HIS majesties LETTER, DIRECTED To the Lords and Commons of PARLIAMENT Assembled at WESTMINSTER: CONCERNING A Treaty for Peace. With the Answer of both Houses thereunto; sent to His Majesty to Oxford, March 9. 1643.  


Die Martis, 12 Mart. 1643.  
ORdered this day by the Lords in Parliament, that the Printer belonging to the House of peers shall print His Majesties Letter dated the 3 of March; and the Answer thereunto sent to His Majesty from both Houses of Parliament, dated the 9 of this instant. And that no man shall presume to reprint the said Letter and Answer, as he will answer the contrary to this House at his peril.  
J. Brown clear. Parliamentorum.    
LONDON, Printed for John Wright in the Old-baily, March. 13. 1643.   

 crowned representations of a rose, thistle, fleur-de-lis, and harp The Superscription of the Letter was this: TO THE Lords and Commons of Parliament Assembled at Westminster.  
CHARLES REX,  
out of Our most tender and pious sense of the sad and bleeding condition of this Our Kingdom, and Our unwearied desires to apply all Remedies which by the blessing of Almighty God may recover it from an utter ruin; By the advice of the Lords and Commons of Parliament Assembled at Oxford, We do propound and desire, That a convenient number of fit persons may be appointed and authorised by you to meet( with all convenient speed, at such place as you shall nominate) with an equal number of fit persons, whom We shall appoint and authorize to Treat of the ways and means to settle the present distractions of this Our kingdom, and to procure a happy Peace; And particularly, how all the Members of both Houses may securely meet in a free and full Convention of Parliament, there to treat, consult, and agree upon such things as may conduce to the maintenance and defence of the true Reformed Protestant Religion, with due consideration to all just and reasonable ease of tender consciences; To the settling and maintaining of Our just Rights and Prerogatives, of the Rights and privileges of Parliament, the laws of the Land, the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and all other expedients that may conduce to that blessed end of a firm and lasting Peace, both in Church and State, and a perfect understanding betwixt us and Our People; wherein no endeavours or concurrency of Ours shall be wanting. And God direct your hearts in the ways of Peace. Oxford, the 3 of March. 1643.   

May it please Your majesty;  
WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, taking into our consideration a Letter sent from Your majesty, dated the third of March instant, and directed, To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster( which by the contents of a Letter from the earl of Forth unto the Lord general the earl of Essex, we conceive was intended to ourselves) have resolved, with the concurrent advice and consent of the Commissioners of the kingdom of Scotland, to represent to Your Majesty in all humility, and plainness, as followeth:  
THat as we have used all means for a just and a safe Peace; so will we never be wanting to do our utmost for the procuring thereof: But when we consider the Expressions in that Letter of Your Majesties, we have more sad and despairing thoughts of attaining the same, then ever; because thereby those persons now assembled at Oxford, who contrary to their duty have deserted Your Parliament, are put into an equal condition with it: And this present Parliament, convened according to the known and fundamental laws of the kingdom( the continuance whereof is established by a Law consented unto by Your Majesty) is in effect denied to be a Parliament; the scope and intention of that Letter being, to make provision, how all the Members( as is pretended) of both Houses may securely meet in a full and free Convention of Parliament; whereof no other conclusion can be made, but that this present Parliament is not a full nor free Convention: And that to make it a full and free Convention of Parliament, the presence of those is necessary; who, notwithstanding that they have deserted that great Trust, and do levy war against the Parliament, are pretended to be Members of the two Houses of Parliament.  
And hereupon we think ourselves bound to let Your Majesty know, That seeing the continuance of this Parliament is settled by a Law( which as all other Laws of Your kingdoms) Your majesty hath sworn to maintain, as we are sworn to our allegiance to Your Majesty( these obligations being reciprocal) we must in duty, and accordingly are resolved with our Lives and Fortunes to defend and preserve the just Rights and full Power of this Parliament; And do beseech Your Majesty to bee assured, That Your Majesties royal and hearty concurrence with us herein, will be the most effectual and ready means of procuring a firm and lasting Peace in all Your Majesties Dominions; and of begetting a perfect Understanding between Your Majesty and Your People: without which Your Majesties most earnest Professions, and our most real Intentions concerning the same, must necessary bee frustrated. And in case Your Majesties three kingdoms should by reason thereof remain in this sad and bleeding condition, tending( by the Continuance of this unnatural war) to their ruin; Your Majesty cannot bee the least, nor the last Sufferer. God in his goodness, incline Your royal breast, out of pitty and compassion to those deep sufferings of Your Innocent people, to put a speedy, and happy Issue to these desperate Evils, by the joint Advice of both your kingdoms now happily united in this Cause by their late solemn League and Covenant; which as it will prove the surest Remedy; so it is the earnest prayer of Your Majesties loyal Subjects, The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England. Westminster, the 9. of March 1643.  


Wil. Lord Grey of Wark, Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore.  
Wil. Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament.    
FINIS.