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C. R.
IF the Comittee according to his Majesties desire had had but power to agree in the wording of expressions in the Articles of cessation,
His Majesties (which are as cleer as the matter would bear, and as he could make them) had not appeared so doubtfull to any, but that the cessation might have bin suddenly & speedily resolved, and that long before this time. And if the expression of both Houses in their rea∣sons had not necessitated his Majesty in his own defence, to give such answers as could not upon those points deliver truth without some shew of sharpnes, no expression of that kind in his Majesties answer had given any pretence for the rejection of, or refusing so much as to treat upon this cessation, which (though it were at present for no long time) yet was from the day named by themselves the 25th of March; Whereas his Majesty first mov'd for a Cessation and treaty without any limitation at all in the time of either, and his Majestie was most ready to have enlarg'd the time (so that in the meane while the point of quarters might be so setled, as that his Armies might subsist) and which might have beene (if they had pleas'd) a very good and promising earnest, and fore-runner of that great blessing of Peace; for the obtaining of which, the wishes and endeavours of all good men being earnestly bent, a farther debate in order to so great a benefit, did not deserve to be stiled a consump∣tion of time. And his Majesty cannot but conceive himselfe to be in a strange condition, if the doubtfulnesse of expressions (which must alwayes be whil'st the treaty is at such a distance, and power is de∣nied to those upon the place to helpe to cleere and explaine) or his necessary Replying to charges layd upon him (that hee might not seeme to acknowledge what was so charged) or the limi∣tation of the time of seven dayes for the treaty (which was not limited by his Majesty, who ever desired to have avoyded that and other limitations which have given great interruptions to it) should bee as well believed to bee the grounds, as they are made the ar∣guments of the Rejection of that, which (next to Peace it selfe) his Majesty above all things most desires to see agreed and setled, and which his Majesty hopes (if it may bee yet agreed on) will give his people such a taste of such a blessing, that after a short time of consideration, and comparing of their severall conditions in war and Peace, and what should move them to suffer so much by a change, they will not thinke those their friends that shall force them to it, or bee themselves ready to contribute to the renewing of their former miseries, without some greater evi∣dence of necessity than can appeare to them, when they shall have seen (as they shall see, if this treaty be suffered to proceed)
That his Majesty neither asks nor denies any thing, but what not only according to Law He may, but what in Honor and care of his people He is oblig'd to ask or deny. And this alone (which a very short Cessation would produce) His Majesty esteems a very consi∣derable advantage to the Kingdom; And therfore cannot but presse again and again, that, what ever is thought doubtfull in the expres∣sions of the Articles, may (as in an hour it may well be done) be ex∣pounded; and whatsoever is excepted at, may be debated and con∣cluded, and that power and instructions may be given to the Com∣mittee to that end, That the miserable effects of War, the effusion of English bloud, and desolation of England (untill they can bee totally taken away) may by this means be staied and interrupted.
His Majesty supposes, That when the Committee was last requi∣red to desire his Majesty to give a speedy and positive Answer to the first Proposition concerning disbanding; His Answers in that point (to which no Reply hath been made, and which He hopes by this time have given satisfaction) were not transmitted and re∣ceived: But wonders the Houses should presse his Majesty for a speedy and positive Answer, to the first part of their first Proposi∣tion concerning disbanding, when to the second part of the very same Proposition concerning his return to both Houses of Parlia∣ment, they had not given any power or instructions to the Commit∣tee, so much as to treat with his Majesty. And when his Majesty (if his desire of peace, and of speeding the treaty in order to that, had not been prevalent with him) might with all manner of Justice have delayed to begin to treat upon one part, untill they had beene enabled to treat upon the other; In which point, and for want of which power from them, the only stop now remains: His Majesties Answers to both parts of their first Proposition, being given in, transmitted, and yet remaining unanswered.
To which, untill the Houses shall be at leisure to make Answer, that as little delay in this Treaty as is possible may be caused by it; His Majesty desires likewise, That the Committee may be enabled to treat upon the following Propositions in their severall orders.