1

November.

6

An. 18. Car. I. as in us lay, to prevent; it being sufficiently known
1642.
' to all the World, That as we were not the first
' that took up Arms, so we have shewed our Rea-
' diness of compofing all Things in a fair Way, by
' our several Offers of Treaty; and shall be glad,
'now at length, to find any fuch Inclination in
' others: The same Tenderness to avoid the De-
'struction of our Subjects, whom we know to be
' our greatest Strength, which would always make
' our greatest Victories bitter to us, shall make us
' willingly hearken to such Propositions whereby
' these bloody Distempers may be stopped, and the
great Distractions of this Kingdom settled, to
God's Glory, our Honour, and the Welfare and
'Flourishing of our People; and, to that End, shall
' reside at our own Castle at Windsor, if the Forces
' there shall be removed, till Committees may have
''Time to attend us with the fame; which, to pre-
'vent the Inconveniences that will intervene, we
' wish may be hastened, and shall be ready there;
' or, if that be refused us, at any Place were we shall
' be, to receive fuch Propofitions as aforesaid, from
' both Houses of Parliament. Do you your Duty;
' we will not be wanting in ours: God of his Mer-
' cy give a Bleffing.'

After the reading of this Answer, it was refolved to communicate the Contents of it to the Commons. Then the Lord-General stood up, and defired he might receive Directions from the House how he should order his Forces during the Time of this Treaty: For, if he should advance his Quarters towards the King, it might be thought an Act of Hostility; and, if he should omit any Thing, then he might be looked upon as remiss. Thereupon the House refolved to write a Letter to the King's Secretary, to know his Majesty's Pleasure concerning a Cefsation of Arms, during the Time of this Treaty; and gave the Lord-General Directions to forbear doing any Act of Hoftility while further Orders. The Commons having given their Concurrence, a Letter was sent to the Secretary in these Words:

My

My Lord,

Am commanded, by
liament, to fignify to your Lordship, that, with 1642.

the Lords and Commons in Par- An. 18. Car. I.

November.

much foy, they received his Majesty's Gracious Answer unto their Petition; expressing his pious Inclinations unto Peace. They do resolve, with all Diligence, to Lord Grey's Letfend their humble Propositions unto his Majesty, and, ter concerning a tikewise, their Answer concerning Windfor-Castle; Ceffation of Hoin the mean Time, they desire to know his Majesty's stilities. Pleasure, how the Armies shall govern themselves, and whether he does not resolve on a Ceffation of all Acts of Hostility, upon the Overture for Peace. This is all I have, at present, unto your Lordship, adding Duty unto it, and an Assurance of being

Your Lordship's

most affectionate Friend

and humble Servant,

GREY.

The House of Commons, however, did not wait for any Answer from the King; for this Day they agreed to fend a Message to the Lord-General, to defire him to proceed according to his best Advantages, notwithstanding the foregoing Letter sent to the King by Sir Peter Killigrew, or any Proceedings thereon; in regard the other Side had begun to act Hostilities fince that Letter was agreed upon. The General answered, That he did not intend to be amused by Treaties; but, since they had begun with Acts of Hoftility, to pursue and fee what they would do.

Nov. 13. The Parliament had now the City of London so much at their Devotion, that, this Day, the Commons being informed, That feveral Citi- A Petition and Proposals from zens were at the Door, who defired to offer same- the City of Lon thing to their Confideration, they were called in: den to the ComAnd one Mr. Shute, a Merchant, in the Name of mons. the rest, addressed the House in a Speech, which appears to have been a very long one by the folVOL. XII.

C

lowing

An. 18. Car. I.lowing Heads of it taken and entered in the Com

1642.

November.

mons Journals:

That they did acknowledge, with all Thankfulness, the continued and unwearied Care and Pains of this House, for the Preservation of the true Proteftant Religion, the Liberty of the People, and the Privileges of Parliament.

6

They have presented a Petition of ten Particulars; to which they expect an Answer in convenient Time.

They speak in the Language of many Thoufands: That they fear they are bought and fold. These Things they present:

1. That in a Cafe of so much Danger, and fo great Concernment, there should be but one Army to rely upon.

2. That, in all this Time, the King's Strength lying in Horse, that the City should not appear in a confiderable Body of Horse. - Though it has been offered, and not effectually yet put in a Way, they do now again offer it.

3. That Windfor-Castle should not be provided for as it ought.

4. That Col. Holles's Regiment, Men of that Courage, and fo confiderable, should be expofed to a Place of fo imminent Danger, lying next to the Enemy's Forces, and almost naked.

5. The Point of Accommodation is another Reafon of their Grief.

They are come to this Resolution:

That they will man out every Man his Man, and make their own Captains and Officers, and live and die with the House of Commons, and in Defence thereof: And if there be any in the Lords House, that do any way retard or hinder this public Defence, they wish they would declare themselves; and that they were with the King.

6. ' Another Matter of their Grief was, That the Sabbath Day should be fo long profaned by public Authority; and the Book that enjoins it, not yet burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman. They

They observe that this Day they have so profaned An. 18. Car. I.

has been the Day of their Ruin.

a

7. The Blood of the Martyrs, shed in Queen Mary's Days, done by public Acts of Parliament, and no Expiation as yet made for it.

8. The Officers in the Army (though they must always mention my Lord-General with Honour, as one in whom they absolutely confide) not so careful and diligent as they ought, nor all of them fo trusty.

9. The Numbers of the Prisoners very great, and of dangerous Condition; and the Masters and Keepers of those Prisons not to be confided in. b

10. The good Minifters in Time past filenced, and put out by the Bishops.

You have our Perfons, Purses, and Estates, all at your Command: You may do with us at your Pleasure.

We come in the Name of the Godly and Active
Part of the City.'
The Citizens being withdrawn, the Commons
came to the following Resolutions:

1. That the Book concerning Injoining and Tolerating of Sports upon the Sabbath Day, be forthwith burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman, in the usual Places.

2.

That this House doth accept of the Offer of the Citizens, of furnishing Horse and Foot; and doth account it to be a Service much importing the Safety of the Commonwealth; and doth return them public and hearty Thanks.'

6

The Citizens being called in again, the Speaker, by the Command of the House, told them, They found that what was faid was expressed with a zealous and earnest Care of the Commonwealth; for which they returned them public and hearty

Thanks.

1642.

November.

An. 18. Car. I. 1642. { Movember.

For the Particular of Horse and Foot, they aєcept it; and have appointed a particular Committee to treat about it.

The Book of Sports they have voted to be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman.'

Mr. Shute having defired to speak again, faid • That the coming of the Lord General's Army into the City of London, and staying here so long as they did, is another Thing that troubles them; which they forgot to express before.

'Another Thing is, That some present and more fevere Course might be taken with Malignants; and, amongst them, with the malignant Minifters.'

And then the Citizens withdrew.

November 14. A Letter from the King, directed to the Speaker of the House of Lords, was read; which was only a Command to him to communicate the inclosed Paper to the whole House; the Purport of which was this:

TheKing's Meffage concerning ، his marching to

W

Hereas the last Night, being the 11th of November, after the Departure of the Brentford; Committee of both our Houses, with our gracious Answer to their Petition, we received certain Information (having till then heard nothing of it, ' either from the Houses Committee, or otherwise) ' that the Earl of Effex had drawn his Forces out of 'London towards us, which hath neceffitated our 'fudden Resolution to march with our Forces to 'Brentford, we have thought fit hereby to fignify

to both our Houses of Parliament, that we are no ' less defirous of the Peace of the Kingdom, than ' we expressed in our aforesaid Answer; the Propo'fitions for which we shall willingly receive, where'ever we are; and defire, if it may be, to receive 'them at Brentford this Night, or early To-mor'row Morning, that all possible Speed may be 'made in so good a Work; and all Inconve'niences, otherwise likely to intervene, may be

' avoided.'

The