RIght trusty, and right welbeloved Cousins and Counsellours, and right trusty and welbeloved Counsellours, Wee greet you well. We have lately seen a Paper, presented to Us by the Earle of Lindsay, as a Declaration of the Lords and Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England, of the seventh of November, to Our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland, which after many high taxes of Us, and Our Government, very earnestly invites, and in a manner challenges assistance from that Our native Kingdome, of Men and Arms, for making a War against Us, making a claim to that assistance, by vertue of the late Act of Pacification; to the which (out of Our desire to make a perpetuall Union between Our two Kingdomes, for the happinesse of both, and by it the more firmely to establish Our own Greatnesse and just Power) We cheerfully consented. As Wee are at Our soul afflicted, that it hath been in the power of any factious, ambitious, and malicious persons, so far to possesse the hearts of many of Our Subjects of England, as to raise this mise­rable distemper, and distraction in this Kingdome, against all Our reall actions and endeavours to the contrary: So Wee are glad that this rage and fury hath so far transported them, that they ap­ply themselves in so grosse a manner to Our good Subjects of Scotland, whose experience of Our Religion, Justice, and Love [...] People, will not suffer them to beleeve those horrible scandals layd upon Us: And their Affection, Loyaltie, and Jealousie of Our Honour, will disdain to be made Instruments to oppresse their native Soveraigne, by assisting an odious Rebellion. We have from time to time acquainted Our Subjects of that Kingdome, with the Accidents and Circumstances which have disquieted this: How (after all the Acts of Justice, Grace, and Favour performed on Our part, which were or could be desired to make a People completely happie) Wee were driven by the force and violence of rude and tumultuous Assemblies from Our Citie of London, and Our Houses of Parlia­ment: How attempts have been made to impose Laws upon Our Subjects without Our consent, contrary to the Foundation and Constitution of this Kingdome: How Our Forts, Goods, and Navie were seized, taken from Us by force, and employed against Us; Our Revenue and ordinary Subsistence wrested from Us: How We have been pursued with scandalous and reproachfull lan­guage; bold, false, and seditous Pasquils, and Libels, publickly allowed against Us; and been told, That We might without want of mo­destie and dutie be deposed: How after all this (before any Force raised by Us) an Army was raised, and a Generall appointed to lead that Army against Us, wi [...]h Commission to kill, slay, and destroy all such who should be faithfull to Us; that when Wee had been by those means compelled with the assistance of Our good Subjects, to raise an Army for our necessary defence, Wee sent diverse gracious Messages, earnest [...]y desiring that the Calamities and Miseries of a Civill Warre, might be prevented by a Treatie, and so Wee might know the grounds of this mis-understanding: How We were absolutely refused to be treated with; And how at last the Ar­my (raised as was pretend [...]d for defence of Our Person) was brought into the Field against Us, gave Us battell, And (though it pleased God to give Us the victory) destroyed many of Our good Subjects, with als imminent danger to Our own Person, and Our children, as the skill and malice of d [...]sperate Rebels could contrive. Of all which, and the other indignities which have been offered Us, We [...]bt not the dutie and affection of Our Scots Subjects will have so just a refentment, that they will expresse to the world the sense they h [...]v [...] of Our sufferings. And Our good Subjects of Scotland are not (We hope) so great strangers to the affairs of this Kingdome, to beleeve that this mis-fortune and distraction is begot and brought upon Us by Our two Houses of Parliament (though in truth no unwarran­table Action against the Law can be justified even by that Authoritie) they well know how the members of both Houses have been driven thence; insomuch that of above five hundred members of the House of Commons, there are not now there above fourscore, and of above an hundred of the House of Peers, not above fifteen or sixteen: All which are so awed by the multitude of Anabaptists, Brownists, and other Per [...]ons desperate and decayed in their fortunes, in and about the Citie of London, that in truth their consulta­tions have not the Freedome and Priviledge which belong to Parliaments. Concerning any Commissions granted by Us to Papists to raise Forces. We referre our good Subjects to a Declaration lately set forth by Us upon occasion of that Scandall, which We send [Page] together with this. And for Our Own true and zealous Affection to the Protestant Religion (the advancement whereof Our Soule desires) We can give no other instances then Our constant Practice, on which malice it self can lay no blemish. And those many Protestations We have made in the sight of almighty GOD, to whom We know We shall be dearly accomptable i [...] We fail in the observation. For that scandalous imputation of Our intention of bringing in of Forrain Forces, as the same is [...]ised without the least colour [...]r shadow of reason, and solemnlie dis-avowed by Us, in many of Our Declarations; so there cannot be a clearer argument to Our Subjects of Scotland, that We have no such thought, then that We have hitherto forborn to requi [...]e the Assistance of that Our Ntive Kingdome, from whose obedience, duty and affection We should confidently expect it, if We thought Our Own strength here t [...]o weak to preserve Us, and of whose courage and loyaltie We shall look to make use, before We shall think of any Forrain Aid [...]o succour Us. And We know no reasonable nor understanding man can suppose our good Subjects of Scotland are obliged or e [...]abled by the late Act of Parliament in both Kingdomes, to obey the invitation which is made to th [...]m by this pretended Declarati [...]n, when it is so evidently provided for by that Act, That as the Kingdome of England shall not make Warre against the Kingd [...]me of Scotland, without the consent of the Parliament of England, so that the Kingdome of Scotland shall not make Warre against [...]he Kingdome of England without consent of the Parliament of Scotland, And when they have alwayes decla­red themselves so careful of Our Honour, Safety, and just Rights, which now undergo such great violation. This We have thought fit to say upon occasion o [...] this late Declaration, and doe recommend it to you the Lords of Our Privie Councell of Our Kingdome of Scotland, To be communicated and published to all Our loving Subjects there. And if the grave Councell and Advice which you derived hither, by your [...]ct of the 22 of April last, had been followed here in a tendernesse of Our Royall Person, and of Our Princely Greatnesse, and Authority, then would not this face of Confusion have appeared, which now threatens this Kingdome. And therefore We requi [...]e you to use your utmost endeavours, to informe Our Subjects of that Our Kingdome of the truth of Our condition, and that yo [...] suffer not the Scandals and Imputations layd on Us by the Malice and Treason of some men, to ma [...] any impression in the minds o [...] our People, to the lessening or corrupting their affection and loyaltie to Us, But that you assure them the Hardnesse We now unde [...]go, and the Arms We have been compelled to take up, are for the defence of Our Person, and safety of Our Life, for the mainte [...]ance of the true Protestant Religion, for the preservation of the Laws, Liberties and Constitution of this Kingdome, and for the [...]st Priviledges of Parliament. And We look no longer for the blessing of heaven, then We endeavour the defence, and advanceme [...]t of all these. And We doubt not a dutifull concurrence in Our Subjects; of Scotland in the care of Our Honour and just Rights, will draw down a blessing on that Nation too.

Given at Our Court [...]t Oxford the fifth day of December, 1642.