XV. From OXFORD, Dec. 26. MDCXLV. For a Personal Treaty.
CHARLES R.
NOtwithstanding the strange and unexpected delays (which can be precedented by no former times) to His Majesties two former Messages, His Majesty will lay aside all expostulations, as rather serving to lose time, than to contribute any re∣medy to the evils which (for the present) do afflict this distracted Kingdom: There∣fore, without further preamble, His Majesty thinks it most necessary to send these Propositions this way, which He intended to do by the Persons mentioned in His for∣mer Messages, though He well knows the great disadvantage which overtures of this kind have by the want of being accompanied by well-instructed Messengers.
His Majesty conceiving that the former Treaties have hitherto proved ineffectual chiefly for want of Power in those Persons that Treated, as likewise because those from whom their Power was derived (not possibly having the particular informations of every several debate) could not give so clear a Judgment as was requisite in so im∣portant a business; If therefore His Majesty may have the engagement of the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, the Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council and Militia of London, of the chief Com∣manders in Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, as also those in the Scots Army, for His Majesties free and safe coming to and abode in London or Westminster, (with such of His Servants now attending Him, and their followers, not exceeding in all the num∣ber of three hundred) for the space of forty days, and after the said time for His free and safe repair to any of His Garrisons of Oxford, Worcester, or Newark, (which His Majesty shall nominate at any time before His going from London or Westminster) His Majesty propounds to have a Personal Treaty with the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, upon all mat∣ters which may conduce to the restoring of Peace and happiness to these miserable distracted Kingdoms: and to begin with the three Heads which were Treated on at Vxbridge. And for the better clearing of His Majesties earnest and sincere inten∣tions of putting an end to these unnatural Distractions, (knowing that point of se∣curity may prove the greatest obstacle to this most blessed work) His Majesty there∣fore declares, That He is willing to commit the great trust of the Militia of this Kingdom for such time and with such powers as are exprest in the Paper delivered by His Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge the sixth of February last, to these persons following, viz. the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Richmond, the Marquess of Hertford, the Marquess of Dorchester, the Earl of Dorset, Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Northum∣berland, the Earl of Essex, Earl of Southampton, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Manchester, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Chichester, Lord Say, Lord Sey∣mour, Lord Lucas, Lord Lexington, Mr Denzil Hollis, Mr Pierrepont, Mr Henry Bellasis, Mr Richard Spencer, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Mr John Ashburnham, Sir Gervas Clifton, Sir Henry Vane Junior, Mr Robert Wallop, Mr Thomas Chicheley, Mr Oliver Cromwell, Mr Philip Skippon, supposing that these are persons against whom there can be no just ex∣ception: But if this doth not satisfie, then His Majesty offers to name the one half, and leaves the other to the election of the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, with the Powers and Limitations before mentioned.
Thus His Majesty calls God and the World to witness of His sincere intentions and real endeavours for the composing and setling of these miserable Distractions, which he doubts not but by the blessing of God will soon be put to a happy conclusion, if this His Majesties offer be accepted: Otherwise He leaves all the World to judge, who