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 Papers concerning the Disbanding of the Armies.

March 28. 1643.

His MAJESTY's Answer to the first Proposition of both His Houses of Parliament.

HIS Majesty is as ready and willing that all Armies be disbanded, as any person whatsoever, and conceives the best way to it to be a happy and speedy conclu∣sion of the present Treaty, which (if both Houses will contribute as much to it as His Majesty shall do) will be suddenly effected. And that this Treaty may the sooner produce that effect, His Majesty desires that the time given to the Committee of both Houses to treat, may be enlarged.

And as His Majesty desires nothing more than to be with His two Houses, so He will repair thither as soon as He can possibly do it with His Honour and Safety.

Falkland.

March 29. 1643.

WE are directed by our Instructions humbly to desire Your Majesty's speedy and positive Answer concerning the Disbanding of the Armies: to which if Your Majesty be pleased to assent, we are then to beseech Your Majesty in the name of both Houses, that a near day may be agreed upon for the Disbanding of all the Forces in the remote parts of Yorkshire and the other Northern Counties, as also in Lancashire, Cheshire, and in the Dominion of Wales, and in Cornwall and Devonshire; and they being fully disbanded, another day may be agreed on for the Disbanding of all Forces in Lincoln∣shire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and all other places, except at Oxford and the Quar∣ters thereunto belonging, and Windsor and the Quarters thereunto belonging; and that last of all, a speedy day may be appointed for the Disbanding of those two Armies at Oxford and Windsor, and all the Forces members of either of them.

That some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet to agree of the manner of the Disbanding, and that fit persons may be appointed by Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament, who may repair to the several Armies, and the see Disbanding put in speedy execution accordingly.

• Northumberland.
• W. Pierrepont.
• J. Holland.
• W. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

March 29. 1643.

COncerning Your Majesty's Answer to the Proposition of both Houses for Disband∣ing of the Armies.

We humbly desire to know, if by the words, [By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the present Trevty,] Your Majesty do intend a Conclusion of the Treaty on Your Majesty's first Proposition, and their Proposition for Disbanding the Armies, or a Conclusion of the Treaty in all the Propositions of both parts.

We have given speedy notice to both Houses of Parliament of Your Majesty's desires, that the time given to the Committee of both Houses to treat may be enlarged.

To the last Clause we have no Instructions.

• Northumberland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Will. Armyne.
• Joh. Holland.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 5. 1643.

HIS Majesty intended by the words, [By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the Trea∣ty] such a Conclusion of or in the Treaty, as there might be a clear evidence to Himself and His good Subjects of a future Peace, and no ground left for the conti∣nuance or growth of these bloody Dissentions; which He doubts not may be obtained, if both Houses shall consent that the Treaty may proceed without further interruption or limitation of days.

Falkland.

April 5. 1643.

WHEN the time for Disbanding the Armies shall be agreed upon, His Majesty well approves that some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet to agree of the manner of Disbanding, and that fit persons may be appointed by His Majesty and both Houses of Parliament, who may repair to the several Armies, and see the Disbanding speedily put in execution accordingly.

Falkland.

April 6. 1643.

WE humbly desire to know, if by the words [By a happy and speedy conclusion of the present Treaty] Your Majesty intends a Conclusion of the present Treaty on Your Majesty's first Proposition, and the Proposition of both Houses for Disbanding of the Armies, or a Conclusion of the Treaty on all the Propositions of both parts.

And what Your Majesty intends to be a clear evidence to Your Self and Your good Subjects of a future Peace, and no ground left for the continuance or growth of these bloody Dissentions.

• Northumberland.
• W. Pierrepont.
• W. Armyne.
• J. Holland.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 6. 1643.

HIS Majesty desires to know from the Committee of both Houses whether they acquiesce with His Majesty's Replies to their Answers concerning His first Pro∣position, which yesterday they received from Him, and to which they have yet made no return.

His Majesty likewise desires to know, whether they have yet received power and In∣structions to treat with His Majesty concerning His Return to His two Houses of Par∣liament, which is a part of the first Proposition of both Houses.

Falkland.

April 6. 1643.

WE shall transmit Your Majesty's Replies to our Answers concerning Your first Proposition to both Houses of Parliament, without farther Reply.

We likewise humbly answer, that we have not received any power or Instructions to treat with Your Majesty concerning Your Return to Your two Houses of Parlia∣ment, but we assure our selves they will give Your Majesty satisfaction therein.

• Northumberland.
• Joh. Holland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Will. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 7. 1643.

HIS Majesty conceives His Answers already given (for He hath given two) to be very clear and significant. And if the Conclusion of the present Treaty on His Majesty's first Proposition and the Proposition of both Houses shall be so full and perfectly made, that the Law of the Land may have a full, free and uninterrupted Course, for the defence and preservation of the Rights of His Majesty, both Houses, and His good Subjects, there will be thence a clear evidence to His Majesty and His good Sub∣jects of a future Peace, and no ground lest for the continuance and growth of these bloody Dissentions, and it will be such a Conclusion as His Majesty intended.

His Majesty never intending that both Armies should remain undisbanded until all the Propositions of both sides were fully concluded. But His Majesty is very sorry that in that point of the first Proposition of both Houses, which hath seemed to be so much wished, and which may be so concluded as alone much to conduce to the evi∣dence desired, (viz. His Return to both Houses, to which His Majesty in His An∣swer hath expressed Himself to be most ready whensoever He may do it with Honour and Safety) they have yet no manner of power nor Instructions so much as to treat with His Majesty.

Falkland.

April 7. 1643.

WE have not transmitted Your Majesty's Answer to the Proposition of Disban∣ding, wherein Your Majesty mentions Your Self to be most ready to return to both Houses of Parliament, whensoever you may do it with Honour and Safety, for that we humbly conceive, we were to expect Your Majesty's Answer to that Proposition this day received, before we could give a due account thereof to both Houses of Par∣liament, the which we will presently send away without farther Reply.

• Northumberland.
• J. Holland.
• W. Pierrepont.
• W. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 8. 1643.

BY Instructions this day received from both Houses of Parliament, we humbly con∣ceive that we are to acquaint Your Majesty, That they have taken into considera∣tion Your Majesty's Answer to their Reasons concerning the Cessation, wherein there are divers expressions which will occasion particular Replies, which at this time they desire to decline, their wishes and endeavours being earnestly bent upon the obtaining a speedy Peace; for which cause they do not think good to consume any more of the time allowed for the Treaty in any farther debates upon the Cessation, concerning which they find Your Majesty's expressions so doubtful, that it cannot be suddenly or easily resolved, and the remainder of the time for the whole Treaty being but seven days, if the Cessation were* 1.1 not presently agreed, it would not yield any considerable advantage to the Kingdom.

Wherefore we are required to desire Your Majesty to give a speedy and positive An∣swer to the first Proposition concerning the Disbanding, that so Your Subjects may not only have a shadow of Peace in a short time of Cessation, but the substance of it in such manner as may be a perpetual blessing to them, by freeing the Kingdom from these miserable effects of War, the effusion of English blood, and defolation of many parts of the Land.* 1.2

• Northumberland.
• Joh. Holland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Will. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 10. 1643.

BY Instructions yesterday received from both Houses of Parliament, we are com∣manded humbly to insist upon that part of the first Proposition of both Houses of Parliament concerning the Disbanding, according to the Papers we have formerly presented to Your Majesty thereupon: and we are humbly to acquaint Your Majesty, That both Houses of Parliament do conceive Your Majesty's Answer concerning the Disbanding to be in effect a Denial, unless they desert all those Cautions and Limitations which they have desired in their Answer to Your Majesty's first Proposition.

• Northumberland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Joh. Holland.
• Will. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 10. 1643.

BY Instructions from both Houses of Parliament yesterday received, we are com∣manded to declare unto Your Majesty the desire of both Houses for Your Ma∣jesty's coming to Your Parliament, which they have often expressed with full offers of Security to Your Royal Person, agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance; and they know no cause why Your Majesty may not return thither with Honour and Safety: but they did not insert it into our Instructions, because they conceived the Disbanding of the Armies would have facilitated Your Majesty's Resolution therein; which they likewise conceived was agreeable to Your Majesty's sense, who in declaring Your con∣sent to the order of the Treaty, did only mention that part of the first Proposition which concerned the Disbanding, and did omit that which concerned Your Majesty's coming to both Houses of Parliament.

• Northumberland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Joh. Holland.
• Will. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 14. 1643.

HIS Majesty had great reason to expect, that as He answered to every part of the first Proposition of both Houses, so the Committee should likewise have had power and Instructions to Treat with His Majesty concerning both parts of the same: nor had the Houses any reason to suppose their course agreeable to His Majesty's sense, for His Majesty in declaring His consent to the order of the Treaty, indeed mentioned their first Proposition by the style of the first Proposition which concerned Disbanding, but did not style it that part of the first Proposition which concerned Disbanding, as, if He had meant to have excluded any part of that Proposition from being treated on, He would and ought to have done. But though His Majesty's Answers in the point of Disbanding and Return to His Parliament were as particular and as satisfactory as His Majesty had cause to make, or could well give, till this latter part were consented to be treated upon; yet out of His great desire of Peace, and of complying with both Houses,* 1.3 His Majesty hath made a full and particular Answer and Offer to both Houses concerning as well the first part of their first Article, upon which He hath treated with the Committee, as that upon which they have yet no power to Treat, though His Ma∣jesty hath prest that such power might be given to them.

Falkland.

April 14. 1643.

WE received Instructions from both Houses of Parliament the ninth of this pre∣sent April, and in pursuance thereof, we humbly presented a Paper to Your Majesty upon the tenth of this instant, wherein those Instructions were expressed, and the desire of both Houses concerning Your Majesty's return to Your Parliament.

• Northumberland.
• Will. Pierrepont.
• Joh. Holland.
• Will. Armyne.
• B. Whitelocke.

April 15. 1643.

HIS Majesty doth acknowledge to have received a Paper from the Committee up∣on the tenth of April, expressing, that they had received Instructions, to declare unto His Majesty the desire of both Houses for His Majesty's coming to his Parliament, which they had often exprest with full offers of security to His Royal Person, agree∣able to their Duty and Allegiance; and that they know no cause why His Majesty might not return thither with Honour and Safety. But as the Committee had before acknow∣ledged in a Paper of the sixth of April, not to have any power or Instructions to Treat with His Majesty concerning His Return to His two Houses of Parliament, and as this Paper mentioned no Instructions to Treat, but only to deliver that single Message con∣cerning it; so His Majesty took it for granted, that if they had received any new pow∣er or Instructions in that point, they would have signified as much to Him: and there∣fore conceiving it in vain to discourse, and impossible to Treat upon that with those who had no power to Treat with Him,* 1.4 His Majesty addrest that Answer con∣cerning that point to both Houses, of which Mis Majesty took notice to the Committee in a Paper of the fourteenth of April, and which was shewed to them before He sent it. And if both Houses will upon it but consent, to give His Majesty such Security as will appear to all indifferent Persons to be agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance (those Tumults, which drove Him from thence, and what followed those Tumults, be∣ing a most visible and sufficient Reason why He cannot return thither with His Honour and Safety, without more particular offers of Security than as yet they have ever made Him) all disputes about that point between them will be soon ended, and His Majesty speedily return to them, and His whole Kingdom to their former Peace and Happiness.

Falkland.

[The Message mentioned in the two last Papers of His Majesty is that of the 12 of April, p. 353. Vpon the receit of which the Two Houses presently recalled their Committees.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  were presently.
• * 1.2

  [His Ma∣jesty's Mes∣sage reply∣ing to this Paper is inserted be∣fore, p. 250.]
• * 1.3

  In His Mes∣sage of April 12. pag. 353.
• * 1.4

  Pag. 353.