C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
THE KING'S MAJESTY'S LETTER Direct to the Lords of His Privy Council of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND.  
CHARLES R.  
RIght trusty, and right well-beloved Cousins and Counselors, and right trusty and well-beloved Counselors, We greet you well. We have lately seen a Paper, presented to Us by the Earl of Lindsay, as a Declaration of the Lords and Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England, of the seventh of November, to Our Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland, which after many high taxes of Us, and Our Government, very earnestly invites, and in a manner challenges assistance from that Our native Kingdom, of Men and Arms, for making a War against Us, making a claim to that assistance, by virtue of the late Act of Pacification; to the which (out of Our desire to make a perpetual Union between Our two Kingdoms, for the happiness of both, and by it the more firmly to establish Our own Greatness and just Power) We cheerfully consented. As We are at Our soul afflicted, that it hath been in the power of any factious, ambitious, and malicious persons, so far to possess the hearts of many of Our Subjects of England, as to raise this miserable distemper, and distraction in this Kingdom, against all Our real actions and endeavours to the contrary: So We are glad that this rage and fury hath so far transported them, that they apply themselves in so gross a manner to Our good Subjects of Scotland, whose experience of Our Religion, Justice, and Love 〈…〉 People, will not suffer them to believe those horrible scandals laid upon Us: And their Affection, Loyalty, and Jealousy of Our Honour, will disdain to be made Instruments to oppress their native Sovereign, by assisting an odious Rebellion. We have from time to time acquainted Our Subjects of that Kingdom, with the Accidents and Circumstances which have disquieted this: How (after all the Acts of Justice, Grace, and Favour performed on Our part, which were or could be desired to make a People completely happy) We were driven by the force and violence of rude and tumultuous Assemblies from Our City of London, and Our Houses of Parliament: How attempts have been made to impose Laws upon Our Subjects without Our consent, contrary to the Foundation and Constitution of this Kingdom: How Our Forts, Goods, and Navy were seized, taken from Us by force, and employed against Us; Our Revenue and ordinary Subsistence wrested from Us: How We have been pursued with scandalous and reproachful language; bold, false, and seditous Pasquil's, and Libels, publicly allowed against Us; and been told, That We might without want of modesty and duty be deposed: How after all this (before any Force raised by Us) an Army was raised, and a General appointed to lead that Army against Us, wi●h Commission to kill, slay, and destroy all such who should be faithful to Us; that when We had been by those means compelled with the assistance of Our good Subjects, to raise an Army for our necessary defence, We sent divers gracious Messages, earnestly desiring that the Calamities and Miseries of a Civil War, might be prevented by a Treaty, and so We might know the grounds of this misunderstanding: How We were absolutely refused to be treated with; And how at last the Army (raised as was pretended for defence of Our Person) was brought into the Field against Us, gave Us battle, And (though it pleased God to give Us the victory) destroyed many of Our good Subjects, with als imminent danger to Our own Person, and Our children, as the skill and malice of desperate Rebels could contrive. Of all which, and the other indignities which have been offered Us, We ●●●bt not the duty and affection of Our Scots Subjects will have so just a refentment, that they will express to the world the sense they h●v● of Our sufferings. And Our good Subjects of Scotland are not (We hope) so great strangers to the affairs of this Kingdom, to believe that this misfortune and distraction is begot and brought upon Us by Our two Houses of Parliament (though in truth no unwarrantable Action against the Law can be justified even by that Authority) they well know how the members of both Houses have been driven thence; insomuch that of above five hundred members of the House of Commons, there are not now there above fourscore, and of above an hundred of the House of Peers, not above fifteen or sixteen: All which are so awed by the multitude of Anabaptists, Brownists, and other Per●ons desperate and decayed in their fortunes, in and about the City of London, that in truth their consultations have not the Freedom and Privilege which belong to Parliaments. Concerning any Commissions granted by Us to Papists to raise Forces. We refer our good Subjects to a Declaration lately set forth by Us upon occasion of that Scandal, which We send together with this. And for Our Own true and zealous Affection to the Protestant Religion (the advancement whereof Our Soul desires) We can give no other instances than Our constant Practice, on which malice itself can lay no blemish. And those many Protestations We have made in the sight of almighty GOD, to whom We know We shall be dearly accountable i● We fail in the observation. For that scandalous imputation of Our intention of bringing in of Foreign Forces, as the same is ●●…ised without the least colour ●r shadow of reason, and solemnly dis-avowed by Us, in many of Our Declarations; so there cannot be a clearer argument to Our Subjects of Scotland, that We have no such thought, then that We have hitherto forborn to requi●e the Assistance of that Our Ntive Kingdom, from whose obedience, duty and affection We should confidently expect it, if We thought Our Own strength here t●o weak to preserve Us, and of whose courage and loyalty We shall look to make use, before We shall think of any Foreign Aid ●o succour Us. And We know no reasonable nor understanding man can suppose our good Subjects of Scotland are obliged or enabled by the late Act of Parliament in both Kingdoms, to obey the invitation which is made to th●m by this pretended Declaration, when it is so evidently provided for by that Act, That as the Kingdom of England shall not make War against the Kingdom of Scotland, without the consent of the Parliament of England, so that the Kingdom of Scotland shall not make War against ●he Kingdom of England without consent of the Parliament of Scotland, And when they have always declared themselves so careful of Our Honour, Safety, and just Rights, which now undergo such great violation. This We have thought fit to say upon occasion o● this late Declaration, and do recommend it to you the Lords of Our Privy Council of Our Kingdom of Scotland, To be communicated and published to all Our loving Subjects there. And if the grave Council and Advice which you derived hither, by your ●ct of the 22 of April last, had been followed here in a tenderness of Our Royal Person, and of Our Princely Greatness, and Authority, then would not this face of Confusion have appeared, which now threatens this Kingdom. And therefore We requi●e you to use your utmost endeavours, to inform Our Subjects of that Our Kingdom of the truth of Our condition, and that yo● suffer not the Scandals and Imputations laid on Us by the Malice and Treason of some men, to ma●● any impression in the minds o● our People, to the lessening or corrupting their affection and loyalty to Us, But that you assure them the Hardness We now undergo, and the Arms We have been compelled to take up, are for the defence of Our Person, and safety of Our Life, for the maintenance of the true Protestant Religion, for the preservation of the Laws, Liberties and Constitution of this Kingdom, and for the ●●st Privileges of Parliament. And We look no longer for the blessing of heaven, than We endeavour the defence, and advancement of all these. And We doubt not a dutiful concurrence in Our Subjects; of Scotland in the care of Our Honour and just Rights, will draw down a blessing on that Nation too.  
Given at Our Court ●t Oxford the fifth day of December, 1642.   

Printed by Warrant and Command of the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council 〈…〉 Scotland, By EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1642.