By the King's most excellent majesty,  
A PROCLAMATION.  
CHARLES By the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, Ireland and the Dominion of Wales, &c. Defender of the true Ancient Catholic and Apostolic Faith; To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Justices of the Piece, Mayors, Sheriffs, bailiffs, Constables, churchwardens, and to all other Officers as well spiritual as temporal, Greeting.  
Whereas we have lately received information by an Express from some persons in England, of the unfeigned desires of our loving Subjects to establish Us in the Royal Throne and Dignity of our Father, and although they acknowledge themselves but few in number, and not so well resolved as to trust Us with their Names, yet undertake on the behalf of many thousands to make good their Proposals to Us, conditionally, that we grant and assure unto them their (as they call them, reasonable and modest) requests; whether these men's intentions are just and upright as they pretend, we shall not be much desirous to inquire after: Only from hence we take occasion to Proclaim to those persons and to all the world, that we are ready to grant to all Our Subjects (some very few excepted) more than they can have the confidence to expect from us: Yet let not any rash judgement condemn Us for our large offers, as being in so low and forlorn a condition as never any Christian Prince for many Ages hath been; That we are forward in promises, though intend little performance, We say, were our calamity more heavy upon us (which can hardly be) We shall not be drawn by the greatest allurements and advantages to pass our engagement for any thing we are not fully resolved to perform, which being chiefly for the general good and peace of all our Subjects, we cannot but hope for a happy success to ensue; and therefore to Proclaim that (if peaceably received) we shall forthwith grant, 1. A General and free Pardon to all (seven of those only excepted, which were the bloody Judges and Murderers of the King our Father. 2. That all the Armies shall be within six months disbanded, if money for their satisfaction can in a Parliamentary way be so soon raised, and that they shall have all Arrears fully paid them, and 3 months pay over and above to every common soldier, for their better removal and settlement, in their former or better way and place of living. 3. That the Armies being so satisfied and disbanded, no soldier shall be continued, but in the ancient Garrisons, accustomed on the Sea Coasts, and that no new Army shall be raised, or any Fleet, by Us set forth to Sea upon any occasion whatsoeeer, but by consent of Parliament. 4. That not any of our Sub●ects shall be burdened with Taxes, Excise, Free-quartering, or other illegal payments, or pressures, or any Oaths imposed, nor any debarred of their Liberties, questioned for their lives or Estates, for any cause or pretence whatsoever, but by the ancient and known Laws of the Land, according to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right. 5. That the Purchasers of Crown Lands, and Rents, being satisfied their purchase-money, and interests by the profits thereof, and further payments to their full reimbursements, The said lands and Rents may return to the Crown again. We being resolved in the mean time to cast ourselves on the love of our Subjects for our fu●ure support. And if the Parliament (that shall next be called) shall not think fit to give us a reparation, and such a competent Revenue as we might expect, we have learned, and shall submit (if there be occasion) to the condition of the meanest of our Predecessors. 6. That the Purchasers of Bishops and Deans and Chapters Lands and Rents, being in like manner satisfied their purchase-money, and interest by the profits and further payment, till they be reimbursed, that then the said lands and Rents shall be conferred on the Clergy and Ministry as the next Parliament shall ordain. 7. That as soon as Writs can be issued a free and legal Parliament shall be summoned, and the privileges thereof maintained, without any exemption to any person whatsoever, being legally cozen and returned, according to the ancient Laws and Customs of England in that case provided. 8. That the Parliament shall be desired by us to take care for the settling of the Protastant Religion, and the public worship of God (with liberty for tender Consciences) and for the providing for the ministry in the first place, without which no blessing can be expected upon Our Government. 9 That if the Parliament shall pass an Act of General Pardon and if they shall desire those seven persons by us intended to be excluded, shall be included, and giving Us satisfactory reasons for the same, we shall concur with them therein. 10. That the affairs of the Land and, our Government shall be constantly regulated and managed by Parliaments: and that the Act for Triennial Parli●ments shall be by Us duly observed.  
We acknowledge it is very difficult, if not impossible to please all, especially where there are so many divisions, and every man almost of a several mind and opinion: But as we have proposed to ourselves, so shall we endeavour to give all reasonable Satisfaction to all our Subjects. And if the Actings of the Representatives in a Free Parliament of their own choice can satisfy them, we shall not be wanting in summoning and concurring with them: But if that will not please them, nothing will.  
Now, if these condescensions of ours shall have so much freedom of passage in England, as many a scurrilous and lying Pamphlet fly abroad without our control, we are confident that all of understanding, that are not wilfully blinded, or not over-swayed with present self-interest, thereby knowing our large Offers, must needs be fully convinced of the amplitude thereof, extending to all their grievances.  
However, if it shall be instanced wherein we are too short, for we are ready for the Good, and Peace of the Nation, to give large satisfaction, and ample assurance to our most inveterate Enemies;) We having yielded to all matters of most importance, shall not stick at lesser things.  
And if any that have been adherers and assisting to our late royal Father and us, shall think we are herein too free, and indulgent to such, and so many open and professed Enemies; and that we have made no provision for our Servants, and Friends; we desire them all to consider our own, and also their Conditions, and how things now stand in England; that neither we, nor themselves, can otherwise (in any probability) better ourselves, unless by a bloody and hazardous War; which though we cannot doubt of the lawfulness on our part and consequently a prosperous success, if we shall be necessitated thereto for the recovery of our just right, yet we are assured that the God of peace will rather prosper a peaceable than violent and forcible entrance: And therefore we hope all those our friends, and loving Subjects, will rest fully satisfied with that we shall do pursuant to these propositions, we being desirous hereafter to consider their sufferings (though not comparable to ours) as God shall enable, and in all just and lawful ways. And now we wish that all the people of England would remember how they have performed their Protestations, Oaths, vows, Solemn League and Covenant: But to instance in no more than the Honour and privileges of Parliament, the foundation of all their laws, which they have so often sworn and vowed to maintain with their lives and fortunes: what face of a Parliament they have now left, which should consist of three Estates, King, House of Peers, and House of Commons: The two first wholly destroyed: And what of the last is in being (not to mention at least 150 that at the beginning of the Wars left them and went to Oxford) when a considerable number of their own party protested against their proceedings, and discerted the House; How many imprisoned, and what great numbers by force expulsed by that late bloody and hypocritical Usurper, which actions of his (though they were a main step to his intended Throne and Tyrannical Government) yet are so well relished, by that Tail of a Parliament remaining, that they are resolved neither to readmit the persons so illegally and injuriously expelled, not to fill up the void places of any removed or dead: so that in a few years, what by death and new expulsion, they may reduce themselves to the number of those infamous Tyrants of Athens, and if they can establish themselves by their designed Militia, and that they may thereby be able to command their now Masters, the swordmen, and cashier them, they will moddle such a new Army as shall be in subjection to them, and then Vote themselves, their Sons, and Nephews, a Parliament for ever. Let those that have generous English Spirits seriously consider into what a labyrinth of woe and misery they have run themselves and now lie under; what a confusion there is in Church and State; that what hath been gotten by blood and rapine, must be so upheld; The Govetnment these Usurpers would settle, not being to be maintained, but by continual Armies and Navies, and the support of these must be Taxes, Excise, Free-quarterings, and chargeable Militia's, and other unsupportable burdens to perpetuity. Now let the whole Nation beg and implore a blessing from the Father of Mercies, and let them all be of one heart and one mind, to free themselves of these Iron yokes and heavy pressures, and join and concur with us, in establishing a peaceable Government, to the great joy and happiness of the honest and true-hearted, and to the advancement of the true Protestant Religion and God's Glory.  
Given under our hand, Brussels Octob. 2. S. N. 1659.   

Antwerp, Published by his majesty's special Command, and Printed Cum Privilegio.