THe Committee of Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland, understanding, that the honourable Houses of Parliament, were proceeding in a Treaty for Peace, with his Majesty, did about the be­ginning of the last Moneth, Authorize Us to present Propositions to his Majesty; And Particularly to deale with him, and the honourable Houses; for establishing the Covenant and Presbyteriall Government, the Con­fession of Faith, Directory for Worship, and Cate­chisme; For preventing the toleration of Idolatry, Po­pery, Prelacy, Superstition, Blasphemy, Heresie, and Schisme; And for perfecting the great worke of Re­formation and Uniformity, according to the Covenant: the substanee whereof hath been formerly communica­ted in a letter from the Committee of Estates, to both Houses, and by one of our Number, upon his recepti­on at the Committee of Derby-house, by Order from the Houses of Parliament. But to our great grief wee doe perceive; That the distractions of this Kingdome are, beyond our expectation, growne exceeding high; That a force hath been placed on the passages to the Houses; Which during transactions of highest con­cernment, hath imprisoned and secluded a great number of Members of Parliament; and given occasion to ma­ny others, to with-draw, because they find they cannot act as in a Free Parliament. That applications are made to You, for proceeding against the King, to take away his life, And for changing the Government of [Page 2] this Kingdome; And strong endeavours are used to O­verturne the whole worke of Reformation, to cast off the Ministery, and introduce a toleration of all Reli­gions and Formes of Worship; And so in effect, to de­stroy the Cause wherein both Nations have been enga­ged; And frustrate all the ends of the solemne League and Covenant, which both Kingdomes have sworne with up-lifted hands to Almighty GOD sincerely, real­ly, and constantly to performe. The consideration of these things doth exceedingly trouble us, and fill our hearts with feares; That, as they are for the present, matter of great provocation of the wrath of God a­gainst us, dishonourable to his Name, and a reproach to Religion; So, if persisted in, That they shall greatly weaken and divide us amongst our selves; Unite for­raigne Enemies against us; Advance the Popish inte­rest; Loose Ireland; and, in the end, prove destructive to the reformed Religion, and to the Peace and happiness of these Kingdomes.

In the yeare 1640. When these Kingdoms were op­pressed under the Yoke and tyrannie of the Prelates, who then were far advanced in the designe, to introduce Popery; The Kingdome of Scotland did joyne their en­deavours with this Kingdome to procure a free Parlia­ment here; looking upon it, as the chief meane, by the blessing of God, to give a check to the designes of the Prelats, who were studying the change of Religion; and to the enterprises of evill Councellors about the King, who were endeavouring to establish an Arbitrary and tyrannicall Government. And afterward, when through the power and prevalency of Papists, Prelates, and Ma­lignants, this Kingdome was distressed; The Kingdome [Page 3] of Scotland, did enter into a solemne League and Co­venant with this Nation: For reformation and defence of Religion, the Honour and happinesse of the King; and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdomes; And Particularly, for bringing the Churches of God there­in, to the neerest conjunction and uniformity in Reli­gion, Confession of Faith, forme of Church governe­ment, Directory for worship, and Catechising: For extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresie, Schisme, Prophanenesse, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to found Doctrine: For mutuall preservation of the rights and priviledges of the Parliaments, and li­berties of the Kingdomes: For discovering of Incen­diaries, Malignants, and evill Instrument, that hinder reformation of Religion, divide the King from his peo­ple, or one of the Kingdomes from another, or make any faction or party among the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they might be brought to publique triall and punishment: For preserving Peace and union betwixt the Kingdomes, and defen­ding one another in this Cause, and continuing therein all the dayes of our lives Zealously and constantly, a­gainst all opposition, and for promoting the same, ac­cording to our power, against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever.

In pursuance of the Solemne League and Cove­nant, both Houses of Parliament have often declared, That they will establish the reformation of Religion; Extirpate Popery, and Prelacy, and suppresse heresie and Schisme; And that they will maintaine the fundamen­tall Government of this Kingdome, by King, Lords, and Commons. And when the common Enemy being sub­dued, [Page 4] the Scottish Army was to goe out of this King­dome, in the beginning of the yeare 1647. And his Majesty by consent of both Kingdomes was to come to Holdenby; The Houses of Parliament did declare both to the King, and to the Kingdome of Scotland; That respect should be had to the safety and preservati­on of his Majesties Person, in the preservation and de­fence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the King­domes, according to the Covenant. And when the King should be at Holdenby, and the Scottish forces gone out of this Kingdome, That they would joyne with the Kingdome of Scotland, in imploying their best endeavours, to procure his Majesties assent to the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdomes. And in case the King should not give his assent thereunto, That the Houses were resolved still to maintaine the happie Union already setled betweene the two Kingdomes, ac­cording to the Covenant and Treaties. The Parlia­ment of Scotland did at the same t [...]me also, publish a Declaration of their intentions (whereof one copie was delivered to his Majesty, and another to the Hou­ses of Parliament.) That in the interim (untill his Majesty should give satisfaction to both Kingdomes, in the Propositions of Peace) there should be no harm, prejudice injury, or violence done to his royall Person; That there should be no change of Government, o­ther then had beene for the three yeares preceding; And that his Posterity should be no wayes prejudiced in their lawfull succession to the Crowne and Govern­ment of these Kingdomes.

These being the engagements of both Kingdomes joyntly together, and severally one to another, for the [Page 5] ends aforesaid; Wee hold it our duty to endeavour, That reformation of Religion be setled and established, as is before expressed; And Especially, that the tolerati­on of Idolatry, Popery, Blasphemy, heresie and Schisme, be prevented: least wee partake in other mens Sinn [...]s; and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues; That the rights and priviledges of Parliament may be preserved; That there may be no change of the funda­mentall Government; And that there be no harme, in­jury, or violence offred to his Majesties person; the very thought whereof, the Kingdome of Scotland hath al­wayes abhorred, as may appeare by all their procee­dings and Declarations: And the Houses of Parlia­ment, have upon severall occasions, expressed a detesta­tion thereof in their Declarations.

Wherefore, wee doe expect, that their shall be no proceeding against his Person, which cannot but conti­nue and increase the great distractions of these King­domes, and involve u [...] in many difficulties, miseries, and confusions: But that by the free Councels of both Houses of the Parliament of England, and with the ad­vice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland, (which is now sitting) Such course may be taken in relation to him, as may be for the good and happinesse of these Kingdomes; both having an unquestionable interest therein. Wee are

UPon the sixth of this instant, We sent to you a Letter, with a copy of our Commission inclo­sed; and delivered another Letter to be therewith communicated to the House, which were directed, as usually letters from the Commissioners of Scotland, to the House of Commons, have been. And when upon the delivery thereof, the Serjeant of the House was sent to enquire of us; whether the letters were to the Speaker himselfe, or to be communicated to the House; We answered that they were to be communicated to the House. And although we have divers times fithence, solicited you for the reading thereof; yet we under­stand, that our letters do still remaine in your hands, and have not been communicated. Wherefore, we hold it our duty hereby to represent our sence of this delay; expecting that we shall be enabled to give an account of our endeavours to the Parliament of Scot­land. And so we rest,

WE were exceedingly surprized upon Sa­turday in the afternoon, when we heard that His Majesty was brought before this new extraordinary Court; and that there should be such hast and precipitation, notwithstanding the reso­lution taken by the House, upon reading of our Letter of the sixth of this instant, to take into consideration what we have therein pressed; as was signifyed by you to some of our Number. Wherefore, we have sent you this inclosed Paper to be forthwith communica­ted unto them. And in pursuance of the directions which we have received from the Kingdome of Scot­land, we do desire, That they will take effectuall course, that we may have free accesse to His Majesty this day, and afterward upon all occasions, as we shall thinke fit, without any interruption or molestation whatsoever. And so we rest,

BY our Letter of the sixth of this instant, We represented unto you; what endeavours have been used, for the taking away of his Majesties life; for change of the Fundamentall Government of this Kingdome, and introducing a sinfull and ungodly Tolleration in matters of Religion. And therein, we did expresse our sad thoughts and great feares, of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon. And further, we did earnestly presse, that there might be no proceeding against his Majesties person; which would certainly continue the great distractions of these Kingdomes; and involve us in many evils, troubles, and confusions: But that by the free Counsels of both Houses of the Parliament of England, and with the ad­vice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland, such course might be taken in relation to him, as may be for the good and happinesse of these Kingdomes; both having an unquestionable and undenyable interest in his Person, as King of both: which duely considered, we had reason to hope, should have given a stop to all proceedings, against his Majesties Person. But we un­derstand; That, after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and Secluded; And also without and against the consent of the house of Peeres, by a single Act of yours alone, power is given to certaine Persons of your own number, of the Army and some others, to proceed against His Majesties per­son; In order whereunto, he was brought upon Sa­terday last in the afternoone, before this new extraor­dinary Court. Wherefore, we do in the name of the Parliament of Scotland, for their Vindication from false aspersions and Calumnies, declare. That though they [Page 9] are not satisfyed with His Majesties Concessions in the late Treaty at Newport in the Isle of Wight, especially in the matters of Religion; And are resolved not to crave His Majesties restitution to his Government, be­fore satisfaction be given by him, to his Kingdomes; yet they do all unanimously, with one voice (not one Member excepted) disclaime the least knowledge of, or accession to the late proceedings of the Army here, against His Majestie; And sincerely professe, that it will be a great griefe unto their hearts, and lye heavy upon their Spirits, if they shall see their trusting of his Majesties Person, to the honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, to be made use of to his ruine; so far contrary to the declared intentions of the king­dome of Scotland, and Solemn Professions of the king­dome of England. And to the end it may be mani­fest to the world, how much they abominate and de­test so horrid a designe, against his Majesties Person: We do in the name of the Parliament and kingdome of Scotland, hereby declare, their dissent from the said proceedings, and the taking away of His Majesties life; And protest, That as they are altogether free from the same; so they may be free from all the evils, miseries, confusions, and calamities that may follow thereupon, to these distracted Kingdomes.