had appointed the Commissioners to meet him at Breda in the 15th of March, 1650.

CHARLES R.

Right trusty and right welbeloved Cousin and Councellor &c., We greete you well. We have received your severall letters lately presented to Vs by Mr. Wynrame of Libertoun, and doe graciously accept all those expressions of affection and fidelity you make to us therein, together with that tender sense of our present condition, and just indignation which you professe to have against the execrable murtherers of the King our late deare and Royall Father of blessed memory, believing that your intentions are as full of loyalty and candour to us, as we are and have always been reall in our desires to begett such a clear and right understanding betweene us, and all our subjects of that our ancient Kingdome of Scotland, as might be a sure foundation of their future peace and happiness, and an effectual means to roote up those seedes of division and animosity which have been occasioned by the late Troubles; And so to vnite the hearts and affections of our Subjects to one another, and to Vs thair lawfull King and Soveraigne, that by their due obedience and submission to our just authority, We may be enabled to maintaine them in peace and prosperity, and to protect them in their Religion and Liberties, as to our Kingly office belongeth. And as we have ever resolved to contribute all that depends of us to these good ends, and to the just satisfaction of all our subjects of that our Kingdome, so wehave now thought fitt by the returne of Mr. Wynrame to desire that Commissioners be sent to us sufficiently authorized to treate and agree with vs, upon all particulars, as well in relation to the concernments and just satisfaction of our Subjects there, as to those helpes and assistances We may reasonably expect from them for the bringing of the murtherers of our late deare Father of blessed memory, to condigne punishment, and for the recovery of our just rights in all our kingdomes, and that they attend us by the fifteenth of March next at Breda, where we intend (God willing) to be. In order whereunto and in confidence of such a Treaty as also to evidence to you and to the whole world that We sincerely desire to agree with you, and expecting that no other use shall be made of it to the prejudice of us or Our affairis then what we intend in order to the Treaty. Notwithstanding many important considerations that might haue dissuaded us from doing anything antecedently at this time, We have resolved to direct this letter unto you by the name of the Committee of Estates of that our Kingdome, hoping that from the confidence Wee express in your clear and candid intentions toward us, you will deriue effectuall arguments to yourselves of mutuall confidence in us, which by the blessing of Almighty God, by your just and prudent moderation, by the earnest Desire Wee have to oblige all our Subjects of this Kingdome, and by means of the Treaty which we expect and desire may be the foundation of a full and happy Agreement between us, and of the future Peace and Security of this Nation, which we assure you Wee passionately desire and shall effectually endeavour: And. so Wee bid you very heartly farewell. Given at our Court in Jersey, the day of January 169 In the first year of our Reign.

This letter is given from the original among the papers of the Mar

quess of Lothian at Newbattle, and appears never to have been printed. It is addressed:

To our right trusty and right welbeloued Cousin and Councillour John Earle of Loudoun Chancellour of our Kingdome of Scotland, To our right trusty and right welbeloued Cousins and Councellores, To our right trusty and right welbeloued Cousins To our trusty and right welbeloved Councellors, and To our trusty and welbeloued the Committee of Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland.

a

Charles himself also addressed a letter to Douglas, from Jersey, in February, 1650, containing overtures for the Treaty of Breda, where he took up his residence, having been constrained to leave Holland. Douglas's reply to the King is dated 21st of February. The Commission of the General Assembly on the same day nominated three Commissioners and the Earl of Cassillis and Brodie as ruling Elders, in terms of the following Act:

Edinb: 21. Februarij, 1650.

The Commission of the Generall Assembly doe hereby authorize Mr. John Livingstoun, Minister at Ancrum, Mr. James Wood, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrewes, and Mr. George Hutcheson, one of the Ministers of Edinbrugh, Ministers; And John, Earle of Cassills, and Alexander Brody of that Ilk, one of the Ordinary Lords of Sessions, Elders: With their full power to repair to the King's Matie. and present unto Him their humble desires, That hee may subscribe the Nationall Covenant, and the League and Covenant, and enjoyne the same; And that Hee may advance the work of Uniformity and establish Presbyteriall Government, Directory of Worship, and Confession of Faith in all his Maties. Dominions: And to do all with his Matie. to satisfy the desires of his Subjects for setleing Religion and Peace in his Kingdomes: And to doe every thing for that effect according to the Instructions given, or to be given to them thereanent.

Sic subscribitur,

A. KER.

A similar commission was given by the Estates of Parliament on the 8th of March, to John, Earl of Casillis, William, Earl of Lothian, Alexander Brodie of Brodie, George Wynrame, Sir John Smith, and Alexander

• Printed in the Appendix to Baillie's Letters and Journals, vol. iii. p. 524.

b In Peck's Desiderata Curiosa.

e

MS. in the Editor's possession.

Jaffray," directing them, as Commissioners, "to repair to his Heynes at Breda to treat with his Majesty upon the grounds of the former desires presented to him at the Hague be the Commissioners of the Parliament of this Kingdom, according to the Solemn League and Covenant At the same time there was "Ane letter of Credit granted to the Commissioners to borrow beyond seas, upon the credit of this Kingdom, the sum of £300,000.

In the Appendix of "State Papers" collected by Edward, Earl of Clarendon, Vol. II, Oxford, 1773, will also be found the various papers written by the Commissioners of Parliament of the Kirk of Scotland, at Breda, &c, between March 25th and June 22nd, 1650. Signed by the Earls of CASSILLIS and LOTHIAN, BRODIE, and the other Commissioners.

Of the numerous letters and papers connected with these negotiations, only a few can be selected. The first is from Peck's "Desiderata Curiosa," (Lond. 1732-35 or 1779), which also contains Letters addressed to Charles the Second, from Mr. Douglas, Moderator of the Assembly, the Earl of Loudoun, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and the Marquess of Argyle, 21st of February and the 9th of March, exhorting his Majesty to take the Covenant. It is entitled by Peck, "Commission of the Commissioners sent from the estates of Scotland in Parliament, to K. Charles II., to exhort him to take the Covenant. From the very attested copy, sent to the King himself at Breda, (once Mr. Oudart's) now in the hands of the Editor":—

At Edinburgh, 8th March, 1650.

I. The Estates of Parliament presently conveened, in the first session of this second trienniall parliament, haveing resolved, that, in prosecution of their former desires, commissioners should be sent to his Majesty; and having sufficient proof and experience of the faithfulnesse, good deserveings, and abilities of the right honourable John Earle of Cassils, William Earle of Lothian, Alexander Brody of that ilk, and Mr. George Wynrame of Libbertoun, two of the senators of the College of justice, Sir John Smith, and Alexander Jaffray: doth therefore, nominate, appoint, authorise, and give power to the fore said persons, being all present together, and to any four of them (but, in case of sickness, returne, or necessary absence of the rest, to any three of them) to repair to the King's Majestie at Breda, or where hee shall happen to be within the united provinces or their dominions, or to any other place where the reformed religion is professed or tollerated; and

there to treat with his Majesty upon the grounds of the former desires presented to his Majesty at the Haghe, by the commissioners of the parliament of this kingdome, according to the Solemne League and Covenant, and the instructions which are given, or hereafter shall be given by the Parliament or their committees (not being contrary to these now given by this Parliament) to them, in pursuance of these ends: firme and stable holding whatsoever shal bee done by them conforme to the said instructions.

Extracted forth of the records and acts of parliament, &c.

Vera Copia collata

Sic subscribitur

A. JOHNSTON, Cls. Regri.

JA. DALYRMPLE.

Endorsed by Mr. Oudart's own hand-Copy of the Scots commissioners commission. Received at Breda 4 Martii, 1650.

The Commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland to his Majesty.

May it please your Majesty,

We, the Commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland, being this afternoon informed that your Majesty is about to receive the communion to-morrow, and apprehending that your Majesty may therein continue the use of the gesture of kneeling, which is contrary both to Christ's institution of that sacrament, as also to the national covenant, and solemn league and covenant, and to the directory of worship established by the Parliaments and Assemblies of both kingdoms, whereunto your Majesty hath engaged to conform yourself in your practice and family; therefore do find it incumbent to us, in discharge of the duty which we owe to God, to your Majesty, and to those that have intrusted us, to give warning hereof, and with all humility and earnestness to entreat your Majesty to forbear the same, as that which cannot but provoke the anger of God against your Majesty and your proceedings, and will undoubtedly raise jealousies in the hearts of your good and loyal subjects.

Breda, May 25th, 1650.
June 4th,

CASSILIS.

JO. LIVINGSTONE. A. BRODIE. JA. WOOD.

G. HUCHESONE.

The Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland to his Majesty.

May it please your Majesty,

We cannot but with exceeding joy and thankfulness accept your Majesty's paper of the 21st of June, which doth contain a bountiful satisfaction to the propositions which we tendered to your Majesty, by which you have (according to royal promise) so fully explained and cleared your concessions at Breda, that all ground of jealousy betwixt your Majesty and your people is thereby removed, and the hope and confidence which we had in your goodness and justice is thereby made good and confirmed; which will be a

matter so acceptable to your Parliament, and so refresh the hearts of all your good people, as (without doubt) will produce a very comfortable meeting betwixt your Majesty and them.

9th May,

And therefore, as we did formerly by our's at Breda of the 29th April, 1650, in name and by warrant from the Parliament of Scotland, invite your Majesty to that your ancient Kingdom, so do we most humbly and heartily renew that invitation, and give your Majesty all the assurance therein contained, according to the act of parliament explaining and approving the same, which is herewith presented to your Majesty; wishing from our hearts, and expecting such a blessing from the Lord upon this agreement, as that his great name may be thereby honoured; and it may be the beginning and the ground of much prosperity and happiness to your Majesty and to all your dominions.

From aboard the Skiedam, 22d June, 1650, Stilo Vet.

CASSILIS.
A. BRODIE.
J. SMITH.

LOTHIAN.

GEO. WYNRAME.
AL. JAFFRAY.

We do not possess Brodie's own statement or reflections on these various occurrences, but it may not be unsuitable to refer to the statements of two of his associates in these negotiations with the King.

The first was his friend Alexander Jaffray of Kingswells, a native of Aberdeen, and Provost of that City in the years 1636, 1638, 1646, 1649, and 1651. He left a "Journal or Diary continued to July, 1661-about which time he joined the sect of Quakers, among whom he became one of the earliest members." In this Journal he gives the following account of their missions to treat with the young King.

"In the year 1649, I being then a member of Parliament for the town of Aberdeen, was sent unto Holland, with the Earl of Cassles, Lord Brodie, and Lord Libertone, for to treat with and bring home our young King. I shall spare to mention many things, for shortness only by the way, I must observe this, that having gone there in the simplicity of our hearts, minding what we conceived to be duty, it pleased the Lord to bring us safely off without any snare or entanglement.

But, being again sent there by the Parliament, in the year 1650, for that same business, we did sinfully both entangle and engage the Nation and ourselves, and that poor young Prince to whom we were sent; making him sign and swear a Covenant, which we knew, from clear and demonstrable reasons, that he hated in his heart. Yet finding that upon these terms only, he could be admitted to rule over us, (all other means having then failed

a

Diary of Alexander Jaffray, &c., p. 32. Lond. 1833, 8vo.