royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE  
Dieu ET MON DROIT   
His majesty's gracious Message to both Houses of Parliament, sent from Nottingham 25. August 1642. by the Earls of Southampton, and Dorset, Sir John Culpeper Knight Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir William Vuedall Knight.  
WE have, with unspeakable grief of heart, long beheld the Distractions of this Our Kingdom; Our very Soul is full of Anguish, until We may find some remedy to prevent the miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole Nation by a civil War. And though all Our endeavours, tending to the composing of those unhappy differences betwixt us and Our two Houses of Parliament (though pursued by us with all zeal and Sincerity) have been hitherto without that success We hoped for, Yet such is Our constant and earnest Care to preserve the public Peace, That We shall not be discouraged from using any Expedient, which, by the blessing of the God of Mercy, may lay a firm foundation of Peace, and happiness to all Our good Subjects. To this end, observing that many mistakes have arisen by the Messages, Petitions, & Answers betwixt us and Our two Houses of Parliament, which haply may be prevented by some other way of Treaty, wherein the matters in difference may be more clearly understood and more freely transacted, We have thought fit to propound to you, That some fit persons may be, by you, enabled to treat with the like number, to be authorized by us in such a manner, and with such freedom of debate as may best tend to that happy Conclusion, (which all good men desire) The peace of the Kingdom. Wherein, as We promise, in the word of a King, all safety and encouragement to such as shall be sent unto us, if you shall choose the place where We are for the Treaty, which we wholly leave to you, presuming of the like care of the safety of those We shall employ, if you shall name another place; So We assure you and all Our good Subjects, That (to the best of Our understanding) nothing shall be therein wanting on Our part which may advance the true Protestant Religion, oppose Popery and Superstition, secure the Law of the Land (upon which is built as well Our just Prerogative as the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject) confirm all just Power and privileges of Parliament, and render us and Our people truly happy by a good Understanding betwixt us and Our two Houses of Parliament. Bring with you as firm resolutions to do your duty, and let all Our good people join with us in Our prayers to Almighty God for his blessing upon this work. If this Proposition shall be rejected by you, We have done Our duty so amply, That God will absolve us from the guilt of any of that blood which must be spilled. And what opinion soever other men may have of Our Power, We assure you nothing but Our Christian and pious care to prevent the effusion of blood hath begot this motion. Our provision of Men, Arms, and Money, being such as may secure us from further violence, till it please God to open the eyes of Our People.   

¶ Imprinted at York by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of JOHN BILL. 1642