THis Kingdome being dangerously involved in distempers, distracti­ons, feares, and approaching cala­mities, his Majesty hath taken into his Princely care, the manifold disturbances thereof; and for the better security of the Kingdome from the suppository in­vasion of any forreigne power, his Ma­jesty hath concluded 21. Articles of peace and commerce betweene John the 4. King of Portugal; The full scope and sence of those Articles run thus (as hath bin col­lected from a Copie sent from his Ma­jestie.

That the King of Great Britain, and the King of Portugall shall be united in a bro­therly peace.

That any War, or the intention thereof be­twixt either Kingdomes, shall be prevented during this Treatise.

That any Subject in either Kingdomes, (excluding onely those of the Romish Reli­gion) shall have liberty of Commerce & free trafficke in the said Kings Dominions.

That free Commerce shall be made aswell by Sea as Land, and in every Territory by the subjects of each Kingdome.

That no violation or extremity of impri­sonment shall be offered unto any person, but if any Merchants of either part be engaged to any other man for Merchandise, that con­tentive satisfaction shalbe fully made with­in a yeare and a day.

That this unite confederation and accord betwixt both Kingdomes shall continue invi­olable.

There are (I must confesse impartially) more words expressed at length in the Articles, but the full sence and intent of them includes no more then I have here declared. Notwithstanding his Majesty hath absolutely concluded these Arti­cles of peace and Commerce betwixt the King of Portugal, yet the Parliament have not subscribed, condescended, or given their assent thereunto: Wherefore it is now my intended resolution to revolve certaine passages and Messages betweene the King and the Parliament, sent to each other.

His Majesty professeth in one Message, that he will shut his eares against any that would incline him to a Civill Warre, and doth abhorre the ap­prehension of it, whereof the Parliament and o­thers have had cause to be suspitious, who reply­ed to his Majesty in this manner, That they did confesse it was a resolution most worthy of a Prince; but they could not beleeve that mind to have beene in those that came with his Majesty in a warlike manner to the House of Commons, or in those that accompanied his Majesty to Hamp­ton Court, and appeared in a Hostile manner at Kingstone upon Thames, or in divers others that followed his Majesty lately to Hull, or in those that after drew their Swords at Yorke, demanding who would be for the King; or in those that ad­vised his Majesty to declare Sir Iohn Hotham a Traytor, before the Message was sent concerning that businesse to the Parliament, or to make pro­positions to the Gentlemen of the County of [Page] Yorke to assist his Majestie to proceed against him in a way of force before he had, or possibly could receive an Answer from the Parliament, to whom he had sent to demand Justice of them against Sir Iohn Hotham for that fact.

His Majesty tells them, that instead of giving his Majestie satisfaction concerning that busines, they published a Declaration, as an appeale to the people, and as if their intercourse with his Ma­jestie, and for his satisfaction were now to no pur­pose, which course of the Parliament is alledged to bee very unagreeable to the modesty and dutie of former times, and not warrantable by any Pre­sidents, but what their selves have made.

The Parliament answer, That both Houses (e­specially being burthened as they were at that time with so many pressing and urgent Affaires) could not move as fast as himselfe, otherwise they would have sent it to his Majestie by a Com­mittee of both Houses, whereby it plainely doth appeare, that they did it not upon that ground, that they thought it was no more to any purpose to endeavour to give his Majesty satisfaction; and as for the duty and modesty of former times, from which they are said to have varied, and to want the warrant of any presidents therein, but what their selves have made; but if they have made any Presidents this Parliament, they have made them for posterity, and upon the same and better grounds of reason and Law, then those were, which their Predecessours first made any for them; and [Page]as some Presidents ought not to be Rules for them to follow: so none can be limits to bound their proceedings, which may, and must vary, according to the different condition of times: And for this particular of setting forth Declarations for the satisfaction of the people, who have chosen and intrusted them with all that is dearest to them, (they say) if there be no example for it, it is be­cause there were never any such Monsters before, that ever attempted to dis [...]ffect the people from a Parliament, or could ever harbour a thought, that it might be effected: and (they say also) that if they have do [...]e more then ever their Ancestours have done before, they have suffered more then ever they have suffered.

His Majesty declareth, That there is no legall power in either or both Houses of Parliament upon any pretence whatsoever, without his Maje­sties censent to command a [...]y part of the Militia of the Kingdome.

The Parliament affirmeth contrarily, and that they may dispose of any thing, wherein his Maje­stie, or any Subjects hath a right in such a way, as that the Kingdome may not bee exposed to any hazzard or danger, but may be secured thereby.

His Majestie proclaimeth Sir Iohn Hotham a Traitor, and declareth that Hull is his owne pro­perly, and that his intention to goe thither was onely to visit the Magazine.

The Parliament answer and proclaime Sir Iohn Hotham a faithfull Servant of theirs, and that Hull [Page]is no more his Majesties owne, then the Kingdom is his owne.

The Parliament cannot beleeve, that any man, that shall seriously consider the circumstances of that journey to Hull, can thinke that his Majesty would have gone thither at that time, and in that posture, that he pleased to put himselfe in towards the Parliament, if he had intended onely a visit of the Towne, and his owne Magazine.

His Majestie desireth to know, what the malig­nant partie is, which the Parliament so often pres­seth on him.

The Parliament telleth him, that for the ma­lignant partie his Majestie needeth not a definiti­on of the Law, nor yet a more full Character of them from both Houses of Parliament for to find them out: if hee will please onely to apply the Character, that himselfe hath made of them, to those to whom it doth duly and properly belong, who are so much disaffected to the peace of the Kingdome, as they that indeavour to disaffect his Majestie from the Houses of Parliament, and per­swade him to at such a distance from them both in place and affection: This is that malignant party and if his Maiestie would be pleased to remove them from about him, it would be the more effe­ctuall meanes to compose all the distractions, and to cure the distempers of this Kingdome.