THE ACCUSATION Given by His MAJESTY Against the Lord Wilmot:  
TOGETHER With the Lord Wilmots Declaration of his innocency.  
ALSO A Petition of the Officers of the old Horse to his Majesty, in behalf of the Lord Wilmot: With his Majesty's Answer thereunto.  
By which it is most evident, that the Lord Wilmot is in great danger of losing his head, (if he hath not lost it already, as some affirm) for being a suitor to his Majesty for Peace; and for being averse to the proceed of Prince Rupert, showing a just dislike that he, being the grand favourer of the Irish Rebels should be so much countenanc●● and entrusted by his Majesty with so great a power.  
Published according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed by Francis Leach, August 30 1644.   

The humble Petition of your Majesty's old Officers of Horse;  
Humbly showeth,  
THat whereas they have had the honour to serve your Majesty under the command of the Lord Wilmot, of whose just and loyal intentions they conceive they have had some demonstrations; but now to their great amazement, and almost distraction, find him fallen into your Majesty's displeasure and suspicion: And although they intent not to arrogate unto themselves a liberty of searching into your Majesty's designs, nor disputing your commands, yet they most humbly beg pardon, if they believe it a right they own themselves and your Majesty's service, to request they may receive some present light of this business from your Majesty, that they may not have reason to suspect themselves partakers of his crimes, having been by your Majesty's order executors of his commands. And we hope for such a satisfaction from your Majesty's Justice in this particular as may encourage your Petitioners to go on with the same zeal to your service, as they have hitherto expressed in the hazard of their lives and fortunes, and in their prayers for your prosperity, which shall ever be continued by  
Your Majesty's most humble etc.  
Our Answer to the humble Petition of the Officers of the old borse, concerning the Lord Wilmot, presented to Us August 8. 1644.  
CHARLES REX.  
We have considered of your Petition, and receive it as a thing well becoming you, to express unto Us a sense of the misfortune of a person, who hath so long commanded you as the Lord Wilmot hath done, in so eminene a charge as that of Lieurenant general of Horse; since We assure you the occasion We had to set so great a Mark of Our displeasure, upon one so highly trusted and favoured by Us, is an affection to Ourself not inferior to the greatest which his best friends can conceive by the effect of it: And We shall expect that you will be kind unto Us, in your b●l●efe either of Our Justice, or prudent care at least of Our own interests, as to be confident of that at this season, when the cheerfulness and unanimity in Our service, wherewith all of you have hitherto so eminently obliged your King, is so much more necessary than it hath been at any time, We should not have done an act that might hazard the discontenting many, had We not been forced unto it by the assurance that it was absolutely necessary to the preservation of Us all. And though in such eases, wherein a Crown lies at the stake upon the decision of battle, a small suspi●ion is ground enough for a Prince to remove any person, but doubted for such a trust, whereby he had power so easily to destroy all; yet so desirous are We to give full satisfaction unto you, whose merit of Us hath been such, that We must ever profess, no King did ever owe more to Gentlemen and Officers, that We thought fit hereunto to annex a Declaration of the causes of the Lord Wilmots removal from that trust: being only sorry for this, ●h●t we (urged by your desires) publish more perhaps then ever We intended, of the unfaithfulness and ingratitude of a person, whom we had not only trusted so long and so far, but also so highly, and so many several ways obliged, that it is a great improvement of grief and trouble to Us, that when it shall please God by your means to restore Us to Our Rights, We can scarce ever hope for power to do proportionably to the rest of you.  
Given at our Court at Buconock Aug 12. 1644.  
THat the Lord Viscount Wilmot hath endeavoured principally these three months' last passed to possess the officers of his Majesty's Army with disvalue and contempt of his Majesty's person, and with prejudice against the sincerity of his intentions for the good of his people, and endeavoured (as far as in him lay) to draw men to revolt from their allegiance. And particularly, hath used discourses and persuasions to this effect, and to persons of charge, power, and credit in the Army, That the King he saw would put all the power into his Nephew's hands, that rather than suffer it they should (for his part he would) make him submit to his Parliament. And to others to this effect, That the King was afraid of peace; That he was not a man ever to go through this business: That there was no way but one, which was, to set up the Prince, who had had no share in the cause of these troubles, and that he would declare against those about his Father, wherein all honest men would stick unto him, and put an end to all. That the said Lord Viscount Wilmot hath without his Majesty's knowledge sent secret messengers of dangerous nature unto the Earl of Essex: particularly, it being resolved by his Majesty, that a private message should be sent unto the Earl of Essex from a person of honour, to whom the said Earl professeth respect, inviting him to send two persons of most trust with him to meet and confer with the said persons of honour, and another, of whom the said Earl was believed to have a good opinion: and the instructions unto the mess●nger (one who had free access unto the Earl of Essex) being punctually drawn at a private Counsel at the which the Lord Wilmott was present, with precise directions, that the messenger should know no more the business, or deliver any things concerning the public, but what was set down by unanimous consent at the Counsel & attested by the Secretaries of Sat, the said L. Wilmot notwithstanding desired the said Messenger to commend him kindly to the E. of Essex and tell him from him he had many good friends in the Army, that he should lay hold of this opportunity, and that then they would show themselves, and that the Court should not have power to hinder it or carry it as they have done, or words to this effect by which secret Message from him being Lieutenant General of his Majesty's Horse unto the General of the Rebel's Army, he did not only forfeit his duty and allegiance, but hath by giving the E. of Essex such assurances, though most false of a party in his Majesty's Army and of such division betwixt that and the Court been probably the cause of that insolent return, which the said Earl hath made unto his Majesty's most gracious Letter which he vouchsafed to write him with his own hand, to invite him to peace, and so frustrated the great hope which his Majesty had raised to himself by such a letter, of saving the further effusion of blood, and prouring the happiest accomoda ion: whereof had there been the least hope left, his Majesty hath declared that he would have connived at these, yea, if possible at greater Crimes.  
An Answer to A Declaration and Charge against the Lord Wllmotte.  
I doubt not but my actions, and the loss of what I have in his Majesty's service, might satisfy the world of my integrity and respect to his Majesty's person and dignity, If I should only insist upon that; but since my accusers intent to prove the contrary by the Averment of persons of Charge, Power, and Credit in the Army, I am confident it is a right I own my own Innocency, and Civility to men of their quality, wholly and absolutely to refer myself to the Justice and Integrity of their Testimonies without endeavouring to assure the world from myself, of my own Innocency: Though I doubt whensoever it shall please the King to call me to my public trial, which I am promised will be speedily, I shall be able to make that appear with as much clearness to the whole world, as I now find in the private▪ satisfaction of my own Conscience. But since some persons have thought fit to interest themselves in my justification, I conceive myself obliged to satisfy their desires in this general account, for the present, I must in the first place rejoice with them, that the malice itself of my Accusers can suggest nothing of practice to me, the height of my pretended of, fences, were they confessed by me, or proved by them, reach no further than words, though of such nature, as are as disagreeable to my Loyalty and duty, as they were always distant either from my intentions or expressions. Till my adversaries fin de our away to make good, as barely to accuse: I must require from the Justice of all persons, since my actions have in all points fully contradicted these pretended accusations, a suspension of judgement: & desire they would not put the forged suggestions of my enemies, in equal balance to the endeavours of my whole life, & after hazard of it (if his Majesty had thought sit;) he might have found would have been still continued, in as full & faithful a degree in his Majesty's service as ever, the truth is, my affection hath always inclined to peace: But I take God to witness, such a one as might have agreed with the honour of the King, and the happiness of the Country, and though my intentions are not to recriminate yet in order of my own justification and acquitment, I must take leave to say, I do more than fear it agrees not with the interest and inclinations of some persons so fully as I could wish, which I take to be the principal cause of my present condition, but I have only undertaken to clear myself, may each man's particular faults light on his own head whosoever shall abstract the substance from the Copiousness and subtle Aggravations of Language, I am confident will find what ever dress they may be able to put upon the ground work of their accusations to be barely nothing but a too violent expressing my Inclinations to Peace, whether I have ever sought it further than my Allegiance and duty to his Majesty allowed of, Or my obligation to my Country, might exact from me. I must refer to my public answer, in the mean time I desire and doubt not, but that all good men will be satisfied with this profession and Protestation, that I never had a private Treaty, nor ever speak any thing to the prejudice of the public Cause, yet if there could be a means found out to reconcile the just interest of the King and Kingdom, such as becomes an honest and well affected man to appear in, I am sure I should be very forward to engage all my assistance, and shall think it an action may very well be justified to God my King, and all honest men in which resol●●●on I intent to live and die.  
FINIS.