House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 30 September 1643

DIE Sabbati, 30 die Septembris.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Grey ef Warke was appointed Speaker this Day.

Lords present:

Report of the Conference concerning the Scotch sending Assistance to the Parliament; and concerning the Cessation of Arms in Ireland.

The Speaker reported the Effect of the Conference Yesterday with the House of Commons, touching the Affairs of Scotland, and concerning the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland:

"Divers Papers presented by the House of Commons were read, wherein the House of Commons desired their Lordships Concurrence;

Papers concerning these Matters.

"1. A Paper concerning Propositions sent from the Commissioners in Scotland, touching the raising of the Army for the Assistance of the Parliament.

"2. Another Paper of Agreements with the English and Scottish Commissioners.

"3. Next, were read, Some Votes made by the House of Commons, against the Cessation with the Rebels in Ireland, and concerning the Scottish Affairs.

"4thly, Was read, Reasons to the Justices in Ireland, against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland." (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

"5thly, Was read, A Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Justices in Ireland from both Houses of Parliament, against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels."

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

"6thly, Was read, A Declaration of both Houses of Parliament against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland." (Here enter it.)

Agreed to; and Ordered to be printed and published.

"7thly, Was read, Reasons for the placing of a Scotch Garrison in Barwicke.

"8thly, Was read, The Answer of the Committees of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland unto the Queries sent them from the Mayor and Corporation of Barwicke, &c.

"9thly, Was read, The Result concerning the putting a Garrison into Barwicke.

"10thly, Was read, Propositions to be offered to the City of London, for the providing of Fifty Thousand Pounds, to send to the Scotts, to enable them to come in."

Ordered, That this House agrees to the Letter and Reasons to the Justices of Ireland, and to the Declaration concerning the Cessation with the Rebels in Ireland; and all the rest of the Papers concerning the Scottish Affairs (fn. 1) are hereby referred to the Consideration of a Committee of the whole House, to be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next.

Message from the H. C.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye Knight, and others:

with an Ordinance;

To desire Concurrence in an Ordinance for compelling the Companies of such as refuse to pay their Assessments, which are rated by the Common Council.

Agreed to; and Ordered to be printed and published.

for the Committees for raising Money to go into the City;

2. That the Committee of both Houses, appointed to go to the City, for the raising of Monies, may be appointed to meet by Seven of the Clock in the Morning, and to go to the Common Council in London.

Agreed to.

and to expedite the Ordinance about Saltpetre.

3. To desire Expedition in the Ordinance concerning Salt-petre.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in the Order now brought up; and have appointed the Committee of Six Lords to meet at Seven a Clock on Monday Morning, and go into London, to the Common Council; and concerning the Ordinance concerning Saltpetre, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordinance to compel the Companies to pay, that are rated by the Common Council.

"Whereas the Companies of London have been rated, by an Act of Common Council, towards the raising of Monies advanced by the City for the Public Service, for the Re-payment whereof the City is secured by Ordinance of Parliament; and whereas there are divers Companies that are behind in the Payment of the Rates so assessed upon them: It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the said Companies so in Arrear do forthwith pay their Rates assessed upon them; or otherwise that the Lands and Revenues of the said Companies shall be sequestered, in the like Manner as the Estates and Revenues of Delinquents by the Ordinance of Sequestrations are or ought to be sequestered."

Letter to the Lords Justices of Ireland, against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels there.

"The Lords and Commons have commanded us to let your Lordships know, that they have heard now of a long Time divers Reports of a Treaty for a Cessation of Arms betwixt the State there and the Rebels; which they might the rather have given Credit to, because of the Commissions procured from His Majesty by the Rebels, Agents at Court, to divers Persons of Quality there, to hear, receive, and transmit to His Majesty, their Demands: But the Lords and Commons were not willing to believe such Reports, not having received from your Lordships any Advertisement concerning such a Treaty, whereof now they do take Notice, being informed by the Letters to the Serjeant Major General of the Scottish Army in Ireland, wherein your Lordships advertise that the Cessation had been treated, and that the Treaty thereof was to be continued on the 17th of August last; where now they cannot but wonder that your Lordships should seem so far to misunderstand the Power that is in the Houses of Parliament, both by Act of Parliament, and by His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal of England, and Instructions to divers Members of both Houses for the managing of the War against the Rebels, and for the advising, ordering, and disposing, of all Things concerning the Government and Defence of that Kingdom, as that ye should, in the Preamble of a late Act of State, make the Failure of the Houses of Parliament to have occasioned your Difficulties, and yet never ask their Advice or Counsel concerning the preventing of such Extremities as your Difficulties might drive you unto; as if the Extent of that Power to manage the War, to advise, order, and dispose, were no more but to make the Houses of Parliament the Commissaries of Victuals, Arms, and Ammunition, and Treasurers for Monies, but not to participate of your Counsels of War and Peace. They can easily believe that Want of sufficient Supplies from hence hath been taken as an Occasion of that Resolution for a Cessation; but they are persuaded that the true Causes of it were the wicked Practices of those that have cast this Kingdom into such Combustions as have diverted from you much of that Assistance which otherwise would have been given, and who have intercepted much of what was sent, not sparingly in respect of our own Wants; for, as in the raising of that late cruel Rebellion, the Papists (inveterate Enemies of our Religion and Country) have given us an unparalleled Example of their Cruelty in Time of Peace, so now they have of their Craft and Subtilty in Time of War, by making the Remainder of massacred Protestants to confide in a Cessation, and to believe that to be the only Means of their Preservation, which (if given Way to) will prove the Ruin of that Kingdom: And here the Lords and Commons might put you in Mind what extreme Sufferings the Protestants of former Times and other Nations have chosen rather to undergo than to enter into any Terms of Confidence and Trust with such Enemies, whose Religion and Oecumenic Councils have made it a Maxim and a Canon, to keep no Faith with their reputed Heretics (and as they have declared, so they have often practised): But, to vindicate themselves from that Aspersion of necessitating the intended Cessation, they desire your Lordships to remember, that, before your Wants were so pressing as of late, the Foundation of this Work was begun to be laid by the Procurement of the foresaid Commission to hear the Rebels; that, in other Parts of that Kingdom, the Protestant Forces have been in no less Wants than those at Dublin; that, since their complaining of Want, considerable Quantity of Provisions hath been sent from hence, and further Assurance given that more Care should be had in Time coming; and yet, notwithstanding, the Treaty for a Cessation hath been carried on, and the Houses of Parliament never acquainted therewith; and, since the 10th of June last, they have not received any Letters from the State there, concerning any Public Business: And they desire your Lordships to remember, by what Counsels the Committees of Parliament sent to reside there were discharged, whose continuing there might have kept a better Intelligence betwixt the Armies and the Parliament: It falls out often, that they that are first in the Wrong are first in the Complaint; and it is too manifest that the Houses of Parliament have rather Cause to complain of being neglected, than to be charged with the Neglect of that Kingdom, and the Forces thereof; and it is evident that nothing hath more retarded the Adventures and Contributions of well-affected Protestants here, than Rumours and Fear of that Cessation; so that it hath rather been the Cause of your Wants, than your Wants the Cause of it. Thus, the Lords and Commons having vindicated themselves, they desire also to undeceive your Judgements in this Matter, upon whom they would be very sorry that the Jesuitical Counsels of our Enemies should have so powerful an Influence, as to make you judge that Course advantageous for the Welfare of Religion and that State, which is pregnant of very many Inconveniences to both; and therefore, that they may unbowel unto you that Trojan Horse which your Enemies call a Cessation, that you may not admit it within your Walls; they offer to your Consideration some particular Reasons inclosed herewith, which they have thought fit to lay before you, as flowing from the Sense of Piety, Justice, Equity, Charity, and Honour, and of the Credit of the Laws and Crown of England, and Advancement of His Majesty's Service; that your Lordships may thereby perceive with them the Craft and Policy of the common Enemy; or, if in your Wisdoms ye foresee any better Consequences of that Counsel for a Cessation of Arms, ye would impart the same to the Houses of Parliament, that so ye may, jointly with them, either continue it by their Approbation, or reject it upon good Ground by their Advice: And, because they rather believe that ye will not persist to conclude it, they have, by the Help and Assistance of the well-affected of this City, endeavoured a Course for such a Weekly Contribution as will maintain the Armies in Victuals and Ammunition, till it please God, by the Quieting of this Kingdom and the Reducing of that, to enable them to give more full Satisfaction to the Commanders and Soldiers there. This being all we have in Command to advertise, we (fn. 2) "

"Reasons against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland, offered to the Lords Justices and Council of that Kingdom, by the Houses of Parliament.

Reasons against the Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland.

"1. This Cessation of Arms will highly affront the Protestant Religion, by setting up Popery in the full Height of all its Abominations, according as it is now practised in all Places of that Kingdom where the Rebels have Command, who will use all Means either of Force or Treachery to maintain that Freedom which by the same Means they have procured.

"2. It is most unseasonable at this Time, when the Rebels are much weakened, and dispossessed of a great Part of their Usurpations; for One Year's more Prosecution of the War is more likely to make their Condition desperate, than One Year's Cessation is to better ours; seeing, in some Places, they are starving, and eating one another; and no where do they gain Ground but by their Enemies Negligence.

"3. If all the Benefit that is expected by it be the subsisting of the Protestant Forces, then the Supply of their Wants must come from your Enemies; and will ye rely upon them that have used you with so much Cruelty, rather than upon your Friends that have supported you hitherto, and are endeavouring to do so still?

"4. What if the Rebels shall be either unable or unwilling to maintain your Armies; how shall ye constrain them to the Performance of their Conditions, seeing (fn. 3) ye pretend now not to be able to make Resistance? and to whom will ye have Recourse, having distrusted your Friends, and being deluded by your Enemies?

"5. Will the Rebels pay your Forces, as well as supply them with Bread? It is likely they will do both alike; and that your Officers and Soldiers will rather go to the remotest Parts of Christendom for Employment, than live there both basely and meanly at the uncertain Pittance of their Enemies; and so the Kingdom shall be left wholly at the Mercy of the Rebels: Or shall this State continue the Pay of so many Forces for a Year, waiting till the Enemy reinforce himself?

"6. What if the Victuals of the Country be not sufficient for the Rebels and you both? Have ye contracted who shall be served first? or will they starve themselves to feed you? or have ye not more Force to take it from them in War, than Money to buy it of them during the Cessation?

"7. How unjust will it prove to the poor despoiled Protestants, exiled from their Country, and begging their Bread; while the Rebels shall be suffered to enjoy their Estates! Will we contract with them for some sordid Annuity to the right Owners of these Estates? whereof as the Enemy hath possessed himself by his own Cruelty, shall he continue his Possession by our Pusillanimity?

"8. What shall cure the wounded Reputation of that State, if, after ye have by God's Blessing defeated the treacherous Machinations of the Enemies, whereby they had almost surprized the Command of the whole Kingdom, and have put yourselves into a better Condition than they are in that thought to have been Masters of all, ye should, by giving Way to this Cessation, afford them Time to gather new Strength, and lie in Wait for new Opportunities to re-act their former Cruelties, either by Treachery or open Force?

"9. Can we expect that, when their Power is increased, that their Malice to Protestants will decrease? We ought not to be secure, because of their Malice; and we cannot be safe, when Power is joined with it.

"10. What Course could have been thought of more for the Advantage of the Rebels, than now, when they are in great Want of Corn and Ammuntition, to make a Cessation for a Year, that they may fill their Magazines with this Harvest, and procure from their Friends beyond Seas new Supplies of Arms?

"11. What Discontents and Disorders may this Cessation produce amongst the Commanders and Soldiers, when they shall see themselves frustrate of their Arrears, and prevented of their Hopes of crowning their Work both with Glory and Profit?

"12. What can be the End of this Cessation, but an inglorious, dishonourable Peace, or a more doubtful War? for in this One Year the Rebels will increase, and your Forces decrease, in Numbers, Strength, and Courage, so much, that at the End of it (fn. 4) ye shall be constrained to receive from them what Conditions they please, either of Peace or War.

"13. Suppose it were necessitated by Want, and so intended to save your Lives, who is he would survive the Dishonour that the English Nation and the Loss that Religion should suffer by it?

"14. It will dissolve the Acts of Parliament made for Adventurers, dishearten all Men from such Public Undertakings, and discredit the Public Faith; an evil Requital to the Kingdom of England for their Pains and Charges in your Behalf!

"15. It will extinguish the Resentment and Memory of the cruel Murthers, Robberies, and Rapines, committed upon the poor Protestants, while, during this Cessation, they must have Commerce with the Rebels as Brethren.

"16. It will waste and diminish your Arms, dull the Courage of the Soldiers, and induce a lazy Idleness upon them; while their Enemies are preparing for new Practices and Machinations, from which they will never make any Cessation, so long as they are Papists, and we Protestants.

"17. It will endanger again the Loss of Ulster; in which Province the Rebels are so far subdued, that they have not One Garrison in it all, and the Protestant Forces of that Province may now give Assistance to the rest.

"18. It will be a Means to draw all the Monies of the Country into the Rebels Hands, from whom the Protestant Inhabitants must buy their Corn and Cattle at such Rates as they please.

"19. What Cessation shall there be from the Robberies and Stealing of the common Irish, who will be continually snatching away from your Garrisons their Cattle and other Provisions? and where shall ye have a Remedy, either by Law or otherwise?

"20. Lastly, consider how the Houses of Parliament and Kingdom of England will be wronged by it, who, having hitherto maintained the War with the Expence of much Treasure collected by the great Adventures and large Contributions of well-affected Persons, are in this Business not only neglected, but also thereby Way is made for the Papists and Rebels of Ireland to help the Faction against Religion here, and to act the Second Part of their bloody Tragedy in this Kingdom; for since, notwithstanding of the War carried on against them, many of them have flocked hither, and have added much Oil to our Flames; how much more, those bloody Rebels being by this Cessation freed from an Enemy at home, and their Cruelty being fleshed with the Murthers of Brittish Protestants, will thirst after their Blood here also!

"The Votes made by the House of Commons concerning Ireland, to which this House (fn. 5) agreed, were these, videlicet.

"1. That this House doth hold, that a present Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland is destructive to the Protestant Religion, dishonourable to the English Nation, prejudicial to the Interest of all the Three Kingdoms; and therefore do Declare, They neither do nor can consent or approve of any Treaty of a Cessation with the Rebels, pretended to be begun by the King's Commission.

"2. That Letters shall be written to the Justices of Ireland, to the Officers of the Army, to the Soldiers of Lempster, and to the Officers and Soldiers of the other Provinces of Munster, Ulster, and Connaght, expressing their Reasons against a Cessation.

"3. That a Declaration be made, to induce a Weekly Provision, for the victualing the Army in Ireland."

(fn. 6) "A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; shewing the present Design now on Foot (by virtue of a pretended Commission from His Majesty) for a Cessation of Arms, or Treaty of Peace, with the Rebels in Ireland, now they are brought to such a low Condition, that they are inforced to devour and eat one another in some Parts of that Kingdom; and by what Popish Instruments and Ministers, in their Councils at the Court, the said Design is and hath been carried on; Persons of great Trust, eminent for their Affection to Religion, and Hatred of the Rebels, being displaced, and Men popishly addicted put in their Offices; all serving for the better Introduction of Popery and Extirpation of the true Protestant Religion, in that and other of His Majesty's Dominions.

Declaration of both Houses against a Cessation of Arms with the Rebels in Ireland.

"As it is evident to all the World, that this late horrid Rebellion of the Papists in Ireland did, without any Colour or Pretext of Provocation, professedly and boldly aim at the Destruction of the Protestant Religion, the Rejecting of the Laws of England, and the Extirpation of the British Inhabitants out of that Kingdom; so it is no less manifest that this Parliament of England (to whom His Majesty hath left the Managing of the War against those Rebels) hath taken the Troubles of Ireland to Heart, with that Resentment and Compassion as may evidence their Zeal to Religion, their Love to their distressed Countrymen and Brethren there, in these Times, when the like Jesuitical Practices have cast England into woeful Distractions, and an unnatural War; notwithstanding which, the reducing of Ireland hath still been a chief Part of the Care of this Parliament; and God hath been pleased to bless our Endeavours with such Success, as that those furious blood-thirsty Papists have been stopped in the Career of their Cruelty; some Part of the Protestant Blood, which at first was spilt like Water upon the Ground, hath been revenged; their Massacres, Burnings, and Famishings, have, by a Divine Retaliation, been re-paid into their Bosom; and the Protestant Party hath been erected to that Condition of Strength and Hope, that their Enemies are constrained (distrusting their Forces) to have Recourse to their Craft and Policies; and therefore, by their subtile Agents at Court, and their active Instruments elsewhere, have been endeavouring now of a long with the Original. Time to make our Armies in Ireland disaffected to the Parliament, what by Occasion of their Wants not so readily supplied as their Need required, what by amusing them with these unhappy Differences fallen in here between King and People, labouring by that Means to divide those Forces into Factions, to the End the main Work they have in Hand might be neglected; which is, the prosecuting of the War against the Rebels, so far brought low in some Parts of Ireland, that, if they can be deprived of the Benefit of this Harvest, they are not likely to see the next Summer; and therefore the Rebels, finding that, notwithstanding the Distractions here occasioning the Slowness and Scarceness of Supplies, yet they themselves are in a far worse Condition, being in Want of most Things necessary, not only for the maintaining of a War, but even of Life, the Judgement of God being remarkable upon them in this, that, as their bloody and treacherous Religion made them inhumanly cruel in shedding the Protestants Blood, so now the Famine amongst many of them hath made them unnaturally and Cannibal-like eat and feed one upon another: Therefore, that they may have Time to expect from their Friends abroad new Supplies both of Victual and Ammunition, and may without Molestation reap the Fruit of this Harvest, they have laboured a Treaty for a Cessation; which Project of theirs doth no less aim at the Overthrow of the Remainder of the Protestants in that Kingdom, than their treacherous Taking of Arms at first did intend the Destruction of them all; for their Cessation and Hostility, their War and Peace, are alike to be esteemed of; and, with those that neither in Peace nor War keep any Faith, it is best to be in perpetual Defiance: Therefore the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, according to their continued Care of that Kingdom of Ireland, do in a special Manner take into their Consideration the Condition thereof, upon this Occasion of an intended Cessation; and so much the rather, because it is feared that the Protestant Forces, through Want of Provisions for their Armies, may at last, if not relieved, be persuaded to admit of this Course, in Hope thereby to procure some Means for their Subsisting, as also because there is too much Ground to suspect, that, if this Cessation should be agreed unto, they might have Opportunity to join with the Popish Party here, for their greater Strengthening; and, though it were to have no Influence upon this Kingdom, yet the evil Consequences of it are so many, and pernicious to Ireland, that this Parliament should betray the Trust reposed in them, if they did not declare against this Cessation, and use all Means in Time to make it prove abortive; and therefore they desire that it may be observed, and taken Notice of;

"First, from whence the Counsel and Design of this Cessation ariseth, even from the Rebels and Papists themselves, for their own Preservation; for, soon after they had missed of their Intent to make themselves absolute Masters of that Kingdom of Ireland by their treacherous Surprizes, and seeing that this Kingdom did with most Christian and generous Resolutions undertake the Charges of the War for the Relief and Recovery of Ireland, Propositions were brought over from the Rebels, by the Lords Dillon and Tafe, at which Time they were intercepted and restrained by Order of the House of Commons: After that, they had the Boldness, even while their Hands were still imbrued in the Protestants Blood, to petition His Majesty that their Demands might be heard; and, for this Purpose, they obtained a Commission to be sent over into Ireland, to divers Persons of Quality (whereof some were Papists), to hear, receive, and transmit to His Majesty, their Demands, which was done accordingly; and one Mr. Burke, a notorious pragmatic Irish Papist, was the chief Solicitor in this Business: After this, the just, revenging God giving daily Success to Handfuls of the Protestant Forces against their great Numbers, so that, by a wonderful Blessing from Heaven, they were in most Parts put to the worst. Then did they begin to set on Foot an Overture for a Cessation of Arms; concerning which, what Going and Coming hath been between the Court and the Rebels is very well known; and what Meetings and Treaties have been held about it in Ireland, by Warrant of His Majesty's ample Commission sent to that Effect, and what Reception and Countenance most pragmatic Papists negotiating the Business have found at Court; and that those of the State in Dublin, who had so much Religion and Honesty as to dissuade the Cessation, were first discountenanced, and at last put out of their Places, and restrained to Prison; as Sir Wil. Parsons One of the Lords Justices there, Sir John Temple Master of the Rolls, Sir Adam Loftus Vice Treasurer of Ireland and Treasurer at Wars, and Sir Robert Merideth One also of the Council Table.

Mr. Davis's Ships, and others.

"Secondly, the Lords and Commons desire it may be observed, that, during all these Passages and Negociations, the Houses of Parliament were never acquainted, by the State of Ireland, with the Treaty of a Cessation; much less was their Advice or Counsel demanded, notwithstanding that the Care and Managing of the War was devolved on them, both by Act of Parliament, and by His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal, to advise, order, and dispose of, all Things concerning the Government and Defence of that Kingdom; but the Wants of the Army were often represented and complained of, whereby with much Craft a Ground was preparing for the Pretext, wherewith now they would cover the Counsels of this Cessation, as if nothing had drawn it on but the extreme Wants of their Armies; whereas it is evident, that the Reports of such a Treaty have been (in a great Part) the Cause of their Wants; for thereby the Adventurers were disheartened, Contributions were stopped, and, by the Admittance to Court of the Negociators of this Cessation, their wicked Counsels have had that Influence, as to procure the intercepting of much Provisions which were sent for Ireland; so that Ships going for Ireland with Victuals, and others coming from thence with Commodities to exchange for Victuals, have been taken, not only by Dunkirkers having His Majesty's Warrant, but also by English Ships commanded by Sir John Pennigton under His Majesty: And moreover, the Parliament Messengers, sent into several Counties, with the Ordinance of January last for Loans and Contributions, have been taken and imprisoned, their Money taken from them, and not One Penny either Loan or Contribution hath been suffered to be sent in for Ireland from those Counties which were under the Power of the King's Army; while in the mean Time the Houses of Parliament, by their Ordinances, Declarations, and Solicitations to the City of London, and the Counties free from the Terror of the King's Forces, were still procuring not contemptible Aid and Relief for the Distresses of Ireland.

"3. Thirdly, As the Lords and Commons have Reason to declare against this Plot and Design of a Cessation of Arms, as being treated and carried on without their Advice; so also, because of the great Prejudice which will thereby redound to the Protestant Religion, and the Encouragement and Advancement which it will give to the Practice of Popery, when these rebellious Papists shall by this Agreement continue and set up with more Freedom their idolatrous Worship, their Popish Superstitions, and Romish Abominations, in all the Places of their Command, to the dishonouring of God, the grieving of all true Protestant Hearts, the disposing of the Laws of the Crown of England, and to the provoking of the Wrath of a Jealous God, as if both Kingdoms had not smarted enough already, for this Sin of too much conniving at, and tolerating of, Antichristian Idolatry, under Pretext of Civil Contracts and Politic Agreements.

"4. In the Fourth Place, they desire it may be observed, that this Cessation will prove dishonourable to the Public Faith of this Kingdom: It will elude and make null the Acts and Ordinances of Parliament, made for the forfeiting of the Rebels Lands; at the passing of which Acts, it was represented, that such a Course would drive the Rebels to Despair; and it proves so, but otherwise than was meant; for, despairing of their Force and Courage, they go about to overcome us with their Craft.

"5. Lastly, What shall become of the many poor exiled Protestants, turned out of their Estates by this Rebellion, who must now continue begging their Bread, while the Rebels shall enjoy their Lands and Houses? And who shall secure the rest of the Protestants, that, either by their own Courage, Industry, and great Charges, have kept their Possessions, or by the Success of our Armies have been restored? Can there be any Assurance gotten from a perfidious Enemy, of a Cessation from Treachery and Breach of Agreement, when they shall see a fit Time and Opportunity?

"These and many other Considerations being well weighed, it will appear evidently, that this Design of a Cessation is a deep Plot laid by the Rebels, and really invented for their own Safety, and falsely pretended to be for the Benefit of our Armies.

"And whereas the Lords and Commons have no certain Information that the Treaty is concluded, but are informed by several Letters that all the Protestants, as well Inhabitants as Soldiers, in that Kingdom, are resolved to withstand that Proceeding, and to adventure on the greatest Extremities rather than have any Sort of Peace with that Generation, who have so cruelly in Time of Peace murdered many Thousands of our Countrymen, and laboured to extirpate the Protestant Religion from amongst them; so they do believe, that these Rumours of a Cessation were first contrived by the Enemies of our Religion and Peace, and by their Practices the Treaty was carried on with much Subtilty and Solicitation, thereby to stop the sending of Supplies from thence to our Armies, and for the cooling of the Affections of those who have already shewed their Zeal to the Weal of Ireland; and therefore the only Means to defeat this their Policy, and prevent the Evils intended by it, is to settle a Course, whereby the Armies of Ireland may be at least fenced against Hunger and Cold; for which Purpose it is desired, that all those who are wellaffected to the Protestant Religion either in that or this Kingdom, and all those who by their Adventures already made have embarked their particular Interests with the Public of that Kingdom, and do desire a good Return of their Engagements, would join their Endeavours, for obviating of that Necessity, which may be made a strong Argument to inforce a destructive Cessation of Arms; and that they would not, through too much Suspicion and Jealousy of it, forbear the providing of Supplies, and so occasion that Inconvenience which they ought by all Means to prevent; for, by so doing, they will lose all their former Pains and Charges; and the with-holding of Provisions now will gain Credit to that Calumny laid against this Kingdom, of neglecting the Armies of Ireland; and, by the continuing of Supplies, these Forces will be encouraged to continue the War, and so crown both their Work and ours. And lastly, the Rebels, seeing Assistance against them still flowing from hence, must needs be out of Hope of prosecuting or concluding this their Design. The Cry of much Protestant Blood, the great Indigency of many ruined Families, the Danger of our Religion almost exiled out of that Kingdom, calls for this last Act of Piety, Charity, Justice, and Policy, from us; which being resolved on, Letters arc to be dispatched to the several Parts of that Kingdom, to encourage the Commanders and Soldiers, upon the aforesaid Reasons and Assurances, that they may not hearken to such an unjust and deceitful Counsel; and as, by their prosecuting of the War, through God's Blessing, they have successfully resisted the Rebels Cruelty, so they may upon this Occasion beware they be not over-reached by their Craft.

"All which the Lords and Commons do earnestly desire may be seriously taken to Heart by all the Kingdom; and that, from those other Encouragements mentioned at large in the Ordinance of the 14th of July last, and such as now are offered, a Course may be taken, whereby such a constant Weekly Contribution may be settled, as will supply to the Armies in Ireland the mere Necessities of Nature, which may be more punctually and seasonably transmitted unto the several Parts of that Kingdom, according to their respective Wants; that so the Benefit and Honour of so pious a Work, happily begun, and successfully hitherto carried on, may not be lost, when so little remains to be done; and that the Saving of a Kingdom, the Re-establishing of so many Protestant Churches, the Re-possessing of so many Thousand Christians into their Estates, may not be deserted, and let fall to the Ground, for a little more Pains and Cost."

"Die Sabbati, 30 Septembris, 1643.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Declaration shall be forthwith printed and published.

"J. Brown, Cler. Parliament."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a , Monday next.