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.

The Answer of both Houses to His MAJESTIES two former Messages of the 26. and 29. of Dec.

May it please your Majesty;

WE your humble and loyal Subjects of both Kingdoms have received your Letters of the 26. and 29. of December last, unto which we humbly return this Answer: That there hath been no Delay on our parts, but what was necessary in a business of so great a consequence, as is exprest in our former Letter to Your Majesty.

Concerning the Personal Treaty desired by your Majesty, There having been so much innocent blood of Your good Subjects shed in this War by Your Majesties Commands and Commissions, Irish Rebels brought over into both Kingdoms, and endeavours to bring over more into both of them, as also Forces from Foreign parts; Your Majesty be∣ing in Arms in these parts, and the Prince in the head of an Army in the West, divers Towns made Garrisons and kept in Hostility by Your Majesty against the Parliament of England; there being also Forces in Scotland against that Parliament and Kingdom, by Your Majesties Commission; the War in Ireland fomented and prolonged by Your Ma∣jesty, whereby the three Kingdoms are brought near to utter Ruine and Destruction: we conceive, that until satisfaction and security be first given to both Your Kingdoms, Your Majesties coming hither cannot be convenient, nor by us assented unto; neither can we apprehend it a means conducing to Peace, that Your Majesty should come to Your Parlia∣ment for a few days, with any thoughts of leaving it, especially with intentions of return∣ing to Hostility against it. And we do observe, That Your Majesty desires the Ingage∣ment not only of Your Parliaments, but of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Coun∣cel and Militia of the City of London, the chief Commanders of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army and those of the Scots Army, which is against the Priviledges and Honour of the Parliaments, those being joyned with them who are subject and subordinate to their Au∣thority.

That which Your Majesty (against the Freedom of the Parliaments) inforces in both Your Letters with many earnest expressions, as if in no other way than that propounded by Your Majesty the Peace of Your Kingdoms could be established, Your Majesty may please to remember, that in our last Letter we did declare that Propositions from both Kingdoms were speedily to be sent to Your Majesty, which we conceive to be the only way for the attaining a happy and well-grounded Peace, and Your Majesties Assent unto those Propositions will be an effectual means for giving satisfaction and security to Your Kingdoms, will assure a firm Union between the two Kingdoms, (as much desired by each for other as for themselves) and settle Religion, and secure the Peace of the Kingdom of Scotland, whereof neither is so much as mentioned in Your Majesties Letter.

And in proceeding according to these just and necessary grounds for the putting an end to the bleeding Calamities of these Nations, Your Majesty may have the glory to be a Principal Instrument in so happy a Work, and we (however mis-interpreted) shall ap∣prove our selves to God and the World to be real and sincere in seeking a safe and well-grounded Peace.

Westminster, 13. Jan. 1645.

• Grey of Wark, Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore.
• VVilliam Lenthal, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Signed in the Name and by warrant of the Com∣missioners of the Parlia∣ment of Scotland. Balmerino.