His MAJESTIES Message to both Houses, from Oxford, Jan. 15. 1645-46.
For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore, to be communicated to the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland.
CHARLES R.
BUT that these are times wherein nothing is strange, it were a thing much to be marvelled at, what should cause this unparallel'd long detention of His Majesties Trumpet, sent with His Gracious Message of the 26. of December last; Peace being the only subject of it, and His Majesties Personal Treaty the means proposed for it. And it were almost as great a wonder, that His Majesty should be so long from inquiring after it, if that the hourly expectation thereof had not in some measure satisfied His Impatience. But lest His Majesty by His long silence should condemn Himself of Carelesness in that which so much concerns the good of all His People, He thinks it high time to inquire after His said Trumpeter: For since all men who pretend any goodness must desire Peace, and that all men know Treaties to be the best and most Christian way to procure it, and there being as little question that His Majesties Personal Presence in it is the likeliest way to bring it to a happy Issue; He judges there must be some strange variety of accidents which causeth this most tedious Delay. Wherefore His Majesty earnestly desires to have a spee∣dy Account of His former Message, the subject whereof is Peace, and the means His Per∣sonal Presence at Westminster, where, the Government of the Church being setled as it was in the times of the happy and glorious Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James, and full Liberty for the ease of their Consciences who will not communicate in that Service established by Law, and likewise for the free and publick use of the Directory (prescri∣bed, and by Command of the two Houses of Parliament now practised in some parts of the City of London) to such as shall desire to use the same, and all Forces being agreed to be Disbanded, His Majesty will then forthwith (as He hath in His Message of the 29. of December last already offered) joyn with His two Houses of Parliament in setling some way for the payment of the publick Debts to His Scots Subjects, the City of London and others. And His Majesty having proposed a fair way for the setling of the Militia, which now by this long Delay seems not to be thought sufficient Security; His Majesty (to shew how really He will imploy Himself at His coming to Westminster for making this a lasting Peace, and taking away all Jealousies, how groundless soever) will endeavour, upon debate with His two Houses, so to dispose of it (as likewise of the business of Ireland) as may give to them and both Kingdoms just satisfaction; not doubting also but to give good contentment to His two Houses of Parliament in the choice of the Lord Admiral, the Of∣ficers of State and others, if His two Houses, by their ready inclinations to Peace, shall give him encouragement thereunto.