The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

CHARLES by the grace of God, King of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. To our Lovits Heraulds,

Messengers, our Sheriffs in that part, conjunct∣ly and severally specially constitute greeting. Forsameikle as We are not ignorant of the great disorders, which have happened of late within this Our ancient Kingdom of Scotland, occasi∣oned, as is pretended, upon the introduction of the Service Book, Book of Canons, and High Commission, thereby searing innovation of Reli∣gion and Laws. For satisfaction of which fears, We well hoped, that the two Proclamations of the eleventh of December, and nineteenth of Fe∣bruary, had been abundantly sufficient. Never∣theless, finding that disorders have daily so in∣creased, that a powerful rather than perswasive way, might have been justly expected from Us; Yet We out of Our innative indulgence to Our People, grieving to see them run themselves so headlong into ruin, are graciously pleased to try, if by a fair way We can reclaim them from their faults, rather than to let them perish in the same. And therefore once for all, We have thought fit to declare, and hereby to assure all Our good people, that We neither were, are, nor by the Grace of God ever shall be stained with Popish Superstition: But by the contrary, are resolved to maintain the true Protestant Christian Reli∣gion already profest within this our ancient King∣dom. And for farther clearing of scruples, We do hereby assure all men, that We will neither now nor hereafter press the practice of the fore∣said Canons and Service-Book, nor any thing of that nature, but in such a sair and legal way, as shall satisfie all Our loving Subjects, that We neither intend innovation in Religion or Laws: And to this effect, have given order to dis∣charge all Acts of Council made thereanent. And for the High Commission, We shall so rectifie it with the help of advice of Our Privy Council, that it shall never impugne the Laws, nor be a just grievance to Our loyal Subjects. And what is farther fitting to be agaitate in general Assem∣blies and Parliament, for the good and peace of the Kirk, and peaceable Government of the same, in establishing of the Religion presently profest, shall likewise be taken into Our Royal consideration, in a free Assembly and Parliament, which shall be indicted and called with Our best conveniency. And we hereby take God to wit∣ness, that Our true meaning and intention is, not to admit of any innovations either in Religi∣on or Laws, but carefully to maintain the purity of Religion already profest and established, and no waies to suffer Our Laws to be infringed. And although we cannot be ignorant, that there may be some disaffected persons who will strive to possess the hearts of Our good Subjects, that this Our gracious Declaration is not to be re∣garded; Yet We do expect that the behaviour of all Our good and loyal Subjects will be such, as may give testimony of their obedience, and how sensible they are of Our Grace and Favour, that thus passeth over their misdemeanours, and by their future carriage make appear, that it was only fear of innovation, that hath caused the dis∣orders which have happened of late within this

Our ancient Kingdom. And are confident, that they will not suffer themselves to be seduced and mis-led, to misconstrue Us or Our actions, but rest heartily satisfied with Our pious and real in∣tentions, for maintenance of the true Religion and Laws of this Kingdom. Wherefore We require and heartily wish all Our good people carefully to advert to these dangerous suggesti∣ons, and not to permit themselves, blindly un∣der pretext of Religion, to be led in disobedi∣ence, and draw on, infinitely to Our grief, their own ruin, which We have, and still shall strive to save them from, so long as We see not Royal Authority shaken off. And most unwillingly shall make use of that power which God hath endued Us with, for reclaiming of disobedient people.

OUR WILL is herefore, and We charge you straightly and command, that incon∣tinent these Our Letters seen, you pass to the Market-Cross of Our Burgh of Edenburgh, and all other places needful, and there by open Pro∣clamation make publication hereof to all and sundry Our good Subjects, where through none pretend ignorance of the same. The which to do, We commit to you conjunctly and severally Our full power, by these Our Letters, delivering the same by you duely execute and indorsed again to the Bearer. Given at Our Court of Green∣wich the twenty eighth day of June, and of Our Reign the thirteenth year, 1638.

Per Regem.

NO sooner was it ended, but this their en∣suing Protestation against it begun, and was publickly read; which here, according to their Printed Copy, We have caused to be in∣serted.