I shall here Humbly presume to let Your Majesty know, that before any of Your Scotish Servants, who lately parted with Your Majesty at Oxford, could possibly come hither, the Chancellour had made his Report to the Council and Conservatours of the Treaty, and Mr Henderson to the Commissioners of the General Assembly, of their Employments to Your Majesty, where Your Answers to their Desires were found not satisfactory, and thereafter Your Majesties Council, Commissioners for the Treaty and Common Burdens, having joyned together for giving of Security, for such Moneys as should be levyed, for the Maintenance of Your Majesties Scotish Army in Ireland, they thought fit (without admitting of any delay until Your Majesties Pleasure were known) to call a Convention of the Estates, as their several Acts and Proclamations to that effect (here inclosed) will more particularly shew Your Majesty.
And for the present Your Majesties Servants, who came lately hither, having only met with three or four of those whom Your Majesty appointed them to consult with, have thought fit to advise with some others of the same Affection and Forwardness to Your Majesties Service, before they presume to give Your Majesty any advice upon the present Occasions, being matters of so great Weight, and so highly concerning Your Majesties Service: but they have taken the readiest and most speedy Course they can think upon, for Meeting and Consulting with them; and thereafter are immediately to return hither, from whence they will with all diligence offer unto Your Majesty their humble Opinion. In the mean time I have dispatched Your Majesties Letters to such Noblemen and Burroughs, as your Majesty was pleased to direct me, shewing Your Resolution of preserving here what you have been pleased so Graciously to establish in Church and State, not having been able to deliver Your Majesties Letter to Your Council, who were dissolved before my coming, and my Lord Chancellour is gone out of Town, without whose Appointment there can be no extraordinary Meeting; so that I believe Your Majesties Gracious Declaration to Your Scotish Subjects cannot be published before that time; nor till then can I be able to give Your Majesty any further account of Your Affairs here, though in the mean time I shall study to serve Your Majesty faithfully, according to the Duty of Your Majesties
Most humble and most faithful, and most
obedient Subject and Servant,
Lanerick.
Edinburgh, 18ᵗʰ May, 1643.
1643.—May 22.
19. Letter from the King to the Council anent the Convention.[322]
Charles R.
Right Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousins and Councellours, and Right Trusty and well-beloved Councellours, We Greet you well.
We are much surprized at Your Letter of the 12ᵗʰ of this Moneth, whereby it seems you have given order for the Calling of a Convention of the Estates of that Our Kingdom without Our Privity or Authority: which, as it is a business We see no reason for at present, and that hath never been done before but in the Minority of the Kings of Scotland, without their Consent; so We cannot by any means approve of it, and therefore We command you to take order that there be no such Meeting, till you give Us full satisfaction of the Reasons for it.
Given at Our Court at Oxford, 22ᵗʰ May, 1643.