BY the return made from you upon the overture made by his Excellency the Lord Marquis of Clanrickard, Lord Deputy Generall of Ireland, for a treaty, in order to a generall settlement of this Nation: We understand that you, as being not qualified with sufficient power decline it, leaving the same un­to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, unto whom although you give but little incouragement, for addres­ses to be made in that kind: yet to the end we may perform our parts in humbling our selves before the omnipotent hand of God, by whose permission, they are raised to their present height and leave no way unattempted for quenching an unnaturall Quarrel, between two Nations (of late) linked in love, allied in blood, and not different in Laws. And upon consideration had that probably, the Parliament of England will in their wisedoms listen and condescend unto the reasonable desires of this Nati­on, for a generall settlement: when they shall duly weigh the necessity and duty forcing, and obliging their continuance in Armes hitherto: The good desires the people of this Land, and affections to support the interest of England, the manifold bene­fits arising to the Parliament by a good peace, and voluntary acceptance of this people, of their protection, and many other advantages to be derived from thence, and on the other side, the expence and uncertainty of a tedious warr, prooved by the experience of former Ages, which besides the injustice of it, a­gainst a people desiring peace, numerous in armes, and capable of forrain succours, can bring no return of profit, rouse their thoughts, (hopelesse of other remedies) unto the highest pitch of a desperate Resolution, which by Gods assistance may alter [Page 2]the present state of their Affairs, and produce almost but a con­quest of a wasted Country, not to be paralleld to a peace, groun­ded on a treaty, and willing concurrence of the people: There­fore the great Councell of the Kingdome here Assembled, have thought fit to direct this express unto you, desiring that you wil be pleased to send a safe conduct in blank unto such Commissi­oners with their retinue, not exceeding the number of thirty in all, as shall be imployed for this Kingdome unto the Parliament of England, [...]o represent the desires of this Nation unto them: And it for the avoiding further effsiuon of Christian blood, a cessation of Armes, and acts of hostility be consented unto, un­till the pleasu [...]e of the Parliament of England shall be known, we conceive it may principally conduce to the satisfaction of the Parliament, and settlement of this Kingdome: All which I had in Command from the said Councell, to intimate unto you, and so I remain your servant,

IN yours of the 9th: instant which came to my hand the 17th: (signed by command of the great Councell at Galway, assem­bled as you are pleased to stile them, whose Authority I may not acknowledge) you reiterate in effect the former application from the Earl of Clanrichard for the settlement of this Nation; differing onely in this, That whereas he would have capitulated in that Affair upon the place, you propose for Licence to be gi­ven unto Commissioners to repair unto the Parliament about the same, which hath been occasioned through this mistake (as I conceive) you apprehending that deny all to proceed, meerly from the want of power in the Ministers of the Parliament here, whereas indeed the cheif ground thereof was the unreasonable­ness of the Proposition it self: which was in my judgement in effect thus. That such (who are guilty of a bloody and cruell [Page 3]massacre, at least engaged in the with-holding of them from Ju­stice, who are so whom the righteous hand of God hath prose­cuted from Field to Field, from City to City, even to the gates of Galway) should be admitted to capitulate, about the settle­ment of this Nation, which the Parliament of England (their lawfull Magistrate) whom God hath not onely permitted to be raised to their present height (as you term it) but by his own out-stretched Arm, and glorious presence, hath enabled to be­come a terror to evil doers, and an encouragement to them that do well. And this Capitulation to be before they have either owned their guilt, or delivered those Achans to Justice, for whose iniquitie the Law mourns. Indeed if once the Lord would truly humble you under his omnipotent hand for your raising and fomenting this unnaturall quarrel between two Nations of late linked in love, allied in blood, and not different in Laws (as your selves confesse) and would incline you timely and readily to submit to their Authority (as the greatest part of the Nation have already done) I should then hope, that deliverance were drawing nigh (at least) to a remnant of those amongst you, who yet continue in disobedience; and that such of you might be capable of that settlement which (at this time) the Parliament of England is intent upon. But while you insist upon the Justice of your Cause, and persevere, in your hostility, its not the ad­vantages we may partake of by a settlement, nor the uncertain­tie of a tedious warre proved by experience of former Ages, or backt by a number of people in Arms capable of forraign suc­cours, nor fear of having this Countrey rendred waste, and use­less to us, that ought to deter us from doing our duty, or invite us to this sinfull or unworthy compliance with you. As touch­ing the Cessation you propose for the avoiding of the further effusion of Christian blood, I could wish that this tenderness had (in the beginning) possessed your spirits; but how such a Cessa­tion can be satisfactory to the Parliament of England appears not to me, seeing they have been at so vaste a charge in their pre­parations for the putting a speedie issue to this Warre, which by the Lords assistance shall be heartily prosecuted by

Some few days before this one Coll: Fitz Patrick, the most eminent in Command amongst the Irish in West Meath, made an Agreement for himself and his whole party with the Commis­sary Generall, they ingaging not to act any thing in prejudice of the Parliament of England, as appeareth by the Articles them­selves which I have herewith sent you.