The Humble desires of the COMMISSIONERS of your Majesties Kingdome of Scotland.

WEe your Majesties humble and faithfull Subjects, con­sidering that the mutuall relation, betwixt your Maje­sties Kingdomes of Scotland, and England, is such that they must either stand or fall together, and the distur­bance of the one, must needs dis-quiet and distemper the Peace of the other, as hath beene often acknow­ledged by them both, and especially in the late Treatie which is ratified in Parliament, and confirmed by the publike Faith of the estates of your Majesties ancient and Native Kingdome of Scotland, soe that they are bound to maintaine the Peace and liberties of one ano­ther being highly concerned therein, as the assured meanes of the safe­tie and preservation of their owne; and finding our Selves warranted and obliged, by all meanes to labour to keepe a right understanding betwixt your Majestie, and your People: to confirme that Brotherly affection begun betwixt the two Nations: To advance their Unitie by all such wayes, as may tend to the glory of God, and peace of the Church and State of both Kingdomes, and likewise to proffer our Ser­vice for the removing all Jealousies, and mistakings which may arise betwixt your Majestie and this Kingdome, and our best Indeavours [Page 2] for the better establishment of the affaires and quiet of the same. That both your Majesties Kingdoms of Sco [...]land and England, may be United in the enjoying of their liberties in Peace under your Majesties Scepter, which is the most assured Foundation of your Majesties Honour and Greatnesse, and of the security of your Royall Person, Crowne and Dignitie. Wee have taken the boldnesse to shew to your Majestie, that wee are heartily Sorry and greived, to behold these distractions which encrease daily betwixt your Majestie and your People, and which wee conceive are Entertained by the wicked Plots and practises of Papists Prelates, and their Adherents, whose ayme in all these Troubles, hath bin not onely to prevent all further Reformation, but also to subvert the Puritie, and truth of Religi [...]n, within all your Majesties Kingdomes; For which end their constant endeavours have beene to stirre up divi­sions betwixt your Majestie and your people, by their Questioning the Authoritie of Parliaments, and the lawfull liberties of the Subjects, and really weakning your Majesties power, and Authoritie Royall, up­on pretence of extending the same, whereof by Gods providence being disappointed in your Majesties Kingdome of Scotland, They have now converted their mischievous Counsells, Conspiracies and Attempts, to pro­duce these distempers in your Majesties Kingdome of England and Ire­land: And therefore according to our duty to your Majestie, to Testifie, our Brotherly affection to this Kingdome and acquit our Selves of the trust im [...]osed upon us▪ wee doe make offer of our humble Endeavours for composing of these differences and to that purpose doe beseech your Majestie in these Extremities, to have recourse to the sound and faithfull advise of the Honorable Houses of Parliament, and to repose thereupon as the onely assured and happie meanes to establish the Prosperity and Quiet of this Kingdome, and in the depth of your Royall, Wisedome, to consider and prevent these apprehensions of Feare which may possesse the hearts of your Majesties Subjects in your other Kingdomes, if they shall conceive the Authority of Parliaments, and the Right and Liberties of the Subject to be here called in question, And wee are confident if your Majestie shall be graciously pleased to take in good part, and give eare to these our Faithfull, and humble desires, that the successe of your Majesties affaires howsoever now perplexed, shall be happie to your Majestie, and Joyfull to all your People, over whom that your Majestie may long and Prosperously Reigne, is the constant and fervent Prayer of us your Majesties Faithfull Subjects, and Servants.

WEe are commaunded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the House of Commons, now Assembled in this present Parliament, in the name of themselves and the whole Commons of England, to present to you their heartie and affectionate thanks for your wise Counsells and faithfull advice given to his sacred Majesty, for the ap­peasing and removing of the present distraction and distempers of this State.

My Lords, The House of Commons are very sensible, and doe [Page 4] tenderly and affectionately consider, that this your du­tifull and faithfull advise, is a large Testimonie of your fidelitie to the King, affection to this State, and of Wisedome, for honour, security and peace of his Maje­stie, and both Kingdoms, and not only very acceptable to this House, but likewise of great advantage to both Nations.

They cleerely perceive, you rightly understand the causes of our distempers, and your carefull Indeavours to complie with them in the quieting and removing of the same: That the Brotherly Communion lately Confirmed by both Parliaments of England and Scot­land, binde them both to maintaine the Peace and li­berties of one another, being highly concerned equally therein, as the assured meanes of the safetie and preser­vation of both, and being so united, the disturbance of the one must needs disquiet and distemper the peace of the other, as hath bin often acknowledged by them both. They are likewise sensible that those Wayes which you in your Wisedomes have advised his Maje­stie to take, are the onely meanes to settle peace and u­nitie in this Kingdome, which are:

First, to endeavour to procure a right understanding betweene his Majesty and his People, by which his Ma­jestie may truely understand the real causes of these di­sturbances, and who are the Authors thereof, who are his faithfull and loyall Subjects, who are his faithfull and dutifull Counsellors, and who not : by this meanes shall the Brotherly affection begun betwixt the two Nations be confirmed by all such meanes as may tend to the glory of GOD, and peace of the CHURCH and State of both Kingdomes, will their unitie be advanced, [Page 5] and all mistakes and Jealousies which may arise betwixt his Maiestie and this Kingdome be removed, and the establishment of the affaires and quiet of the same, set­led in such a manner as may be the Perpetuall Peace and Tranquillitie of the same: the liberties and Priviled­ges of his Majesties Subjects freely Injoyed under his Royall Scepter, which is the most Assured Foundation of his Majesties Honour and Greatnesse, of the securitie of his Royall Person, Crowne and dignitie.

Secondly, the Removall and prevention of all such Plots and practises which they conceive are entertained by the Papists, Prelates, and their Adherents, whose aime in all these troubles hath bin not only to prevent all further Reformation, but also to Subvert the puritie and Truth of Religion within all his Majesties King­domes, for which end their constant Indeavours have beene to stirre up Division betwixt his MAIESTIE and his People, by their Questioning the authority of Parliaments and the lawfull Liberties of the Subjects, and really weakening his Majesties power and authori­tie Royall, upon pretence of defending the same, which Mischievous Counsells, Conspiracies and Attempts, hath produced these Distempers in his Majesties King­domes of England and Ireland.

Thirdly, that his Majestie would be pleased to have recourse onely to the sound and Faithfull advise of his Parliament, and to depend thereupon as the Assured and happie meanes to establish the Prosperitie and qui­et of this Kingdome, and in his Royall Wisedome to consider and Prevent these Apprehensions of Feare which may possesse the Hearts of his Majesties Subjects in his Majesties other Kingdomes, if they shall conceive [Page 6] the Authority of Parliaments, and the Rights and Li­berties of the Subjects to be here called in question. My LORDS,

These your Faithfull and Loyall propositions is the greatest demonstration of your affections Faithfully United and devoted to the securitie of his Maiesty, and your hearty wishes and desires of the Peace and pros­peritie, aswell of his Maiesties Kingdome of England as Scotland and Ireland: these Propositions have beene the onely Indeavours and Intentions of his MAIES­TIES High Court of Parliament, to effect and make manifest to all men; And in any other meanes what­soever that shall by you be conceived necessary to the composeing and setling of these present distractions, they declare themselves desirous to have the same com­municated unto them, and they shall be right joyfull and thankefull therefore, and will willingly and cheer­fully joyne with you in the same.