Die 16. Octob. 1648.  
A MESSENGER Sent to the City of LONDON WITH A Packet of Letters from the ISLE of WIGHT, to be communicated to all His MAJESTY'S Loyal and truehearted Subjects in His Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales. Concering his Majesty's answer to the Proposition of Ireland, Also, several new Proposolls by his Majesty to the Commissioners, with their mutual compliance for Peace, being joyful tidings for all his Majesty's Loyal Subjects in his Realms and Dominions.  
Whereunto is annexed, the last and truest Intelligence from Scotland, P●●●efract Scarborrough, and other parts of the KINGDOM.  
Examined by the Original Papers, and Published by authority for General satisfaction.  
LONDON Printed for R. M. 1648.   


A message sent from Newport to be Communicated to all his Majesty's Loyal Subjects in the Cities of London. and Westminster.  
SIR  
HAving so conveinent an opportunity to send unto you, and so faithful a Messenger to send by, I have in answer to your last dated the 10. of this instant, sent you here enclosed a brief Narrative of the proceed between the King's Majesty and the Commissioners; which followeth in order, viz. The King's Majesty and the Commissioners of both Houses are like to come to an agreement and (in probability) will speedily compose the distracted difference of this distressed Nation. His Maj. hath had a great dispute about the point of Church-Government. But still refuses and offers Episcopacy, and yet so, as to make as many Bishops as they please, and for the sale of Bishop's Lands, he will not consent to any other than a lease for 99 years. As for the Militia his Majesty hath granted it already. And some dispute hath been about the business of Ireland. His Maj. hath received the papers from the Commissioners touching the same, and hath promised a speedy answer, so that there is great hopes of a happy compliance, there being so fair a probability of an agreement between the King and his people in all things, in relation to the Treaty, without which his Majesty declares nothing to be of force. His Maj. doth further declare, that for his part, nothing shall be wanting for the settling of a safe and wel-grounded peace. That so the great distractions of his liege people might be removed, So till the next return I remain.  
From Newport 13. of Octob. 1648. Your affectionate Friend R. S.   

Newport Octob. 13.  
For a further and final Answer to you, as to your 2. Proposition, concerning the Church, & to your Paper of the 30. of Sept. wherein you allege there are many omissions, alterations, and some denial of several particulars in his Maj former answer, his Maj. saith as followeth. 1. As to the exceptions, that his Maj. said nothing to the consenting to a Bill, for the utter abolishing of Archbishops, Bishops, etc. Nor that the Ordinance for abolishing them be confirmed by Act of Parl. his Maj. saith, that in his former answer he did con●ent to confirm for 3. years by Act of Parl. the form of Church Government, and Directory for worship, which you presented to him, and thereby hath established the actual possession and public exercise of the Forms, and hath suspended the present Government, and form of Worship established by Law, but desired a Consultation with Divines in the mean time, for a future settlement, as in that paper is expressed: yet finding by your said paper of the 30. of Sept. that not to be satisfactory, his Maj. with all clearness will acquaint you what was his aim therein: His Maj. therefore declares, That the reason why he did not answer to that part of your Proposition, in terms as is proposed, was, because he was not satisfied in his Conscience; He can be content to the utter abolishing of Episcopacy, the substance whereof he conceives to consist in the power of Ordination, and jurisdiction, as they were exercised by the Apostles themselves, and others, by Authority derived from them, superior to Presbyters and Deacons in the primitive times; but because he acknowledgeth that Bishops were to have Council, and assistance of Presbyters in Ordination & jurisdiction, & in the last were and are limitable by the Civil power his Maj. desired the consultation with the Divines to the end that he, and his two Houses might determine in what manner Ordination and jurisdiction might be moderated and regulated, for the future Government of the Church, his Maj. resolution to comply with ●s 2. Houses for the alteration and regulating of his present Hierarchy. And if his two Houses shall so advise, his Majesty will be content to lessen the extent, and multiply the number of Dioceses. 2. As to the exception, That his Maj. hath not expressed his consent for settling of Bishop's Lands upon trusties, and for the sale of those Lands, its true he hath not, to alienate the Inheritance of those Lands, & herein he believes he hath concurrent opinions of many Divines, that in other points differ much among themselves, but his former answer containing a large offer of satisfaction to all those that have purchased, or disbursed moneys upon those Lands.  
Thirdly, As to that part of the Proposition for the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines His Maj saith that he will by Act of Parliament confirm the calling and sitting of the said Assembly of Divines, since the first of July 1643.  
And that they shall have such powers as is mentioned in the said Ordinance, and that they shall continue their meeting and sitting, and be dissolved in such manner as both houses of Parl. shall direct.  
Fourthly, His Maj. will confirm the public use of the Directory, in all Churches and Chapels, as is desired in the Proposition. And will consent to the repeal of so much of all Statutes, as only concerns the Liturgy, and also the taking away out of all Churches and Chapels provided that the use thereof may be continued in his Majesty's Chapel, for himself and for his own household.  
His Maj. will likewise consent that the form of church Government presented to him, be confirmed by Act of Parl. for 3 years, provided only that a consultation in the mean time be had with the Assembly of Divines, in such a manner and for the purposes as are in his former answer expressed.  
Touching the Articles of Religion his Maj. professeth he hath not had time since they were delivered unto him, to look into them with that deliberation which is requisite, before he bind up himself and his subjects in matter of faith and Doctrine and therefore desires that part of your propositions may be respited by his two Houses.  
Fifthly, And whereas you desire to know whither his Maj. by saying in his paper of the 13 of Sept, that he will give his Royal assent to an Act for the better observation of the Lords day, intends the confirming of the Ordinance presented unto him.  
His Majesty thereunto answers, that the Bill for suppressing of innovations to which you desire his consent which he is willing to give, contains in it full provision for the Lords day, and if that be not sufficient his Maj. will consent to pass an Act to confirm the matter of the Ordinance for so much as concerns the observation of that day.  
Sixtly, His Maj. conceived that he had fully answered all your desires, that their might be a speedy course taken to prevent the saying and hearing of Mass in the Court, or any other place of this Kingdom or the Kingdom of Ireland.  
It is well known of what profession his Royal Consort is, and what provision is made by the two Crowns in the Articles of Marriage for her exercise thereof, and his Maj. never did nor will consent to restrain her.  
Seaventhly and lastly, concerning the Covenant and the Ordinance concerning the same his Majesties Answer being, That he was not yet satisfied to take it, or impose it one others, He conceives his two Houses will not insist upon it at this time, and the rather, because the ends thereof will be obtained by the agreement if happily concluded. Which God grant.  
And for the great business of the Militia of the Kingdom his Majesty doth consent thereto as is set down in the Proposition.  
Subscribed, CHARLES R.   

Sir, by my next I shall send you several passages of great consequence which questionless will be effected.  
Sir, For the Castle of Pontefract it is near surrender, I am confident in regard of a mutiny that is amongst them so is Scarborough Castle also, only they prevent a few days by persuading their Soldiers within, that the Personal Treaty will work some way whereby they may have honourable conditions both for them and their selves. Sir, being at this time necessitated to be brief, by reason of my haste till next return I remain  
Yours T. E.   

Octob. 13. From the North came Intelligence, that 500 Scots out of Barwick those in Carlisse also, and the rest Malignants are disbanded. The rest English in these Towns are at mercy, 10. more with Sir Phil. Musgrave in Westmoreland are scattered, and Col. Marling and Mr. Errington and others taken, some killed, 70. Barrels of powder taken in Barwick, some Guus, and at Carlisse such a quantity. L. G. Crumwell hath been feasted at Edinburgh, and great joy there by the godly party, for his coming and conjunction.  
Octob. 14. Came from the Isle of Wight that his Maj. and the Com: have made some progress into the business of Ireland, and that his Maj. is very willing to come to an agreement, and doth much grieve at the sad condition of that Kingdom, so that it is hoped he will very suddenly give a satisfactory Answer to that Proposition which will be joyful tidings to all those that desire a happy peace and union between his Majesty's three Kingdoms.   
FINIS.