AN Exact Journall of the most remarkable passages of each day since the Treaty began.
ON Munday morning Sep. 18. 1648. The Lords and the rest of the Commissioners (after prayers with the Chaplaines, who pray each of them by turnss, one, one weeke, another, another weeke Mr. Vines prayed this weeke) they went (but not the Chaplaines) to the place of the Treaty, and sent word to His Majesty, that they were come and ready to waite upon His Majesty at the Treaty: (this was about 9 a clocke in the morning.) The Commissioners were appointed a roome neere unto the Chamber where the Treaty is, which is a withdrawing roome, (in which is severall other roomes) untill his Majesty calls for them. The King is in one part of the House, the other is reserved for the Commissioners when they come to the Treaty.
Immediately after they were come, and word brought to the King, that the Commissioners were ready, His Majesty passeth from Sir William Hodges to the Treaty in His Coach, with the [Page 2] Lords and others that attend His Majesty, and His Footmen, and Coach-man, with new suites laid with broad plate silver lace, two in a Seame. His Majesty came into the Treaty Chamber, where is a large table: At the upper end whereof is a Canopy and a Chaire of State for His Majesty, where He sat downe.
His Majesty being set, sent out for the Commissioners into the Treaty Chamber, who comming into His Majesties presence, stood bare to the King. His Majesty bad them sit down at the table, the Commissioners (very modestly) refused it at first, but His Majesty pressing them, they sat downe at the other end of the Table, but all bare both the Lords and Commons. No body at all, comes into the roome, but the King alone, and the Commissioners from the Parliament.
That day they read their Commission (to the King in the morning) and other things in relation to the preparations of the Treaty, which they fell upon in the afternoone.
The King went to dinner to His Quarters, and the Commissioners to theirs and in the afternoone fell to the Treaty againe, and made some entrance, and parted againe at night to their respective lodgings.
Septemb. 18. 1648. The effect of His Majesties first paper.
HIs Majesty desired the Propositions, and Copy of their Instructions.
Septemb. 18. 1648. The effect of the Commissioners Papers.
The Commissioners first Paper.
MAy it please your Majesty; Having made knowne our Commission to treat personally with your Majesty, upon the Propositions formerly presented at Hampton Court, as they concern the Kingdomes of England and Ireland. And this Treaty to be for forty daies, beginning this present, and to proceed in the first place upon the Propositions following in order, [Page 3] Viz. For recalling, and annulling all Oathes, Declarations, &c. And to receive your Majesties Answer in writing. Wherefore we pray that nothing may be understood to bee binding of either side, but what shall be so set down in writing. Accordingly wee are ready to present your Majesty a paper concerning that first proposition for Recalling Oathes, Declarations, &c.
His Majesties second Paper.
Nothing to bee binding but what should be agreed upon in writing.
The Commissioners second paper.
Desiring his Majesty to give his Royall assent to this Proposition insuing: That whereas both Houses of Parliament have been necessitated to undertake a warre in their just and lawfull defence, &c. An Act of Parliament may passe, whereby all Oathes, Declarations, &c. against both or either Houses of Parliament, or against any for adhering to them, &c. to be declared null, and that publiquely intimated in all Parish Churches, in all your Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland, &c.
His Majesties third paper.
His Majesty desired to have the Propositions of the English and Irish entirely together, &c.
The Commissioners third paper.
VVe humbly Answer, That the Propositions themselves were formerly presented to Your Majesty at Hampton Court, we conceive are in Your Majesties hands, excepting that of the Court of Wards, delivered since in the Isle of Wyght, &c. what concerns our instructions, wee humbly say, that wee have no Warrant from our Houses to deliver any Copy.
The Commissioners fourth paper.
As to the latter part of the second paper delivered in the morning, we shall acquaint the Houses, that no agreement put in writing, be binding till the conclusion of the whole Treaty, unlesse it shall be otherwise especially agreed.
Tuesday Sep. 19.
THe King and the Commissioners met again in the same order that they had done the day before, and Treated both forenoon and afternoone. None of them do go to the King at all, but in the Treaty Chamber, and altogether publickly at [Page 4] the Table, where there are made many gallant Speechs, insomuch that His Majesty gives them this Character, That they are a company of very wise men. The King is very merry, and free, and hath such freedome that many resort to Him, to the Court to kisse His hand, but the Commissioners never go thither none of them, since the first Saturday, but daily meet His Majesty in the Treaty Chamber. That night the King and the Commissioners upon His Majesties desire, adjourned untill Wednesday night.
19 September. The Substance of His Majesties fourth Paper.
In Answer to your Paper of the 18th Sept. concerning the Recalling of all the Oathes, Declarations and Proclamations heretofore in all, or to be had, against both or either Houses of Parliament or against any for adhering unto them, or for doing, or executing any Office, Place or Charge by any Authority derived from them: And all judgements, Inditements, Outlawries and Inquisitions in any of the said Causes, and all Grants thereupon, made or had to be made or had, be Declared null, suppressed, and forbidden, and that this be publickly intimated in all Parish Churches, and other places needfull, within His Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland. His Majesty, &c. Concerning that expression that both Houses of Parliament have been necessitated to undertake a War for their just defence, &c.
Sept. 19. The Commissioners fifth Paper.
For our giving the Propositions entirely together, we finde not our selves warranted to present our desires concerning all the Propositions at once, or in any sort to Treate them but in Order, but what wee have drawne out for our owne use we shall give your Majesty to expedite the Treaty. And this draught is seperated from what concernes the Kingdome of Scotland. And this we do not in way of Treaty, but out of desire to satisfie your Majesty, &c. We humbly desire your Majesties Answer to our Paper delivered [Page 5] yesterday concerning the Proposition for Recalling all Oathes, Declarations, &c. And other proceedings thereupon against the Parliament, or those that acted by their Authority.
Wednesday Sep. 20.
MR. Recorder came hither, from London, and went with the Lords, and the rest of the Commissioners to the Treaty in the afternoone. And they sat very close, and debated matters very deep, in all which the Commissioners argued so gallantly with His Majesty, and gave such Reasons to every thing debated on, that the King admired their wisdome and gravity. That night they adjourned untill Thursday in the afternoon. But His Majesty told the Commissioners that he was not certaine, that he could then be ready, but said that he would either come to them, and proceed to Treat then, or give them reasons why he could not come that night, and then proceed to the Treaty on Friday.
The busines that thus holds in Dispute is, about the matter of the fault upon whom the guilt of the blood shed these wars shall bee laid, and how as to freeing His Majesty, which His Majesty would have done.
His Majesties fifth Paper.
His Majestie desired to know, whither they had any power to consent to any Omissions or Alterations, if upon a debate he should give Reasons to satisfie such Omissions or Alterations.
Septem. 20. The Commissioners sixt paper.
Wee are ready by debate to shew how reasonable our desires are, and there will be no reason that wee should alter or recede from them. But if in the matter [Page 6] of this, or any other debate, your Majesty give such reasons as shall satisfie us for any omissions or alterations in the papers we sent to your Majesty, wee shall then doe therein as we are warranted by our Instructions, which we have not power to make known, as we have declared (in a former paper of the 18 of this instant) to your Majesty.
Thursday Sep. 21.
HIS Majesty could not dispatch to be ready to Answer what was before propounded by the Commissioners, and therefore put it off untill the next day. And His Majesty sent Answer by His Secretary, that Hee could not meet the Commissioners that night, and delivered in Reasons why Hee could not meet that afternoone.
The Secretaries are admitted to be behind a Curtaine, where they Treate, in the time of the Treaty.
There is as yet nothing denyed by the King to bee passed; though nothing actually granted. But the great rub is not get removed. His Majesty is loath to charg Himselfe with the guilt of the blood spilt. The Commissioners are very faithfull to their Instructions. To morrow His Majesty puts in His Answer.
Newport 21 Sep. 1648.