FOR Introduction , know ; That a factious party in the Parliament of England brought in 2. Bils , The Introduction . to take away Bishops , and to take the Militia from the King , which being rejected in a full and free Convention of Parliament ; were afterward revived , and promoted by Tumultuous people , in , and about London , who drove away the dissenting Members of Parliament , and so the Bills passed both Houses , to which , they desire the Royall Assent ; and , His Majesty refusing , they took up Armes , to force him , as before , they had the Houses : and , when they were likely to be overcome , they call in the Scots to their assistance , and joyne in League and Covenant with them : and , when they had vanquished the King , and His Party , the Parliaments of both Kingdomes presented these to His Majesty : Whereof ,

The Propositions of three sorts . 1 Some Propositions are Antecedent to the Warre , and contain the first cause , and grounds of it , and set forth the designe of the Proposers agitated before , and prosecuted by the War . As the ( 3 ) for tak●ng away Bishops in England , and Ireland ; the ( 13 ) for setting the Militia of England and Ireland in the two Houses of Parliament : That part of the ( 17 ) That the Houses shall nominate the great Officers in the Kingdomes of England , and Ireland . And the ( 14 ) That no Peers made since the Lord Littleton carried away the Great Seale ( which was May 20. 1642. ) or to be made hereafter , shall sit , and vote in Parliament without the consent of both Houses of Parliament .

The ( 7 , 8 , 9 , and 10. ) concerning Papists , and the ( 12 ) for suppressing Innovations , &c. I insist not on , because His Majesty assented to them before Armes taken up , and so they can be no cause of the War .

2 Some Propositions are concurrent with , and emergent upon the War , and set forth the meanes used by the Proposers to promote their designe , and War : As the ( 4 ) for confirming the Ordinances for calling the Assembly of Divines : The ( 2 ) for taking the Covenant . The ( 5 , 6 , and part of the 17. ) for Reformation , and Uniformity in Religion in the Kingdomes of England , and Ireland , according to the Covenant . The ( 15 ) for confirming the Treaties between the two Kingdoms . The ( 17 ) That the power and Govern-of the Militia , and Tower of London , shall be setled in the Lord Major , &c.

3 Some Propositions are subsequent to the War , and serve to secure the Proposers ( both now , and hereafter ) and their party , and their designe , not only by Act of Parliament , but by Military force and power also : As the ( 1 ) That the King declare Null all His Declarations , and Proclamations , and all Judiciary proceedings against them , had , and made , or to be had , and made . And the ( 19 ) for confirming all that hath passed under their Great Seale , and for Nulling whatsoever hath passed under the other Seale since May 20. 1642. and under the Great Seale of Ireland , since September 15. 1643. And the ( 16 ) concerning their proceedings with Delinquents ( as they call them . ) And that part of the ( 12. and 13. ) for the two Houses of Parliament to raise monies as they please in future , for the payment of Souldiers , and of the publick debts , and damages of the Kingdoms . And to all , and every of these Propositions , the Parliaments of both Kingdoms desire His Majesties Assent : And that they , and all such Bills as shall be tendered to Him in pursuance of them , or any of them , may be established by Act of Parliament .

And so what the Parliament of England ( as they will be called ) could not do singly , The Scots joyn to press these Propositions upon the King & the people . the Parliaments of both Kingdomes undertake joyntly , ( ViZ . ) To overthrow the Ancient Constitution of the Kingdome , both in respect of the Church , and of the State : And to take away the power , and Government from the King , and to settle it in the two Houses of Parliament , and to establish it by Act of Parliament : Also they desire several other Acts to passe for making good their former proceedings in the prosecution of that establishment , and to make good the establishment it self , in case of opposition , or disturbance hereafter . And this is the safe , and well grounded Peace , they speak of , & have sought for .

Why the King cannot assent to the Propositions . But how can they expect , that the King should give His Assent to these their Propositions , and that He should passe and Enact them ? That He should give up His Power , and Protection , and Government of the People , wherewith God hath intrusted Him . That he should destroy Bishops , being bound by his Coronation Oath to defend them . That he should renounce His righteous Cause in rescuing His Kingly Power , and vindicating the freedome of the Parliament , and Subject , and upholding the Constitution and Government of the Kingdome ? That He should ruine that Loyal party of the Nobility , and Gentry , and those faithfull Patriots that adhered to Him in the late War , on behalf of the Crown , the Parliament , the Subject , & the Kingdom ? That he should justifie , and make a president of their most unwarrantable Armes , and proceedings against Him ? That He should debase His Roy●ll Government , and Succession , and enslave His good Subjects irrecoverably to all posterity ?

Againe , how can they expect that the people should approve of these their Propositions , Why the people will not admit of these Propositions . tending onely to the advancing of the power of two Houses of Parliament , without any regard to the Subject , or the Lawes , or the Liberties of the Kingdome ? I say , how can they expect , that the people should approve or admit of them , and forgoe our ancient , known , regall Government by Lawes and Justice , and to submit to a Parliamentary militarie arbitrarie Government , by will and power ? and withall , to expose themselves to the violent insults of parties and factions , and to the pride and insolence of particular persons ? For such hath been the Government , and such our condition for these foure or five yeares last past , and likely to be ( for ought I see ) for many Generations to come . And should his Majesty passe the Propositions , as is desired , Tyranny would be incorporated into our very Constitutions and Government , and our slavery would be both grievous ( lying under the power of a Legion of Tyrants ) and remedilesse , being tied to it by Act of Parliament .

Who they are that hinder the peace of the Kingdome . And now let the world judge , who they are that hinder the peace of this miserably distracted Kingdome , ( which cannot be setled but by a peaceable agreement between the King , the Parliament and the people ) whether his Majesty who refuseth these Propositions , ( so destructive to his owne and the peoples interests ) or they who in prosecution of their English Scottish designes , will have no peace , unlesse his Majesty admit them , and resign up all to them .

And the truth is , the Parliament-men generally having made such advantages upon the King and upon the people by their late Government , are not willing to forgoe it , but resolve almost unanimously to continue it , either by Law , ( if his Majesty passe those ) or by force , ( if he refuse them : ) and Subjects againe they would not be , least they become liable to questioning , accompting , &c.

And should his Majesty condescend to their desires , and put all into their hands , would they not quarrell about the sharing of it , as they have hitherto contended with his Majesty for the power and Government ? So from henceforth , would not the factions contend amongst themselves for the Administration of that power , and thereby also disturb the peace of the Kingdome as at this day ?

Justice the only means of peace , Es. 32.17 . The onely meanes of peace indeed , is justice , to give to every one his owne ; to the King his owne , to the Parliament their owne , to the people their owne : and I shall believe they intend the peace of the Kingdome indeed , when they go the way of peace , and offer or accept just and righteous Proposalls .

But they cannot be safe , unlesse these their desires be granted .

Yes , they may : an Act of Oblivion and a generall Pardon , would save them for what is past ; and the Apostles admonition observed for the time to come , Wilt thou not be affraid of the Powers ? do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same , Rom. 13.3 .