THe Commissioners having kist his Majesties hand, and the King saluted each of them with his hat off, and said.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, lye are all welcom, I pitty the long journey you have taken to come to me hither, and bo [...]h kingdoms are beholding to you, and I receive your coming cheerfully: what is the Message you have to deliver to me?

M [...]y it pleas [...]r Majesty, we are appoin­ted by both Houses of Parliament, to repaire to this place, to signifie to your Majesty, that wee are come from r [...]e two Houses of the Parliament of England, to receive your Majesty, and to take care care that your Majesties person be conducted in safety to Holmby House.

What time is appointed for my going to H [...]lmby?

With what convenient speed your Majesty shall please to appoint.

In what condition are the ways now, are they not very foule, and ill to p [...]sse at this time?

We shall find out good wayes for your Maje­sties passage from hence to Holmby.

I have something [...]o propound unto you; two or three dayes hence I will declare my pleasure, and ex­presse my desires, and appoint you the time for my [...]et­ting out to the South. His Majestie asked the Com­missioners [Page] how his Children did.

Your Majesties children are all well, and the Parliament are very carefull of them.

Where are they▪

They are at S. Iameses, with the Earle of Nor­thumberland, who hath a sp [...]ciall care of them.

THe Commissioners came to the King, to take their leaves of his Majestie, and acquainted him that they had received Instructio [...]s from the Parliament of Scotland to deliver his Majestie to the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, who were come to re­ceive hit Majestie, and to attend him to Holmby house.

My Lords and Ge [...]men, you know that I have often expressed m [...] desires to go into Scotland for the se [...]ling of my kingdome there in peace.

May it please your Majestie, wee have received the note of the Parliament of E [...]inburgh, that it is not safe for your Majestie, nor the kingdom, for your Maje­stie to go thither at this time: concerning which, wee have received Instructions against your Majesties going thi [...]her at this time.

I c [...]me to your Armie to Southwel for protecti­on, and it was granted me; why then should you deny me to go to Edinburgh, seeing it is my desire for the good of that kingdome.

Our Instructions are to deliver up the English G [...]r [...]ison [...] to Maj▪ Gen. Skippon and to deliver you Ma­jestie to the Commissioners from the two Houses of the Parliament of England.

I desi [...]e to know how you intend to dispose of me, and would have you seriously to consider what I have said.

May it please your Majestie, we have duly con­sidered every thing: we are but servants to the Parl. of Scotland, from whom we have received Instructions, and Commission; That in regard your Majestie hath refused to sign the Covenant, & passe the Propositions wee are to deliver your Majestie to the Commissioners of both houses of the Parl. of England, who are come to attend your Majestie in safety to Holmbie.

The Commissioners being come to the King, Thurs­day Jan. 28. [...]hey acquainted his Maj. that they were come [...]o receive his Answer, concerning what was by them propounded to his Maj. (from the two Houses of the Pa [...]l of England) on Tuesday before.

I had given you an answer yesterday, but that I knew you would go to Church, it being F [...]st▪ day. In what readinesse is Holmby house for my comming thither?

May it please your Majestie▪ there is, and will be such care taken, that all things will be ready for your Maj. before your Majestie can get thither; concerning which, we desire your Majesties answer.

I shall go with you to Holmbie house; but I would have my own Servants to remain about mee in their places.

The Parliament have appointed Gentlemen (who are come along with us) to wait upon your Maje­stie in your Majesties Chamber: of whom, wee have a List; And for your Maiesties other Servants upon the perusall of a List of them, we shall let so many of them goe along with your Maiestie to Holmbie, as wee may upon our Instructions.

• 1 Col. Thomas Harbert▪ Commissioner of the Armie.
• 2 M. M [...]xwel, Yeoman of the Black-Rod to the house of Peeres.
• 3 M [...]. Aust [...]y▪ Quartermaster formerly to the King.
• 4 Mr James Harrington, that serv [...]d the Prince Ele­ctor.
• 5 Mr. Patrick Maul, of the Bed▪ chamber.
• 6 Sir Jo [...]n Thorowgood, G [...]ntlem [...]n Pensioner.
• 7 Sir [...]ook Grivil, Gentlem [...]n pensioner.
• 8 Mr. Anthonie Mildmay (Sir He [...]ries brother)
• 9 Captain Middleton Sa [...]jeant a [...] Armes.

A [...]ter some discourse concern [...]ng the Kings servants, his Maiestie moved to have som [...] discourse with some of them, about some things [...]ted on, and some oth [...]r passages thereto. His Majestie fell into discourse of Re­ligion.

I desire to have two of my Chaplaines, who have not taken the Covenant, to goe along with me to [Page 5] Holmbie, for private reading of Divine Service to me: For my Conscience cannot joine with the Directorie, and Forme of Government and Worship, which ye [...] have set up.

Y [...]ur Majestie hath authorized the same govern­ment in the Kingdom of Scotland, and we hope your Majestie will joyn with us, and confirm it in the King­dome of England also.

It is true, the Government of the Kirk of Scot­land, as it is now exe [...]cised, I confirmed by Act: But the Government and Discipline of the Church of England is not as yet setled, but the chiefe part of it still in De­bate: And therefore▪ untill the Government of the Church be established, I would have a Common pray­er Book allowed me, to be r [...]ad for my own private use.

May it please your Maiestie, we cannot do it, by the Instructions given us from the two houses of Par­li [...]ment.

I know your Instructions well enough; And therfore would have you to send to the Parliament, that I may have that libertie allowed me by Them.

We desire your Maiestie to consider, that it may be your Mai. prejudice, and the kingdome [...], to desire it; and therefore, desire your Maiestie not to presse it any further. We desire your Maiestie to appoint a time for Your Maiesties going from hence towa [...]ds Holmbie.

Let it be Munday or Tuesday if you will.

Tuesday if Your Majestie pleaseth.

His Majesties Se [...]vants said, that the Kings Accom­modation could not be fitted so soon: but by Wednes­day, the Sumpters, and all things would be readie.

If Your Maiestie please, let it be Wednesday, & [Page 6] Your Maiestie may lye that night at DVRHAM.

Content, It is Weddesday: I will go with you that night to Durham I have beene deceived in my ex­pectation from some: But if this Journie make my ex­pectations frustrated, I shall be very glad.

Your Maiestie may be fully assured of your peo­ples love and affections to you, in joyning with your Parliament, And the Earl of Pembroke said that had he had the least doubt therof, h [...] should have desired some other to have come of the Arrand: And if to wait upon him, to bring his Maiestie to his peoples affections, to joyn with his Parliament, was to frustrate his expecta­tion, they would then willingly deceive him.

His Maiestie lay Wednesday night at Durham, Thurs­day night at Bishops-Alton, from whence his Maiestie marched Southward on Friday following.