NEW PROPOSITIONS FROM His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, Lieutenant General Cromwell, and the Council of the Army, concerning the King's Majesty, His Royal Consort the Queen, Charles Prince of Wales, and James Duke of York, Presented to His Majesty at Hampton-Court. With His Majesty's Gracious Answer and Desires. Signed, CHARLES REX. C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE English royal blazon surmounted by a crown 7ber 16. Printed at London, for Robert Williamson, 1647. ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM The King's Majesty at Hampton-Court: Sent to the Honourable House of Peers, together with his new propositions, and Desires therein. Enclosed in a Letter from Hampton-Court, September, 15. Right Honourable, YOu have ever pursued me with your favours, that I am made capable of no other pleasure in the world but to entertain them: insomuch, that should I offer up my being to you, 'tis impossible for me, but in part to disengage myself; so that of necessity I must want both words and services to express how unfeignedly I honour you: Nevertheless, I shall embolden myself, to make my earnest desire visible unto you, by imparting that, which all Loyal Subject's desires to be partakers of; and therefore, for general satisfaction to yourself, and the whole Kingdom, I thought it expedient to communicate his Majesty's last Message and Resolution unto you, that so the whole Kingdom may take notice of His gracious inclination towards a firm and well settled Peace, together with His Majesty's Proposals and Desires therein, to His two Houses of Parliament assembled at Westminster, and how far He declares himself for the Army; All which I shall make manifest in his Majesty's enclosed Message, signed Charles Rex. In the interim, I humbly crave your favourable ac-acceptation, to vouchsafe the serious perusal of these ensuing Proposals, to which, his Majesty doth so well approve of, viz. 1. An Act to be passed to take away all coercive power, authority, and jurisdiction of Bishops, and all other Ecclesiasticali Officers whatsoever, extending to any civil penalties upon any. 2. That there be a repeal of all Acts or Clauses in any Act enjoining the use of the Book of Common-Prayer, and imposing any penalties for neglect thereof, as also of all Acts or Clauses in any Act, imposing any penalties for not coming to Church, or for meetings elsewhere, for prayer, or other religious duties. 3. That the taking of the Covenant be not enforced upon any, or any penalties imposed upon the Refusers, whereby men might be constrained to take it against their judgements, or consciences, but all Orders oa Ordinances, tending to that purpose to be repealed. 4. That (the things here-before proposed, being provided, for settling and securing the Rights, Liberties, Peace, and safety of the Kingdom) his Majesty's person, his Queen, and royal issue may be restored to a condition of safety, honour, and freedom in this Natton, without dimunition to their personal rights, or further limitation, to the exercise of the Regal power, than according to the particulars aforegoing. 5. That there may be a general Act of Oblivion to extend unto all, etc. All which Proposals, together with many others, were debated and agreed upon, by the General, and the Council of his Army, and presented to the Kings most gracious Majesty; who after some perusal of the same, his Majesty declared a great affection towards them, and immediately declared himself to both Houses of Parliament, as followeth: His Majesty's gracious Message (or Declaration) to His two Houses of Parliament assembled at Westminster. CHARLES REX. HIs Majesty cannot choose but be passionately sensible (as he believes all his good Subjects are) of the late great distractions, and still languishing and unsettled State of this Kingdom; And He calls God to witness, and is willing to give testimony to all the world of his readiness to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring it to a happy & flourishing condition. His Majesty having perused the Propositions now brought to him, finds them the same in effect which were offered to him at Newcastle. To some of which, he could not then consent without violation of his conscience and honour; so can he neither agree to others now, conceiving them in many respects more disproportionable to the present condition of affairs then when they were formerly presented to him, as being destructive to the many principal interests of the Army, and of all those whose affections concur with them. And his Majesty having seen the Proposals of the Army to the Commissioners of his two Houses residing with them, and with them to be treated on, in order to the clearing and securing the rights and Liberties of the Kingdom, as the settling of a just and lasting Peace. To which Proposals, as he conceives his two Houses not to be strangers, so he believes they will think with him, that they much more conduce to the satisfaction of all interests, and may be a fit foundation for a lasting peace, than the Propositions which at this time are tendered to him. He therefore propounds (as the best way in His judgement in order to Peace) that his two Houses would instantly take into consideration those Proposals upon which there may be a personal treaty with his Majesty, and upon such other Proposals as his Majesty shall make, hoping that the said Proposals may be so moderated in the said treaty, as to render them the more capable of his Majesty's full concessions, wherein he resolves to give full satisfaction to his People for whatsoever shall concern the settling of the Protestant Profession, with liberty to tender Consciences, and the securing of the Laws, Liberties, and properties; of all his Subjects, and the just privileges of Parliament for the future. And likewise by his present deportment in this treaty, he will make the world clearly judge of his intentions in matter of future Government; In which treaty his Maj. will be pleased (if it be thought fit) that Commissioners from the Army (whose the Proposals are) may likewise be admitted. His Majesty therefore conjures his two Houses of Parliament, by the duty they own to God, and his Majesty their King, and by the bowels of compassion they have to their fellow subjects, both for relief of their present sufferings, and to prevent future miseries, that they will forthwith accept of his Majesty's offer, whereby the joyful news of peace may be restored to this distressed Kingdom. And for what concerns the Kingdom of Scotland mentioned in the Propositions, his Majesty will very willingly treat upon those particulars with the Scotch Commissioners; and doubts not but to give reasonable satisfaction to that his Kingdom. For the Right Honourable, the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore, to be communicated to both Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, SIR, IT is hoped that this Answer will give very much satisfaction to the Kingdom, and therefore I desire you to use your utmost endeavours for the publishing thereof, that so the world may take notice of the great forwardness and readiness of his Majesty to contribute his utmost endeavours for restoring of this poor languishing kingdom to a happy and flourishing condition, and also the real and candid intentions of the Army, towards his Majesty, the Queen, and Royal Issue. Thus, for the present, I must restrain my pen, but shall for ever hereafter set my hand to the Paper, to express how much I am Your faithful friend and servant, Jo: Hall. From Hampton-Court, this 15. of September, 1647.