they were born, reserved from them till the disbanding of both Armies (though they are no part of either Army) and so have no benefit by this Cessation.

V. His Majesty desired, that during this Cessation there should be no Plundering or Violence offered to any of His Subjects.

In the Answer to which, His desire against Violence is not at all taken notice of, nor is His desire against Plundering any ways satisfied; His Majesty not only intending by it the robbing of the Subject by the unruliness of the uncommanded Souldier (which their Clause of requiring the Generals and Officers to keep them from it seems to imply, and the assertion, that the two Houses of Parliament had ever disliked and forbidden it, de∣clares plainly to be their only meaning) but particularly the Violence and Plundering used to His Subjects by forcibly taking away their goods, for not submitting to Imposi∣tions and Taxes required from them by Orders or Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament, which are contrary to the known Laws of the Land.

VI. Besides that there is no consent given to those Alterations and Additions offered by His Majesty, (whatsoever is pretended) so where an absolute Consent may be sup∣posed, because the very words of His Majesties Article are wholly preserved, yet by reason of the Relation to somewhat going before that is varied by them, the sense of those words is wholy varied too; as in the Fourth Article, that part of the Third Ar∣ticle to which that did refer being wholly left out. So that upon the matter all the Pro∣positions made by His Majesty (which did not in Terms agree with those presented to Him) are utterly rejected.

For these Reasons, and that this Entrance towards a blessed Peace and Accommoda∣tion (which hath already filled the hearts of the Kingdom with Joy and Hope) may be improved to the wished end, His Majesty desires, that the Committee now sent may speedily have liberty to treat, debate, and agree upon the Articles of Cessation in which they and all the World shall find, that His Majesty is less sollicitous for His own Digni∣ty and Greatness than for His Subjects Ease and Liberty. And He doubts not upon such a Debate all differences concerning the Cessation will be easily and speedily agreed up∣on, and the benefit of a Cessation be continued and confirmed to His People, by a speedy disbanding of both Armies, and a sudden and firm Peace, which His Majesty above all things desires.

If this so reasonable, equal and just Desire of His Majesty shall not be yielded unto, but the same Articles still insisted upon, though His Majesty next to Peace desires a Cessation, yet that the not-agreeing upon the one may not destroy the hopes of nor so much as delay the other, He is willing however to Treat (even without a Cessation, if that be not granted) upon the Propositions themselves, in that order as is agreed, upon (and desires the Committee here may be enabled to that effect.) In which Treaty He shall give all His Subjects that satisfaction, that if any security to enjoy all the Rights, Privileges and Liberties due to them by the Law, or that Happiness in Church and State which the best times have seen, with such farther acts of Grace as may agree with His Honour, Justice and Duty to His Crown, and as may not render Him less able to protect His Subjects according to His Oath, will satisfie them, He is confident in the Mercy of God, that no more precious blood of this Nation will be thus miserably spent.