In the business of Ireland, your Lordships propose not onely that his Majesty disclaim
and make void the Cessation made by his Royal Authority, and at the desire of the Lords,
Justices and Council of that Kingdom, and for the preservation of the remainder of his
poor Protestant Subjects there, who were in evident danger of Destruction, both by Fa∣mine
and the Sword, but also to put the whole managery of that War, and disposal of the
Forces within that Kingdom, and consequently the Government of that Kingdom, into
the hands of the Scots General, to be managed by the Advice of a joynt Committee of
both Kingdoms, wherein each should have a Negative Voice: In Answer to which, we
have acquainted your Lordships with the just grounds of his Majesties proceedings in the
business of Ireland, which we are confident, being weighed without prejudice, may satis∣fie
all men of his Majesties Piety and Justice therein; and we are very ready and desirous
to joyn with your Lordships in any course which may probably preserve and restore that mi∣serable
Kingdom.
Having put your Lordships in mind of these particulars, as they have a general reference
to the publick good of the Kingdoms, we beseech your Lordships to consider that we have
this great Trust reposed in us by his Majesty, and to remember how far these Propositions
trench upon his peculiar Kingly Rights, without any, or any considerable recompence or
compensation.
In the business of Religion, your Lordships propose the taking away his whole Ecclesia∣stical
Jurisdiction, his Donations and Temporalties of Bishopricks, his First Fruits and
Tenths of Bishops, Deans and Chapters, instead whereof your Lordships do not offer to
constitute the least dependance of the Clergy upon his Majesty; and for that so considera∣ble
a part of his Revenue, you propose onely the Bishops Lands to be settled on his Maje∣sty,
(reserving a power to dispose even those Lands as you shall think fit:) whereas all the
Lands both of Bishops, Deans, and Chapters (if those Corporations must be dissolved) do
undoubtedly belong to his Majesty in his own Right.
In the business of the Militia, as it is proposed, his Majesty is so totally devested of the
Regal Power of the Sword, that he shall be no more able either to assist any of his Allies
with aid, though men were willing to engage themselves voluntarily in that Service, or
to defend his own Dominions from Rebellion or Invasion, and consequently the whole
Power of Peace and War (the acknowledged and undoubted Right of the Crown) is ta∣ken
from him.
In the business of Ireland, the power of nominating his Lieutenant or Deputy, and
other Officers there, of managing, directing, or in the least manner of medling in that
War, or of making a Peace, is proposed to be taken from him. And to add to all these
attempts upon his Kingly Rights, it is proposed to bereave him of the Power of a Father,
in the Education and Marriage of his own Children, and of a Master, in the rewarding
his own Servants. And therefore we refer it to your Lordships, whether it be possible for
us, with a good Conscience, and discharge of the Trust reposed in us, to consent to the Pro∣positions
made to us by your Lordships.
Lastly, we must observe to your Lordships, that after a War of near four years, for
which the Defence of the Protestant Religion, the Liberty and Property of the Sub∣ject,
and the Priviledges of Parliament were made the Cause and grounds, in a Treaty
of Twenty days, nor indeed in the whole Propositions upon which the Treaty should
be, there hath been nothing offered to be Treated concerning the breach of any Law,
or of the Liberty or Property of the Subject, or Priviledge of Parliament, but onely
Propositions for the altering a Government established by Law, and for the making new
Laws, by which almost all the old are, or may be cancelled; and there hath been nothing in∣sisted
on of our part which was not Law, or denied by us that you have demanded as due
by Law.
All these things being considered, and being much afflicted that our great hope and ex∣pectation
of a Peace is for the present frustrated by your Lordships
Declaration, that no
more time will be allowed for this Treaty, we are earnest Suitors to your Lordships, that
you will interpose with the two Houses, to whom we believe you have transmitted the An∣swers
delivered by us to your Lordships upon Religion, the Militia, and Ireland, that this
Treaty, though for the present discontinued, may be revived, and the whole matter of
their Propositions, and those sent to them by his Majesty, which have not yet been Treated
on, may be considered; and that depending that Treaty, to the end we may not Treat in
Blood, there may be a Cessation of Arms, and that the poor People of this Kingdom, now
exposed to Plunderings and Spoils, and other direful effects of War, may have some earnest
of a blessed Peace. And because this Treaty is now expiring, if your Lordships cannot
give a present Resolution, we desire when you have represented this to the two Houses, his
Majesty may speedily receive their Answer.