A SHORT DISCOURSE, tending to the Pacification of all unhappy differences, between His Majesty and His PARLIAMENT.  
Showing the means whereby the same may speedily be done, and that it rests in His MAJESTY'S sole power to effect it.  Presented to the Consideration of all those that love the Truth and Peace: By a friend and Servant to both. 
THe Commons of England (That great Body) consisting of more than ten Millions of living souls, having with great joy and hope waited now full twenty Months, for the happy effects of this long desired Parliament; do now perceive by His Majesty's Declarations to His Parliament, and His present proceed in opposition to their Counsels, they are like, not only to be frustrated of those joys and hopes but to have Confusion and Ruin immediately fall upon His Majesty, themselves, and this whole Kingdom by Civil Discord: Whereof (●s living men) they cannot but be sensible; and having no better means of access to His Majesty, are constrained in this common way to breath out their Griefs and Fears, hoping in its Passage abroad, it may meet with some great Man, who (in imitation of him that had Compassion upon the Multitude) will convey it into His Majesty's Royal hand, of whose goodness His People have had more than 16. year's experience.  
That by the wisdom and justice of His Majesty, the Fidelity, Loyalty, and Duty of His Parliament, and the blessing of God upon both, those visible miseries (hanging over this whole Kingdom) may speedily be removed and a happy and blessed concord renewed and continued betwixt His Majesty and His great Council, the representative body of this Kingdom.  
The Commons do observe, that His Majesty in His Declarations doth declare, His intentions are not only to preserve His just Prerogative, Rights and Privileges, due to His Crown but also to preserve His People and Kingdom in peace and safety; and that His Subjects may also enjoy their Religion Laws, Liberty's Rights, and Privileges due and belonging to them and their posterities.  
They observe likewise, That the Parliament in their Remonstrances and Declarations published to the whole world, do profess the very same thing to be their ends and intentions concerning His Majesty his People and Kingdom: For which His Majesty's gracious expressions as they are bound to give His Majesty most humble thanks, so are they obliged in all duty and service to those Noble Gentlemen, and others of their own choosing, not only for their long continued and unwearied pains for the good of His Majesty, and this whole Kingdom: but also for their fidelity, wisdom and care, so really expressed and performed in discharge of that great trust they have committed to them being no less than all that they and their posterities have or are, and to be faithful to them in obedience to all their lawful commands tending to the good and safety of His Majesty's Royal person, and His Kingdom.  
These being the mutual, and (they hope) real intentions of His Majesty and His Parliament concerning them, thus concurring in one, and published to the whole world so to be: never (say they) was any Kingdom nearer to confusion (if not destruction) under a coniuncture of so good intentions: And what Vipers, or rather what Devils are there upon the earth, that by wicked Council would divide those intentions, and bring desolation upon this whole Kingdom; and what torments (less than hell) do such men merit. But their hope and confidence is His Majesty's own goodness and care of His people, so often expressed and published to the world, will be motive sufficient to turn His ear from the Counsels of such wicked persons, and to join with His Parliament in pursuit of those good intentions, and not for such men's sakes to expose His own Royal person to danger, and His people and Kingdom to ruin.  
They further observe, That it pleaseth His Majesty in His Declarations, to charge the cause of all unhappy differences betwixt His Majesty and His Parliament, upon some few turbulent ambitious Factious spirits in both Houses of Parliament (Members thereof) whose cunning conveyance and carriage of business in both Houses, for their own ambitious ends and advantage, have procured so great a party in both Houses, that their Votes are become the Parliament; and these men it is (saith His Majesty) that make Orders and Ordinances, displeasing to his Majesty being (as his Majesty affirmeth) against the established known Laws of the Land, and His Majesty's just and Royal Prerogative, warranted by those Laws.  
They observe also, That the Parliament declare the cause of those differences to be a wicked and pernicious Council about his Majesty (who are seldom wanting about the Throne of the best and most pious Princes) being either Atheists, Papists, and Jesuits, Delinquents, or men of desperate Fortunes, engaged only to their own ends, though it prove the ruin both of King and Kingdom. And of necessity one of these two parties it must fall upon: for his Majesty's people do well know the goodness of his own disposition and inclination to his Subjects, manifested out of his Royal breast in the beginning of His reign, before this viperous brood had time to take hold of Him; and call to mind His gracious expressions and actions towards His Subjects in those times: And also His Majesty's frequent protestations and imprecations made this present Parliament, of his Majesty's great care and good intentions to preserve His people in peace, the true Protestant Religion, the Laws, Liberties and Privilege of Parliament, from the least change or violation; and therefore whatsoever the French Histories have recorded and published, concerning congratulatory Letters, passed betwixt his Majesty and the Pope of Rome, at His Majesty's being in Spain, they dare not admit the least thought of change or alteration to be in his Majesty's own breast, but must cast it upon one of the parties afore named.  
And therefore, for appeasing all differences, and prevention of all dangers, ready to fall upon his Majesty, and this whole Kingdom, His People do most humbly desire his Majesty, to do Himself, and His Kingdom that right and justice (which lies in His own power to do) by naming such persons (if any such be) Members of both or either Houses of Parliament, as his Majesty is informed are the Men, who draw all this fear of misery on his Majesty and His Kingdom, that they may come to Trial before the Parliament in a Parliamentary way, and there receive judgement and punishment (if they shallbe found guilty) or otherwise, their Accusers, (who have so highly wronged his Majesty, His Parliament, and People) may come to like trial and receive such punishment, as the justice of that Court shall inflict upon them.  
And for the same reasons, they would also most humbly beseech his Majesty to name unto his Parliament, those persons near about his Majesty, who have been or are his Majesty's Councillors, in expounding of Laws, framing, making and penning of Declarations, Proclamations, Messages and Passages, betwixt his Majesty and his Parliament (for his Majesty best knows who those men are) and deliver them to the Parliament to justify their do, which as it will most magnify the honour of his Majesty to the love of truth and justice, so will it be the clearest manifestation His Majesty can give of the reality of his Royal intention to His people, and lay the greatest obligation of duty love and obedience, upon them, and all good Subjects that his Marestie can expect from a loyal and true hearted people, which until his Majesty grant, their fears will keep them restless.  
These most humble desires, the Commons conceive to be so just, equal, seasonable and fuitable to his Majesty's gracious disposition that in honour, and justice, he will not deny them to His People, being (as they think) the most hopeful means under heaven to secure his Majesty & his people, from the approaching dangers and miseries of a bloody War, and to settle a firm and lasting peace between his Majesty, his Parliament and People, which is that his Majesty hath so often taken the Almighty God to witness, is the thing he so much desires; wherein the Commons are confident and will expect, that the Lords and others of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council and all the Peers of this Realm, and others, attending his Majesty, who desire the safety, peace and prosperity of his Majesty, his People and Kingdoms will join with them; and according to their relations offices, places, nearness and credit with His Majesty, will put forth their uttermost strength, Counsels and endeavours to prefer and accomplish these their humble d●sires to His Majesty, otherwise they must think (as they may have just cause) they are of the Malignant party, more willing to behold all of them, and this whole Kingdom streaming in blood, then relinquish their own pernicious Counsels and ends, and be ready to execute the Commands of the Parliament against them.  
The differences themselves between His Majesty, and His Parliament, in His Majesty's Declarations appear to be Four. First, Detaining His Town and Magazine of Hull. Secondly, removing the Magazine and Arms thence to other places, and the like in other parts of the Kingdom. Thirdly, Putting the Militia in execution contrary to His Majesty's Proclamation. Fourthly, Making of Levies, and raising of Men, Horse and Money; And these all done by Orders and Ordinances of Par-liament, and (as His Majesty's Declaration saith) against His Majesty's pleasure, because it is against the law, and His Majesty's Prerogative, warranted by the law.  
The only question than is, Whether these proceed by both Houses of Parliament in this time of danger (His Majesty having refused to join with them) be against the fundamental laws of the Land, and His Majesty's Prerogative warranted by those laws, and above the power, and privilege of Parliament to meddle in for the safety of his Majesty's Royal Person His Kingdom and people?  
The Commons do all know His Majesty to be no expounder of laws (for so his Majesty is pleased to profess) as belonging neither to his Person, nor office, but therein to be guided by the judgement and counsels of others, to whom His Majesty doth commit that trust, To give right judgement betwixt His Majesty and people; and what Councillors his Majesty hath had, and what expositions of Laws and Statutes have been made, during this present Parliament; and how injuriously His Majesty, His Parliament and People, have been dealt with therein, is like to appear in the Kingdom's confusion, if His Majesty's goodness and wisdom, in casting off such Counsels, and speedy joining with his Parliament prevent it not.  
And what service such evil Councillors have done to this Kingdom in former ●ime, and what exposition of Laws they have made, let the Petition of Right, granted by his Majesty to all his Subjects in ease of their Grievances witness.  
And what Counsels they have given, and exposstion of Laws they have made ssnce that Petition granted, let Ship money coat, and Co●auct money, and many other unjust and illegal impositions laid upon His Majesty's Subjects, and Declared in the Parliaments Remonstrances witness also: And into what condition such pernicious Counsels and Councillors, have brought this Kingdom and His Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland, at this present, let the consuming flames in the one, and the kindled fire in the other testify.  
The Parliament, the Commons do know, and their Counsels, Votes, Ordinances, Expositions and Declarations to His Majesty, and his People, they hear and see attested under the authority of one or both Houses, and therefore are bound in reason and duty to believe their Proceed are warranted by the Fundamental laws of the Land, and are according to the Power and Privilege of Parliament, until the like or better authority appear to the contrary. For those who expound the Laws to his Majesty and are his Counsellors, they know not their Persons or names, neither see their hands attesting the Counsels they give, nor Expositions they make, which makes them suspect they are Men of darkness, and such as flee from the light of Parliament. Wherefore it is the most humble desire of all His Majesty's good Subjects, that His Majesty will put no longer confidence in their Counsels or expositions of Laws; but harken to the advice of his great Council the Parliament.  
And whether it be more meet, safe, just and honourable, for his Majesty and his Subjects to put confidence in the Counsels and judgements of such Councillors, and the exposition they make of Laws, and the Power and Privileges of Parliament, or in the Parliament, themselves being the great Counsel of the Kingdom, and the makers of all Laws, the Commons beseech His Majesty and all the World to judge.  
As it is fare from the heart of every good Subject to diminish the least part of His Majesty's Royal Prerogative, due by the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, being part of the inheritance of His Crown and descended to His Majesty from His Royal Progenitors, Kings of this Realm, so are all Subjects bound to maintain the Liberties, Rights and Privileges, due and belonging to the Parliament and People of England, and the Laws that defend and preserve the same, the one as being the just and undoubted inheritance of His Majesty, the other as their inheritance as just and undoubtedly due to themselves & their Posterities, granted to their Predecessors more than five hundred Years passed conrfimed to their Ancestors in all ages and not questioned or attempted to be violated, until of late by the wicked Council, and fraud of ill Ministers and Councillors (who for their own ends, and to obtain the favour of Princes) have taken upon them the boldness, to advance the Prerogative above Law, and endeavoured to bring the Laws and the Power and Privileges of Parliament, to such construction themselves would make, thereby at once breaking in upon the Privileges of Parliament, and the inheritance of the Subject, and so by pretence of Law, to root up the foundation of Law, the Parliament itself.  
The Commons do therefore most humbly beseech His Majesty that the distractions, griefs and fears, of so many thousand thousands of His Loyal Subjects laid before his Majesty, in this time of danger may prevail with His Majesty speedily to return to His Parliament, and there in the way of justice to examine all misinformations his Majesty hath had, both of Persons and Causes; and let all Offenders whatsoever, taste the severity of his Majesty's justice, who have been Counsellors, instruments, or actors, to make so great a breach betwixt His Majesty and His Parliament, and put his Kingdom and People into so much danger, and so many losses in their estates, by the long decay of their Trading in all parts, caused by those divisions.  
For the tumults which His Majesty seemeth to flee from, the Commons doubt not, His Majesty will find his Parliament, and all good Subjects, most willing to suppress and punish, all unlawful tumults and disorders caused by any Persons whatsoever, when it shall please His Majesty to join with his Parliament, in securing this and His other Kingdoms from the plots and designs of Jesuits, Papists and other instruments of theirs, whose work it is now to disturb the peace of his Majesty's Dominions, for preservation of their Spanish Monarchy, and Popish Tyranny, by suppressing or destroying of Prince, Parliament and People, that stand in their way: For the Commons would that all the world should know They are English Protestants, whose Religion is not founded either upon Superstirious Vanities, or Schismatical Fancies, but upon the revealed will▪ and well warranted word of God consonant to the sound and Orthodox Doctrine of the Church of England, whereunto They will always submit, provided it may be purged from what gives just occasion of scandal or offence; and not so mixed or adorned with Rights and Ceremonies, that whilst the Body is dressed, the Soul of Religion, which is life and power, should be lost: For God is a Spirit, and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth, which is the Freedom they ask; without which, the Protestant Religion is but Protestant Profession, will make men but seeming Saints, while Devils, and set them but half the way to Heaven.  

And if His Majesty shall not be pleased to hearken to these most humble desires of His People, and make some present return for putting out those Fires now kindled in this Kingdom, the woeful spectacle of their poor Brethren in Ireland, will cause Them, (all that are able) to join with his Parliament in obedience to their Commands, for the preservation of his Majesty, his Kingdom and themselves from utter Ruin, nature itself having taught Beasts, when storms are rising to provide for their own safety. But in hope of His Majesty's gracious Answer, they will wait and pray for the long life, and happy, and peaceable Reign of his Majesty.   
FINJS.