His Majesties message to both houses of Parliament at Westminster, sent from Oxford 23. Martii, 1645. — Miscellaneous Documents. 1646-03-23

Author: England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I)2016-02

University of Oxford Text Archive

His MAJESTIES Message to both Houses of Parliament at Westminster, sent from Oxford 23. Martii, 1645. To be read in all Churches and Chappells, whereby the People may rest satisfied how great a desire His MAjESTY hath to ease them of the burthen of the Warre.

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His MAJESTIES Message to both Houses of Parliament at Westminster, sent from Oxford 23. Martii, 1645.
To be read in all Churches and Chappells, whereby the People may rest satisfied how great a desire His MAjESTY hath to ease them of the burthen of the Warre.

CHARLES R.

NOtwithstanding the unexpected silence, in stead of answer to His Majesties many and Gratious Messages to both Houses, whereby it might appeare that they desire to obtain their ends by Force, rather then Treaty, which might justly discourage His Majesty from any more overtures of that kind; yet His Majesty conceives, that He should be too much wanting in His duty to God, and in what He owes to the safety of His People, if He should not endeavour to prevent the great inconveniences, which might otherwise hinder a safe and well grounded Peace.

His Majesty therefore now proposeth, That (so He may have the Faith of His two Houses of Parliament, for the preservation of His Honour, Person, and Estate, and that liberty be given to all those that doe, and have adhered to His Majesty, to goe to their own Houses, and there to live peaceably, enjoying their Estates, (all Sequestrations being taken off) without being compelled to take any Oath, not enjoyn'd by the undoubted Lawes of the Kingdom, or being put to any other molestation whatsoever) He will then immediatly disband all His Forces, and dismantle all His Garrisons, and (being accompanied with His Royall, not Martiall Attendants) returne to His two Houses of Parliament, and there reside with them.

And for the better security of all His Majesties Subjects, He proposeth, That He with the said two Houses, immediatly upon His comming to Westminster, doe passe an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon: and where His Majesty will farther doe whatsoever they shall advise Him unto, for the Peace and good of this Kingdome.

As for the Kingdom of Scotland, His Majesty hath made no mention of it herein, in regard of the great losse of time, which must needs be spent in expecting an answer from thence: But declares, that immediatly upon His comming to Westminster, He will apply Himselfe to give them all satisfaction touching that Kingdom.

If His Majesty could possibly doubt the successe of this offer, He might use many Arguments to perswade them to it; But shall only insist on that great One, Of giving an instant Peace to these afflicted Kingdomes.

Given at the Court at Oxford, the 23. of March. 1645.

For the Speaker of the House of Peeres pro tempore, to be communicated to the two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland.

Printed at Oxford, by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the Vniversity. 1645.

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