THe Committee of Parliament (now under Restraint at Colchester) upon their humble request for it to the L ^d Norwich, L ^d Capell, and Sir Charles Lucas, have obtained leave of them that they the said Committee may make it their humble proposall to the L ^d Fairfax, that there may be a Treaty between both Armies for a Peace,

• W. Row.
• Tho: Ayloff.
• Ro: Smyth.
• Sam: Sheffeild.
• Will: Masham.
• T. Middleton.
• Io: Eden.
• Io: Langley.
• Io: Barnardiston.
• Rob: Crane.

IT is the generall Peace of the Kingdome we contend for, and therefore we are content that the Committee shall send their above-written Proposall to the L ^d Fair­fax, according unto their request made unto us,

THe Paper sent to me inclosed in the Letter from your Lordships and Sir Charles Lucas of the 19. instant, seems in the first part of it so drawn as that I could not well understand it, what kind of Treaty, or for what Peace it meant: But the latter part under-written by your Lordships, and Sir Charles Lucas, seems to explain your own meaning, so as you meant a Treaty betwixt the Armies for the generall peace of the King­dome, and not otherwise for your selves, or your Garri­son: And to the Contents of it in that sense I can only say, That such a Treaty, and for such a Peace is not the proper work of my self, or the Army, but theirs that have mployed us. But if the English be to make way for Conditions to your Garrison, I shall (without the trouble of a Treaty) let you know what your selves, and those under you may expect from me (which for the restoring of quiet to this County, and the Kingdom without more bloud-shed) and for the saving of so eminent a Towne from the chance of War, I shall offer) viZ. That if your selves, and the rest with you in Colchester, shall within 24 houres after notice hereof lay down Armes, the com­mon Soldiers, and men of that rank, shall have liberty to depart to their severall Homes, and there quietly to re­maine, [Page 3]submitting to the Authority of Parliament, (and this I shall make good however to so many of that sort respectively as shall accept thereof, and do accordingly) your selves and the Officers and Gentlemen engaged with you in the Towne shall have liberty and Passes to go beyond Sea with equipage befitting their qualities (engaging themselves not to returne into this Kingdome without leave from the Parliament.) And all of both sorts with the Inhabitants of the Towne shall be free from plunder or violence of the Soldiery (their Armes, Ammunition, and furniture of warre within the Towne, and also their Horses, imployed in military service (ex­cept such Horses and Swords as shall be thought fit to be allowed to Captains or superiour Officers and Gentle­men of quality for their removall) being first delivered up without imbeazlement in an orderly manner as shall be further set down, and the Forces under my command, or such as I shall appoint, being admitted a peaceable en­trance into the Towne. I desire the Committee of Par­liament now in your hands (who by their subscriptions to part of the Paper, and by your sending of it as from them, or at their request, are concern'd to know what my Answer is) may be acquainted herewith, and indeed if it be concealed from any that are concern'd in it, The blame thereof from God and man is like to fall on their Heads, who shall be the Authours of such concealment.

WE have received yours of the 20. which takes notice of the Paper of the 19. subscri­bed by the Committee, and of our permis­sion to have it delivered to you. You have very justly ap­prehended our intentions to be the publique peace of the Kingdome, And we again own that sense, and no other, as befitting the duty of English-men. And we do believe if both Armies were accorded in such an endeavour it were the most pious, easie and honourable action where­in they could be ingaged. But why you have taken oc­casion by that act of ours to offer Conditions in particu­lar to us, we understand not, nor can it be supposed with­out straining, and offering violence to our manner of proceedings. Those Conditions you proffer to the Offi­cers and Souldiers on our part, we do hereby make offer of to the Officers and Souldiers on your part. We shall in this occasion deal frankly and plainly; we doe not without evident reason conceive our selves to be in a con­dition able to entertain all the force you can make, and thereby to give courage and opportunity to all true­hearted English-men to recover their antient and known Lawes; Or if you shall adventure to attaque us, we doubt not but by the mercy and assistance of Almighty God to give you such a repulse as shall give testimony of our force and courage, And at how high a rate we [Page 5]value the generall peace of the Kingdome. You do with more then usuall earnestnesse desire that your Answer should be communicated to the Committee, and whom else it may concern. We apprehend you chiefly intend the Inhabitants of Colchester; we were very unworthy persons if any should exceed us in our care for this good Towne, And we doubt not but God will recompence the kindnesse we have received from them, and that he hath a reward in store for them, suitable to the Loyalty and Fidelity they have hitherto manifested toward the KING, and known Lawes of the Kingdome. And be­cause you apprehend it so important, and necessary to divulge the proceedings in this affaire, we will therefore put it into your power; And therefore we desire your Lordship to cause the Paper signed by the Committee (of the 19.) and our Answer subsigned, the Answer of your Lordship to us of the 20. and this our Reply of the 21. to be all printed, and as many of the prints as you shall send to us, we will disperse in Colchester, and those parts of the Country under our power, and to each per­son of the Committee, one.