C R
‘HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE’


A LETTER SENT FROM THE KINGS MAJESTIE TO THE LORDS OF HIS PRIVIE COVNCELL OF THE KINGDOME OF SCOTLAND.

CHARLES R:

RIght trustie and wel-beloved Cousines, and Counsellers, We greet you well.

Although We have already written Our minde to You Our Counsell: yet upon our second thoughts, arising especially from some bad rumors, coming to Our knowledge, We finde it necessarie, both for Our selfe, and for the good of that Our kingdome, to declare, and make known both Our disposition and de­sires more fully.

Wee know and feele the charge to be great, and the place to bee high, wherein God (the King of kings) hath placed Us, and that We must render an accompt of all Our actions to him, who in his own time shall judge all men without exception of persons. Wee have no other intentions, but by Our governement, to honour him by whom Kings reigne, and to procure the good of Our people: and for this end to preserve the right and authoritie wherewith God hath vested Us, and which by his Providence hath been derived to Us, by many Princely progenitors: in the which glorie that our ancient Kingdome, and native realme of Scotland doth participate.

We did not require of you, that you should sit as Judges upon the affairs of another Kingdome. Wee only intended to have both Our sufferings and Our actions, (as they are exprest in many papers past betwixt Us and Our Parliament) made throughly known unto you: that since We have none besides you whom we can acquaint with Our proceedings, you may clearly see that we have been so far from wronging Our Parliament of England, that We have given them all satisfaction, even above that which they themselves in the beginning did expresse, or almost desire: and as much as could well consist with the safety of Our person and honour. We will not put you in minde of your naturall affection toward Us, which We know will rather be kindled then extinguished by Our distresse: Nor of your Covenant, wherein you are zealous of Our greatnesse and Authority, and which standeth in that sense wherein you did swear and subscribe it: Nor of the many good lawes made in Our late Parliament (of which We hope the present and succeeding generations shall reap the fruits when We are dead and gone) Nor of the many promises made to Us, upon which We were willing to yeeld to such things for setling the government of that Our Kingdome, in Our personall absence, which neither could We have granted, nor would you have craved (as your selves did professe) had Our greater affaires permitted Our residence amongst you. And whereas We are most unjustly blamed and calumniated.

  • 1. That We are popishly affected.
  • 2. That We are the cause of the bloud-shed in Ireland.
  • 3. That Wee intend to bring in for­raine forces:

Wee heer to protest and declare in presence of him who knowes the most secret of Our intentions and actions, that We are no wayes conscious to Our selfe of the guiltinesse of any of the said aspersions: And do take him to witnesse Our inno­cency therein, who only hath the priviledge to be the searcher of hearts. And if any after so full and plaine profession shall distrust this Our free declaration: We attest God, that the fault is in the malignity of their rebellious humours, and no wayes deserved on Our part.

Given at our Court at Yorke the 20. of May, 1642.

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