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XLIX. To the Lords and Commons assembled at OXFORD, Jan. 22. MDCXLIII, IV.
MY Lords and Gentlemen, When I consider your publick Interests and Concern∣ments in the Happiness and Honor of this Nation, and your particular sufferings in this Rebellion for your affection and Loyalty to Me, I must look upon you as the most competent Considerers and Counsellers how to manage and improve the Condition we are all in: for sure our Condition is so equal, that the same Violence hath oppressed us all.
I have therefore called you together to be witnesses of my Actions, and privy to my Intentions: and certainly if I had the least thought disagreeing with the happiness and security of this Kingdom, I would not advise with such Counsellors. And I doubt not but your Concurrence with Me will so far prevail over the hearts and understandings of this whole Kingdom, who must look upon you as persons naturally and originally trusted by and for them, that it will be above the reach and Malice of those who have hitherto had too great an influence upon the People, to discredit my most intire Acti∣ons and sincere Promises. You will be the best witnesses for the one, and security for the other.
Very many of you can bear me witness, with what unwillingness I suffered my self first to take up these Defensive Arms: indeed with so great, that I was first almost in the power of those who in two set Battels have sufficiently informed the world how ten∣der they have been of the safety of my Person. I foresaw not only the rage and op∣pression which would every day break out upon my Subjects, as the Malice of these ill men increased, and their purposes were detected; but also the great inconveniences my best Subjects would suffer even by my own Army, raised and kept for their pre∣servation and protection. For I was not so ill a Souldier, as not to foresee how im∣possible it was to keep a strict discipline, I being to struggle with so many defects and necessities: and I assure you, the sense I have of their sufferings who deserve well of Me by my Forces, hath been a greater grief to me than any thing to my own particular. My hope was, that either by Success on my part, or Repentance on theirs, God would have put a short end to this great storm. But guilt and despair have made these men more wicked than I imagine they at first intended to be: for instead of removing and recon∣ciling these bloudy Distractions, and restoring Peace to this languishing Countrey, they have invited a Forein power to invade this Kingdom, and that in your names, and chal∣lenge this Invasion from them as a debt to the Commonwealth.
You, My Lords, have, like your selves, as good Patriots, expressed your dissent, and vindicated your selves from that imputation: and I doubt not but you, Gentlemen, will let your Countreys know how far you are from desiring such assistance; and how absolute and peremptory a breach this raising of Arms of my Scotish Subjects is of that Pacification which was so lately and solemnly made by you, and can intend nothing but a conquest of you and your Laws. I shall send you all the advertisements I have of that business which is threatned from Scotland, and what is already acted from thence; and shall desire your speedy advice and assistance, what is to be said or done both with re∣ference to this and that Kingdom.
Our ends being the same, I am sure there will be no other difference in the way than what upon debate and right understanding will be easily adjusted. Let our Religion, in which we are all most nearly concerned, and without care of which we must not look for God's blessing, be vindicated and preserved; let my Honor and Rights, which you find to have an inseparable relation with your own Interests, be vindicated and re∣stored; let your Liberties, Properties, Priviledges, without which I would not be your King, be secured and confirmed; there is nothing you can advise Me to I will not meet you in. And I doubt not but we shall together inform Posterity, how much our trust and confidence in each other is a better expedient for the Peace and preservation of the Kingdom, than Fears and Jealousies.
I shall keep you no longer from consulting together, than in telling you that I have prepared fit places for your Meetings, to which I desire you to repair this night; as∣suring you that I shall be always ready to receive any thing from you, admitting you to Me, or coming to you My self, whensoever you shall desire.
And so God direct you the best way.