An appeal to Caesar wherein gold and silver is proved to the Kings Majestie's royal commodity : which, by the lawes of the kingdom, no person of what degree soever but the Kings Majestie and his Privy Council can give licence to transport either gold or silver ... / by Tho. Violet ...

Two Letters of Col. Read's, sent to Mr. Theo∣philus Rily, Scout-master of the City of London, from Oxford, to incourage the Common-Councel of the City of London, to Petition his late Majesty for Peace; and to consider the sad Effects that would follow, upon the Scots invading-England. Jan. 1643.

SIR!

I Wrote to you formerly, but never had any Answer, I assure you faith∣fully I have not been wanting to do what you desired (as you may perceiv by the effects) & if you have not your desire, blame your self,

and give me leave to tell you, that if you neglect the opportunity now of∣fered to you, it may be you shall never have the like again; for I have made those whom you have given just occasion to be your worst friends, to be your best, and the only instruments to procure what here is sent you, and be you confident shee shall still be so, provided you do your part; con∣sider I beseech you, what a gap is opened by bringing in of the Scots, for the destruction of this Kingdom, if there be not a Peace (which I pray God Almightie to send speedily) you must expect Armies of Strang∣ers from several Places, who are now preparing, who certainly at their coming in will over-run the whole Kingdom, and when it is past remedy, you will see your own Errors, and therefore to prevent more misery then I am able to expresse to this deplorable Kingdom, and the effusion of the bloud of thousands of men, women, and children, which must inevitably be this Summer; apply your selves in an humble and submissive way to his Majestie, whom I know you will finde ready with Arms out-stretch∣ed to receive you to favor and mercy, and grant you favors, even beyond your expectation. Defer no time (for God's sake) and what you will do, do it speedily; I say again, do it speedily, for reasons, I may not write.

Oxford Dec. 10. 1560

Col. Read's Paper to Mr. Rilie, Scoutmaster of the City of LONDON.

SIR!

I Assure you that I have not been wanting to further your good desi∣res, and if it be not your own faults, I make no doubt but things will have an happy issue; for I finde those that are most concerned in it, for∣ward

enough. Reflect now upon the miserie of the times, and upon the groans and sufferings of those you see not, which yet have been nothing to what they will be, if not speedily prevented by a Peace; which to obtain I beseech you, let it not only be your own care, but the care of all those you love, or have power with, otherwise be confident of a generall ruine, which certainly will be inevitable both to your selves and posteritie; and therefore take it into your serious consideration, and let no causless jea∣lousies hinder you to apply your selves in an humble and submissive man∣ner to his Majestie, who I am sure will yet look upon you with a gracious eie; lose no time, for the longer you delay, it may prove the more diffi∣cult, no doubt.

This last Letter I Tho. Violet delivered from Read at Oxford, to Mr. Rilie in London Decemb. 20. 1640.

This Coll. Read I got exchanged by a wrong name, for a private Souldier, at the intreatie of Sir Basil Brook, who told me I should do a very good service for his Majestie, and the Queens Majestie, to get Read to be discharged, but that must be done by a wrong name, or else said Sir Basil Brook the Parliament would never admit of his exchang; I did effect it, and sent this Coll. Read to the King at Oxford, upon condition he would returne to Mr. Rilie the Scout-master of London, how he found his Majestie inclined to receive a Petition from the City of London for peace, that they would declare themselves for a peace, and Petition his Majestie for a cessation of Arms; and an accommodation be∣tween the late King of Glorious memory. And I Tho. Violet was sent down to Oxford Decemb. 29 1643 to bring up his Majesties Grati∣ous Letter, the Copie of the Citie of London▪ desire, being sent to his late Majestie, wherein they desired upon the Copie I brought to Oxford,

to have his Majestie directed his Letter to the Militia of London, but his late Majestie would not own the Militia, to treat with them as the Militia of the Citie, because his Majestie told me at Oxford they were not impowred by his Commission, and he would not own them: I told his late Majestie, and the Lord Digbie, it was contrary to my instructi∣ons which I received from Mr. Rilie, to alter the superscription of His Majesties Letter, but seeing His Majestie would not but direct his Letter, To our Lord Mayor, and Aldermen of our City of London, and all other our well affected Subjects of that our Citie. I would venture my life to bring up this Letter to London, and going according to my instructions I received from his Maiestie, to acquaint Wolla∣ston then Lord Mayor of London, and Alderman Gibbs, they caused me some few houres after I was gon from them, to be apprehended upon a Charge of High Treason.

Notes

• The Queens most Excel∣lent Majesty, in my hearing, (I being sent down to Ox∣ford, by order of Rilie and some others, to bring up his Majesties Let∣ter Decemb. 1643.) did most earnestly intercede for the City of London. The King there∣upon replied, that he had there the best and worst sub∣jects of any King in Chri∣stendom; and hereupon the Queen replied, Violet it shall be my care to see the Gentle∣men that come from the City with a Petiti∣on to the King shall be well accomodated, and have a most Gratious Answer to all their just de∣mands▪ God blesse them, & God increase their number, and thereupon the Queens Majesty wept, and the King drew his hand∣kerchief out of his pocket, and the tears stood in the Kings eyes, which made both Read and I fall a weeping, and thereupon the Queen commanded Col. Read to lift up the Hangings, to see no body stood behinde the Hangings to hear what shee said, which Read did, and when the Queen see no body behinde the Hangings; Ah Violet said she the King and I am in a most sad condition, we have Traytors about us, that watch all our Words and Actions, we speak nothing, nor do nothing, but it is seat up to the Parliament, and they interpret it in the worst Sence: The Queens Majesty at that time was very ill, and lookt very carefully, and was nothing but Skin and Bones. God be thanked for the blessed change that is here at this day, the Kings Majesty her Son, in the Throne of his Royal Father, and King of the hearts of his People; these two Papers was found in Rilies pockets, and was printed by Order of Parliament, and Col. Read charged to be a Jesuite, I am sure of it these Papers makes him a true Prophet, I saved Reads life in getting him exchanged of the General Essex by a wrong name.