The Declaration and Propositions of his Majesties loyall and Faithfull Subjects within the Realme of England, in the name of themselves, and the whole Nation, to the Representatives of this Kingdom, concerning the Reign and Government of the Kings most excellent Majesty.
WHere as your Honours in pursuance of the duty of your high place and calling, have solemnly undertaken and entered into various engagements before God and the World, for to endeavour the restoring of this Nation unto her just Freedomes, Rights and Happinesse.
And whereas your Petitioners looking into the true state of things doe finde, That notwithstanding any thing whatsoever, that hath been, as yet, done, or attempted by this or any precedent Parliament, in the behalfe of this Nation: and after so much Englsh bloud spilt under that pretence; The Nation is still suffered to remain (as it hath done almost these six hundred years) in Captivity to the Right, Title, Exercise, and disgracefull [Page 2]Banges of the Normane (pretended) Conquest over us, as is manifest by the tenour of that Title by which (with the consenting sufferage of our Parliaments, Laws and Lawyers, yet un-repeal'd) the Crown of England is still enjoyed, and by a great part both of the matter & forme of those Lawes, by which we are still governed.
Now forasmuch as untill the Bands of this National Captivity be dissolved, all else that is done or endeavoured, (how gloriously soever pretending) being all terminated in the abatement of the Royal Prerogative, and is 1 not onely of lower concernment, as to the service of this Nation, but 2 also very iregular and insufficient for atteining the Ends proposed; the first, for that is undeniably less contrary unto Honour and true Freedom in a Nation, for to be under arbitrary Government, legitimately instituted (as were the Jews under their a nointed Kings, and the Romans under their Dictators) then under the most moderated Sovereignty that springs from and is the exercise of a Conquest; the latter, for that while this Kingdom (or the relation betwixt our Kings and people) continues grounded on the Conquest; the Sovereignty cannot legally nor (consequently) validly be so moderated, but that the Supream Laws will be still (not Salus Populi, as hath been lately, and foundly talked in this Kingdom, but) the Honour and will of the Prince, as sufficiently appears (to omit other Testimonies) from the fate and issue of some Acts of Parliament in K. Edward the 3 time, which fell to the ground, and were nullified by the Kings bare Authority joyned with the consent of the Lords, for being prejudiciall to the Royall Honour and Prerogative, as which are and will be the Fundamentall and Supream [Page]in this Kingdom, while it continues grounded as abovesaid. And for as much as the said Title of Conquest and depravation of our Laws, are not only Destructive (while they continue in force over us) to the Honour, Freedom, and happinesse of our Nation, but also contrary to the fundamentall Constitution of this Kingdom as being usurpantly & perfidiously introduced; for that [according to the unanimous testimony of Records] the Norman Duke was by this Nation admitted to Crown, in respect of this claim by Saint Edwar'ds Legacy ioyt'd with his Victory over his Competitor Harold, and upon his Oath to preserve our Laws and Liberties, and not otherwise; insomuch that the Title of Englands Conquerour may as justly be affixed to the Names of Henry the Fourth, Edward the Fourth, and Henry the Seventh (who all made their claimes by Victories over their Competitors, as to the name of the said Duke.
And for that also these Abuses are not only thus prejvditiall and injurious to our Nation, but also very Derogatory to the Honour of our Kings and to their interest in the Peoples affections, as founding their Right and Rule on an usurpant originall, and one the Ruines of the Honour and Freedom of this Nation, and thereby casting the seeds of irreconcilliable hatred betwixt them; Insomuch, that there is none in this Kingdom can stand up in the maintenance of these Injuries, without declaring themselves open Enemies, and the most fl [...]gitious Traitors both to their King & Countrey, that ever were.
And for as much as it now pleased Almighty God to put that power and opportunity into your hands for the Redresse of these Evils, which was never heretofore afforded to your predecessors, and that ye are now upon a Treaty with his Majesty, for new forming the Fabrick of this State.
May it therefore please this Honourable House, now at length (before it is too late) to take such Order, That our Kings may no longer reign over us by the Right or Pretence of Conquest, thereby trampling under foot our chiefe Rights and Happinesse, But that the Title of the Normane Bloud unto the Crown of England, may be grounded (as of right it ought to be) on the Legacie of St. Edward, joyned with the Nations, Admission granted (and to be still granted) upon the Coronation Oath taken, and not otherwise: And that the Right and Title of the said (pretended) Conquest, being thus abolished out of this Kingdom, the disgracefull and needlesse Badges thereof still remaining among us, (particularly in the matter and Language of our Lawes) may, in convenient time, be likewise redrest, whereby the English Nation may now at length (after so many ages unjust sufferance) be restored from out of the Quality, Title, and Vesture, of a Captive, under a forreign bloud, unto her just Honour, Freedom, and happinesse, and that so (through your worthy endeavours, in this putting an end to your Countries long Bondage) there may be laid amongst us a reall and lasting Foundation of glory to God on high, of Peace in this Kingdom, and of good will betwixt Prince and People, which otherwise is altogether impossible to be done.
And your Petitioners, with the whole Nation, shall pray, &c.
His Majesties Letter to his Right Trusty and most loyall Subject within the City of London.
TRusty and wel beloved, we greet you well: We have lately received a Petition from Arthur Knight our Servant, and Haberdasher; wherein he expresseth; That 2. [Page 5]of his Sons are (for robbery) indicted, and convicted, & are present prisoners in New-gate expecting the sentence of death at the next Sessions, and Goale Delivery there. Now (although we shall not in any kind interrupt the course of Justice to passe on them, or any offenders yet) out of compassion to our Servant, who hopes they will be for the future, reclaimed, We have thought fit to pray you, to use your best indeavours to procure for them a Reprieve from execution: And (if it may be consonant to the due proceedings in such cases) that bayle may be taken for their Inlargement, thereby to ease our Servant of the great charge he is at, so as they may be answerable for their fact, untill such time as (in our clemency and Justice) we may judge whether it may be fit to give them our pardon: And this we do the rather, because we hear they have been reprieved already. So recommending this businesse to your care and Judgement, we bid you farewell.
From our Court at Newport this 20. of September, 1648.To our Trusty and wel beloved Richard Brown Esquire, one of the Sheriffes (Elect) of our City of London.
The Lords had a letter read from the King. That whereas His Majesty doth understand that the Lord Carnagy, and Sir Alexander Gibson (who is Lord Clerke) are not in a capacity to Treat His Majesty doth therefore desire that Sir James Carmichell (whom the Houses have approved of) may have a passe sent for him to come to treat for affaires of Scotland, and that Mr. Parsons may have a passe, and be speedily dispatched. Their Lordships ordered to communicate it to the Commons.
The Parliaments proceedings on the said Letter. viz.
On Thursday last a letter passed to be sent into Scotland [Page 6]for Sir James Carmichell to have liberty to come to the King, to treat of the affaires of that Kingdom, and a passe for him, and his Horses and Servants. Also Propofitions to the Scots, that if they will send the names of others whom they shall appoint (if they were not ingaged against England) the Parliament will send them passes.
Also a Passe for M [...]. Parsons to carry the said letters.
Exceeding joyfull Newes from the Treaty, to all his Majesties loyall, and faithfull Subjects within the Realm of England, and his gracious Declaration thereupon.
THe Kings Majesty, and the Commissioners of both Houses, are like to come to a happy agreement, and (in all probability) will suddenly compose the distracted differences of this distressed Nation; His Majesty hath already passed the Bill, for recalling all Declarations, &c. published in the Name, and by his Majesties Authority against both Houses of Parliament. On Tuesday last, the King and the Commissioners met about 9. of the Clock in the morning, and sate til [...] 5. in the Afternoon, their results was, touching the Discipline of the Church, and after some progresse made therein, for a speedy composure of all differences, and setling of Church Government, His Majesty seemed not to insist much upon the matter, but some particular expressions therein; so that there is great hopes, that our present distractions will be suddenly brought to a period, and the peace of the Church and Kingdom firmly united and s [...]tled, there being great probability, of an agreement in all things, betwixt the King and his people, in rela [...]ion to the Treaty; without which his Majesty declares nothing to be of force. Wednesday being the Fast day, the King and the Commissioners, had no meeting in the Treaty Chamber. On Thursday the King and the Commissioners met again, and had severall scruples, being at the Table, His Majesty declared That nothing should be wanting on His part, for the setling a safe and wel-grounded Peace, and therefore disired; that all scruples might be cleared, and the great distractions and oppressions of all His liege people removed.
Newport 30. Septemb, 1648.