A LETTER OF The Parliament of Scotland TO BOTH HOUSES OF The Parliament of England.  
Together with the DECLARATION Of the Parliament of Scotland, concerning His Majesty: Their DESIRES; and the ANSWER of the Parliament of England.  
The second Edition.  
Printed at Edinburgh by EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And reprinted at London for Robert Bostock, at the sign of the King's head in Paul's Churchyard. 1647.   

January 16. 1647.  
A Letter from the Parliament of Scotland to the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
Right Honourable,  
Our Commissioners at London and Newcastle, having received from the Honourable Houses the Vote of the first of January, and communicated the same to us; We have considered of it as a business of very great concernment to both Nations, And therefore have resolved upon the enclosed Declaration and Desires; Whereby, it will appear how willing we are, to comply with the resolutions of both Houses; And how desirous to remove all jealousies, for strengthening the Peace and Union and maintaining a good understanding between the Kingdoms, so firmly tied by Solemn League and Covenant; And how confident, that they will satisfy our reasonable desires, And make the integrity of their proceed and resolutions in all this business concerning His Majesty, appear either by Declaration, or otherwise as in their wisdom they shall think fit; whereby no occasion of calumny may be left to the wicked Enemies of either Nation. And as God hath blessed the joint endeavours of both, during our Army's abode in that Kingdom; So it will be a great encouragement for us to hope for the continuance of the same blessing in time coming, that our resolution be known to be one at our removing, in relation to all the ends contained in our mutual League and Covenant; And if any difficulty occur there (for gaining of time) we desire, that the Honourable Houses may be pleased to send particular Instructions to their Commissioners at Newcastle, with whom we shall authorise ours to concur for the just satisfaction of both Kingdoms; and we rest  
Edinbrugh the 16 of Jannary 1647. Your affectionate friends Crawfurd and Lindsay. J. P. D. Parl.  
For the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons Assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster.   

THE DECLARATION OF THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND.  
WHEREAS it pleased God to join the Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland in Solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation and Defence of Religion, The Honour and Happiness of the King, and Their Own Peace and Safety: And in pursuance thereof the Scotish Army being in the Kingdom of England, the King's Majesty came to their Quarters before Newark, and professed he came there with a full and absolute intention to give all just satisfaction to the joint Desires of both Kingdoms, & with no thought either to continue this Unnatural War any longer, or to make Division betwixt the Kingdoms; but to comply with His Parliaments and those entrusted by them, in every thing, for settling of Truth and Peace; and that He would apply Himself totally to the Counsels and Advices of His Parliaments: Which He did not only profess Verbally to the Committee of Estates with the Scotish Army; but also in His several Letters and Declarations under His Hand, to the Committee of Estates of Scotland, and unto the two Houses of the Parliament of England respectively. In Confidence whereof, and of the reality of His Intentions and Resolutions, which He declared did proceed from no other Ground, ●●en the Deep Sense of the Bleeding condition of His Kingdoms; The Committees of the Kingdom of Scotland, and General Officers of the Scotish Army, declared to Himself, and to the Kingdom of England, their receiving of His Royal Person to be on These terms, (which is truth, notwithstanding what may be suggested or alleged to the contrary, by any within or without the Kingdoms); and represented to Him, That the only way of His Own Happiness, and Peace of His Kingdoms, under God, was, To make good His Professions so solemnly renewed to both Kingdoms. Thereafter, not only were Propositions of Peace (which after serious and mature Deliberation were agreed upon) tendered to Him in the Name of both Kingdoms for His Royal Assent thereunto; but also the chief Judicatories of this Kingdom, both Civil and Ecclesiastic, made their humble and earnest Addresses to His Majesty by Supplications, Letters, and Commissioners for that end, and did freely represent all the Prejudices and Inconveniences of the Delay or Refusal of His Assent, And in Particular, that this Kingdom would be necessitated to join with the Kingdom of England conform to the League and Covenant, in providing for the present and future Security of both Kingdoms, and settling the Government of both, as might best conduce to the Good of both. And the Parliament of Scotland being now to retire their Army out of England, have again, for their further exoneration, sent Commissioners to represent their renewed Desires to His Majesty, with the Danger may ensue by His Delay or Refusal to grant the same; and that till then, there was danger to the Cause, to His Majesty, to this Kingdom, and to the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, by His coming to Scotland; And that therefore there would be a joint course taken by both Kingdoms concerning the Disposal of His Person. And considering that His Majesty by His Answer to the Propositions of Peace in August last, and also by His late Message sent to the two Houses, and, by his Warrant, communicated to the Estates of this Kingdom, Hath expressed His Desires to be near to His two Houses of Parliament: And seeing also the Parliament of England have communicated to the Scotish Commissioners at Newcastle, and by them to this Kingdom their Resolution, That Holmeby-House in the County of Northampton is the Place which the Houses think fit for the King to come unto, there to remain with such Attendants about Him as both Houses of Parliament shall appoint, with respect had to the Safety and Preservation of His Royal Person, in the Preservation and Defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms according to the Covenant. Therefore, And in regard of His Majesties not giving a satisfactory Answer to the Propositions as yet, And out of their earnest Desire to keep a Right Understanding betwixt the Kingdoms, to prevent new Troubles within the same, to satisfy the Desire of His Majesty, of the two Houses of the Parliament of England, and of this Kingdom, for His Residence in some of His Houses near the Parliament of England: The Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland, Do declare their Concurrence, for the King's Majesties going to Holmeby-House, or some other of His Houses in or about London, as shall be thought fit, there to remain until he give satisfaction to both Kingdoms in the Propositions of Peace; And that in the interim there be no harm, prejudice, injury, nor violence done to His Royal Person: That there be no change of Government other than hath been these three years past: And that His Posterity in no ways be prejudiced in their lawful Succession to the Crown and Government of these Kingdoms.  
And as this is the clear intention and full resolution of the Kingdom of Scotland, according to their interest and duty in relation to the King's Majesty; So they are confident (from the same grounds and manifold Declarations of the Parliament of England) that the same is the resolution of their Brethren: And at such a time they expect a renewed Declaration thereof, and that they will give brotherly and just satisfaction to the desires herewith sent. Like as the Kingdom of Scotland do hereby assure their Brethren of England, that it shall be their constant endeavour to keep, continue, and strengthen the Union and Peace betwixt the Kingdom's according to the Covenant and Treaties.  
Extracted from the Records of Parliament, subscribed by the Earl of Crawfurd, and Lindsay High Treasurer of Scotland, and Precedent to the Parliament, Witnessing thereunto the Subscription and Sign Manual of me Sir Alexander Gibson of Dury Knight, Clarke of our Sovereign's Rolls, Register, and Counsel. January 16. 1647. Alexander Gibson Clericus Registri.   

Desires of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND.  
1. THat a Committee of both Kingdoms be appointed to attend his Majesty, and press him further for granting the Propositions of peace; And in case of his refusal, to advise and determine what is further necessary for continuing and strengthening the union between the Kingdoms, according to the Covenant and Treaties; And that no Peace nor agreement be made by either Kingdom with the King, without the other, according to the late Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms.  
2. Next it is desired, that such of the Scottish Nation, as have place or charge about the King (excepting such as stand excepted in the Propositions of Peace) may attend and exercise the same; and that none shall be debarred from having access to attend his Majesty, who have warrant from the Parliaments of either Kingdom respectively, or from the Committee of either Parliament thereunto authorized.  
3. It is desired, that the one Kingdom assist the other, in case they be troubled from within, or from without for this agreement.  
4. That the Kingdom of England would speedily condescend, and agree upon some competency of entertainment for the Forces which we are necessitated to keep up, to suppress the Irish Rebels, whom by the large Treaty they are bound to suppress:  
Edinburgh the 16. of January. 1647. Crawford & Lindsay I. P. D. Parl.   

A Copy of the Parliament of England's Letter to the Parliament of Scotland.  
A Letter from your Lordships dated at Edinburgh the 16 instant, and the Papers therewith sent having been communicated to both Houses of the Parliament of England, we are commanded to return this Answer. They do answer their Brethren of Scotland, that nothing needs to be said unto them, for removing any jealousies out of their hearts, or for strengthening that confidence which they have in the affections of that Nation: And they do presume that the Proceed of the Houses of the Parliament of England, from the very beginning of these troubles, are a sufficient declaration of their integrity, and of their constant affection to their Brethren of Scotland. And as to the desires of the Kingdom of Scotland they do return these Answers.  
To the first, That when the King shall be at Holmby, and the Scottish Forces gone out of this Kingdom, both Houses of Parliament (saving according to their former Declarations the peculiar Rights of the Kingdom of England) will then appoint a Committee of theirs, to join with a Committee of the Kingdom of Scotland, to employ their best endeavours to procure his Majesty's assent to the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdoms, and presented to His Majesty at Newcastle, and to the disposing of the Bishop's Lands, according to the Ordinances already passed both Houses in that behalf. And in case the King shall not give his assent thereunto, however the Houses are still resolved, firmly to continue and maintain, the happy Union between the two Kingdoms, according to the Treaties and Covenant; And that according to the late Treaty between the Kingdoms, no Cessation, nor any Pacification, or agreement for Peace whatsoever, shall be made by either Kingdom, or the Armies of either Kingdom, without the mutual advice and consent of both Kingdoms.  
To the second desire, both Houses do declare, that it is not their intention, by their appointing of Persons to wait upon the King in his journey to Holmby, to make a settlement of any Persons in any particular places, nor to be any prejudice to any of the King's Servants that are of either Nation, who have adhered to the Parliaments: And that none shall be debarred from having access to his Majesty, who have warrant from the Parliament of Scotland, or from the Committee of that Parliament thereunto authorised, except such as are disabled by the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdoms.  
To the third desire, the coming of the King according to the Votes of both Houses of the Parliament of England, being agreeable to the Covenant and Treaties; They do declare, that upon any troubles that shall arise to the Kingdom of Scotland for the same, they will assist them according to the said Covenant and Treaties.  
To the fourth and last desire, both Houses return Answer, That their Garrisons being delivered up, and the Scottish Army and Forces being marched out of this Kingdom, they will take this their desire into speedy consideration. This being all we have in command from the Houses, we rest,  
Westminster, jan. 27. 1646. Your affectionate friends and Servants: 

E. Manchester Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore.  
William Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons.    
For the right Honourable the Lords, the Commons of shires, and Burrows Assembled in the Parliament of Scotland.   
FINIS.