HIS Majesty being deeply sensible of the Continuation of this bloody and unnatural War, cannot think Himself discharg'd of the duty he owes to God, or the affection and regard He hath to the preservation of His People, without the con­stant application of His earnest endeavours to finde some expedient for the speedy ending of these un­happy Distractions, if that may be, doth therefore desire, That a safe Conduct may be forthwith sent, for the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Southampton, John Ashburnham, and Jeffery, Palmer Esquires, and their Attendants, with Coaches, Horses, and other Accommodations for their Journey to Westminster, during their stay there, and return when they shall think fit. Whom His Majesty intends to send to the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, furnished with such Propositions, as His Majesty is confident will be the Foundation of a happy and well-grounded Peace.

Given at the Court at Oxford the 5. of Decem. 1645.

HIs Majesty cannot but extremely wonder, that after so many Expressions on your part, of a deep and seeming sense of the miseries of this af­flicted Kingdom, and of the dangers incident to His Person during the continuance of this unnaturall War, your many great and so often repeated Pro­testations, that the raising of these Arms hath been only for the necessary defence of Gods true Reli­gion, His Majesties Honour, Safety and Prosperity, the Peace, Comfort and Security of His People, you should delay a safe Conduct to the persons mentio­ned in His Majesties Message of the fifth of this in­stant December, which are to be sent unto you with Propositions for a well grounded Peace: A thing so far from having been denied at any time by His [Page 5]Majesty, whensoever you have desired the same, that he believes it hath been seldom (if ever) practi­sed among the most avowed and professed enemies, much lesse from Subjects to their King. But His Majesty is resolved, that no discouragements what­soever shall make Him fail of His part, in doing His uttermost endeavours to put an end to these Cala­mities, which if not in time prevented, must prove the ruine of this unhappy Nation; And therefore doth once again desire, That a safe Conduct may be forthwith sent for those persons expressed in His former Message, and doth therefore Conjure you, as you will answer to Almighty God, in that day when he shal make inquisition for all the Blood that hath and may yet be spilt in this unnaturall War, as you tender the preservation and establishment of the true Religion; by all the Bonds of Duty and Alle­giance to your King, or compassion to your bleed­ing, and unhappy Country, and of Charity to your selves, that you dispose your hearts to a true sense, and imploy all your faculties in a more serious en­deavour, together with His Majesty, to set a speedy end to these wasting Divisions, and then he shall not doubt, but that God will yet again give the blessing of Peace to this distracted Kingdom.

Given at the Court at Oxford, the 15. of December, 1645.

NOtwithstanding the strange and unexpected delayes (which can be presidented by no former times) to His Majesties two former Messages, His Majesty will lay aside all [Page 6]Expostulations, as rather serving to lose time, then to con­tribute any remedy to the evils, which (for the present) do afflict this distracted Kingdom; Therefore without farther Preamble, His Majesty thinks it most necessary to send these Propositions this way, which He intended to do by the Per­sons mentioned in His former Messages, though He well knows the great disadvantage, which Overtures of this kinde 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 Iudgement as was requisite in so important a businesse; If therefore His Majesty may have the engagement of the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, the Major, Aldermen, Common-Councel, and Militia of London, of the chief Commanders in Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army, as also of 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 num­ber of 300) for the space of forty dayes, 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, up on all matters which may con­duce to the restoring of Peace and happiness to these misera­bly distracted Kingdoms; And to begin with the three Heads which were Treated on at Vxbridge. And for the better clea­ring of His Majesties earnest & sincere intentions of putting an end to these unnatural Distractions, (knowing that point of security may prove the greatest obstacle to this most bles­sed work) His Majesty therefore Declares, That He is willing [Page 7]to commit the great Trust of the Milition of this Kingdom, for such time, and with such Powers, as are exprest in the Paper delivered by His Majesties Commissioners at Vxbridge, the 6. of February last, to these Persons following, viz. The Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Richmond, the Marquesse of Here­ford, the Marquesse of Dorchester, the Earl of Dorset, Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Essex, Earl of Southampton, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Sa­lisbury, Earl of Manchester, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Den­bigh, Earl of Chichister, Lord Say, Lord Seymour, Lord Lucas, Lord Lexington, M. Denzill Hollis, M. Pierrepent, M. Henry Bellasis, M. Richard Spencer, Sir Thomas Fairfax, M. John Ash­burnham, Sir Gervas Cliseon, Sir Henry Vane junior, M. Robert Wallop, M. Thomas Chichely, M. Oliver Cromwell, and M. Philip Skippon, supposing that these are Persons against whom there can be no just exception: But if this doth not satisfie, then His Majesty offers to name the one half, and leave 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 witnesse, of His sincere Intentions and reall Endeavours, for the compo­sing and seting 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 Iudge, who are the Continuers of this unnaturall War. And therefore He once more Conjures you, by all the Bonds of Duty you owe to God and your King, to have so great a Compassion on the bleeding and miserable Estate of your Country, That you joyne your most serious and hearty Endeavours with His Majesty, to put a happy and speedy end to these present Miseries.

Given at the Court at OXFORD the 26 of December, 1645.

ALthough the Message sent by Sir Peter Killegrew, may justly require an expostulatory Answer, yet His Majesty layes that aside, as not so proper for His present Endeavours; leaving all the World to judge, whether His Proposition for a Personal Treaty, or the flat denial of a safe Conduct for Persons to begin a Treaty, be greater signes of a real Intention to Peace; and shall now onely insist upon His former Message of the 26 of this December: That upon His repair to Westminster, He doubts not but so to joyn His Endeavours with His two Houses of Parliament, as to give just satisfaction, not onely con­cerning the businesse of Ireland, but also for the setling of a way for the payment of the Publike Debts, as well to the Scots, and to the City of London, as others. And as already He hath shewn a fair way for the setling of the Militia. so He shall carefully Endeavour in all other Particulars, that none shall have cause to complain for want of security, whereby just Jealousies may arise to hinder the continuance of the desired Peace. And certainly this Proposition of a Personal Treaty could never have entred into His Majesties Thoughts, if He had not resolv'd to make ap­parent to all the World, that the Publike good and Peace of this Kingdom, is far dearer to Him then the respect of any par­ticular interest. Wherefore none can oppose this Motion, with­out a manifest demonstration, that he particularly envies His Majesty should be the chief Author in so blessed a Work, be­sides the declaring Himself a direct opposer of the happy Peace of these Nations. To conclude, whosoever will not be ashamed, that His fair▪ and specious Protestations should be brought to a trune and Publike Test; and those who have a real sence, and do truely commiserate the miseries of their bleeding Country, let them speedily and cheerfully embrace His Majesties Proposition for His Personal Treaty at Westminster, which, by the blessing of God, will undoubtedly to these now distracted Kingdoms, restore the happinesse of a long wisht for, and lasting Peace.

Given at the Court at Oxford, the 29 day of December. 1645.

BUt that these are times, wherein nothing is strange; it were a thing much to be marvailed at, what should cause this un­paralell'd long detention of His Majesties Trumpet, sent with His Gracious Message of the 26 of December last; Peace being the only Subject of it, and His Majesties Personal Treaty, the means proposed for it. And it were almost as great a wonder, that His Majesty should be so long from inquiring after it, if that the hourly expectation thereof, had not, in some measure satis­fied His Impatience: But least His Majesty by His long silence; should condemn himself of Carelesnesse in that, which so much concerns the good of all His People, He thinks it high time to inquire after His said Trumpeter; For since all men, who pre­tend any goodnesse, must desire Peace; and that all men know Treaties, to be the best and most Christian way to procure it▪ and there being as little question, that His Majesties Personal Presence in it, is the likeliest way to bring it to a happy Issue; He judges there must be some strange variety of accidents, which causeth this most tedious delay; Wherefore His Majesty ear­nestly desires to have a speedy Account of His former Message, the subject whereof is Peace, and the means His Personal Pre­sence at Westminster, where the Government of the Church be­ing setled, as it was in the times of the happy and glorious Reignes of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames, with full Liberty for the ease of their Consciences, who will not communicate in that Service established by Law, and likewise for the free and publike use of the Directory (prescribed, and by Command of the two Houses of Parliament, now practised in some parts of the City of London) to such as shall desire to use the same, and all Forces being agreed to be Disbanded, His Majesty will then forthwith (as He hath in His Message of the 29 of December last, already offered) joyn with His two Houses Parliament, in setling some way for the payment of the Publike Debts to His Scots Subjects, the City of London, and others: And His Maje­sty having proposed a fair way, for the setling of the Militia, which now by this long delay, seems not to be thought suffici­ent security: His Majesty (to shew how really He will im­ploy Himself at His comming to Westminster) for making this [Page 11]a lasting Peace, and taking away all jealousies, (how ground­lesse soever) will endeavour upon debate with His two Houses, so to dispose of it (as likewise of the businesse of Ireland) as may give to them and both Kingdoms just satisfaction; not doubting also, but to give good contentment to His two Houses of Parliament in the choice of the Lord Admiral, the Officers of State and others, if His two Houses, by their ready inclinations to Peace shall give Him encouragement thereunto. Thus His Majesty having taken occasion by His just impatience so to ex­plain His [...], that no man can doubt of a happy Issue to this [...] [...]reaty: If now, there shall be so much as a de­lay of the same; He calls God and the World to witnesse, who they are, that not only hinder, but reject this Kingdoms future happinesse, It being so much the stranger, that His Majesties coming to Westminster, (which was first the greatest pretence for taking up Arms) should be so much as delayed, much lesse not accepted or refused; But His Majesty hopes, that God will no longer suffer the malice of Wicked men to hinder the Peace of this too much afflicted Kingdom.

Given at the Court at Ox­ford, the 15 of Ianuary, 1645.