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attempts, and secured their persons from being accused, or proceeded against by law, they used no less severity against all those who presumed to question the justice or prudence of their actions, especially against those, who, following the method that had done so much hurt, drew the people to petition for that which they had no mind to grant; and in this prosecution they were not less severe and vehement, than against the highest treason could be imagined.

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Upon the petition mentioned before, that was framed in London against their settling the militia, they committed one George Binion, a citizen of great reputation for wealth and wisdom, and [who] was indeed a very sober man. After he had lain some time in prison, the lords, according to law, bailed him; but the commons caused him the next day to be recommitted, and preferred an impeachment against him, for no other crime but " ad"vising and contriving that petition." The gentleman defended himself, that it was always held, and so publicly declared this parliament, “to be lawful, in a modest way, to petition for the " removal or prevention of any grievance that he observing very many petitions to be delivered, "and received, for the settling the militia in an"other way than was then agreeable to the law, "or had been practised, and conceiving that the same would prove very prejudicial to the city of London, of which he was a member, he had joined with many other citizens, of known ability "and integrity, in a petition against so great an "inconvenience; which he presumed was lawful "for him to do." How reasonable soever this defence was, the house of peers adjudged him "to be disfranchised, and incapable of any office "in the city; to be committed to the common gaol of Colchester," (for his reputation was so great in London, that they would not trust him in a city prison,) and fined him three thousand pounds.

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About the same time, at the general assizes in Kent, the justices of peace, and principal gentlemen of that county, prepared a petition to be presented to the two houses, with a desire, "that "the militia might not be otherwise exercised in "that county, than the known law permitted: and "that the Book of Common-Prayer, established "by law, might be observed." This petition was communicated by many to their friends, and copies thereof sent abroad, before the subscription was ready; whereupon the house of peers took notice of it, as tending to some commotion in Kent; and, in the debate, the earl of Bristol taking notice, "that he had seen a copy of it, and had had some "conference about it with judge Mallet," who was then judge of assize in Kent, and newly returned out of his circuit, both the earl and judge, for having but seen the petition, were presently committed to the Tower; and a declaration published, "that none should presume to deliver that, or the "like petition to either house." Notwithstanding which, some gentlemen of Kent, with a great number of the substantial inhabitants of that county, came to the city; which, upon the alarum, was put in arms; strong guards placed at Londonbridge, where the petitioners were disarmed, and only some few suffered to pass with their petition to Westminster; the rest forced to return to their country. And, upon the delivery thereof to the house of commons, (though the same was very

modest, and in a more dutiful dialect than most petitions delivered to them,) the bringers of the petition were sharply reprehended; two or three of them committed to several prisons; the principal gentlemen of the country, who had subscribed and advised it, sent for as delinquents; and charges, and articles of impeachment, drawn up against them; and a declaration published, "that "whosoever should henceforth advise or contrive "the like petitions, should be proceeded against, "C as enemies to the commonwealth." So unlike and different were their tempers, and reception of those modest addresses, which were for duty and obedience to the laws established, and those which pressed and brought on alteration and innovation. But that injustice gave great life and encouragement to their own proselytes; and taught others to know that their being innocent would not be long easy or safe: and this kind of justice extended itself in the same measure to their own members, who opposed their irregular determinations; who, besides the agony and vexation of having the most abstract reason, and confessed law, rejected, and overruled with contempt and noise, were liable to all the personal reproaches and discountenance, that the pride and petulancy of the other party could lay upon them; and were sometimes imprisoned and disgraced, for freely speaking their opinions and conscience in debate.

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All sorts of men being thus terrified, the commons remembered, that a great magazine of the king's ammunition lay still at Hull; and though that town was in the custody of a confident of their own, yet they were not willing to venture so great a treasure so near the king, who continued at York, with a great resort of persons of honour and quality from all parts; and therefore they resolved, under pretence of supplying Ireland, to remove it speedily from thence; and to that purpose moved the lords, " to join with them in an "order to that purpose." The lords, who proceeded with less fury, and more formality, desired, "that it might be done with the king's consent.' After a long debate, the one thinking they merited much by that civility, the other contented to gratify those in the ceremony, who, they knew, would in the end concur with them, a petition was agreed upon to be sent to his majesty; in which, that he might the sooner yield to them in this matter, they resolved to remember him of that, which, they thought, would reflect on him with the people, and to move him to take off the

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reprieve from the six priests," which is before mentioned. And so they sent their petition to him, telling him, "that they found the stores of arms "and ammunition in the tower of London much "diminished; and that the necessity for supply of "his kingdom of Ireland (for which they had been "issued from thence) daily increased; and that the "occasion, for which the magazine was placed at

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Hull, was now taken away; and considering it "would be kept at London with less charge, and more safety, and transported thence with much more convenience for the service of the kingdom "of Ireland; they therefore humbly prayed, that "his majesty would be graciously pleased to give 'leave, that the said arms, cannon, and ammuni

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tion, now in the magazine of Hull, might be " removed to the Tower of London, according as "should be directed by both his houses of parliament. And whereas six priests, then in New

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"out of compliment and ceremony, resolving to "be your own carvers at last. For we must tell you, if any attempt shall be made or given in "this matter, without our consent or approbation, we shall esteem it as an act of violence against us; and declare it to all the world, as the great"est violation of our right, and breach of our 'privilege.

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"We rather expected, and have done so long, "that you should have given us an account, why a garrison hath been placed in our town of Hull, "without our consent, and soldiers billeted there against law, and express words of the Petition "of Right, than to be moved, for the avoiding of a needless charge you have put upon yourselves, "to give our consent for the removal of our maga"zine and munition, our own proper goods, upon "such general reasons as indeed give no satisfac"tion to our judgment: and since you have made "the business of Hull your argument, we would gladly be informed, why our own inclination, on the general rumour of the designs of papists in the northern parts, was not thought sufficient ground for us to put a person of honour, fortune, "and unblemished reputation, into a town and "fort of our own, where our own magazine lay: "and yet the same rumour be warrant enough for you to commit the same town and fort, without" our consent, to the hands of sir John Hotham, "with a power unagreeable to the law of the land, or the liberty of the subject.

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Concerning the six priests condemned, it is true, they were reprieved by our warrant, [we] being informed, that they were, by some restraint, "disabled to take the benefit of our former pro"clamation: since that, we have issued out another, for the due execution of the laws against papists; and have most solemnly promised, in "the word of a king, never to pardon any priest without your consent, which shall be found guilty by law; desiring to banish these, having here"with sent warrant to that purpose, if, upon "second thoughts, you do not disapprove thereof. "But if you think the execution of these persons so very necessary to the great and pious work of "reformation, we refer it wholly to you; declaring hereby, that upon such your resolution signified " to the ministers of justice our warrant for their reprieve is determined, and the law to have the course. And now let us ask you, (for we are willing to husband time, and to despatch as "much as may be under one message; God knows "the distractions of this kingdom want a present "remedy,) will there never be a time to offer to, as well as to ask of us? We will propose no more particulars to you, having no luck to please, or to be understood by you; take your own time "for what concerns our particular: but be sure you have an early, speedy care of the public; "that is, of the only rule that preserves the pub"lic, the law of the land; preserve the dignity " and reverence due to that. It was well said in a speech, made by a private person; it was Mr. "Pym's speech against the earl of Strafford, but published by order of the house of commons "this parliament: the law is that which puts a "difference betwixt good and evil, betwixt just "and unjust. If you take away the law, all things "will fall into a confusion, every man will become "6 a law unto himself; which, in the depraved con"dition of human nature, must needs produce

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And yet of this, in point of right, or privilege, "for sure we are not without privilege too, we have not all this while complained: and being" "confident that the place, whatsoever discourse "there is of public or private instructions to the contrary, shall be speedily given up, if we shall require it, we shall be contented to dispose our "munition there, as we have done in other places, "for the public ease and benefit, as, upon particular advice, we shall find convenient; though we "cannot think it fit, or consent, that the whole magazine be removed together. But when you "shall agree upon such proportions, as shall be "held necessary for any particular service, we 'shall sign such warrants as shall be agreeable to "wisdom and reason; and if any of them be designed for Ulster, or Lemster, you know well the conveyance will be more easy and convenient "from the place they are now in. Yet we must "tell that if the fears are so great from the you, papists at home, or of foreign force, as is pretended, it seems strange that you make not pro"vision of arms and munition for defence of this kingdom, rather than seek to carry any more "from hence, without some 66 course taken for supply; especially, if you remember your engagement to our Scots subjects, for that proportion of arms which is contained in your treaty. We speak not this, as not thinking the sending of arms to Ireland very necessary, but only for the way of the provision. For you "know what great quantities we have assigned out "of our several stores, which, in due time, we hope, you will see replenished. For the charge "of looking to the magazine at Hull, as it was "undertaken voluntarily by you at first, and, to say no more, unnecessarily; so you may free our good people of that charge, and leave it to us to "look to, who are the proper owner of it. And "this, we hope, will give you full satisfaction in "this point, and that ye do not, as you have done "in the business of the militia, send this message

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many great enormities. Lust will become a law. "and envy will become a law; covetousness and "ambition will become laws; and what dictates "what decisions, such laws will produce, may easily "be discerned. So said that gentleman, and much more, very well, in defence of the law, and against arbitrary power. It is worth looking over, and considering: and if the most zealou "defence of [the] true protestant profession, and "the most resolved protection of the law, be th "most necessary duty of a prince, we cannot be "lieve this miserable distance and misunderstand ing can be long continued between us; W having often and earnestly declared them to b "the chiefest desires of our soul, and the end an "rule of all our actions. For Ireland, we hav

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sufficiently, and we hope satisfactorily, expresse "to all our good subjects our hearty sense "that sad business, in our several messages "that argument, but especially in our last "the eighth of this month, concerning our r "solution for that service; for the speedy, h nourable, and full performance whereof,

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conjure you to yield all possible assistance and present advice."

"his distressed subjects, as he undertook it for "those only ends; to the sincerity of which pro"fession he called God to witness, with this "further assurance, that he would never consent, upon whatsoever pretence, to a toleration of "the popish profession there, or the abolition of "the laws now in force against popish recusants " in that kingdom.

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This answer was received with the usual circum'stances of trouble and discontent, the taxation of evil counsellors and malignant persons about the king: and that clause about the condemned priests exceedingly displeased them; for by the king's reference of the matter entirely to them, he had removed the scandal from himself, and laid it at "His majesty further advertised them, that, totheir doors; and though they were well content, "wards this work, he intended to raise forthwith, and desirous, that they should have been executed "by his commission, in the counties near West by the king's warrant, for taking off his own re- "Chester, a guard for his own person, (when he prieve, (whereby they should have made him re- "should come into Ireland,) consisting of two tract an act of his own mercy, and undeniably "thousand foot, and two hundred horse, which within his own power; and thereby have lessened "should be armed at West Chester, from his much of the devotion of that people to him, when "magazine at Hull; at which time, he said, all they should have seen him quit his power of pre- "the officers and soldiers should take the oaths of serving them in the least degree,) yet, for many supremacy and allegiance; the charge of raising reasons, they were not willing to take that harsh "and paying whereof, he desired the parliament part upon themselves; and so those condemned" to add to their former undertakings for that war; priests were no more prosecuted, and were much "which he would not only well accept, but, if safer under that reference for their execution, than "their pay should be found too great a burden to they could have been, at that time, by a pardon "his good subjects, he would be willing, by the under the great seal of England. For the other "advice of his parliament, to sell, or pawn, any of part of the answer concerning the magazine, it "his parks, lands, or houses, towards the supplies made no pause with them; but, within few days "of the service of Ireland. With the addition of after, they sent a warrant to their own governor, "these levies to the former of English, and Scots, sir John Hotham, to deliver it; and to their own "agreed upon in parliament, he said, he hoped so admiral, the earl of Warwick, to transport it to "to appear in that action, that, by the assistance London; which was, notwithstanding the king's "of Almighty God, that kingdom, in a short time, inhibition, done accordingly. But they had at might be wholly reduced, and restored to peace, that time another message from the king, which "and some measure of happiness; whereby he was referred to in the last clause of that answer, might cheerfully return, to be welcomed home and came to their hands some few days before," with the affections and blessings of all his good that gave them some serious trouble and appre- English people. hension; the grounds and reasons of which were these:

The king finding that, notwithstanding all the professions and protestations he could make, the business of Ireland was still unreasonably objected to him, as if he were not cordial in the suppressing that rebellion, sent a message to both houses:

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"Towards this good work, he said, as he had "lately made despatches into Scotland, to quicken "the levies there for Ulster, so he heartily wished, "that his parliament would give all possible expe"dition to those, which they had resolved for "Munster and Connaught; and hoped the encouragement, which the adventurers, of whose " interests he would be always very careful, would That being grieved at the very soul for the "hereby receive, would raise full sums of money "calamities of his good subjects of Ireland, and "for the doing thereof. He told them, that out "being most tenderly sensible of the false and "of his earnest desire to remove all occasions, "scandalous reports dispersed amongst the people" which did unhappily multiply misunderstandings concerning the rebellion there; which not only "between him and his parliament, he had likewise "wounded his majesty in honour, but likewise "prepared a bill to be offered to them by his "greatly retarded the reducing that unhappy king-"attorney concerning the militia; whereby he dom, and multiplied the distractions at home, by weakening the mutual confidence between him and his people: out of his pious zeal to the honour of Almighty God, in establishing the "true protestant profession in that kingdom, and his princely care for the good of all his do"minions, he had firmly resolved to go with all "convenient speed into Ireland, to chastise those "wicked and detestable rebels, odious to God and "all good men; thereby so to settle the peace of that kingdom, and the security of this, that the "very name of fears and jealousies might be no "more heard of amongst them.

And he said, as he doubted not but his par"liament would cheerfully give all possible assist"ance to this good work, so he required them, and all his loving subjects, to believe, that he would, upon those considerations, as earnestly pursue that design, not declining any hazard of his person in performing that duty, which he I owed to the defence of God's true religion, and

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hoped the peace and safety of the kingdom " might be fully secured to the general satisfaction "of all men, without violation of his majesty's "just rights, or prejudice to the liberty of the

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subject. If this should be thankfully received, "he said, he should be glad of it; if refused, he "must call God, and all the world, to judge on "whose part the default was; only he required, if "the bill should be approved of, that if any "corporation should make their lawful rights ap

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pear, they might be reserved to them. He "said, before he would part from England, he "would take all due care to intrust such persons "with such authority in his absence, as he should "find to be requisite for the peace and safety of "the kingdom, and the happy progress of the parliament."

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They neither before nor after ever received any message from his majesty, that more discomposed them; and so much the more, because that which gave them most umbrage could not be publicly and

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"testant religion in Christendom, and make way "to the execution of that cruel and bloody de sign of the papists, every where to root out and destroy the reformed religion; as the Irish pa "pists had, in a great part, effected in that king "dom; and, in all likelihood, would quickly b "attempted in other places, if the consideration " of the strength and union of the two nations o England and Scotland did not much hinder and discourage the execution of any such design "And that they might manifest to his majesty th "danger and misery, which such a journey and enterprise would produce, they presented to hi majesty the reasons of that their humble opinion " and advice:

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I. "His royal person would be subject, not only to the casualty of war, but to secret practice "and conspiracies; especially his majesty con tinuing his profession to maintain the protestan "religion in that kingdom, which the papists wer "generally bound by their vow to extirpate.

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safely avowed by them. For though, to those who
had a due reverence to the king's person, and an
impatient desire, that all misunderstandings might
be composed, they urged, "the hazard and danger
"to his majesty's person, in such an expedition,
"and the increase of jealousies and distractions,
"that would ensue in this kingdom by his
"absence ;" and to others, as well those who
from the barbarity, inhumanity, and unheard of"
cruelty, exercised by the rebels in Ireland upon the
English protestants, (of which they every day re-
ceived fresh and bleeding evidence,) had contracted
a great animosity against the nation, and were
persuaded that the work of extirpation was not so
difficult as in truth it was; as to the adventurers,
who had disbursed great sums of money, and had
digested a full assurance of ample recompence, by"
confiscations and forfeitures; "that by this voyage
"of the king a peace would be in a short time
"concluded in that kingdom, to their great dis-
advantage and damage;" yet the true reasons,
which surprised and startled them, were, that here-
by the managing the war of Ireland would be taken
out of their hands; and so, instead of having a
nursery for soldiers of their own, which they might
employ as they saw occasion; and a power of rais-
ing what money they pleased in this kingdom under
that title, which they might dispose, as they found
most fit for their affairs; the king would probably
in a short time recover one entire kingdom to his
obedience, by which he might be able to preserve
the peace of the other two. However, working by
the several impressions upon the several affections,"
they found it no difficult thing to persuade, almost
an unanimous, aversion from approving the jour-
ney; they who usually opposed their advice not
enduring to think of staying in England, where
the power, at least for a time, would be in them,"
whose government, they knew, would be terrible,
when his majesty should be in Ireland. And then
they despatched a magisterial answer to the king,
in which they told him:

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2. "It would exceedingly encourage the rebels "who did generally profess and declare, that hi majesty did favour and allow their proceedings " and that this insurrection was undertaken by th "warrant of his commission; and it would mak good their expectation of great advantage, by hi majesty's presence at that time, of so much dis "traction in this kingdom, whereby they migh hope the two houses of parliament would be dis "abled to supply the war there, especially ther appearing less necessity of his majesty's journe at that time, by reason of the manifold successes "which God had given against them.

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3. "It would much hinder and impair the mean whereby the war was to be supported, and in crease the charge of it, and in both these respect make it more insupportable to the subject; and "this, they said, they could confidently affirm "because many of the adventurers, who had al

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ready subscribed, did, upon the knowledge o "his majesty's intention, declare their resolution "not to pay in their money; and others, ver willing to have subscribed, do now profess th contrary.

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"That the lords and commons in parliament had duly considered the message, received from his majesty, concerning his purpose of going into "Ireland in his own person to prosecute the war 4. "His majesty's absence must necessarily ver "there, with the bodies of his English subjects, "much interrupt the proceedings of parliament "levied, transported, and maintained at their " and deprive his subjects of the benefit of thos charge; which he was pleased to propound to "further acts of grace and justice, which the them, not as a matter, wherein he desired the "should humbly expect from his majesty for th "advice of his parliament, but as already firmly establishing of a perfect union, and mutual con "resolved on, and forthwith to be put in execu- "fidence between his majesty and his people, and "tion, by granting out commissions for the levy-"procuring and confirming the prosperity and ing of two thousand foot, and two hundred horse, "happiness of both. "for a guard for his person, when he should come "into that kingdom; wherein they said, they could "not but, with all reverence and humility to his majesty, observe, that he had declined his great council, the parliament, and varied from the usual course of his royal predecessors; that a business of so great importance concerning the peace "and safety of all his subjects, and wherein they "have a special interest, by his majesty's promise, "and by those great sums, which they had disbursed, and for which they stood engaged, should "be concluded, and undertaken, without their ad"vice; whereupon, they said, they held it their duty to declare, that if, at that time, his majesty "should go into Ireland, he would very much en"danger the safety of his royal person and king"doms, and of all other states professing the

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5. "It would exceedingly increase the fears and jealousies of his people; and render their doubt more probable, of some force intended, by som "evil councils near his majesty, in opposition o "the parliament, and favour of the malignant party "of this kingdom.

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6. "It would bereave his parliament of that ad vantage, whereby they were induced to undertak "that war, upon his majesty's promise, that i "should be managed by their advice; which could "not be done, if his majesty, contrary to thei "counsels, should undertake to order and gover "it in his own person.

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Upon which, they said, they had resolved, by "the full and concurrent agreement of both houses "that they could not, with discharge of their duty 66 pro- consent to any levies or raising of soldiers to b

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"made by his majesty, for that his itnended expe"dition into Ireland; or to the payment of any "army, or soldiers there, but such as should be employed and governed according to their advice "and direction: and that, if such levies should be "made by any commission of his majesty's, not "agreed to by both houses of parliament, they "should be forced to interpret the same to be "raised to the terror of his people, and disturbance of the public peace; and did hold them"selves bound, by the laws of the kingdom, to apply the authority of parliament to suppress "the same.

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preted by them, and the printer was ordered to be found out and punished, yet did wholly stop that service; and by the no-inquiry, or punishment of that boldness, appeared to be done by design; his majesty speedily returned this answer:

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"That he was so troubled, and astonished to "find that unexpected reception and misunder" standing of his message concerning his Irish "journey, that (being so much disappointed of "the approbation and thanks he looked for to that "declaration) he had great cause to doubt, whether "it were in his power to say or do any thing, which "would not fall within the like interpretation: but "And, they said, they did further most humbly "he said, as he had, in that message, called God "declare, that if his majesty should by ill counsel Ito witness the sincerity of the profession of his "be persuaded to go, contrary to that advice of his "only ends for the undertaking that journey; so "parliament, (which they hoped his majesty would" he must appeal to all his good subjects, and the "not,) they did not, in that case, hold themselves "whole world, whether the reasons alleged against "bound to submit to any commissioners, which his " that journey were of weight to satisfy his undermajesty should choose; but did resolve to pre- "standing; or the counsel, presented to dissuade "serve and govern the kingdom, by the counsel "him from it, were full of that duty, as was like "and advice of parliament, for his majesty and his "to prevail over his affections. For the resolving "posterity, according to their allegiance, and the "of so great a business without the advice of his "law of the land: wherefore they did most humbly" parliament, he said, he must remember, how pray, and advise his majesty, to desist from that "often, by his messages, he made the same offer, "his intended passage into Ireland, and from all "if they should advise him thereunto; to whichpreparation of men and arms tending thereunto; they never gave him the least answer; but, in "and to leave the managing of that war to his "their late declaration, told him, that they were parliament, according to his promise made unto "not to be satisfied with words: so that he had them, and his commission granted under his great "reason to conceive, they rather avoided, out of "seal of England, by advice of both houses; in regard to his person, to give him counsel to run prosecution whereof, by God's blessing, they had "that hazard, than that they disapproved the inalready made a prosperous entrance, by many "clination. And, he asked them, what greater defeats of the rebels, whereby they were much" comfort or security the protestants of Christen"weakened and disheartened; and had no probable" dom could receive, than by seeing a protestant means of subsistence, if the proceedings of the "two houses were not interrupted by that interposition of his majesty's journey: but they hoped, upon good grounds, that, within a short time, "without hazard of his person, and so much dangerous confusion in his kingdoms, which must "needs ensue, if he should proceed in that resolu"tion, they should be enabled fully to vindicate his majesty's right, and authority in that kingdom; "and punish those horrible, outrageous cruelties, "which had been committed in the murdering and spoiling so many of his subjects; and to bring "that realm to such a condition, as might be much "to the advantage of his majesty and the crown, " and the honour of his government, and content"ment of his people: for the better and more speedy effecting whereof, they did again renew "their humble desires of his return to his parlia"ment; and that he would please to reject all "counsels and apprehensions, which might any way derogate from that faithfulness and allegiance, which, in truth and sincerity, they had always borne and professed to his majesty, and "should ever make good, to the uttermost, with "their lives and fortunes."

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Iking venture, and engage his person for the "defence of that religion, and the suppression of popery ? to which he solemnly protested, in that message, never to grant a toleration, upon what pretence soever, or an abolition of any of the "laws there in force against the professors of it. "And, he said, when he considered the great "calamities, and unheard of cruelties, his poor protestant subjects in that kingdom had undergone for the space of near, or full six months; "the growth and increase of the strength of those "barbarous rebels; and the evident probability of foreign supplies, if they were not speedily suppressed; the very slow succours hitherto sent "them from hence: that the officers of several "regiments, who had long time been allowed "entertainment for that service, had not raised any supply or succour for that kingdom; that many troops of horse had long lain near Chester untransported; that the lord lieutenant of Ire"land, on whom he relied principally for the con"duct and managing of affairs there, was still in "this kingdom, notwithstanding his majesty's earnestness expressed, that he should repair to his "command: and when he considered the many 66 great scandals raised upon himself by report of "the rebels, and not sufficiently discountenanced "here, notwithstanding so many professions of his

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This petition (the matter whereof finding a general concurrence, there was the least debate and contradiction upon the manner of expression) being sent to the king to York; and, in the mean time, all preparations being suspended for the necessary relief for Ireland, insomuch as with the votes (which were presently printed) against the king's journey, there was likewise an order printed to discourage the adventurers from bringing in their money; the which, though it had no approbation from either house, and seemed to be angrily inter-"

and

majesty; and had seen a book, lately printed by "the order of the house of commons, entitled, A "Remonstrance of divers remarkable Passages "concerning the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, "wherein some examinations were set down, (how improbable or impossible soever,) which might "make an impression in the minds of many of his weak subjects: and, lastly, when he had duly

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