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A SECOND

COLLECTI

OF

TRACT

A LETTER from General MONCK to Kir Son of the late King CHARLS of ENG deceased. Together with King CHARLS thereunto. Printed 1660.

May it pleafe your Majefty,

S

EEING it hath pleafed God out of his gracious Wil to cause me to caft my Eye upon this Commonwealth my native Country, (and your three Kingdoms;) and v to behold the fad and lamentable Condition, that now, Years paft, it hath been intangled in; which as Reason and gether perfuades me, is occafioned chiefly for want of its anc customed way of Government, (to wit) a King and Parliamen been unfettled altogether amongst us, ever fince the unhappy I Majefty's late Father our King; by reafon thereof, our ancient a wholfome Laws, both of Church and State, are moft ftrargely facred; and all through the felf-feeking end of fome certain at prefent I judge not fit herein to be communicated, who hav Power of the Sword in their Hands, thought for ever to rule their Oppofers; (I think in fpite of God or Man :) But of late (I hope, I may truly bless the Name of the Lord for it) who Rulers of thofe unhappy Differences between our King, and his ed Kingdoms, are taken out of this World; infomuch, that thofe remaining, is much weakened; but yet they will (I per tread in the felf-fame Steps of them that have gone before the only to fet up their own Intereft, although to the utter Ruin VOL. III.

B

Studying how of littleness to become great, hating the Name of a King, but
would joyfully embrace the Power thereof, (yea, I may fay, they feek far more
Power, than ever, our late King did take upon him) and all is done under
the zealous Pretence of Saintship and Religion; the form of manner whereof,
is plainly manifefted by their tolerating and fetting up of ftrange Sects of
Religion, as Anabaptifts, Quakers, and fuch like, feeking utterly to deftroy,
and pull down, our ancient Orthodox Divines, unless timely prevented. I
queftion not but your Majefty is very well knowing of the Power, which
for fome few Years paft, I have had in governing the English Army here:
in Scotland; which Power, when I had once obtained, I did refolve, as much
as in me lay, to keep, until a fit time and opportunity fhould offer itself, that
I might employ it for the Glory of God, and the Good of your Majesty, whofe
faithful Subject I humbly acknowledge myself to be. Now fo it is, may it
please your Majesty, I plainly feeing, and with a fad Heart beholding the
threatning Hand of the Lord's fevere Judgments ftretched forth against these
three Kingdoms, which forthwith muft, and will inevitably fall heavy upon
us, (for aught as can be imagined, to the utter Ruin both of King and Subjects)
unless fuddenly prevented by our humble Submiffion to the Lord, and an un-
feigned Repentance of our former Mifcarriages. May it also please your Ma-
jefty to give me leave to acquaint you, that I humbly conceive, I had never
a better Opportunity of doing my Country Service, (in freeing them from their
Egyptian Bondage, as I may term it) and in reftoring the Crown to the right
Owner thereof; which if poffible to be done, fhall be done with as much.
Care, Safety, and Diligence, as God fhall enable me, and that with as little
wrong as may be either to King or Subjects; which Work, when it is per-
fected, I hope will tend to the firm Settlement of our ancient Proteftant Re-
ligion In tender Confideration of all which Premiffes, I moft humbly beg
that high Favour of your Majefty, that you will be graciously pleafed, to
permit me to make thefe Propofals following. Firft, Whether your Majefty
will be pleafed, to accept of the real Endeavours of me your unworthy Subject
and Servant to be employed in being a means in helping your Majefty to a
quiet and fafe Poffeffion of three Kingdoms; which have (with Violence) been
fo long time withheld from you? If yea, then, will your Majefty be pleased,
to confent to a Treaty to be had between your Majefty and a free Parlia-
ment, which shall be lawfully elected, and chofen by the Country, whofe Care
I hope will be for the chufing of fuch honeft, godly, and religious Men, as
had no hand in the Death of our late King, or fince his Death, have (by any
unlawful means whatsoever) enjoyed any of his Lands, Tenements, or Rents,
or the Lands, Tenements, and Rents, of the late Deans and Chapters, or any
of your late fequeftred Subjects, or which fince his Death have appeared violent
in their acting against Kingship, and confequently against your Majefty, our
lawful King: Not in the leaft that I have any Malice or evil Will against
fuch Perfons, but for that my Confcience tells me, that fo long, as felf-interef-
ted Perfons are fuffered to fit in Parliament, there is little good to be ex-
pected, either for King or Kingdom; for it is a hard thing for Men to act
against their own felves, to the lofs of their Lands and Livings; which they
fuppofe they have fo honeftly gained. If your Majefty will be pleased to

confent

confent to fuch a Treaty, and that thereupon it may be agreed upon, that your Majesty shall be restored to your three Kingdoms; which question not, but will be the Event of fuch a Treaty: Then I humbly beg, that your Majefty would be pleased, to think fit to declare what Mercy and Pity, you are pleafed fhall be fhewn to all thofe that have been the chief of your Enemies, (whofe Blood, in Severity of Justice, might defervedly be fpilt,) upon their humble Submiffion to your Majefty, and their promife of future Obedience; for I hope you will judge, that the only way to join the Hearts of the People of your three Kingdoms, to pray for your happy Succefs in all things; and not only fo, but it will undoubtedly encourage them all to venter their Lives against all your Oppofers, if any fhall conteft: And alfo that your Majefty would be pleafed to declare out of your gracious Goodnefs, what Satisfaction fhall be made to the poor common Souldiery throughout your three Kingdoms, who have been forced to take up Arms, although against your Majefty, for meer neceffity to keep theni and their Families from ftarving, who indeed are much behind in their Pay; which will be utterly loft, and undone, unless your Majefty take Compaffion upon them; which if you are pleafed fo to do, I queftion not, but you will find as much Humility and Submiffion from them, as can be expected; and for the future it will engage them to be as ready to ferve your Majefty, as they were to ferve your Enemies for the time paft: And moreover, I conceive it will be a great Incouragement to them, to join with me in this Defign. I fhall trouble your Majefty with little more at prefent; But to let you know, that my hopes are that you would be pleased, to have that Confidence in me, as not to credit any Rumours or Reports, that may contradict, what I have herein propofed; for, as for that, I would have your Majesty to be confident, that I shall not value neither the Ill-will, or yet look upon the Favour of any, who fhall appear in Oppofition to a thing that I have fo really propofed, fo long as God and my Confcience perfuades me, that in fo doing I fhall accomplish a good Work, both for his Glory, and my Country's Good: And yet I think fit to carry as fair a Correfpondency as I can, with thofe that have taken upon them the Authority in England: To that end, I have thoughts of going to London very fuddenly, that I may fee their Actings, and order things there fomewhat for my Advantage; I humbly beg your Majefty's speedy Answer touching thefe Propofals: So with all Submiffivenefs, I crave your Majefty's Favour, in giving me leave to fuforibe myself