A LETTER From the Commissioners of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND Residing here at LONDON, To WILLIAM LENTHALL Esquire, Speaker of the House of COMMONS. Concerning the present Proceed in this Kingdom, against Religion, the King, and Government: TOGETHER, With their Declaration and Protestation, against the taking away his Majesty's Life. Printed ANNO DOM. 1648. SIR, THe Committee of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, understanding, that the honourable Houses of Parliament, were proceeding in a Treaty for Peace, with his Majesty, did about the beginning of the last Month, Authorise Us to present Propositions to his Majesty; And Particularly to deal with him, and the honourable Houses; for establishing the Covenant and Presbyterial Government, the Confession of Faith, Directory for Worship, and Catechism; For preventing the toleration of Idolatry, Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Blasphemy, Heresy, and Schism; And for perfecting the great work of Reformation and Uniformity, according to the Covenant: the substanee whereof hath been formerly communicated in a letter from the Committee of Estates, to both Houses, and by one of our Number, upon his reception at the Committee of Derby-house, by Order from the Houses of Parliament. But to our great grief we do perceive; That the distractions of this Kingdom are, beyond our expectation, grown exceeding high; That a force hath been placed on the passages to the Houses; Which during transactions of highest concernment, hath imprisoned and secluded a great number of Members of Parliament; and given occasion to many others, to withdraw, because they find they cannot act as in a Free Parliament. That applications are made to You, for proceeding against the King, to take away his life, And for changing the Government of this Kingdom; And strong endeavours are used to Overturn the whole work of Reformation, to cast off the Ministry, and introduce a toleration of all Religions and Forms of Worship; And so in effect, to destroy the Cause wherein both Nations have been engaged; And frustrate all the ends of the solemn League and Covenant, which both Kingdoms have sworn with up-lifted hands to Almighty GOD sincerely, really, and constantly to perform. The consideration of these things doth exceedingly trouble us, and fill our hearts with fears; That, as they are for the present, matter of great provocation of the wrath of God against us, dishonourable to his Name, and a reproach to Religion; So, if persisted in, That they shall greatly weaken and divide us amongst ourselves; Unite foreign Enemies against us; Advance the Popish interest; Lose Ireland; and, in the end, prove destructive to the reformed Religion, and to the Peace and happiness of these Kingdoms. In the year 1640. When these Kingdoms were oppressed under the Yoke and tyranny of the Prelates, who then were far advanced in the design, to introduce Popery; The Kingdom of Scotland did join their endeavours with this Kingdom to procure a free Parliament here; looking upon it, as the chief mean, by the blessing of God, to give a check to the designs of the Prelates, who were studying the change of Religion; and to the enterprises of evil Councillors about the King, who were endeavouring to establish an Arbitrary and tyrannical Government. And afterward, when through the power and prevalency of Papists, Prelates, and Malignants, this Kingdom was distressed; The Kingdom of Scotland, did enter into a solemn League and Covenant with this Nation: For reformation and defence of Religion, the Honour and happiness of the King; and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms; And Particularly, for bringing the Churches of God therein, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confession of Faith, form of Church government, Directory for worship, and Catechising: For extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to found Doctrine: For mutual preservation of the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and liberties of the Kingdoms: For discovering of Incendiaries, Malignants, and evil Instrument, that hinder reformation of Religion, divide the King from his people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or make any faction or party among the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they might be brought to public trial and punishment: For preserving Peace and union betwixt the Kingdoms, and defending one another in this Cause, and continuing therein all the days of our lives Zealously and constantly, against all opposition, and for promoting the same, according to our power, against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever. In pursuance of the Solemn League and Covenant, both Houses of Parliament have often declared, That they will establish the reformation of Religion; Extirpate Popery, and Prelacy, and suppress heresy and Schism; And that they will maintain the fundamental Government of this Kingdom, by King, Lords, and Commons. And when the common Enemy being subdued, the Scottish Army was to go out of this Kingdom, in the beginning of the year 1647. And his Majesty by consent of both Kingdoms was to come to Holdenby; The Houses of Parliament did declare both to the King, and to the Kingdom of Scotland; That respect should be had to the safety and preservation of his Majesty's Person, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms, according to the Covenant. And when the King should be at Holdenby, and the Scottish forces gone out of this Kingdom, That they would join with the Kingdom of Scotland, in employing their best endeavours, to procure his Majesty's assent to the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdoms. And in case the King should not give his assent thereunto, That the Houses were resolved still to maintain the happy Union already settled between the two Kingdoms, according to the Covenant and Treaties. The Parliament of Scotland did at the same t●me also, publish a Declaration of their intentions (whereof one copy was delivered to his Majesty, and another to the Houses of Parliament.) That in the interim (until his Majesty should give satisfaction to both Kingdoms, in the Propositions of Peace) there should be no harm, prejudice injury, or violence done to his royal Person; That there should be no change of Government, other than had been for the three years preceding; And that his Posterity should be no ways prejudiced in their lawful succession to the Crown and Government of these Kingdoms. These being the engagements of both Kingdoms jointly together, and severally one to another, for the ends aforesaid; We hold it our duty to endeavour, That reformation of Religion be settled and established, as is before expressed; And Especially, that the toleration of Idolatry, Popery, Blasphemy, heresy and Schism, be prevented: lest we partake in other men's Sinnes; and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues; That the rights and privileges of Parliament may be preserved; That there may be no change of the fundamental Government; And that there be no harm, injury, or violence offered to his Majesty's person; the very thought whereof, the Kingdom of Scotland hath always abhorred, as may appear by all their proceed and Declarations: And the Houses of Parliament, have upon several occasions, expressed a detestation thereof in their Declarations. Wherefore, we do expect, that their shall be no proceeding against his Person, which cannot but continue and increase the great distractions of these Kingdoms, and involve u● in many difficulties, miseries, and confusions: But that by the free Counsels of both Houses of the Parliament of England, and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland, (which is now sitting) Such course may be taken in relation to him, as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdoms; both having an unquestionable interest therein. We are Covent-Garden the 6th of january, 1648./ 9 Your affectionate Friends and Servants, Signed, LOTHIAN. IO: CHEISEY, WIL: GLENDONING. For the Hon: Wil Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons. SIR, UPon the sixth of this instant, We sent to you a Letter, with a copy of our Commission enclosed; and delivered another Letter to be therewith communicated to the House, which were directed, as usually letters from the Commissioners of Scotland, to the House of Commons, have been. And when upon the delivery thereof, the Sergeant of the House was sent to inquire of us; whether the letters were to the Speaker himself, or to be communicated to the House; We answered that they were to be communicated to the House. And although we have divers times fithence, solicited you for the reading thereof; yet we understand, that our letters do still remain in your hands, and have not been communicated. Wherefore, we hold it our duty hereby to represent our sense of this delay; expecting that we shall be enabled to give an account of our endeavours to the Parliament of Scotland. And so we rest, Covent-Garden the 19 of january 1649/8. Your affectionate friends and servants, Signed, Lothian, Io. chiefly, William Glendoning. For the Hon. will. Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons, SIR, WE were exceedingly surprised upon Saturday in the afternoon, when we heard that His Majesty was brought before this new extraordinary Court; and that there should be such haste and precipitation, notwithstanding the resolution taken by the House, upon reading of our Letter of the sixth of this instant, to take into consideration what we have therein pressed; as was signified by you to some of our Number. Wherefore, we have sent you this enclosed Paper to be forthwith communicated unto them. And in pursuance of the directions which we have received from the Kingdom of Scotland, we do desire, That they will take effectual course, that we may have free access to His Majesty this day, and afterward upon all occasions, as we shall think fit, without any interruption or molestation whatsoever. And so we rest, Covent-Garden the 22, th' of January 1649/8. Your affectionate friends and servants. Lothian, Io. chiefly, William Glend●●ing. For the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the house of Commons. BY our Letter of the sixth of this instant, We represented unto you; what endeavours have been used, for the taking away of his Majesty's life; for change of the Fundamental Government of this Kingdom, and introducing a sinful and ungodly Toleration in matters of Religion. And therein, we did express our sad thoughts and great fears, of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon. And further, we did earnestly press, that there might be no proceeding against his Majesty's person; which would certainly continue the great distractions of these Kingdoms; and involve us in many evils, troubles, and confusions: But that by the free Counsels of both Houses of the Parliament of England, and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland, such course might be taken in relation to him, as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdoms; both having an unquestionable and undeniable interest in his Person, as King of both: which duly considered, we had reason to hope, should have given a stop to all proceed, against his Majesty's Person. But we understand; That, after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and Secluded; And also without and against the consent of the house of Peers, by a single Act of yours alone, power is given to certain Persons of your own number, of the Army and some others, to proceed against His Majesty's person; In order whereunto, he was brought upon Saturday last in the afternoon, before this new extraordinary Court. Wherefore, we do in the name of the Parliament of Scotland, for their Vindication from false aspersions and Calumnies, declare. That though they are not satisfied with His Majesty's Concessions in the late Treaty at Newport in the Isle of Wight, especially in the matters of Religion; And are resolved not to crave His Majesty's restitution to his Government, before satisfaction be given by him, to his Kingdoms; yet they do all unanimously, with one voice (not one Member excepted) disclaim the least knowledge of, or accession to the late proceed of the Army here, against His Majesty; And sincerely profess, that it will be a great grief unto their hearts, and lie heavy upon their Spirits, if they shall see their trusting of his Majesty's Person, to the honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, to be made use of to his ruin; so far contrary to the declared intentions of the kingdom of Scotland, and Solemn Professions of the kingdom of England. And to the end it may be manifest to the world, how much they abominate and detest so horrid a design, against his Majesty's Person: We do in the name of the Parliament and kingdom of Scotland, hereby declare, their dissent from the said proceed, and the taking away of His Majesty's life; And protest, That as they are altogether free from the same; so they may be free from all the evils, miseries, confusions, and calamities that may follow thereupon, to these distracted Kingdoms. 22. th' jan. 1648. Signed Lothian Io. chiefly William Glendoning. FINIS.