I Hold it my duty to give your Lordship an account of the Kings unexpected com­ming into this Island, and of the manner of it, which was thus. This morning, as I was on the way passing from Carisbrook Castle to Newport, Mr. Ashburnham, and Sir John Bar­kley overtook me, and after a short discourse, told me that the King was neere, and that he would be with me that night: That hee was come from Hampton Court, upon information that there were some, intended to destroy his person, and that he could not with safety continue any long­er [Page 4] there, and that finding his case thus, chose ra­ther to put himself in my hands, being a Member of the Army, (whom he saith he would not have left could he have had security to his person) then to go to any other place. Being herewith exceedingly surprized at present, I knew not what course to take, but upon serious consideration, weighing the great concernment that the person of the King is of, in this juncture of affaires, to the settlement of the peace of the kingdome. I resolved it my duty, to the King, to the Parliament, and Kingdome, to use the utmost of my indevours to preserve his person from any such horrid attempt, & to bring him to a place of safety. Where he may also be in a capacity of Answering the expectation of Parliament and Kingdome, in agreeing to such things, as may tend to the settlement of those great divisions, and de­stractions, abounding in every corner there­of. Hereupon I went immediatly with them over the water, taking Captain Basket (the Captain of Cawse Castle) with me, and found the King neere the water-side, and conceiv­ing my self no way able to secure him there. I chose (he desiring it) to bring him over in­to [Page 5] this Island, where Hee now is.

My Lord, My indevours (as for my life) shall bee to preserve and secure his person: And I hum­bly desire I may receive the pleasure of the Parliament in this great and weighty matter. And that the Lord will direct your Counsels to his glory and the Kingdomes good, and peace, shall be my prayer: And my inde­vour shall be ever to expresse my selfe in all things in my power,

HIs Majesty hath commanded us to waite upon you, and to ac­quaint [Page 6] you, that hee (being at this in­stant not farre from hence) intends to bee with you this night, having (since Thursday night last) left Hampton-Court, upon severall informations, (which his Majesty had before received from credible hands) that there were some engaging in a bloody designe a­gainst his royall person to destroy him, by taking away his life which (as his Ma­jesty was informed, by those whom hee had reason to beleive) was prosecuted a­gainst him by the complotters so far, that he could not with safety to his person con­tinue at Hampton-Court any longer.

His Majesty finding himselfe in that condition hereby that he was in such dan­ger, and (that although he had with great patience endured a tedious restraint hopeing it would conduce to the peace of the Kingdome, and stop that effusion of [Page 7] blood which otherwise might bee spilt, yet) finding by two certaine proofes, that his continuance there, was like to prove not onely the ruine of his royall person, but dangerous to the destruction of the whole Kingdome.

His Majesty therefore choose rather to put himselfe into your hands (for the safety of his person conceiving it to be the best way for the good and peace of the Kingdome, you being a member of the Army, rather then any other.

And his Majesty hath commanded us to assure you that he would not have left the Army by his departure, could he have had security to his person, and therefore is come to this Island (rather then to any other place,) to cast himselfe upon you until the pleasure of the Houses be knowne.