FIRST. REſolved by the Lords and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, that His Majeſties Paper concerning Epiſcopacy, of Newport 31 Octob. 1648. by which it is ſaid, that

HIs Majeſty conceives that his former Anſwers to your Propoſitions concerning the Church, would have given more ſati faction to his two Houſes then is expreſſed in your papers of the 16 and 17. of this Inſtant, as containing in them (if conſidered in their ſull extent) Conceſſions of the moſt material things deſired, and therefore for a Declaration of his intentions by theſe former Anſwers, as for a further and finall Anſwer to the ſaid Propoſitions and Paper of the 19th, His Majeſty ſaith as followeth:

That albeit for the reaſons expreſſed in his former Paper, he cannot conſent to a Bill, and the Ordinance for aboliſhing of Biſhops, yet for the ſatisfaction of his two Houſes, and ſetling the publique peace he will conſent to a Bill for the taking away of al Archbiſhops, Chancellors, Commiſſioners, Deans and Sub-Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons Canons, and Prebendaties, all Chanters, Chancellors, Treaſurers, Sub-Treaſurers, Subcenters, and Sacriſts, and all Choral, and Choriſters, old Vicars, and new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiat Church, and all other their under Officers, but of the Church of England, and Dominion of Wales, and out of the Church of Ireland, and further, his Mieſty will conſent to ſuſpend the exerciſe of all Epiſcopal Government for the ſpace of three years, and hath conſented & will conſent to confirm the form of Church Government now preſented unto him, for the ſpace of 3 years, and that no other ſhall be uſed during the ſaid time; In which time his Majeſty continues his deſire that a conſultation with the Aſſembly of Divines at Weſtmin. 20 of his own nomination being added, to his end his Majeſty and his two Houſes may within theſe 3 years informs 〈…〉 the practiſe of the Primitive Church in 〈…〉 Epiſ •••• cy and may accordingly agree in limiting the Biſhops to the 〈◊〉 and a •• iſt •• ce of Pre • bitery, and in the exerciſe of their juriſdiction, and … ing their ••• • er, if it be thought fit. And his Majeſty will conſent, that in calen • 〈…〉 ſhall be agreed on within the ſaid 3 years then after the ſaid time, the powr of ordination ſhall not be exerciſed by Biſhops, without the counccil and aſſiſtance of Prosbyters, and that no other Epiſcopall Juriſdiction ſhall be exerciſed by Biſhops without the councell and aſſiſtance of Presbyters, and that no other Jurisdiction ſhall be exerciſed by Biſhops, but ſuch, and in ſuch manner as ſhall be agreed on by his Majeſty and his we Houſes of Parliament. And his Majeſty doth proſeſſe, that if in that time he be convinced that the function of Biſhops is not agreable to the Word of God, or that Chriſt commanded any other Government, he will chearfully imbrace that, and take away Epiſcopacy, but untill hee bee convinced, he beleeves himſelfe bound in conſcience to uphold that function, as is above expreſſed,

That this Anſwer • from His Majeſty is not ſatisfactory.

2 Reſolved upon the Queſtion, that His Majeſties, Paper of Octob. 21. Concerning

The Ordinances for the ſettling the Biſhops Lards upon Truſtees, and ſo the ſale of thoſe Lands, though his Majeſty upon conſciencious ſcruples (wherein h • hath the concurrent opinion of the Divines, as well of the Reformed, as other Churches) hath not conſented thereunto, yet he hath offered ſatisfaction to all ſuch as purchaſed any of thoſe Lands, or disburſed mony upon that ſecurity by legall eſtates for lives or yeares (not exceeding 99 yeares) reſerving onely the propriety and Inheritance of thoſe Lands to the Church and Churchmen, and the old rent, or other moderate rents for their maintenance; and that if thoſe Leaſes ſhall not ſuffice, his Majeſty would propound and conſent to ſome other way for their further ſatisfaction, and therefore other ſatisfaction, for thoſe debts and engagements (which were the motives for the ſale of thoſe Lands) being propoſed, and his Majeſty having herein condeſcended as fit as poſſibly he can, he deſires his two Houſes would comply with his Majeſty in this particular.

His Majeſty hath offered by Act of Parliament to confirme the calling and fitting the Aſſembly of Divines, as largely in the matter deſired as the Ordinance it ſelfe propoſed for that purpoſe. He hath likewiſe offered to continue the pub ique uſe of the Directory in all Churches and Chappels, as is deſired in your Propoſition: And to conſent to the repeale of ſo much of all Statutes as concerne the Books of Common-prayer, and to take the ſame away out of all Churches and Chappels, except his Majeſties Chappell, where hee intends the uſe thereof may be continued for himſelfe and his houſhold, untill another publique Forme of Prayer ſhould be agreed on by his Majeſty and his two Houſes. His Majeſty hath likewiſe conſented to the Bill for ſuppreſſing Innovations, wherein they 〈…〉 proviſion for the due obſervation of the Lords day; and offered (if that was not ſufficient) to conſent to the matter of the Ordinance for obſervation hereof, as fully as is deſired: But for the Ordinances preſented to his Majeſty which concerne the Aſſembly of Divines, the Directory, the taking away the Bookes of Common prayer, and the obſervation of the Lords day, many expreſſions therein require nebeſſary alterations, in reſpect of ſome things happening ſince their firſt framing, others reflect on former eſtabliſhed Laws, and other matters not neceſſary; and therefore though he conſented to the matter therein deſired, yet hee could not confirme thoſe Judiciall Ordinances in ter • ini • , as they are penned, Whereas you conceive his Majeſty did not give his Aſſent to the Bill for the better advancement of the Preaching of Gods Holy Word in all parts of this Kingdome his Majeſty by his former Anſwer did ſufficiently expreſſe his conſent thereunto by conſenting to the Bill for ſuppreſſing of Innovations (in which that for the advancement of Preaching is included.) And his Majeſty doth againe give conſent thereunto; as alſo to the Bill againſt enjoying Pluralities of Benefices by Spirituall perſens and non Reſidency, formerly delivered to his Majeſty, as is deſired in the Propoſitions.

This Anſwer from his Majeſty is not ſatisfactory.

3 Reſolved by the Lords and Commons that His Majeſties Paper of Octob. 21.

Touching Reformation of Religion; Whereas you ſay his Majeſties Anſwer comes far ſhort of the Propoſition which deſires that his Majeſty ſhould conſent; that Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant bee ſettled, in ſuch manner as both Houſes have agreed, or ſhall agree upon after Conſultation had with the Aſſembly of Divines, his Majeſty ſaith, That he hath anſwered all the particulars which are ſet dow • e as branches of that generall Propoſition, and cannot thin • e that it will bee expected that he ſhould oblige himſelfe gene rally to what his two Houſes ſhall hereafter agree touching matters of Religion' before he be ſatisfied of the nature thereof.

His Majeſty conceives that he had given a full anſwer to your Propoſition for an Act or Acts to be paſſed for a ſtricter courſe to be taken to prevent the ſaying or hearing of Maſſe in the Court, or any other part of this Kingdome, or the Kingdome of Ireland, he having conſented thereunto, with exemption onely of the Queen and her Family (few whereof are of her Profeſſion) according to the Articles of Marriage agreed on betwixt the two Crownes, which his Majeſty conceives his two Houſes will not adviſe him to breake. And as for reſtraining the acceſſe of all others but her Family, and in all things elſe his Majeſty conſents to that Propoſition as is deſired.

This Anſwer from His Majeſty is not ſatisfactory.

4. Reſolved, &c.

Touching the Covenant, his Majeſty anſwers as formerly, that he remains yet unſatisfactory to take it, or impoſe it upon others, and conceives it not proper to be inſiſted on at this time, and that the end thereof (without taking it) will bee obtained by this agreement, if happily concluded. For the Articles of Religion preſented to his Majeſty, which are deſired to be confirmed by Act of Parliament, his Majeſty hath already anſwered, that he had not yet time to peruſe them with that deliberation as is requiſite, before hee birde up himſelfe and his ſubjects in mtters of Faith and Doctrine; and conceives his Houſes will thinke it not improper to reſpite the confideration of them to a further tune, conſidering how perilous, definitions are in matters of Religion, how long time he Articles have been in framing, and that ſince the beginning of this Treaty, and not before, they came int •• ely to his Majeſties view.

His Majeſty having ſo far conſented to the ſeverall particulars of this Propoſition, that the remaining differences are very few, doth therefore earneſtly deſire his two Houſes that they may be no obſtacle to the ſettlement of the bleſſed Peace now in hand.

This Anſwer from His Majeſty is not ſatisfactory.

Die Sabbati 21 Octob. 1648.

ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That the Committee of Sequeſtrations in London, be ſummoned to give an account to this Houſe on Munday morning next, what they have done upon the Order of this Houſe, of the 7 of Octob. 1648. injoyning them to leavy the Arrears due by ſeverall perſons for the Aſſeſſement of the Army, mentioned in the ſaid Order, upon their eſtates.

H. Elſynge, Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.

Die Sabbati, 21 Octob. 1648.

ACcording to former Order the Commons reſumed the conſideration of the Reports made from the Committee of the Army in order to the taking off free-Quarter. And the Inſtructions given the laſt yeare for bringing in the Arreares of the Aſſeſſements, and the Ordinance for them paſſed concerning Free-Quarter were read.

1 Reſolved, &c. That Members be imployed to uſe their beſt indeavours to bring in the Arreares of the Aſſeſſements for the Army, to the end Free-Quarter may be taken off.

2 Reſolved, &c. That Members of this Houſe be ſent down to the Generall to conferre with him and his Officers ſuch as they ſhall appoint, how the Army and all other Forces may be reduſed to the eſtabliſhment, and how thoſe Forces that are to be reduced may have ſatisfaction.

3 Reſolved, &c. That this Committee ſhall have power to conſider with the Generall and ſuch Officers as he ſhall appoint, how the Army may have ſatisfaction, for the pay due ſince the 15th of January 1647. And that conſideration may bee likewiſe had of the Free-Quarters taken upon the Country ſince the ſaid 15th of Jan. That ſatisfaction may be given them.

4 Reſolved, &c. That the Committee have likewiſe power to confer with the Generall, and ſuch Officers as he ſhall appoint, how the Army may with the moſt conveniency, be quartered according to former Inſtructions, and directions.

Mr. Scawen. Sir Will. Litton, Sir Rich. Onſlowe Mr. Preiſtley, Cap. Wingate, Col. Birch, Sir Th • . Dacres, Mr. Lemmon.

This Committee or any three of them are appointed to go unto the Generall upon the vote • aforeſaid.

H. Elſyinge Cler. Par. D. Com.

Ordered by the Commons Aſſembled in Parliament.

1 THat the Committee of the Army do give their Warrant to the Treaſurers of War, to ſatisfie and pay unto the Members of the Committee of the Army imployed by this Houſe into ſeveral Counties, upon the publique ſervice, The expenſes and charges they were at in the diſcharge of that imployment.

2 That the Members of the Committee of the Army that were imployed in the ſeverall Counties upon the ſervice of the houſe have the thanks of this houſe given unto them for their good ſervices. Mr. Scawen (then preſent) had accordingly the thanks of this houſe given him by Mr. Speaker.

H. Elſynge Cler. Par. D. Com.

Reſolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Army to bring in the names of 10. Delinquents not yet engaged, whoſe eſtates or compoſitions may bee converted to the uſe of the Army,

H. Elſyng Cler. Par. D. Com.