probation; and he wished that the petition might "be seen and published, and then he believed it "would appear no dangerous one, nor a just "ground for the least jealousy or misappre"hension. parliaments of both kingdoms, stopped his own "mouth from any other reply, than to shew his great dislike for reviving the memory thereof. He said, if the rebellion in Ireland, so odious to "all Christians, seemed to have been framed and "maintained in England, or to have any countenance from hence, he conjured both his houses "of parliament, and all his loving subjects whatsoever, to use all possible means to discover and "find such out, that he might join in the most exemplary vengeance upon them, that could be imagined. But, he told them, he must think "himself highly and causelessly injured in his reputation, if any declaration, action, or expres"sion of the Irish rebels; any letter from the "count Rozetti to the papists, for fasting and praying; or from Tristram Whetcomb, of strange speeches uttered in Ireland, should beget any jealousy or misapprehension in his subjects of his justice, piety, and affection: it being evident to "all understandings, that those mischievous and "wicked rebels are not so capable of great advan-"vileges had been invaded in defence and vintage, as by having their false discourses so far believed, as to raise fears and jealousies to the "distraction of this kingdom; the only way to "their security. He said, he could not express a "deeper sense of the sufferings of his poor pro"testant subjects in that kingdom, than he had "done in his often messages to both houses; by "which he had offered, and was still ready, to venture his royal person for their redemption; "well knowing, that as he was, in his own inter"ests, more concerned in them; so he was to "make a strict account to Almighty God for any neglect of his duty, or their preservation. "For Mr. Jermyn, he said, it was well known "that he was gone from Whitehall, before he re"ceived the desire of both houses for the restraint "of his servants; neither returned he thither, or passed over by any warrant granted by him after "that time. For the breach of privilege in the "accusation of the lord Kimbolton, and the five "members of the house of commons, he told "them, he thought, he had given so ample satis"faction in his several messages to that purpose, "that it should have been no more pressed against "him; being confident, if the breach of privilege "had been greater than ever had been before "offered, his acknowledgment and retractation "had been greater than ever king had given: be"sides the not examining how many of his pri"dication of the other. And therefore he hoped "his true and earnest protestation in his answer "to their order concerning the militia, would so "far have satisfied them of his intentions then, "that they would no more have entertained any imagination of any other design, than he there expressed. But why the listing so many officers, "and entertaining them at Whitehall, should be "misconstrued, he said, he much marvelled, when "it was notoriously known the tumults about "Westminster were so great, and their demeanour so scandalous and seditious, that he had good cause to suppose his own person, and those of "For the manifold attempts to provoke his late "his wife and children, to be in apparent danger; army, and the army of the Scots, and to raise a " and therefore he had great reason to appoint a faction in the city of London, and other parts of " guard about him, and to accept the dutiful ten"the kingdom, if it were said as relating to him," der of the services of any of his loving subjects, "he could not without great indignation suffer "which was all he did to the gentlemen of the "himself to be reproached to have intended the "inns of court. "least force, or threatening to his parliament; as the being privy to the bringing up of the army "would imply. Whereas, he called God to witness, he never had any such thought, or knew of any such resolution concerning his late army. "For the petition shewed to him by captain Leg, "he said, he well remembered the same, and the "occasion of that conference. Captain Leg being lately come out of the north, and repairing to him at Whitehall, his majesty asked him of the "state of his army; and, after some relation of it, "he told his majesty, that the commanders and officers of the army had a mind to petition the "parliament, as others of his people had done, and shewed him the copy of a petition; which he read, and finding it to be very humble, desiring the parliament might receive no interrup"tion in the reformation of the church and state, "to the model of queen Elizabeth's days, his ma"jesty told him, that he saw no harm in it; whereupon captain Leg replied, that he believed "all the officers of the army would like it; only, he thought, sir Jacob Ashley would be unwilling to sign it, out of fear that it might displease him. His majesty then read the petition over again; and observing nothing in matter or form he conceived could possibly give just cause of offence, he delivered it to him again, bidding him give it to sir Jacob Ashley, for whose satisfaction he writ C. R. upon it, to testify his ap "For the lord Digby, he assured them in the "word of a king, that he had his warrant to pass "the seas, and had left his court, before ever he "heard of the vote of the house of commons, or "had any cause to imagine that his absence would "have been excepted against. What their adver"tisements were from Rome, Venice, Paris, and "other parts, or what the pope's nuncio solicits "the kings of France or Spain to do, or from what persons such informations come to them, or how "the credit and reputation of such persons had "been sifted and examined, he said, he knew not; "but was confident, no sober honest man in his "kingdoms could believe, that he was so desperate, or so senseless, to entertain such designs, as would not only bury this his kingdom in sud"den distraction and ruin, but his own name and posterity in perpetual scorn and infamy. And therefore, he said, he could have wished in mat"ters of so high and tender a nature, wherewith "the minds of his good subjects must needs be "startled, all the expressions had been so plain "and easy, that nothing might stick with them "that reflected upon his majesty; since they thought fit to publish it at all. 66 66 66 "moment to beget, or longer to continue, a mis-" said, he hoped, would never alter the nature of understanding between them; or force them to parliaments, and the constitution of this kingapply themselves to the use of any other power, "dom; or invite his subjects so much to abuse "than what the law had given them : the which "his confidence, as to esteem any thing fit for this "he always intended should be the measure of his parliament to do, which were not fit, if it were own power, and expected it should be the rule " in his power to dissolve it to-morrow. And after "of his subjects' obedience. "all these, and many other acts of grace on his "Concerning his own fears and jealousies, as he Ipart, that he might be sure of a perfect recon"had no intention of accusing them, so he said, "ciliation between him and all his subjects, he "he was sure no words spoken by him on the "had offered, and was still ready to grant, a free "sudden at Theobalds would bear that interpre- "and general pardon, as ample as themselves "tation. He had said, for his residence near "should think fit. Now if those were not real "them, he wished it might be so safe and honour- expressions of the affections of his soul for the "able, that he had no cause to absent himself " public good of this kingdom, he said he must "from Whitehall; and how that could be a breach "confess that he wanted skill to manifest them. "of privilege of parliament he could not under- "To conclude: although he thought his answer "stand. He said, he had explained his meaning already full to that point concerning his return "in his answer at Newmarket, at the presentation "to London, he told them, that he was willing to "of that declaration, concerning the printed sedi- "declare, that he looked upon it as a matter of so "tious pamphlets, and sermons, and the great " great weight, as with reference to the affairs of "tumults at Westminster: and he said, he must "this kingdom, and to his own inclinations and appeal to them, and all the world, whether he "desires, that if all he could say, or do, could "might not justly suppose himself in danger of "raise a mutual confidence, (the only way, with "either. And if he were now at Whitehall, he "God's blessing, to make them all happy,) and, "asked them, what security he had, that the like "by their encouragement, the laws of the land, "should not be again? especially if any delin- " and the government of the city of London, quents of that nature had been apprehended by might recover some life for his security; he "the ministers of justice, and had been rescued "would overtake their desires, and be as soon "by the people, and so as yet had escaped un- "with them, as they could wish. And, in the punished. He told them, if they had not yet mean time, he would be sure that neither the "been informed of the seditious words used in, "business of Ireland, or any other advantage for "and the circumstances of those tumults, and "this kingdom, should suffer through his default, "would appoint some way for the examination of" or by his absence; he being so far from repent"them, he would require some of his learned "council to attend with such evidence as might satisfy them; and till that were done, or some "other course should be taken for his security, "he said, they could not with reason wonder, that " he intended not to be, where he most desired" to be. 66 "ing the acts of his justice and grace, which he 66 66 nation." They who now read this declaration, and re"He asked them, whether there could yet want member only the insolent and undutiful expres" evidence of his hearty and importunate desire to sions in that declaration, to which this was an join with his parliament, and all his faithful sub- answer, and the more insolent and seditious acjects, in defence of the religion and public good tions which preceded, accompanied, and attended "of the kingdom? Whether he had given them it, may think that the style was not answerable to no other earnest but words, to secure them of the provocation, nor princely enough for such a "those desires? He told them the very remon- contest; and may believe, that if his majesty had "strance of the house of commons (published in then expressed himself with more indignation for "November last) of the state of the kingdom what he had suffered, and more resolution, that "allowed him a more real testimony of his good "he would no more endure those sufferings," affections, than words; that remonstrance valued they who were not yet grown to the hardiness of "his acts of grace and justice at so high a rate, avowing the contempt of the king (and most of "that it declared the kingdom to be then a gainer, them having designs to be great with and by him, though it had charged itself, by bills of subsidies whom they provoked) would sooner have been "and poll-money, with the levy of six hundred checked, and recovered their loyalty and obedi"thousand pounds, besides the contracting a debt ence. But they again, who consider and remem"of two hundred and twenty thousand pounds ber that conjuncture of time, the incredible dismore to his subjects of Scotland. He asked advantage his majesty suffered by the misunderthem, whether the bills for the triennial parlia- standing of his going to the house of commons, ment, for relinquishing his title of imposing and by the popular mistake of privilege of parliaupon merchandise, and power of pressing of sol- ment, and consequently of the breach of those "diers, for the taking away the star-chamber and privileges; and, on the contrary, the great height "high-commission courts, for the regulating the and reputation the factious party had arrived to, "council-table, were but words? whether the bills the stratagems they used, and the infusions they "for the forests, the stannary courts, the clerk of made into the people, " of the king's disinclination "the market, and the taking away the votes of" to the laws of the land;" and especially," that bishops out of the lords' house, were but words? "he had consented to all those excellent laws "Lastly, what greater earnest of his trust, and "made this parliament (of which the people were "reliance on his parliament, he could give, than" possessed) very unwillingly, and meant to avoid "the passing the bill for the continuance of this "them that the queen had an irreconcilable present parliament? the length of which, he "hatred to the religion professed, and to the 66 r said, they had been very much hindered by his majesty's denial to secure them, and the whole kingdom, by disposing the militia as they had "divers times most humbly petitioned. And yet, they said, they had 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 material heads of those humble desires, "whole nation, and that her power was unques"tionable: that there was a design to send the prince beyond the seas, and to marry him to some papist:" above all, (which the principal of them, with wonderful confidence, in all places avowed to be true,) " that the rebellion in Ireland was fomented, and countenanced at least, by the queen, that good terms might be got for the "catholics in England:" I say, whoever remembers this, and, that though it might be presumed," which they intended to make to his majesty for that the exorbitancy of the parliament might be very offensive to some sober and discerning men, yet his majesty had no reason to presume of their eminent and vehement zeal on his behalf, since he saw all those (two or three only excepted) from whom he might challenge the duty, and faith of servants usque ad aras, and for whose sake he had undergone many difficulties, either totally aliened from his service, and engaged against him, or, like men in a trance, unapplicable to it: he will conclude that it concerned his majesty, by all gentleness and condescension, to undeceive and recover men to their sobriety and understanding, before he could hope to make them apprehensive of their own duty, or the reverence that was due to him; and therefore, that he was to descend to all possible arts and means to that purpose, it being very evident, that men would no sooner discern his princely justice and clemency, than they must be sensible of the indignities which were offered to him, and incensed against those who were the authors of them. And the truth is, (which I speak knowingly,) at that time, the king's resolution was to shelter himself wholly under the law; to grant any thing, that by the law he was obliged to grant; and to deny what by the law was in his own power, and which he found inconvenient to consent to; and to oppose and punish any extravagant attempt by the force and power of the law, presuming that the king and the law together would have been strong enough for any encounter that could happen; and that the law was so sensible a thing, that the people would easily perceive who endeavoured to preserve, and who to suppress it, and dispose themselves accordingly. The day before this answer of his majesty came to them, though they knew they should speedily receive it, lest somewhat in it might answer, and so prevent some other scandals they had a mind to lay to his majesty's charge, they sent a petition to him, in the name of the lords and commons, upon occasion of the short cursory speech he made to their committee, (which is before mentioned,) at the delivery of their declaration at Newmarket, in which they told him, 66 66 66 "the good and contentment of his majesty and "his people; but none of these could be perfected "before the kingdom be put in safety, by settling "the militia and until his majesty should be pleased to concur with his parliament in those necessary things, they held it impossible for his majesty to give the world, or his people, such "satisfaction concerning the fears and jealousies, "which they had expressed, as they hoped his majesty had already received touching that ex"ception, which he was pleased to take to Mr. Pym's speech. As for his majesty's fears and doubts, "the ground whereof was from seditious pamphlets "and sermons, they said, they should be as careful "to endeavour the removal [of them], as soon as they should understand what pamphlets and sermons were by his majesty intended, as they "had been to prevent all dangerous tumults. And "if any extraordinary concourse of people out of "the city to Westminster had the face and show "of tumult and danger, in his majesty's apprehen"sion, it would appear to be caused by his ma"jesty's denial of such a guard to his parliament, as they might have cause to confide in; and by taking into Whitehall such a guard for himself, as gave just cause of jealousy to the parliament, "and of terror and offence to his people. They "told him, they sought nothing but his majesty's "honour, and the peace and prosperity of his kingdoms; and that they were heartily sorry they had such plentiful matter [for] an answer to "that question, whether his majesty had violated "their laws? They besought his majesty to re"member, that the government of this kingdom, "as it was, in a great part, managed by his mi"nisters 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 extremity of all those "violations was far exceeded by the late strange "and unheard of breach of their laws in the ac"cusation of the lord Kimbolton, and the five "members of the commons' house, and in the "proceedings thereupon; for which they had yet "received no full satisfaction. "To his majesty's next question, whether he had "That the lords and commons in parliament "denied any bill for the ease and security of his "could not conceive, that that declaration, which subjects? they wished they could stop in the " he received from them at Newmarket, was such "midst of their answer; that with much thankful"as did deserve that censure his majesty was ness they acknowledged, that his majesty had pleased to lay upon them in that speech, which passed many good bills full of contentment and "his majesty made to their committee; their advantage to his people: but truth and neces"address therein, being accompanied with plain-"sity enforced them to add this, that, even in or "ness, humility, and faithfulness, they thought "about the time of passing those bills, some de"more proper for the removing the distraction of sign or other had been on foot, which, if it "the kingdom, than if they had then proceeded had taken effect, would not only have deaccording to his message of the twentieth of "prived them of the fruit of those bills, but have January; by which he was pleased to desire," reduced them to a worse condition of confusion, "that they would declare, what they intended to "than that wherein the parliament found them. "do for his majesty, and what they expected to "And if his majesty had asked them the third "be done for themselves; in both which, they question intimated in that speech, what they 66 I had done for him? they told him, their answer "would have been much more easy; that they had paid two armies with which the kingdom was "burdened the last year, and had undergone the Icharge of the war in Ireland at this time, when," through many other excessive charges and pressures, whereby his subjects had been exhausted, "and the stock of the kingdom very much di"minished; which great inischiefs, and the charges thereupon ensuing, had been occasioned by the "evil counsels so powerful with his majesty, and "would cost this kingdom more than two millions; "all which, in justice, ought to have been borne 'by his majesty. As for that free and general pardon his "majesty had been pleased to offer, they said, it "could be no security to their fears and jealousies, "for which his majesty seemed to propound it; "because they arose not from any guilt of their own actions, but from the evil designs and attempts of others. 66 66 66 66 66 "been long in coming,) we believe, you would "have saved yourselves the labour of saying much "of this message. And we could wish, that our privileges on all parts were so stated, that this way of correspondency 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 us by message, or petition, and in what language (how unusual soever) you think fit; and we must neither deny the thing you ask, nor give a reason why we cannot grant it, with"out being taxed of breaking your privileges, 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 freedom 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. 66 "Is this the way to compose all misunderstandings? we thought we shewed you one, by our message of the twentieth of January; if you "have a better or readier, we shall willingly "hearken to it, for hitherto you have shewed us none. But why the refusal to consent to your order, which you call a denial of the militia, "should be any interruption to it, we cannot un"derstand. For the militia, which we always thought necessary to be settled, we never denied "the thing (as we told you in our answer of the twenty-eighth of January) to the petition of the "house of commons; for we accepted the persons, except for corporations; we only denied the way. "You ask it by way of ordinance, and with such a preface, as we can neither with justice to our "honour or innocency consent to. You exclude us from any power in the disposition or ex"ecution 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 only old way of "To that their humble answer to that speech, they desire to add an information, which they lately received from the deputy governor of the "merchant adventurers at Rotterdam in Holland," that an unknown person, appertaining_to_the lord Digby, did lately solicit one James Henly, a mariner, to go to Elsinore, 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 they" were not apt to give credit to informations of "that nature, yet they could not altogether think "it fit to be neglected; but that it might justly "add somewhat to the weight of their fears and jealousies, considering with what circumstances "it was accompanied; with the lord Digby's pre"cedent expressions in his letter to her majesty, "and sir Lewis Dives; and his majesty's succeeding course of withdrawing himself north"ward from his parliament, in a manner very "suitable and correspondent to that evil counsel; "which, they doubted, would make much deeper "impression in the generality of his people and imposing on our subjects: we are extremely un"therefore they most humbly advised, and be- "satisfied what an ordinance is, but well satisfied, "sought his majesty, for the procuring and settling "that without our consent it is nothing, not bind"the confidence of his parliament and all his ing and it is evident by the long time spent in subjects, and for the other important reasons "this argument, the necessity and danger was no concerning the recovery of Ireland, and securing so imminent, but a bill might have been pre"this kingdom, which had been formerly presented "pared; which if it shall yet be done, with tha "to him, he would be graciously pleased, with all "due regard to us, and care of our people, in the convenient speed, to return to those parts, and "limitation of the power and other circumstances to close with the counsel and desire of his par- we shall recede from nothing we formerly ex 66 liament; where he should find their dutiful pressed in that answer to your order; otherwise "affections and endeavours ready to attend his we must declare to all the world, that we are no majesty with such entertainment, as should not "satisfied with, or shall ever allow our subjects t only give him just cause of security in their "be bound by, your printed votes of the fifteent faithfulness, but other manifold evidences of" or sixteenth of this month; or that, under pre "their earnest intentions, and endeavours to ad- "tence of declaring what the law of the land i vance his majesty's service, honour, and con- you shall, without us, make a new law, which "tentment; and to establish it upon the sure plainly the case of the militia: and what is th "foundation of the peace and prosperity of all his "but to introduce an arbitrary way of gover "kingdoms." "ment? variety, and in which our rights, honour, and authority are so insolently slighted and vilified, "and in which the dignity and freedom of parlia"ment is so much invaded and violated) it should "be asked of us to name any. The mentioning of "the Protestation Protested, the Apprentices' Pro'testation, To your tents, O Israel, or any other, "would be too great an excuse for the rest: if you "think them not worth your inquiry, we have "done. But we think it most strange to be told, "that our denial 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 denial of any thing else, "(which is in our power legally to deny,) which in our understanding, of which God hath surely given us some use, is not fit to be granted, should be any excuse for so dangerous a concourse of people; which, not only in our apprehension, but, we believe, in the interpretation of "the law itself, hath been always held most tu"multuous and seditious. And we must wonder, what, and whence come the instructions and informations, that those people have, who can so easily think themselves obliged by the protesta"tion to assemble in such a manner for the defence of privileges, which cannot be so clearly known to any of them, and so negligently pass over the "consideration and defence of our rights, so bene"ficial and necessary for themselves, and scarce "unknown to any of them; which by their oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and even by the same protestation, they are at least equally obliged to defend. And what interruptions such kind 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 rights and powers may not by such means be usurped, by hands "not trusted by the constitution of this kingdom. For our guard, we refer you to our answer to your declaration. "world, and chiefly in the eyes of our loving sub"jects, from so notorious and false an imputation 66 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 armies, and in re" lieving Ireland; of which we are so sensible, "that, in regard of those great burdens our people "have undergone, we have, and do patiently suffer "those extreme personal wants, as our predecessors have been seldom put to, rather than we "would press upon them; which we hope in time "will be considered on your parts. "In our offer of a general pardon, our intent was to compose and secure the general condition " of our subjects, conceiving that, in these times of great distractions, the good laws of the land have "not been enough observed: but it is a strange world, when princes' proffered favours are counted reproaches: yet if you like not this our offer, we "have done. 66 " Concerning any discourses of foreign forces, "though we have given you a full answer in ours 66 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 "ourself in need of any foreign forces to preserve us from oppression; and we shall not need for any other purpose: but are confident, through "God's providence, not to want the good wishes "and assistance of the whole kingdom, being re"solved to build upon that sure foundation, the "law of the land: and we take it very ill, that " any general discourses between an unknown person and a mariner, or inferences upon letters, "should be able to prevail in matters so improbable "in themselves, and scandalous to us; for which we cannot but likewise ask reparation, not only "for the vindicating of our own honour, but also thereby to settle the minds of our subjects, "whose fears and jealousies 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 declara"tion; and you ought to look on us as not gone, "but driven (we say not by you, yet) from you. "And if it be not so easy for you to make our resi"dence in London so safe as we could desire, we 66 are and will be contented, that our parliament be adjourned to such a place, where we may be fitly and safely with you. For though we are not pleased to be at this distance, yet you are not to expect our presence, until you shall both secure us concerning our just apprehensions of tumultuary insolences, and likewise give us satisfaction "for those insupportable and insolent scandals, "that are raised upon us. By that question of violating your laws, by "which we endeavoured to express our care and "resolution to observe them, we did not expect you would have been invited to have looked back so many years, for which you have had so ample reparation; neither looked we to have been reproached with the actions of our ministers then against the laws, whilst we express so great a "zeal 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 us by the suggestions of neces"sity and imminent danger; and take you heed," "you fall not into the same error, upon the same suggestions,) hereafter to keep the rule ourself, and to our power require the same from all "others. But above all, we must be most sensible "To conclude: as we have or shall not refuse of what you cast upon us for requital of those any way agreeable to justice or honour, which "good bills, you cannot deny. We have denied "shall be offered to us for the begetting a right "any such design; and as God Almighty must "understanding between us; so we are resolved judge in that point between us, who knows our "that no straits or necessities, to which we may be upright intentions at the passing those laws, so "driven, shall ever compel us to do that, which in the mean time we defy the Devil to prove, "the reason and understanding that God hath "that there was any design (with our knowledge given us, and our honour and interest, with "or privity) in or about the time of passing those "which God hath trusted us for the good of our "bills, that, had it taken effect, could have de- posterity and kingdoms, shall render unpleasant "prived our subjects of the fruit of them. And" and grievous to us. And we assure you, that therefore we demand full reparation in this point, "how meanly soever you are pleased to value the "that we may be cleared in the sight of all the " discharge of our public duty, we are so conscious |