His Majesties care that the deluge of the Troubles of this Kingdom affect not that with the danger of the like, is very visible to all the World. His Majesty out of His great desire of continuing them in Peace and Tranquillity, not desiring any assistance from them, even for his own Preservation. And whoever doth desire any Commotion there, to assist their Rebellious and Invasive Armes here, will (He hopes) be lookt upon as the Troublers of Peace, and as Incendiaries labouring to lay foundations of perpetual Hostility betwixt the Two Kingdoms. And then (for ought His Majesty can see) there will be no cause to expect any Commotions there, and such Dangers will rather prove imaginary than real, though the Conservatours of the Treaty contain themselves within their Legal and proper Bounds. His Majesty wonders, that since His approbation of their Mediation was desired when His Safe-conduct was asked, and the first was not given, when the latter was, that it should not have been easily seen by these Proceedings of His Majesties, that as He never granted the first, (as seeing no Authority they had for such a Mediation) so He only at last granted the other, as being contented to hear what they could say to Him upon that Point, either as private persons, or to give Him better satisfaction than He could give Himself, what Right they could pretend to any Publick Capacity of that kind: but having heard all they have offered, and not finding any thing that warrants them in this, in any special manner above His Majesties other Subjects, His Majesty cannot with reason admit of any Private Persons whatsoever into such a Publick Capacity, nor with His own Dignity, and that of this Nation, can allow His Subjects of another Kingdom, not authorized by any Law, to make themselves (under the title of a Mediation) Umpires and Arbitrators of the Differences here.
For the Calling of a Parliament in Scotland, His Majesty desires to know what Promise of His it is, which they mention Him to have particularly expressed to His late Parliament. The Law which His Majesty then Graciously past concerning that Point, His Majesty well remembers, (and will justly, punctually, and religiously observe it, together with all the rest consented to by Him,) that the Parliament there shall convene upon the first Tuesday of June, 1644. And, according to the same Act, will appoint one betwixt this and that Day, if His Majesty shall think fitting; who as He is by that very Law expressed to be sole Judge of that Convenience, so the Commissioners are neither by that, nor any other Law, entrusted, or enabled to Judge thereof.
At Oxford, 19ᵗʰ of April,
1643.
1643.—April 21.
14. Letter from Hamilton to the Queen.[317]
May It Please Your Majesty,
There is as yet small or no Alteration in the Condition of Affairs in the Country, since I presumed to trouble Your Majesty last; nor do I believe there will be any till the fourth of May, at which time it is probable, the final Resolution of the Council and Commissioners for Conserving the Articles of the Treaty will be taken. It is still conceived, that His Majesties absent Servants would be of great use at that time; and the uncertain knowledge, if they will come or not, keeps us that are here, from a positive Resolution what course to take therein; therefore I humbly beseech Your Majesty, let us know if by appearance we may expect them or not.
There is a general noise, as if the Lord Chancellour and the rest of the Commissioners, were not only kept as Prisoners, but in some further Danger. By Mungo Murray Your Majesty was advertised, that it was conceived fit, that seeing those that sent them had so positively recalled them against the fourth of May, they should be dispatched against that Time. In our opinions there was no Danger now to be apprehended by their Home-coming, but there would arise great Inconveniences if they should be detained: of that same Judgment we continue to be still.
We do likewise humbly intreat, that we may know if what was proposed to Your Majesty by my Lord of Traquair, Mr Murray, and my self, be come to his Majesties knowledge: and if we may expect the signification of his Pleasure, against the fourth of May, in these Particulars, which we exceedingly wish.
By the Lord Montgomery Your Majesty will know, how far the General hath promised his best Endeavours, that His Majesty shall receive no prejudice from the Army under his Command in Ireland; the same he hath confirmed to me with deep Protestations, and truely I take him to be a man of that Honour that he will perform it.