HIS majesty's GRACIOUS MESSAGE To both Houses of PARLIAMENT: Feb. 20.  
FOrasmuch, as His Majesty hath (together with a Treaty) proposed a Cessation of Arms to both His Houses of Parliament now 16. days since, to which as yet He hath received no Answer: To the end that His Majesty may clearly understand the Houses, that no such Imputations (as have been formerly) may after be laid upon Him upon occasion of any thing that may intervene: His majesty desires if a Cessation shall be approved of by them, That the day upon which the Cessation is thought fit to begin, and such particular Limits and Conditions of that Cessation as are necessary to be agreed on before the Cessation itself can actually begin, be proposed by them at the same time with their Approbation of it, Since as His majesty supposeth by the present great Preparation of several Forces of the Earl of Essex to march several ways, that till such time as this be done, they do not conceive themselves obliged to an actual Cessation; So neither till then doth His majesty conceive himself obliged to it.   

A Letter sent from the Earl of Manchester to the Lord of Faulkland, about the Assizes: With the Lord of Faulkland's Answer, &c.  
HIs Majesty hath weighed the advice and desire of the Lords and Commons sent in a Letter to the Lord of Faulkland, from the Earl of Manchester, concerning the putting off the General Assizes and Goal-delivery throughout the Kingdom: To which His majesty returns this Answer. That the present bloody distractions of the Kingdom (which His majesty hath used all possible means to prevent, and will still to remove) do afflict His majesty under no consideration more, then of the great interruption and stop it makes in the course and Proceedings of justice, and the execution of the laws: Whereby His good Subjects are robbed of the Peace and security they were born to; and therefore as much as in him lies, He will advance that only means of their happiness; at least, they shall see that their Sufferings that way, proceed not from His majesty: And since they may expect now by the laws, Statutes, and customs of the Kingdom, the Assizes and general goal delivery in every County, His majesty thinks not fit to command the contrary, but will take severe and precise Order, that none of his good Subjects shall receive the least prejudice as they repair thither, by any of His majesty's Forces; which rule He shall be glad to be observed by others: And then he hopes by the due execution of the laws, even these public Calamities may have some abatement, and the Kingdom recover its former Peace and prosperity.  
God save the King.