THE KING'S MAJESTY'S DESIRES To His Excellency S it THOMAS FAIRFAX. PRESENTED To His Excellency at the Head Quarters near READING.  
Together with the Resolution of His Excellency concerning the said Desires, and the great satisfaction His MAJESTY received thereby. Likewise, a Message sent from his Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, to the Honourable House of Commons, concerning the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
Printed for the use and satisfaction of the whole Kingdom.  
London, Printed for R. Williamson, July 13. 1647.   

The King's MAJESTY'S DESIRES, To his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax.  
Sir,  
HAving obtained such a fit opportunity, to express my willingness in a satisfactory way, to all your Desires, I shall here impartially communicate the most remarkablest Occurrents, which hath (lately) ebbed and flowed, within the Kingdon●es great Stream, who●e appearance in this instance of time, seems to be the World's chiefest Object. But by reason of breviation, and the desire of a sudden dispatch, of some of these papers to the Army, I must of (necessity) be take myself to my limited bounds, and in the first place present unto you the Desires of the King's Majesty to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, viz.  
Upon Friday last, July 2. His Majesty sent a Message to the General, intimating his earnest desires concerning his Highness the Duke of York, and the rest of his Children at London, declaring, 1. His earnest desire to see His Princely issue. 2. That they might be speedily sent down unto Him. 3. That it would bring great contentment to His Majesty. And 4. That His Majesty desired His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, speedily to send to the Parliament, to acquaint them therewith.  
Whereupon his Excellency immediately dispatched a Letter to the House of Commons, a Copy whereof followeth:  

Mr. Speaker,  
I Was sent unto the King on Friday last, to desire the Parliament to give way to him to see his Children; And that they might for that purpose be sent to him, If I may be bold humbly to offer my opinion, I think the allowance of such a thing may be without the least prejudice to the Kingdom, and yet gain more upon his Maj. then denying it; and if it be in the prayers of every good man, that his heart may be gained, the performance of such civilities to him is very suitable to those desires, and will hear well with all men, who (if they can imagine it to be their own case) cannot but be sorry, if his Maj. natural affection to His Children, in so small a thing should not be complied with; and if any question should be concerning the assurance of their return, I shall engage for their return within what time the Parliament shall limit.  
Upon this occasion, give me leave, I beseech you, to take notice of some reports spread abroad, as if myself, and the Officers of the Army were upon some under hand contract, or bargain with the King; and from thence occasion is taken to slander our integrities, and endeavour a misunderstanding betwixt the Parliament and their Army, the fidelity of which to the Parliament and Kingdom, and their affection to it, are the great objects of many men's Envies, because they see nothing so likely to settle Right and Freedom with Truth and Peace to Us and Posterity, and to hinder their Designs against the same, as an harmony or good accord between the Parl. and Army, which is the joy of good men, and it shall be our study to preserve against all Designs and Designers to the contrary. To prevent therefore all misunderstandings of that kind, I thought with all clearness to declare unto you, That we have done nothing, nor shall do any thing, which we desire to hid from you or the world or shall not avow to the faces of our greatest Adversaries. Our Desires concerning a just consideration or settlement of the King's Rights (his Majesty first giving his concurrence to settle and secure the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom) we have already publicly declared in our Representation and Remonstrance. Since the first of those Papers sent unto the Parl. there have been several Officers of the Army upon several occasions sent to his Majesty, the first to present to him a Copy of the Representation, and after that some others to tender him a Copy of the Remonstrance; upon both which, the Officers sent were appointed to clear the sense and intention of any thing in either Paper, whereupon his Maj. might make any question. Since then, there have also been some Officers at several times sent to his Majesty about His remove from Hatfield, to dissuade (if possibly) from Windsor, or any place so near London, to some place of further distance, answerable to what we had desired of the Parliament.  
In all which addresses to his Majesty, We care not who knows what hath been said, or done; for as We have nothing to bergain for or ask, either from His Majesty or the Parl. for advantage to ourselves, or any particular party or interest of our own, so in all those addresses to his Majesty, we have utterly disclaimed and disavowed any such thing, But the only intent and effect of those our addresses hath been, to desire his Maj. free concurrence with the Parliament, for establishing and securing the common Rights and Liberties, and settling the Peace of the Kingdom; and to assure him, that (the Public being so provided for, wi●h such his Maj. concurrence) it is fully agreeable principles, and should be desirous and endeavour, That (with and in such settling of the Public) the Rights of his Majesty's Royal Family should be also provided for, so as a lasting peace might be settled in this Nation. And that as we had publicly declared for the same in general terms, so (if things came to a way of settlement we should not be wanting (in our sphaeras) to one that general desire, in any particulars of natural or civil right to his Maj. Person or Family, which might not prejudice, or again endanger the Public: and in the mean time, that his Majesty should find all personal civilities and respects from us, with all reasonable freedom that might stand with safety, and with the trust or charge lying upon us concerning his person.  
You have here the utmost sum of what hath passed from us to his Majesty; and we could wish all men did rightly understand (without misrepresentation) every particular wherein (as we know nothing not agreeable to Reason, Justice, Honesty or Conscience, so we thought ourselves concerned the rather to say & do, as we have towards his Majesty since he came within our quarters, because of those common prejudices suggested against us, as if we were utter Enemies to Monarchy, and all civil Order of Government.  
And for that particular of the Duke of Richmond, and the two Chaplains lately permitted to attend his Majesty, it was not done without much reluctancy, because therein we doubted we might be misunderstood by the Kingdoms best friends.  
But upon his Majesty's continuing importunity for it (as a thing very nearly concerning his inward & outward conrentment; and conceiving those person's su●● (as we hoped) would not do ill Offices to prejudice the Peace of the kingdom, we did give away to it, and the persons (before they came had notice of the permition: And as we then thought so we still do think that to allow him some such 〈◊〉 any of persons least dangerous, whom former accquaintance make him take pleasure in, and the allowance of some such Chaplains of his own, are things both reasonable and just; and the debarring of that liberty in the latter) We doubt will but make him more prejudiced against other Ministers.  
In general We humble conceive, that to avoid all harshnesses and afford all kind usage to his Majesty's Person in things consisting with the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom is the most christian Honourable and prudent way, We think that tendor equitable and moderate dealing both towards his Majesty, his Royal Family, and his late party, [so far as may stand with safety to the Kingdom and secureity to our common Rights and Liberties] is the most hopeful course to take away the seeds of war, or future Fends amongst us for posterity, and to precure a lasting Peace and Agreement in this now distracted Nation,  
Thus have I given you the utmost sum of what hath passed betwixt the Kings most excellent Majesty, and his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, concerning his Majesty's Desires touching the coming down of His Children, being very important to see them, and it is hoped it will not be denied, by reason that the General hath engaged for their safe return. Here is a gallant Court, and his Majesty very cheerful, being attended with many brave gallants. The Duke of Rich mond behaveth himself with much civility, and in great favour with the King.  
Thus for the pres●ur, I remain  
Yours to serve you, Robert Williamson. Cawsam, July 11. 1647.  
FINIS.