An Excellent SPEECH Spoken by the Right Honourable Algernon Piercy EARLE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, TO The Kings most Excelent Majesty, on Satterday last, concerning His Royall Person, and this distracted Kingdom. And His Majesties gracious answer thereunto (in presence of the Dukes, Earles, Lords, and Gentlemen appointed for the Treaty) touching a Generall pardon to all his Subjects.
ALSO, The most Excelent, Divine, and Heavenly prayer of the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and his Commissioners, on Sunday last for a blessing upon the Treaty, composed, and made by derections and dicta [...]ons from his Majesty,
LIKEWISE, Good Newes from the Treaty, their proceedi [...]gs on Munday last, and His Majesties Message to the Scots touching that engaging against England. Signed, CHARLES R.
September 20. Imprim [...] London for R. Wilsiamson 1648.
The Earl of Northumberlands Speech, to the King on Satterday lest, in the presence of all the Dukes, Earles and Lords, now attending his Royall Person, and his Majesties Answer thereunto. Also a Message to the Scots, and a prayer drawn out by his speciall command.
THis morning about 9 of the clock the Treaty began, the Kings Majesty, and his Commissioners, having by prayer, prepared themselves for so great a work; the Right honourable the Earl of Northumberland, and the rest of the Parl. Commissioners, met at the aforesaid houre appointed, and being all conveened together the Propositions were read, and it is thought Religion will be the first thing insisted on, and so proceed in order to the rest, the Earl of Northumborland on Satterday last, made an excelent speech to his Soveraign, purporting the earnest desires of both houses for a firm and wel grounded peace, and to compose all differences with in his Maj. Realms and Dominions, that so the peace of Church and State, may [Page 4] once againe be brought to its splendor, and purity, and all distractions end in triumph and tranquillity.
And having ended his Speech his Majesty (in presence of the rest of the Commissioners) returned Answer, as followeth.
That none could have more hearty desires of peace then He, How He had nothing of ill will to any, but indeed was, and would to the utmost, endeavour to appeare a friend to ill, espe. wally to the languishing Kingdom.
The King desired the Treaty might not begin on a broken part of the last day of the week, so that Sunday last were set a part for a day of Prayer and Humiliation for a blessing upon the Treaty, and this present Munday begins the Treaty.
Newport in Insula vectis, September 16. 1648.
A Prayer drawn by His Majesties speciall derection and Dictates, for a blessing on the Treaty at Newport.
O Most Mercifull Father, Lord God of Peace and Truth, we a People sorely afficted by the scourage of an unnaturall war, do earnestly peseech Thee, to command a blessing from Heaven upon this present Treaty, begun for the establishment of an happy peace. Soften the most Oodurate Hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens bloud, for whom Christ himselfe hath shed his. Or if the guilt of our great sins, cause this Treaty to break of in valne, Lord let the Truth clearly [Page 3] appear, who those men are, which under pretence of the publike good do pursue their own private ends; that this people may be no longer so blindly miserable, as not to see, at least in this their Day, the things that belong unto their Peace. Grant this gratious God for his sake who is our Peace it self, even Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
Other Letters say as followeth.
Two dayes have been spent in Complements, and kiffing the Kings Majesties hand, The Commons having denied a passe for such Commissioners as his Majesty should name to come from Scotland, to advise with him concerning the affairs of that Nation (not the old main designe that for twelve moneths last past was working with and by them, against the Parliament and Kingdome of England,) hath notwithstanding sent for Commissioners from that Nation, according to the liberty given him in the former votes, but whether they will please, or date to come, not having the Parliaments safe Conduct, is the question.
The Treaty begines to morrow morning, which we shall prosecute according to our instructions. The Commissioners of his Majesty Court us with good Language, and as much Civility, but the events of things are uncertain, though we know his Majesty is necessitated to doe more than the Propositions do require of him, both himselfe & all his party being in a lost & miserable condition with out the mercy of Parl. which in the best mens thoughts will be no lesse then cruelty to the honest party, who have best him by a totall Conquest to this submission.
We shall perform the trust reposed in us, and give an [Page 4] account daly of all Transactions, and leave them to the Judgment of those that imployed us, upon this businesse.
The Kings Declaration to the Nobility of Scotland, written by his Majesties own hand, and signed Charles R.
It is no small comfort to me, that my Native Countrey hath so true a sence of my present Condition, as I find expressed by your Letter of the eight of this Month, and your Declaration, both which I received upon Friday last, & the same reason which makes you Discrectly and Generouss at this time forbear to presse any thing to me, hinders me likewis to make any particular Professions unto you, lest it may be imagined that desire of liberty should now be the onely Secretary to my thoughts: Yet thus much I cannot but say; that, as in all humane Reason, nothing but a free Personall Treaty with me, can settle the unhappy Distractions of these distressed Kingdomes: So, if that could once be had, I would not doubt, but, that (by the grace of God) a happy Peace would soon follow.
Such force (I believe) trve Reason has in the hearts of all men, when it may be clearly and calmly heardy and I am not ashamed, at all times, to professs, that it hath, & [Page 5] so shall be alwayes want of understanding, not of will, if I do not yeeld to reason whensoever, and from whensoever I hear it.
And it were a strange thing, if Reason should be lesse esteemed because it comes from me, which (truly) I doe not expect from you: your Declaration seeming to me, (and I hope your actions will prove that I am not deceived) to be so well grounded upon Honour and Justice; that albeit by way of opinion, I cannot give a Placetto every Clause in it: Yet I am confident, upon a calme & friendly Debate, we shall very well agree.
To conclude, I cannot (for the present) better shew my thankfulnes to you, for the Generous and Loyall expressions of your Affections to me, then by giving you my honest and sincere Advice; which is, Really and Censtantly, without seeking private ends, to pursue the publik professions in your declaration, as sincere Christians and good subjects ought to do, alwaies remembring, that the best foundation of loyalty is Christianity; So true christianity teaches perfect loyatly, for without this reciprocation, neither is truly what they pretend to be: But I am confident that needes not to you, as likewise that you will rightly understand this which is affectionatly intended by
This morning the Kings Majesty, and the Commissioners met Sir William Hodges in Nuport (the place appointed for the Treaty) where the Earl of Northumberland made a Declaratory Speach to the King, touching a reconciliation betwen the King and his people: And in answer thereunto, his Majesty Declared himselfe in a set Speech to the said Earl, the rest of the Commissioners, representing, how welcome this long expected day is to him, to reconcile the distractions of his distresed Kingdomes, and to put aperlod to their suffring and his own.
We heare that his Majesty hath had a sight of the larg Petition, presented to the House of Commons on Munday September the 11, 1648. by a party of Citizens, (which some have intituled Independents) and if by circumstances, we may conjecture of the event, it is believed that it will extraordinary prevaile upon his Majesty, in some speedy, and close complyanee with his Parl. the King and the Commissioners sat from nine in the forenoone, till, in the afternoone, the first Propositions being read, and some progresse made therein; and it is hoped the silver coards Family, will be firmly knit in a true knot of Unity, between the King and his people for the future, that so they may go hard in hand against the Common enemy, which will be a joyfull day of triumph and all that love Peace and Truth say,
Cowes Castle Sept. 18 1648. 7. at night.
God blesse the KING And PARLIAMENT.