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 other Paper. 22. Feb.

[ CLXXVIII] IT is not possible for us to give a more clear Answer than we have done, to shew that there can no such Inconvenience follow upon confirming the Ordinance of the 11. of April by Act of Parliament as your Lordships do imagine; it being desired that the Trea∣ty of the sixth of August be in like manner confirmed, by which the Commanders of the Scotish Forces in Ireland are to be answerable to His Majesty and the two Houses of Parlia∣ment of England for their whole deportment and proceeding there; and it being desired by the 13. Proposition, that the Prosecutions of the War of Ireland should be settled in both Houses of Parliament: all which taken together, it cannot follow, that upon any Disa∣greement between the Committees there, the Earl of Leven may carry on the War accord∣ing to his own discretion. As for our Expression [when there shall be a Lieutenant in Ire∣land] which was used in Answer to your Lordships second Paper of the 20. of February, it was to satisfie your Lordships, that there could be no interfering between the Powers of the Lord Lieutenant and of the Earl of Leven; and still we say, when there shall be a Lord Lieutenant chosen, as is expressed in our 20. Proposition, (for we do not admit the Marquiss of Ormond to be so) the Commander in chief of the Scotish Army is to receive Instructions from him, in such manner as we have laid it down in that Answer of ours to your Lordships Paper above-mentioned: which will, we hope, satisfie your Lordships other Objection, that this is not to deliver over the whole Kingdom of Ireland into the hands of His Majesties Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland, seeing such of that Nation as are there imployed, are to be subordinate to the Committee of both Kingdoms, and in case of Disa∣greement, an Appeal lies to the two Houses of the Parliament of England, in whom the power of prosecuting the War, is to be settled. And we must insist to desire that the Lord Lieutenant and the Judges in that Kingdom may be nominated by the two Houses of Par∣liament, who have by sad experience (to the great cost of this Kingdom, expence of so much Treasure and Blood, the loss of many thousand Lives there, and almost of all that whole Kingdom from His Majesties Obedience, and an inestimable prejudice to the true Protestant Religion) found the ill consequence of a bad choice of Persons for those great places of Trust. Therefore for His Majesties Honour, the good of His Service, the great Advantage it will be to the rest of His Majesties Dominions, the great Comfort to all good Christians, and even an acceptable Service to God himself, for the attaining of so much good, and the prevention of so much evil, they desire to have the nomination of those great Officers, that by a prudent and careful Election they may, by providing for the good of that now miserable Kingdom, discharge their Duty to God, the King, and their Countrey. And certainly, if it be necessary to reduce that Kingdom, and that the

Parliament of England be a faithful Council to his Majesty, and fit to be trusted with the prosecution of that War, (which his Majesty was once pleased to put into their hands, and they faithfully discharged their parts in it, notwithstanding many practices to obstruct their proceedings, as is set forth in several Declarations of Parliament) then, we say, your Lordships need not think it unreasonable that His Majesty should ingage himself to pass such Acts as shall be presented to him for raising Moneys and other necessaries for that War: for if the War be necessary (as never War was more) that which is necessary for the maintaining of it must be had, and the Parliament that doth undertake and manage it, must needs know what will be necessary, and the People of England, who have trust∣ed them with their Purse, will never begrudge what they make them lay out upon that occasion. Nor need his Majesty fear the Parliament will press more upon the Subject then is fit in proportion to the occasion. It is true that heretofore Persons about his Ma∣jesty have endeavoured and prevailed too much, in possessing him against the Parlia∣ment for not giving away the Money of the Subject when his Majesty had desired it; but never yet did his Majesty restrain them from it, and we hope it will not be thought that this is a fit occasion to begin. We are very glad to find that your Lord∣ships are so sensible in your expressions of the Blood and Horrour of that Rebellion, and it is without all question in His Majesties Power to do Justice upon it, if your Lord∣ships be willing that the Cessation and all Treaties with those bloody and unnatural Rebels be made void, and that the prosecution of the War be settled in the two Houses of the Parliament of England, to be managed by the joynt advice of both Kingdoms, and the King to assist, and to do no Act to discountenance or molest them therein. This we dare affirm to be more than a probable course for the remedying those mischiefs, and preserving the remainder of His Majesties good Subjects there. We cannot believe your Lordships will think it fit there can be any Agreement of Peace, any respite from Hostility, with such Creatures as are not fit to live, no more than with Wolves or Tigers, or any ravenous Beasts, destroyers of mankind. And we beseech you, do not not think it must depend upon the condition of His Majesties other Kingdoms to revenge or not revenge God's Quarrel upon such perfiduous Enemies to the Gospel of Christ, who have imbrued their hands in so much Protestant Blood; but consider the Cessation that is made with them is for their advantage, and rather a Protection then a Cessation of Acts of Hostility, as if it had been all of their own contriving; Arms, Ammunition, and all manner of Commodities may be brought unto them; and they may furnish themselves, during this Cessation, and be assisted and protected in so doing; that afterwards they may the better de∣stroy the small remainder of his Majesties Protestant Subjects. We beseech your Lordships in the bowels of Christian Charity and Compassion to so many poor Souls who must perish, if the strength of that raging Adversary be not broken, and in the Name of him who is the Prince of Peace, who hates to be at Peace with such shedders of Blood, give not your consents to the continuation of this Cessation of War in Ireland, and less to the making of any Peace there, till Justice have been fully executed upon the Actors of that accursed Re∣bellion. Let not the Judgment of War within this Kingdom, which God hath laid upon us for our Sins, be encreased by so great a Sin as any Peace or Friendship with them: what∣soever becomes of us, if we must perish, yet let us go to our Graves with that comfort, that we have not made Peace with the Enemies of Christ, yea even Enemies of mankind, de∣clared and unreconciled Enemies to our Religion and Nation: let not our War be a hin∣drance to that War, for we are sure that Peace will be a hindrance to our Peace. We de∣sire War there as much as we do Peace here: for both we are willing to lay out our Estates, our Lives, and all that is dear unto us in this World; and we have made Propositions unto your Lordships for both, if you were pleased to agree unto them. We can but look up to God Almighty, beseech him to encline your hearts, and casting our selves on him, wait his good time for the return of our Prayers in settling a safe and happy Peace here, and giving success to our Endeavours in the prosecution of the War of Ireland.

It had been used by the Commissioners during the Treaty, that when Papers were delivered in of such length, and so late at night, that present particular Answers could not be given, by agreement between themselves to accept the Answers the next day, dated as of the day before, al∣though they were Treating of another Subject; and these two last Papers concerning Ireland being of such great length, and delivered about twelve of the clock at night, when the Treaty in time was expiring, so as no Answer could be given without such consent and agreement, there∣fore the King's Commissioners delivered in this Paper, 22. February.

[ CLXXIX] YOur Lordships cannot expect a particular Answer from us this night to the two long Papers concerning Ireland, delivered to us by your Lordships about twelve of the clock this night: but since there are many particulars in those Papers to which, if they had

been before mentioned, we could have given your Lordships full satisfaction, and for that we presume your Lordships are very willing to be satisfied in those particulars which so highly reflect upon his Majesty, we desire your Lordships to receive the Answers which we shall prepare to those Papers in the Evening to morrow, dated as of this night, and we doubt not to give your Lordships clear satisfaction therein.

This desire was not granted, nor any Paper delivered in Answer to it, but soon after the Treaty broke off.

During the Twenty days Treaty upon Religion, Militia, and Ireland, the particular passages whereof are before expressed, some other passages did occur concerning His Majesties Propositi∣ons, and particularly for a* 1.1 Cessation, and touching His Majesties return to Westminster after disbanding of Armies, and further time for continuing or renewing the Treaty, which do here follow. And first touching His Majesties Propositions, the King's Commissioners delivered in this Paper the second day of the Treaty, 1. February.

[ CLXXX] WE desire to know whether your Lordships have any Instructions concerning His Ma∣jesties Propositions,* 1.2 for settling a safe and well-grounded Peace; and if you have any touching the same, we desire to have a sight of them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It is the sixth of His Maje∣sties Pro∣positions.
• * 1.2

  See His Majesties Proposi∣tions, n. 8. and the Letter from the Earl of Essex, n. 9. that their Commissioners should have Instructions to Treat upon them.