NEW PROPOSITIONS FROM His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, Lieute­nant Generall Cromwell, and the Councell of the Ar­my, concerning the Kings Majesty, His Royall Con­sort the Queene, Charles Prince of Wales, and James Duke of York, Presented to His Majesty at Hampton-Court. With His Majesties Gracious Answer and Desires.

Signed, CHARLES REX.

C R
‘HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE’

⟨7 ber 16.⟩ Printed at London, for Robert Williamson, 1647.

ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM The Kings Majesty at Hampton-Court: Sent to the Honourable House of Peeres, together with his new propositi­ons, and Desires therein.
Inclosed in a Letter from Hampton-Court, September, 15.

Right Honourable,

YOu have ever pursued me with your favours, that I am made capable of no other pleasure in the world but to entertain them: insomuch, that should I offer up my being to you, tis impossible for me, but in part to dis-ingage my selfe; so that of ne­cessity I must want both words and services to ex­presse how unfeinedly I honour you: Neverthelesse, I shall embolden my self, to make my earnest desire [Page]visible unto you, by imparting that, which all Loyal Subjects desires to be partakers of; and therefore, for generall satisfaction to your selfe, and the whole Kingdome, I thought it expedient to communicate his Majesties last Message and Resolution unto you, that so the whole Kingdome may take notice of His gracious inclination towards a firme and well setled Peace, together with His Majesties Proposalls and Desires therein, to His two Houses of Parliament as­sembled at Westminster, and how far He declares him self for the Army; All which I shall make manifest in his Majesties inclosed Message, signed Charles Rex.

In the intrim, I humbly crave your favourable ac-acceptation, to vouchsafe the serious perusall of these ensuing Proposals, to which, his Majesty doth so well approve of, viz.

1. An Act to be passed to take away all coercive power, authority, and jurisdiction of Bishops, and all other Ecclesiasticali Officers whatsoever, extending to any civill penalties upon any.

2. That there be a repeale of all Acts or Clauses in any Act enjoyning the use of the Booke of Com­mon-Prayer, and imposing any penalties for neglect thereof, as also of all Acts or Clauses in any Act, im­posing any penalties for not coming to Church, or for meetings else-where, for prayer, or other religi­ous duties.

3. That the taking of the Covenant be not inforced upon any, or any penalties imposed upon the Refu­sers, whereby men might be constrained to take it a­gainst their judgments, or consciences, but all Orders oa Ordinances, tending to that purpose to be repea­led.

[Page] 4. That (the things here-before proposed, being provided, for setling and securing the Rights, Liber­ties, Peace, and safety of the Kingdom) his Majesties person, his Queen, and royall issue may bee restored to a condition of safety, honour, and freedome in this Natton, without dimunition to their personall rights, or further limitation, to the exercise of the Regall power, than according to the particulars afore­going.

5. That there may be a generall Act of Oblivion to extend unto all, &c.

All which Proposals, together with many others, were debated and agreed upon, by the Generall, and the Councell of his Army, and presented to the Kings most gracious Majesty; who after some per­usall of the same, his Majesty declared a great affec­tion towards them, and immediatly declared himself to both Houses of Parliament, as followeth:

His Majesties gracious Message (or Declaration) to His two Houses of Parliament assembled at Westminster.

CHARLES REX.

HIs Majesty cannot choose but bee passionately sensible (as hee believes all his good Subjects are) of the late great distractions, and still languish­ing and unsetled State of this Kingdome; And Hee calls God to witnesse, and is willing to give testimony [Page]to all the world of his readinesse to contribute his ut­most endeavours for restoring it to a happy & flou­rishing condition.

His Majesty having perused the Propositions now brought to him, sinds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle. To some of which, he could not then consent without violation of his conscience and honour; so can hee neither a­gree to others now, conceiving them in many respects more disproportionable to the present condition of affaires then when they were formerly presented to him, as being destructive to the many principall inte­rests of the Army, and of all those whose affections concurre with them.

And his Majesty having seene the Proposals of the Army to the Commissioners of his two Houses re­siding with them, and with them to be treated on, in order to the clearing and securing the rights and Li­berties of the Kingdome, as the setling of a just and lasting Peace.

To which Proposals, as he conceives his two Hou­ses not to be strangers, so he believes they will thinke with him, that they much more conduce to the satis­faction of all interests, and may bee a fitter foundati­on for a lasting peace, then the Propositions which at this time are tendred to him.

I He therefore propounds (as the best way in His judgment in order to Peace) that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those Pro­posals upon which there may be a personall treaty with his Majesty, and upon such other Proposalls as his Majesty shall make, hoping that the said Propo­sals may be so moderated in the said treaty, as to ren­der [Page]them the more capable of his Majesties full con­cessions, wherein hee resolves to give full satisfaction to his People for whatsoever shall concerne the set­ling of the Protestant Profession, with liberty to ten­der Consciences, and the securing of the Lawes, Li­berties, and properties; of all his Subjects, and the just priviledges of Parliament for the future.

II And likewise by his present deportment in this trea­ty, hee will make the world clearly judge of his in­tentions in matter of future Government; In which treaty his Maj. will be pleased (if it be thought fit) that Commissioners from the Army (whose the Pro­posals are) may likewise be admitted.

III His Majesty therefore conjures his two Houses of Parliament, by the duty they owe to God, and his Ma­jesty their King, and by the bowels of compassion they have to their fellow subjects, both for reliefe of their present sufferings, and to prevent future mise­ries, that they will forthwith accept of his Majesties offer, whereby the joyfull newes of peace may bee restored to this distressed Kingdome. And for what concernes the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions, his Majesty will very willingly treate upon those particulars with the Scotch Commissio­ners; and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfacti­on to that his Kingdome.

For the Right Honourable, the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peeres, pro tempore, to be communicated to both Houses of the Parlia­ment of England,and the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland, [Page]
SIR,

IT is hoped that this Answer will give very much satisfaction to the Kingdome, and therefore I desire you to use your ut­most endeavours for the publishing there­of, that so the world may take notice of the great forwardnesse and readinesse of his Ma­jesty to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring of this poor languishing king­dome to a happy and flourishing condition, and also the reall and candid intentions of the Army, towards his Majesty, the Queen, and Royal Issue. Thus, for the present, I must restrain my pen, but shall for ever hereafter set my hand to the Paper, to expresse how much I am

Your faithfull friend and servant, Jo: Hall.
From Hampton-Court, this 15. of September, 1647.

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