The King's Commissioners Answer, 18. Feb.
[ CXLVIII] WE did not conceive that your Lordships had believed that any Arguments used by you could satisfie us against His Majesties Power to make a Cessation with the Rebels in Ireland, which appears to have been made by him by the Advice of His Council there, and for the Preservation of His Majesties Protestant Subjects of that King∣dom, who in all probability would have perished by Famine and the Sword, if that Ces∣sation had not been made; and we shall be very ready to receive farther Information from your Lordships by Conference, or otherwise in that particular, either concerning any Clauses in the Statute, or Arguments at Common-Law, or Proceedings of Parliament (your Lordships having never mentioned the one, or made any Case upon the other) upon which you intend to insist. And for the several great Sums of Money that were paid by particular Persons and Corporations upon that Statute mentioned by your Lord∣ships, we are sorry that we are compelled, by your Lordships insisting thereon, to inform your Lordships, that His Majesty had clear Information, that not only much of the mo∣ney raised by the Act for the four hundred thousand Pound, which was passed for the better suppressing that most wicked and execrable Rebellion in Ireland, and for the pay∣ment of the Debts of this Kingdom, but also of the Money raised by the Statute (on which your Lordships insist) for the speedy and effectual reducing of the Rebels of Ireland, &c. and other Moneys raised by Contribution and Loan for the relief of His Majesties distressed Subjects of that Kingdom, were expended contrary to the intent of the Acts by which the same were levied, and of the Persons who lent and contributed the same, towards the main∣tenance of the Forces in this Kingdom under the Command of the Earl of Essex; and that many Regiments of Horse and Foot, levied for the War of Ireland, under the Com∣mand of the Lord Wharton, the Lord Kerry, Sir Faithful Fortescue, and others, were like∣wise imployed in that Army under the Earl of Essex at Edge-hill; and therefore His Ma∣jesty refused to consent to the Bill presented to His Majesty after this, for the levying more Money for Ireland, justly fearing that the same might be used as the former had been. And for the few Cloaths (for there were no Moneys) intercepted by his Majesties Soul∣diers in His Majesties Quarters, which are said to be intended for Ireland, the same were intercepted near Coventry, and going thither, after that City had refused to receive His Majesty, though at the Gates. But His Majesty never refused to give any safe Pass through His Quarters for any Goods or Provisions which were intended or prepared for Ireland, nei∣ther was the same ever desired. For the Extracts and Copies of the Letters delivered by us to your Lordships from the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland, and the Officers of the Army, we have been, and are willing that your Lordships should compare them with the Originals: but for your having the Names of the Persons who writ the same (since there can be no doubt of the truth of our Assertions) we conceive it not reasonable to de∣sire the same, not knowing what inconvenience any of them (since you seem not to like that Advice) might incur, if at any time they should be found within your Quarters. And having now satisfied your Lordships in the matter of the Cessation, we shall gladly pro∣ceed in the Treaty with your Lordships upon any thing that may be apparently good for His Majesties Protestant Subjects there, and the re-setling of that Kingdom in His Maje∣sties Obedience.