The King's Majesty's MESSAGE To His Highness the Prince of WALES, CONCERNING The Lord General Fairfax, and the Army; and His Propositions and Desires therein, to be communicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Warwick, Lord high Admiral of England. Dated from Hurst Castle, the 6. of December, 1648. Also, His Majesty's letter to the Parliament, touching the Aru●y, and the confinement of his Royal person to the said Castle; with his desires to the Citizens of London, touching the same. And Lieutenant Gen. Crumwels' Declaration in reference to the King, City, and Kingdom. Signed O. Crumwel. royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT Printed for G. Wharton, 1648. A LETTER From Lieut. General CRUMWEL To the Citizens of London. Concerning the King's Majesty, the Parliament, the City, Army, and Kingdom. Right Honourable, HEre hath lately been called a General Council of Officers, consisting of the Northern Brigade, whose results acquiesse and tend ●hiefly to the safety and preservation of your Honourable City, and to the welfare and tranquillity of our English Nation; as appears by the most excellent demonstration of Lieu. Gen. Cromwell, at the Council table, in presence of divers Colonels, Lieut. Colonels, Majors, and Captains, who declared, That he was willing to wade through all troubles and difficulties, for preservation of the peace and tranquillity of this bleeding Kingdom, and would sacrifice his life for the peace and liberty of the subject, and for dissipating the dismal cloud of Malignancy, which threatens ruin to all the well-affected within the Nation. And for the better propagating of the said work, the said Lieutenant General (our worthy and ever honoured Patriot) hath declared his ardent and zeafous affection to his Excellency the Lord General; protesting, That he will live and die with him, for the obtaining and faciliating the just Demands and Desires of the Army, specified in their late Remonstrance, and that he doth most really and freely coucur with them, for the speedy executing of impartial Justice upon all Offenders whatsoever; intimating, that he doth verily believe they are things which God puts into the hearts both of Officers and Soldiers, and that the great Jehovah of Heaven is pleased to manifest his presence unto them, in pursuing and prosecuting so pious●e work, so much tending to the honour of his holy Name and the peace and tranquillity of all his people on Earth; which declaratory expressions, have prefented to his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, and Signed O. CRUMWEL. Knottingsley near Pontefract 2. Decemb. 1648. A Message from the King concerning the Army. Right Honourable, HIs Majesty having seriously perused the Remonstrance of the Army, finds it to be of so high a nature, that He cannot but stand amazed at the sense, scope, and method thereof, and doth declare, That He should rather sacrifice His life, for His People, and a good Couscience, than be guilty of the Engagement of modelling and establishing a new Governmen; but withal remonstrates, That He approves of their Proposals for rectifying the Law, and purging the abuses and errors thereof, for the ease and liberty of His people, desiring that all their Results and Consultations may redound to the honour of these bleeding Nations, etc. And his Majesty hath further declared, that (notwithstanding the present distractions, and dissolving of the Treaty, yet) He desires from His very heart and soul that the peace of His Kingdoms may be speedily established, and the liberty of the Subject preserved und unviolated, whatsoever becomes of Him, etc. Col. Ewers useth his Majesty with much civility and respect, and the deportment of the Soldiery taketh deep impression in his Majesty's heart, which causeth a great change and alteration in his Majesty's Royal Breast, and it is hoped few days will produce a convincement from his Majesty of all his former errors. Divers shipping lie hover upon this Coast, and it is supposed they would fain attempt a design for rescuing the King from the power and protection of the Army, but strong Guards are placed, and much vigilancy used for the defence and safety of this Island. Newport ● Decemb. 1648. A Declaration of the proceed in Parliament, concerning the KING. BOth Houses having received a Letter from the Lord General Fairfax, for the gaining to such ends as have been proposed in the Armies late Remonstrance, and pressing them to the present apprehension of the dangerous Juncture of affairs; the Commons began to consult upon the same, whose debates sored up, and flew exceeding high; some moving that his Excellency's Commission might be made null and taken from him; Others, that the Army might be required to retreat 40 miles from London, and others moved, that the City might be put into a posture of War; but Sheriff Brown stood up, and made an excellent Speech, declaring, That there was nothing to be expected from the City, and that for his part he would endeavour the preservation of the peace thereof, and to keep a right understanding between his Excellency, the City, and Army. And Mr Pryn declared his sense and resolution touching the Army, citing many precedents, that many have been voted traitors for disobeying authority of Parliament, but for his part he would not say that any were such. After some disputation and debate thereon, the House voted that a Declaratory Letter should be presented to the General, a coyy whereof followeth, May it please your Excellency, THe House taking notice by your Letter of the 30. of Novem. touching the present motion and design of the army, ●a●e commanded me to let you know, that upon mature deliberate judging, that it may be dangerous both to the City and army; it is their pleasure that you ●move not the army near London; and to the end the country may not be burdened with free quarter, nor the army want their due support, they have commanded me to acquaint you, that they have signified their pleasure to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and common council, that they forthwith provide the sum of 40000. l. or so much thereof as they can possibly raise at present, and pay the same to the Treasurers at wars, to be forthwith sent unto you for our army, which being all have in command, I remain Your humble servant, Wil Lenthal Speaker. His Majesty's Declaration upon his coming into Wiltshire. MY Lords, You are come to take your leave of me, and I believe we shall scarce ever see each other again: but Gods will be done, I thank God I have made my peace with him, and shall without fear undergo what he shall be pleased to suffer men to do unto me. My Lords, you cannot but know, that in my fall and ruin, you see your own, and that also near to you; I pray God send you better friends than I have found. I am fully infoamed of the whole carriage of the plot against me and mine; and nothing so much afflicts me, as the sense and feeling I have of the sufferings of my Subjects, and the miserice that hang over my three Kingdomr, drawn upon them by those who (upon pretences of good) violently pursue their own interests and ends. His Maj having thus declared himself, the Commissioners kissed his Maj. hand, and took their leave. And on Friday morning last, his Mai. was guarded by a troop of horse from the Isle of Wight, to Hurst Castle in Wiltshire, where he is now secured, Cap. Mild●ay, cap. joiner, cap. Weston, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Cutchside, Mr. Reding and Mr. Lewen, being appointed Attendants for his Majesty's person. SIR, Since his Majesty's coming to this Castle, he hath been used with much civility and respect, and (according to our information from one of his Majesty's attendants) hath sent a letter to his Son the Prince of Wales, to advertise him of the Armies removing his person from the Isle of Wight, to Hurst Castle upon the confines of Wiltshire, requiring him to use his utmost endeavours for a good accommodation and correspondency between the two Navies, and to mediate with his Lordship for a mutual reconciliation between his Majesty, the Parliament, and the Army. And by the same intelligencer, it is further intimated, That the King hath likewise sent a letter to both houses of Parliament, advertising them of his present condition since his present confinement to the said Castle, desiring them to proceed in a Parliamentary way, in reference to their rights and privileges, and to endeavour a right understanding between his Excellency, the Parliament, City, and Army. Which letters are said to be transmitted from his Majesty. Hurst Castle Decemb. 6. 1648. FINIS: