[1641/7/4]¹

Letter: king's letter to parliament

Thereafter [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and [John Campbell], lord Loudoun, in presence of the said estates, delivered to [Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall], my lord advocate, his majesty's letter directed to the estates of parliament, who did exhibit the same to [Robert Balfour, lord Balfour of Burleigh], president of the parliament, and thereupon took instruments, which letter was read in the hearing of the whole parliament, whereof the tenor follows: Charles Rex. Right trusty and right well-beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and right well-beloved cousins, right trusty and well-beloved councillors, right trusty and well-beloved, trusty and well-beloved councillors and trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. As our agreeing to the treaty shows our willingness to satisfy your desires, so was it our resolution for ratifying thereof to have held the parliament on 15 July in our own person without any further delay, nor could any entreaty which has been very earnest, nor the importance of affairs here, divert us from keeping our royal word and promise to you, but have referred the time of our journey from hence and the time of prorogation of our parliament there to your own discretion, not doubting but you will give such a discreet and respective answer as may stand with our honour and the good of both kingdoms. And therefore we desire you to prorogue it to such a day as we may be timely advertised and as near as may be to give the parliament of England satisfaction that we may conveniently repair thither. Those of your commissioners who are returned home we hope will make particularly known to you how desirous we are to have the peace of that our ancient kingdom established that in all times to come there may be a cordial union and right understanding between us and our people, which is the true and wished end of our coming amongst you, from which resolution nothing shall dissuade us if we shall find from you such a dutiful meeting as we do confidently expect and is due to us from our native subjects, so we bid you farewell. From our court at Whitehall, 30 June 1641. And thereafter the Earl of Dunfermline and the Lord Loudoun, to whose trust (as his majesty's letter foresaid does purport) the king did commit the relation of his sincere and constant affection to his native kingdom, desired to be heard, which being granted, the Lord Loudoun did in a most humble and dutiful way express that his majesty, out of his royal care and tender affection to this his native and ancient kingdom, intends to settle a firm and durable peace both in the church and state and that the real intention and true end of his majesty's coming to Scotland is to establish religion and righteousness in the land, that (all distractions being removed) there may in all times to come be a right understanding and cordial unity between his majesty and his people, which is so heartily wished by his majesty as he will not harken to any divisive motion or misinformation which may in any sort breed discord or be a hindrance of that happy harmony and durable peace.