Sir Thomas Fairfaxs His last LETTER Of the Treaty with Sir Ralph Hopton, And a Declaration of the proceedings of his Majesties Agents with the Irish Rebels, by way of Answer to his Propositions concerning his Majesties generall Treaty for PEACE.
The Conditions made between his Majesties Agents and the Irish; with the transaction of the businesse of the Earle of Glamorgan, and other notable Observances, by way of answer to Sir Ralph Hopton.
A Copy of Sir Ralph Hoptons Demands made to the Generall; with a List of such as came in to Sir Thomas Fairfax during the Treaty.
Prince Charles it is beleeved will come in, and also that Exeter will capitulate, and Barnstable, and Pendennis the like.
Sent to the Committee of the Army, and commanded to be printed and published according to Order.
LONDON, Printed for Matthew Walbancke. 18 March, 1645.
Sir Ralph Hoptons Demands.
I Received yours, bearing date the fifth of this moneth, wherein I must acknowledge much kindnesse from you, and a very Christian consideration of sparing of blood: But one thing there is, I am confident, you have too much honour to expect from me, which is, that to avoyd any danger, or to enjoy any worldly advantage; I will renounce my Masters Service, to whom, I am both a sworne Subject, and a sworne Servant, that I must professe; I am resolved, to undergoe all fortunes with him, and if there shall be cause, to suffer any thing, rather then in the least poynt to taint my honour in that particular, and I hope, there is not a man of any consideration in this Army, under my command, that is not so resolved; yet in all honest and honourable wayes, to procure the Peace of this Kingdome, and the sparing of Christian blood, and take God to witnesse, I am, and still have beene most desirous: And I heare, from good hands, our Gracious Soveraigne, is at present so farre advised in a Treatie with the Parliament, as that he hath promised to passe 4 of the principall of their Bils proposed, whereof the intrusting the Militia for seven yeares, in hands agreed betweene them is one. I desire you to deale freely with me in [Page 2]that particular, for if that be so, it will spare the labour of further Treatie; being, for my part, ready to obey whatsoever his Majestie shall agree unto: God indeed hath of late humbled us with many ill successes, which I acknowledge as a very certaine evidence of his just judgement against us for our personall crimes Yet, give me leave to say, your present prosperitie cannot be so certaine an evidence of his being altogether pleased with you. It is true, we are reduced to a lower condition then we have beene, yet have we a gallant body or Horse, that being preserved to a generall accord, may be for good use against our common Enemies, and being otherwise prest, I may say it without vanity, want not a resolution, at least to sell our selves at a deare rate against any odds: Your Propositions, though they be not wholly to be consented unto, yet if a generall accord, much more desirable, be not in a likely forwardnesse to prevent them, I shall be willing, that eight Commanders of ours, with three Countery Gentlemen, give a meeting as soon as you please, to an equall number of yours at any indifferent place, to consult of this great businesse, and to conclude of some Propositions that may be Reasonable and Honourable for both parts, wherein, I hope, God will so blesse our cleare intentions, as may procure a probable inducement to a generall Peace, according to the unfained desire of
A parte of yours falling upon a guard of ours yesterday, it is likely they have taken some prisoners; I desire the favour from you, to receive a list of them by this Trumpeter, till I receive a positive Answer to the contents of this Letter, I shall not permit any of mine to attempt any thing upon any of your Forces.
SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX, HIS ANSWER.
I Should most freely and truly inform your Lordship the best I could in any thing that might lead you to a right understanding of things in order, to the Peace of the Kingdome, or the reall good of your selfe and those with you, so far as may stand with my trust and duty to the Publique; to what I conceive your more certaine knowledge of that your desire to be informed in, concerning the Kings offers to the Parliament, would not be prejudiciall: But the truth is, I can give you no other satisfaction or assurance therein, then this, That the King hath made some offers to the Parliament, and amongst them one concerning the Militia, something to the purpose, as you say you have heard, but the just certainty what his last overtures are, or how far they have advanced towards a generall accord, I cannot [Page 5]at present certifie; I do not heare they have proceeded so far as to a Treaty; and I believe, That as the Parliament may be discouraged from that way of Treaty by former experiences of the fruitlesnesse thereof, and the ill use the same hath been designed or driven to, viz. onely to gaine advantages for Warres, without reall intention of Peace; so the late overtures that way are the leste like to be successefull, by reason of the clear and certaine discoveries the Parliament have had. That his Majesty at the same time was and is labouring by Agents in all parts, to draw in Forraign Forces, and especially, That the Earle of Glamorgan by Commission from his Majesty, had concluded a Peace with the Irish Rebels on Termes extremely dishonourable and prejudiciall, upon the onely condition of sending over force under the command of that Lord, to invade England, whereof I presume you cannot but have heard: And though his Majesty did in a Letter to the Parliament disavow any such agreement, and pretended he had given order to the Lord Digby, for the attainting and impeaching the Earle of Glamorgan of High Treason, for what he had done therein: Yet by late discoveries to the Parliament, and especially by Letters intercepted the other day at Padstow, from the Lord Digby, the Earle of Glamorgan, and others, to Secretary Nicholas, your selfe, Sir Edward Hide, the Lord Culpepper, and others, it is most cleare and evident, that the arresting of the Earle of Glamorgan, was onely for a present colour to salve reputation with the people, and continue their delusion till designes were ripe for execution, for the same peace is fully concluded with the Rebels, the King to have the aid conditioned upon the same agreement, and the Earle of [Page 6] Glamorgan at liberty againe, and to command that force in chiefe. Now for the overture of a meeting to treate further about the Propositions I sent; Though I know nothing materiall that I can adde or alter, except in circumstances; yet I shall not refuse or decline such a meeting, or ought else that probably tend to the saving of blood, or further misery to any; Provided the meeting be speedily, and number of persons not to exceed foure or five. But (my Lord) when you consider what I have before related concerning forraign Supplies, which I have reason to think you know and believe, you see what cause I have to be jealous of advantages sought by delayes, and not to intermit any time, or omit any opportunity to prosecute the service I have in hand; and that there may be no colour of your expecting that forbearance on my part, which you offer on yours. I doe the more hasten back this my resolution unto you; In pursuance whereof I do not despise, nor shall insult upon your present condition: I question not, nor yet shall, I hope, be much moved with that resolution of your men: I presume not on former successes, nor present advantage in fleshly power, but desire to trust in God alone, whose favour and blessing to this Army above others: I do not account in what is past, or expect in future, to be for any precedence in merit or goodnesse of ours, whereby we should be more pleasing to him then others; but from his owne free grace and goodnesse towards his people, whose welfare, with the common good of the Kingdome, we seeke and desire with all faithfulnesse and integrity to pursue. And so committing the issue of all to his good pleasure, I remaine
A List of such as are come in to Sir Thomas Fairfax during the Treaty.
THirty five Lieutenant Colonels, Serjeant Majors, and Captaines came in, March 11.
Forty Gentlemen of quality that came in the same day, some of great note.
One hundred Gentlemen, and others that have stolne away by Parties out of the Enemies quarters.
Ninety sixe common Souldiers from Penryn with Arms.
Twelve more followed them.
Forty from Penryn are gone home, and have laid down their Arms, Colonell Treoanian the Governour of Penryn (by Treaty) since.
All the Officers and Souldiers in the Fort and Harbour.
The Governour of Mans Castle.
All the Souldiers and Officers there.
One hundred Officers and Souldiers of Col. Champernoones Regiment, Falmouth by this meanes is ours on that side the Harbour.
Two thousand Horse at least that are ours by the Treaty.
Three or foure thousand Arms.
Prince Charls it is beleeved will now come in, and also that Exeter will capitulate, and Barnstable, and Pendennis the like.