THE KING Of GREAT-BRITTAINES DECLARATION, [...]o the High & Mighty Lords the States Generall of the Vnited Provinces.
Exhibited by Sir William Boswell, his Majesties Resident, The 9 Iulie, 1643.
Printed by his Majesties Authority, 1643.
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE LORDS, OUR GOOD FRIENDS AND ALLIES, THE STATES GENERALL OF THE UNITED PROVINCES IN THE NETHERLANDS.
I.
HIgh and Mightie Lords, Our good Freinds and Allies. So soone as Wee understood, that both Our Houses of Parliament had dispatcht over unto You (upon the difference betwixt them and Vs) one Strickland in qualitie of publick Minister; Wee gave order to Our Resident with you to disavow him. Notwithstanding whih Wee understand You have since received, and treated with him. Wherein two things seeme verie strange to Us; The one, that Our owne Subjects (upon pretence of affecting a nearer alliance with you) should in a way, different from the modestie, practice and dutie of their Praedecessours, take upon them to treate with Forraine States. When it is a knowne law of England, that to the King onelie belongeth the making of peace and warre. The other, that You Our neare Allies, that know both Your selves, and all the Kings and States of the World, have ever treated with Us and Our Praedecessours, and with Us onely. You, who from the Kings of England received your old, and never to be forgotten Assistances, should admit this man so much to Our dishonour; It being a setting up of an equall or a Concurrent Authoritie with Our owne; [Page] and thus favour the imprudence of Our Subjects by doing an injury to Us.
II.
It is generallie knowne Wee called this Parliament of Our owne Gracious & Princelie desire, to heare and redresse the Grievances of Our people: Wee need not enumerate (but if occasion be Wee leave it to Our Resident) the manie good Acts Wee have granted therein, to secure Our Subjects in the future. Nothing, which either in Church or State was for their Ease having occasioned any difference betwixt Us: But onely their praetence to those Powers in Gouvernement, which solely and naturally reside in Us. And yet wee parted with more flowers of Our Prerogative, then did ever any of Our Praedecessours.
III.
If they would it becomes Vs not to forget: and Wee hope you doe, or by this will know, that Parliaments here are called onely by Our Mandat. To give Us Counsell. That they take an Oath of Allegiance in Civill, of Supremacy in Ecclesiasticall affaires to Us. That that Court is still dissolvable at the Pleasure of the King; which expresses it can have no constant care of this Kingdome; though Our unhappy indulgence to this Parliament (the occasion wee feare of most of this evill) may seeme to have given an indefinite time to this. And yet the very words of that Act, shewes the continuance thereof, depends onely, upon the dispatch of some particular businesses. To use their owne Expression in a Remonstrance of theirs upon that subject, In the Bill for the continuance of this present Parliament, (they say) there seemes to be some restraint of the Royall power in dissolving of Parliaments; which indeed is not to take it out of the Crowne, but to suspend the execution of it for a time and occasion onely. So then surely, If there bee a Parliment [Page] to continue somewhat longer at home then ordinary, it alters not the way of Gouvernment; nor opens any doore for forraine Treaties abroad; other then the ancient knowne way of treating with the Kings of England onely. How great a breach therefore of the Treaty betwixt Us and your selves this proceeding is, thus to countenance such a commixture of Gouvernment, as one while to treat with Us, another while with Our Subjects; or, as you doe now, both together, Wee have authorized Our Resident to declare unto You; And to let you know wee intend to proceed both against this Strickland, or any other, that without Our Authority shall negotiate, as he doth, as a Traitour to Our Crowne and dignity.
IV.
And as in the perticulars aforesaid, So likewise Wee understand, how Our Honour is scandalized by sundry pamphlets and Bookes, divulged amongst Your subjects, of Our inclinations to Popery, and intentions of innovation in Religion. Wee call God to witnes, and Wee hope Our knowne practice as well as Our Professions are evidences thereof. That wee shall ever maintaine the Reformed Religion, as it is established by law, in Our Kingdomes. That wee shall discountenance, and according to Law punish Poperie, and other Sects. And yet be ready to give ease, by a Nationall Synode to modest, and truely tender Consciences in any thing, by them found justly offensive. Wee are informed it is reported, nay beleeved, that Masse is publicly said at York and in Our Army, under the command of the Earle of Newcastle; When in truth, without it being Our Queen's Chappel, which is according to the Treaty with Our Brother the French King, no where in England Masse is, or shall be publicly said: Nay if any where it be privatly discovered, it is duely punished. And in the said Armie, under the Earle of Newcastle, the fiftieth man is not a Papist; and were it not for the Rebellion of [Page] those praetended Protestants, but indeed Sectaries; not one of them had been admitted; and yet there is, or shall be no other Forme of prayer there, but that of the Church of England, as it is established.
V.
Wee understand likewise, that either by connivence or stealth, by meanes of the aforesaid Strickland (whom likewise wee have cause to think very active in the Printing, and dispersing of the aforesaid Pamphlets) great store of armes and ammunition are daily sent over to Our Rebells here; and that now when their oppression upon Our Subjects is growne generally so odious, that most men within their power suffer themselves rather to be imprisoned in their persons, and robbed and plundered in their goods, then submit to their new authority; Because even the disaffectedst of Our owne Subjects are ashamed, or dare not buy those goods, Your Subjects buy and transport them. Herein likewise Wee have commanded Our Resident, to expresse Our just sense of these injuries, and to seek from You (the States) a praevention and prohibition thereof.
VI.
When we consider Our owne Right, the former and the late successes God hath given us, in Our severall Armies. How at this time the most of Our Nobility, the greatest part of Our Gentry, the multitude of Our gravest Citizens, the learnedst and most pious Divines doe all accompanie to assist Us, or are employed in Our services. Wee doubt not, ere long, what ever Our, or Our loyall Subjects sufferings are, to reduce these Innovatours, within the Bounds of the ancient modestie of their Predecessours. In the meane time We expect from You, Our Friends and Allies, in all the former particulars, Or what else [Page] may concerne Our Honour, and loyall Subjects wellfare, according to the Treaty betwixt Us, to promote the same; Expecting You should be as carefull of Our Honour and just Rights as Wee would be of Yours; For Wee know not even by the working of the same spirits, how soone this may be needfull even in your owne Behalf. Since wee find, if wee mistake not much, those that have disturbed Our peace, are invading yours.
VII.
Wee do containe these Complaints with in these few lines; Because Wee are loth to discover the distemper in that part of Our Great Counsell, which as yet will not rightly understand Vs, as the greatest part well doth, and is abiding with Vs. That You may see how wee wash Our Hands of this unnaturall warre, and what conditions Wee offer towards peace, and for suppressing Popery, Wee have (as wee referre You to Our Resident, for former) sent You Our last message [12 April] upon these Subjects. And doubt not these things will so satisfie you, that Wee shall receive full satisfaction from You, by some publick Acts in all these particulars complained of, and be induced to entertaine, and encrease such an Alliance and Friendship with You, as is suitable to Our desires, and the Engagement Wee gave You thereof, upon Your Ambassies, in Our beloved Daughter; which as You sought as a Match between the two Countries, So Wee disposed Her.