THE PETITION OF Both Houses of Parliament, Presented to His MAJESTIE at York, March 26. 1642.
With His Majesties Answer thereunto.
And the Petition of the Noblemen and Gentlemen estated in Ireland, and now in London.
And likewise the Petition of the Countie of LINCOLN, With His Majesties severall and respective Answers thereunto.
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie: And by the Assignes of JOHN BILL.
MDCXLII.
To the KINGS most Excellent MAJESTIE
The humble Petition of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament.
YOur Majesties most loyall Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, cannot conceive that the Declaration which Your Majestie received from us at New-market, was such as did deserve that Censure Your Majestie was pleased to lay upon us, in that Speech which Your Majestie made to our Committees there, and sent in writing to both Houses; Our addresse therein being accompanied with Plainnesse, Humility, and Faithfulnesse, we thought more proper for the removing the distraction of the Kingdom, then if we had then proceeded according to Your Majesties Message of the 20th of Ianuary, by which Your Majestie was pleased to desire, That we would declare what we intended to do for Your Majestie, [Page 2] and what we expected to be done for our selves, in both which we have been very much hindred by Your Majesties deniall to secure us and the whole Kingdom, by disposing the Militia, as we had divers times most humbly Petitioned, and yet we have not been altogether negligent of either, having lately made good proceedings in preparing a Book of Rates to be passed in a Bill of Tonnage and Poundage; and likewise the most materiall Heads of those humble desires which we intended to make to Your Majestie for the good and contentment of your Majestie and your People, but none of these could be perfected before the Kingdom be put into safetie, by setling the Militia: And untill Your Majestie shall be pleased to concur with Your Parliament in these necessary things, we hold it impossible for you to give the world, or Your People such satisfaction concerning the Fears and Jealousies which we have expressed, as we hope Your Majestie hath already received touching that exception which You were pleased to take to Master Pyms Speech.
As for Your Majesties Fears and doubts, the ground whereof is from Seditious Pamphlets and Sermons, We shall be as carefull to endeavour the removall assoon as we shall understand what Pamphlets and Sermons are by Your Majestie intended, as we have been to prevent all dangerous Tumults: And if any extraordinary concourse of people out of the Citie of Westminster had the face and shew of Tumult [Page 3] and danger in Your Majesties apprehension, It will appear to be caused by Your Majesties deniall of such a guard to Your Parliament as they might have cause to confide in; And by taking into White-hall such a guard for Your self as gave just cause of Jealousie to the Parliament, and of terrour and offence to Your People. We seek nothing but Your Majesties Honour, and the peace and prosperitie of Your Kingdoms; And we are heartily sorry we have such plentifull matter of an answer to that question, Whether You had violated our Laws.
We beseech Your Majestie to remember, that the Government of this Kingdom, as it was in a great part mannaged by Your Ministers before the beginning of this Parliament, consisted of many continued and multiplied acts of violation of Laws, the wounds whereof were scarcely healed, when the extreamitie of all those violations was far exceeded by the late strange and unheard of breach of our Laws in the accusation of the Lord Kymbolton, and the five Members of the Commons-House, and in the proceedings thereupon, for which we have yet received no full satisfaction.
To Your Majesties next Question, Whether You had denied any Bill for the ease and security of Your Subjects, We wish we could stop in the midst of our answer, That with much thankfulnesse we acknowledge that Your Majestie hath past many good Bills full of contentment, and advantage to Your People; But truth and [Page 4] necessitie inforceth us to adde this, That even in or about the time of passing those Bills, some designe or other hath been on foot, which if it had taken effect, would not only have deprived us of the fruit of those Bills, but have reduced us to a worse condition of confusion then that wherein the Parliament found us.
And if Your Majestie had asked us the third question intimated in that Speech, What we had done for Your Self, our Answer would have been much more easie, That we have paid two Armies, wherewith the Kingdom was burdened last yeer; And have undergone the charge of the War in Ireland at this time; When through many other excessive Charges and Pressures, whereby Your Subjects have been exhausted, and the Stock of the Kingdom very much diminished: Which great mischiefs, and the charges thereupon ensuing, have been occasioned by the evil counsels so powerfull with Your Majestie, which have, and will cost this Kingdom more then two Millions: All which in Justice ought to have been born by Your Majestie.
As for that free and generall Pardon Your Majestie hath been pleased to offer, it can be no security to our Fears and Jealousies, for which Your Majestie seems to propound it, because they arise not from any guilt of our own Actions, but from the evil Designes and Attempts of others.
To this our humble Answer to that Speech, we desire to adde an Information which we [Page 5] lately received from the deputie Governour of the Merchant Adventurers at Rotterdam in Holland, That an unknown person appertaining to the Lord Digby, did lately solicite one Iames Henley a Mariner to go to Elsenore, and to take charge of a Ship in the Fleet of the King of Denmark there prepared, which he should conduct to Hull: In which Fleet likewise, he said a great Army was to be transported. And although we are not apt to give credit to Informations of this nature, yet we cannot altogether think it fit to be neglected, but that it may justly adde somewhat to the weight of our Fears and Jealousies, considering with what circumstances it is accompanied, With the Lo. Digbies preceding Expressions in his letter to Her Majestie, and Sir Lewis Dives, And Your Majesties succeeding course of withdrawing Your Self Northward from Your Parliament, in a manner very sutable, and correspondent to that evil Counsell.
Which we doubt will make much deeper impression in the generality of Your People; And therefore we most humbly advise and beseech Your Majestie for the procuring and setling the confidence of Your Parliament, and all Your Subjects, and for the other important reasons, concerning the recovery of Ireland, and securing this Kingdom, which have been formerly presented to Your Majestie, You will be graciously pleased (with all convenient speed) to return to these parts, and to close with the counsell [Page 6] and desire of Your Parliament, where You shall finde their dutifull affections, and endeavours ready to attend Your Majestie with such entertainment, as shall not onely give Your Majestie just cause of security in their faithfulnesse, but other manifold evidences of their earnest intentions and endeavours to advance Your Majesties Service, Honour, and contentment, and to establish it upon the sure foundation of the Peace and Prosperity of all Your Kingdoms.
His Majesties Answer To the Petition of both Houses of PARLIAMENT,
IF you would have had the patience to have expected Our Answer to your last Declaration (which, considering the nature of it, hath not been long in coming) We beleeve you would have saved your selves the labour of saying much of this Message. And We could wish that Our Priviledges on all parts were so Stated, that this way of Correspondencie [Page 8] might be preserved with that Freedom which hath been used of old: For We must tell you, that if you may ask any thing of Vs by Message or Petition, and in what language (how unusuall soever) you think sit, & We must neither deny the thing you ask, nor give a reason why We cannot grant it, without being taxed of breaking your Priviledges, or being counselled by those who are enemies to the Peace of the Kingdom, and favourers of the Irish Rebellion (for We have seen your Printed Votes, upon Our Message from Huntington) you will reduce all Our Answers hereafter into a very little room; In plain English, It is to take away the Freedome of Our Vote, which were We but a Subject, were High Injustice; but being your King, We leave all the world to judge what it is.
Is this the way to compose all misunderstandings? We thought We shewed you one by our Message of the 20. of January, if you have a better or readier, We shall willingly hearken to it, for hitherto you have shewed Vs none. But why the refusall to consent to your Order, (which you call a deniall of the Militia) should be any interruption to it, We cannot understand. For the Militia (which We alwaies thought necessary to be settled) We never denied the thing (as We told you in Our Answer of the 28. of January, to the Petition of the House of [Page 9] Commons, for We accepted the persons, (except for Corporations) We onely denied the way. You ask it by way of Ordinance, and with such a preface as We can neither with Iustice to Our Honour, or innocency consent to: You exclude Vs for any Power in the disposition or execution of it, together with you, and for a time utterly unlimited. We tell you We would have the thing done; Allow the persons (with that exception;) Desire a Bill (the onely good old way of imposing on Our Subjects.) We are extreamly unsatisfied what an Ordinance is, but well satisfied, that without Our Consent it is nothing, not binding: And it is evident by the long time spent in this Argument, the necessitie and danger was not so imminent, but a Bill might have well been prepared, which if it shall yet be done with that due regard to Vs, and care of Our People, in the limitation of the power and other circumstances, We shall recede from nothing We formerly expressed in that Answer to your Order, otherwise We must declare to all the world, That We are not satisfied with, or shall ever allow Our Subjects to be bound by your printed Votes, of the fifteenth or sixteenth of this moneth, or that under pretence of declaring what the Law of the Land is, you shall without Vs make a new Law, which is plainly the case of the Militia: And what is [Page 10] this but to introduce an Arbitrarie way of Government?
Concerning Pyms Speech, you will have found by what the Lord Compton, and Mr. Baynton brought from Vs, in answer to that Message they brought to Vs, that as yet We rest nothing satisfied in that particular.
As for the seditious Pamphlets and Sermons, We are both sorry and ashamed in so great a variety, and in which Our Rights, Honour and Authority, are so insolently slighted and vilified, and in which the Dignitie and Freedome of Parliament is so much invaded and violated, it should be asked of Vs to name any; the mentioning of the Protestation protested, the Apprentices Protestation, To your Tents, O Israel, or any other, would be too great an excuse for the rest. If you thinke them not worth your inquiry, We have done. But We think it most strange, to be told, That Our deniall of a Guard (which We yet never denied, but granted in another manner, and under a Command at that time most accustomed in the Kingdom) or the deniall of any thing else (which is in Our power legally to deny) which in Our understanding (of which God hath surely given Vs some use) is not fit to be gr [...]nted, should be any excuse for so dange [...]ous concourse of people, which not onely in our apprehension, but (We beleeve) in the interpretation [Page 11] of Law it self, hath bin alwaies held most tumultuous and seditious. And We must wonder, what, and whence comes the Instructions and Informations that those people have, who can so easily think themselves obliged by the Protestation to assemble in such a manner, for the defence of Priviledges, which cannot be so clearly known to any of them, and so negligently passe over the consideration, and defence of Our Rights so beneficiall and necessary for themselves, and scarce unknown to any of them, which by their Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy (and even by the same Protestation) they are at least equally obliged to defend. And what interruptions such kinde of Assemblies may be to the freedom of future Parliaments (if not seasonably discountenanced and suppressed) We must advise you to consider, as likewise whether both Our powers may not by such meanes be usurped, by hands not trusted by the Constitution of this Kingdom. For Our Guard, We referre you to Our answer to your Declaration.
By that Question of Violating your Lawes; by which We endeavoured to expresse Our care and resolution to observe them; We did not expect you would have been invited to have looked back so many yeers, for which you have had so ample Reparation; Neither looked We to be reproached [Page 12] with the Actions of our Ministers (then against the Lawes) whilst We expresse so great a zeale for the present defence of them, it being Our Resolution, upon observation of the mischief which then grew by Arbitrary power (though made plausible to Vs by the suggestions of necessity and imminent danger, and take you heed ye fall not into the same errour upon the same suggestions) hereafter to keep the Rule Our self, and to Our power require the same from all others: But above all, We must be most sensible of what you cast upon Vs for requitall of those good Bills you cannot denie. We have denied any such Designe, and as God Almighty must judge in that point between Vs, who knowes Our upright intentions at the passing those Lawes: So in the mean time We defy the Devill to prove that there was any Designe (with Our knowledge or Privity) in or about the time of passing those Bills, that had it taken effect could have deprived Our Subjects of fruit of them: And therefore We demand full Reparation in this point, that We may be cleared in the sight of all the world, and chiefly in the eyes of our loving Subjects, from so notorious and false an imputation as this is.
We are far from denying what you have done, For We acknowledge the charge our people have sustained in keeping the two [Page 13] Armies, and in relieving Ireland, of the which We are so sensible, that in regard of those great Burthens Our People have undergone, We have and do patiently suffer those extreme personall wants, as Our Predecessours have been seldome put to, rather then We would presse upon them: which We hope (in time) will be considered on your parts.
In Our offer of a Generall Pardon, Our intent was to compose and secure the generall condition of Our Subjects, conceiving that in these times of great Distractions, the good Lawes of the Land have not been enough observed; But it is a strange world when Princes profered Favors are counted Reproaches: yet if you like not this Our offer We have done.
Concerning any discourses of Forreign Forces, though We have given you a full Answer in Ours to your last Declaration, yet We must tell you, We have neither so ill an opinion of Our own merit, or the Affections of Our good Subjects, as to think Our self in need of any Forreign Force to preserve Vs from Oppression (and We shall not need for any other purpose) but are confident (through Gods providence) not to want the goodwishes and assistance of the whole Kingdome, being resolved to build upon that sure Foundation, the Law of the Land. And We take it very ill that any [Page 14] generall Discourses betweene an unknown Person and a Mariner, or inferences upon Letters should be able to prevail in matters so improbable in themselves, and scandalous to Vs, for which We cannot but likewise ask Reparation, not onely for the vindicating of Our Own Honour, but also thereby to settle the mindes of Our Subjects, whose Feares and Iealousies would soon vanish, were they not fed and maintained by such false and malicious Rumours as these.
For our return to Our Parliament, We have given you a full Answer in Ours to your Declaration, and you ought to look on Vs as not gone but driven (We say not by you, yet) from you. And if it be not so easie for you to make Our Residence in London so safe as We could desire, We are, and will be contented that Our Parliament be adjourned to such a place, where We may be sitly and safely with you. For though we are not pleased to be at this distance, yet yee are not to expect Our Presence, Vntill ye shall both secure Vs concerning Our just apprehensions of Tumultuary insolencies, And likewise give Vs satisfaction for those Insupportable and Insolent Scandals that are raised upon Vs.
To conclude, As We have or shall not Refuse any way agreeable to Iustice or Honour, which shall be offered to Vs for the [Page 15] begetting a right understanding between Vs. So We are Resolved, that no streights or necessities (to which We may be driven) shall ever compell Vs to do that, which the Reason and Vnderstanding that God hath given Vs, and Our Honour and Interest, with which God hath trusted Vs for the good of Our Posterity and Kingdoms, shall render unpleasant and grievous unto Vs.
And We assure you that (how meanly soever you are pleased to value the discharge of Our publique dutie) We are so Conscious so to Our self of having done Our part, since this Parliament, that in whatsoever condition We now stand, We are confident of the continued Protection from Almighty God, and the constant gratitude, obedience, and affection from Our people: And We shall trust God with all.
To the Kings most Excellent Majestie,
The humble Petition of divers Noblemen and Gentlemen Estated in Ireland, now at London.
Humbly sheweth,
THat most of Your Petitioners, and many thousands of Your Majesties most faithfull Subjects, and late Inhabitants of Your Kingdom of Ireland, being robbed, and spoiled of all their substance (and thereby many of them reduced to a most m [...]serable condition, who formerly faithfully served Your Majestie) are now enforced to flee into this Kingdom, by occasion of the unexampled, bloodie, and unhumane cruelties of the Rebels of that Kingdom, who through the inst [...]gation of Popish Priests, Friers, and Jesuites, and other malignant persons, have risen in Arms in that Kingdom against Your Majesties Crown and Dignity, and destroyed, or banished almost all Your Majesties loyall and dutifull Subjects the Protestants there, for no other cause, but for that they do not worship God after their Idolatrous and Superstitious manner; which is manifest by their publike Declarations, Speeches, Oathes, and Confederacies (al [...]eit some few other fond pretences are added, to glosse their most barbarous actions) That these four mon [...]ths past, the expectation of powerfull Supplies, Trea [...]ure, and Ammunition, from England and Scotland, [Page 17] hath supported the drooping and languishing spirits of Your Petitioners and others, the Protestants, interessed in that Kingdom, who finding but small Succours hitherto sent thither, notwithsta [...]ding the severall Orders of both House of PARLIAMENT, do now with unspeakable grief of heart, apprehend nothing but despair of ever being restored to their habitations, if Your Majestie be not graciously pleased to give life and power to the painfull endeavours of both Houses of Parliament, the prosecution of that War necessarily requiring a great sum of Money to be presently raised. And in all humility, The Petitioners conceive, the Act lately passed by Your Majesties Royall Grace and goodnesse, (upon the Propositions made by those who shall adventure their Moneys) to be the onely way left for raising present Money for that work: And they finde that the removall of Your Sacred Majesty to places so remote, and distant from the Parliament, doth much discourage the Adventurers, in advancing Moneys for effectuall proceeding in the work, and consequently will be a means, unavoidably to retard the long expected Supplies, contrary to Your Majesties Royall intentions often expressed, and will much encourage the Rebells, and their adherents in that Kingdom, and may, in the opinion of some, (as they fear) gain a belief of those false reports, which divers of the Rebels have taken the boldnesse to raise, even very lately, since the publishing of Your Majesties Proclamation for suppressing the Rebels, That they are Your Majesties Souldiers, and That the supplies that arrived there, were but the Parliament supplies. And Your Petitioners further humbly shew, That if strong Forces be not presently raised, and transported thither, (the season of the yeer now serving) the British and Protestants in that Kingdom cannot long Subsist, but will be extirpated, and Papists, and the Idolatrous [Page 18] Masse thereby established, which is already publikely used in most of the Chuches of that Kingdom.
May it therefore please Your most Sacred Majestie, to reflect upon the desperate, and miserable condition of that poor Kingdom, and weighing the Premisses, and other the Consequences of delaying the effectuall setting forward of the War against the Rebells in Ireland; of Your Princely goodnesse and wisdom, to vouchsafe Your Majesties presence unto Your Parliament, for the encouragement of the Adventurers, and all other Your Majesties good Subjects, in this Pious work; for the discouragement of the Rebells, and for expediting such further Acts, Commissions, and Warrants to issue, as shall be requisite for the preservation of the remnant of Your good Subjects, the Protestants yet left in Ireland, or driven for the present thereout.
And Your Suppliants will pray, &c.
HIs Majestie hath given me expresse command to give you this His Answer to your Petition, That this Petition (as some others of this nature) is grounded upon misinformation, and (being grieved, and highly offended, to see how His good People have been and are abused, by false Rumours and Intelligences, which have procured [Page 19] causelesse Fears and Apprehensions; refers the Petitioners to the two Answers He hath given to His Parliament, viz. to the Declaration presented to Him at New-market, and to the Petition presented to Him the 26. of this Moneth at York: Wherein you will clearly perceive that His Majestie is not gone, but driven from His Parliament; And therefore His Majestie hath reason to think, that now, (understanding the Love He bears to, and Confidence He hath of His Peoples fidelity; as likewise His constant Resolution for the maintaining of, and governing by the Laws of the Land) you may finde reason to Petition the Parliament to comply with His Majesties just Desires and gracious Offers, this being the onely way safely and speedily to cure the present Distractions of this Kingdom, and (with Gods blessing) to put a happy end to the Irish Rebellion, for the effecting whereof (as His Majestie hath often said) He will neither spare pains, nor decline any hazard of His Person or Fortune.
To the Kings Most Excellent Majestie,
The humble Petition of His Majesties Loving Subjects in the County of LINCOLNE.
IN all humility representing as our thankfullest acknowledgements to God, and to Your Majestie of the great blessings which we have for these many yeeres enjoyed under your Gracious Government, and particularly, the blessed fruits of this present Parliament, by your Majesties wisedom and goodnesse assembled, whereby many wholesome Lawes have been enacted, for the great Honour of Your Majesty, relief of Your people, the prosperous Government of this, and happy setling of the late troubles in both Kingdoms: So our saddest Regrete for any the least misunderstanding and differences which have hapned betwixt Your Sacred Majesty and the said Parliament, or any Members of the same, with our many Distractions thereupon & fears of the utter ruine of Your Majesty and Your Royall Posteritie and Kingdoms, by the [Page 21] malicious and insolent Designes of the Popish partie, and the advantage that forreign enemies may easily take thereby.
Humbly prostating our selves at your Majesties feet, most affectionately pray, that Your Majestie and Parliament may by all good means be firmly United. And for that purpose, You would Graciously please to reside near, and listen unto the Faithfull Counsells of Your said Parliament, whereby Romish Idolatry and Superstition may be Extirpated, Church and Common-wealth duely reformed, the true Religion, and all things else setled in a Blessed Peace under Your Majesties Government. And we shall have still further cause to continue our ch [...]arfull aides, both of persons and estates for Your Majesties and Your Kingdoms prosperity and honour, And ever pray for Your Majesties long and happie Reigne over us.
HIs Majesty hath given me expresse Command to give you this His Answer to your Petition: That this Petition (as some others of this nature) is grounded upon misinformation, and (being grieved and highly offended, to see how His good people have been, and are abused, by false Rumours [Page 22] and Intelligences which have procured causelesse fears, and apprehensions, refers the Petitioners to the two Answers He hath given to His Parliament, viz. to the Declaration presented to Him at New-market, and to the Petition presented to Him the 26th of this Moneth at York; wherein you will clerely perceive, That His Majestie is not gone, but driven from His Parliament: And therefore His Majesty hath reason to think, That now (understanding the love He bears to, and confidence He hath of His Peoples fidelity, as likewise His constant Resolution for the maintaining of, and Governing by the Laws of the Land) you may finde reason to Petition the Parliament, to Comply with His Majesties just desires, and gracious offers: This being the onely way, safely, and speedily to cure the present Distractions of this Kingdom, and (with Gods blessing) to put a happy end to the Irish Rebellion: For the effecting whereof (as His Majesty hath often said) He will neither spare pains, nor decline any hazard of His Person, or Fortune.