A DECLARATION FOR PEACE From the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and the Dukes, Marquesses, Bishops, Earls, Lords, Knights, and the rest of His Commissioners at Newport; to be published throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales; Containing, their unanimous Resolutions for an Agreement with both Houses of Parliament, within the time (of 40 days) limited for the Treaty; And His Gracious and Final Answer to the paper of Ireland, presented to the Commissioners on Friday last. With their happy and joyful Agreement therein.  
Dated at Newport 14 Octobe 1648. Subscribed CHARLES REX.  
The Treaty at Newport. Peace be amongst you.   throned man (from context, Charles I) on platform, with notaries, and surrounded by male listeners 
Imprinted at London, for R. Smith, near Temple-Bar, 1648.   

A DECLARATION FOR PEACE, From the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and the Dukes, Marquesses, Bishops, Earls, Lords, Knights, and the rest of the Commissioners for the Treaty.  
Enclosed in a Letter from the Isle of Wight, to be forthwith printed, and published throughout the several respective Counties within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales.  
Right Honourable,  
THis present Treaty is conceived to be the main Object of the whole Kingdom, whose eyes are fixed thereupon, expecting the happy tidings of Peace, to be sent forth by the blessed Dove with an Olive branch in her mouth, throughout all the corners of the Nation; and (in all probability) they are now ready to issue forth in streams of joy, to water the Plants of this late flourishing and fruitful Island.  
For his Majesty (upon a conference with the Duke's Marquesses; Bishops, Earls, Lords, and the rest of the Commissioners on his part) hath declared his unanimous Resolution for a mutual agreement and compliance with his two Houses of Parliament, to all things by them desired, which may tend to the peace and safety of all his liege people throughout his Realms and Dominions.  
And upon Thursday last delivered his gracious answer and Royal Assent to the Commissioners at the Treaty, to the paper of Ireland, in all things by them desired, which was as followeth.  
That his Majesty doth condescend, That an Act of Parliament be passed, to declare and make void the Cessation of Ireland, and all treaties and conclusion of peace, or any articles thereupon with the Rebels, without consent of both Houses.  
And that according to their Desire, He is pleased to settle the prosecution of the war in that Kingdom in his two Houses, to be managed by them: and that He is willing to assist and adhere to them therein, promising upon his Royal Word to do no Act to discountendance or molest them.  
To the second clause therein inserted, His Majesty doth agree, That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be settled in that Kingdom by Act of Parliament, in such manner as both his two Houses have agreed, or shall agree upon, after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster.  
To the third Clause, His Majesty giveth this Answer, That he will give His Consent that the Deputy Governor or Governors, and the Precedents of the several provinces of that Kingdom, be nominated by his two Houses of the Parliament of England; as also all other Offices whatsoever; being limited for twenty years from the 1 of July 1648.  
This Answer seemed very satisfactory, and upon receipt thereof the Commissioners presented a paper to his Majesty for payment of the public Debts of the Kingdom, which caused a large ●ebate upon Friday; and after several Arguments laid down by the Commissioners on both sides, the King promised to give a final Answer the next day.  
And for the rest of the Propositions, there's no doubt but a speedy concurrence will be given to them all; for the Nobility and Clergy on the King's side have declared to his Majesty for peace; his Majesty concurs with them therein and hath promised to dispense with Episcopacy, and to settle the Directory, rather than to leave his people unsatisfied, or involve them in a further effusion, or streams of blood.  
And the Parliament Commissioners go hand in hand with them, promising to leave no means unattempted that may conduce to the peace and safety of all his Majesty's Realms and Dominions.  
Newport 14. Octob. 1648.  
By Letters from the Isle of Wight Octob. 14. it is said. That his Majesty hath had some further consultation with the Commissioners of both Houses, and desires that all obstructions may be removed; that may retard so blessed a work, promising to leave no means unattempted, for the settling of a firm and lasting peace throughout his Realms and Dominion; and the better to satisfy his two Houses of Parliament, he hath been graciously pleased to pass the Bill for recalling all his Decclarations and Proclamations, published against either or both Houses of Parliament; as also, the Bill for confirming the Militia in the power of Parliament for 20 years; promising upon his Royal word to enact the same, and all other Bills or Propositions whatsoever, that shall be agreed upon by his Majesty, and the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament, etc.  
And it is reported at Court, that the King hath sent a Letter to the Lord Gen. Fairfax, and Lieut. General Cromwell, viz.  
Desiring them to use all means possible for the propagating of this present Treaty, and to endeavour the settling of a firm and lasting peace throughout his bleeding and distracted Kingdoms; that so all his liege people of what sect or sort soever, may no longer feel the cruelty and oppression of a most bloody and intestine war, but (after a seven years' Pilgrimage in desolation and confusion) for the future, enjoy a true and everlasting peace.  
And truly, I am confident, that no man desires peace more than his Majesty, but yet scruples at the Directory, and argueth stiffly for Episcopacy; as appears by his ensuing answer to the Proposition touching the Church of England as followeth.  
As to the Exceptions that his Maj. said nothing to the consenting to a Bill for the abolishing of Archbishops, &c, nor that the Ordinance for abolishing them be confirmed by Act of Parl. the Form of Church government and Directory for worship which you presented to him, and thereby hath established the actual possession, and public exercise of these Forms, & hath suspended the present Government and Form of worship established by law, but desired a cosultation with Divines in the mean time for a future settlement, is in that paper is expressed: His Maj. therefore declares, that the reason why he did not answer to that part of your Proposition was, because he was not satisfied in his conscience; He can be content to the utter abolishing of Episcopacy: the substance whereof he conceives to consist in the power of Ordination and Jurisdiction, as they were exercised by the Apostles themselves, and others, by authority derived from them, superior to Presbyters & Deacons in the primitive times: but because he acknowledgeth that Bishops were to have council and assistance of Presbyters in Ordination and Jurisdiction, and in the last were, and are limited by the Civil power, his Maj. Desired the consultation with the Divines, to the end that he and his two Houses might determine in what manner Ordination and Jurisdiction might be moderated and regulated for the future government of the Church, His Majesty's Resolution being to comply with his two houses for the alteration and regulating of his present Hierarchy and Government, so as Episcopacy reduced to the Primitive usage may be settled and continued in this Church: and therefore his Maj. hearty desires their concurrence in the one, that he may with more freedom give his assent to the other.  
As to the Exception, that his Maj. hath not expressed his consent for settling of Bishop's Lands upon trusties, and for the sale of those lands, its true, he hath not to alienate the Inheritance of those lands, and herein he believes he hath concurrent opinions of many Divines, that in order points differ much among themselves but his former answer containing a large offer of satisfaction to all those that have purchased, or disbursed moneys upon those lands, he hopes that answer, to which he now refers, will be satisfactory to his two houses.  
His Maj. will confirm the public use of the Directory in all Churches and Chapels, and will consent to the repeal of so much of all statutes, as only concerns the Book of Common-prayer, and also to the taking the same away out of all Churches and Chapels; provided that the use thereof may be continued in his Maj. Chapel, for himself and his Household.  
Subscribed CHARLES REX.  
Monday Octob. 16.  
Letters from the Isle of Wight say, That his Majesty is (in part) convinced of the Errors of Episcopacy, and will speedily give His Royal assent for the settling of the Presbyterian Government, throughout the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Principality of Wales; so that there is no doubt, but before the 40 days limited for the Treaty are expired, there will be a final end and agreement between the King and Parliament.  
FINIS.