THE WONDER, OR, PROPOSITIONS FOR A SAFE AND WELL-GROVNDED PEACE.  
Proposed by a Parliament man, full of Honour, Honesty, and Satisfaction, And most worthy to be pursued, and Embraced by all Patriots and truehearted Englishmen.   anthropomorphized decorative flourish 
LONDON. Printed in the Year, 1648.   

The PREFACE.  
HAving since the first beginning of this Parliament observed the differences therein, both in their breeding & continuance; the people holding themselves grieved with illegal pressures put upon them, both in the freedom of their Persons, the propriety of their Goods, and the liberty of their Consciences; and these wrought by particular men for sinister ends by their interests in Court, to the disturbance of the quiet and peace of the Kingdom, as it stood established by Law: These occasioned a desire by most men, not only to prevent the like for the future, but also the punishing of such as were conceived to be Authors, Procurers, or Supporters thereof, thereby to deter others from doing the like hereafter. And this trenched upon both Courtiers, Lawyers, and Divines. The means to reconcile and prevent which, as the times now are, hath incited me, being a Member of this present Parliament; and conceiving myself in duty bound to tender my best advice for the speedy ending of this most barbarous and unnatural War that is now raging amongst us, which can produce no better effect, if not timely ended, than a general destruction of the Nation, who are now become a Scorn and Contempt to all Neighbours, (who were before looked upon with great honour and respect, yea, not without envy.) Besides, the high wrath of Almighty God, by the courses held and observed in the prosecution thereof: I profess by this advice, not to look upon myself, but merely the good of my native Country; and that, which I conceive myself bound to, both by the Oath of Allegiance, Supremacy, and the Protestation which I took this Parliament. And this without respect of any party, further than my judgement shall lead me to. And I shall likewise give this testimony of my own sincerity herein, that I being a Commoner of this Kingdom, and knowing not where else to live but in England, & here, under a peaceable and free Government. In all just things, shall adhere to the Commonwealth, and the liberties of the Subject; yet no way hereby to detract from the King, what may justly be due to the Regal Power, and which it can no way be abridged of, without too much diminution: I have always conceived, & still do, that the Regal Power ought to be limited by the Law; And if it be debarred of its due course in the execution thereof, God defend, but the people upon general complaints should have remedy therein, especially to prevent the like in succeeding times, considering the Government we live in is a mixed Government, by consent between the King and the People, as to my sense doth manifestly appear by the words of the Oath of Coronation; which being observed, the people, as bound in Conscience, aught to yield the King all due Honour and Obedience to His just Commands. Thus I have declared unto you, the openness of my heart, herein leaving the following advice to your best judgements, with my Prayers to God, to give such success therein, as I, in the Integrity of my heart do desire.   

A Ready way, as is conceived, to Compose the present differences as the times now are.  
By a Member of the House of Commons this present Parliament.  
1. THat the King be immediately sent for to come to Hampton Court, without any conditions or guard whatsoever, but according to His Majesties own pleasure.  
2. That the King, before His coming to Hampton, 
This is as much as the King can do, or the people can require.  do Publish His Proclamation of free Pardon to all His Subjects of what quality or condition soever, and for all faults whatsoever, against Himself, His Crown and Dignity.  
3. 
Without which He cannot administer justice to His people.  That the King be forthwith restored to all His just Revenues and Regal Power, which by Law is due to Him.  
4. 
This in substance, being but the same Oath as He takes at his Coronation, and iterated only to keep more fresh in memory: And being presidented by Magna Charta which was confirmed 30 times at least: the first out of every succeeding Parliament.  That His Majesty take a Corporal Oath not to Govern any way but according to the known Laws of the Kingdom. And whosoever Sub-minister of His shall do otherwise, to the prejudice of the Subject, either in point of liberty of their persons, or propriety of their goods, He will grant them no pardon, but leave them to the justice of the Law. And likewise to give His Royal Assent to an Act of Parliament for His Successors to take the like Oath, the beginning of every Parliament before both Houses, for the same.  
5. That a Proclamation be published for the Disbanding of all Soldiers within the Kingdom, and bringing in of their Arms within ten days after such Proclamation upon pain of High Treason, against all Refusers and their Abettors.  
6. That the Church-Government may stand as it is Established by Law, having respect to tender Consciences until such time as it shall be altered by due course of Law.  
7. 
This being the motion of the Dutch Ambassadors, who came over to intercede a peace between the King and His people.  That His Majesty will be pleased to promise the speedy convening of a Nationall Synod of forty Divines of His Majesties own Subjects. And that the Reformed Protestant Churches may be entreated to send some of their Divines, such as themselves shall make choice of to assist therein, for Establishing and Rectifying such an Unity and Conformity with all other Protestant Churches as shall be by consent agreed upon, whereby to preserve Unity with them, both in Doctrine and Discipline; which agreement His Majesty will Consent to have confirmed by Act of Parliament.  
8. 
This is as much as can be required for the people's security both for the present and future.  That His Majesty will be pleased to promise to give the Royal Assent to such Bills to be made Laws, as shall be presented unto Him by both Houses, in a full, free, and Legal Parliament, which shall no way entrench upon His Majesty's Legal Prerogative, Honour, or Profit, but only such as tend to the better Government, and ease of the Subjects, for the future.  
9 
This is presidented by Magna Charta, when it was first granted.  That His Majesty will be pleased to grant these for the present under His Hand. And which He will confirm at His first coming to Liberty to some House of His own.  
10. And if these shall be refused to be done, either by King or Parliament, the blame may justly be imputed to lie there: And are very necessary to precede a Personal Treaty, wherein all Interests may be taken into consideration.  
FINIS.