A LETTER SENT FROM THE King's majesty TO THE LORDS OF HIS privy council OF THE kingdom OF SCOTLAND.  
CHARLES R.  
RIght trusty and well-beloved Cousins, and councillors, We greet you well. Although We have already written Our mind to you Our council; yet upon Our second thoughts, arising especially from some bad rumours, coming to Our knowledge, We find it necessary both for ourself, and for the good of that Our kingdom, to declare, and make known both Our disposition and desires more fully.  
We know and feel the charge to be great, and the place to be high, wherein God (the King of kings) hath placed Us, and that We must render an account of all Our actions to him, who in his own time shall judge all men without exception of persons. We have no other intentions, but by Our government, to honour him by whom King's reign, and to procure the good of Our people: and for this end to preserve the right and authority wherewith God hath vested Us, and which by his Providence hath been derived to Us, by many Princely progenitors: in the which glory that Our ancient kingdom, and native realm of Scotland doth participate.  
We did not require of you, that you should sit as Judges upon the affairs of another kingdom: We only intended to have both Our sufferings and Our actions, (as they are expressed in many papers past betwixt Us and Our Parliament) made throughly known unto you: that since We have none besides you whom we can acquaint with Our proceedings, you may clearly see that We have been so far from wronging Our Parliament of England, that We have given them all satisfaction, even above that which they themselves in the beginning did express, or almost desire: and as much as could well consist with the safety of Our Person and Honour. We will not put you in mind of your natural affection toward Us, which We know will rather be kindled then extinguished by Our distress: Nor of your Covenant, wherein you are zealous of Our greatness and Authority, and which standeth in that sense wherein you did swear and subscribe it: Nor of the many good laws made in Our late Parliament (of which We hope the present and succeeding generations shall reap the fruits, when We are dead and gone:) Nor of the many promises made to Us, upon which We were willing to yield to such things for settling the government of that Our kingdom, in Our personal absence, which neither could We have granted, nor would you have craved (as yourselves did profess) had Our greater affairs permitted Our residence amongst you. And whereas We are most unjustly blamed and calumniated, 1. That We are popishly affected: 2. That We are the cause of the bloodshed in Ireland: 3. That We intend to bring in foreign Forces: We here do protest and declare in presence of him who knows the most secret of Our intentions and actions, that We are no ways conscious to ourself of the guiltiness of any of the said's aspersions: and do take him to witness Our innocency therein, who only hath the privilege to be the searcher of hearts. And if any after so full and plain profession shall distrust this Our free declaration, We attest God, that the fault is in the malignity of their rebellious humours, and no ways deserved on Our part.  
Given at Our Court at York, the 20. of May, 1642.   

London, Printed by Robert Young, His majesty's Printer for the kingdom of SCOTLAND.