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.

XXV. From NEWCASTLE, Aug. 1. MDCXLVI. For a Personal Treaty upon the Propositions sent Him.

To 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.

THE Propositions tendered to His Majesty by the Commissioners from the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England assembled at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, (to which the Houses of Parliament have taken twice so many months for deliberation as they have assigned days for His Maje∣sties Answer) do import so great alterations in Government both in Church and King∣dom, as it is very difficult to return a particular and positive Answer before a full De∣bate, wherein these Propositions, and the necessary explanations, true sense and rea∣sons thereof, may be rightly weighed and understood, and that His Majesty, upon a full view of the whole Propositions, may know what is left, as well as what is taken away and changed. In all which He finds (upon discourse with the said Commissio∣ners) that they are so bound up from any capacity either to give reasons for the de∣mands they bring, or to give ear to such desires as His Majesty is to propound, as it is impossible for Him to give such a present Judgment of and Answer to these Propositi∣ons, whereby He can answer to God, that a safe and well-grounded Peace will ensue (which is evident to all the world can never be, unless the just Power of the Crown, as well as the Freedom and Propriety of the Subject, with the just Liberty and Privi∣leges of the Parliament, be likewise setled.) To which end His Majesty desires and proposeth to come to London, or any of His Houses thereabouts, upon the publick Faith, and security of the two Houses of Parliament and the Scotch Commissioners, that He shall be there with Freedom, Honour and Safety; where by His Personal pre∣sence He may not only raise a mutual Confidence betwixt Him and His People, but also have these Doubts cleared, and these Difficulties explained unto Him, which He now conceives to be destructive to His just Regal Power, if He shall give a full consent to these Propositions as they now stand: as likewise, that He may make known to them such His reasonable demands, as He is most assured will be very much conduci∣ble to that Peace which all good men desire and pray for, by the setling of Religion, the just Privileges of Parliament, with the Freedom and Propriety of the Subject.

And His Majesty assures them, that as He can never condescend unto what is abso∣lutely destructive to that just Power which by the Laws of God and the Land He is born unto; so He will chearfully grant and give His assent unto all such Bills, at the desire of His two Houses, or reasonable demands for Scotland, which shall be really for the good and Peace of His People, not having regard to His own particular (much less any bodies else) in respect of the Happiness of these Kingdoms. Wherefore His Majesty conjures them as Christians, as Subjects, and as men who desire to leave a good name behind them, that they will so receive and make use of this Answer, that all issues of blood may be stopped, and these unhappy Distractions peaceably setled.

Newcastle August 1. 1646.

POSTSCRIPT.

UPon assurance of a happy Agreement, His Majesty will immediately send for the Prince His Son, absolutely expecting his perfect obedience to return into this Kingdom.