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April 14. 1643.
YOur Majesty, in one of Your Papers this day delivered unto us, mentions that You would gladly receive any Reason from both Houses or their Committee, which may induce Your Majesty to give another Answer than what you have already given in the point of the Cinque-ports, Forts, Castles and Magazines.
We did, according to our Instructions, humbly desire Your Majesty that the Cinque∣ports, Forts and Castles might be put into the hands of such Noble persons and per∣sons of Quality and Trust, to be nominated by Your Majesty, as the two Houses of Par∣liament should confide in, and to be kept for Your Majesty's Service, and the Safety of the Kingdom, that no Forein Forces, or other Forces raised without Your Maje∣sty's Authority and Consent of the two Houses of Parliament, should be admitted into any of them, and the Commanders to use their utmost endeavours to suppress all For∣ces raised without such Authority and Consent, and to seize all Arms and Ammunition provided for any such Forces:
Unto which we humbly desire Your Majesty's Gracious assent, and to our other de∣sires concerning Your Majesty's first Proposition and the first Proposition of both Houses of Parliament, for that we humbly conceive Your Consent thereunto will be the best means for such a Peace to be made as will be safe, firm and lasting; the which is not to be hoped for, except there be a cure for Fears and Jealousies, for which an apparent Remedy is, to disband all Forces, and the same to be so mutually done, as neither part to have any Force remaining of which the other may be jealous or in fear. But if for other causes not concerned in these unhappy Differences, Forces are to be retained, as in the Cinque-ports, and in some Forts, Towns and Castles, for the Defence of the whole Kingdom against forein Enemies, that then the same may remain in the hands of such persons, with such powers, as both parts might believe themselves secure: for if the same places were considered in relation only to these unnatural Destempers, and to the settling thereof, the Forces in them were likewise to be disbanded.