OVt of Our most tender and pious sence of the sad and bleeding condition of this Our Kingdom, and Our un­wearied desires to apply all Remedies which by the bles­sing of Almighty God may recover it from an utter ruine; By the advice of the Lords and Commons of Parliament Assembled at Oxford, We doe propound and desire, That a convenient number of fit persons may be [Page 2]appointed and authorized by you to meet (with all convenient speed, at such place as you shall nominate) with an equall number of fit persons, whom We shall appoint and authorize to Treat of the waies and meanes to settle the present distractions of this Our Kingdome, and to procure a happy Peace; And particularly, how all the Members of both Houses may securely meet in a free and full Convention of Parliament, there to treat, consult, and agree upon such things as may conduce to the maintenance and defence of the true Reformed Protestant Religion, with due consideration to all just and reasonable ease of tender consciences; To the setling and maintaining of Our just Rights and Prero­gatives, of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, the Lawes of the Land, the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and all other expedients that may conduce to that blessed end of a firme and lasting Peace, both in Church and State, and a perfect under­standing betwixt Vs and Our People; where­in no endeavours or concurrency of Ours shall be wanting. And God direct your hearts in the waies of Peace. Oxford, the 3 of March. 1643.

WE the Lords and Commons as­sembled in the Parliament of England, taking into our consi­deration a Letter sent from Your Majestie, dated the third of March instant, and directed, To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster (which by the contents of a Letter from the Earle of Forth unto the Lord Generall the Earle of Essex, we conceive was intended to Our selves) have resolved, with the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland, to represent to Your Ma­jesty in all humility, and plainnesse, as follow­eth:

THat as we have used all meanes for a just and a safe Peace; so will we never be want­ing [Page 4]to doe our utmost for the procuring thereof: But when we consider the Expressions in that Letter of Your Majesties, we have more sad and despairing thoughts of attaining the same, then ever; because thereby those persons now assem­bled at Oxford, who contrary to their duty have deserted Your Parliament, are put into an equall condition with it: And this present Parliament, convened according to the knowne and funda­mentall Lawes of the Kingdome (the continu­ance whereof is established by a Law consented unto by Your Majesty) is in effect denied to be a Parliament; the scope and intention of that Letter being, to make provision, how all the Members (as is pretended) of both Houses may securely meet in a full and free Convention of Parliament; whereof no other conclusion can be made, but that this present Parliament is not a full nor free Convention: And that to make it a full and free Convention of Parliament, the presence of those is necessary; who, notwith­standing that they have deserted that great Trust, and doe leavy Warre against the Parlia­ment, are pretended to be Members of the two Houses of Parliament.

And hereupon we thinke our selves bound to [Page 5]let Your Majesty know, That seeing the conti­nuance of this Parliament is setled by a Law (which as all other Laws of Your Kingdomes) Your Majestie hath sworne to maintaine, as we are sworne to our allegiance to Your Majesty (these obligations being Reciprocall) we must in duty, and accordingly are resolved with our Lives and Fortunes to defend and preserve the just Rights and full Power of this Parliament; And doe beseech Your Majesty to bee assured, That Your Majesties Royall and hearty concur­rence with us herein, will be the most effectuall and ready meanes of procuring a firme and la­sting Peace in all Your Majesties Dominions; and of begetting a perfect Understanding be­tweene Your Majesty and Your People: with­out which Your Majesties most earnest Profes­sions, and our most reall Intentions concer­ning the same, must necessarily bee frustra­ted. And in case Your Majesties three King­domes should by reason thereof remaine in this sad and bleeding condition, tending (by the Continuance of this unnaturall warre) to their Ruine; Your Majesty cannot bee the least, nor the last Sufferer. God in his Goodnesse, incline Your Royall breast, out of pitty and [Page 6]compassion to those deepe sufferings of Your In­nocent people, to put a speedy, and happy Issue to these desperate Evils, by the joynt Advice of both your Kingdomes now happily united in this Cause by their late solemne League and Cove­nant; which as it will prove the surest Remedy; so it is the earnest prayer of Your Majesties Loy­all Subjects, The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England. Westminster, the 9. of March 1643.