THis matter my Lords hath been so often inagitation , which we are to treat of at this instant , that to some perhaps this present conference may appeare unnecessary , because the former to the same purpose have produced such fruitlesse and inconsiderable effects : But in affaires of so supreme consequence as this , no labour should be esteemed vaine , no endeavour uselesse , that in the least seruple can be subservient to apt and compose our intentions , which you can all beare us witnesse ( though some perverse and seditious spirits beleeve , at least report otherwise ) have perpetually been imployed for the good of Our People , the advancement of true Religion , and ( since these fatall distractions in our Kingdoms ) have industriously aimed to reconcile and rectifie the distempers broken out like sudden lightening betwixt our Selfe and the High Court of Parliament , since that distemper hath begot those millions of distempers , those horrors of war and bloud-shed , which hath lately so preposterously overspread the most flourishing Pro●●●●●● of this our Kingdoms , and engag'd all the brave Noblemen and Gentry thereof in a mutuall and mortall enmity . To give a period to which combustious and homebred contentions , is the businesse we have so long treated of , and intend now with Gods leave to declare Our Royall determination therein . We have received divers propositions for peace from Our High Court of Parliament , but could never have the occasion to embrace any of them . Now is engag'd the glory of Our kingdome in a civill war , which for many reasons , and powerfull motives we are resolved ( if possible ) to bring to a sudden and hopefull conclusion . To wave Our owne particular .

The first reason inducing us to it derives it selfe à communi bono , from the common good and utility , of which every just and righteous King must principally be sensible : The common good so dilacerated and torne to peeces , that shortly we shall lose the memory that there is such a thing in nature , if these wars continue , which however they succeed must needs be destructive to both parts . The Husbandmen and able Yeomanry of this kingdome , and indeed one of the maine pillars of it 's strength , are by these dissentions deprived of tilling the Earth in safety , or reaping the plenteous fruits thereof in security : they are hindred from following that laborious exercise which feeds the people of our Land , and drawne to exchange their sythes and sickles for swords and other instruments of fatality and destruction , even to guard themselves . And yet are they inforced to behold their houses plundred , those well gotten goods , which with the sweat of their browes they have gathered together , ravish'd from them by the violence of the souldiers , who notwithstanding all good Lawes and Ordinances made to the contrary by an accustomed military licence , cannot or will not be restrained from spoyle and rapine . And without question it must be a mighty conrsive to our conscience , that any of Our subjects , but yesterday rich and wealthy , should this day be betrayed to all the miseries of nakednesse and beggery , and by their Countrey-men and fellow subjects . The Merchants that had wont to trafficke into forraigne Countries , even as far as the remotest Indies , exporting the commodities of this kingdome into those parts , and bringing home plentifull fraights into our kingdome , are constrained to let their Ships lye and even rot in the harbours , rather then dare or will expose them to any venter abroad in these dangerous , uncertaine and calamitous times ; out of which defect of trade will arise unspeakable detriments and discommodities to this Common-wealth in generall , and to our selfe in particular : First , having no way wherby to vend abroad our English commodities , all Trades , especially manufactures , must needs be reduced to ruine , especially that gainfull and wealthy trade of Clothing : For to what end shall the Clothier at his infinite expence maintaine a number of poore people at worke in that craft , when the Merchants cannot take his cloth off from him at any rate , because he knowes not how to export it ; so that the golden sleece of this Kingdome , our English Wooll , must serve onely to cloath our selves , which hath heretofore cloathed almost all the neighbouring Nations .

Next , it will worke the absolute ruine of navigation , which hath beene constantly the strength and wall of this Island : to what purpose should any endeavour to attain the perfection of a Marriner , when there are no ships for him to use his art in ? And for our owne particular , the frowre of our English revenues hath alway sprung out of the largenesse and income of our Customes , which if trade decay , ( as if these wars continue it must doe ) We must absolutely lose , and so be deprived of the best benefit appertaining to Our treasury . But Our owne particular Wee value at no rate , compared with the publique utility .

Next , for the Gentry and Nobility of England , whose substances and subsistences arise out of their rents , they must suffer under as egregious a losse as either the Merchant or Husbandman ; they are impossibilitated of receiving their revenues , because their tenants can no way procure money to pay them . Marke then how various will be the miseries of this Kingdome , when from the highest to the lowest all are certaine of nothing , but losse and misery . And for Our owne part , if you Our Subjects speed so ill , surely fortune can be no lesse malicious to Us , nay , in a higher measure of affliction : For , first We behold our selves by these tumults at home deprived in a manner of one of Our Kingdomes abroad , Ireland , which even by almost a generall defection is falne and revolted from Our obedience , being overwhelmed with all the mischiefes and tortures that can derive themselves from famine , fire and sword , nay , from the cruelties of a race of barbarous and inhumane rebells ; yet are We , being involved with these domestique differences , utterly unable to yeeld them any reliefe , or by any force inforce those bloody rebellious Irish to relinquish their oppressions inflicted on Our loyall Protestants . And which is more materiall and perswasive to induce Us to endeavour and imbrace any honest and reasonable termes of peace , is , that by the continuation of these distractions the true and sincere worship of God is impiously neglected , schismes and heresies ( like loathsome Wens ) sticking to the beautious face of Religion and Verity : the Orthodox learning established in the Church of England , which hath made the glory of all the reformed Churches of the world , contemned and set at nought , and so the wrath of heaven pulled downe by force on this wretched and halfe perishing Nation ; such a licencious freedome ( in spight of Ours and Our Parliaments endeavours ) doe some contumacious persons assume to themselves , as cannot be by any meanes suppressed . We are also to looke with a relenting and pitifull eye upon the bloods of Our Subjects , diffused like water on the earth , almost in every Province ; and surely , though some Kings to satisfie their humors on every slight occasion do expose their Subjects to dangers of warfare and death , Wee alwayes held it as the most excellent attribute belonging to Our royalty , to defend and preserve the lives of the meanest of Our people . Besides , in whomsoever the fault lies that these waes continue , divers , and no meane number of our Subjects believe Wee onely are guilty of it , and so We shall diminish much Our power , by depriving Our selfe of their affections , who having elected the most eminent persons , both for wisedome , integrity and fortune , in their Counties , Cities and Corporations , to be the Factors & Feoffees of the Common wealth , to secure them by Our royall assent their ancient freedomes and immunities , and to procure them new ones from Us , must needs be much discontented and afflicted , that Wee should not onely withdraw Our selves from all conversation and conference with these men of their trust , these husbands of their liberties , but withdraw Our selfe so , as no reconciliation can be hoped for or expected betwixt Us ; and not onely that , but a deadly and destroying warre ; which , if it should continue and oppresse this Land , with all the aforementioned and numberlesse other miseries , the center and point on which the basis of this Kingdome must at last fix , must be peace , or inevitable and apparent ruine : Besides , how will it be possible for Us to defray the charge of the present warre , if it continue long , passeth Our apprehension , those of Our Subjects that would furnish Us with supplies , having already by former disbursement unfurnished themselves ; nor can We expect any support from Our Exchequer or revenues ; so that for all these considerations , to avoid more effusion of Christian blood , to take away all these distractions and disturbances from our good Subjects , to reduce Our Kingdome of Ireland to its wonted obedience , and punish the inhumanity of those rebells , to restore the true worship of God throughout Our Dominions , Wee have fixed on this determination , to entertaine all faire treaties of Accommodation from Our High Court of Parliament , nay , to propose such termes to them for peace , as Wee are confident , they in duty will not refuse , but assist Us in a sudden composure of these differences . Which Go a in his Mercy according to our desires and endeavours give a faire and sudden period to .