<!DOCTYPE ETS PUBLIC "-//UMDLPS//DTD EEBOPROOF 2.0//EN">
<ETS>
<TEMPHEAD>
<REVDESCR>
<CHANGE>
<DATE>2011-06-22</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Olivia Bottum</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>Did text and markup review.</ITEM>
</CHANGE>
</REVDESCR>
</TEMPHEAD>
<EEBO>
<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A92525">
<STC T="W">S1180</STC>
<STC T="T">E421_2</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99863444</BIBNO>
<VID>115646</VID>
</IDG>
<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>THE ANSWER OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE Kingdome of Scotland, To both Hou&s;es of PARLIAMENT, Upon the New Propo&s;itions of Peace, AND THE Foure <HI>Bills</HI> to be &s;ent to his MAJESTIE.</P>
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI> Printed for ROBERT BOSTOCK, dwelling at the &s;ign of the Kings head in PAULS Church-yard. 1647.</P>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB REF="2">
<PB N="3" REF="2">
<HEAD>The An&s;wer of the Commi&s;sioners of the King|dom of <HI>Scotland</HI> to both Hou&s;es of Par|liament, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<DIV2 TYPE="answer">
<P>WE have, with much patience, for divers years together, in pur|&s;uance of the Solemn League and Covenant, and Treaties be|twixt the Kingdoms, u&s;ed our be&s;t indevors for &s;etling Re|ligion and a happy Peace. Propo&s;itions were fir&s;t agreed an <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">n <HI>Anno</HI> 1644. with advice and con&s;ent of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, pre&s;ented to his Maje&s;ty at <HI>Oxford</HI> by Commi&s;&s;ioners of both, and treated upon at <HI>&V;xbridg,</HI> in <HI>Anno</HI> 1645. We did earne&s;tly and frequently pre&s;s the &s;ending of tho&s;e Propo&s;itions again to his Maje&s;ty, wherein the Hou&s;es would not concur with us; but on the contrary (after very long delay) thought fit to make &s;everal alterations therein, which were principally in matters that did concern the neer Union of the Kingdoms. Yet were we &s;o earne&s;tly de&s;irous of putting an end to the long continued di&s;traction and troubles of the&s;e Kingdoms, as (waving what might be conceived to be for the particular intere&s;t of the Kingdom of <HI>Scotland</HI>) we did joyn with the Hou&s;es of Parliament in pre&s;enting Propo&s;itions to his Maje&s;ty at <HI>New-ca&s;tle;</HI> though, as we then declared, we had ju&s;t rea&s;on to be un&s;atisfied with divers things contained in tho&s;e Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>When it was agreed upon betwixt the Kingdoms, that the &s;ame Propo&s;i|tions &s;hould be again pre&s;ented to his Maje&s;ty, at his coming to <HI>Holdenby,</HI> the performance thereof being delayed by the Hou&s;es, for divers moneths, we did patiently wait then lea&s;ure. Yet upon the &s;udden they did appoint a peremptory day for &s;ending the Propo&s;itions to his Maje&s;ty; and gave or|der to their Commi&s;&s;ioners, in ca&s;e we were not preci&s;ely upon that day at <HI>Hampton Court,</HI> that they &s;hould pre&s;ent the Propo&s;itions to the King a|lone by them&s;elves, contrary to the Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms; which was &s;o &s;trange and unequal a way, as we might have ju&s;tly denyed our con|currence, had not our love to Peace prevailed with us to joyn in that Me&s;|&s;age. but after all this, finding no &s;ucce&s;s in that way of &s;ending Propo&s;iti|ons to the King, and in&s;i&s;ting upon his po&s;itive A&s;&s;ent thereunto, without giving any rea&s;ons for the ju&s;tice of our de&s;ires, or hearing any Propo&s;ition from his Maje&s;ty: We did, in <HI>November</HI> la&s;t, propo&s;e to the honorable Hou&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">s, &amp; with much earne<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">ne&s;s de&s;ire, that there might be a per&s;onal <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">|ty with his <HI>Maje&s;ty</HI> here at <HI>London,</HI> it being in all probability, the be&s;t <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> to obtain a Peace.</P>
<PB N="4" REF="3">
<P>About the time of his <HI>Maje&s;ties</HI> withdrawing from <HI>Hampton Court,</HI> the Hou&s;es did communicate to us new Propo&s;itions, re&s;olved on by them to be pre&s;ented to his <HI>Maje&s;ty;</HI> after receipt whereof, we did in our Paper of the 17. of <HI>November,</HI> in&s;i&s;t on our former de&s;ire for a per&s;onal Treaty with his <HI>Maje&s;ty.</HI> But receiving no An&s;wer to that, nor to our paper of the 5. And our po&s;itive An&s;wer being demanded to the new Propo&s;itions; upon the 23. of <HI>Novemb.</HI> we re&s;olved once again to de&s;ire an An&s;wer to our former Pa|pers; A per&s;onal Treaty being, in our judgment, a readier way to compo&s;e all differences, then the &s;ending of the&s;e new Propo&s;itions, wherein there are &s;o great and e&s;&s;ential differences from what was formerly agreed on by both Kingdoms. And to the end there might be no let or delay on our part, which might hinder the &s;etling of a Peace; We de&s;ired a conference with a Com|mittee of both Hou&s;es concerning the expediency of a per&s;onal Treaty with his <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI> and the alterations made in the Propo&s;itions, that &s;o according to the Treaty of the 29. of <HI>Novem.</HI> 1643. there might be, with the advice and con&s;ent of both Nations, a &s;peedy Agreement in tho&s;e things, which are to be the foundation of the Peace of both. To all which, the Hou&s;es have been plea&s;ed to return no An&s;wer. However, it is no &s;mal &s;atisfaction to us, that we leave no means of Agreement une&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ayed; and that the retard|ment of the &s;etling of the Peace of the Kingdoms, cannot be charged on us. And lea&s;t our further &s;ilence, in expectation of an An&s;wer, &s;hould be mi&s;ta|ken, We have thought fit to repre&s;ent our &s;ence, concerning a per&s;onal Trea|ty, and the Propo&s;itions, to the Hou&s;es in writing; which, had our de&s;ires been granted, we did intend to have done by a verbal conference.</P>
<P>There be &s;ome things which properly concern the Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> their Rights, Laws, and Liberties. But there be other matters, which in their own nature, as being common to both, or by Covenant, or Treaty, concern both Kingdoms, wherein, unle&s;s we would forget our duty to God, to the Kings Maje&s;ty, to our Native Kingdom, and to this Nation, Our com|mon concernment and intere&s;t, cannot be denyd. For as <HI>Scotland</HI> was invited and ingaged in this War, upon grounds &amp; rea&s;ons of common intere&s;t; So we tru&s;t it wil not be offen&s;ive, that in making of Peace we claim from the Hou|&s;es an Improvement of the very &s;ame principles, and a performance of the Treaties they have made with us; that the &s;ame mea&s;ure of conjunction of intere&s;ts be given to us which was had of us, and promi&s;ed unto us; where|in the very Law of Nations, and the rule of common equity, doth plead for us. Yet in the application of this rule, we &s;hal not &s;tretch our &s;elves beyond our line, the expre&s;s conditions of our Solemn League and Covenant, the duty of our Allegiance, and the Treaties and Declarations between the Kingdoms, which are &s;o many &s;trong obligations, as, all who have honor
<PB N="5" REF="3"> or con&s;cience, mu&s;t acknowledg &s;hould be inviolably ob&s;erved.</P>
<P>Having layd this as a mo&s;t ju&s;t and &s;olid ground of our proceedings, we &s;hal fir&s;t &s;peak of the be&s;t and mo&s;t probable means to procure a good A|greement with the King for &s;etling Religion and a la&s;ting Peace: And next of the Propo&s;itions, which are to be the foundation of the peace and &s;afety of both Kingdoms. And it is &s;til our Opinion and Judgment, that the mo&s;t equal, faire&s;t, and ju&s;t way to obtain a wel-grounded peace, is by a per&s;onal Treaty with the King: and that his <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI> for that end, be in|vited to come to <HI>London,</HI> with Honor, Freedom, and Safety: For which we offer the Rea&s;ons following.</P>
<P N="1">1. The &s;ending of Propo&s;itions, without a Treaty, hath been often e&s;&s;ayed without &s;ucce&s;s: And the new Propo&s;itions are le&s;s to the advantage of the Crown than the former. Therefore, we have no rea&s;on to expect better &s;a|tisfaction that way than formerly we had.</P>
<P N="2">2. The Kings removall from his Parliament, is acknowledged by the Hou&s;es in &s;everall Declarations, to be the chiefe cau&s;e of all the War, mi&s;|chief, and calamities of the Kingdomes. Then, his Maje&s;ties pre&s;ence with his Parliament mu&s;t be the be&s;t, if not the onely remedy, to remove our troubles.</P>
<P N="3">3. In a per&s;onall Treaty the Commi&s;&s;ioners of both Kingdomes, may give rea&s;ons for the equity and expediencie of our de&s;ires. But without a Treaty or giving rea&s;ons for a&s;&s;erting the lawfulne&s;s and expediency of the Propo|&s;itions to be pre&s;ented, they may be e&s;teemed Impo&s;itions.</P>
<P N="4">4. The King may have &s;ome ju&s;t de&s;ires to move for the Crown, and for him&s;elf: As that he may have his Revenues, and that he may be re&s;tored to his Royal Government: which may be done, with greater honor and &s;a|tisfaction to him, by a per&s;onal Treaty, then otherwi&s;e.</P>
<P N="5">5. A per&s;onal Treaty with the King is the be&s;t way to beget a mutual confidence between Him and his Parliament: It is the be&s;t way to cleer his doubts and to remove all difficulties: and it is the ab&s;olute be&s;t way for gi|ving and receiving mutual &s;atisfaction.</P>
<P N="6">6. We cannot expect that his <HI>Maje&s;ty</HI> wil grant <HI>in terminis</HI> what&s;oever Pro|po&s;itions &s;hal be &s;ent unto him: nor can every thing in the Propo&s;itions be of that importance, as that the not granting of it ought to hinder a Peace. Neither wil the <HI>Hou&s;es of Parliament</HI> give ful power to their Commi&s;&s;ioners to make alterations in the Propo&s;itions, as they &s;hal &s;ee cau&s;e upon debate. Wherefore, a per&s;onal Treaty with his <HI>Maje&s;ty</HI> at <HI>London,</HI> is the mo&s;t probable and expeditious way to remove or reconcile all differences.</P>
<P>There is one common obiection, wherewith many are po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed and pre|judiced again&s;t a per&s;onal Treaty with the King, and his coming to <HI>London,
<PB N="6" REF="4">
[That his pre&s;ence may breed divi&s;ion, and continue our troubles: And that when his Maje&s;ty de&s;ired to come hither from Oxford with freedome and &s;afety, it was thought unfit, and denyed by the Hou&s;es, and the Com|mi&s;&s;ioners from Scotland]</HI> But that argument now hath no force at all: For the ca&s;e of affairs, the Kings condition and ours (which were given for Rea&s;ons in that An&s;wer to his Maje&s;ty) are quite altered from what they were then. Then the King had Armies in the fields; he had Garri&s;ons and &s;trong holds to return to; Now, he hath none of the&s;e. And his Maie&s;ty offers a ful &s;ecurity again&s;t all ho&s;tility or danger can be expected from him, by granting to the Hou&s;es the power of the Militia by Sea and Land, du|ring his Raign, as is expre&s;&s;ed in his Maie&s;ties late Me&s;&s;age from <HI>Caresbrook Castle.</HI> And for a further an&s;wer, we de&s;ire the Hou&s;es to remember that Reply to his Maie&s;ties Me&s;&s;age of the 11 of <HI>September,</HI> 1642. Where, after mention of their chief grievances, they &s;ay <HI>[All this notwith&s;tanding, as we never gave your Maje&s;tie any ju&s;t cau&s;e of withdrawing your &s;elf from your great Councell: So it hath ever bin, and &s;hal be far from as, to give any impediment to your return: Or to neglect any proper means of cu|ring the di&s;tempers of the Kingdom, and clo&s;ing the dangerous breaches be|twixt your Maje&s;ty and your Parliament, according to the great trust which lyeth upon us. And if your Maje&s;ty &s;hal now be plea&s;ed to come back to your Parliament without your Forces: We &s;hal be ready to &s;e|cure your Royal Per&s;on, Crown and Dignity, with our lives and fortunes, Your pre&s;ence in this great Councel, being the only means of any Treaty betwixt your Maje&s;ty and them, with hope of &s;ucce&s;s.]</HI> And if they were e&s;teemed Enemies to the Parliament, and the Peace of the Kingdoms, who advi&s;ed the King to withdraw from his Parliament: What e&s;timation wil the world have of them, who after &s;uch a Declaration, wil not &s;uffer him to return to his Parliament, when he offers to ca&s;t him&s;elf into their Arms? If &s;o kind an offer &s;hal be refu&s;ed, and the King driven to de&s;pair, it is to be feared, the&s;e Kingdoms &s;hal be involved into greater difficulties then e|ver. And therefore we do hold, that the admitting the King to come to Lon|don with Honor, Freedom and Safety, and granting of a per&s;onal Treaty with his Maie&s;ty, upon &s;uch Propo&s;itions as &s;hal be agreed upon by advice and con&s;ent of both Kingdoms, is the mo&s;t probable, and only be&s;t means, with hope of &s;ucce&s;s, for &s;etling a wel-grounded Peace.</P>
<P>Having &s;poken of the readi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">t means to obtain a ju&s;t and la&s;ting peace; We &s;hal next fall upon the Con&s;ideration of the Propo&s;itions, which are to be the Foundation of our peace. And the mo&s;t compendious and &s;ucc<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">t way to a good agreement, and unanimous Re&s;olution upon them, is, in the fir&s;t place to con&s;ider and remove our differences, which are chiefly <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word">
<PB N="7" REF="4"> Religion, the Intere&s;t of the Crown, and in the Union and Joynt Conce<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">|ment of the Kingdoms.</P>
<P>We &s;hall begin with that of Religion, which for the incomparable Ex|cellence thereof (although it be among&s;t the la&s;t of the&s;e new Propo&s;itions) de&s;erves the preference. It is the <HI>primum quarite,</HI> the <HI>unum nece&s;&s;arium;</HI> We ought to build the Hou&s;e of God before our own. The Law of piety and true policy doth require that Religion, which rendreth to God his due, have the precedency. And therefore (upon debate) before we went to the Treaty at <HI>&V;xbridg,</HI> it was agreed betwixt the hou&s;es and us, that the Propo&s;itions of Religion &s;hould be in the fir&s;t place, and fir&s;t Treated and Agreed upon, before any Agreement upon any other Propo&s;ition. And his Maie&s;ty in his late Me&s;&s;age from <HI>Care&s;brook Castle,</HI> begins at Religion, as the be&s;t and chiefe&s;t Foundation for Peace. Wherefore, if this changing of the former Order and Method of the Propo&s;itions, be only their Error, to whom the reviewing of the Propo&s;itions was committed. And if the Hou|&s;es have not faln away from their fir&s;t Zeal. We de&s;ire that it may be recti|fied, and the former Method keeped. And &s;o we come to the matter of the Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>The material differences and alterations concerning Religion, may be branched into the Errour of Omi&s;&s;ion and Deficiency, and into that of Commi&s;&s;ion and Exce&s;s. That which is left out, is no le&s;s then the Solemn League and Covenant. And &s;hal the Covenant, which is as Solemn a vow, as Creatures on Earth could make to God in Heaven, and the greate&s;t tye betwixt men on Earth (to which the mo&s;t high and dreadful Name of the Lord God Almighty, was interpo&s;ed) be offered up in a Sacrifice, and bu|ryed in the a&s;hes of Oblivion? Shal our Covenant for the Pre&s;ervation and Reformation of Religion, for the honor and happyne&s;s of the King, and the peace and &s;afety of the three Kingdoms; and for the maintenance and de|fence of the Laws, and true publick Liberties of the&s;e Kingdoms; which was declared by both Kingdoms, to be a fit and mo&s;t Excellent means to acquire the favour of God towards both, and likewi&s;e to Unite them, and by uniting, to &s;trengthen them again&s;t the common Enemies of the true Reformed Religion, and the Peace and Pro&s;perity of the&s;e Kingdoms; and which in all former Propo&s;itions was de&s;ired to be e&s;tabli&s;hed: be now d<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">|le<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ed, as unworthy to take room among&s;t the&s;e new Propo&s;itions? Shal the Covenant, which both Hou&s;es did recommend to the A&s;&s;embly of Divines, to make a Declaration to all &s;orts of per&s;ons to take it, as that which they judged not only Lawful, but exceeding expedient and nece&s;&s;ary for all that wi&s;h wel to Religion, the King and Kingdom to ioyn in, and to be a &s;ingu|lar pledg of Gods gracious goodne&s;s to all the three Kingdoms (we &s;ay) &s;hal that Covenant be layd a&s;ide? Shal our mutual and &s;olemn League and
<PB N="8" REF="5"> Covenant &s;ub&s;cribed by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, by the A&s;&s;em|bly of Divines, by the City of London, and which, not only they, but all Scotland, and many thou&s;ands in England and Ireland, with hands lifted up to the mo&s;t high God, did &s;wear <HI>[That they &s;hal not &s;uffer them&s;elves directly or indirectly by what&s;oever combination, per&s;wa&s;ion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from that ble&s;&s;ed union and conjunction, whe|ther to make defection to the contrary part, or to give them&s;elves to a de|testable indifferency or neutrality in this cau&s;e, which &s;o much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and honor of the King: but &s;hal all the days of their lives, zealou&s;ly and constantly continue therein again&s;t all oppo&s;ition: and promote the &s;ame according to their power, a|gainst all lets and impediments what&s;oever: and that they &s;hal do all this as in the &s;ight of God]</HI> Shal that Covenant (even with tho&s;e that took it) be already out of date, and not &s;o much as remembred among&s;t the Propo|&s;it<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ons of Peace? Yea, it is not &s;o much as mentioned in the&s;e new Propo&s;iti|ons, except in the 7 Qualification of the 14 Propo&s;ition, where it is only made a hook to catch &s;ome into the Notion of Delinquency! But perhaps there it e&s;caped the Revi&s;ers of the Propo&s;itions, who in all other places have exploded it.</P>
<P>It is an&s;wered by &s;ome, that by one of the Propo&s;itions it is craved, that an act of Parliament be pa&s;&s;ed, declaring the Kings approbation of the making of the Treaties between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England; in which Treaties there is mention made of the Covenant: And therefore it is not nece&s;&s;ary to de&s;ire a particular Confirmation and E&s;tabli&s;hment of the Covenant. To which it is briefly Replyed, fir&s;t, that there is no Propo&s;iti|on for pa&s;&s;ing any Act of Parliament, to confirm the Treaties between the Kingdoms, as was de&s;ired in all former Propo&s;itions; but the&s;e words are purpo&s;ely changed, and in place thereof there is only de&s;ired, An Act De|claring the Kings approbation of the making of the Treaties; which in effect is no more then an act of Indempnity for making the Treaties, and not an Act for confirmation and e&s;tabli&s;hing of the Treaties them&s;elves, and tho&s;e things which are expre&s;&s;ed and tran&s;acted in them. 2. Suppo&s;e there were an Act of Parliament pa&s;&s;ed for approbation of the Treaties between the Kingdoms in general (which is not in the&s;e Propo&s;itions) Yet &s;uch a generality would not be under&s;tood to be extended to the con|firmation of the Covenant, unle&s;s the particular Articles of the Treaty and the Covenant, were expre&s;ly in&s;erted; becau&s;e, there was an expre&s;s Propo&s;ition among&s;t the former, that an Act of Parliament be pa&s;&s;ed in both Kingdoms for confirming and taking the Covenant; which being now left out of the new Propo&s;itions, without mentioning the Covenant cannot but he interpreted as a receding from the Covenant: and the approbation
<PB N="9" REF="5"> and confirmation of the Treaties in generall (after deleting the Co|venant out of the Propo&s;itions) would only be under&s;tood of the re|maining Articles of the Treaties. Therefore, if there be not an in|tention to relinqui&s;h the Covenant; Let us not be a&s;hamed to avow it and in&s;ert the confirming of it, as one of the chiefe and expre&s;&s;e de|&s;ires of our Propo&s;itions: <HI>[Let us give te&s;timony, and beare witne&s;&s;e to the truth and not deny it, remembring that who&s;oever &s;hall give te&s;timony to Chri&s;t and his truth by confe&s;&s;ing him before Men,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Math. 10.3<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">.33</NOTE> <HI>he will al&s;o confe&s;&s;e them before his Father which is in heaven: And who&s;oever will deny him before Men, them will he deny before his Father which is in heaven.]</HI> And &s;eeing the Covenant was the &s;overain and only meanes of re|covering the&s;e embroiled bleeding Kingdomes, when the Hou&s;es were at their lowe&s;t ebbe, and de&s;ired the Kingdome of <HI>Scotland,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Declarat. deli|vered in Scot|land Iuly 164<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"></NOTE> <HI>[to con&s;i|der with what difficulties, mi&s;eries, and di&s;tractions, they were enforced daily to wre&s;tle, even for the life and being both of Church and State:]</HI> Surely, the de&s;pi&s;ing, refu&s;ing, and ca&s;ting a&s;ide that remedy, would be the height of ingratitude, mu&s;t render the di&s;ea&s;e much more de&s;perate, and turn our former mutuall confidence into mutuall diffidence. And ther|fore we de&s;ire, that the Hou&s;es upon better con&s;ideration, will &s;till ad|here to the Covenant, and in&s;ert it among the Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>And whereas the Kings aver&s;ne&s;&s;e from the Covenant may be obje|cted, and that the de&s;iring to have it confirmed, may be a hinderance to peace: We an&s;wer, If the omitting of the Covenant in the&s;e Propo&s;itions doth really proceed from that principle, that the Hou&s;es are de&s;irous to plea&s;e the King, and to remove all ob&s;tructions that may hinder a peace: We doe very much wonder, that they are &s;o liberall in the matters of God, and &s;o tenacious in what concernes them&s;elves, in all differences betwixt his Maje&s;ty and them in things Civill, which may farre better be di&s;penced with. But to an&s;wer the &s;trength of the Objection, We &s;ay, That the Covenant being for the pre&s;ervation and Reformation of Religion, and for the true honour and happine&s;&s;e of the King and his Po&s;terity, and for the peace and &s;afety of his King|domes; Whatever be the difference of his Maje&s;ties judgement, We have ju&s;t cau&s;e to in&s;i&s;t to crave his Royall a&s;&s;ent to it; And the Kings heart is in the hands of God, to turn it as the rivers of waters whither he plea&s;eth: And although the King &s;hould deny it, yet we ought to performe our duty: And when his Maje&s;ty &s;hall be convinced, that our intentions in entring into this Covenant, were and are pious and loyall; and that our Actions doe evidence that we intend no injury to
<PB N="10" REF="6"> his Royall Per&s;on, to wrong his Government, nor to dimini&s;h his ju&s;t power: We hope God will incline his heart to give ju&s;t &s;atisfaction concerning the Covenant. And though his Maje&s;ty &s;hall not come the full length of our de&s;ires, yet we mu&s;t never depart from the Co|venant, nor leave off by all ju&s;t wayes to promote it, or de&s;i&s;t from en|deavouring by all lawfull meanes to procure his Maje&s;ties a&s;&s;ent unto it. But we de&s;ire that we may be rightly under&s;tood in this, and not mi&s;|con&s;trued; as if our zeale for the Covenant did abate or dimini&s;h at all from our Loyalty and duty to the King, (for the Covenant doth not le&s;&s;en or limit our allegeance, as &s;ome would fal&s;ely &s;lander it, and tho&s;e who &s;incerely and loyally took it) or that upon difference of his Maje&s;ties judgement, and not comming the full length of our de&s;ires in every thing, he &s;hould be kept in pri&s;on; or that Armes &s;hould be kept up (now when the Warre is ended) to burthen the Subjects, and force the King to grant what they plea&s;e to demand. We were confi|dent (when our Army returned to <HI>Scotland,</HI> and left no Forces in this Kingdome to oppo&s;e the Parliament) that the Army here &s;hould have been in&s;tantly disbanded: And could never have expected that the Kings Maje&s;ty, to whom the Parliaments of both Kingdomes were to make their addre&s;&s;es for a &s;afe and well-grounded peace, &s;hould have been taken away by the Army again&s;t his will, and &s;till kept in their power, to be carryed whether they plea&s;e, or forced to flye for &s;afety. If <HI>Scotland</HI> had apprehended, that the lea&s;t injury or violence would have been committed again&s;t his Maje&s;ties Royall Per&s;on, or Mo|narchicall Government: Nay, if they had not received a&s;&s;urance from the Hou&s;es to the contrary, certainly all the threatnings or allurements in the world, could never have per&s;waded them to have parted with the King till all Armies had been disbanded and the peace of the King|domes &s;etled It was our brotherly confidence in the Hou&s;es (who are our fellow Subjects) and the a&s;&s;urance we had from them that made us leave the King with them: And their care of him and duty to him ought to be &s;uch, as neither his Maje&s;ty, nor we, have cau&s;e to repent it. And this we could not but declare to a&s;&s;ert the truth, and vindicate the honour and reputation of our Nation; for out Loyalty hath ever been, is and &s;hall be dearer unto us, then our lives and fortunes; And the candor and integrity of all our Actions, is a &s;ufficient confutation of all the calumnyes and a&s;per&s;ions, which malice or envie can forge again&s;t us.</P>
<P>We finde al&s;o the&s;e Propo&s;itions omitted, <HI>viz.</HI> the Propo&s;ition for
<PB N="11" REF="6"> confirming the Ordinances concerning the calling and &s;itting of the A&s;&s;embly of Divines; the Propo&s;ition for Reformation of Religion in <HI>England</HI> and <HI>Ireland,</HI> according to the Covenant; And the Propo&s;ition for &s;etling Unity and Uniformity in matters of Religion between the Churches of God in both Kingdomes, according to the Covenant. In place of all which we finde nothing but a meer &s;hadow of <HI>Presbyteriall</HI> Government, an externall Form of Di&s;cipline without life or power; and a liberty granted for all &s;orts of Service and Wor&s;hip of God, and for the Exerci&s;e of all &s;uch Religious Duties and Ordinances as every per&s;on &s;hall plea&s;e, and his own erroneous con&s;cience &s;hall dictate unto him (for there is no other rule pre&s;cribed) which opens a doore to Athei&s;m to all Religions, and to that which (by abu&s;e of the name) is called liberty of con&s;cience; being indeed liberty of errour, &s;candall, &s;chi&s;m, here&s;y, di&s;honouring God, oppo&s;ing the truth, hindering Re|formation, and &s;educing others; So, in place of Uniformity in Reli|gion, which by Covenant both Kingdomes have &s;worn to endeavour, there is here de&s;ired to be &s;etled a va&s;t difformity or multi-formity of Here&s;ies and Sects; which, if the Lord in his mercy &s;hall not prevent, may produce the ruine of Religion in both Kingdomes, which we have ju&s;t rea&s;on to feare; as for other rea&s;ons, &s;o when we con&s;ider the De|claration of the Hou&s;es of Parliament, &s;peaking of the de&s;ign of the Popi&s;h and Prelaticall Faction to alter Religion in this I&s;land: of whom they &s;ay, fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Page 492. col|lection of De|clar.</NOTE> [<HI>they re&s;olved to impo&s;e a Popi&s;h Service-Book upon</HI> Scot|land; <HI>for well they know the &s;ame fate attended both Kingdoms, and Religion could not be altered in the one without the other.</HI>] And in An&s;wer to the <HI>Scots</HI> Declaration, pag. 601. <HI>[When&s;oever the de&s;ign to root out Religion &s;hall be perfected in either Nation, it will ea&s;ily be accompli&s;hed in the other, Religion being the band and foundation of the &s;afety and happine&s;&s;e of both.]</HI> And in Augu&s;t 1643. the Engli&s;h Commi&s;&s;ioners declare to the Kingdome of <HI>Scotland, [that they are commanded by their in&s;tru|ctions to put their brethren of</HI> Scotland <HI>in minde, that the Popi&s;h and Prelaticall Faction, that began with them about the yeare</HI> 1638 <HI>and</HI> 1639, <HI>and then intended to make way to the ruine of the Kingdome of</HI> England <HI>by theirs have not abated any part of their malice toward the Nation and Church of</HI> Scotland; <HI>nor at all departed from their de&s;ign of corrupting and altering Religion through the whole I&s;land, though they have inverted the manner of their proceeding, conceiving now that they have an ea&s;ier way to de&s;troy them, if they may fir&s;t prevaile over the Parliament and Kingdome of</HI> England; <HI>In which respect it is the de&s;ire
<PB N="12" REF="7"> of both Hou&s;es, that the two Nations may be &s;trictly &V;nited, &amp;c.]</HI> And in another paper it is declared, that [<HI>what corruptions take root in the Church and Kingdome of</HI> England,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Engli&s;h Com|mi&s;&s;ioners Au|gu&s;t 16<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">3,</NOTE> <HI>will quickly &s;pread their venome and infection into the Neighbour Church of</HI> Scotland:] Wherefore, we can|not di&s;&s;ent from this Propo&s;ition; And according to the tru&s;t re|po&s;ed in us, repre&s;ent our ju&s;t exceptions again&s;t it. And fir&s;t of all we think it very &s;trange, That the Hou&s;es of Parliament &s;hould de&s;ire an Act of Parliament to bee made for e&s;tabli&s;hing <HI>Presbyterian</HI> Go|vernment, and in the very &s;ame Propo&s;ition, de&s;ire that it may bee Enacted that none &s;hall obey that Act of Parliament, but &s;uch as &s;hall plea&s;e to doe it. 2. We ob&s;erve, that however it is pretended that <HI>Presbyterian</HI> Government is de&s;ired to be e&s;tabli&s;hed, as the Go|vernment of the Church of <HI>England;</HI> yet it is only in effect, a Liberty granted to all &s;uch, as of their own accord will joyn in <HI>Presbyteriall</HI> Government, and &s;o amounts to no more then a Toleration of it. 3. That this toleration of <HI>Presbyterian</HI> Government is many wayes limited; as in the time for which it is to endure, being only to the end of the next Se&s;&s;ion of Parliament, after the end of this pre&s;ent Se&s;&s;ion, which perhaps may be not above &s;ix Moneths. And the Mi|ni&s;ters and Elders are appointed by Ordinance of Parliament to exclude from the Sacrament, only &s;uch Per&s;ons as the Hou&s;es have thought fit, and no others, though it be again&s;t their con&s;ciences &s;o to do. They are bounded with &s;everall re&s;trictions in their Meetings and A&s;&s;em|blyes, and are not allowed the u&s;e and exerci&s;e of all the Ordinances appointed by the Word of God; &s;o as Liberty of Con&s;cience is de|nied to them, and granted to others: For, 4. An unlimited tolera|tion for the time of endurance, matter of wor&s;hip, and exerci&s;e of all Ordinances, is expre&s;ly granted to all the Sectaries of the time, whe|ther they be Anabapti&s;ts, Antinomians, Arminians, Famili&s;ts, E|ra&s;tians, Browni&s;ts, Separati&s;ts, Libertines, or Independents; yea, it extends to tho&s;e Nullifidians, the Seekers, to the new Sect of Shakers, and divers others; By all which the very foundation of Church and State is &s;haken, and neare to be overthrown, 5. The toleration here de&s;ired to be e&s;tabli&s;hed is of that capacity and latitude, as it may ad|mit of many vile and gro&s;&s;e errours which have been condemned and ca&s;t out of the Church in former times, and may be revived in <HI>England;</HI> as if errours and here&s;ies were of &s;o precious a nature, that men &s;hould be encouraged by Law to enquire after them, and invited to maintaine them. 6. This toleration is not only to the per&s;ons of tho&s;e Secta|ries
<PB N="13" REF="7"> and their families, but gives a full liberty to &s;et up their profe&s;&s;i|ons in any fit and convenient places, that &s;o Scandals, Here&s;ies, Schi&s;mes, and new Religions may grow in their kinds, and al&s;o mul|tiply in the number of Profe&s;&s;ours and Di&s;ciples, as if there were not enough already. 7. Though it &s;eemeth that a provi&s;ion is made that this indulgence &s;hall not extend to the toleration of Antitrinitarians, Arrians, and Anti&s;cripturi&s;ts, yet there is no more expre&s;&s;ed, but that this indulgence &s;hall not extend to tolerate the Printing, Publi&s;hing, or Preaching &s;uch bla&s;phemies and errours as they do maintain again&s;t God, the Holy Trinity, and the Scriptures. They are not made lyable to any penalty; and &s;uppo&s;e penalties were impo&s;ed upon them for Printing, Publi&s;hing, or Preaching tho&s;e errours; yet they are by this Propo&s;ition left to a full liberty to maintain them in private, to rea&s;on and di&s;pute that there is no God, that Chri&s;t is but an Im|po&s;tor, that there is no &s;uch thing as the Holy Gho&s;t, that the Scrip|tures are but like other writings; bla&s;pheming at their plea&s;ure, and &s;educing others to their opinions in &s;ecret; All which, and much more, according to this Propo&s;ition, may not be que&s;tioned: and &s;o in reality, though not in pretext, they &s;hall be tolerated as well as others. 8. Al protane and wicked per&s;ons are left at liberty by this toleration to doe what they plea&s;e. For they are not obliged to be &s;ubject to any Di&s;cipline or Government, and &s;o neither the duties of the fir&s;t nor &s;econd table of the Law of God, &s;hall be ob&s;erved; but all &s;ort of impiety and works of darkne&s;&s;e, &s;hall abound: and &s;uch as hate the &s;incere wor&s;hip of God in the Church, may have the mo&s;t unlawfull and wicked meetings el&s;ewhere, under a profe&s;&s;ion of religious exerci&s;es or Ordinances. We might adde more exceptions again&s;t this Propo&s;ition; But the&s;e we tru&s;t may &s;uffice to make any that is but a little indued with the light of the Go&s;pell, and hath any love to the truth, for to dete&s;t and abhorre &s;uch a toleration. And now we de&s;ire the Hou&s;es of Parliament to remember their Remon|&s;trance of the State of the Kingdome of the 15 of December 1642. where they re&s;ent it as a great injury, that any <HI>[&s;hould infu&s;e into the people that they meane to leave every man to his own judgement and fancy for the &s;ervice and wor&s;hip of God; and do declare, that it is farre from their purpo&s;e and de&s;ire, to let loo&s;e the golden reynes of Di&s;cipline and Govern|ment in the Church, to leave private per&s;ons or particular Congregations, to take up what kinde of divine &s;ervice they plea&s;e; and hold it requi&s;ite,
<PB N="14" REF="8"> that there &s;hould be throughout the whole Realme a conformity to that Order, which the Laws enjoyne, according to the word of God.]</HI> How con&s;onant this toleration is to that Declaration, we leave it to the Hou&s;es of Parliament and all wi&s;e men to con&s;ider; and whether the danger of the true reformed Religion in the&s;e Kingdomes, be not grea|ter now then before the taking of the Covenant; yea, or &s;ince Chri&s;ti|an Religion came fir&s;t into this I&s;land, when toleration of all Religi|ons (the name of Popery only excepted) is de&s;ired by the Hou&s;es of Parliament to be e&s;tabli&s;hed by Law; and the very Principles and Fundamentals of faith, which under Prelacy yea under Popery it &s;elfe, were generally received as uncontroverted, are now by many Sectaries of this time, either oppugned or called in que&s;tion.</P>
<P>There are divers other pa&s;&s;ages in the Declarations and Ordinances of both Hou&s;es to the &s;ame purpo&s;e; but here we &s;hall only mention one or two. In particular we would have the Hou&s;es call to minde their Declaration and an&s;wer to the Lords of his Maje&s;ties Secret Coun|&s;ell of Scotland, and the generall A&s;&s;embly of the Church of that King|dome in the yeare 1642. where be&s;ides other expre&s;&s;ions they u&s;e the&s;e words <HI>[We acknowledge it an act of love to us, and Wi&s;dome for the good of both Churches, for which we are thankefull both to God and them, that our Brethren of Scotland have be&s;towed their &s;erious thoughts and earne&s;t de&s;ires for &V;nity of Religion, that in all his Maje&s;ties Do|minions there might be one confe&s;&s;ion of faith, one Directory for wor&s;hip, one publick Catechi&s;me, and one forme of Church Government. And although it will hardly be obtained punctually and exactly, unle&s;&s;e &s;ome way might be found, for a mutuall communication and conjunction of Coun|&s;ell and debate in frameing that one forme; yet both intending the &s;ame and, proceeding by the &s;ame rule of Gods word, and guided by the &s;ame Spirit: we hope by Gods a&s;&s;i&s;tance to be &s;o directed, that we may ca&s;t out what&s;oever is offen&s;ive to God or ju&s;tly di&s;plea&s;ing to any neighbour Church; And &s;o farre agree with our Brethren of Scotland and other reformed Churches in all &s;ub&s;tantiall parts of Doctrine, Wor&s;hip, and Di&s;cipline, that both we and they may enjoy tho&s;e advantages and conveniences, which are mentioned by them in this their an&s;wer; In the more strict &V;nion of both Kingdomes; more &s;afe, ea&s;y, and comfortable Government of his Majesty, and both to him&s;elfe and co<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">le, more free communion in all holy exerci&s;es and dutyes of wor&s;hip; more con&s;tant &s;ecurity of Religion again&s;t the bloody practi&s;es of Papi&s;ts, and deceitfull errours of other Sectaries.]</HI>
<PB N="15" REF="8"> And having there made known their re&s;olution to take away the Go|vernment by Bi&s;hops, they de&s;ire &s;ome godly and learned Divines of that Church, to bee &s;ent to the A&s;&s;embly of Divines here, whereby an uniformity in form of Church Government may bee ob|tayned; and one Confe&s;&s;ion of Faith, one Directory, and one Cate|chi&s;m may be &s;etled in all the three Kingdomes: Which de&s;ire was af|terwards renewed to their Commi&s;&s;ioners &s;ent to Scotland; and in end the mutuall and joynt de&s;ires of both Kingdomes, were crow|ned with a &s;olemne League and Covenant; as for other ends, &s;o for endeavouring the neare&s;t conjunction and uniformity in al the&s;e; and for extirpation of Here&s;y and Schi&s;me. The&s;e foure yeares pa&s;t, the labours of many learned and godly Divines of both Kingdomes there|unto appointed, have been &s;pent in framing a Directory for wor&s;hip (which was long &s;ince approved, and received in both Kingdomes,) a Confe&s;&s;ion of Faith, a form of Church Government and Catechi&s;ing; all which have been pre&s;ented to both Hou&s;es, and &s;ome progre&s;&s;e was made therein toward the e&s;tabli&s;hing of them, till of late they were laid a&s;ide.</P>
<P>The Hou&s;es not many months &s;ince, did appoint a &s;olemn Fa&s;t, and day of Humiliation, to be kept throughout the whole kingdome, be|cau&s;e of the growth of Here&s;ies, Bla&s;phemies, and Schi&s;m: The words of the Ordinance are the&s;e [<HI>We the Lords and Commons a&s;&s;embled in the Parliament of</HI> England, <HI>having entred into a &s;olemn Covenant, to endea|vour &s;incerely, really, and con&s;tantly the reformation of Religion in Do|ctrine, Di&s;cipline, and Wor&s;hip; And the extirpation of Popery, &s;uper&s;tation, here&s;ie, &s;chi&s;me, prophane&s;&s;e, and what&s;oever &s;hall be found contrary to &s;ound doctrine, and the power of godline&s;&s;e. And having found the pre&s;ence of God wonderfully a&s;&s;i&s;ting us in this cau&s;e, e&s;pecially &s;ince our &s;aid en|gagement, in pur&s;uance of the &s;aid Covenant, have thought fit (le&s;t we par|take in other mens &s;ins, and therby be in danger to receive of their plagues) to &s;et forth this our deep &s;ence, of the great di&s;honour of God, and perillous condition that this Kingdome is in, through the abhominable bla&s;phemies, and damnable here&s;ies vented and &s;pread abroad therein, tending to the &s;ubver&s;ion of the faith, contempt of the Mini&s;try, and ordinances of Ie&s;us Chri&s;t. And as we are re&s;olved to imploy and improve the utmo&s;t of our power, that nothing be done or &s;aid again&s;t the truth, but for the truth; So we de&s;ire that both our&s;elves and the whole Kingdom may be deeply hum|bled
<PB N="16" REF="9"> before the Lord, for that great reproach and contempt, which hath been ca&s;t upon his Name, and &s;aving truthes, and for that &s;wift de&s;tructi|on that we may ju&s;tly fear will fall upon the immortall &s;ouls of &s;uch, who are or may be drawn away by giving heed to &s;educing &s;pirits. In the hearty and tender compa&s;&s;ion whereof, We the &s;aid Lords and Commons doe order and ordaine, That Wedne&s;day being the</HI> 10. <HI>day of</HI> March <HI>next, be &s;et apart for a day of publike humiliation, for the growth and &s;preading of errors, he|re&s;ies, and bla&s;phemies, to be ob&s;erved in all places within the Kingdome of</HI> England, <HI>Dominion of</HI> Wales, <HI>and Town of</HI> Berwick, <HI>and to &s;eek God for his direction and a&s;&s;i&s;tance, for the &s;uppre&s;&s;ing and preventing the &s;ame.</HI></P>
<P>And are the&s;e the waies and meanes that the Hou&s;es of Parlia|ment have thought upon for &s;uppre&s;sing Errors, Here&s;ies, and Bla&s;phemies, to de&s;ire that a Toleration of them may be e&s;tabli&s;hed by a Law? Is the laying of a foundation to propagate Here&s;ie and Schi&s;me, the be&s;t way to extirpate the &s;ame? Are the&s;e the fruits and effects of their &s;olemne Fa&s;t and Humiliation? Certainly God will not be mocked.</P>
<P>The Covenant doth al&s;o oblige us, mutually to pre&s;erve the Au|thority of the &s;upream Magi&s;trate, the priviledges of Parliaments, and firm peace and union between the kingdoms to all po&s;terity. And is it not vi&s;ible, that many of tho&s;e Sectaries, with their adherents and abet|tors, doe by their pernicious doctrine and actions, offer violence to the Kings per&s;on and Authority, and again&s;t the rights and priviledges of Parliament? So as there is not any one Article of the Solemn League and Covenant, which is not in a high degree violated by them; And &s;hall a toleration be e&s;tabli&s;hed for all &s;uch? The oppo&s;ing the Cove|nant, and Reformation of Religion, the dividing betwixt the King and his people, or making any faction among the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, were formerly the characters of our enemies; and who&s;oever mayntayn and doe the&s;e things (though they &s;hould a&s;&s;ume to them&s;elves the name of Saints) are &s;till to be accounted In|cendiaries, Malignants, and evill In&s;truments. And we are obliged by Covenant with faithfulne&s;&s;e to endeavour the di&s;covery of all &s;uch, that they may bee brought to publique triall, and receive condigne puni&s;h|ment.</P>
<PB N="17" REF="9">
<P>And though it be far from our intentions that pious and peaceable men &s;hould be troubled, becau&s;e in every thing they cannot conform them&s;elves to Presbyteriall Govenment (for we did never oppo&s;e &s;uch an indulgence to their per&s;ons as is agreeable to the Word of God, may &s;tand with the publick peace, and is not de&s;tructive to the order and Government of the Church) yet wee do from our very &s;ouls abhor &s;uch a generall and va&s;t Toleration as is expre&s;&s;ed in the Propo&s;ition. And if the Hou&s;es (which God forbid) &s;hall adhere thereunto, and in&s;i&s;t that it may be e&s;tabli&s;hed, We do prote&s;t again&s;t it, as that which is ex|pre&s;ly contrary to the Word of God, utterly repugnant to the &s;o|lemn League and Covenant, de&s;tructive to Reformation and Uni|formity in Religion, altogether incon&s;i&s;tent with the Declarations and Profe&s;&s;ions of the Hou&s;es, again&s;t the Treaty between the King|domes, directly oppo&s;ite to the example and practice of all the re|formed Churches, and as that which will unavoidably &s;ubvert all Order and Goverment, and introduce a world of confu&s;ion. Our mindes are a&s;tonied, and our bowels are moved within us, when we think of the bitter fruits and &s;ad con&s;equences of &s;uch a Toleration. What horrid bla&s;phemies again&s;t God! What vile abominations! What pernicious doctrine, to the &s;ubver&s;ion and perdition of &s;ouls! What di&s;obedience to the Magi&s;trate! What violation of duties be|tween per&s;ons of neere&s;t relation! What differences and divi&s;ions in Families and Congregations it will bring forth! What bitter heart-burnings it will beget, and perpetuate to po&s;terity! Nay, it is impo&s;|&s;ible for us to expre&s;&s;e what infinite di&s;traction, di&s;order, and confu&s;ion it will make both in Church and State thorowout all the three King|doms. And therefore wee do obte&s;t the Hou&s;es of Parliament by the &s;olemn League and Covenant (which they have made in the pre&s;ence of Almighty God the &s;earcher of all hearts, with a true intention to per|form the &s;ame, as they &s;hall an&s;wer at that great day, when the &s;ecrets of all hearts &s;hall be di&s;clo&s;ed) and by all the promi&s;es, profe&s;&s;ions, and Declarations wherewith they induced the Kingdom of Scotland to an engagement and conjunction with them in this Cau<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">, That they do not e&s;tabli&s;h &s;uch an impious Toleration, as cannot but draw down the judgement of God, and make a rent between the two Kingdoms uni|ted by &s;o many tyes and relations, which wee de&s;ire to cheri&s;h and &s;trengthen, and to continue to all po&s;terity.</P>
<P>That next to Religion wherein we differ in judgement from the
<PB N="18" REF="10"> Propo&s;itions, is concerning the intere&s;t &amp; power of the Crown. We are obliged by our Covenant, allegeance, and the duty of Subjects, not to di|mini&s;h but to &s;upport the Kings ju&s;t power and greatnes. The que&s;tion then is, wherein his royall Authority and ju&s;t power doth con&s;i&s;t. And we affirm and hope it cannot be denyed, that regall power and authority is chi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">fly in making and enacting Laws, and in protecting and defend|ing their &s;ubjects, which are of the very e&s;&s;ence and being of all Kings. And the exerci&s;e of that power are the chief parts and duties of their royall office and function; And the Scepter and Sword are the bad|ges of that power. Yet the new preface compared with other parts of the&s;e new Propo&s;itions, takes away the Kings negative voice, and cuts off all Royall power and righ<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> in the making of Laws, contrary to the con&s;tant practice of this and all other Kingdoms: For the Legi&s;|lative power in &s;ome Monarchies is <HI>Penes Principem &s;olum,</HI> and their Laws are called <HI>Principum placita,</HI> which is the highe&s;t and mo&s;t ab|&s;olute kinde of Sovereignty. And in other Kingdoms and Monarchies, the power of making Laws is by compact between the Prince and people, or according to the con&s;titution, practice, and u&s;age of the &s;e|verall Kingdoms. In the la&s;t the power of the King is lea&s;t; but be&s;t regulated, where neither the King alone without his Parliament, nor the Parliament without the King can make Laws; and where nothing enacted by the one without the con&s;ent of the other, can have the force of a Law. And although we will rather profe&s;&s;e <HI>ignorantiam &amp; facti &amp; juris alieni,</HI> then take upon us to judge of the Laws of another Kingdom; yet it &s;eems to be very cleer and evident, by the practice and u&s;age of all times, by the Parliaments own Declarations, and to be con&s;onant to rea&s;on and law, that the King without the Hou&s;es of Parliament, or the Hou&s;es of Parliament without the King, cannot enact any Laws; but both joyntly. And therefore the Lawes are &s;ometimes called the Kings Laws, &s;ometimes the Lawes of the Land, and Acts of Parliament. And the form or Acts of Parliament &s;ome|times begin with the word <HI>Conci&s;&s;inus,</HI> or <HI>Statuit R<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">x;</HI> And of la|ter times Lawes and Statutes begin, as <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ing enacted by the King with the con&s;ent and advice of the Lord &amp; Commons. All which do in port the Kings power and con&s;ent as to the ma<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters"> of Laws&punc; So that there can be no Law made, and have the force of a Law without the King; which likewi&s;e is cleer by the expre&s;&s;ions of to Kings an&s;wers. <HI>L<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> Roy de Vene, &amp; Le Roy S<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">avi&s;era;</HI> &s;o as it is c<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">t from: the words of
<PB N="19" REF="10"> a&s;&s;ent, when Statutes are made, and from the words of di&s;&s;ent, that the Kings power in the making of Laws is one of the chiefe&s;t jewels of the Crown, and an e&s;&s;entiall part of Soveraignty. And if the King had no power nor con&s;ent in making of Laws, he would be le&s;&s;e then a <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ubject. Sometimes the Kings denyall had been better then his a&s;|&s;ent to the de&s;ires of the Hou&s;es of Parliament; as when Kings have a&s;&s;ented to the taking away the reading of Scripture from the Laity, as <HI>Henry</HI> the Eight did; or to introduce Popery, as Queen <HI>Mary.</HI> And &s;ince neither Kings nor Parliaments have the judgement of infallibility, it mu&s;t certainly be the be&s;t, where Lawes are made with con&s;ent both of King and Parliament, which is the &s;tronge&s;t bulwark of the peoples liberty, and &s;upporter of the Kings authority. And the King being King over divers Nations, this form of con&s;titution where nei|ther the King without his Parliament, nor the Parliament without the King can make Laws, is a good and &s;ure &s;ecurity to pre&s;erve his Kingdomes in peace from injuring one another, and to protect the &s;ubjects from injury among&s;t them&s;elves. The Hou&s;es of Parliament <HI>pag.</HI> 710 of the Exact collection of Remon&s;trances and Declarations, an&s;wering an argument again&s;t the Kings pa&s;&s;ing the Bill of the Mi|litia, make this Reply: <HI>If we had &s;aid (as wee did not) that the King had been bound to pa&s;&s;e all Bils that &s;hould be offered to him by both Hou&s;es of Parliament, without any limitation or qualification of rea&s;on or ju&s;tice, yet &s;uch a &s;uppo&s;ition as this could not fall upon a Parliament, much le&s;&s;e that a King were obliged for to grant it.</HI> And page 727, <HI>Wee did and do &s;ay, that the &s;overaign power doth re&s;ide in the King and both Hou&s;es of Parliament, and that his Maje&s;ties negative voice doth not import a liber|ty for his Maje&s;tie to deny any thing as he plea&s;eth, though never &s;o requi|&s;ite and nece&s;&s;ary for the Kingdom: and yet we did not, nor do &s;ay, that &s;uch Bils as his Maje&s;tie is bound both in con&s;cience &amp; ju&s;tice to pa&s;&s;e, &s;hall not|with&s;tanding be law without his con&s;ent; &s;o far are we from taking away his negative voice.</HI> Wherefore the power in making Laws, even accor|ding to the Parliaments own Declarations, cannot be taken away from the King, and he required to a&s;&s;ent to all &s;uch Laws as the Hou&s;es &s;hall think fit, according to the Preface of the&s;e new Propo&s;itions, without a change of the Con&s;titution and fundamentall Government o&s; the Kingdom.</P>
<P>Concerning the power of the Militia, Wee do de&s;ire and &s;hall be willing to agre, that it may be &s;o &s;etled, as neither the King nor any other
<PB N="20" REF="11"> be able to di&s;turb or infringe the peace now to be agreed upon. And wee think that in his Me&s;&s;age from <HI>Caresbrook-Ca&s;tle</HI> he hath offered that which &s;hould be very &s;atisfactory; But that the King, his po&s;terity and the Crown &s;hould for ever be dive&s;ted of all power and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ight of the Militia, is different from our judgements. For if the Crown have no power of the Militia, how can they be able to re&s;i&s;t their enemies, and the enemies of the Kingdom, protect their &s;ubjects, or keep freind&s;hip or corre&s;pondence with their Allies? All Kings by their Royall office and Oath of Coronation are obliged to protect their Laws and &s;ub|jects: It were &s;trange then to &s;eclude the Crown for ever from the Pow|er of doing, that, which by the oath of Coronation they are obliged to perform, and the obedience whereunto falleth within the oath of Allegeance. And certainly if the King and His po&s;terity, &s;hall have no power in making Laws, nor in the Militia, it roots up the &s;tronge&s;t foundation of honour and &s;afety which the Crown affords; and will be interpreted in the eyes of the world, to be a wre&s;ting of the Scepter and Sword out of their hands. It is very far from our de&s;ires that Mo|narchy &s;hould be at the ab&s;olute height of an Arbitrary and tyrannicall power; Neither de&s;ire we Ju&s;t Monarchicall power to be wronged and rendred contemptible: But to have &s;uch a golden Mediocrity as they may be able to protect their &s;ubjects, and oppo&s;e their enemies according to the fundamentall Laws, and ancient con&s;titution of the Kingdom.</P>
<P>Before the la&s;t propo&s;itions were &s;ent to his Maje&s;ty at <HI>Newca&s;tle,</HI> both in verball debates and in our writings, wee did &s;hew, That we were un&s;atisfied concerning &s;everall particulars contained in tho&s;e pro|po&s;itions; particularly, when we did con&s;ent, that the power and exer|ci&s;e of the Militia &s;hould be &s;etled in the hou&s;es of Parliament for a time, wee did it with this provi&s;ion, that it were under&s;tood to be without prejudice to the right and intere&s;t of the Crown; And that the King and His po&s;terity be not totally excluded and rendred incapable to protect their &s;ubjects, and oppo&s;e the enemies of the Kingdoms: And farther when wee gave way to the &s;ending of tho&s;e Propo&s;itions, wee did declare it to be our judgement, that divers things craved there|in, were &s;uch, as peace or warre ought not to depend upon the grant or refu&s;all of them; We ever did and mu&s;t &s;till hold it as a good rule in the making of a peace, that the more moderate and rea&s;onable our de<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">e<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">e, wee may expect the firmer peace. Wherefore as in the dif|ference
<PB N="21" REF="11"> betwixt the King and the Parliament, wee think it very un|ju&s;t to exclude the King from his Ju&s;t power in the Militia; &s;o when we look upon the Liberty of the &s;ubject, we think neither King nor Parliament ought to keep up an Army in the field, when the warre is en|ded, to the va&s;te expence and utter impoveri&s;hing of the people; the trai|ned Bands of the Kingdom, (which may be made u&s;e of with litttle charge) and the forces which may be kept in &s;ome chief Garri&s;ons, being &s;ufficient to &s;uppre&s;&s;e any commotion or di&s;turbance that is likely to ari&s;e upon occa&s;ion of the late troubles. And we conceive an Army &s;hould be kept up only in the ca&s;e of a powerfull In&s;urrection within the Kingdom, or of a forraign inva&s;ion from without, and otherwi&s;e to maintain a perpetuall Army in the bowels of the Kingdom upon the expence of the &s;ubject, when there is no enemy to fight with, is but to en&s;lave the King and Kingdome under a Military bondage.</P>
<P>When our Army returned to Scotland, it was confidently expected that the Hou&s;es &s;hould have &s;peedily disbanded their Army, (the warre being at an end and no vi&s;ible enemy in the Kingdom) and procee|ded to the &s;etling of a peace here, and to the effectuall relief of Ireland: But now after a full years delay almo&s;t, we do not finde a|mong&s;t all the&s;e propo&s;itions, any thing concerning the disbanding of Armies, or &s;ending releif to that di&s;tre&s;&s;ed Kingdom; but on the contrary there is only provi&s;ion made for keeping up armies, and rai&s;ing money for their maintenance. Wee mu&s;t therefore declare to the Hou&s;es, that it is our judgment and earne&s;t de&s;ire, that there may be a Propo&s;ition for disbanding Armies in both Kingdome. Armies were rai&s;ed for de|fence of Religion, the Kings per&s;on and authority, the Priviledges of Parliament, and the liberty of the &s;ubject. And when they are no more u&s;efull for the&s;e ends, and the Hou&s;es may con&s;ult freely and act &s;ecurely without any ho&s;tile oppo&s;ition, It is high time to disband them, that the Laws of the Kingdom may take place. Some of out neighbour nati|ons are nece&s;&s;itated to keep up Armies becau&s;e they have enemies, that lie contiguous and adjoyning to their borders; but the &s;ea is our Bul|wark. And if wee &s;tudy amity and peace among&s;t our &s;elves, and enter|tain the union between the Kingdoms under his Maje&s;ties government, wee need not fear forrain inva&s;ion. It is a Cu&s;tome in other Nations to keep up Armies, to levy monies by force; But the&s;e are free King|doms; and when they have been fighting for liberty and freedom, wee tru&s;t, that it is not intended that warre &s;hould be made a trade, or that
<PB N="22" REF="12"> their warrs &s;hall end in &s;lavery. The continuance of Armies will cer|tainly increa&s;e factions and divi&s;ions, to the great weakning of the King|doms, &amp; will in end expo&s;e us as a prey to our enemies; neither is it po&s;|&s;ible &s;o long as they are kept up, that there can be a &s;etled <HI>peace.</HI> The charge of entertaining Armies is needle&s;&s;e, when there is no enemy, and extream|ly grievous to the people, who before were willing to bear it, when they &s;aw a nece&s;&s;ity for it. And now after &s;o great &s;ufferings and va&s;t ex|pence of Trea&s;ure to &s;ouldiers for many years together, the burthen is be|come in&s;upportable. For the&s;e and many other rea&s;ons which wee could adde, wee hold it mo&s;t nece&s;&s;ary, That as there is a Propo&s;ition for payment of the arreares of the Army; &s;o al&s;o there be an additi|on unto it for their disbanding.</P>
<P>Touching the conferring titles of honor, we de&s;ire the King who is the fountain of honor, may not be deprived of that which in all ages and Kingdoms, hath been held and e&s;teemed a flowre of the Crown, and wherewith Kings doe u&s;ually recompence the vertue and merites of &s;uch as doe memorable &s;ervices to the Crown or Kingdome. And as to the di&s;po&s;ing of the great offices of State, and nameing of pri|vy Coun&s;ellors, we conceive his Maje&s;ties offer, in his late Me&s;&s;age of the &s;ixteenth of November, to be &s;o rea&s;onable, as may give &s;atisfacti|on to the Hou&s;es.</P>
<P>That which we are to &s;peak of next in order, is, the union and joynt intere&s;t of the Kingdoms, where we wi&s;h we had not ju&s;t cau&s;e to ex|po&s;tulate, that the Hou&s;es have omitted the Covenant in the&s;e Propo&s;i|tions; rejected all that concerns Vnity and Vniformity in Religion; and have altered the former <HI>Propo&s;ition</HI> for confirmation of the Treaties, and de&s;ired now only an Approbation of the making of them, which amounts to no more then an Act of indemnity. They have al&s;o in that Propo&s;ition omitted the&s;e words <HI>With all other ordinances and proceed|ings pa&s;t betwixt the two Kingdoms, and whereunto they are obliged by the fore&s;aid Treaties;</HI> which words were in&s;erted in the former propo|&s;itions, after &s;erious debate; and therefore if the Hou&s;es intend to make good, and perform all ordinances pa&s;t betwixt the Kingdoms, accor|ding to their manifold profe&s;&s;ions; We de&s;ire that this Propo&s;ition may remain as before without any alteration or omi&s;&s;ion. The pro|po&s;ition de&s;iring his Maje&s;ties con&s;ent to what the two Kindoms &s;hall agree upon, in pur&s;uance of the Articles of the large treaty, which are not yet fini&s;hed, is omitted. The joynt declaration of both King|doms
<PB N="23" REF="12"> is likewi&s;e omitted; And generally throughout the&s;e Propo&s;iti|ons all expre&s;&s;ions of joynt intere&s;t are left out. And whereas former|ly the Propo&s;itions of both Kingdoms were drawn up together in one body: now for &s;eparating the intere&s;t of the Kingdoms, the Propo|&s;itions for England, are drawn up apart; which new way, when we did ob&s;erve, and what e&s;&s;entiall alterations, omi&s;&s;ions, and additions were made in the matter of the Propo&s;itions, we de&s;ired a conference for removing all differences, and that we might the more &s;peedily at|taine to an agreement; but it was not granted: however we have herein di&s;charged our duty, that we u&s;e all means to prevent difference, and that we for our part, &s;tudy to ob&s;erve the Treaty betwixt the King|doms, Where it is expre&s;ly provided in the eighth Article, <HI>That no Ce&s;&s;ation nor any pacification or agreement for peace what&s;oever, &s;hall be made by either Kingdom, or the Armies of either Kingdom, without the mu|tuall advice and con&s;ent of both Kingdoms, or their Committees in that behalf appointed;</HI> and here we think it not ami&s;&s;e to remember the Hou&s;es of Parliament of their expre&s;&s;ions in a declaration to the Lords States Generall of the united Provinces of the Low-Countries, &s;how|ing why they did not admit of the mediation of the Dutch Amba&s;&s;adors between the King and Parliament in the way and manner it was de&s;i|red, without application to the Kingdome of Scotland. The words of the declaration are, <HI>that both the Kingdoms are mutually engaged in the Propo&s;itions and Treaty thereupon; And that neither could admit of their Mediation without con&s;ent of the other, becau&s;e the two Kingdoms were united by &s;olemn League and Covenant made to Almighty God, and by league each to other as one entire body to pro&s;ecute this cau&s;e; And that in pur&s;uance thereof, Propo&s;itions for a &s;afe and well grounded peace, were then preparing in a joynt way, by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms.</HI> And where|as the Lords Amba&s;&s;adours had propounded and offered from the King, the calling of a National Synode, to correct and redre&s;&s;e the government of the Church by Bi&s;hops; One of the An&s;wers which was given thereunto in the &s;aid declaration, was, <HI>That not only the Kingdom of Scotland and the Members of both Hou&s;es of Parliament, but al&s;o many thou&s;ands of others of his Maje&s;ties &s;ubjects of England and Ireland, &s;tand bound by their late Nationall Covenant, to endeavour the extirpation of the Church Government by Bi&s;hops, intended in the paper of the Dutch Amba&s;|&s;adours, both in England and Ireland, and to hinder the &s;etting of it up a|gain in the Kingdom of Scotland.</HI> All which being duly con&s;idered, we
<PB N="24" REF="13"> are extreamly &s;ory, that the Hou&s;es of Parliament, &s;hould not only have given way, but countenanced the Army in their medling with the &s;et|ling of the peace of the Kingdom, &amp; authorized Commi&s;&s;ioners to treat with them, upon Propo&s;itions of peace (which we take to be the rea|&s;on, that the&s;e Propo&s;itions are in &s;o many things agreeable to the Pro|po&s;als of the Army, e&s;pecially in matters of Religion,) and without all que&s;tion, it had been more agreeable to the Treaty betwixt the King|doms, and to former profe&s;&s;ions and proceedings, that the Propo&s;iti|ons of peace had been framed and agreed upon, with advice and con|&s;ent of both Kingdoms. We have known the Hou&s;es of Parliament formerly look upon it as an offence of a high nature for any other then them&s;elves to meddle in the matters of peace, e&s;pecially the Comman|ders and officers of the Army (though in prime place and of great and eminent fidelity) making it only proper for them to be exerci&s;ed in matters of warre, according as they &s;hould receive direction from the Hou&s;es. And much more would the Hou&s;es have been offended, if any officers of their Army &s;hould have taken upon them to offer propo&s;als to the King, for &s;etling a peace, without authority from the hou&s;es, as we are informed &s;ome officers of Sir <HI>Thomas Fairfax</HI> his Army have done. If the Hou&s;es of Parliament had according to our earne&s;t de&s;ire the third of <HI>March</HI> 1644. when they modelled their Ar|my, made choice of &s;uch officers, as were known to be zealous of the Reformation of Religion, &amp; of that uniformity which both Kingdoms are obliged to promote and maintain, and if they had al&s;o renewed their Declaration made the twentieth of <HI>September</HI> 1643. That they could not confide in &s;uch per&s;ons to have or execute place and authority in the Armies rai&s;ed by them, who did not approve and con&s;ent to the Covenant; or if their Ordnance on the 15 of <HI>February</HI> 1644 (which ap|pointeth all officers to be imployed in Sir <HI>Thomas Fairfaxes</HI> Army to take the National league &amp; Covenant of both Kingdoms, within 20 days after they were approved by the Hou&s;es) had been really put in execu|tion, we are very confident it would have prevented a world of incon|veniences and evils which have en&s;ued upon the neglect thereof. Wee &s;hall not further in&s;i&s;t on this &s;ubject, neither &s;hall we inlarge our &s;elves upon the proceedings of the Army; But we mu&s;t alwayes put the Hou&s;es of Parliament in minde, that our greate&s;t &s;trength is in a good agreement with the King, and a firme Union between the King|domes.</P>
<PB N="25" REF="13">
<P>There is left out in the&s;e Propo&s;itions, the Propo&s;ition <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="4 letters">er|ning the City of <HI>London,</HI> whereby they were to have the Govern|ment of their owne Militia and the Tower, and a&s;&s;urance that their Forces &s;hall not be compelled to goe out of the City for Mi|litary Service, without their owne con&s;ent. An Act of Parlia|ment confirming their Charters, Cu&s;tomes, Liberties, &amp;c. And an Act that all the By-Laws, and Ordinances of Common-Coun|cell made, or to be made, &s;hould bee as effectuall to all in<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="5 letters"> and purpo&s;es, as if they were enacted by Authority of Parlia|ment, with liberty al&s;o for them to repeale the&s;e Ordinaunces as they &s;hall &s;ee cau&s;e. The&s;e things were formerly de&s;ired in the Propo&s;itions in behalfe of the City, becau&s;e of their affection, forwardne&s;&s;e, faithfullne&s;&s;e, and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">eal<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> in the common cau&s;e of both Kingdomes. And we conceive our &s;elves in duty obli|ged, to de&s;ire that this Propo&s;ition may not be omitted, but pre|&s;ented to His Maje&s;ty for His a&s;&s;ent.</P>
<P>Concerning the Propo&s;itions for taking away the Court of Wards, and Porre&s;t Lands from His Maje&s;ty, It cannot be <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">|pected, when the Hou&s;es of Parliament &s;hal take into their con&s;i|deration, the glory and greatne&s;&s;e wherein their Kings have <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> that they will ever take away or dimini&s;h any part of that <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">atri|mony and Revenue, which is nece&s;&s;ary for &s;upporting the Dignity of their Royall place, without giving a full recompence for th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;ame.</P>
<P>Touching the Propo&s;ition for &s;al<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> and di&s;po&s;all of the Lands of Deanes and Chapters, &amp;c. as the Hou&s;es &s;hall think fit: We have onely this to &s;ay, that we have alwayes he<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">rd tho&s;e lands were re&s;erved by the Hou&s;es for maintenance of the Mi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">|&s;terie; and if they &s;hould be otherwi&s;e di&s;po&s;ed of, it will <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> a great di&s;couragement to faithfull Pa&s;tors, make their &s;ub&s;i&s;t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="5 letters"> to depend upon the benevolence and charity of their <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word">, and give occa&s;ion to the people (where Mini&s;ters <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> wanting for lacke of maintenance) to follow after Sectaries and T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters"> Preachers.</P>
<P>We de&s;ire to &s;ee the Ordinances for Indemnity mentioned in the Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>And now to conclude, we &s;hall here &s;et downe mo&s;t of our de|&s;ires: Which are,</P>
<PB N="26" REF="14">
<P>That there may be a Per&s;onall Treaty with His Maje&s;ty at <HI>London.</HI></P>
<P>That the Preface may be the &s;ame as in the former Propo&s;i|tions.</P>
<P>That the Honourable Hou&s;es, according to the &s;olemne Vowes, Treaties, Declarations, and Engagements between the two King|domes, would after &s;o very long delay, e&s;tabli&s;h the Solemne League and Covenant; and that His Maje&s;ty be de&s;ired to give His Royall A&s;&s;ent, for confirming the &s;ame by Act of Parliament in both Kingdomes.</P>
<P>That the &s;etling Reformation of, and Vniformity in Religion, according to the Covenant, in <HI>England</HI> and <HI>Ireland,</HI> be likewi&s;e de&s;ired in the&s;e new Propo&s;itions; And in particular, that the Confe&s;&s;ion of Faith, Directory of Wor&s;hip, Forme of Church-Government, and Catechi&s;ing, agreed upon by the A&s;&s;embly of Divines, and pre&s;ented to the Hou&s;es, be e&s;tabli&s;hed.</P>
<P>That by Act of Parliament, effectuall Cour&s;e be taken for &s;up|pre&s;&s;ing Bla&s;phemy, Here&s;ie, Schi&s;me, and all &s;uch &s;candalous Do|ctrines and Practi&s;es, as are contrary to the light of Nature, or to the knowne principles of Chri&s;tianity (whether concerning Faith, Wor&s;hip, or Conver&s;ation) or to the power of Godli|ne&s;&s;e; or which may be de&s;tructive to Order and Government, or to the Peace of the Church or Kingdome.</P>
<P>That the Ordinances concerning the calling and &s;itting of the A&s;&s;embly of Divines, be de&s;ired to be confirmed by Act of Parlia|ment, as in the former Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>That the Propo&s;ition for confirmation of the Treaties betwixt the Kingdomes; And all Ordinances and proceedings betwixt them be expre&s;&s;ed as in the former Propo&s;itions. And that the Treaty for the returne of the Scots Army, of the Date of the 23 of Decemb. 1646. be in&s;erted among&s;t the re&s;t.</P>
<P>That His Maje&s;ties A&s;&s;ent be de&s;ired to what the two King|domes &s;hall agree upon, in pro&s;ecution of the Articles of the large Treaty, which are not yet fini&s;hed: And that all other things concerning joynt-Intere&s;t, or the Kingdome of <HI>Scotland</HI> in par|ticular, which are omitted, be in&s;erted, and expre&s;&s;ed as in the for|mer Propo&s;itions.</P>
<P>That Armies in both Kingdomes, which were rai&s;ed for pre|&s;ervation
<PB N="27" REF="14"> and Reformation of Religion, And for defence of the Kings Per&s;on, and &s;afety of the Kingdomes, be not kept up to hinder Reformation of Religion, And the King from His Go|vernment, And to be a burthen to the Subjects, &s;ince the Warre is ended; but that they may have due &s;atisfaction of their Arreares, and be disbanded; without which, there can be no reall nor la|&s;ting Peace; That all Armies being disbanded here, &s;peedy reliefe may be &s;ent to <HI>Ireland.</HI></P>
<P>That an Act of Oblivion, which is the bond of Peace, be a|greed upon, to be pa&s;t in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes.</P>
<P>That the King be re&s;tored to his Rights and Revenues, and particularly that the Crowne be not excluded from the power of making Lawes, which is as e&s;&s;entiall to Kings, as to governe by Lawes, and &s;way the Scepter; Nor from the power of the <HI>Mi|litia,</HI> without which they can neither protect their Subjects, op|po&s;e their and the Kingdomes enemies, nor keep friend&s;hip with their Allyes.</P>
<P>That there be a conclu&s;ion added to the Propo&s;itions, promi&s;ing our reall endeavours (as was done in the Propo&s;itions Treated upon at <HI>&V;xbridge</HI>) that his Maje&s;ty may live in the &s;plendor and glory of his Royall Progenitors, as be&s;eemeth His Royall place and Dignity; That &s;o all differences and troubles may end in mu|tuall confidence and rejoycing; the King may enjoy the comfort of His Royall Con&s;ort and Children, with other contentments; And wee, after &s;o great di&s;tractions, and long continued &s;uffe|rings, may reap the ble&s;&s;ed fruits of Truth and Peace under his Government.</P>
<P>And as it is very far from our thoughts and intentions in ex|pre&s;&s;ing our Differences upon the Propo&s;itions, to provoke or give offence; &s;o we tru&s;t, that our freedome in di&s;charge of the tru&s;t committed to us, proceeding from our zeale to Religion, Loyalty to the King, and love to Peace; &s;hall receive a co<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">di<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> Interpretation from the Honourable Hou&s;es. And that they <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> in their wi&s;edome, not &s;light the de&s;ires of a Kingdome, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ho <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> the time of <HI>Englands</HI> greate&s;t danger, e&s;teemed no <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> too hard for their A&s;&s;i&s;tance; And are now &s;eeking nothing, but the performance of the mutuall Obligements, Declarations, and Treaties betweene the two Kingdomes, And to prevent the dan|gers
<PB N="28" REF="15"> which may cau&s;e upon the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> to &s;olemne engagements.</P>
<P>The Hou&s;es of Parliament have frequ<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ntly profe&s;&s;ed, that the chiefe end of their Warres was the Re<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">orma<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ion and e&s;tabli&s;h|ment of Religion according to the Covenant. And they have often Promi&s;ed and Declared to the King and to all the World, (n<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">t without <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">l<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ep <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">e&s;ta<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters"> of the Name of God) that no trouble or &s;ucce&s;&s;e &s;hould ever make them wrong or dimini&s;h the power of the Crowne, which were the chiefe mo<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">es and Arguments that indured <HI>Scotland</HI> to engage with them in this Warre. Let therefore that be given to God which is Gods, and to <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> what is <HI>Cae&s;ars;</HI> whereby it may be evident that you are not unmindfull of the &s;olemne Vowes you made to God in the time of di&s;tre&s;&s;e, for Reformation of Religion; and it may al&s;o really appeare, that <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> advantages and power which <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> put into your hands, hath not <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> your Loyalty to the King. And according to our many profe&s;&s;ions, and neare <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">ally and co<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="5 letters">ly, che<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">i&s;h and &s;tr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ng then the V<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ion between the two Kingdomes under his Maje&s;ty, by all the Pledges of reciprocall kindne&s;&s;e, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> &s;o Religion and Righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e may flouri&s;h, and both Kingdomes, langui&s;hing under the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> of an naturall Warre, may live in <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> pl<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">nty.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>By Command of the Commi&s;&s;ioners for the Parliament of</HI> Scotland. IO. CHEIS<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="answer">
<P>WEE <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> the In<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">r<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">ctions communica<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="4 letters"> unto <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> in the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word">, wherein the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> the King, care <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> pre&s;ent <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> of <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> of <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> of Parliament <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span">, Procla|<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="7 letters">, and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> the Parliament to bee <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> or <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> to bee made;
<PB N="29" REF="15"> and a new Propo&s;ition for the adjournments of both Hou&s;es. To which Bills they are commanded to de&s;ire His Maje&s;ties a&s;&s;ent by His Letters Patents under the great Seal of <HI>England,</HI> and not o|therwi&s;e. And after His Maje&s;ties a&s;&s;ent to tho&s;e Bils, the Hou&s;es of Parliament will &s;end a Committee of both Hou&s;es to Treate with His Maje&s;ty in the I&s;le of <HI>Wight</HI> upon the remainder of the new Propo&s;itions. To all which wee an&s;wer; That, although there be nothing which we more pa&s;&s;ionately de&s;ire then a happy Peace, and good agreement with the King; yet we cannot agree to this way of de&s;iring His Maje&s;tyes a&s;&s;ent to tho&s;e four Bills, before any Treaty with His Maje&s;ty upon other Propo&s;itions, it being in our judgment neither for the good of Religion, the King nor Kingdomes. And fir&s;t concerning Religion, we &s;ay, that in <HI>January,</HI> 1645. it was agreed on betwixt the Hou&s;es of Parliament and us, before the Treaty at <HI>&V;xbridge; That the Propo&s;itions con|cerning Religion the Militia, and Ireland, &s;hall bee treated upon</HI> alte<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">s vicibus, <HI>beginning fir&s;t with the Propo&s;ition of Religion, and that as it is of mo&s;t excellency, &s;o it is to bee &s;ought after and finally agreed upon in the fi &s;t place before any finall agreement the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> upon any of the other Propo&s;itions.</HI> Wee are very &s;ure the Hou&s;es had far greater rea&s;on at that time, to looke to their &s;ecurity, and to de&s;ire the Propo&s;ition for &s;etling the Militia to be fir&s;t agreed on, when the King had an Army in the field, then now when they have a &s;trong Army, and he has none at all. And upon the other part the danger to Religion is now much greater them a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> any time before when men in Armes are demanding a to|leration of all &s;orts of Religions (Popery excepted.) And if fir&s;t of all it &s;hould be agreed on, that the continuance of &s;uch an Ar|my &s;hall be &s;etled by Law, wee de&s;ire it may be equally con&s;i|dered, what good can be expected from a treaty upon <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word">, or what hopes &s;hall remaine of &s;etling it according to the Cove|nant; wherefore we cannot con&s;ent to the &s;ending any Propo&s;iti|ons or <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 span"> a &s;e<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">rity for <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">ling Peace without T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">th, which hath been acknowledged both by His Maje&s;ty, and the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> all former Treaties or Me&s;&s;ages, to bee the be&s;t <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> mo&s;t <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> foundation of a la&s;ting Peace. And we mu&s;t &s;till pre&s;&s;e that there may be a preference of tho&s;e de&s;ires which are for &s;etling <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> and the Goverment of the Church: the want <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word">, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> of the Sects and Here&s;ies which doe multiply and in<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="7 letters">
<PB N="30" REF="16"> daily, to the di&s;turbance of all Order and Peace, both in Church and State.</P>
<P>As this way is not for the good of Religion, &s;o it cannot in rea&s;on be conceived, that it &s;hall bee acceptable to the King; for how can it bee expected that he will grant tho&s;e things for a per|&s;onall Treaty (whereof the i&s;&s;ue is uncertain) which he hath ever hitherto denyed even to obtaine a Peace (e&s;pecially when after all his Maje&s;ties earne&s;t de&s;ires, hee cannot bee admitted to come to <HI>London,</HI> nor upon any tearms to have a Treaty here, in re&s;pect the Hou&s;es conceive that the Kings pre&s;ence with them, at this time &s;tands not with the &s;afety and &s;ecurity of the Parliament and king|dome; but that the Kings a&s;&s;ent to the four Bills mu&s;t be by Com|mi&s;&s;ion, and thereafter a Treaty upon the re&s;t of the Propo&s;itions at the I&s;le of <HI>Wight</HI> (Or, can it be looked for, that Hee will give the whole and &s;ole power of the Militia from him&s;elfe and his Po|&s;terity, to the Hou&s;es for their &s;ecurity, and to bee di&s;po&s;ed of as they &s;hall think fit, and have no &s;ecurity at all to him&s;elfe, nor any a&s;&s;urrance that he &s;hall be re&s;tored to his Rights and Government? It is much more probable, that he will thinke he hath already of|fered &s;ufficient &s;ecurity in his late Me&s;&s;age from <HI>Carisbrooke</HI> Ca&s;tle of the 16. <HI>Novemb.</HI> wherein he is content that all power of the Militia bee &s;etled in the Hou&s;es of Parliament during his Raigne.</P>
<P>Neither is this way in our apprehen&s;ions for the good and &s;afety of the Kingdomes, that an Army holding &s;uch principles as they do concerning Religion, and in relation to the &s;etling the govern|ment and Peace of the Kingdomes, and which (without any known authority from the Parliament) hath increa&s;ed their num|ber to neere the double of what they are allowed by order of Par|liament, (and in their late Repre&s;entation, acknowledge their &s;u|per numeraries to be about twenty thou&s;and.) That &s;uch an Army (we &s;ay) &s;hall be perpetually e&s;tabli&s;hed when there are no forces to oppo&s;e the Parliament, and that the &s;ubjects &s;hall bee obliged by a Law for ever to &s;ubmit to a Military power, and pay what moneye &s;hall be demanded for their maintenance; what&s;oever it may &s;eeme to others to bee, in our &s;ence it doth neither agree with the rules of Policy nor Safety.</P>
<P>We did de&s;ire to &s;ee the foure Bills to be pre&s;ented to His Ma|je&s;ty (&s;o much the rather, that from the Title of the Bill for the
<PB N="31" REF="16"> Militia; we perceive that it doth extend to the &s;etling and main|taining of forces in the Town of <HI>Barwicke,</HI> contrary to the large Treaty betwixt the kingdomes.) And we did repre&s;ent that tho&s;e Bills being a&s;&s;ented unto by the King would bee a reall &s;ecurity, and the making an Agreement for Peace, which according to the Treaty betwixt the Kingdomes cannot be done without the mu|tuall advice and con&s;ent of both. To which the Hou&s;es did ye&s;ter|day returne as their An&s;wer, <HI>That the Priviledges, Right and Cu|&s;tome of the Kingdome and Parliament of</HI> England, <HI>is, that Bils pa&s;t both Hou&s;es to bee pre&s;ented to the King for His Royall a&s;&s;ent, are not to bee communicated to any other who&s;oever either in re|lation to Matter or Forme, before His An&s;wer thereunto given. And that there is nothing contained in any Article of Treaty be|twixt the Kingdomes to the contrary.</HI> Whereunto we make this Reply, that the Bills mentioned in the 11. <HI>Sect.</HI> of the Propo&s;iti|ons of Peace, pre&s;ented to His Maje&s;ty at <HI>Oxford</HI> in <HI>Anno</HI> 1644. were communicated unto us, before they were &s;ent to the King, and upon peru&s;all of them, we did de&s;ire that nothing might be in tho&s;e Bils contrary to the Covenant, or the Reformation, &amp; Vni|formity to be &s;etled. Vpon con&s;ideration wherof, the Hou&s;e of Com|mons gave us this an&s;wer: That the Reformation &amp; Vniformity de&s;ir'd, is alredy provided for, in one of the Propo&s;itions, to which nothing containd in tho&s;e Bils could be any prejudice, but &s;hould hereafter bee regulated as the &s;aid Reformation and Vniformity &s;hall be thought fit to be &s;etled. Al&s;o the Bil for aboli&s;hing Epi|&s;copacy was communicated unto us, and afterward debated upon by his Maje&s;ties Commi&s;&s;ioners, and the Commi&s;&s;ioners of both Kingdomes at <HI>&V;xbridge.</HI> Wee thought fit to give the&s;e in&s;tan|ces; to &s;hew, that it hath not alwayes been the cu&s;tome of both Hou&s;es not to communicate their Bills before His Maje&s;ties An&s;wer were given thereunto. Yet it is no wayes our de&s;ire to meddle with the framing of your Lawes, or advi&s;ing the forme of your Bils, we &s;hall ever be tender of any ju&s;t priviledge of Parliament; but that it &s;hould be &s;aid that there is nothing con|tained in any Article of Treaty between the two Kingdoms, which requires the communication of the matter of any Bils, is to us very &s;trange. It is agreed upon betwixt the Kingdomes, that no Ce&s;&s;ation, nor any Pacification, or Agreement for Peace what&s;oever, &s;hall be made by either Kingdome, or the Armies of
<PB N="32" REF="17"> either Kingdome, without the mutuall advice and con&s;ent of both Kingdomes: Suppo&s;e the Hou&s;es of Parliament &s;hould turne all their de&s;ires for peace into Bils, and &s;hould &s;ay, that tho&s;e Bils cannot be communicated to the Kingdome of <HI>Scotland,</HI> ei|ther in relation to matter or forme: Wee de&s;ire to know, and let any rationall man judge, whether this were not an eluding and cleare violation of the Treaty: Neither can it in this ca&s;e be a &s;atisfactory An&s;wer, that the Hou&s;es of Parliament doe only &s;end four of the Propo&s;itions in Bils to His Maje&s;ty; for every one of the Propo&s;itions is a Propo&s;ition for peace, and an Agreement made upon any one of them is an agreement for peace. And which is much more, there are none of the Propo&s;itions which in their owne nature doe &s;o immediatly concerne the &s;etling of a peace, as the&s;e foure Propo&s;itions; and what can be called an A|greement for peace if this bee not? when the King by His a&s;|&s;ent &s;hall ju&s;tifie the proceedings of the Parliament in the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="2 letters">te warre, and make all Oaths, Declarations, Proclamations, and other proceedings again&s;t it to be void, when by Act of Parlia|ment he &s;hall &s;ettle the power of all Forces by Sea and Land into the Hou&s;es of Parliament, and al&s;o to rai&s;e monies for their main|tenance: when he &s;hall con&s;ent that all Peers made, or hereafter to be made, &s;hall not &s;i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> or vote in Parliament without con&s;erre of both Hou&s;es, and when hee &s;hall give power to the Hou&s;e to ad|journe at their plea&s;ure: If then, the Kings a&s;&s;ent to tho&s;e Bils be an Agreement for peace, (as we hope it cannot in rea&s;on be de|ny'd) our advice and con&s;ent ought to be had therein, before they be &s;ent to the King, and otherwi&s;e the Treaty is violated.</P>
<P>As we cannot agree to this way of &s;ending the&s;e foure Bills to His Maje&s;ty for His A&s;&s;ent before any Treaty upon the re&s;t of the Propo&s;itions; &s;o wee are ex|treamly un&s;atisfied with the matter of the&s;e new Propo&s;itions lately con<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">+cated <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> us; for the rea&s;ons expre&s;&s;ed in our An&s;wer unto them, which we doe herewith deliver unto your Lord&s;hips, to be pre&s;ented to both Hou&s;es of Parlia|ment; And we doe de&s;ire that they would take the whole bu&s;ine&s;&s;e unto their fur|ther con&s;ideration, and that there may be a per&s;onall Treaty with His Maje&s;ty here a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter"> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 word"> upon &s;uch Propo&s;itions as &s;hall be agreed upon, with advice and con&s;ent of both Kingdomes according to the Treaty.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>By Command of the Commi&s;&s;ioners for the Parliament of</HI> Scotland. IO. CHEIS<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="3 letters">.</SIGNED>
<DATELINE><DATE><HI>Decemb.</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">7. 164<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="pdcc" EXTENT="1 letter">.</DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
