Right Trusty, and Right well-beloved Cousin and Councellour, We Greet you well.
The Earl of Lindsay coming hither from London, hath assured us, that the Cause of the Two Houses sending into Scotland, to have the Lords that went hence sequestred, was, the Intercepting of their Letter sent to Our Dearest Consort, the Queen, and nothing else.
We perceive by the Copy of the Resolutions you sent Us, with what Prudence, and Loyal Courage, your Brother Hamilton and the Lord Advocate opposed at Council there, the Order for Calling a Convention of the Estates for which We would hare you to give them Our particular Thanks. You and others of Our Council there, know well, how injurious the Calling of a Convention of Estates, without Our Consent, is to our Honour and Dignity Royal; and as it imports Us, so We desire all Our well-affected Servants to hinder it what they may; but shall leave it to them, to take therein such Course, as they shall there upon advice conceive best, without prescribing any way, or giving any particular Directions. If notwithstanding Our Refusal, and the endeavours of our well-affected Subjects and Servants to hinder it, there shall be a Convention of the Estates, then We wish that all those who are right-affected to Us, should be present at it; but to do nothing there, but only Protest against their Meeting and Actions. We have so fully instructed this Bearer, that for all other Matters We shall refer you to his Relation, whereto We would have you to give credit.
Given at our Court at Oxford, the
29ᵗʰ of May, 1643.
1643.—June 5.
22. Message to the King from his Friends in Scotland.[325]
A Convention was indicted by the Chancellour, and such others of the Council as have signed His Majesties Letter thereabout, with the Advice and Concurrence of the Committees for conserving the Treaty and Common Burdens to be kept at Edinburgh the 22ᵗʰ of June: whereby it is conceived His Majesty suffers exceedingly in His Regal Authority, in the Calling thereof without his Special Warrant. A Proclamation for the Indicting thereof is likewise issued forth in His Majesties Name, expressing a danger to Religion, His Majesties Person, and the Peace of this Kingdom, from Papists in Arms in England, which in that appears to be contrary to His late Declaration sent to Scotland.
Hereupon divers Noblemen and Gentlemen well-affected to His Majesties Service met at Edinburgh, and after three or four days Debate, considering the exigency of Time, the present posture of Affairs, and the disposition and inclination of the People of this Country, did not conceive it fitting, that His Majesty should absolutely discharge that Meeting, (which certainly would be kept notwithstanding of any Discharge from Him, which would both bring His Authority in greater Contempt, and lose more of the Affections of the People, whereby the Power of His Majesties Servants would be lessened) but rather that His Majesty should so far take notice of the Illegal Calling thereof, and His Own Suffering thereby, that the same remaining upon Record may be an evidence to posterity, that this act of theirs can infer no such Precedent for the like in the future; but afterwards His Majesty, or His Successors, may legally question the same. And that His Majesties Servants here may be better enabled, and strengthened with the assistance of others of His Majesties faithful Subjects, who truly and really intend nothing but the Security of Religion as it is here established, and are altogether averse from and against the Raising of Arms, or Bringing over the Scotish Army in Ireland, whereby His Majesties Affairs, or their own Peace may be disturbed—they conceive it fit, that His Majesty should permit this Convention to Treat, and conclude upon such Particulars, as may secure their Fears from any danger of Religion at home, without interesting themselves in the Government of the Church of England. And in respect that the Two Houses of Parliament have not sent Supplies for Entertaining the Scotish Army in Ireland, whereby they may have some colour or ground for recalling them, it is conceived necessary, that this Convention should have a Power from His Majesty, to advise and resolve upon all fair and Legal wayes for Entertaining the said Army still in Ireland, and for recovering payment of the Brotherly Assistance: providing always, that in the doing thereof no Resolution be taken for Levying of Forces, or doing any Act, whereby this Kingdom, or any part thereof, may be put in a posture of War, or under any pretence to bring over the Scotish Army in Ireland, or any part thereof, without special Warrant from His Majesty; wherewith if such as shall meet at this Convention rest not satisfied, His Majesties Servants here are resolved to Protest, and adhere to these Grounds, and to oppose all other derogatory to His Majesties Authority, or prejudicial to His Service.
1543.—June 10.
23. The King’s Letter to the Convention of Estates.[326]
Charles R.