the Treaties of Peace between the two Crowns; And therefore the Ambassadour is to be moved from both Houses, to send speedily to Dunkerke, and to all other His [Spanish, or Catholick] Majestie's Dominions, and unto the King his Master, to make stay of those, and all such Ships as may carry any supply of Men, Victuals, Money, or any other aid, to His Majestie's Subjects, that at this present are in Rebellion in Ireland; Which otherwise will be understood to be a Breach of the Treaties between the Crowns of England and Spain, and so resented by the Parliament. C THE Lord Ambassadour of Spain, Don Alonso de Cardenas, having understood what the Lord Fielding, of the Lords House, and Sir Thomas Barrington, Baronet, and Sir John Holland, Baronet, of the House of Commons, All three Commissaries from the Parliament, have said in behalf of both Houses, concerning the advertisement given them, that in the Haven of Dunkerke, there were certain Ships laden with Ammunition, ready to take sail, intended for the relief of the Rebels of Ireland, which they hold contrary to the Articles of Peace between the two Crowns; And that they required he should send to Dunkerke, and all other His Majestie's Dominions, and that he should write unto the King His Master, to make stay of those and all such Ships as may carry supply of Powder, Victuals, Money, or any other aid, to Ilis Majestie's Subjects, that at this present are in Rebellion in Ireland; because, otherwise, it would be understood to be a Breach of the Treaties between the two Crowns, and so resented by ļ the Parliament :-The said Ambassadour of Spain answered, That, besides the understanding which he hath of the King his Master's mind and intention to conserve the friendship which he professeth with His Majesty of Great-Britain, he hath express and most particular notice, that the Ships which are now in DunkerkeHaven, laden with Souldiers and Ammunition and ready to sail, neither are for Ireland, nor were they provided for any such purpose; And that this notice was given him by Don Francisco de Mello, Earl of Assumar, Governour and CaptainGeneral of the States of Flanders, whom the Resident of His Majesty of Great Britain, that assists in Brussels, assured that he is fully satisfied of their not going for Ireland, as is also his King, who signified so much unto him in a letter, in which he likewise commanded him to thank the said Don Francisco de Mello, for denying leave, which certain Irish, serving in those States, had asked to return to their Country, which he denied, to avoid all suspicion; Notwithstanding their end for asking it was unknown. The same assurance did the same Ambassadour give unto the Commissaries aforesaid of the Parliament, concerning the mentioned Ships in Dunkerke, laden with Ammunition and Souldiers, "that they are not for Ireland;" And he proffered to write to Dunkirk, and all other Parts of Flanders, and Dominions of the King his Master; and particularly to His Catholick Majesty, to The SPANISH AMBASSADOUR'S ANSWER to the MESSAGE from a COMMITTEE of both Houses of PARLIAMENT. to the end, That the observance of the Articles of Peace, (which hitherto have been so religiously observed of the King his Master's part, and his Subjects,) may be continued; and that new and strait Orders be given, That no Subject of His Catholick Majesty shall dare to violate them, by sending any kind of aids to foster the Insurrection in Ireland, under pain of the punishment imposed upon the transgressors. And the said Ambassadour, to manifest the sincerity of his heart, proffered to solicite it with the readiest and most forcible ineans that lay in his power, hoping (as in reason he should,) that His Majesty of Great-Britain, and the Parliament, will, for their part, punctually observe the same in the aforesaid conformity towards the Rebels of the King his Master, not permitting any kinds of succour or assistance, in whatsoever quality, to be afforded them, from these Kingdoms. Renewing for this effect, all requisite Orders unto the Officers and Ports of the said Kingdoms, chastising the transgressors of what is settled in the Peace, with the punishments contained in the Articles of it; that so, by reciprocal observ. ance, the good correspondency, which is at this present between the two Crowns of Spain and England, may be assuredly maintained. HIS MAJESTIE'S MESSAGE to both HOUSES, concerning the MILITIA. HIS Majesty, having received an humble Petition of the Lords and Commons, by the hands of the Earls of Carlisle and Monmouth, returns this Answer; That his dearest Consort the Queen, and his dear Daughter the Princess Mary, being now upon their departure for Holland, He cannot have so good time to consider of a particular Answer, for a matter of so great weight as this is therefore he must respite the same until his return. To the KING's Most Excellent MAJESTY. The humble PETITION of the LORDS and COMMONS, concerning this MESSAGE. May it please your Most Excellent Majesty, YOUR humble and loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons, have, with a great deal of grief, received Your Majestie's Answer, to their just and necessary Petition, concerning the Militia of the Kingdom; which, Your Majesty, by a gracious Message formerly sent unto them, was pleased to promise, should be put into such hands as your Parliament should approve-of, or recommend unto you; the extent of their power, and the time of their continuance, being likewise declared. That being done, and the persons by both Houses nominated, Your Majesty, nevertheless, refers Your resolution herein, to a longer, and a very uncertain, time, which (the present dangers and distractions being so great and pressing) is as as unsatisfactory and destructive, as an absolute denial. Therefore we once again beseech Your Majesty, to take our desire into Your Royal thoughts, and to give us such an answer as may raise in us a confidence, that we shall not be exposed to the practices of those who thirst after the ruin of this Kingdom, and the kindling of that combustion in England, which they have, in so great a measure, effected in Ireland; from whence (as we are daily informed) they intend and endeavour to invade us, with the assistance of the Papists here amongst us. Nothing can prevent these evils, nor enable us to suppress the Rebellion in Ireland, and secure ourselves, but the instant granting of that our humble Petition; which we hope Your Majesty will not deny to those who must, in the discharge of their duties both to your Majesty and the Common-wealth, represent unto your Majesty, what they find so absolutely necessary, for the preservation of both; which the Laws, both of God and man, enjoin them to see put in execution, as several Counties, by their daily Petitions, have desired of us, and in some places, have begun already to do it of themselves, Feb. 22, 1641. Resolved, upon the question, and assented-unto, and ordered, That Master Hollis carry it up to the Lords, to desire their concurrence herein. A MESSAGE from both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT, sent to the KING and QUEEN'S MAJESTIES, Touching certain LETTERS, lately intercepted, and, (as it may be conjectured), sent from the Lord DIGBY, to the QUEEN'S MAJESTY. Most gracious Sovereign, Majestie's most Loyal and faithful Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, have received Your Message of the sixteenth of this instant February, sent at the instance of the Queen's Majesty; and, upon consideration thereof, to our great joy and content, find therein clear expressions of Grace and Favour, from both Your Majesties; for which we return our most humble thanks : and have herewithall sent the Transcript of that Letter required by Your Majesty, as likewise of two other Letters, directed to Master Secretary Nicholas, and Sir Lewes Dives, all which were brought to us under one cover, indorsed to Master Secretary, with information, that they were written by the Lord Digby; who, being a person who had fled from the Justice of Parliament, and one who had given many evidences of the dis-affection to the public good; we conceived it necessary to open the two former, and finding sundry expressions in them full of Asperity and Malignity to the Parliament, We thought it very probable, That the like may be contained in that to her Majesty, and that it would be dishonourable to her Majesty, and dangerous for the Kingdom, if it should not be opened, wherein we were no whit deceived, as Your Majesty may well perceive by the Contents thereof. And although we cannot but be very sensible of the great dishonour therein 2 R done done to your Majesties, and the malicious endeavours of fomenting and increasing the Jealousy betwixt Your Majesty and Your people; Yet we are far from reflecting any thing upon the Queen, or expecting any satisfaction from Her Majesty; But impute all to the bold and envenomed spirit of the man. Only we most earnestly beseech your Majesty, to persuade the Queen, that she will not vouchsafe any countenance to, or correspondency with, the Lord Digby, or any other of the Fugitives, or Traitors, whose offences now depend under the examination and judgement of Parliament; which we assure ourselves will be very effectual, to further the removal of all Jealousies and Discontents, betwixt Your Majesty and Your People, and the settling the great affairs of Your Majesty, and the Kingdom, in an assured State and condition of Honour, safety, and prosperity. A MESSAGE from both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT unto HIS MAJESTY, concerning the PRINCE, His SON. THE Lords and Commons in Parliament, humbly desire his Majesty, That the Prince may not be removed from Hampton-Court; and that for these ensuing Reasons. 1. They conceive his Majesty had resolved, that the Prince should stay at Hampton-Court, until his Majestie's Return. 2. That the Lord Marquess Hertford, appointed by his Majesty to be Governour of the Prince, and approved-of, and commanded by the Parliament to give his personal attendance on the Prince, is now so indisposed in his health, that he is not able to attend the Prince to any other place. 3. That the Prince's removal at this time from Hampton-Court may be a cause to promote Jealousies and fears in the hearts of his Majestie's good Subjects ; which, they conceive, it is very necessary to avoid. Die Jovis, 24 Febr. 1641. Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the Lord Howard HIS MAJESTIE'S ANSWER to the REASONS He Received by way of MESSAGE from both Ilouses, concerning the PRINCE, his SON. HOUSES, THAT his Majesty intended, at his remove from Hampton-Court, with his Royal Consort the Queen, towards Dover, That the Prince, his Son, should stay at Hampton-Court, till his Majesty returned to some of his Houses; and thereupon, as soon as his Majesty resolved upon a certain day to be at Greenwich, he commanded commanded that his Son should attend him there, which was no way contrary to his former intention. 2. That his Majesty was very sorry to hear of the Indisposition of the Marquess Hertford, being the Person upon whom he principally relies for the Care of his dearest Son; But, if that indisposition should have lasted, his Majesty could no ways think fit, that his want of health should have hinder'd the Prince from waiting upon his Majesty, according to his command; and therefore would have been much offended, if the Prince had failed of meeting his Majesty, according to his appointment. 3. To the Fears and Jealousies, his Majesty knows not what Answer to give, not being able to imagine from what grounds they proceed. But, if any Information have been given to that purpose, His Majesty much desires that the same may be examined to the bottom; and then he hopes that their Fears and Jealousies will be hereafter continued only with reference to his Majestie's Rights and Honour. The VOTES of the LORDS, and COMMONS, Upon the Propositions, made by divers worthy and well-affected persons, for the speedy and effectual reducing of the Kingdom of IRELAND. THE Lords and Commons, taking into their serious considerations, as well the necessity of a speedy reducing of the Rebels of Ireland to their due obedience, as also the great sums of money, that the Commons of this Realm have, of late, paid for the publike and necessary Affairs of the Kingdom; whereof, the Lords and Commons are very sensible, and desirous to embrace all good and honourable ways, tending to his Majestie's greatness and profit, the settling of that Realm, and the ease of his Majestie's Subjects of England; And whereas, divers worthy and well-affected persons, perceiving that many millions of Acres of the Rebels Lands of that Kingdom, which go under the name of profitable Lands, will be confiscate and to be disposed-of, and that in that case two millions and a halfe of those Acres, to be equally taken out of the four Provinces of that Kingdom, may be allotted for the satisfaction of such persons as shall disburse any sums of money, for the reducing of the Rebels there, which would effectually accomplish the same, have made these Propositions ensuing. 1. That two millions and an half, of those Acres, may be assigned, allotted, and divided amongst them, after this proportion: viz. 200 li. 1000 Acres in Ulster. All according to the English measure, and consisting of Meadow, Arable, and 2 R 2 profitable |