A LETTER FROM Gen. MONCK TO King CHARLES SON of the late King CHARLES OF ENGLAND. DECEASED. Together with King Charles his Answer thereunto.  
London, Printed 1660.   

A LETTER from General Monck To King CHARLES, etc.  
May it please your Majesty,  
SEeing it hath pleased God out of his gracious will and pleasure, to cause me to cast my Eye upon this Commonwealth of England, my native Country, (and your three Kingdoms;) and viewing there, to behold the sad and lamentable condition, that now, and for many years past, it hath been entangled in; which as reason and conscience together persuades me, is occasioned chief for want of its ancient and ever customed way of Government, (to wit) a King and Parliament, which hath been unsettled altogether amongst us, ever since the unhappy death of your Majesty's late father our King; by reason whereof, our ancient and accustomed wholesome laws both of Church and State, are most strangely torn and massacred; and all through the self-seeking ends of some certain persons, which at present I judge not fit herein to be communicated, who having gotten the power of the sword in their hands, thought forever to rule and reign over their opposers; (I think in spite of God or man:) But of late some of those (I hope, I may truly bless the name of the Lord for it,) who were the chief rulers of those unhappy differences between our King, and his three poor distracted Kingdoms, are taken out of this world; insomuch, that the Power of those remaining, is much weal●●d; But yet they will (I perceive) seek to tread in the self same steps of them that have gone before them; as seeking only to set up their own interest, although to the utter ruin of the Nation. Studying how of littleness to become great, hating the name of a King, but would joyfully embrace the power thereof, (yea, I may say, they seek far more Power, than ever our late King did take upon him,) and all is done under the zealous pretence of Saintship and religion; the form of manner whereof, is plainly manifested by their tolerating and setting up of strange Sects of religion, as Anabaptists, Quakers, and such like, seeking utterly to destroy, and pull down, our ancient Orthodox Diunes, unless timely prevented. I question not but your Majesty is very well knowing of the Power, which for some few years past, I have had, in governing the English Army here in Scotland; which Power, when I had once obtained, I did resolve, as much as in me lay, to keep, until a fit time and opportunity should offer itself, that I might employ it for the glory of God, and the good of your Majesty, whose faithful Subject I humbly accknowledge myself to be. Now so it is, may it please your Majesty. I plainly seeing and with a sad heart beholding the threatening hand of the Lords severe Judgements stretched forth against these three Kingdoms, which forthwith must, and will inevitably fall heavy upon us, (for aught as can be imagined, to the utter ruin both of King and Subjects,) unless suddenly prevented by our humble submission to the Lord, and an unfeigned repentance of our former miscarriages. May it also please your Majesty to give me leave to acquaint you, that I humbly conceive, I had never a better opportunity of doing my Country service, (in freeing them from their Egyptian bondage, as I may term it,) and in restoring the Crown to the right owner thereof; which if possible to be done shall be done with as much care, safety, and diligence, as God shall enable me, and that with as little wrong as may be either to King or Subjects; which work when it is perfected, I hope will tend to the firm setlement of our ancient Protestant religion: In tender consideration of all which premises; I most humbly beg that high favour of your Majesty that you will be graciously pleased, to permit me to make these Proposals following. First, whether your Majesty will be pleased, to acce●● of the real endeavours of me your unworthy Subject and Servant to be employed in being a means in helping your Majesty to a quiet and safe possession of three Kingdoms; which have (with violence) been so long time withheld from you? If yea, Then, Will your Majesty be pleased, to consent to a Treaty to be had between your Majesty, and a free Parliament, which shall be lawfully elected and chosen by the Country, whose care I hope will be for the choosing of such honest, godly, and religious men, as had no hand in the death of our late King or since his death have (by any unlawful means whatsoever,) enjoyed any of his Lands, Tenements, or Rents, or the Lands, Tenements, and Rents, of the late Deans and Chapters, or any of your late sequestered Subjects, or which since his death have appeared violent in their acting against Kingship, and consequently against your Majesty, our lawful King: Not in the least that I have any malice or evil will against such persons, but for that my conscience tells me, that so long, as sells interessed persons are suffered to sit in Parliament, there is little good to be expected, either for King or Kingdom; for it is a hard thing for men to act against their own selves, to the loss of their Lands and live; which they suppose they have so honestly gained. If your Majesty will be pleased to consent to such a treaty, and that thereupon it may be agreed upon, that your Majesty shall be restored to your three Kingdoms; which I question not, but will be the event of such a treaty: Then I humbly beg that your Maj. would be pleased, to think fit to declare what mercy and pity, you are pleased shall be she●●● to all those that have been the chief of your enemies; (whose blood in severity of justice, might deservedly be spilt,) upon their humble submission to your Majesty, and their promise of future obedience; for I hope, you will judge, that the only way to join the hearts of the People of your three Kingdoms, to pray for your happy success in all things; and not only so but it will undoubtedly encourage them all to enter their Lives against all your opposers, it any shall contest: And also that your Majesty would be pleased, to declare out of your gracious goodness, what satisfaction shall be made to the poor Common Soldiery throughout your three Kingdoms, who have been forced to take up Arms, although against your Majesty, for mere necessity to keep them and their Families from starving, who indeed are much behind in their pay; which will be utterly lost, and undone, unless your Majesty take compassion upon them; which if you are pleased so to do I question not, but you will find as much humility and submission from them, as can be expected; and for the future it will engage them to be as ready to serve your Majesty, as they were to serve your enemies for the time past: And more over, I conceive it will be a great encouragement to them, to join with me in this design I sh●ll trouble your Majesty with little more at present; But to let you know, that my hopes are that you would be pleased, to have that confidence in me, as not to credit any rumours or reports, that may seemingly contradict, what I have herein proposed; for, as for that, I would have your Majesty to be confident, that I shall not value neither the ill will, or yet look upon the favour of any, who shall appear in opposition to a thing that I have so really purposed, so long as God and my Conscience persuades me, that in so doing I shall accomplish a good work both for his glory, and my Country's good: And yet I think fit to carry as fair a corespondency as I can, with those that have taken upon them the Authority in England: To that end, I have thoughts of going to London very suddenly, that I may see their actings, and order things there somewhat for my advantage; I humbly beg your Majesty's speedy Answer touching these proposals: So with all submissiveness, I crave your Majesty's favour, in giving me leave to subscribe myself  
Edinburgh Decemb. 30. 1659. Your Majesties for ever faithful and Loyal Subject George Monck.   

King Charles his Answer thereunto.  
WORTHY FRIEND,  
THis is to let you understand, that I have received yours of the Twentieth of December, the twenty fifth of the same Month. The Contents whereof, do cause me, to judge you deserving, of the Title that I have given you, and I hope, the further events of your intended proceed, may ere long merit a greater; and for as much, as I concieve it necessary, to give you the speedy result of my mind in Answer thereunto, I think fit to let you know in the first place, that I freely pardon you for all offences or crimes, whatsoever committed (or which you know yourself guilty of) against my la●● Dear Father, and myself; I beseech the Lord to forgive you likewise; I must confess, I am not ignorant of the power, that you for some years past, have had over the English 〈◊〉 in Scotland; And I do likewise bless God, who hath 〈◊〉 opened your Eyes, to behold the miseries of my three poor distressed Kingdoms; And also for that he hath made you so far sensible of his heavy judgements (ready to be showered down upon them, by reason of the grievous and lamentable outcrying sins of the people) as to cause you, to make so fair and seasonable a proffer of the tender of your service, both for the glory of God, and the good of me and my people. The Lord open your heart, courageously, to go on in the perfecting of so great a work, as you have intended to set on foot, you having now so fit an opportunity, And for the answering the proposals therein contained, in order as they lie, I do declare that I shall with a willing and joyful heart, accept of your faithful and honest endeavours to be employed, for the glory of God, and the manifest good of Me and my Subjects; not so much for the profit or worldly advantage that I think to receive thereby, but that which I shall chiefliest rejoice in, is, only for the glory of God, and the good of my three Kingdoms. I mean in freeing them from their slavery, in preserving them from any farther effusion of blood, and for the settling amongst them their ancient way of Church and State Government, for the advancement of the true Protestant Religion; and also for the quashing of all Heresies, Hypocrisies, Sects and Schisms, that are lately crept into our Protestant Church; Whereby we are become a mere laughing stock, to all Nations; and as for my consenting to a Treaty, to be had between Me and a Parliament, to be chosen by a free consent of my people, I am sure there is not a thing that I can embrace with a greater joy, and especially, if my Subjects make choice, of persons so qualified as you have mentioned in your Letter to me, then of necessity, there can nothing but good come of such a Treaty. But if otherwise, it may be doubted, but however my trust shall be in the Lord, And whereas it was your desire, for me to declare what mercy and pity, I would should be shown towards those who are my manifest enemies. In case I should come quietly to be restored to my three Kingdoms; I do therefore for the satisfaction both of You and my Subjects, declare the thoughts of my heart, touching my said enemies in manner following. That as for all such, who shall humbly submit themselves unto me, and expressing their Sorrow for all their former actings against Me and my late Father, and upon promise of their future obedience, I will freely pardon them of their lives; and as for their estates, those who have lawfully purchased any from any of my Subjects; I will that they enjoy such their estates according to their purchase, they only paying (for the space of five years) the moiety of the profits of such their estates towards satisfaction of the public debts, that my poor Subjects may be somewhat eased of their Taxes, which have been so heavily imposed upon them for this many years. And as for such who have gotten or purchased by any means whatsoever any of my land (to wit) any of the King's lands or live, or the lands and live of the Bishops, late Deans and Chapiters', or of any of my Subjects, sequestered or taken from them for their Delinquency (so accounted:) My will is, that such estates so gotten, shall be by them surrendered into the hands and possession of the right owners as formerly, being contented to rest quiet & satisfied with the gain and profit they have received thereby for the time past, and to lose the profit for the time to come, which my conscience tells me, is but plain reason; and as for those who shall persist and continue in their rebellion against me, I shall desire, that such course may be taken with them, as my Parliament and Council shall think fit, and their estates to be disposed of towards payment of the Public debts which shall be judged necessary, and fit to be discharged, which I shall refer to my Parliament and Council; who I shall humbly desire, and I question not, but it will be their care, in being sparing in spilling as little blood as may be. And as for the poor Common soldiers, they who will submit themselves to me, I freely pardon them; and my will is, that their Arrears shall be paid as speedily as conveniently may be, although it be for their Service in fight against me; but I impute all to their necessity; What I have here above declared, I shall labour to make good, to the utmost of my power. I shall not, neither do I in the least, question your Reality, in the faithful performance of what you have declared. God prosper you in all your undertake therein; and I shall own you in every thing that you shall act, for God's glory, and the good of my people, which I desire may be done with as much expedition as may be. I render you very many thanks for your Love.  
C. R.  
FINIS.