THE LETTERS FROM HIS majesty, and from the OFFICERS of HIS majesty's ARMY, TO THE Earl OF ESSEX at LESTITHEN, Inviting him to Peace, and his refusal thereof.  
OXFORD, Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the university. 1644.   

THere cannot be a better expedient for removing the calamities and miseries of this languishing Kingdom, then clearly and plainly to inform the World, and the Consciences and understandings of all men, who they are that will not suffer the blessing of Peace to return to us. For however the inclinations of many are so seduced, and their understandings so corrupted, that they are not, or seem not, to be convinced of the horror and odiousness of this Rebellion, yet none have owned so much bloodthirstiness, so much folly & inhumanity, as to declare to the People, That Peace is not good for them, (though they have used all possible designs and Engines of Wit, Malice, and Perjury, to involve them in a desperate and eternal war) presuming that whatsoever absence there is of courage and conscience, of Religion and Loyalty, that they are yet too wise and decerning in their own interest, bare-faced to affect Famine, ruin and Desolation, and therefore in the midst of their blood and Rapine, in the very act of invading and infesting the Kingdom with foreign Forces, and basely betraying the Wealth, Blood, and honour of their Country to strangers, they would fain be thought solicitous and importunate for Peace.  
Upon this ground, and for this reason (how perverse soever the hearts of many are to the clearest evidence, and how insolently soever even this overture was entertained, and since scornfully commented on) 'tis necessary to publish to the World, the last attempt made by His Majesty, to prevent the further effusion of Christian English Blood, with all the circumstances both of the sending and reception, that all men may see the difference between the spirit and temper of a just and gracious King, and of men whose Pride and Ambition have broken the bounds prescribed to them by Law and Religion; and how hard it is for Persons who have once assumed and usurped a power too great for them, to quit and depart from that power, though they see it inconsistent with the preservation of themselves and their Country; and that all men may confess (what judgement soever it shall please God to lay upon this miserable kingdom) that he, to whom he entrusted it, left no means unattempted, that either public consultations, or private conjectures could think expedient to redeem it from those judgements; and that himself descended (notwithstanding the greatest discouragement and provocation that ever Prince endured) in his Princely and Fatherly care of his People, to all imaginable Arts and Offices, which might remove the present, or prevent the growing mischiefs.  
His Majesty having always principally chosen (though he hath consented to, and embraced all counsels and occasions that looked that way) those seasons to desire and solicit for Peace, in which he might be understood to have some advantages in war, (Witness his Messages and Declarations after the battle at Edge-Hill, after his taking of Bristol, after the relief of Newarke,) no sooner freed himself from the attendance of Sir William Waller's Army (having routed a considerable part of it, taken ten piece of Cannon, and some principal Officers prisoners) and put himself into the head of an Army much superior in common understanding to the force he was to contend with; then he considered how to prevent that effusion of blood, which a battle would produce, and to procure such a Peace, as seemed to be wished by those, with whom he was to fight, and was the same he had always desired. It was too evident upon so many, and a very late refusal, that such an overture would meet with nothing but scorn and insolence at Westminster, where without form or Liberty of debate, counsels, and Resolutions are imposed by the fury and violence of those, who are too much concerned in the guilt and benefit of the Rebellion, to submit themselves to the old laws and Government. And many were of opinion that the Earl of Essex himself was so conscious of being made an instrument of so much misery and devastation to his Country, so sensible of the condition of the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of England, of the Religion, laws, and Liberties of the kingdom, by this Invasion of the Scots, that he would willingly embrace any opportunity to relieve and redeem himself, and his fellow Subjects from that thraldom, and captivity he could not but see designed for them, and to preserve the Religion, laws, and privileges of Parliament, which he was bound and trusted even by his Commission of general to defend, and which he saw without a speedy Peace could not be preserved. Hereupon His Majesty having drawn His Army to Liskard within very few miles of the Earls Forces, on the sixth of August vouchsafed to send a Letter, all written with His own royal Hand, to the Earl of Essex (then at Listithen) in these words.  
ESSEX, I have been very willing to believe, that when ever there should be such a conjuncture as to put it in your power to effect that happy settlement of this miserable kingdom, (which all good men desire) you would lay hold of it. That season is now before you, you have it at this time in your power to redeem your Country and the crown, and to oblige your King in the highest degree, (an Action certainly of the greatest Piety, Prudence and Honour) such an Opportunity as perhaps no Subject before you hath ever had, or after you shall have. To which there is no more required, but that you join with me heartily and really, in the settling of those things which we have both professed constantly to be our only aims. Let us do this, and if any shall be so foolishly unnatural as to oppose their Kings, their Countries, and their own good, we will make 'em happy (by God's blessing) even against their wills. The only impediment can be want of mutual Confidence, I promise it you on my part, as I have endeavoured to prepare it on yours, by my Letter to Hertford from Evesham. I hope this will perfect it, when (as I here do) I shall have engaged unto you the word of a King, that you joining with me in that blessed work, I shall give both to you and your Army such eminent marks of My Confidence and Valour, as shall not leave a room for the least distrust amongst you, either in relation to the public, or to yourself, unto whom I shall then be  
Liskard AUG. 6· Your faithful Friend.  
If you like of this, harken to this bearer, whom i have fully instructed in particulars, but this will admit of no delay.  
This Letter was delivered by the Lord Beauchamp; the Earl having read it, Master Richard (who attended on the Lord Beauchamp) told him, that he was to desire a safe pass for Mr Harding to come to him, who had authority from His Majesty to make particular Propositions in order to Peace; his Answer was, he would not permit Mr Harding to come to him, neither would he have any Treaty with the King; whereupon Mr Richard replied, that he was commanded from His Majesty to let him know his very earnest desire of Peace, to prevent that ruin and desolation which would inevitably ensue this unnatural war; that the Peace His Majesty desired, should be established by the settlement of the true Protestant Religion, the laws of the Land, the Liberties of the Subject and the privileges of Parliament, and that the Earl might be assured that this was His majesty's real Intention, His Majesty would give any security He could propose, as well by the Trust, Power, and Confidence he would put in himself, as by any other the most solemn way of engagement that could be devised. The Earl seeming not moved with what was said to him, was then desired to return an Answer to His majesty's Letter, he replied he would make none, and so turned away.  
This strange neglect of His Majesty and His Message, produced no other effect with His Majesty then an opinion, that there could be no reason, for a man to refuse all that he pretended to desire, but only a doubt in the security of the promise, which no man could so well ask, as His Majesty himself could offer, and therefore His Majesty was pleased, that they by whose assistance he was principally to manage the war, should be his security for a Peace; and so the next day after His Majesty understood what reception his Letter had, this other, under the hands of the chief Officers of His Army, was sent to the Earl of Essex, in these words.  
MY LORD,  
We having obtained His majesty's leave to send this to your Lordship, shall not repeat the many gracious Messages, Endeavours and Declarations which His Majesty hath made, and have been so solemnly protested in the Presence of God and men, That we wonder how the most scrupulous can make any doubt of the real, and royal Performance of them. But we must before this approaching Occasion tell your Lordship, that we bear arms for this end only, to defend His majesty's known Rights, the laws of the kingdom, the Liberty of the Subject, the privilege of the Parliament, and the true Protestant Religion against Popery and Popish Innovations▪ And this being the professed Cause of your Lordships taking arms, We are confident, that concurring in the same Opinions and Pretences, We shall not by an unnatural war weaken the main strength of this kingdom, and advance the design of Our common Enemies, who long since have devoured us in their hopes. My Lord, the Exigent of the time will not suffer us to make any laboured Declarations of Our Intentions, but only this, That on the Faith of Subjects, the Honour and Reputation of Gentlemen and soldiers, We will with Our Lives maintain that which His Majesty shall publicly Promise in order to a bloodless Peace, nor shall it be in the Power of any private Person to divert this Resolution of Ours, and the same We expect from you; And now We must take leave to protest, That if this Our Proffer be neglected, (which We make neither in fear of your Power, nor distrust of Our own, but only touched with the approaching miseries of Our Nation) That what Calamities shall oppress Posterity, will lie heavy on the souls and Consciences of those that shall decline this Overture; which We cannot hope so seasonably to make again, if this Conjuncture be let go; And therefore it is desired that your Lordship, and six other Persons may meet Our general to morrow (at such an indifferent Place as you shall think fit) attended with as many; or if you shall find That any way inconvenient, to come in Person, That then your Lordship will appoint such or so many to meet with the like number from hence, that may consider of all means possible to reconcile these unhappy differences and misunderstandings that have so long afflicted the kingdom. And for the Security of your Lordship, and those that shall come with, and be employed by your Lordship, We do engage our Faith and Honour, and do expect the same from your Lordship, desiring withal your very speedy Answer, which must be a guide to our Proceedings. Concluding, that if this shall be refused, we shall hold ourselves justified before God and Men, whatsoever shall be the success, so we rest  
From the Army the 8. of August. 1644. Your lordship's humble servants 

MAURICE.  
Tho. Wentworth.  
Lindsey.  
Lo. Hopton,  
Northampton.  
Cleveland.  
Tho. Blagge.  
Joseph Bamfeild.  
Anth. Thelwell.  
Joh. Owen.  
Tho. Stradling.  
Robert Howard.  
John Stocker.  
Edw. Porter.  
Gil. Armstrong.  
Rich. Nevell.  
Tho. Pigat.  
Jo. Browne.  
Ad. Scroop.  
Amie Pollard.  
Ia. Hamilton.  
Rich. Thornhill.  
Io. Topping.  
Ja. Dundasse.  
Giles Strangewayes.  
R. Smith.  
James Cary.  
Brainford.  
Percey.  
Jacob Asteley.  
Rich. Cave.  
Bar. Stewart.  
Barnard Asteley.  
Theo. Gilby.  
Will. Leighton.  
Will. Murrey.  
Tho. Blackwell.  
Tho. Bellingham.  
Richard Page.  
Bar. Jenckes.  
Hen. Miller.  
Rich. Fielding.  
Tho. Weston.  
Paul. Smith.  
G. Mouldsworth.  
Phil. Honywood.  
Tho. Culpeper.  
William Leake.  
Jo. Luntler.  
Io. Monck.  
Cha. Fawlke.  
Rich. Samuel.  
Arth. Slingsby.  
Geo. Goring.  
Joseph Wagstaffe▪  
Tho. Basset.  
Char. Lloyd.  
Geo. Lisley.  
Will. Saint Leger.  
Hen. Lunde●ford.  
Barth. Fell.  
Hen. Shelley.  
Tho. Paulet.  
Thom. Kyrton.  
Anth. Brochet.  
Devery Leigh.  
David▪ Stringer.  
Ja. Mowbray.  
Cha. Compton.  
Ed. Nott.  
Alex. Standish.  
Io. Ridech.  
Io. Steward.  
Io. Gambling.  
Io. Grienvile.  
Arth. Heningh●●.  
James Haswell.  
Will. Maxwell.    
This indeed procured an answer, (which His Majesties could not) but such a one as would not suffer the bleeding wounds of this poor kingdom to be closed up: the Earl hath only power to kill, murder, and destroy: none to save, cherish, and protect, or to join with those that can. The Answer was this.  
MY LORDS,  
IN the beginning of your Letter you express by what Authority you send it. I having no Power from the Parliament (who have employed me) to Treat, cannot give way to it without breach of Trust. My Lords, I am▪  
Lestithen, Aug. 10. 1644. Your humble servant, ESSEX.  
For his highness' Prince MAURICE, and the Earl of FORTH.  
Let the World now Judge, without looking back upon that blessed flourishing condition this kingdom enjoyed, before these men frighted our Peace from us, at a time when we wanted nothing but gratitude to God and the King, to acknowledge the fullest measure of happiness that ever Nation was possessed of; only reviewing those very gracious Messages and solicitations on His majesty's part for an Accommodation from that at Nottingham to this present; I say, let the World judge who they were that procured this war, and who they are that will not suffer the war to have an end; who it is that endeavours and desires to preserve the true Reformed Protestant Religion, and who to confound and destroy it with all Licence, Impiety, and profanation; who it is that would maintain and defend the laws of the Land, by which the Liberty and Property of the Subject is established, and who it is that cancels all those laws, and subject's the freeborn Subjects to the most unlimited, lawless, arbitrary power and servitude that ever Christian State groaned under; lastly who it is that labours to uphold and vindicate the privileges of Parliament, and who to dissolve and pull up Parliaments by the roots, by usurping an unnatural power not belonging to Houses of Parliament, and confounding that power which in truth doth belong to them, with admission of foreigners and Strangers, and abridging themselves of their own Rights, by which only Parliaments can consist. If there be Courage and Conscience enough to take these things to heart, and the preservation of these be indeed the end and resolution of all good men (and without the preservation of them no happiness is to be hoped for) they will in a peremptory and constant love of Peace join with those who endeavour Peace, and not suffer men who grow fat ●nd rich with the blood and spoils of their Brethren, and whose greatness and authority cannot be preserved but by these distractions, to sacrifice their poor Country to their own Pride, 
Lord Brook. Sir John Hotham. M. Hambden. M. Pym. M. Fiennes. M. Arthur Goodwin. M. John Hotham, &c.  covetousness and Ambition. However let the Contrivers of this most unnatural and unparalleled Rebellion assure themselves, however God may permit them to be instruments of his Vengeance upon this unhappy kingdom, that as he hath already showed his judgements in a very exemplary manner upon many of the principal of them, so he will not suffer one of them to live to receive the fruit and benefit of his prosperous wickedness.  
FINIS.