RIght trustie and wel-beloved Cousins, and Councellers, We greet you well. Although We have already written Our minde to you Our Councell; yet upon Our second thoughts, arising espe­cially from some bad rumours, coming to Our knowledge, We finde it necessarie both for Our Selfe, and for the good of that Our kingdome, to declare, and make knowne both Our dispo­sition and desires more fully.

Wee know and feele the charge to be great, and the place to be high, wherein God (the King of kings) hath placed Us, and that We must render an accompt of all Our actions to him, who in his owne time shall judge all men without exception of persons. We have no other inten­tions, but by Our government, to honour him by whom Kings raigne, and to procure the good of Our people: and for this end to preserve the right and authoritie wherewith God hath vested Us, and which by his Providence hath been derived to Us, by many Princely progenitors: in the which glory that Our ancient Kingdome, and native Realme of Scotland doth participate.

We did not require of you, that you should sit as Judges upon the affaires of another Kingdome: We onely intended to have both Our sufferings and Our actions, (as they are exprest in many papers past betwixt Us and Our Parliament) made throughly knowne unto you: that since We have none besides you whom Wee can acquaint with Our proceedings, you may clearly see that We have been so far from wronging Our Parliament of England, that We have given them all satisfacti­on, even above that which they themselves in the beginning did expresse, or almost desire: and as much as could well consist with the safety of Our Person and Honour. We will not put you in minde of your naturall affection toward Us, which We know will rather be kindled then extinguished by Our distresse: Nor of your Covenant, wherein you are zealous of Our Greatnesse and Authority, and which standeth in that sense wherein you did sweare and subscribe it: Nor of the many good Lawes made in Our late Parliament (of which We hope the present and succeeding generations shall reap the fruits, when We are dead and gone:) Nor of the many promises made to Us, upon which We were willing to yeeld to such things for settling the government of that Our Kingdome, in Our personall absence, which neither could We have granted, nor would you have craved (as your selves did professe) had Our greater affaires permitted Our residence amongst you. And whereas We are most unjustly blamed and calumniated, 1. That We are popishly affected: 2. That We are the cause of the bloud-shed in Ireland: 3. That We intend to bring in forraigne Forces: We here do protest and declare in pre­sence of him who knowes the most secret of Our intentions and actions, that We are no wayes conscious to Our Selfe of the guiltinesse of any of the saids aspersions: and do take him to witnesse Our innocency therein, who onely hath the pri­viledge to be the searcher of hearts. And if any after so full and plaine profession shall distrust this Our free declaration, We attest God, that the fault is in the malignity of their rebellious humours, and no wayes deserved on Our part.

Given at Our Court at YORKE, the 20. of May, 1642.