A DECLARATION OF THE Peaceable royalists.  
1. Concerning the King, We are not so mad, nor so foolish as to endeavour to enslave ourselves, and the whole Nation under a Tyrant. We know that King James had his faults, and King Charles had his faults, and the present King of Scots hath his failings, as all men are sinners too too bad God knows. Indeed, although we thought we did well in assisting the King against the Parliament, because the word of God commanded obedience to Kings, yet had we but known of that most dreadful curse of King James (who cursed himself and his Posterity for ever, if he spared any that was sound guilty of Sir Thomas Overbury's death, and after the Lord Carr was found guilty and condemned for that Fact, he did spare him, and would never suffer him to be executed. We say, had we known this) we should have let God alone, and not have been so forward in assisting him in our late unhappy wars; for whosoever shall read a Book entitled The Court of King James, and compare it with the last engagement made by the Parliament Saturday 3d Decemb. 1659. (the said Engagement running thus, I A. B. do hereby declare, that I do renounce the pretended title of Charles Stewart, and the whole Line of the late King James &c.) will find that God's judgements are just; nevertheless we are exceeding sorry for that Family, out of the love we bore to Charles out late King, because he granted many good things so willingly, before any Arms was taken up on either side, namely, 1. The damning all Patentees and Monopolies. 2. The taking off Ship-money. 3. That no Papists should sit in Parliament. 4. That Bishops should not be Lords. 5. That there should be a Parliament every three years. 6. That this Parliament should continue until it dissolved itself. And then after all this, for the Parliament to demand his Power from him, and because he would not give it them to fight with him for it, we thought it was too hard measure, and that we were bound in Conscience and duty to help him, not knowing of the aforesaid imprecation of King James, or that the finger of God was in it. But now the Militia being by Conquest the Parliaments right, we pray God it may be rightly employed, and for Peace sake, and for preventing the coming in of Foreign Nations, and for poor-old Charles his sake, our desires are, 1  
That Charles Stewart may be but only Speaker of the Parliament, and have no more Power than William Lenthal had in Parliament, and that an hostage may be sent into France for him, to come hither to that purpose, and that there may be successive Parliaments, and he but the Speaker; And we will all be quiet and submit to the Parliament, and their Army, in all things necessary to Peace and security of the Nation, and for Peace and good Trading with foreign Nations.  
2. Concerning Church matters, we do not desire a rigid Episcopacy no more than a rigid Presbytery, (which is detestable to us) we are now indeed become independents, and are fain to Congregate where we can to worship God in the Old way; and our Ministers have no Tithes, but are content with the Alms of our Congregations, and we desire only but our liberty of whose Office should be only to oversee all private Congregations, that every one should worship the true God according to the Scriptures, So that no Atheism, nor idolatry, nor any wicked worship should be introduced; and for Anabaptists, so long as they baptise in the same Faith, we are not against them. And for the Quakers so long as they confess Christ to be a light in their Conscience, and walk honestly by that light, and do not introduce any Doctrine against Christ's Doctrine, we are not against them neither.  
3. We confess God's just judgements upon those of our profession, that have been notorious lewd persons, we are sorry for the former pride of our Lords and Gentry, Our Bishops and Ministers also have indeed been too idle, too proud and too covetous in times past; and the profaneness and wickedness of many, will be laid to their charge. We consider, that among all Sects and Opinions in Religion, there are some good, and some wicked among all; and for the good people amongst them all, we desire to live in peace with, but for the wicked of all parties, we desire they may all be punished by the Magistrates, according to the laws. And from henceforth we disclaim and disown all Swearers, Drunkards, Whoremongers, Blasphemers, profane persons, Thieves, Cheaters, liars, Hypocrites, Idolaters, Murderers and Extortioners, &c. from cowing into our Congregations, or joining in communion with us, according to our liturgy or Book of commonprayer, if we know them to be such wicked people.  
Also we desire all Breakers of Oaths, Vows, and Protestations, and Engagements (who ever they are) to repent, that God may forgive them as well as the King. And that King James may be their warning. And when Peace is settled, we hope all poor penitent royalists shall have some relief for former losses and Sequestrations.  
BEATI PACIFICI.   

LONDON, Printed for Richard Freeman, 1659.