YOur Majesty was pleased on Monday last to eall the Lords of Your Councell and Committee, to acquaint them with the Propositions, and told them before you would deliver Your Answer, You would make the same known to them: The time assigned to the Commissioners stay is so short, and the conse­quence of your Majesties Answer of so great impor­tance, either for the preservation or ruine of Your Crowne, and Kingdomes, as we could not be answera­ble to God, nor to that Trust reposed in us, unlesse we represent to your Majesty how necessary it is that your Majesty assent to the Propositions as the condi­tion of affaires now stand in so great extremity, and that the danger and losse of your refusall will be re­medilesse, and bring on a suddaine ruine and de­struction.

I shall begin first with the last, which is the Danger, and shall next speak a word of the Remedy.

The differences betwixt your Majesty and your Parliament (which no man knoweth better then your Majesties selfe,) are growne to such a height, that af­ter many bloudy battels, the Parliament having your Majesty, all the Forts, Garrisons, and strong holds in their hands, having your Majesties Revenue, Excise, Assessements, Sequestrations, and the Authority to raise all the men and money in the Kingdome, and having, after many victories and great successes, a strong Army on Foot, are now in such a posture for strength and power: they are in a capacity to doe what they will, both in Church and State. And some are so afraid, and others so unwilling to submit them­selves to your Majesties Government, that they de­sire not you, nor any of your Race, longer to reigne over them: But the people are so wearied of the Warre, and great burthens they doe groane under, are so loath to have Monarchical Government destroyed, that they dare not attempt to cast it totally off, till once they send Propositions of Peace to your Maje­sty, least the People (without whose concurrence they are not able to carry on their designe) should fall from them; but after so great Warre and trouble, that they may have a perfect securitie from opposi­tion and Arbitrary power, they have resolved upon the Propositions, which are tendred to your Majesty, as that without which the Kingdome and your peo­ple cannot be in safety, and that there cannot be a firme Peace upon any other tearmes.

Your Majesties friends in the Houses, and the Commissioners from Scotland, (after much wrasling) [Page 3] did consent to the sending of those Propositions, or to be rated the hinderers of Peace, or otherwayes to send no Propositions at all.

And now Sir, if your Majesty (as God forbid) shall refuse to assent to the Propositions, You will lose all Your friends in the Houses, lose the City, and all the Countrey. And all England will joyne against you as one man; they will processe and de­pose you, and set up another Government; they will charge us to deliver your Majesty to them, and to render their Garrisons, and remove our Armies out of England, and upon your Majesties refusall of the Propositions, both Kingdomes will be constrained for their mutuall safety, to agree and settle Religi­on and peace without You, which (to our unspeakable griefe) will ruine your Majesty and your Posteritie, and if your Majestie refuse our faithfull advice (who desire nothing on Earth more then the preservation of your Majesties Royall Throne.) And if your Ma­jesty lose England by your wilfulnesse, you will not be permitted to come and reigne in Scotland.

Sir, we have laid our hands upon our hearts, wee have asked Counsell and direction from God, and have had our most serious thoughts upon the Reme­die, but can finde no other to save your Crowne and Kingdomes, then your Majesties assenting to the Propositions, and dares not say but they are higher in some things, (if it were in our power and option to remedie) then we approved of, but when we see no other meanes for curing the distempers of the Kingdomes, and closing the breach between your Ma­jestie and your Parliament, Our most humble and safe [Page 4] advise is, your Majesty will be graciously, pleased to assent to them as the onely way to establish your Throne; Because your Majestie shall be thereby re­ceived againe in your Parliament, with the applause and acclamations of your people, by your Royall presence all friends will be strengthned, and all Ene­mies, (who feare nothing so much as the granting the Propositions) will be weakned; your Majestie will have a fit opportunitie hereafter, to offer such Propositions as You and your Parliament in wisdome shall think fit, for your Crown and Kingdome, the Ar­mies will be disbanded, and your people finding the sweet fruit of a peaceable Government: you will gaine their hearts and affections, and that will be your Majesties strength and glory, and will recover all that you have lost in this time of tempest and of trouble.

And if it please God to incline your Royall heart to this advise of your humble, and faithfull servants, who next to the honour and service of God, esteeme nothing more pretious, then the safetie of your Per­son, and Crowne: our actions shall make it appeare, that we esteeme no hazard too great for your Maje­sties safety, and that we are willing to sacrifice our Lives and fortunes for establishing your Throne and just Right.