'pointed by the faid Act, to be a fufficient Con- An. 24 Car. I. 'viction of Popish Recufants.

That your Majefty will confent to an Act or Acts of Parliament for the Education of Children of Papifts, by Proteftants, in the Proteftant Religion; and to an Act or Acts for the true Levy of the Penalties against them, which Penalties to be levied and difpofed in fuch Manner as both Houses fhall agree on, wherein to be provided that your Majefty fhall have no Lofs.

And to an Act or Acts, whereby the Practices of Papifts against the State may be prevented, and the Laws againft them duly executed; and a ftricter Course taken to prevent the faying or hearing of Mafs in the Court, or any other Part of this Kingdom, or the Kingdom of Ireland.

[Sign'd by all the Commissioners.]

To this Propofition was annexed a Copy of the Solemn League and Covenant, which we have already given at the Time of its being fubfcribed by the Members of both Houses, in our Twelfth Volume, p. 396.

The KING'S PROPOSITIONS delivered to the COM-
MISSIONERS on the 28th of September, 1648,
which they refused to receive, as inconfiftent with their
Inftructions (a):

CHARLES R.

HIS

Newport, Sept. 28, 1648.

1648. October,

IS Majefty did ufe many Endeavours for a His Majefty's
Perfonal Treaty, which he hoped might have own Propofitions

en obtained at Westminster between him and his
vo Houfes of Parliament immediately; yet they ha-
ing made Choice of this Way, by you their Commif-
mers, his Majefly did gladly and chearfully accept
ereof in this Place, as a fit Means to begin a Treaty
r Peace, which might put an End to his own fad
ndition, and the Miseries of his Kingdoms; for

an

A 3 a) Thefe are not entered in the Lords Journals; but we give them m Sir F.dward Walker's Hiftorical Collections,

for a Peace.

1648.

October.

An. 24 Car. I. an Entrance whereunto, his Majesty bath already expreffed his Confent to the First Propofition. But finding that you are limited by Infiructions, which you have no Warrant to communicate to him; and having Caufe, by your Paper of the 20th of this prefent, to believe that you have no Power to omit or alter any Thing, though he shall give you fuch Reafons as may fatisfy you fo to do, without tranfmitting the Papers to the two Houfes at far Difiance, where bis Majefty's Reasons, Expreffions, and Offers upon Debate cannot be fully reprefented, and from whence your Anfwers cannot be returned without much IVafe of the Time allotted for the Treaty here: And having lately received another Paper concerning the Church, containing in itself feveral Particulars of great Importance, and referring to divers Ordinances, Articles of Religion, and other Things, eleven or twelve in Number, of great Length, and fome of them very new, and never before prefented to his Majefty; the due Confideration of many whereof will take up much Time, and require his Majesty's Prefence with his two Houfes before a full Refolution can well be had in Matters of fo high a Confequence: To the end, therefore, that the good Work now in Hand may, by God's Bleffings, proceed more speedily and effectually to a happy Conclufion, and that his tavo Houfes of Parliament may at prefent have farther Security, and an Earneft of future Satisfaction, his Majefty, upon Confideration had of yours, makes these Propofitions following:

Concerning the Church; his Majefly will confent, that the Calling and Sitting of the Assembly of Divines at Weftminster, be confirmed for three Years by t of Parliament.

And will, by Act of Parliament, confirm, for three Years, the Directory for the public Worship of God in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales.

And will likewife confirm for three Years, by Act of Parliament, the Form of Church-Government, which you have prefented to him to be used for the Churches of England and Ireland, and Dominion of

Wales

1648.

C&tober.

Wales: Provided that his Majefty and thofe of his An. 24 Car. I. Judgment, or any others who cannot in Confcience Jubmit thereunto, be not in the mean Time obliged to comply with the faid Government or Form of Worship, but have free Practice of their own Profeffion: And that a free Confultation and Debate be had with the Affembly of Divines at Westminster, (twenty of his Majefty's Nomination being added to them) whereby it may be determined by his Maiefly and his two Houfes of Parliament, how the faid Church Government and Form of public Worship, after the faid Time, may be fettled, or fooner, if Differences may be agreed: And how alfo Reformation and Religion may be fettled within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and the Dominion of Wales; and the Articles of Chriftian Religion now delivered to him, may in like Manner be then confidered of and determined, and Care taken for the Eafe of tender Confciences.

And concerning the Bishops Lands and Revenues, his Majefty confidering that, during these troublesome Times, divers of his Subjects have made Contracts and Purchases, and divers others have disbursed great Sums of Money upon Security and Engagement of those Lands; his Majefty, for your Satisfaction, will confent to an Act or Acts of Parliament, whereby legal Estates for Lives, or for Years, at their Choice, not exceeding ninety-nine Years, fhall be made of thofe Lands, towards the Satisfaction of the faid Purchafers, Contractors, and others to whom they are engaged, at the old Rents, or fome other moderate Rents, whereby they may receive Satisfaction.

And in cafe fuch Leafes fhall not fuffice, his Majefty will propound and confent to fome other Way for their Further Satisfaction.

Provided that the Property and Inheritance of thofe Lands may fill remain and continue to the Church and Churchmen respectively, according to the pious Intenions of the Donors and Founders thereof, and the Rents that fall be referved, to be for their Mainte

zance.

His Majefty will give his Royal Affent to an Act For the better Obfervation of the Lord's Day, for fup

A 4

preffing

1648.

October.

An. 24 Car. I. preffing of Innovations, in Churches and Chapels, in and about the Worship of God, and for the better Advancement of the Preaching of God's Holy Word in all Parts of this Kingdom; and to an Act against enjoying Pluralities of Benefices by fpiritual Perfons, and Non-Refidences; and to an Act for regulating and reforming both the Univerfities, and Colleges of Weftminfter, Winchester, and Eaton.

His Majefly will confent to an Act for the better Difcovery and Speedy Conviction of Popish Recufants, as is defired in the Propofitions.

And alfo to an Act for the Education of the Children of Papifts by Proteftants in the Proteftant Religion.

As alfo to an Act for the true levying of the Penalties against Papifts, to be levied and difpofed in fuch Manner as both Houfes fhall agree on, and as is propofed his Majefty's Behalf.

on

As alfo to an Act to prevent the Practices of Papifts against the State, and for putting the Laws in Execution, and for a firicter Course to prevent hearing or faying of Mafs.

But as to the Covenant, his Majefty is not yet therein fatisfied, that he can either fign or fwear it, or confent to impofe it on the Confciences of others, nor does conceive it proper or useful at this Time to be infifted on.

Touching the Militia; his Majefty conceives that your Propofition demands a far larger Power over the Perfons and Eftates of his Subjects, than hath ever hitherto been warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm; yet confidering the prefent Diftractions require more, and trufting in his two Houses of Parliament, that they will make no farther Ufe of the Powers therein mentioned, after the prefent Distempers fettled, than fhall be agreeable to the legal Exercife thereof in Times paft, or just Neceffity fhall require : His Majefly will confent to an Act of Parliament, that the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England now affembled, or hereafter to be assembled, or fuch as they hall appoint during the Space of ten Years, fhall arm, train, and difcipline, or caufe to be' armed, trained, and disciplined all the Forces of the Kingdoms

1648.

October.

Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of An. 24 Car. I. Wales, the Ifies of Guernsey and Jerfey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, already raised both for Sea and Land Service; and fhall, from Time to Time, during the faid Space of ten Years, raife, levy, arm, train, difcipline, or caufe to be raised, levied, armed, trained, and difciplined any other Forces for Land and Sea Service in the Kingdoms, Dominion, and Places aforefaid, as, in their Judgment, they fhall, from Time to Time, during the faid Space of ten Years, think fit and appoint; and that neither the King, his Heirs or Succeffors, nor any other, but fuch as shall act by the Authority or Approbation of the faid Lords and Commons, fhall, during the faid Space of ten Years, exercife any of the Powers aforefaid.

That Monies be raifed and levied for the Maintenance and Ufe of the faid Forces for Land Service, and of the Navy and Forces for Sea Service, in fuch Sort, and by fuch Ways and Means, as the faid Lords and Commons fhall from Time to Time, during the Space of ten Years, think fit and appoint, and not otherwise.

And the faid Lords and Commons, or fuch as they shall appoint, during the faid Space of ten Years, fhall have Power,

First, To fupprefs all Forces raifed, or to be raised, without Authority and Confent of the faid Lords and Commons, to the Disturbance of the public Peace of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Iles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or any of them.

Secondly, To fupprefs any foreign Forces who shall invade, or endeavour to invade, the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Ifles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or any of them.

And that after the Expiration of the faid ten Years, neither the King, his Heirs or Succeffors, or any Perfon ar Perfons, by Colour or Pretence of any Commiffion, Power, Deputation, or Authority to be derived from the King, his Heirs or Succeffors, or any of them, ball, without the Confent of the faid Lords and Commons, raife, arm, train, difcipline, employ, order,

manage,