King CHARLES II. HIS DECLARATION To all His Loving SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM of ENGLAND. Dated from his Court at Breda in Holland The 4/14 of April 1660. And read in PARLIAMENT, May 1. 1660.  
TOGETHER WITH His Majesty's Letter Of the same Date: To his EXCELLENCE The L D. Gen. Monck, To be communicated to the L. PRECEDENT of the COUNCIL of STATE, And to the Officers of the Army under his Command.  
London, Printed for John Playford at his Shop in the Temple. 1660.   


C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
The DECLARATION.  
CHARLES by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the faith, To all our loving Subjects of what degree or quality soever greeting.  
If the general distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole Kingdom, doth not awaken all men to a desire and longing that these wounds which have so many years together been kept bleeding▪ may be bound up, all we can say will be to no purpose, 〈◊〉 after this long silence, we have thought it our Duty, to declare how much we desire to contribute thereunto. And that as we can never give over hope in good time to 〈…〉 the Possession of that Right which God and Nature hath made our due. So we do make it our daily ●●●●…e to the Divine Providence, that he will in Compassion to 〈…〉 our Subjects (after so long in ●●●…ty Rule 〈…〉 us and put us into a quiet and Peaceable Possession, of that our Right, with as little blood and damage to our people, as is possible, For do We d●●●●●… more to enjoy what is ours, than that all our S●●●●●● may enjoy what by Law is theirs, by a just and 〈◊〉 administration of justice thoughout the Land, and by extending our mercy where it is wanting and deserved.  
And to the end That the fear of punishment may not engage any conscious to themselves of what is past, to a perseverance in Gild for the future, by opposing the quiet and happiness of their Country, in the restoration both of King, Pars and People, to their just ancient and fundamental Rights: We do by these presents declare, That we do grant a full and general Pardon, which we are ready to pass under our great Seal of England, to all our Subjects of what degree or qualitity soever, who within forty days after the publication hereof, shall lay hold upon this our grace and favour, and shall by any public act declare their doing so; And that they return to the Loyalty and Obedience of good Subjects, excepting only such Persons as shall hereafter be excepted by Parliament, T●ose only excepted: Let our Subjects how faulty soever, rely upon the word of a King, solemnly given by this present Declaration, That no Crime whatsoever committed against us or our Royal Father before the publication of this, shall ever rise in judgement, or be brought in question against any of them, to the least indamagement either in their Lives Liberties or Estates, or (as far forth lies in our power) so much as to the prejudice of their Reputation, by any reproach or term of distinction from the rest of our best Subjects. We desiring and ordaining that henceforward all Notes of discord, separation and difference of Parties, be utterly abolished among all our Subjects, whom we invite and conjure to a perfect Union among themselves under our Protection, for the resettlement of our just Rights and theirs in a free Parliament▪ by which upon the word of a king we will be advised.  
And because the Passion & uncharitableness of the times have produced several opinions in Religion, by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each other which when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of conversation, will be composed or better understood: We do declare a liberty to tender Consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matters of Religion, which do not disturb the Peace of the Kingdom; And that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament, as upon mature Deliberation shall be offered to us, for the full granting that indulgence: And because in the continued distractions of so many years, and so many great Revolutions, many Grants and Purchases of Estates have been made too and by many Officers and Soldiers, and others who are now possessed of the same, and who may be liable to Actions at Law upon several Titles, We are likewise willing that all such differences, & all things relating to such Grants Sales and Purchases, shall be determined in Parliament, which can best provide for the just satisfaction of all men who are concerned.  
And we do further declare, That we will ve ready to consent to any Act or Acts of Parliament to the purposes aforesaid, and for the full satisfaction of all arrears due to the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, under the Command of General MONCK: And that they shall be received into our Service upon as good pay & conditions as they now enjoy.  
Given under our sign Manuel and privy signet at our Court at Breda this fourteenth day of April 1660. In the twelveth year of our Reign.   

Received the first of May, 1660.   

 
CHARLES R. 
 TRusty and Wellbeloved, we great you well:  
It cannot be believed but that we have been, are, and ever must be as Solicitous as we can, by all endeavours, to improve the Affections of our good Subjects at home, and to procure the Assistance of our Friends and Allies abroad, for the Recovery of that Right, 〈◊〉 by the laws 〈…〉; and of which we have been so long dispossessed by such force, and with those circumstances, as we do not desire to agravace by any sharp expressions, but rather wish, That the Memory of what is passed, may ●e buried to the World, that we have more endeavoured to prepare, and to improve the affections of our Subjects at home, for our Resoration, then to procure assistance from abroad, to invade either o● our Kingdoms, is as manifest to the World: And we cannot give a better evidence that we are still of the same mind, then in this Conjuncure, when common Reason must satisfy all Men, that we cannot be without Assistance from abroad, We choose rather to send to you, who have it in your own power, to prevent that Ruin and Desolat●●● War would bring upon the Nation, and to make the whole Kingdom own the Peace, Happiness, Security and Glory it shall enjoy, to your Virtue; and to acknowledge that your Armies have complied with their Obligations, for which they were first raised, for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, the Honour and Dignity of the King, the Privileges of Parliament, the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and the fundamental Laws of the Land; and that you have vindicated that Trust, which others most perfidiously abused and betrayed: How much we desire and resolve to contribute to those good Ends, will appear to you by our enclosed Declaration, which we desire you to cause to be published for the Information and Satisfaction ●f all good Subjects, who do not desire a further effusion of precious Christian blood, but to have their peace & security founded upon that which can only support it; a unity of affections amongst ourselves, an equal Administration of Justice to Men, restoring Parliaments to a full capacity of providing for all that is amiss, and the Laws of the Land to 〈…〉▪ You have been yourselves witnesses of so many Revelations, and have had so much Expe●ience, 〈…〉 for any power and authority that is only assumed by passion and appetite, and not supported by justice, is from providing for the happiness and peace of the people, or from receiving any obedience from them, without which no Government can provide for them, that you may very teasonably believe, that God hath not been well pleased with the attempts that have been made, since he hath usually increased the Confusion by giving all the success that hath been desired, and brought that to pass without Effect, which the Designers have proposed, as the best means to settle and compose the Nation; and therefore we cannot but hope and believe, that you will concur with u● in the remedy we have applied, which to humane understanding is only proper for the Ills we all groan under; and that you will make yourselves the Blessed Instruments to bring this Blessing of Peace and Reconciliation upon King and People, it being the usual Method in which Divine providence delighteth itself, to use and sanctify those very means which ill men design, for the satisfaction of private and particular Ends and Ambition, and other wicked purposes, to wholesome and public Ends, and to Establish that Good which is most contrary to the Designers; which is the greatest Manifestation of God's peculiar Kindness to a Nation, that can be given in this world. How far we resolve to preserve your Interests, and reward your services, we refer to our Declaration; and we hope God will inspire you to perform your Duty to us, and to your Native Country, whose happiness cannot be separated from each other.  
We have have entrusted our well-beloved Servant Sir John Greenville one of the Gentlemen of our Bedchamber, to deliver this unto you, and to give us an Account of your Reception of it, and to desire you in our Name, that it may be published. And so We bid you farewell.  
Given at our Court at Breda this 4/14 of April 1660, In the twelfth year of our Reign.  
Received 1. May 1660.  
To our trusty and well-beloved General MONCK; to be by him communicated to the Precedent and Council of State, and to the Officers of the Armies under his Command.   
FINIS.