A Letter, or Paper, Signed by GARALD Fitzgerald, In behalf of an Assembly of the Irish at GLANMALIROE in the Province of Leinster in Ireland. To the Commissioners of PARLIAMENT delivered the 11. of March 1651.  
Also A DECLARATION thereupon, made by the said Commissioners of PARLIAMENT, March 12. 1651.  
Together with a Letter from the Earl of Clanricard, to the Commander in Chief of the PARLIAMENTS Forces in Ireland: February 14. 1651.  
And Lieutenant General Ludlowe's Answer thereunto, February 20. 1651.  
Printed at Dublin by W. BLADEN, 1651.   

A Letter, or Paper, signed by Garald Fitz-Gerald, in behalf of an Assembly of the Irish at Glanmaliroe in the Province of Leinster in Ireland, to the Commissioners of Parliament: Delivered the 11. of March 1651.  
Honourable Sirs;  
AS the horrid mischiefs (unavoidably) accompanying all Wars (though upon never so just grounds undertaken) are such and so many, and so recently experimented throughout this unfortunate Kingdom, as no man can without horror think, much less dilate on a theme so lamentably Tragical: even so the manifold blessings derived from a firm and honourable Peace, are so obvious to each understanding, as I may not presume to trouble men of so great judgement as you are, with any Comment thereupon. Therefore to proceed briefly to the purpose; Be pleased to understand, That the Kingdom is advertised from all parts, of a free and noble disposition in the commonwealth of England, to grant honourable and safe conditions of Peace unto this People and Nation: to the acceptance whereof, I dare assure you of their willing and real inclinations; In order whereunto, I do in this, and other the Provinces behalfs, request your safe Conducts unto each Province, with Blanks to Meet, Elect, and Authorize Members of the said respective Provinces, to meet with the Members so to be Elected by other the Provinces, at some convenient place within this Province, and thence to Authorize Commissioners to present Proposals to such as are or shall be thereunto Authorized by the commonwealth of England, and conclude on such Transactions as shall be agreed upon. Your Garrisons, in each Province, being so obstructive, as the Members may not with safety come together to the aforesaid Purpose. Unanimity in this kind among the Provinces, being much more conducible to a general quiet, than the particular address of any Province apart. This, I hope and expect, will produce that so much and so passionately desired a Settlement, which ought to be the prayer and wishes of all honest and well-affected persons. Sir Richard Barnewall Baronet, and Colonel Walter Bagenall are Authorized and employed by the Assembly of this Province, to solicit the Contents hereof; to whom I shall request you will be pleased to give full credit in what they shall offer in that particular and other matters, it being the sense of this Province, I should signify so much unto you; to which subscribes,  
Sirs, Your most humble servant GARALD Fitzgerald. GARRENCH, 20 Feb. 1651.  
To the Right Honourable, The Commissioners of the Parliament of the Commmon-wealth of England for the affairs of Ireland.   

IRELAND. A DECLARATION made in Answer to the foregoing Letter, By the Commissioners of the Parliament of the commonwealth of England for the affairs of Ireland.  
THe said Commissioners, having on the eleventh of this instant March, received a Letter, or Paper directed unto them, bearing date the 20. of Febr. 1651. requesting on the behalf of the Provinces of Ireland, safe Conducts unto each Province with Blanks; to Meet, Elect, and Authorize Members of each Province, to meet in some convenient place, for offering Proposals to such as are or shall be Authorized by the commonwealth of England for the settlement of this Nation. Which said Paper, or Letter is subscribed by one Garald Fitz-Gerald, under pretence of an authority, which the said Commissioners cannot in duty and with Honour to the Parliament acknowledge; Yet for the satisfaction of those that may seem to be concerned therein, They do Declare,  
I. First, That the Settlement of this Nation doth of right belong to the Parliament of the commonwealth of England only, the consideration whereof, is at present before them.  
II. Secondly, That in the Settlement thereof, the Parliament will make distinction between such Persons as have lived peaceably according to their duties, or (being misled) have since submitted to their authority and Protection, and those who have Acted or Abetted the murders and Massacres of the Protestants, and those that adhered to them during the first year of the Rebellion, and likewise such Persons as now being in Arms and Opposition to the said authority, shall not timely submit thereunto. And therefore the said Commissioners cannot in justice give way to any Act, so much to the prejudice of the People of this Nation, as may involve those that are peaceably minded, with them who continue in hostility.  
III. Thirdly, That to grant safe Conduct and Blank Passes unto such as are in actual Hostility against the Parliament, to meet together from all the Provinces to communicate Counsels, is an Act, to which the said Commissioners cannot in prudence consent.  
IV. Fourthly, That for such Persons as now are in actual hostility against the Parliament, and are willing to lay down Arms, and submit to the authority thereof, upon timely Application made to the Parliaments Ministers here, on behalf of particular Persons or Places, such moderate terms will be consented unto as Men in their condition can in reason expect.  
Dated at Dublin the 12. of March 1651. 

Miles Corbet.  
Io. Jones.  
John Weaver.     

The Earl of Clanricards Letter to the Commander in Chief of the Parliaments Forces in Ireland, 14. Febr. 1651.  
Sir,  
SEveral of the nobility, clergy, and other Persons of quality and interest in the Kingdom, together with the Corporation of Galloway, being met in this Town, and having taken into their consideration, the present State and Condition of Affairs, and the destructive Effects of a long-continued War, have made it their suit and request unto me, to propose unto you the entertaining of a treaty, in order to a Settlement in this Kingdom, and for your safe Conduct to such Commissioners, as I by their advice shall think fit to employ unto you, for the carrying on of that matter; which request of theirs I have condescended unto by this Express directed to you to that effect, with this further intimation, That I shall not quit or decline them or their interests, until I see them settled in a good Condition, fit for the Nation to accept: or if that will be denied them, resolved to continue his majesty's authority and Protection over them to the uttermost trial; and do not doubt, by God's assistance, with the Forces and Arms we have already, and such aids and supplies, probably may come from his majesty and his Allies abroad, but that we may be so enabled as to alter the present state of Affairs, or if that should fail, at least make the Conquest you have hitherto gained, for a long time, of little use or advantage to you; and sell our lives at a dear rate if compelled thereto. And so leaving it to your consideration, and expecting your timely Answer and certain Resolution, I remain  
Your servant CLANRICARD. GALLWAY, 14. Febr. 1651.  
If you please to send the safe Conduct desired, I desire it may be sent to Sir Charles Coote, or any other you shall think fit near this place, with a Blank for the number of five Commissioners & their retinue, not exceeding in the whole the number of twenty; whereby, upon intimation from him, I may send him a List of the names of the Commissioners.  
To the Commander in Chief of the Parliaments Forces in IRELAND.   

Lieutenant General Ludlowe's Answer to the Earl of Clanricards Letter, 20. Febr. 1651.  
My Lord,  
BY your Lordships of the 14. instant, you propose unto me the entertainment of a treaty, in order to a Settlement of this Kingdom; and do desire my safe Conduct for such Commissioners, as you shall think fit to employ unto me, for the carrying on of that matter. Whereunto, upon advice with the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, and divers General and Field-Officers of their army, I have thought fit to give you this return: That the Settlement of this Nation doth of Right belong to the Parliament of the commonwealth of England, to whom we leave the same, being assured they will not therein capitulate with those who ought to be in submission, yet stand in opposition to their authority: but if the Lord have that mercy in store for any who are at present in Arms against them, as to incline their hearts to a submission to that Government, which he by his Providence hath placed over them, upon timely Application made to their Ministers here, on the behalf of particular Persons or Places, such moderate terms will yet be consented unto, as men in their condition can rationally expect. As to the intimation of your future hopes and resolutions, I shall only say thus much, That it hath been the practice of those who have served the Parliament in this Cause, to act according to their duty, and to leave the success to him who disposeth the issues of all things; and as the Lord hath hitherto enabled them exemplarily, to proceed against those whose hearts have been hardened upon vain and groundless expectations, to withstand offers of such favour as have been made unto them, so I assure myself he will still own them in his own way and work: Wherein that we may be continually found, is the desire of  
DUBLIN, 20. Feb. 1651. Your Lordship's humble servant, EDM. LUDLOWE.  
For the Lord of Clanricard.  
FINIS.   

A Second Paper, delivered unto the Commissioners of Parliament, by Sir Rich. Barnwall and Colonel Walter Bagenall, and the said Commissioners Answer thereunto.  
Further Proposals offered, In pursuance of the authority given us.  
To the Right Honourable, the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England for the affairs of Ireland.  
BEing inhibited to Reply to your honour's Answer of the twelfth of this present, only to offer what further we had in charge; In pursuance whereof, not being satisfied by your honour's Answer, how far your Honours are impowered. to Treat in order to the Settlement and Peace of this Nation, We desire you will be pleased to make the same known unto us, that if qualified with authority for carrying on so good a Work, Safe Conducts be given to such Persons, as by the Provinces shall be nominated, to Convean at time and Place convenient, when and where your Honours shall think fit. Whereupon the Province of Leinster, with such as shall make their join't Addresses, will endeavour by all good means, the setting on so happy a work, conducing to a General Quiet, and prevention of the great effusion of much Christian blood, by a voluntary Subjection, as well of Hearts, as Arms; the only means to Advantage, make Stable and Glorious the Government of the Parliament in this Kingdom. Which offers, if your Honours may not assent unto, That safe Conducts be granted to such Persons as shall be appointed, to make their Applications to the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
Dated the 15. of March, 1651. R. Barnewall, Walter Bagenall.   

The Commissioners of Parliaments Answer to the foregoing Proposals. Ireland. By the Commissioners of the Parliament of the commonwealth of England for the affairs of Ireland.  
Upon Consideration had, of the Paper this day produced by Sir Richard Barnewall, and Colonel Bagenall, the said Commissioners do return this Answer ensuing:  
First, as to the making known the Power of the said Commissioners, as is desired, they do not hold the same fitting, or reasonable: But such of this Nation, whose hearts God shall incline to a timely and free Submission to the Power of the Parliament, those Persons shall effectually know the authority of the said Commissioners, to grant such just things, as shall be rationally desired; and do trust, the Lord will enable the Parliament and their Ministers here, to make such others, whose hearts shall be still hardened to their further destruction, sensible of the Power God hath put into their hands.  
And as to the granting Passes to any Persons to go to the Parliament, to Negotiate for the Settlement of the whole Nation, the said Commissioners do not think it fitting, it not standing with the Honour and justice of the Parliament, to Treat about the Settlement of the Nation, with such as, contrary to their duty, are in hostility against them.  
As to the residue of the said Matter contained in the said Paper, the said Commissioners have given answer thereunto in a former Paper of the 11. instant: to which they refer themselves.  
Dated at Dublin 15 of March, 1651. 

Edm. Ludlowe.  
Miles Corbet.  
Io. Jones.  
John Weaver.     

Printed at Dublin by W. Bladen, Anno Dom, 1651.