THE RESPONSE OF HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES TO THE PETITION OF PARLIAMENT

We take God to witness, how deeply we are affected with the miseries of this kingdom, which heretofore we have striven as much as in us lay to prevent; it being sufficiently known to all the world that, as we were not the first that took up arms, so we have showed our readiness of composing all things in a fair way by our several offers of treaty, and shall be glad now at length to find any such inclinations in others. The same tenderness to avoid the destruction of our subjects (whom we know to be our greatest strength) which would always make our greatest victories bitter to us, shall make us willingly hearken to such propositions whereby these bloody distempers may be stopped, and the great distractions of this Kingdom settles, to God's glory, our honor, and the welfare and flourishing of our people; and to that end shall reside at our own castle at Windsor (if the forces there shall be removed), till committees may have time to attend with us at the same, and shall be ready there, or, if that place be refused us, any any place where we shall be, to receive such propositions as aforesaid from both our Houses of Parliament. Do your duty; we shall not be wanting to ours. God of his mercy give a blessing.