Speaker told them, "That the lords concurred with them in the latter Vote; and, as to the former, they should receive an Answer by messengers of their own." this being an exercise of sad and pious solemnity, and the other being spectacles of pleasure, too commonly expressing lascivious mirth and lechery: it is, therefore, thought fit, and ordain The Parliament's Answer to the King's Mes-ed by the lords and commons, &c. That while sage.] A committee being appointed for that purpose, the following Auswer to the king's Message for Peace was drawn up, and agreed to by both houses: "May it please your majesty; The lords and commons in parliament assembled, having received your majesty's Message of the 25th of August, do with much grief resent the dangerous and distracted state of this kingdom; which we have, by all means, endeavoured to preveut, both by our several Advices and Peuitions to your majesty, which have been not only without success, but there hath followed that, which no ill counsel in former times hath | produced, or any age hath seen; namely, those several Proclamations and Declarations against both houses of parliament; whereby their actions are declared Treasonable, and their persons Traitors: and thereupon your maj. hath set up your Standard against them, whereby you have put the two houses of parliament, and, in them, this whole kingdom, out of your protection; so that, until your maj. shall recall those Proclamations and Declararations, whereby the carl of Essex and both houses of parliament, and their adherents and assistants, and such as have obeyed and executed their commands and directions, according to their duties, are declared Traitors, or otherwise delinquents; and until the Standard, set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations, be taken down; your maj. hath put us into such a condition, that, whilst we so remain, we cannot, by the fundamental privileges of parliament, the public trust reposed in us, or with the general good and safety of this kingdom, give your majesty any other Answer to this Message." Sept. 2. Informations came from several parts, as from Oxford, Worcester, &c. of the plunderings and wastings committed by the king's forces, called now Cavaliers in the Journals; and proper Orders were sent to their general to grant such commissions as he should think necessary for settling the peace in those counties, and the protection of the king's subjects. An Order for suppressing of Stage Plays.] Sir Robert Harley, this day, brought up the following Order, made by the commons, to forbid Stage-Plays: "Whereas the distressed estate of Ireland, steeped in her own blood, and the distracted estate of England, threatened with a cloud of blood by a Civil War, call for all possible means to appease and avert the wrath of God, appearing in these judgments: amongst which fasting and prayer hath been often tried to be very effectual, and have been lately and are still enjoined: and whereas public sports do not well agree with public calamities; nor public plays with the seasons of humiliation; those sad courses and set times of humiliations do continue, public Stage-Plays shall cease and be forborne; instead of which are recommended to the people of this land, the profitable and seasonable consideration of repentance, reconciliation, and peace with God; which probably, may produce outward peace and prosperity, and bring again times of joy and gladness to these nations." Sept. 3. The carl of Carlisle was committed to the Tower, and witnesses ordered to be produced against him, to prove the activeness of the said carl, in endeavouring to put the Commission of Array in execution in Essex. The King's second Message for Peace.] Sept. 5. The Speaker acquainted the lords, that the lord Spencer had a Message to deliver from the King; on which the lords sent out the gentleman-usher, as before, to receive it, who brought it in, and delivered it to be read, in hæc verba: "We will not repeat what means we have used to prevent the dangerous and distracted estate of the kingdom; nor how those means have been interrupted; because, being desirous to avoid effusion of blood, we are willing to decline all memory of former bitterness, that might make our offer of a Treaty less readily accepted.-We never did declare, nor ever intended to declare, both our houses of parliament Traitors, or set up our Standard against them; and much less to put them and this kingdom out of our protection: we utterly profess against it before God and the world. And further, to remove all possible scruples, which may hinder the Treaty so much desired by us, we hereby promise (so that a day be appointed by you for the revoking of your Declarations against all persons as Traitors or otherwise, for assisting of us) we shall, with all chearfulness, upon the same day, recall our Proclamations and Declarations, and take down our Standard: in which Treaty we shall be ready to grant any thing that shall be really for the good of our subjects; conjuring you to consider the bleeding condition of Ireland, and the dangerous condition of England, in as high a degree as, by these our offers, we have declared ourself to do; and assuring you that our chief desire, in this world, is to beget a good understanding, and mutual confidence, betwixt us and our two houses of parliament." Resolutions of both Houses thereupon.] Tho lords, taking this Message into consideration, appointed a committee to prepare an Answer to it; but, at the same time, resolved, That the lord-general shall proceed with his forces, according to former Resolutions.-A confe rence between the two houses was held on this Message; after which the commons sent up the following Votes for the lords concurrence. Resolved, 1. "That the king, in proclaiming the earl of Essex, and all his adherents, Trai- by the lords and commons, That the arms tors, hath declared both houses to be traitors, which they have been, and shall be, forced to who have published their Resolutions to adhere take up, for preservation of the parliament, to him, he having done nothing bat by their religion, laws and liberties of the kingdom, authority and direction; and doth hereby put shall not be laid down, until his maj. shall then and the whole kingdom out of his pro- withdraw his protection from such persons as tection. To prove this, the Proclanations and | have been, or shall be, voted, by both houses, the king's Instructions, given to the Commis- to be delinquents; and shall leave them to the sioners of Array since the last Message, are justice of parliament, to be proceeded with sufficient evidence. 2. That the king not according to their demerits; to the end that having removed those impediments mentioned both this and succeeding generations niay take in our former Answer, we do resolve to ad- warning, with what danger they incur the here thereunto: Which is, That so long as the like heinous crimes: And also, to the end Standard is up, and the Proclamation and De- that those great charges and damages, where claration unrevoked, we cannot make any with all the commonwealth hath been bur other. Only we desire it may be considered, thened in the premises, since his majesty's de what a dishonour and scorn is cast upon us in parture from the parliament, may be borne by that we, and the whole kingdom, are put into the delinquents, and other malignant and die the same balance with traitors and delinquents: affected persons; and that all his majesty's and as for that Proposition of the king's, That good and well-affected subjects, who by loan of when we shall appoint a day to revoke our monies, or otherwise, at their charge, have a Declaration against all persons as Traitors or sisted the common-wealth, or shall, in like or otherwise, for assisting his majesty, he will, manner, hereafter assist in time of extreme upon the same day, revoke his Proclamations danger, may be repaid all sums of money by and Declarations, and take down his Standard;' them lent for those purposes, and be satisfied we cannot admit of it without the greatest all their charges so sustained, out of the estates danger and dishonour of the kingdom and par- of the said delinquents, and of the malignant liament, by the consenting to the preservation and disaffected party in this kingdom. and indemnity of those who have been so apparently active to the destruction of both. 3. That we are as desirous of a good understanding betwixt his maj. and his subjects, as sensible of the bleeding and distempered estate of England and Ireland; and as careful to settle a good peace in both, as any subjects of this kingdom have ever been: and we do, with much grief, remember that many things are done which give us just cause to believe that there are not the like intentions in his maj. and those who govern his affairs; in that the ships appointed for the guard of Ireland, have been recalled by his majesty's Warrant; the provision of cloaths, to be sent to the army there, have been taken away by his troopers, upon the road; and the horses, waggons, and other necessaries, provided for Chester, sent for by his command; also, bis maj. keeping that kingdom without the chief governor; whereby the army at Dublin, maintained at the great charge of this kingdom, is made unprofitable, and the rebels grown so insolent as to exercise hostile acts, even to the very walls of that city. Besides many other impediments given to the Irish affairs, mentioned in an Answer of this house to a Message from his maj. of the 13th of August last."--Ordered, That this house agrees with the commons in all these Votes. September 6. Another, and a yet stronger, Vote of the commons, was sent up to the lords, for their concurrence, which was also agreed to by them, to this effect:-" Whereas his majesty, in a Message received the 5th of Sept. requires that the parliament should revoke their Declarations against such persons as have assisted him in this unnatural war against this kingdom, it is this day ordered and declared The Parliament's Answer to the King's s cond Message.] On the basis of all these Votes and Resolutions, a committee of both houses had drawn up another Answer to the King; which was this day read and agreed to in these words: To the King's Most Excellent Majesty; The HUMBLE ANSWER and PETITION of the Lords and Commons assembled in parlia ment, unto the King's last MrsSAGE. "May it please you majesty; If we, the lords and commons in parliament assembled, should repeat all the ways we have taken, the endeavours we have used, and the expressions we have made unto your majesty, to prevent those distractions and dangers your maj. speaks of, likely to fall upon this kingdom, we should too much enlarge this Reply. Therefore, as we humbly, so shall we only, let your maj. know, that we cannot recede from our former Answer, for the reasons therein expressed; for that your maj. hath not taken down your Standard, nor recalled your Proclamations and Declarations, whereby you have declared the actions of both houses of parliament to be Treasonable,' and their persons Traitors; and you have published the same, since your Message of 25th of August, by your late Instructions sent to your commissioners of Array: Which Standard being taken down, and the Declarations, Proclamations, and Instructions recalled, if your maj, shall then, upon this var humble Petition leave your forces, retura unto your Parliament, and receive their faithful advice, your maj. will find such expressions of our fidelities and duties, as shall assure you, that your safety, honour, and greatness can only be found in the affections of your people, and the sincere counsels of your parliament; whose constant and undiscouraged endeavours and consultations have passed through difficulties unheard of, only to secure your kingdoms from the violent mischiefs and dangers now ready to fall upon them, and every part of them; who deserve better of your imajesty, and can never allow themselves (representing your whole kingdom) to be balanced with those persons, whose desperate dispositions and counsels still so prevail to interrupt all our endeavours for the relieving of bleeding Ireland as we may fear our labours and vast expences will be fruitless to that distressed kingdom. As your presence is thus humbly desired by us, so is it in our hopes your maj. will, in your reason, believe there is no other way than this to make your majesty's self happy, and your kingdoms safe." Sept. 8. The lords received a Letter from the earl of Bedford, general of the horse, dated from Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, Sept. 6th, desiring a reinforcement of 3 regiments of foot, and 3 troops of horse: also another from sir W. Waller, acquainting them with the reduction of Portsmouth town and fort, to the parliament's service. The King's Third Message for Peace.] Sept. 13. A Message from the King, directed to the Speaker of the house of lords, was brought in, and read, in hæc verba : "Who have taken most ways, used most endeavours, and made most real expressions, to prevent the present distractions and dangers, let all the world judge, as well by former passages, as by our two last Messages; which have been so fruitless, that (though we have descended to desire and press it) not so much as a Treaty can be obtained, unless we would denude ourself of all force to defend us from a visible strength marching against us; and adit those persons as traitors to us, who, according to their duty, their oaths of allegiance, and the law, have appeared in defence of us their king and liege lord, whom we are bound, in conscience and honour, to preserve; though we disclined all our Proclamations and Declarations, and the erecting of our Standard as against our Parliament.-All we have now left in our power is, to express the deep sense we have of the public misery of this kingdom, in which is involved that of our distressed Protes tants of Ireland, and to apply ourself to our necessary defence; wherein we wholly rely upon the providence of God, the justice of our cause, and the affection of our good peoSept. 10. The lord Montague of Boughton ple; so far we are from putting them out of was sent to the Tower, for executing the Com-our protection.--When you shall desire a mission of Array in Northamptonshire; as was also the earl of Berkshire, for attempting the same in Oxfordshire, though his design was prevented from being put in execution by Mr. Hampden and Mr. Whitelocke. The lords being also informed, that Mr. Ashburnham was come with a Message from the king, and had been in town since yesterday: the usher of the black rod was sent to find him out, to take him into custody, and bring him before thein. Sept. 9. The earl of Essex acquainted the lords, That he intended to set out, in a few hours, for St. Alban's, to perform the com- ̧ mands of both houses; and therefore desired | to take his leave of them together; hereupon a conference was immediately held for that purpose. Treaty of us, we shall, piously, remember whose blood is to be spilt in this quarrel, and chearfully embrace it; and as no other reason induced us to leave our city of London, but that with honour and safety we could not stay there; nor to raise any force, but for the neces sary defence of our person and the law, against Levies in opposition to both; so we shall suddenly and most willingly return to the one, and disband the other, as soon as those causes The Parliament resolve to abolish Episco- shall be removed. The God of Heaven direct pacy.] A long Declaration of both houses to you, and, in mercy, divert those judgments their Brethren in Scotland, was agreed to, con-which hang over this nation; and so deal with taining many kind expressions, &c.* wishing an uniformity in church government might be established, for settling one Confession of Faith, one Liturgy or Directory of the public worship of God, and one Catechism, in all the three kingdoms. In which was inserted this Resolution of the English parliament. Resolved, nem. con. "That the government of the church of England, by Archbishops, bishops, their chancellors and commissaries, deans, and deans and chapters, archdeacons, and other ecclesiastical Ever since the beginning of this parliament, the Scots were stiled Brethren; and, in conformity with this appellation, the grant of 300,000!. for payment of their army, after the pacification, was called Brotherly-Assistance Money. us and our posterity, as we desire the preservation and advancement of the true Protestant religion, the law and the liberty of the subject, the just rights of parliament, and the peace of the kingdom." Ordered, That the consideration of this Message be referred to the cominittee for the safety of the kingdom; and that it be communicated to the commons. Impeachment against the lord Strange for High Treason.] Sept. 14. Sir Robert Harley brought up an Impeachment of High Treason against James lord Strange, son and heir apparent of William earl of Derby, in these words: "That the said James lord Strange, to the intent to subvert the fundamental laws and liberties and very being of parliaments, and to Sept. 16. The commons sent up to desire the lords to write to the lord-general to advance the Army towards the place where the king was, as soon and as conveniently as so great a body can move, and as, in his wisdom, he shall think fit; and that a Petition and Instructions shall be seut after him: but the lords thought fit the lord-general should have the Petition and Instructions before he marched his army, and that the commons be desired to hasten them. An Order was made, in the nature of a Proclamation, against the lord Strange, to be printed and published in all churches and chapels, and all market towns, &c. prohibiting all persons to join with or assist him with men, money, ammunition, &c. The Parliament's Answer to the King's last Message.] An Answer to the King's last Message to the parliament was this day read and agreed to, and ordered to be presented to his majesty by sir Rd. May. It was as follows: set sedition between the king and his people, mons, concerning the Impeachment of the lord did, upon the 15th day of July, 1642, at Man- Strange. chester, and at several other times and places, actually, maliciously, rebelliously, and traiterously, summon and call together great numbers of his majesty's subjects, and incite, persuade, and encourage them to take up arms and levy war against the king, parliament, and kingdom.-II. That the said James lord Strange, in further prosecution of his aforesaid wicked, traiterous, and malicious purposes, did, upon | the said 15th day of July, at Manchester aforesaid, and at several other times and places, actually, maliciously, rebelliously, and traiterously, raise great forces of men and horse, and levied war against the king, parliament, and kingdom. III. In further prosecution of the aforesaid wicked, traiterous, and malicious purposes, the said James lord Strange, and divers other persons whom he had drawn into bis party and faction, did, also, upon the said 15th day of July, at Manchester aforesaid, maliciously and traiterously, with force and arms, and in an hostile and warlike manner, kill, murder, and destroy, Rd. Percival, of Kirkmanshalme, in the said county of Lancaster, linen-webster; and did then and there, at divers other times and places, in the like hostile manner as aforesaid, shoot, stab, hurt, and wound divers others of his majesty's good subjects, contrary to the laws and peace of this kingdom of England, and contrary to his majesty's royal erown and dignity. IV. The said James lord Strange hath set sedition between the king and his people, and now is in open and actual rebellion against the king, parliament, and kingdom.-For which matters and things the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the house of commons do, in the name of them-soldiers, in the presence, and by the authority selves, and of all the commons of England, impeach the said James lord Strange, of High Treason. And the said commons, by protestation, saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter, any other accusation, &c. do pray that the said James lord Strange may be put to answer all and every the premises, that such proceedings, examinations, trials, and judgment, may be upon them, and every one of them, had and used, as shall be agreeable to law and justice." Ordered, That the Answer to be returned to the house of commons shall be, That this house hath received the Impeachment against the lord Strange; and that they will take the best course they can to have the lord Strange brought to answer the said impeachment. The lords taking into consideration what course to take for sending to summon the lord Strange to appear, and answer his Impeachment of High Treason; and considering that, if messengers be sent they will be imprisoned, and if proclamation-writs be sent down they will not be sealed: therefore they thought fit to communicate this to the house of commons, to advise in this case how delinquents may be brought up to trial: A Message was accordingly sent, to desire a conference with the com To the King's most Excellent Majesty; The Humble ANSWER of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, to his Ma jesty's last MESSAGE of the 11th of September, 1642. May it please your majesty; We the lords and commons in parliament assembled, do present this our humble Answer to your majesty's Message of the 11th of this instant Sept. When we consider the oppressions, rapines, firing of houses, and murders (even at this time when your majesty propounded a Treaty) committed upon your good subjects by your of their commanders, being of the number of those whom your maj. holds yourself bound in honour and conscience to protect, as persons doing their duties; we cannot think that your maj. hath done all that in you lies to prevent or remove the present distractions; nor so long as your maj. will admit no peace, without securing the authors and instruments of these mischiefs from the justice of the parliament; which yet shall be ever dispensed with all requisite moderation and distinction of offences although some of those persons be such, in whose preservation your kingdom cannot he safe, nor the unquestionable rights and privi leges of parliament be maintained, without which the power and dignity thereof will fall into contempt.-We beseech your majesty therefore to consider your expressions, That God shall deal with you and your posterity, as your maj. desires the preservation of the just rights of parliament;' which being undeniable in the thing, of such as we have declared to be delinquents, we shall believe your majesty, both towards yourself and parliament, will not, in this privilege we are most sensible of, deny us that which belongs unto the meanest court of justice in this kingdom. Neither hath your maj, cause to complain, That you are de give a clear testimony to your maj. and the whole world, that, in all things done by us, we faithfully intend the good of your maj. and of your kingdom; and that we will not be diverted from this end by any private or self-respects whatsoever." Sept. 17. An Impeachment of High Treason was sent up by the commons and read, but not entered in the Journals, against the marquis of Hertford, lord Pawlet, lord Seymour, John Digby, esq. sir John Pawlet, sir John Śtaweł, sir Ralph Hopton, sir Cha. Berkley, sir Edw. Berkley, sir Henry Berkley, sir Edw. Rodney, sir Francis Doddington, Edm. Windham, Tho. Smith, and Edw. Kirton, esqrs. nied a Treaty, when we offer all that a Treaty can produce, or your maj. expect; security, honour, service, obedience, support, and all other effects of humble, loyal, and faithful subjection; and seek nothing but that our religion, liberty, peace of the kingdom, and safety of the parliament may be secured from the open violence and cunning practices of a wicked party, who have long plotted our ruin and destruction. And if there were any cause of Treaty, we know no competent persons to treat betwixt the king and parliament; and if both cause and persons were such as to invite a Treaty, the season is altogether unfit, whilst your majesty's Standard is up, your Proclamations and Declarations unrecalled, whereby The Parliament send a Petition to the King, your parliament is charged with treason. If to be presented by the earl of Esser.] Sept. 21. your majesty shall persist to make yourself a Sir Robert Harley, from the commons, brought shield and defence to those instruments, and up a draught of a Petition which had been shall continue to reject our faithful and neces- framed by that house, and was to be presented sary advice of securing and maintaining reli- to the king by their general, the earl of Essex. gion and liberty, with the peace of the king-The Petition ran in these words: dom and safety of the parliament; we doubt not but, to indifferent judgments, it will appear who is most tender of that innocent blood which is like to be spilt in this cause; your majesty, who, by such persisting, doth endanger yourself and your kingdoms; or we who are willing to hazard ourselves to preserve both.-We humbly beseech your majesty to consider how impossible it is that any protestations, though published in your majesty's name, of your tenderness of the miseries of your protestant subjects in Ireland, or your resolution to maintain the protestant religion and laws of this kingdom, can give satisfaction to reasonable and indifferent men; when, at the same time, divers of the Irish traitors and rebels, the known favourers of them, and agents for them, are admitted to your majesty's presence with grace and favour, and some of them employed in your service; when the cloaths, munition, horse, and other necessaries bought by your parliament, and sent for the supply of the army against the rebels there, are violently taken away; some by your majesty's command, others by your ministers, and applied to the maintenance of an unnatural war against the people here. All this notwithstanding, as we never gave your majesty any just cause for withdrawing yourself from your great council; so it hath ever been, and shall ever be, far from us to give any impediment to your return; or to neglect any proper means of curing the distempers of the kingdom, and closing the dangerous breaches betwixt your majesty and your parliament, according to the great trust which lies upon us. And if your majesty shall now be pleased to come back to your parliament without your forces, we shall be ready to secure your royal person, crown and dignity, with our lives and fortunes; your presence in this great council being the only means of any Treaty betwixt your majesty and them with hope of success. And in none of our desires to your majesty shall we be swayed by any particular man's advantage, but shall "We your majesty's loyal subjects, the lords and commons in parliament, cannot, without great grief and tenderness of compassion, behold the pressing miseries, the imminent dangers, and the devouring calamities, which do extremely threaten, and have partly seized upon both your kingdoms of England and Ireland, by the practices of a party prevailing with your majesty; who, by many wicked plots and conspiracies, have attempted the alteration of the true religion, the antient government of this kingdoin, and the introducing of Popish idolatry and superstition in the church, and tyranny and confusion in the state; and, for the compassing thereof, have long corrupted your majesty's counsels, abused your power, and, by sudden and untimely dissolving of former parliaments, have often hindered the reformation and prevention of those mischiefs. and being now disabled to avoid the endeavours of this parliament by any such means, have traiterously attempted to over-awe the same by force: and, in prosecution of their wicked designs, have excited, encouraged, and fostered an unnatural Rebellion in Ireland, by which, in a most cruel and most outrageous manner, many thousands of your majesty's subjects there have been destroyed; and, by false slanders upon your parliament, and malicious and unjust accusations, have endeavoured to begin the like massacre here. And being, through God's blessing, therein disappointed, have, as the most mischievous and bloody design of all, drawn your maj. to make war against your parliament and good subjects of this kingdom, leading, in your person, an army against them, as if you intended, by conquest, to establish an absolute and unlimited power over them; and, by your power, and the countenance of your presence, have ransacked, spoiled, imprisoned, and murdered divers of your people: and, for the better assistance in their wicked designs, do seek to bring over the rehels of Ireland, and other forces from beyond the seas, to join with them; and we finding ourselves utterly |