The message from the Hovse of Commons to the Lords by Bulstrode Whitlocke and presented to Their Lordships by him. Whereunto is added His Maiesties most gracious answer to their message, February 22, 1642.

AT a Conference of both Houses in the painted Cham∣ber, Reported againe as followeth by the Lord Ro∣berts to the house of Lords concerning the importance of imbracing and promoving the designe of those Petitio∣ners who desire and hope that the state may be eased of the charge of the Irish Warre, by the undertaking of particular adventurers in the houses of Parliament, London and the rest of the Kingdome.

Master Whitlocke,

WHo managed the conference, acquainted my Lords, that he was commanded by the house of Commons to present a Vote of that house to your Lordships, which being read, he afterwards pro∣ceeded. That whereas your Lordships were pleased to returne thankes lately to the King with the House of Commons for his Maiesties favour expressed in the passing of two Bils much importing the safety, quiet and content of this Kingdome, and the King had thereupon recommended to both houses the care

of Ireland, so as these propositions read to your Lord∣ships even with relation to that message, were seaso∣nable. Then he offered by way of pretension, some∣thing concerning the tytle, which was, the vote of the Lords and Commons. This he knew your Lordships understood to be but matter of forme, for your Lordships consent was that, which must make it to be so. He then proceeded and offered to your Lordships three motives, each begining and concluding the entertainement of this course.

• 1 The reducing of Ireland.
• 2 The proffit of the King.
• 3 The ease of the people of England.

For the first, Ireland was in that condition, as not onely the civill power, which was wont to be the former quarrell, but now even religion, the rooting up of the protestant religion, and extirpation of the English is the quarrell.

The rebels are so audacious as to scandalize the King and Queene; and the question is not now, whe∣ther Irish or English, but whether the Protestant or Popish Religion shall stand in that Kingdome; This Rage of theirs stayes not there; they intend to stayne this land with the bloud of Protestants.

The life and soule of Religion is now at stake, and

hee made no doubt every good Protestant will lay downe his life and fortune for the preservation of it.

Then he came to the second motive, which he am∣plified, first by way of disadvantage, and shewed, what a losse it would be to the King, to be bereaved of that large and fruitfull Island, which was a third part of the Kings dominions, yea a third Kingdome. He then shewed how much the preservation of it condu∣ced to the Kings profit, and how improveable this would be, by keeping that: now was the time to make him a through King there, and to esta••lish the throne, which had bin disputed and ••ottering in that Realme these 400 yeares.

He then proceeded to the third motive, and said the people of England, have lately undergone many and heavie payments; he meant not those illegall payments, which were a just punishment, to such as would submit to such uniust charges, but he spake of the levyes by Parliament, the burthen whereof toge∣ther with the decay of trade, our neighbours in the Country were very sensible, by those propositions reade to your Lordships, the poorer sort will be eased, the payments made easie, because voluntary, and thereupon will be many and chearefull givers, who must ever have the honour of a memory to have con∣tributed

to so good a worke; so as where profit is an ingredient with piety and Loyalty, the plaister will be sooner applyed to Ireland.

When therefore our duty to God, and the King, may invite to so good a worke, he doubted not of your Lordships concurrence with the House of Commons for the good of that, which was the good of the Kingdome.

Having said thus much in generall he offered some thing to the propositions in particular. That whereas the first Proposition demanded two Milli∣ons and halfe of Acres for the undertakers, which might at first sight looke as a great demand to such as know not the extent of that Kingdome which is computed by those who well understood the lati∣tude of it, to containe 15. Millions of Acres, and therefore to take out two Millions and halfe, when two parts of three of that Kingdome are in open re∣bellion, is not so great a demand, as may at first sight appeare; and the proposition conduceth much to the raising of Rent to the King; He said it was well knowne that the revenew of the Exchequer, and Court of wards in Ireland, did not exceed the summe of 43000 l. yearely, besides the Customes which your Lordships found not great, except in

Monopolies and undue charges, what ever the cus∣tomes are, they will be by these propositions much advanced, 20 or 30 Thousand pounds a yeare rent will accrew to the Crowne by the reservations in them exprest, besides 7 Millions and halfe of Acres, over and above the two Millions and halfe desired in the propositions left to the Kings disposall.

The other propositions which are for the manner of bringing in of the money are very necessary, no∣thing being of more consequence then to dispatch this warre.

He observed out of Livy, that the Romans made their warres great and short, some they finisht within 6, some within 10, other within 20 dayes, as with the Samnites, Latins, &c. He did not mention this, as though it were feasable for us to conclude this warre in so short a time, but onely to prove by the Actions of that great State, that nothing is more ad∣vantageous to a State, then the speedy dispatch of a warre, and he hopes that if this money comes in, the warre of Ireland might be brought to a short issue: he added that he remembred with griefe the former obstructions for Ireland, but he now hopeth by the King and your Lordships concurrences, that delayes will be turned into dispatches; and this was necessary

because forragine Princes though now otherwise imployed, will be a wakened by a lasting warre, to take care of our affaires. He observeth the course of Irelands first plantation, to suite much to this pro∣pounded.

King William the first, gave leave to 12 Knights to goe into Wales to get what they could and to plant themselves there, from those descended Richard le strong bow, first Earle of Pembrooke, who made the first impression in that Kingdome.

Of which Geraldus Cambrensis saith, that it should be maintain'd Multis caedibus, crebris Conflictibus multoque certamine, he hopeth the course now in hand will give a period to that Conquest, and this prophe∣sie, and that those intended plantations may be as prosperous to settle, as the former to gaine that King∣dome.

Wherefore this worke being so full of piety, ho∣nour, and charity, none shall need to speake for it, the workes speake for it selfe. And so delivering the vote of that house to your Lordships he concluded the Conference.

His Maiesties most gracious Answer to the Message of the House of Commons to the Lords.

HIs Majesty being very glad to receive any proposition that may repaire the calamitie of his distressed Kingdome of Ireland, especially when it may be without burthen or Imposition, and for the ease of his good Subjects of this Kingdome, hath graciously considered the overture made by both Hor∣ses of Parliament to that purpose, and returnes this answer.

That as he hath offered and is still ready to venture his owne Royall person for the recovery of that Kingdome, if his Parliament shall advise him there∣unto, soe he will not deny to contribute any other assistance he can to that ser∣vice by parting with any profit or advantage of his owne there, and therefore relying upon the wisdome of this Parliament doth consent to every proposition now made to him without taking time to examine whether this course may not retard the reducing of that Kingdome by exasperating the Rebells and rendering them desperate of being receaved into grace, If they shall returne to their obedience; and his Majesty will be ready to give his Royall Assent as to all such Bills as shall be tendered unto him by his Parliament to the Confir∣mation of every particular of this proposition, &c.

H. ELSYNGE, Cler-Parl. D. Com.