A LETTER OF The Parliament of Scotland TO BOTH HOUSES OF The Parliament of England.

Together with the DECLARATION Of the Parliament of Scotland, concerning His Majestie: Their DESIRES; and the ANSWER of the Parliament of England.

The second Edition.

Printed at Edinburgh by EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie: And re-printed at London for Robert Bostock, at the signe of the Kings head in Pauls Church-yard. 1647.

January 16. 1647.
A Letter from the Parliament of Scotland to the Parliament of ENGLAND.

Right Honorable,

O Ʋr Commissioners at London and New-Castle, having received from the Honorable Houses the Vote of the first of January, and communicated the same to us; We have con­sidered of it as a businesse of very great con­cernment to both Nations, And therefore have resolved upon the inclosed Declaration and Desires; Whereby, it will appear how willing we are, to comply with the resolutions of both Houses; And how desirous to remove all jea­lousies, for strengthning the Peace and Ʋnion and maintaining a good understanding be­tween the Kingdoms, so firmly tyed by So­lemn League and Covenant; And how confi­dent, that they will satisfie our reasonable de­sires, And make the integrity of their procee­dings and resolutions in all this businesse con­cerning [Page 4]His Majesty, appear either by Decla­ration, or otherwise as in their wisdom they shall think fit; whereby no occasion of calumny may be left to the wicked Enemies of either Nation. And as God hath blessed the joynt endeavours of both, during our Armies abode in that Kingdom; So it will be a great encou­ragement for us to hope for the continuance of the same blessing in time coming, that our re­solution be known to be one at our removing, in relation to all the ends contained in our mu­tual League and Covenant; And if any diffi­culty occurre there (for gaining of time) we desire, that the Honorable Houses may be pleased to send particular Instructions to their Commissioners at New-Castle, with whom we shall authorize ours to concur for the just satisfaction of both Kingdoms; and we rest

Edinbrugh the 16 of Jannary 1647.
Your affectionate friends Crawfurd and Lindsay. J. P. D. Parl.
For the Right Honorable the Lords and Commons As­sembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster.

THE DECLARATION OF THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND.

WHEREAS it pleased God to joyn the Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland in Solemn League and Covenant, for Re­formation and Defence of Re­ligion, The Honour and Happinesse of the King, and Their Own Peace and Safety: And in pur­suance thereof the Scotish Army being in the Kingdom of England, the Kings Majesty came to their Quarters before Newark, and professed he came there with a full and absolute intention to give all just satisfaction to the joynt Desires of both Kingdoms, & with no thought either to con­tinue this Unnatural War any longer, or to make Division betwixt the Kingdoms; but to comply with His Parliaments and those entrusted by [Page 6]them, in every thing, for setling of Truth and Peace; and that He would apply Himself totally to the Counsels and Advices of His Par­liaments: Which He did not onely professe Verbally to the Committee of Estates with the Scotish Army; but also in His several Letters and Declarations under His Hand, to the Com­mittee of Estates of Scotland, and unto the two Houses of the Parliament of England respective­ly. In Confidence whereof, and of the reality of His Intentions and Resolutions, which He declared did proceed from no other Ground, [...]en the Deep Sense of the Bleeding condition of His Kingdoms; The Committees of the King­dom of Scotland, and General Officers of the Scotish Army, declared to Himself, and to the Kingdom of England, their receiving of His Royal Person to be on These terms, (which is truth, notwithstanding what may be suggested or alleadged to the contrary, by any within or without the Kingdoms); and represented to Him, That the onely way of His Own Happi­nesse, and Peace of His Kingdoms, under God, was, To make good His Professions so solemnly renewed to both Kingdoms. Thereafter, not onely were Propositions of Peace (which after serious and mature Deliberation were agreed upon) tendered to Him in the Name of both Kingdoms for His Royal Assent thereunto; but also the chief Judicatories of this Kingdom, both Civil and Ecclesiastick, made their humble and [Page 7]earnest Addresses to His Majesty by Supplicati­ons, Letters, and Commissioners for that end, and did freely represent all the Prejudices and Inconveniences of the Delay or Refusal of His Assent, And in Particular, that this Kingdom would be necessitated to joyn with the Kingdom of England conform to the League and Cove­nant, in providing for the present and future Security of both Kingdoms, and setling the Go­vernment of both, as might best conduce to the Good of both. And the Parliament of Scot­land being now to retire their Army out of Eng­land, have again, for their further exoneration, sent Commissioners to represent their renewed Desires to His Majestie, with the Danger may ensue by His Delay or Refusal to grant the same; and that till then, there was danger to the Cause, to His Majestie, to this Kingdom, and to the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, by His coming to Scotland; And that therefore there would be a joynt course taken by both Kingdoms concer­ning the Disposal of His Person. And consi­dering that His Majesty by His Answer to the Propositions of Peace in August last, and also by His late Message sent to the two Houses, and, by his Warrant, communicated to the Estates of this Kingdom, Hath expressed His Desires to be neer to His two Houses of Parliament: And seeing also the Parliament of England have communicated to the Scotish Commissioners at Newcastle, and by them to this Kingdom their Re­solution, [Page 8]That Holmeby-House in the County of Northampton is the Place which the Houses think fit for the King to come unto, there to remain with such Attendants about Him as both Houses of Parliament shall appoint, with respect had to the Safety and Preservation of His Royal Per­son, in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms ac­cording to the Covenant. Therefore, And in regard of His Majesties not giving a satisfactory Answer to the Propositions as yet, And out of their earnest Desire to keep a Right Understan­ding betwixt the Kingdoms, to prevent new Troubles within the same, to satisfie the Desire of His Majesty, of the two Houses of the Parlia­ment of England, and of this Kingdom, for His Residence in some of His Houses neer the Parli­ment of England: The Estates of the Parlia­ment of the Kingdom of Scotland, Do declare their Concurrence, for the Kings Majesties go­ing to Holmeby-House, or some other of His Hou­ses in or about London, as shall be thought fit, there to remain until he give satisfaction to both Kingdoms in the Propositions of Peace; And that in the interim there be no harm, prejudice, injury, nor violence done to His Royal Person: That there be no change of Government other then hath been these three yeers past: And that His Posterity in no ways be prejudiced in their lawful Succession to the Crown and Govern­ment of these Kingdoms.

[Page 7] And as this is the cleare intention and full resoluti­on of the Kingdome of Scotland, according to their interest and duty in relation to the Kings Majesty; So they are confident (from the same grounds and ma­nifold Declarations of the Parliament of England) that the same is the resolution of their Brethren: And at such a time they expect a renewed Declaration thereof, and that they will give brotherly and just sa­tisfaction to the desires herewith sent. Like as the Kingdome of Scotland do hereby assure their Brethren of England, that it shall be their constant endeavour to keepe, continue, and strengthen the Union and Peace betwixt the Kingdomes according to the Cove­nant and Treaties.

Extracted from the Records of Parliament, subscribed by the Earle of Crawfurd, and Lindsay High Treasurer of Scotland, and President to the Parliament, Witnessing thereunto the Sub­scription and Signe Manuall of me Sir Alexander Gibson of Dury Knight, Clarke of our Soveraignes Rolles, Register, and Counsell. January 16. 1647.
Alexander Gibson Clericus Registri.

Desires of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND.

1. THat a Committee of both King­domes be appointed to attend his Majesty, and presse him further for granting the Propositions of peace; And in case of his refusall, to advise and determine what is further necessary for continuing and strengthening the union betweene the King­doms, according to the Covenant and Trea­ties; And that no Peace nor agreement be made by either Kingdome with the King, without the other, according to the late Treaty betwixt the Kingdomes.

2. Next it is desired, that such of the Scot­tish Nation, as have place or charge about the King (excepting such as stand excepted in the Propositions of Peace) may attend and [Page 9]exercise the same; and that none shall be de­barred from having accesse to attend his Ma­jesty, who have warrant from the Parlia­ments of either Kingdome respectively, or from the Committee of either Parliament thereunto authorized.

3. It is desired, that the one Kingdome assist the other, in case they be troubled from within, or from without for this agreement.

4. That the Kingdome of England would speedily condiscend, and agree upon some competency of entertainement for the Forces which we are necessitated to keepe up, to suppresse the Irish Rebels, whom by the large Treaty they are bound to suppresse:

Edenburgh the 16. of January. 1647.
Crawford & Lindsay I. P. D. Parl.

A Copy of the Parliament of Englands Letter to the Parliament of Scotland.

A Letter from your Lordships dated at Edin­burgh the 16 instant, and the Papers there­with sent having been communicated to both Houses of the Parliament of England, wee are com­manded to returne this Answer. They doe answer their Brethren of Scotland, that nothing needs to be said unto them, for removing any jealousies out of their hearts, or for strengthning that confidence which they have in the affections of that Nation: And they doe presume that the Proceedings of the Houses of the Parliament of England, from the very beginning of these troubles, are a sufficient declarati­on of their integrity, and of their constant affection to their Brethren of Scotland. And as to the desires of the Kingdome of Scotland they doe returne these Answers.

To the first, That when the King shall be at Holm­by, and the Scottish Forces gone out of this King­dome, both Houses of Parliament (saving according to their former Declarations the peculiar Rights of the Kingdome of England) will then appoint a Com­mittee [Page 11]of theirs, to joyne with a Committee of the Kingdome of Scotland, to imploy their best endea­vours to procure his Majesties assent to the Proposi­tions agreed on by both Kingdomes, and presented to His Majestie at Newcastle, and to the disposing of the Bishops Lands, according to the Ordinances al­ready passed both Houses in that behalfe. And in case the King shall not give his assent thereunto, how­ever the Houses are still resolved, firmly to continue and maintaine, the happy Union between the two Kingdomes, according to the Treaties and Cove­nant; And that according to the late Treaty between the Kingdomes, no Cessation, nor any Pacification, or agreement for Peace whatsoever, shall be made by either Kingdome, or the Armies of either King­dome, without the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes.

To the second desire, both Houses doe declare, that it is not their intention, by their appointing of Per­sons to waite upon the King in his journie to Holmby, to make a settlement of any Persons in any particu­lar places, nor to be any prejudice to any of the Kings Servants that are of either Nation, who have adhered to the Parliaments: And that none shall be debarred from having accesse to his Majestie, who have warrant from the Parliament of Scotland, or from the Committee of that Parliament thereunto authorised, except such as are disabled by the Pro­positions agreed on by both Kingdomes.

To the third desire, the comming of the King ac­cording [Page 12]to the Votes of both Houses of the Parlia­ment of England, being agreeable to the Covenant and Treaties; They do declare, that upon any trou­bles that shall arise to the Kingdome of Scotland for the same, they will assist them according to the said Covenant and Treaties.

To the fourth and last desire, both Houses returne Answer, That their Garrisons being delivered up, and the Scottish Army and Forces being marched out of this Kingdome, they will take this their desire into speedy consideration. This being all we have in com­mand from the Houses, we rest,

Westminster, Ian. 27. 1646.
Your affectionate friends and Servants:
  • E. Manchester Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore.
  • William Lenthall Spea­ker of the House of Commons.
For the right Honourable the Lords, the Commons of shires, and Burrows Assembled in the Parlia­ment of Scotland.
FINIS.

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