Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

XXI. To the Great Council of Lords at YORK, September 24. MDCXL.

MY Lords, Upon sudden Invasions, where the dangers are near and instant, it hath been the custom of My Predecessors to assemble the Great Council of the Peers, by their Advice and Assistance to give a timely remedy to such evils as cannot admit a de∣lay, so long as must of necessity be allowed for the assembling the Parliament. This be∣ing our condition at this time, and an Army of Rebels lodged within the Kingdom, I thought it most fit to conform My self to the practice of My Predecessors in like cases, that with your advice and assistance we might joyntly proceed to the chastisement of their In∣solencies, and securing of Our good Subjects.

In the first place I must let you know, that I desire nothing more than to be rightly un∣derstood of My People; and to that end I have of My self resolved to call a Parliament, having already given order to My Lord Keeper to issue out the Writs instantly, so that the Parliament may be assembled by the third of November next: Whither if My Sub∣jects bring the like good affections as I do, it shall not fail on My part to make it a happy Meeting.

In the mean time there are two points to be considered, wherein I shall desire your Ad∣vice, which indeed is the chief cause of your Meeting.

First, What Answer to give to the Petition of the Rebels, and in what manner to treat with them. Of which that you may give a sure judgement, I have ordered that your Lordships shall be clearly and truly informed of the state of the whole business; and upon what reasons the Advices that My Privy Counsel unanimously gave Me were grounded.

Secondly, How My Army shall be kept on foot and maintained till the supplies of a Parliament may be had. For so long as the Scots Army remains in England, I think no man will counsel Me to disband Mine: for that would be an unspeakable loss to all this part of the Kingdom, by subjecting them to the greedy appetite of the Rebels; beside the unspeakable dishonour that would thereby fall upon this Nation.