HIS MAIESTIES PROPOSITIONS To all his Subjects of Scotland, Septem. the 8. 1642.
THE Kings Majesty having received Advertisements of som bad Rumours lately spread abroad, after some Consultation therupon, resolved to send a Message to all his loving Subjects of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND, to informe, declare, and make known unto them his Dispositions and desires more fully, which was, as followeth.
RIght Trusty, and wellbeloved, Although we have already written Our minds unto you; yet upon our second thoughts arising, especially from some particulars comming to Our knowledge, wee find it necessary both for our Selfe, and for the good of that Our Kingdome, to propound unto you these particulars, viz.
I.
VVe know and feele the Charge to be great and the place to be high, wherein God (the King of Kings) hath placed Us, and that VVee must render an accompt of all Our Actions to him, who in his own time shall judge all men without exceptions of Persons.
II.
We have no other intentions, but by Our Government, to honour him by whom Kings Reign, and to procure the good of Our people: and for this end to preserve the Right and Authority wherewith God hath vested us, and which by his providence hath beene derived to Vs by many Princely Progenitors: in the which glory that Our ancient Kingdome, and native Realme of SCOTLAND doth participate.
III.
VVee did not require of you, that you should sit as Judges upon the Affaires of another Kingdome.
VVe only intended to have both our sufferings and Our Actions (as they are exprest in many Papers past betwixt Vs and Our Parliament) made throughly knowne unto you: That since VVee have none besides you whom VVe can acquaint with Our Proceedings, you may cleerly see that we have bin so farre 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.
IV.
We will not put you in mind of your Naturall affection towards Vs, which wee know will rather be kindled then extinguished by Our distresse: Nor of your Covenant, wherin 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 Laws made in our late Parliament (of which we hope the present and succeeding generations shal 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 the setling of the Government of that Our Kingdom, in Our personall absence, which neither could we have granted, nor would you have craved, had our greater affairs permitted our Residence amongst you. And whereas wee are most unjustly blamed and calumniated,
- 1. That we are Popishly affected.
- 2. That Wee are the cause of the Blood-shed in Ireland.
- And lastly, That We intend to bring in Forraign Forces.
To this We answer, and do here protest, and Declare, in presence of him who knowes the most secret of Our Intentions and Actions, that Wee are no wayes conscious to Our Selfe of the guiltinesse of any of the said Aspertions: and do take him to witnesse Our innocencie therein, who only hath the Priviledge to be the Searcher of all hearts.
And if any after so full and plain profession shall distrust this Our free Declaration, VVe attest GOD, That the fault is in the malignanty of their Rebellious Humours, and no wayes deserved on Our part.
The Resolution of the Kn [...]ghts, Gentry, and Commonalty of the Kingdome of Scotland, concerning his Excellence the Earl of Essex.
VVHereas upon the report and sight of great Convocations suddenly endeavoured and unexpectedly brought into this great Counsell day, for the most part by those who have bin esteemed by the Country, and challenged by the Parliament, as Incendiaries, Plotters, and enemies to the peace of this Kingdom. And considering the common Interest of all the Subjects of this Kingdome to preserve the late peace, so happily concluded betwixt these Nations, and so solemnly established by the late Treaty, Oath of Parliament, publike Faith, and the great S [...]ales of these Kingdomes, and therefore they desire a solid peace betwixt these Nations in true union, lest upon any pretence they should be dasht one against another. Wherin it is declared the Duty of the estates, yea of every subject for to conveen and suppresse any evill affected persons who would raise Arms against the Subjects of the other Kingdome without consent of Parliament.
And seeing that these Incendiares doe now so much prevaile, they are resolved to aid and assist His sacred Majesty and the Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT against the Malignant Party, and the wicked Incendiaries that are now about his Majesties Person, whose minds are daily thirsting after bloud.
They have also at their Generall meeting at Edenburgh concluded of many Matters of high Consequence, being resolved to aid assist his Excellence the Earl of Essex against all that shall oppose him, having set down their Resolution to hazard their dearest lives in the maintenance of the true Faith and Protestant Religion.
The Honourable Court of Parliament are fully resolved and determined to agree with their Brethren of Scotland in this their Resolultion [...], having according to the Scottish Government Voted out Bishops.