As for the other, namely some pretended Insolences upon the Frontiers, you knew of none, and believed not any; and if there was any it was their fault, by their deferring to return to their Obedience to His Majesty: and when they made Instance in some particulars, your Excellence did cut them short, and said, That it was an unfit thing, and nothing conducible to make an end of Business, for them to stand upon those Punctilios with their Soveraign; and for your particular, you would never be an Instrument of any dishonourable Act to His Majesty, such as would be the engaging him not to correct the Misdemeanours of his Subjects: that you had made a like Answer when you was demanded for Pass-ports to those that should come to you; which you had rejected, as judging it dishonourable for His Majesty to grant, or any of his Subjects to ask or capitulate with His Majesty for.
They pressed to know what His Majesty required of them, and what would be the extent of his condescending to their Desires in point of Conscience, namely touching Bishops, and the Acts of the last General Assembly; wherein they said if they might have satisfaction, they would cast at His Majesties feet their Bodies and Fortunes, to be disposed of at his Pleasure.
In answer to this your Excellence caused me read His Majesties Proclamation, wherein desiring to be cleared of His Majesties Intentions, in the particular of the Civil Obedience, your Excellence said, it was the retiring with their Troops, laying down their Arms, and the Nobilities waiting on him with their swords onely upon the Frontier, the restoring of his Majesties Castles unto such as His Majesty should appoint, and the demolishing of their own Fortifications unlawfully erected, and the like.
As for the enjoying of Liberty of Religion, wherein likewise they did press to know how far His Majesty would condescend to their humble Supplications, as likewise in the point of the Acts of the last pretended General Assembly, your Excellence answered, It would be so far as the Laws of the Kingdom did permit.
They asked who should judge of these Laws, and of their intention, and if it might be decided by a General Assembly: your Excellence answered, Yes, and that either His Majesty would call one, or your self, as His Majesties High Commissioner.
They desired to know if His Majesty would stand to the Award of such an Assembly, especially in what concerned the Acts of the later.
Your Excellence answered, His Majesty was not bound to it, as having his Negative Voice; which they not acknowledging, your Excellence added, that notwithstanding you were confident, that whatsoever should be agreed on by such an Assembly, called by His Majesties Command, and where the Members should be legally chosen, His Majesty would not onely consent unto them, but have them ratified in Parliament.
They desired your Excellence would limit them a time wherein to return, and treat further with you, with full power to conclude all things wherein they desired not to be pressed with scantiness of time, in regard of the Nobilities being dispersed in several places of the Country.
Your Excellence answered, it should be when themselves would, were it tomorrow or a moneth hence; for you assured them, they would find you so long in these quarters.
Lastly, they desired to know, what they might report of what your Excellence had assured them of His Majesties Intentions concerning Religion and the General Assembly.