THE SPEECH OF THEIR Excellencies the Lords ambassadors Extraordinary.  
From the High and Mighty state's General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, taking their leave of both the Honourable Houses of Parliament Assembled at Wes●minster. 10. April 1645.  
Translated out of French into English: And printed by their excellency's Order. Steph. Taylor Secr.  
Together with a Moderate Answer by a private Gentleman.  
Printed according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed by M. B. for Robert Bostock, at the King's head in Paul's churchyard. 16. April 1645.   

The ambassador's Speech.  
Right Honourable,  
TWo things have moved Our Lords and superiors to send Us their ambassadors Extraordinary into this kingdom, viz. Their Duty, and Your Service.  
The first, consisted in their Power, and in the resenting of the present Distractions. The other, being altogether in your choice to accept, if You should like of it.  
We have long ago, and Divers times spoken unto Your Honours of the one, and the other: as likewise unto the King, who hath honoured so much Our State, as to have accepted the offers of Our Interposition. But We are still with Your Honours upon the same terms▪ We were at the beginning, without any certitude, or likelihood to be accepted.  
We have already obtained Our leave from the King, and have left His Majesty full of good will, and disposition for a just and reasonable Accommodation: Likewise We parted from Him well satisfied, concerning the point of the Evangelique-Protestant Religion, upon the Offers He hath lately permitted us to make  
And as concerning the royal Rights or Prerogatives, the Liberties, and privileges of this kingdom, and the Parliament, and of all the Subjects, no doubt when that His Majesty shall be satisfied, His Majesty will also satisfy every one.  
But Sirs, We can stay no longer here, unless Your Honours accept of our Interposition, without which We are useless: And from hence it is, Our Lords and superiors have charged Us, in such a case, to take Our leave, and return to Our own home. In performance of which last Duty, We are here come before You; assuring You, We shall never cease to wish unto this heretofore flourishing kingdom, an Accommodation and Peace; which is▪ and ever will be as profitable, as necessary.   

The Answer.  
YOur Excellencies came into England to show yourselves Christians out of hope to prevent blood and mischief, and partly to show yourselves Friends to England, out of hope to prevent the utter ruin of this your neighbour Nation. To accomplish these honourable ends you have addressed yourselves both to His Majesty and the Parliament: But whereas his majesty hath accepted the offers of your Interposition, you seem to complain that you have no certitude or likelihood to be accepted by the Parliament. You do not nevertheless declare what that Interposition is which the King admits or the Parliament denies: For if the King do wholly refer His Cause to your umpirage, 'twere necessary that you plainly make this known to the Parliament; and if the King receives you no further than as friendly Intercessors to entreat or persuade, in this he does no more than the Parliament does. But you conceive the King offereth enough assurance for the Evangelique-Protestant Religion; and (it may be) you expect that the Assembled States of England and Scotland having drawn together for their assistance the best Divines they can from all Protestant Countries, should attribute more to your judgement herein then to themselves. Truly this seems to us something too unequal, and we much doubt whether His majesty be so fully resolved to resign up himself and all his pretences in the point of Religion to your final decision. You further seem confident, That His Majesty will satisfy others when He is himself satisfied concerning His Prerogative and our Liberty: but this may be perhaps, because you do not so experimentally understand what is likely to satisfy the King, as the best and wisest of His two Protestant Kingdoms do. The King's Intentions are known either by his professions or actions; As for his professions we know they are and ever were very gracious, but whatsoever Expressions He may make to you in your particular, He cannot promise a greater affection to Religion and Justice than the Parliament does. And as for the King's actions we would gladly be instructed by you, but we cannot apprehend ourselves less judicious in them then any strangers whatsoever. When your State was formerly in distress, our ancestors did intercede otherwise then you do now, and yet your Provinces were as divided as ours are now, and your Cause was as liable to dispute as ours is now; and what we did tender than was from the entire body of our whole Nation; and to be clear with you, we do not look so upon your Interpositions now. For your good wishes to the prosperity of this kingdom we thank you; and if you will propose a just and reasonable Accommodation, whatsoever you think of us, you will find us as full of good will and disposition to it, as you now believe the King is.  
FINIS.