HIS Majestie having by His Proclamation of the 22. of December (upon the occasion of the Invasion threatned, and in part begun by some of His Subjects of Scotland) summon'd all the Members of both Houses of Parliament to attend Him here at Oxford: We whose names are under written are here met and assembled in obedience to those His Majesties commands. His Majesty was pleased to in­vite us in the said Proclamation by these gratious expres­sions; [That His Subjects should see how willing he was to receive advice for the preservation of the Religion, Lawes and safety of the Kingdome, and as farre as in Him lay to restore it to it's former Peace and security, (His chiefe and onely end) from those whom they had trusted, though he could not receive it, in the place where He ap­pointed.] This most gracious invitation hath not onely been made good unto us, but seconded and heightened by such unquestionable demonstrations of the deep and Princely sense which possesses His Royall heart of the miseries and calamities of His poore Subject in this un­naturall Warre, and of His most entire and passionate [Page 4]affections, to redeeme them from that sad and deplorable condition, by all wayes possibly consistent either with His Honour, or with the future safety of the Kingdom, that, as it were impiety to question the sincerity of them, so were it great want of duty and faithfulnesse in us, (His Majestie having vouchsafed to declare, that He did call us to be witnesses of His actions, and privy to His intentions) should we not testifie and witnesse to all the world, the assurance we have of the piety and sincerity of Both; We being most entirely satisfied of this truth, We cannot but confesse, that, amidst Our highest afflictions in the deep and piercing sense of the presents miseries and desolations of our Country, and those further dangers threatned from Scotland, We are at length errected to some cheerfull and comfortable thoughts, that possibly we may yet (by Gods mercy, if his justice have not determined this Nation for it's sinnes, to totall ruine and desolation) hope to be happy Instruments of our Countries redemption, from the miseries of Warre, and restitution to the blessings of peace, And We being desirous to beleeve your Lords­ships (howsoever ingaged) a person likely to be sensibly touched with these considerations, have thought fit to invite you that part in this blessed work, which is onely capable to repaire all our misfortunes, and to boye up the Kingdome from rune; That is, by coujuring you, by all the obligations that have power upon Honour, Con­science, or publique Piety, that laying to heart, as we do the inwardly bleeding condition of your Country, and the outward more menacing destruction by a forreigne Nati­on, upon the very point of invading it, you will cooperat [...] with us to it's preservation, by truely representina to, an [...] [Page 5]faithfully and industriously promoving with those by whom you are trusted, this following most sincere and most earnest desire of ours; That they joyning with us in a right sense of the past, present, and more threatning calamities of this deplorable Kingdom, some persons be appointed on either part, and a place agreed on, to treat of such a Peace, as may yet redeem it from the brinke of desolation.

This addresse we should not have made, but that His Majesties summons by which we are met, most graciously proclaiming pardon to all without exception, is evidence enough, that his mercy and clemency can transcend all for­mer provocations, and that He hath not only made us wit­nesses of his Princely Intentions, but honoured us also with the name of being security for them.

God Almighty direct your Lordship, and those to whom you shall present these our most roall desires, in such a course as may produce that happy Peace and settlement of the present distractions, which is so heartily desired and prayed for by us, and which may make us.