DIE Sabbati, 8 die Aprilis.
PRAYERS.
Earl of Manchester was appointed to be Speaker
this Day.
The Speaker acquainted the House, "That he hath
received a Letter from the Earl of Northumb." which
was read, as followeth:
"My Lord,
Earl of Northumberland's Letter, about the Treaty with the King.
"I have herewith sent your Lordship, by Sir Peter
Killegrewe, the Paper concerning the Magazines,
marked with the Figure (7) (which, as I mentioned
when I last sent the other Parts of that Head, we had
not received from His Majesty), and likewise all the
other Papers concerning the Forts, Castles, Towns,
and Ships, and concerning the Disbanding; which
Papers on each Head are severally figured. We have
delivered to His Majesty the Directions of both
Houses, concerning Mr. Ash's Cloaths, to which we
have not yet received His Majesty's Answer, but expect it suddenly. His Majesty asked us Yesterday,
whether we had any Instructions to treat with Him on
the latter Part of our First Proposition concerning His
Return to His Two Houses of Parliament, and your
Lordships will find that repeated in a Paper this Day
received from His Majesty, and our Answers thereunto, which I conceive my Duty to give your Lordship an Account of; and, upon the whole Matter, to
attend your Lordships further Pleasure, which shall
be carefully obeyed by
"Your Lordship's humble Servant,
Oxford, 7 April, 1643.
"Northumb.
"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester,
Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore."
"April 6, 1643.
Questions from the King, about the First Proposition.
"1. His Majesty desires to know from the Committee
of both Houses, whether they acquiesce with His
Majesty's Replies to their Answer concerning His
First Proposition, which Yesterday they received from
Him, and to which they have yet made no Return?
"His Majesty likewise desires to know whether they
have yet received Power and Instructions to treat with
His Majesty concerning His Return to His Houses of
Parliament, which is a Part of the First Proposition
of both Houses?"
"The King's Explanation concerning Magazines,
April 5th, 1643.
The King's Answer about His Magazines.
"2. His Majesty conceives His Answer concerning the
Persons to whose Custody His Magazines shall be
committed to be very clear and sufficient, and shall
forbear any more particular Nomination of them; the
Two Houses well knowing whether they have any just
Exceptions to make against any of them; which if
they have, His Majesty will leave them to the due
Course of Justice.
"The Committees last Answers concerning the
King's First Proposition, and His Return,
6 April, 1643.
Committees Answer to the King, about the First Proposition.
"3. We shall transmit Your Majesty's Replies to our
Answers concerning Your First Proposition to both
Houses of Parliament, without further Reply.
"We likewise humbly answer, That we have not
received any Power or Instructions to treat with Your
Majesty concerning Your Return to Your Two Houses
of Parliament; but we assure ourselves, they will give
Your Majesty Satisfaction therein.
"Northumb.
Wm. Pierepont.
Jo. Holland.
Wm. Armyn.
B. Whitlocke."
"His Majesty's Answer to the First Proposition
of both His Houses of Parliament, 28 March,
1643.
The King's Answer about disbanding the Armies.
"4. His Majesty is as ready and willing that all Armies
be disbanded as any Person whatsoever; and conceives the best Way to it to be, a happy and speedy
Conclusion of the present Treaty, which (if both
Houses will contribute as much to it as His Majesty
shall do) will be suddenly effected; and, that this
Treaty may the sooner produce that Effect, His Majesty desires that the Time given to the Committee
of both Houses to treat may be enlarged: And His
Majesty desires nothing more than to be with His Two
Houses; and so He will repair thither as soon as He
can possibly do it with His Honour and Safety.
"The Committees Reply concerning Disbanding
the Armies, March 29.
Reply of the Committees.
"5. We are directed, by our Instructions, humbly to
desire Your Majesty's speedy and positive Answer
concerning the Disbanding of the Armies; to which
if Your Majesty be pleased to assent, we are then to
beseech Your Majesty, in the Name of both Houses,
that a near Day may be agreed upon, for the Disbanding of all the Forces in the remote Parts of
Yorkeshire, and the other Northern Counties, as also
in Lanchashire, Cheshire, and in the Dominion of Wales,
and in Cornwall and Devon; and, they being fully
disbanded, another Day may be agreed on, for the
Disbanding of all Forces in Lyncolneshire, Notts, Leycestershire, and all other Places, except at Oxford and
the Quarters thereunto belonging, and Windsor and
the Quarters thereunto belonging: And that, last of
all, a speedy Day may be appointed for the Disbanding those Two Armies at Oxford and Winsor, and
all the Forces, Members of either of them.
"That some Officers of both Armies may speedily
meet, to agree of the Manner of the Disbanding;
and that fit Persons may be appointed, by Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament, who (fn. *) may repair to the several Armies, and see the Disbanding
put in speedy Execution accordingly.
"Northumb.
Wm. Pierpont.
Jo. Holland.
Wm. Armyn.
B. Whitlocke."
"March 29, 1643.
"Concerning Your Majesty's Answer to the Proposition of both Houses for disbanding of the
Armies;
Committees desire an Explanation about the Disbanding.
"6. We humbly desire to know if by the Words
["By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the present
Treaty"] You do intend a Conclusion of the Treaty
on Your Majesty's First Proposition, and their Proposition for disbanding the Armies, or a Conclusion
of the Treaty on all the Propositions of both Parts:
"We have given speedy Notice to both Houses of
Parliament of Your Majesty's Desires, that the Time
given to the Committee of both Houses to treat may
be enlarged.
"To the last Clause, we have no Instructions.
"Northumb.
Wm. Pierepont.
Jo. Holland.
Wm. Armyn.
B. Whitlocke."
"The King's Explanation concerning (fn. *) the Conclusion of the Treaty, April 5, 1643.
The King's Explanation.
"7. His Majesty intended, by the Words ["By a
happy and speedy Conclusion of the Treaty"], such
a Conclusion of or in the Treaty, as there might be
a clear Evidence to Himself and His good Subjects of
a future Peace, and no Ground left for the Continuance or Growth of these bloody Dissentions, which
He doubts not may be obtained, if both Houses shall
consent that the Treaty may proceed without further
Interruption or Limitation of Days.
"Falkland."
"The Committees Desire of further Explanation
by his Majesty's Disbanding, 6 April 1643.
Committees desire a further Explanation.
"8. We humbly desire to know, if by the Words
["By a happy and speedy Conclusion of the present
Treaty"] Your Majesty intends a Conclusion of the
present Treaty on Your Majesty's First Proposition,
and the Proposition of both Houses for disbanding of
the Armies, or a Conclusion of the Treaty on all the
Popositions of both Parts.
"Northumb.
Wm. Pierepont.
Jo. Holland.
Wm. Armyn.
B. Whitlocke."
"The last Answer of the Committee concerning
Disbanding, April 7, 1643.
Committees Answer about the Disbanding.
"9. We have not transmitted Your Majesty's Answer
to the Proposition of Disbanding, wherein Your Majesty mentions Yourself to be most ready to return
to both Your Houses of Parliament whensoever You
may do it with Honour and Safety, for that we
humbly conceive we were to expect Your Majesty's
Answer to that Proposition this Day received, before
we could give a due Account thereof to both Houses
of Parliament; the which we will presently send
away, without further Reply.
"Northumb.
Wm. Pierepont.
Jo. Holland.
Wm. Armyn.
B. Whitlocke."
"The King's further Answer concerning Disbanding, April 5.
The King's further Answer concerning it.
"10. When the Time for disbanding the Armies
shall be agreed upon, His Majesty well approves that
some Officers of both Armies may speedily meet, to
agree of the Manner of Disbanding; and that fit
Persons may be appointed, by His Majesty and both
Houses of Parliament, who may repair to the several
Armies, and see the Disbanding speedily put in Execution accordingly.
"Falkland."
"His Majesty's last Answer concerning Conclusion
of the Treaty and His Return, 7 April,
1643.
The King's Answer about His Return, and Conclusion of the Treaty.
"11. His Majesty conceives His Answers already given
(for He hath given Two) to be very clear and significant; and, if the Conclusion of the present Treaty,
on His Majesty's First Proposition and the Proposition
of both Houses, shall be so full and perfectly made,
that the Law of the Land may have a full, free,
and uninterrupted Course, for the Defence and Pre
servation of the Rights of His Majesty, both Houses,
and His good Subjects, there will be thence a clear
Evidence to His Majesty, and His good Subjects,
of a future Peace, and no Ground left for the Continuance and Growth of these bloody Dissentions,
and it will be such a Conclusion as His Majesty intended; His Majesty never intending that both Armies should remain undisbanded until all the Propositions of both Sides were fully concluded: But His
Majesty is very sorry that, in that Point of the First
Proposition of both Houses, which hath seemed to
be so much wished, and which may be so concluded
as alone much to conduce to the Evidence desired
(videlicet, His Return to both Houses, to which His
Majesty in His Answer hath expressed Himself to be
most ready, whensoever He may do it with Honour
and Safety), they have yet no Manner of Power nor
Instructions so much as to treat with His Majesty.
"Falkland."
"March 27, 1643.
"To that Part of Your Majesty's First Proposition
which concerns Your Ships, we humbly give
this Answer:
Answer from the Committee, about the Fleet.
"12. That the Ships shall be delivered into the
Charge of such a noble Person as Your Majesty shall
nominate to be Lord High Admiral of England, and
the Two Houses of Parliament confide in, who shall
receive the same Office by Letters Patents, quamdiu
se bene gesserit, and shall have Power to nominate and
appoint all subordinate Commanders and Officers,
and have all other Powers appertaining to the Office
of High Admiral; which Ships he shall employ, for
the Defence of the Kingdom, against all Foreign
Forces whatsoever, and for the Safeguard of Merchants, Securing of Trade, and the Guarding of Ireland, and the Intercepting of all Supplies to be carried to the Rebels; and shall use his uttermost Endeavours to suppress all Forces, which shall be raised by
any Person, without Your Majesty's Authority, and
Consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament;
and shall seize all Arms and Ammunition provided for
Supply of any such Forces.
"Northumberland.
Wm. Pierrepoint.
Wm. Armyne.
J. Holland.
B. Whitlock."
"March 28, 1643.
The King's Reply.
"13. His Majesty expects, that His own Ships be forthwith delivered to Him, as by the Law they ought to
be; and, when He shall please to nominate a Lord
High Admiral of England, it shall be such a noble
Person against whom no just Exception can be made;
and, if any shall be, His Majesty will always leave
him to his due Trial and Examination, and shall grant
his Office to him by such Letters Patents as have
been used: In the mean Time, His Majesty will govern the said Admiralty by Commission, as in all
Times hath been accustomed; and whatever Ships
shall be set forth by His Majesty, or His Authority,
shall be employed for the Defence of the Kingdom
against all Foreign Forces whatsoever, for the Safeguard of Merchants, Securing of Trade, Guarding of
Ireland, and the Intercepting of all Supplies to be
carried to the Rebels; and shall use their utmost
Endeavours to suppress all Forces which shall be
raised, by any Person whatsoever, against the Laws
and Statutes of the Kingdom; and to seize all Arms
and Ammunition provided for the Supply of any such
Forces.
"Faulkland."
"March 29, 1643.
"14. Concerning Your Majesty's Proposition for
Your Ships;
Committee desires an Explanation of it.
"We humbly desire Your Majesty would be pleased
to give a more full Answer to the Clause for the
Ships to be delivered into the Charge of such a
noble Person as Your Majesty shall nominate to
be Lord High Admiral of England, and the Two
Houses of Parliament confide in, who shall receive
the same Office by Letters Patents, quamdiu se bene
gesserit.
"And to that Clause to suppress all Forces which
shall be raised by any Person without Your Majesty's
Authority, and Consent of the Lords and Commons
in Parliament; whereunto if Your Majesty shall be
pleased to give Your Assent, we conceive we are
then directed, by our Instructions, humbly to desire Your Majesty to nominate such noble Person to
be Lord High Admiral of England, that we may
forthwith certify both Houses of Parliament, that
thereupon they may express their Confidence in that
Person, or humbly beseech Your Majesty to name
another; and that, in Case such noble Person, who
shall be appointed to be Lord High Admiral of England, shall be removed, or shall die, within the Space
of Three Years next ensuing, that the Person to be
put in the same Office shall be such as both Houses
shall confide in.
"Northumberland.
Holland.
Wm. Peirepoint.
Wm. Armyne.
B. Whitlock."
"15. Concerning His Majesty's Propositions for His
Ships:
The King's Answer.
"His Majesty conceives His former Answer of the
28th of March, concerning the Ships, to be so full,
that He can add nothing thereunto in any Part of
it.
"His Majesty conceiving it all the Justice in the
World for Him to insist, that what is by Law His
own, and hath been contrary to Law taken from
Him, be fully restored unto Him, without conditioning to impose any new Limitations upon His Majesty
or His Ministers, which were not formerly required
from them by Law, and thinking it most unreasonable to be pressed to diminish His own just Rights
Himself, because others have violated and usurped
them.
"Faulkland."
"March 27, 1643.
"16. To that Part of Your Majesty's First Proposition which concerns Your Majesty's Towns
and Forts, we humbly give this Answer:
Answer from the Committee to the King, about His Towns and Forts.
"That the Two Houses of Parliament will remove
the Garrisons out of all Towns and Forts in their
Hands, wherein there were no Garrisons before these
Troubles, and slight all Fortifications made since that
Time, and those Towns and Forts to continue in the
same Condition they were in before; and that those
Garrisons shall not be removed, nor the Fortifications
repaired, without Consent of Your Majesty and both
Houses of Parliament.
"That, for those Towns and Forts which are within
the Jurisdiction of the Cinque Ports, they shall be delivered into the Hands of such a noble Person as
Your Majesty shall appoint to be Warden of the
Cinque Ports, being such an one as they shall confide in.
"That the Town of Portsemouth shall be reduced to
the Number of the Garrisons as was at the Time
when the Lords and Commons undertook the Custody
thereof; and such other Forts, Castles, and Towns,
as were formerly kept by Garrisons, as have been
taken by both Houses of Parliament into their Care
and Custody since the Beginning of these Troubles,
shall be reduced to such Proportion of Garrison as
they had in the Year 1636, and shall be so continued;
and that all the said Towns, Forts, and Castles, shall
be delivered up into the Hands of such Persons of
Quality and Trust, to be likewise nominated by Your
Majesty, as the Two Houses of Parliament shall confide in.
"That the Warden of the Cinque Ports, and all
Generals and Commanders of Towns, Castles, and
Forts, shall keep the same Towns, Castles, and Forts
respectively, for the Service of Your Majesty and
the Safety of the Kingdom; and that they shall not
admit into any of them any Foreign Forces, or any
other Forces raised without Your Majesty's Authority,
and Consent of the Two Houses of Parliament; and
they shall use their uttermost Endeavours to suppress
all Forces whatsoever without such Authority and
Consent, and they shall seize all Arms and Ammunition provided for any such Forces.
"They likewise humbly propose to Your Majesty,
that You would remove the Garrisons at Newcastle,
and all other Towns, Castles, and Forts, where any
Garrisons have been placed by Your Majesty since
these Troubles; and that the Fortifications be likewise slighted, and the Towns and Forts left in such
Estate and Condition as they were in the Year
1636.
"That all other Towns, Forts, and Castles, where
there have been formerly Garrisons before these
Troubles, may be committed to the Charge of such
Persons, to be nominated by Your Majesty, as both
Houses of Parliament shall confide in, and under such
Instructions as are formerly mentioned; and that the
new Garrisons shall not be renewed, nor the Fortifications repaired, without Consent of Your Majesty
and both Houses of Parliament.
"A. Northumberland.
J. Holland.
W. Pierrepont.
W. Armyne.
B. Whitlock."
"March 28, 1643.
The King's Reply.
"17. His Majesty is content that all the Garrisons,
in any Towns and Forts in the Hands of any Persons
employed by the Two Houses of Parliament, wherein
there were no Garrisons before these Troubles, be
removed, and all Fortifications made since that Time
may be slighted; and those Towns and Forts shall for
the future continue in the same Condition they were
in before.
"For the Cinque Ports, they are already in the
Custody of a noble Person, against whom His Majesty knows no just Exceptions, and who hath such a
legal Interest therein, that His Majesty cannot with
Justice remove him from it, until some sufficient
Cause be made appear to Him; but is willing, if he
shall at any Time be found guilty of any Thing that
may make him unworthy of that Trust, that he may
be proceeded against according to the Rules of
Justice.
"The Town of Portsmouth, and all other Forts,
Castles, and Towns, as were formerly kept by Garrisons, shall be reduced to their ancient Proportion,
and the Government of them put into the Hands of
such Persons against whom no just Exceptions can be
made; all of them being, before these Troubles, by
Letters Patents granted to several Persons, against any
of whom His Majesty knows not of any Exceptions,
and who shall be removed if just Cause shall be given
for the same.
"The Warden of the Cinque Ports, and all Governors and Commanders of Towns, Castles, and Forts,
shall keep the same Towns, Castles, and Forts, as by
the Law they ought to do, for His Majesty's Service,
and the Safety of the Kingdom; and they shall not
admit into any of them Foreign Forces, or other
Forces raised or brought in contrary to the Law,
but shall use their uttermost Endeavours to suppress
all such Forces, and shall seize all Arms and Ammunition, which, by the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom, they ought to seize.
"The Garrisons of Newcastle; and all other Towns,
Castles, and Forts, in which Garrisons have been
placed by His Majesty since these Troubles, shall be
removed; and all the Fortifications shall be slighted,
and the Towns and Forts left in such State and Condition as they were in the Year 1636.
"All other Towns, Forts, and Castles, where there
have been formerly Garrisons before these Troubles,
shall be committed to the Charge of such Persons,
and under such Cautions and Limitations, as His Majesty hath before expressed.
"And no new Garrisons shall be renewed, nor their
Fortifications repaired, otherwise than as by the Laws
and Statutes of the Kingdom they may or ought to
be.
"Falkland."
"March 29, 1643, Cinque Ports, &c.
Questions from the Committee, about the King's appointing the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Governorsof Towns, &c.
"18. Concerning the appointing of the Warden of
the Cinque Ports, and Governors of Your Majesty's
Towns, Castles, and Forts, we humbly desire to know,
if Your Majesty's Reply doth intend that both Houses
of Parliament may express their Confidence of the
Persons to whose Trust those Places are to be committed; for that we are directed, by our Instructions,
that, if Your Majesty be pleased to assent thereunto,
that You would nominate Persons of Quality to receive the Charge of them, that we may forthwith
certify both Houses of Parliament, that thereupon
they may express their Confidence in those Persons,
or humbly beseech Your Majesty to name others,
none of which Persons to be removed during Three
Years next ensuing, without just Cause to be approved by both Houses of Parliament; and, if any
be so removed, or shall die within the said Space,
the Persons to be put in the same Offices shall be
such as both Houses shall confide in.
"We humbly desire to know if Your Majesty intends
the Garrison of Portsmouth to be of such a Proportion
as it was about the Year 1641, about which Time a
new Supply was added to the former Garrisons, to
strengthen it; which both Houses of Parliament think
necessary to continue.
"We humbly desire Your Majesty would be pleased
to give a more full Answer to this Clause, that they
would not admit into them any Foreign or other
Forces, raised without Your Majesty's Authority, and
Consent of the Two Houses of Parliament; and that
they shall use their utmost Endeavours to suppress all
Forces whatsoever raised without such Authority and
Consent; and that those Garrisons should not be renewed, or their Fortifications repaired, without Consent of Your Majesty and both Houses of Parliament.
"A. Northumberland.
W. Pierrepont.
Wm. Armyne.
J. Holland.
B. Whitlocke."
"April 5, 1643.
The King's Answer.
"19. His Majesty doth not intend that both Houses of
Parliament shall express their Confidence of the Persons to whose Trust the Cinque Ports, or other His
Majesty's Towns, Castles, and Forts, now are or shall
be committed; but only that they shall have Liberty,
upon any just Exceptions, to proceed against any such
Persons according to the Law; His Majesty being resolved not to protect them against the Public Justice,
and well knowing that, when any of those Places shall
be void, the Nomination and free Election is a Right
belonging to and inherent in His Majesty, and,
having been enjoyed by all His Royal Progenitors,
His Majesty will not believe that His well-affected
Subjects will desire to limit Him in that Right.
"His Majesty intends the Garrison of Portsmouth to
be of such a Proportion as it was in the Year 1641,
except He finds good to enlarge or diminish that Proportion.
"His Majesty cannot give a more full Answer to
that Clause concerning the Admission of Forces into
any of His Forts, Castles, and Towns, than He hath
already given; His Majesty having therein made the
Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom the Rule of what
is or what is not to be done, which will be always
the most impartial Judge between Him and His
People.
"Falkland."
"March 29, 1643.
"Concerning an Oath to be taken by all Officers,
&c.
Question from the Committee, about an Oath to be taken by all Officers, &c.
"20. We are humbly to desire Your Majesty, that all
Generals and Commanders, in any of the Armies on
either Side, as likewise the Lord Admiral of England,
the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, all Commanders of any Ships, and Commanders of any Towns,
Castles, or Forts, may take an Oath, to observe the
Articles formerly mentioned, and use their uttermost
Power to preserve the true Reformed Protestant Religion, and the Peace of the Kingdom, against all
Foreign Force, and all other Forces raised without
Your Majesty's Authority, and Consent of the Two
Houses of Parliament.
"A. Northumberland.
Wm. Pierrepoint.
Wm. Armyne.
John Holland.
B. Whitlocke."
"April 5, 1643.
The King's Answer.
"21. His Majesty conceives the Oaths which all these
Officers are already by Law obliged to take to be
very fully sufficient; but, if any Thing shall be made
appear unto Him necessary to be added thereunto,
when there shall be a full and peaceable Convention
in Parliament, His Majesty will readily consent to an
Act for such an Addition.
"Falkland."
These Papers to be communicated to the H. C. and to be debated by the Committees for the Treaty.
Upon the reading of these Papers, this House Resolved, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, and communicate these Papers unto them; and
let them know, that, upon the Perusal of them, their
Lordships Apprehensions are, that there is a great Deal
of Delay more than they expected, wherein their Lordships receive no Satisfaction; but would not resolve of
any Thing positively, until that the Committees of both
Houses for the Treaty and Cessation do meet, and debate, and consider what is fit to be done upon these
Papers, and to prepare and draw Answers to them,
and report them to the Houses; and to desire that the
said Committees may meet this Afternoon, at Two of
the Clock.
Message to the H. C. for a Conference about them.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath:
To desire a present Conference, in the Painted
Chamber, by a Committee of both Houses, touching
some Papers received from the Committee at Oxon.
The Messengers return with this Answer:
Answer.
That the House of Commons will give a present Meeting, as is desired.
Sir T. Lucy's Monument, &c. a Pass.
Ordered, That a Pass shall be granted, for Six
Waggons, with Horses, and several Persons, to carry
down Sir Tho. Lucy's Monument into Warwickeshire, and
to return again to London.
Countess of Devon, a Pass.
Ordered, That the Countess of Devon, with her
Retinue, shall have a Pass, to pass from Dover to London, as often as she shall have Occasion, with her Coach
and Horses and Servants, &c.
Lady Higham, a Pass.
Ordered, That the Lady Higham shall have a Pass,
to go from London to Abingdon and Oxford, and back
again to London.
Sir Fr. Beneday, a Pass.
Ordered, That Sir Francis Beneday shall have a
Pass, to go into France, with his Wife and Family, consisting of Ten Persons, with Two Horses, Goods, and
Houshold Stuff.
The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the
Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the
House was resumed.
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 2a post meridiem.
Post meridiem.
PRAYERS.
Earl of Manchester, Speaker.
Mrs. Murray, a Pass.
Ordered, That Mrs. Murrey shall have a Pass, to
go to Oxford, and return back again to London, quietly,
with her Coach and Four Horses, and other Necessaries
as are convenient and necessary for her in her Journey.
Message from the H. C. for Instructions to the Committee at Oxon.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Sir John Potts Baronet:
To desire a Conference, by a Committee of both
Houses, so soon as it may stand with their Lordships
Conveniency, touching some Instructions to be sent to
the Committees at Oxon, concerning His Majesty's Answer to the Two First Propositions.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That this House will give a present Meeting, in the
Painted Chamber, as is desired.
Message from the H. C. with Orders, &c. for Concurrence.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Mr. Reynolds, who brought up several Orders and
Ordinances, wherein the House of Commons desires
their Lordships Concurrence.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That this House will send an Answer by Messengers
of their own.
The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the
Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the
House was resumed.
Report of the Conference about the Instructions to the Committee at Oxford.
The Speaker reported the Effect of the Conference:
To let their Lordships know, that the Committees
(fn. *) have drawn up some Instructions, to be sent to the
Committees at Oxford, in Answer to the Papers received
this Day, concerning the King's Answer touching the
Article for Disbanding both Armies; which the House
of Commons have agreed to, with the Addition of a
Title and One Instruction more.
The Instructions were read, as followeth. (Here enter them.)
Ordered, That this House agrees with the House
of Commons in these Instructions, to be sent to the Committees at Oxon, in a Letter from the Speaker of this
House.
Instructions to the Committee at Oxon.
"Additional Instructions for Algernon Earl of
Northumb. Wm. Lord Viscount Say & Seale,
Wm. Pierepont Esquire, Sir Wm. Armyn, and
Sir John Holland, Baronets, Bolstrode Whitlocke Esquire, Committees from both Houses
attending His Majesty at Oxford.
Magazines, and enlarging the Time of the Treaty.
"The Two Houses of Parliament are unsatisfied with
His Majesty's Answer to that Clause of the First Proposition which concerns the Magazines; wherefore
you are to desire His Majesty to make a further Answer, in such Manner as is expressed in the Instructions formerly given you; and you shall let His Majesty know, that the Lords and Commons do not think
fit to enlarge the Time of the Treaty beyond the
Twenty Days formerly limited.
Cinque Ports, Forts, Towns, and Castles.
"They likewise remain unsatisfied with His Majesty's
Answer concerning the Cinque Ports, Towns, Forts,
and Castles, being in the most material Points an express Denial; wherefore you are to insist upon their
Desire for another Answer, according to your Instructions.
Ships.
"They observe, in His Majesty's Answer concerning
the Ships, not only a Denial to all the Desires of
both Houses, but likewise a Censure upon the Proceedings: However, you are to insist upon their Desires expressed in your Instructions.
Disbanding.
"They further conceive that His Majesty's Answer to
their First Proposition concerning the Disbanding is
in Effect a Denial, unless they desert all those Cautions and Limitations which they have desired in
their Answer to His Majesty's First Proposition;
wherefore you are to proceed insisting upon that Part
of their First Proposition concerning Disbanding, according to your Instructions.
The King's Return to the Parliament.
"You shall declare to His Majesty the Desire of
both Houses, of His Majesty's coming to His Parliament, which they have often expressed with as full
Offers of Security to His Royal Person as was agreeable to their Duty and Allegiance: And they know no
Cause why His Majesty may not repair hither with
Honour and Safety; but they did not insert it into
your Instructions, because they conceived the Disbanding of the Armies would have facilitated His
Majesty's Resolution therein, which they likewise
conceived was agreeable to His Majesty's Sense,
who, in declaring His Consent to the Order of the
Treaty, did only mention that Part of the First Proposition which concerned the Disbanding, and did
omit that concerning His coming to the Parliament.
Oath of Officers.
"They conceive the ordinary Oaths of the Officers
mentioned are not sufficient to secure them against
the extraordinary Causes of Jealousy, which have
been given them in these troublesome Times; and
that His Majesty's Answer lays some Tax upon the
Parliament, as if defective, and thereby uncapable of
making such a provisional Law for an Oath: Therefore you shall still insist upon their former Desires
of such an Oath as is mentioned in your Instructions.
Enlarging the Time.
"If you shall not have received His Majesty's positive Answer to the humble Desire of both Houses
in these Two First Propositions, according as they
are expressed in your Instructions, before the Twenty Days limited for the Treaty shall be expired,
you shall then with convenient Speed repair to the
Parliament, without expecting any further Direction."
Adjourn.
House adjourned to 10a Lunæ.