England under Charles II. from the Restoration to the Treaty of Nimeguen, 1660-1678: English History from Contemporary Writers
Taylor, W. F.
1889
The Declaration of Breda. Parliamentary Intelligencer, No. 19, pp. 289, 290.
His Majesty's gracious letter and declaration sent to the House of Lords by Sir John Grenville, knight, one of his Majesty's bedchamber, from Breda. His gracious message with the declaration to the House of Commons; and his gracious letter, with the declaration enclosed, to his Excellency the lord general Monk, to be communicated to the officers of the armies under his command; as likewise his Majesty's gracious letter and declaration sent to the | |
11 | Lord Mayor, aldermen, and common council of the city of London. In all which I refer you to the printed copies at large, giving you only the heads of the declaration wherein his Majesty grants a free general pardon to all his subjects whatever that shall, within forty days after the publishing thereof, lay hold upon that grace and favour, and by any public act declare their doing so, excepting only such persons as shall hereafter be excepted by Parliament; such only excepted, his Majesty promiseth upon the word of a king, that no crime committed either against him or his royal father shall (as far as lies in his Majesty's power) endamage the least either in lives, liberties, estates, or reputation; it being his Majesty's desire that all sorts of discord should be laid aside among all his subjects. His Majesty doth further declare a liberty to tender consciences, and that no man shall be called in question for differences of opinion in matter of religion which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom, and that all differences and all things relating to grants, sales and purchases shall be determined by Parliament, which can best provide for the just satisfaction of all men who are concerned. His Majesty doth farther declare that he will be ready to consent to any act or acts of Parliament to the purposes aforesaid, and for the full satisfaction of all arrears due to the officers and soldiers of the army under the command of general Monk, and that they shall be received in his Majesty's service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy. |