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.

Their Paper, 22. Feb.

[ CLXXVII] WE are very sorry that your Lordships should continue in that Opinion, that it was necessary to make the Cessation in Ireland, when by undeniable Proofs, and con∣sideration of all Circumstances, it is most clear, that the Necessities alledged for grounds of that Cessation, were made by design of the Popish and Prelatical Party in England and Ireland, who so wickedly contrived the same, that the Provisions sent thither by the Parlia∣ment for Relief of His Majesties good Subjects in Ireland, were disposed of and afforded to the Rebels there in their greatest wants; and then when your Lordships affirm the Pro∣testants to be in so great extremity; and even at that time also when the Officers of our Army and Garrisons, pressing for leave to march into the Enemies Countrey to live upon them, and save their own Stores, some who were driven forth, had great quantities of Provisions out with them, yet were not permitted to march into the Enemies Countrey, but kept near Dublin, until their Provisions were spent, and then commanded back again; others could not obtain leave to go forth, but were commanded to stay at home, that their own Provisions might be the sooner consumed, and thereby the Necessity made greater. Notwithstanding, by the care of both Houses of Parliament here for their supply, they were able to subsist, and did subsist at the time of that Cessation, although the making thereof reduced them to far greater Necessities than otherwise they could have suffered, besides the notorious advantage thereby to the Rebels, when their Wants and Extremi∣ties were most pressing. And we should not again have troubled your Lordships with these Answers, had they not been caused by your own Repetition of the Letters, of part whereof you have given us Copies, though not the knowledge of the Persons from whom they came; only you were pleased to mention the Lords Justices and Council there; yet we were assured, even by some who were of the Council at that time when the Letters were written, that the same was done only to press for Supplies from hence, without the least intention in them of inducing a Cessation; neither do the Copies con∣tain any thing tending to a Cessation, or the least mention thereof. And we have cause to grieve, not only at what your Lordships express concerning the complaints from Ireland and their great extremities, but that the same being procured and increased by the Po∣pish Party, yet we should find such earnest endeavours to lay the blame and neglect there∣in upon the two Houses of Parliament here, who have been so zealous for their Relief, and whose only care (under the Blessing of God) hath been their Preservation, and that in the heat of our own miserable Distractions, have continued their Supplies, and from our own great Wants, have not spared to afford our Brethren there the means of their subsistance.

The Protestants in Munster, Connaught and Vlster, who opposed this Cessation, were many of them English, and both they and the Scots suffering under as great Wants and Failer of Supplies as the Protestants in other places, and in no better posture of their own defence, notwithstanding in a true sense of their own Duty and Conscience, they have op∣posed, and still do oppose the same: neither were the English there neglected, as your Lordships have been misinformed by such who labour to destroy both Nations, and, as a means thereto, to divide them.

Besides the Goods seised near Coventry, we have mentioned other particulars asserted to be seised, not without His Majesties own knowledge and direction, as we are informed, and are most unwilling to believe: Neither do we understand it to be an excuse for seising some Goods, to say that His Majesty did forbear to seise others in His Power; but when His Majesty shall rightly ponder the horridness of that Rebellion, we hope those wicked Instruments who contrived, and do support the same, will have no power to alter His Ma∣jesties tender sense of the miseries of His Protestants Subjects in that Kingdom, nor at all to lessen His Piety and gracious Care for quenching the Flames of that unhappy Rebel∣lion.

We do again affirm unto your Lordships the truth of what we said before concerning the Supplies of Ireland by the two Houses; and it seems strange, that what hath been lately sent should not be looked upon as a Support of the War against the Rebels, by which only the Protestants were enabled to defend themselves, and to infest their Enemies: nor can we imagine any other means as a Support of that just War, being most assured that if this had not been done, the Rebels must certainly have prevailed, and the remnant of His Ma∣jesties good Subjects of that Kingdom have perished.

Your Lordships are pleased to remember some moneys by us imployed, particularly one hundred thousand Pounds, which was raised for Ireland, all which have been re-satisfied with advantage; and we must, as often as you are pleased to repeat it, refer your Lord∣ships to our former just and clear Answers concerning the same, and the like for the Forces

under the Command of the Lord Wharton. And we believe what your Lordships express con∣cerning the Forces brought hither to His Majesty out of Ireland after the Cessation, it being one end for which the Cessation was made, that those Forces might be imployed a∣gainst the two Houses of Parliament here; and those Scotish Forces which came over, were not sent for.

We know of no Persons who have returned into Ireland since the Cessation, except such as were Agents for the procuring thereof, and divers principal Rebels who presumed to address themselves unto His Majesty at Oxford, and were there countenanced.

It is probable that some might endeavour to alienate the hearts of the Officers of the Army there from the two Houses, whereby their Service against the Rebels might be in∣terrupted.

To that particular of the Subscriptions of the Officers, and of the Committee sent into Ireland, and of the diversions of moneys alledged, and of the Copies of Letters given us by your Lordships, without the Names of those who subscribed them, we have already given your Lordships a full and clear Answer; but have not received satisfaction concern∣ing the denial of the Lord Wharton's Commission, whereby the Service of that Kingdom was much prejudiced.

It is so far from being made appear that His Majesties English Protestant Subjects in Ire∣land could not subsist without a Cessation, that the contrary is undeniable, and that His Majesties Protestant Subjects there, both English and Scotish, who have opposed that Cessation, have subsisted, and do still subsist; and we are sorry to find any inclination to continue that Cessation, which whensoever made, will be esteemed by all good Protestants a countenancing of that bloody Rebellion.

We do insist upon our former Demands concerning Ireland, and doubt not but those being granted, notwithstanding our present miserable Distractions here, we shall (by the Blessing of God) bring those bloody Rebels to a speedy and just Punishment, and settle that unhappy Kingdom in their due Obedience to His Majesty and the Crown of Eng∣land.