THE ANSWER OF THE Lords and Commons TO THE ESSEX PETITION FOR A Personal Treaty, disbanding the Army, and settling the KINGDOM. ALSO, A Commission from the Prince of Wales, for securing and fortifying the town of Berwicke, and other places in the North. And a Letter of the whole passages from thence. With a message from the Parliament of Scotland, to the Parliament of England, debated in the House on Thursday last. may 5th London, Printed by B.A. Anno Dom. 1648. A LETTER FROM BERWICK SIR, WE are here in a very sad condition, for the town being ungarrisoned, and lying open according to the Articles of agreement between both Kingdoms, a party of English Cavaliers have taken advantage thereby, and possessed themselves thereof, imprisoned the Major, and others well-affected to the Parl. They brought in some chattel, and other provisions with them, and more is expected. We hope the parliament will take some speedy course therein, or else this town is likely to be utterly ruined. I was told yesterday by a man of good repute, that notwithstanding the forwardness and present posture; yet one of the chief of the Nobility told him that many was Caping and gazing for preferrment, and swore they would be all disappointed of their expectations, for they durst never war with England, & the Parliament against them, this you may take among the rest; but I can assure you the report still goes of an army amongst them, the English daily flock into them, and the streets of Edinburge are now more over spread with English then Scots: No news of the Prince his being there as yet, but daily expected, divers Troops lie in the Border of Scotland, what their aim is God knows, but their pretence is for levying of the excize in those parts, they are daily puarrelling amongst themselves, the Kirk as they call it of Scotland still holds out and will not yield to an Army, but it's feared that this day they resolve, I mean the Parliament of that Kingdom to vote and enact without the Clergy, the Scots heritors adjacent are for certain endeavouring to get Soldiers for money, they have to my knowledge offered pretty sums to divers for going along with them; I can assure you for truth That at this time there is greater divisions in Scotland then was at first, they are now in three factions, for a General, viz. Hamiltons' faction, Argyles and Calendars, It's said the hamilton's carry it away. The Declaration of the Parliament of Scotland being perfected, was put to the Vote, whether it should be sent to the Committee of Divines before it passed, or not, was carried in the Negative: when it was Voted 81 were for it 38 against it, who protested and entered the protestations; the thing will be Printed, and had by this time been abroad had not the Church delayed their answer to Tuesday, but have now declared their dissent fully and unnanimously, being sensible of the swords getting into such hands, as when they see time, will make nothing of Covenant, nor other assurances given, and that they who have been esteemed hitherto the most religious there, and in Englard, will become a prey to both popish and prelatical party; This is believe it, the apprehension of those in Scotland, many of whom stick not to say, they see no visible deliverance from ruin, but the Army in England, what ever you think and say in the South of it making good the old maxim of the multitude, to dislike what ever is present; and if there were none other arguments to ground the former expressed fears Scotland this one were enough that 250 Barons or Lards have met at Lithgow, and other places, within view of Parliament, and so no doubt approved by many, within view of Parliament, and so no doubt approved by many, who writ Letters to the Inhabitants to rise for the defence of the King, Religion, and the Church, the two latter being the golden out side of all rise: one of them was sent for to Parliament who was not afraid to come; the other sent to him not to answer without them, they justify their proceed by an old act of Parliament; The business formerly mentioned of a Ministers refusing to read the Minister's Declaration is grown to that height, They to have sentence past, others to have it forburn; That its like to bring in question, whether the Church Sanc Parliament, can publish or enjoin; the dissent of so many of Parliament, and the Divines all of them, to the great Declaration, not at all in peding the publication, but out it comes. Barwick 1. of May, 1648. Die jovis 4. May 1648. The Parl. had some debate on a Declaration and Proposition from the Parl. of Scotland, brought by Col. Martial, the particulars whereof are reduced to these heads. 1. That his Majesty may come to London, or some of his houses near the City, and there to remain in honour, freedom, and safety. 2. That reparations be made for his carrying away from Holdenby; or satisfaction, by punishing them that did it. 3. That the Presbytery be settled, and Sectaries punished. 4. That the Army under command of the Lord Fairfax be disbanded. 5, That the City of London have all privileges made good to them. 6. That the Covenant of both Kingdoms be enjoined universally. 7. That all Members of Parliament, who have faithfully served, be restored. Letters came further out of the North as followeth. Sir I Believe you have heard that Barwick is secured which we hear to be thus Sir Thomas Glenh●m with a party of Horse came to Barwick and the Town perceiving them approaching began to gather to the bridge, and make some opposition ask him who they were for etc. and why they attempted to come into that town, to which it was answered they had a commission from the Prince of Wale● whereupon they had present admittance and there are come to them since and have brought in provision, which is all for the present from, Your affectionate Friend. T. S. Thursday 4. May. 1648. A petition was this day presented to the Lords by Sir William Hix, in the name of the Gent. and Freeholders' of the County of Essex; at the presenting of which petition, the said Sir W. Hix made a short speech to this effect. That there was a petition of about 20000. of the Inhabitants of that County, to which there would have been many more hands, if more time had been spent therein; the petition was grounded upon these general heads. That the Country might be eased of their heavy taxes and burtheus, and that the Kingdom be settled in a firm and lasting peace, and as the means conducing thereto, they pray, that there may be a personal treaty with the King, and the Army disbanded, etc. This petition was read in the House, and after the Petitioners had withdrawn, they were called in again, and the Earl of Manchester gave them an answer to this effect, viz. Gentlemen, I am commanded by the Lords to return you thanks for your good affections expressed in your petition to the Parl. and Kingdom; and they do assure you, that they ●●●ll speedily and effectually take the said petition into serious consideration and do what is possible for settling the Kingdom in a firm and lasting peace. Whereupon Sir William Hix g●ve their Lordship's humble thanks, in the name of all the Petitioners, and did assure their Lordships, that whatsoever had been said, or conceived of that petition, yet the sense and intent of that County was to assist and maintain the Parliament and privilege thereof, according to their Covenant. The petition before mentioned was also read in the house of Commons, and after some debate, the petitioners had answer there to the same effect, as they had from the Lords, as as you will perceive by these ensuing Lines. The Answer from the Commons was thus. Gentlemen, THis house gives you thanks for expressing your good affection and desires for settling the Kingdom, which is the present business of the House, and in which they are resolved with all possible speed to go forward, and the rest of the petition relating thereunto; the petitioners were desired, being by estimation personally there about two thousand, to departed, with assurance, that the several particulars of the said petition should forthwith be taken into serious consideration. Imprimatur G. M. FINIS.