New Propositions SENT From His Highness the Prince of Wales, to the Right Honourable the House of Peers, concerning an Agreement between His Royal Father, and the Parliament; as also, concerning the Citizens of London, the Scots army, and the Navy in the Downs. Directed to his beloved Cousin, the Speaker of the House of Lords, pro tempore; and Signed, CHARLES P. Likewise the King's Declaration on Monday last to the Parl. Commsssioners. And their Letter to both Houses. portrait of the prince Charles Aug: 11 Imprinted at London, for R.W. AnnoDom. 1648. PRINCE CHARLES HIS MESSAGE TO The Right Honourable the House of Peers, directed to his beloved Cousin, the Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore. HIs Highness the Prince of Wales, having seriously weighed the results and Proceed of both Houses of Parliament in relation to a personal Treaty with his Father, resolved to declare his sense to the Right Honourable the House of Peers, and to faciliate the same, a general Council was called aboard the Fleet Royal in the Downs, where was present divers Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, and after some debate in relation to the progress and proceed of both houses, concerning a personal Treaty with the King's Majesty, they agreed upon these Proposals and Desires following, viz. 1. That the Treaty be in such place and manner as may consist with honour, freedom, and safety of his Majesty, his Father so that the agreement may not be blemished with any face of restraint. 2. That the Treaty be between the King and his two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, that things may go on fairly to all persons concerned therein. 3 That during the Treaty, there be a general cessation of Arms, that the affection of the People, of this or the other Kingdom be not lessed by acts of hostility, but may meet in kindness, and nothing disturb the Treaty. 4 That an ordinary moderate substance during the Treaty, may be agreed upon for all Armies and Forces now on Foot, and particularly, which must in no case go unmentioned, the Scots Army now in England, and in such a manner as may be with the least pressure of the Northern parts. 5 That if the two Houses will agree to these things, he will endeavour to his utmost power with his Father for a good agreement. 6 That He desires some course may be taken to content Him and his ships now in the Downs, with money and provision, that so he nor they may hinder the City trade, and discharge the ships he hath now in hold. This Message, from His Highness the Prince of Wales were communicated to the House of Peers, and read, and Signed, CHARLES P. The King's Majesty's Declaration to the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament, concerning a speedy composure of all differences. ON Wednesday last Aug. 9 Letters were read in both Houses of Parliament from the Earl of Middlesex, and the rest of their Commissioners, which were sent to the King with a message for Peace, purporting, That notwithstanding the great storms) they arrived safe in the Isle of Wight upon Saturday last, and after some short time of refreshment, went up to Carisbrook to Col. Hammond the Governor, and after some congratulations, acquainted him, That they had a Message from both Houses of Parliament to present to the King, in relation to a safe and well-grounded peace, intimating he limits of their time, etc. Whereupon, his majesty were acquainted with the arrival of the said Commissioners, who seemed to be very pleasant thereat, and upon Monday last, in the forenoon, the Earl of Middlesex, and the rest of the Commissioners were sent for into his Majesty's Privy Chamber, where they presented unto Him, the Votes of both Houses of Parliament, for a Personal Treaty with his Majesty, in honour, freedom, and safety; and after his Majesty had read the same, he seemed to have a great willingness to comply thereunto who declared, That he liked very well of the terms of freedom, honour, and safety, but being without Secretary, or other Assistant, He could not so suddenly give them an Answer as otherwise, yet before their time limited were expired, He would return an Answer. So that it is hoped, there will be a happy composure of all differences between the King and his People, and the bleeding wounds of this Kingdom healed, and preserved from future insurrections, and Warlike commotions. A Declaration of the King's Majesty's Officers and Soldiers. IT is notorious enough upon what grounds this war was by us undertaken how the faults of the Government precedent were laid open and reformation promised, wherein the true Religion should be advantaged the King made great and glorious, the just privileges of Parliament the Laws of the Land, and the liberty of the people maintained. But now how much our expectations have failed us, and how we have run into those evils which we fought against, is at last too apparent unto us, who would not at the first believe the things we now see, insomuch that the errors of the former Government are now so fare exceeded both in Church and Commonwealth, that they are either justified, or at least so much excused, as that it is desired by the most and best of men, rather to enjoy the former again, then to suffer such a reformation wherein the Public good is pretended, and the particular ends of the reformers intended for although our party have prevailed almost these two years, yet the things promised to be reform, and which we fought for, are scarce so much as entered into or debated, but clean contrary things now acted. The King instead of coming to his Parliament, to treat personally with his two Houses imprisoned, instead of being made great and glorious, is become the most infortunate in the world, and great and glorious only in piety, patience and pity: our Religion, Laws, and Liberties trampled upon and destroyed, and the greatest tyranny and arbitrary power set up over us, that the wit of man, or malice of the Devil can invent, and all this but to satisfy the avarice of a few men, who by accusing their brethren, have already gotten too much power into their hands, and do now labour to disband us not to ease the Country, as is pretended, but as we are able to prove by their own Letters and words to bring in other forces, such as may execute their wills, and make the Country subject to sequestration, enslave the people, and to use their own words, roll the Country before them, and to establish the Excise, taxes, and other intolerable charges, not to be avoided without the efffusion of more blood than ever hath yet been shed in this quarrel, unless God of his infinite mercy please to divert it by some means not apearing unto us, & that they might as much as in them lies, destroy our souls as well as our bodies. They go about to put down the Book of Common-prayer in these parts, as they already have done in the rest of the Kingdom, which will be more wanted here then in other parts, because the book of Common-prayer, is the sole comfort of the people here, and their way to attein the knowledge of the principles of Religion, and to serve God. These things, though evident in themselves, yet we shallbe ready to make proof as occasion shall require: and therefore that the whole world may see our in tegrity, as well in our undertrking this war in the beginning and our carriage hitherto, as of our intentions for the future we do now declare. That we do still continue firm to our first principles, to bring the King a Personal treaty with his Parliament, with freedom, honour, and safety that so the just prerogatives of the King, privileges of Parl. Laws of the Land, and liberty of the people, may be all established and preserved in their proper bounds. That we will, as much as in us lies protect the people from injury, and maintain the Protestant Religion, and the Common-prayer as is established by Law in this Land, and do therfote crave the assistance of the whole Kirgdom herein. Signed, R. POWEL. SIR, THe Colchesterians hath drawn off most of their Ordnance from the Wall, and we conceive they intent to fortify the streets, that so they may be able to keep that shorter line with fewer men; others believe, that they will quit the town and retire to the Castle, where they are building, therefore, to keep all in is sure the best way; and it is said, they will carry our Committee along with them into the Castle and cut their throats, if they may not have conditions for themselves. Yesterday they killed 30 horses to powder up, their Wine and Raisins are near spent, Rice and Corn gins to grow short. One of their Guards deserted their trust, and quitted them, and came in to the Lord General, who says, that they are fortifying the streets, and making great Works about the Castle, and are resolved, if his Excellency storms, to dispute the town from the Walls to their inner Works, and from their Works to the Castle. Yet notwithstanding, we expect a storm every day, for it's conceived his Excellency hath some design on foot to shorten the work of Colchester. Colchester Aug. 10. 1648. FINIS.