portrait of King Charles I   

A MESSAGE FROM HIS majesty, TO THE SPEAKER of the House of peers, Pro Tempore;  
To be Communicated to the Lords and Commons in the Parliament Assembled at Westminster.  
AND To the Commissioners from the Parliament of SCOTLAND.  
NEWCASTLE, Printed by Stephen Bulkley, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1646.   


C. R.  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown   

A MESSAGE From His MAJESTY. To the SPEAKER of the House of peers, &c.  
HIs Majesties thoughts being always sincerely bent to the Peace of His Kingdoms, was, and will be ever desirous to take all ways, which might the most clearly make appear the candour of His Intentions to His People. And to this end could find no better way, then to propose a personal, Free Debate with His two Houses of Parliament, upon all the present Differences; Yet finding( very much against His Expectation,) That this Offer was laid aside; His Majesty bent all His Thoughts to make His Intentions fully known, by a particular Answer to the Propositions, delivered to Him in the name of both kingdoms, the 24th of July last; But the more He endeavoured it, He more plainly saw, That any Answer He could make, would be subject to mis-interpretations, and mis-constructions, which upon His own Paraphrases, and Explanations, He is most confident would give so good satisfaction, as would doubtless cause a happy and lasting Peace. Least therefore that good Intentions might produce ill Effects, His Majesty again proposes, and desires to come to London, or any of His Houses thereabouts, upon the public Faith and Security of His two Houses of Parliament, and the Scotch Commissioners, that He shall be there, with Honour, freedom, and Safety, where, by His personal Presence, He may not onely raise a mutual confidence betwixt Him and His People, but also have their doubts cleared, and those difficulties explained to Him, without which He cannot( but with the aforesaid mischievous Inconveniences) give a particular Answer to the Propositions; And with which He doubts not, but so to manifest His real Intentions for the settling of Religion, the Just privileges of Parliament, with the freedom and Propriety of the Subject, That it shall not be in the Power of malicious wicked Men, to hinder the establishing of that firm Peace, which all honest Men desire; Assuring them, That as He will make no other demands, but such, as He believes confidently to be just, and much conducing to the tranquillity of His People, so He will be most willing to condescend unto them, whatsoever shall be really for their good and happiness; not doubting likewise, but that you will also have a due regard to maintain the Just Power of the crown, according to your many Protestations, and Professions: For certainly, except King and People, have a reciprocal care each of other, neither can be happy. To conclude, It is your King who desires to be heard,( the which if refused to a Subject by a King, He would be thought a Tyrant for it) and for that end which all men profess to desire. Wherefore His Majesty conjures you, as you desire to show yourselves really what you profess, even as ye are good Christians and Subjects, that ye will accept this His Offer, which He is confident, God will so bless, that it will be the readiest means, that these Kingdoms may again become a comfort to their Friends, and a terror to their Enemies.  
Newcastle the 20. of December, 1646.   
FINIS.  

C. R.