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.

His Majesties Declaration.

WE having considered the Papers, and hum∣ble Petitions presented unto us by those of our Subjects of Scotland, who were admit∣ted to attend our Pleasure in the Camp; and af∣ter a full hearing by our Self of all that they could say or alledge thereupon, having commu∣nicated the same to our Council of both King∣doms, upon mature deliberation, with their unanimous Advice, We have thought fit to give this just and gracious Answer.

THat though we cannot condescend to ratifie and approve the Acts of the pretended General Assembly at Glasgow, for many grave and weighty Considerations which have hap∣pened before and since, much importing the Honour and Security of that true Monarchical Government lineally descended upon us from so many of our Ancestors: Yet such is our graci∣ous Pleasure, That notwithstanding the many Disorders committed of late, we are pleased not only to confirm and make good whatsoever our Commissioner hath granted and promised in our Name, but also we are further graciously pleased to declare and assure, that according to the Pe∣titioners humble Desires, all Matters Ecclesi∣astical shall be determined by the Assembly of the Kirk, and Matters Civil by the Parliament, and other inferiour Judicatories established by Law. Which Assemblies accordingly shall be kept once a Year, or as shall be agreed upon at the Gene∣ral Assembly.

And for settling the general Distractions of that our Ancient Kingdom, our Will and Plea∣sure is, That a free General Assembly be kept at Edenburgh, the sixth day of August next en∣suing,

where we intend (God willing) to be personally present. And for the legal Indiction whereof, we have given Order and Command to our Council; and thereafter a Parliament to be held at Edenburgh the twentieth day of Au∣gust next ensuing, for ratifying of what shall be concluded in the said Assembly, and settling such other things as may conduce to the Peace and Good of our Native Kingdom; and therein an Act of Oblivion to be passed.

And whereas We are further desired, that our Ships and Forces by Land be recalled, and all Persons, Goods, and Ships restored, and they made safe from Invasion, We are graciously pleased to declare, That upon their disarming and disbanding of their Forces, dissolving and discharging all their pretended Tables and Con∣venticles, and restoring unto us all our Castles, Forts, and Ammunition of all sorts; as like∣wise our Royal Honours, and to every one of our good Subjects, their Liberties, Lands, Houses, Goods, and Means whatsoever, taken and detained from them since the late pretended General Assembly, we will presently thereafter recall our Fleet, and retire our Land-Forces, and cause restitution to be made to all Persons of their Ships and Goods, detained and arrested since the aforesaid time. Whereby it may ap∣pear, that our intention of taking up of Arms, was no waies for invading of our Native King∣dom, or to innovate the Religion and Laws, but meerly for the maintaining and vindicating of our Royal Authority. And since that hereby it doth clearly appear, that we neither have nor do intend any alteration of Religion or Laws, but that both shall be maintained by us in their full Integrity, we expect the performance of that humble and dutiful Obedience which becometh Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, as in their several Petitions they have often professed. And as we have just reason to believe, that to our peaceable and well affected Subjects this will be satisfacto∣ry, so we take God and the World to witness, That whatsoever Calamities shall ensue by our necessitated suppressing of the Insolences of such as shall continue in their disobedient Courses, is not occasioned by us, but by their own procure∣ment.

Articles agreed upon.

I. THE Forces of Scotland to be Disbanded and Dissolved within eight and forty hours after the publication of his Majesties Declaration, being agreed upon.

II. His Majesties Castles, Forts, Ammunitions of all sorts, and Royal Honours to be delivered after the said publication, so soon as his Majesty can send to receive them.

III. His Majesties Ships to depart presently after the de∣livery of the Castles, with the first fair Wind, and in the mean time no interruption of Trade or Fish∣ing.

IV. His Majesty is graciously pleased to cause to be re∣stored, all Persons, Goods, and Ships, detained and arrested since the first day of November last past.

V. There shall be no Meetings, Treatings, Consultati∣ons, or Convocations of his Majesties Lieges, but such as are warranted by Act of Parliament.

VI. All Fortifications to desist, and no further working therein, and they to be remitted to his Majesties Plea∣sure.

VII. To restore to every one of his Majesties good Sub∣jects, their Liberties, Lands, Houses, Goods, and Means whatsoever, taken or detained from them by whatsoever means since the aforesaid time.