HIS MAJESTIES GRACIOUS MESSAGE To both Houses of PARLIAMENT: Feb. 20.
FOrasmuch, as His Majesty hath (together with a Treaty) proposed a Cessation of Arms to both His Houses of Parliament now 16. dayes since, to which as yet He hath received no Answer: To the end that His Majesty may cleerly understand the Houses, that no such Imputations (as have been formerly) may after be laid upon Him upon occasion of any thing that may intervene: His Maiesty desires if a Cessation shall be approved of by them, That the day upon which the Cessation is thought fit to begin, and such particular Limits and Conditions of that Cessation as are necessary to be agreed on before the Cessation it self can actually begin, be proposed by them at the same time with their Approbation of it, Since as His Maiesty supposeth by the present great Preparation of severall Forces of the Earle of Essex to march severall wayes, that till such time as this be done, they doe not conceive themselves obliged to an actuall Cessation; So neither till then doth His Maiesty conceive Himselfe obliged to it.
A Letter sent from the Earl of Manchester to the Lord of Faulkland, about the Assizes: With the Lord of Faulklands Answer, &c.
HIs Majesty hath weighed the advice and desire of the Lords and Commons sent in a Letter to the Lord of Faulkland, from the Earl of Manchester, concerning the putting off the General Assizes and Goal-delivery throughout the Kingdom: To which His Majestie returnes this Answer. That the present bloody distractions of the Kingdom (which His Majestie hath used all possible meanes to prevent, and will still to remove) do afflict His Majestie under no consideration more, then of the great interruption and stop it makes in the course and Proceedings of Iustice, and the execution of the Lawes: Whereby His good Subjects are robbed of the Peace and security they were born to; and therefore as much as in him lyes, He will advance that onely means of their hapinesse; at least, they shall see that their Sufferings that way, proceed not from His Majestie: And since they may expect now by the Lawes, Statutes, and Customes of the Kingdom, the Assizes and generall Goale delivery in every County, His Majestie thinks not fit to command the contrary, but will take severe and precise Order, that none of his good Subjects shall receive the least prejudice as they repair thither, by any of His Majesties Forces; which rule He shall be glad to be observed by others: And then he hopes by the due execution of the Lawes, even these publike Calamities may have some abatement, and the Kingdom recover its former Peace and prosperitie.
God save the King.