Template:Declaration of Breda

A document by Charles II agreeing to rule with the consent of Parliament in April 1660

Charles, by the grace of God, King of England , Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all our loving subjects, of what degree or quality soever, greeting. If the general distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole kingdom doth not awaken all men to a desire and longing that those wounds which have so many years together been kept bleeding may be bound up , all we can say will be to no purpose; however, after this long silence, we have though t it our duty to declare how much we desire to contribute thereunto; and that as we can neve r give over the hope, in good time, to obtain the possession of that right which God and nature hath made our due, so we do make it our daily suit to the Divine Providence, that He w ill, in compassion to us and our subjects, after so long misery and sufferings, remit and put us into a quiet and peaceable possession of that our right, with as little blood and damage to our people as is possible; nor do we desire more to enjoy what is ours, than that all our su bjects may enjoy what by law is theirs, by a full and entire administration of justice thro ughout the land, and by extending our mercy where it is wanted and deserved. And to the end that the fear of punishment ma y not engage any, conscious to themselves of what is past, to a perseverance in guilt for the future, by opposing the quiet and happiness of their country, in the restoration of King , Peers and people to their just, ancient and fundamental rights, we do, by these presents, declare, that we do grant a free and general pardon, which we are ready, upon demand, to pass under our Great Seal of England, to all our subjects, of what degree or quality soever, who, within forty days after the publishing hereof, shall lay hold upon this our grace and favour, and shall, by any public act, declare their doing so, and that they return to the lo yalty and obedience of good subjects; excepting only such persons as shall hereafter be except ed by Parliament, those only to be excepted. Let all our subjects, how faulty soever, rely upon the word of a King, solemnly given by this present declaration, that no crime whatsoev er, committed against us or our royal father before the publication of this, shall ever rise in judgment, or be brought in question, against any of them, to the least endamagement of them, either in their lives, lib erties or estates or (as far forth as lies in our power) so much as to the prejudice of their reputations, by any reproach or term of distinction from the rest of our best subjects; we desiring and ordaining that henceforth all notes of discord, separation and difference of parties be utterly abolished among all our subjects, whom we invite and conjure to a perfect union among themselves, under our protection, for the re-settlement of our just rights and theirs in a free Parliament, by which, upon the word of a King, we will be advised. And because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced several opinions in religion, by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each other (which, when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of conversation, will be composed or better understood), we do declare a liberty to tend er consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matter of religion, which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom; and that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament, as, upon mature deliberation, sha ll be offered to us, for the full granting that indulgence. And because, in the continued distractions of so many years, and so many and great revolutions, many grants and purchases of esta tes have been made to and by many officers, soldiers and others, who are now possessed of the same, and who may be liable to actions at law upon several titles, we are likewise willin g that all such differences, and all things relating to such grants, sales and purchases, shall be determined in Parliament, which can best provide for the just satisfacti on of all men who are concerned. And we do further declare, that we will be ready to consent to any Act or Acts of Parliament to the purposes aforesaid, and for the full satisf action of all arrears due to the officers and soldiers of the army under the command of Ge neral Monk; and that they shall be received into our service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy. Given under our Sign Manual and Privy Signet, at our Court at Breda, this 4/14 day of April, 1660, in the twelfth year of our reign. (Charles II’s Declaration from Breda, 4 th April 1660)

	Date"Date" is a type and predefined property provided by Semantic MediaWiki to represent date values.
Act Abolishing the Office of King	17 March 1649
Army Remonstrance	18 November 1648
Civil War - Regicide	6 December 1648 30 January 1649
Civil War - Restoration	4 April 1660
Commissions of Array	1 June 1642
Execution of Archbishop William Laud	10 January 1645
Execution of Charles I	30 January 1649
Execution of Thomas Wentworth	12 May 1641
Four Bills	24 December 1647
Grand Remonstrance	22 November 1641
Heads of Proposals	22 September 1647
Instrument of Government	16 December 1653
Militia Ordinance	7 December 1641
Naseby	14 June 1645
National Covenant	27 February 1638
Newcastle Proposals	1 July 1646
Nineteen Propositions	1 June 1642
Petition of Right	7 June 1628
Petition of the Leveller Women	11 September 1649
Putney Debates	1 October 1647
Representation of the Army	5 June 1647
Root and Branch Petition	11 December 1640
Saffron Walden	1 May 1647
Scottish Prayer Book	23 July 1637
Short Parliament	13 April 1640
The Bishop's War	1 January 1639
The Five Members	4 January 1642
The Second Civil War	22 February 1648
The Self Denying Ordinance	19 December 1644
Treaty of Uxbridge	29 January 1645