SEeing it hath pleased God out of his gracious will and pleasure, to cause me to cast my Eye upon this Common­wealth of England, my native Country, (and your three Kingdomes;) and viewing there, to behold the sad and lamen­table condition, that now, and for many years past, it hath been intangled in; which as reason and conscience together per­swades me, is occasioned chiefly for want of its ancient and ever customed way of Government, (to wit) a King and Parliament, which hath been unsetled altogether amongst us, ever since the unhappy death of your Majesties late father our King; by reason whereof, our ancient and accustomed whole­some lawes both of Church and State, are most strangely torn and massacred; and all through the self-seeking ends of some certain persons, which at present I judge not fit herein to be com­municated, who having gotten the power of the sword in their hands, thought forever to rule and reign over their op­posers; (I think in spight of God or man:) But of late some of those (I hope, I may truely bless the name of the Lord for it,) who were the chief rulers of those unhappy differences between our King, and his three poor distracted Kingdomes, are taken out of this world; insomuch, that the Power of those remaining, is much weal [...]d; But yet they will (I perceive) seek to tread in the self same steps of them that have gone before them; as seeking onely to set up their own interest, although to the utter ruine of the Nation. Studying how of littleness to become great, hating the name of a King, but would joyfully imbrace the power thereof, (yea, I may say, they seek far more Power, than ever our late King did take up­on him,) and all is done under the zealous pretence of Saint­ship and religion; the form of manner whereof, is plainly ma­nifested by their tolerating and setting up of strange Sects of re­ligion, as Anabaptists, Quakers, and such like, seeking ut­terly [Page 4]to d [...]stroy, and pull down, our ancient Orthodox Divnes, unless timely prevented. I question not but your Majesty is very well knowing of the Power, which for some few years past, I have had, in governing the English Army here in Scotland; which Power, when I had once obtained, I did resolve, as much as in me lay, to keep, until a fit time and opportunity should offer it self, that I might imploy it for the glory of God, and the good of your Majesty, whose faithful Subject I humbly accknowledge my self to be. Now so it is, may it please your Majesty. I plainly seeing and with a sad heart beholding the threatning hand of the Lords severe Judgements stretched forth against these three Kingdomes, which forthwith must, and will inevitably fall heavy upon us, (for ought as can be imagined, to the utter ruine both of King and Subjects,) unless suddenly prevented by our humble sub [...]ission to the Lord, and an un­feigned repentance of our former miscarriages. May it also please your Majesty to give me leave to acquaint you, that I humbly conceive, I had never a better opportunity of doing my Country service, (in freeing them from their Egyptian bondage, as I may term it,) and in restoring the Crown to the right owner thereof; which if possible to be done shall be done with as much care, safety, and diligence, as God shall inable me, and that with as little wrong as may be either to King or Sub­jects; which work when it is perfected, I hope will tend to the firm setlement of our ancient Protestant religion: In tender consideration of all which premisses; I most humbly beg that high favour of your Majesty that you will be graciously pleased, to permit me to make these Proposals following. First, whether your Majesty will be pleased, to acce [...] of the real indevours of me your unworthy Subject and Servant to be imployed in be­ing a means in helping your Majesty to a quiet and safe pos­session of three Kingdomes; which have (with violence) been so long time withheld from you? If yea, Then, Will your Ma­jesty be pleased, to consent to a Treaty to be had between your Majesty, and a free Parliament, which shall be lawfully e­lected and chosen by the Country, whose care I hope will be for the choosing of such honest, godly, and religious men, as had no hand in the death of our late King or since his death have (by any unlawful means whatsoever,) enjoyed any of his Lands, [Page 5]Tenements, or Rents, or the Lands, Tenements, and Rents, of the late Deans and Chapters, or any of your late sequestred Subjects, or which since his death have appeared violent in their acting against Kingship, and consequently against your Majesty, our lawful King: Not in the least that I have any malice or evil will against such persons, but for that my conscience tells me, that so long, as sels interessed persons are suffered to sit in Par­liament, there is little good to be expected, either for King or Kingdome; for it is a hard thing for men to act against their own selves, to the loss of their Lands and livings; which they suppose they have so honestly gained. If your Majesty will be pleased to consent to such a treaty, and that thereupon it may be agreed upon, that your Majesty shall be resto [...]ed to your three Kingdomes; which I question not, but will be the event of such a treaty: Then I humbly beg that your Maj. would be pleased, to think fit to declare what mercy and pity, you are pleased shall be she [...] to all those that have been the chief of your ene­mies; (whose blood in severity of justice, might deservedly be spilt,) upon their humble submission to your Majesty, and their promise of future obedience; for I hope, you will judge, that the onely way to joyn the hearts of the People of your three Kingdomes, to pray for your happy success in all things; and not onely so but it will undoubtedly encourage them all to enter their Lives against all your opposers, it any shall con­test: And also that your Majesty would be pleased, to declare out of your gracious goodness, what satisfaction shall be made to the poor Common Souldiery throughout your three King­domes, who have been forced to take up Arms, although a­gainst your Majesty, for meer necessity to keep them and their Families from starving, who indeed are much behind in their pay; which will be utterly lost, and undone, unless your Ma­jesty take comp [...]ssion upon them; which if you are pleased so to do I question not, but you will find as much humility and sub­mission from them, as can be expected; and for the future it will ingage them to be as ready to serve your Majesty, as they were to serve your enemies for the time past: And more over, I conceive it will be a great incouragement to them, to joyn with me in this design I sh [...]ll trouble your Majesty with little more at present; But to let you know, that my hopes are that you would be ple [...] ­sed, [Page 6]to have that confidence in me, as not to credit any rumours or reports, that may seemingly contradict, what I have herein proposed; for, as for that, I would have your Majesty to be confident, that I shall not value neither the ill will, or yet look upon the favour of any, who shall appear in opposition to a thing that I have so really purposed, so long as God and my Con­science perswades me, that in so doing I shall accomplish a good work both for his glory, and my Countries good: And yet I think fit to carry as fair a corespondency as I can, with those that have taken upon them the Authority in England: To that end, I have thoughts of going to London very suddenly, that I may see their actings, and order things there somewhat for my advantage; I humbly beg your Majesties speedy Answer touching these proposals: So with all submissiveness, I crave your Majesties favour, in giving me leave to subscribe my self

THis is to let you understand, that I have received yours of the Twentieth of December, the twenty fifth of the same Moneth. The Contents whereof, do cause me, to judge you deserving, of the Title that I have given you, and I hope, the further events of your intended proceedings, may ere long merit a greater; and for as much, as I concieve it necessary, to give you the speedy result of my mind in Answer thereunto, I think fit to let you know in the first place, that I freely par­don you for all offences or crimes, whatsoever committed (or which you know your self guilty of) against my la [...] Dear Fa­ther, and my self; I beseech the Lord to forgive you likewise; I must confess, I am not ignorant of the power, that you for some years past, have had over the English [...] in Scotland; And I do likewise blesse God, who hath [...] opened your Eyes, to behold the miseries of my three poor distressed Kingdomes; And also for that hee hath made [Page 7]you so far sensible of his heavy judgements (ready to be showred down upon them, by reason of the grievous and lamentable outcrying sins of the people) as to cause you, to make so fair and seasonable a proffer of the tender of your service, both for the glory of God, and the good of me and my people. The Lord open your heart, couragiously, to go on in the perfecting of so great a work, as you have intended to set on foot, you ha­ving now so fit an opportunity, And for the answering the proposals therein contained, in order as they lye, I do declare that I shall with a willing and joyful heart, accept of your faithful and honest indevours to be imployed, for the glory of God, and the manifest good of Me and my Subjects; not so much for the profit or wordly advantage that I think to recieve thereby, but that which I shall chiefliest rejoyce in, is, only for the glory of God, and the good of my three Kingdomes. I mean in freeing them from their slavery, in preserving them from any farther effusion of blood, and for the setling amongst them their ancient way of Church and State Government, for the advancement of the true Protestant Religion; and also for the quashing of all Heresies, Hypocrisies, Sects and Schismes, that are lately crept into our Protestant Church; Whereby we are become a mere laughing stock, to all Nations; and as for my consenting to a Treaty, to be had between Me and a Par­liament, to be chosen by a free consent of my people, I am sure there is not a thing that I can imbrace with a greater joy, and especially, if my Subjects make choyce, of persons so qualified as you have mentioned in your Letter to me, then of necessity, there can nothing but good come of such a Treaty. But if otherwise, it may be doubted, but however my trust shall be in the Lord, And whereas it was your desire, for me to declare what mercy and pity, I would should be shown towards those who are my manifest enemies. In case I should come quietly to be restored to my three Kingdomes; I do therefore for the satisfaction both of You and my Subjects, de­clare the thoughts of my heart, touching my said enemies in manner following. That as for all such, who shall humbly sub­mit themselves unto me, and expressing their Sorrow for all their former actings against Me and my late Father, and upon promise of their future obedience, I will freely pardon them of [Page 8]their lives; and as for their estates, those who have lawfully purchased any from any of my Subjects; I will that they enjoy such their estates according to their purchase, they only paying (for the space of five years) the moiety of the profits of such their estates towards satisfaction of the publick debts, that my poor Subjects may be somewhat eased of their Taxes, which have been so heavily imposed upon them for this many years. And as for such who have gotten or purchased by any means whatsoever any of my land (to wit) any of the Kings lands or livings, or the lands and livings of the Bishops, late Deans and Chapiters, or of any of my Subjects, sequestred or taken from them for their Delinquency (so accounted:) My will is, that such estates so gotten, shall be by them surrendred into the hands and possession of the right owners as formerly, being con­tented to rest quiet & satisfied with the gain and profit they have recieved thereby for the time past, and to lose the profit for the time to come, which my conscience tells me, is but plain reason; and as for those who shall persist and continue in their rebellion against me, I shall desire, that such course may be ta­ken with them, as my Parliament and Councel shall think fit, and their estates to be disposed of towards payment of the Publick debts which shall be judged necessary, and fit to be dis­charged, which I shall refer to my Parliament and Councel; who I shall humbly desire, and I question not, but it will be their care, in being sparing in spilling as little blood as may be. And as for the poor Common soldiers, they who will submit themselves to me, I freely pardon them; and my will is, that their Arrears shall be payed as speedily as conveniently may be, although it be for their Service in fighting against me; but I impute all to their necessity; What I have here above declared, I shall labour to make good, to the utmost of my power. I shall not, neither do I in the least, question your Reality, in the faithful performance of what you have declared. God prosper you in all your undertakings therein; and I shall own you in every thing that you shall act, for Gods glory, and the good of my people, which I desire may be done with as much expe­dition as may be. I render you very many thanks for your Love.