2 15 B 1642.] His majesty's answer to the petition of the parliament. 275 duty, that your majesty's personal safety, your “ "conditions as, in honour, he cannot grant. How- do most heartily dedicate, and shall most will “ that might heget a right understanding between “ whom, he is sure, he shall have no contention, him by it were not answerable to the “ covered, which his majesty will take care shall was sorry that they thought the exposing him weighed the particulars of this petition, and re- by which the world would easily discern who “ while they desired any thing which was necessary “could wish some particular instances had been s true religion which his majesty hath refused to “Though his majesty had too great reason to consent to; what himself hath often made for believe that the directions sent to the earl of “the ease of tender consciences, and for the ad• Warwick, to go to the river Humber, with as vancement of the protestant religion, is notorious many ships as he should think fit, for all possible by many of his and declarations. What jesty expected the giving up of the town unto “ he hath been driven from some of his houses, by both houses of parliament, for the defence of “all his subjects in arms against him, is so evident, “ the world knows what he hath granted, and 66 what he hath denied. of preparations for war, (whatsoever the petitioners, " and slanders raised against his majesty by them, majesty's passionate desire of the peace of the “ is done that way is but in order to his own de- duty and submission to his majesty; and which “ his palace of Whitehall for safety of his life: " that both houses of parliament, upon their own expectation in him, that this petition would have “ London to that purpose, without the least colour or shadow of danger : that they usurped a power, majesty. But, to his unspeakable grief, his ma “ of the kingdom, without and against his majesty's jesty hath too much cause to believe, that the “ consent: that they took possession of his town, “ end of some persons, by this petition, is not in fort, and magazine of Hull, and committed the “ truth to give any real satisfaction to his majesty ; same to sir John Hotham; who shut the gates but, by the specious pretences of making offers against his majesty, and, by force of arms, denied “ to him, to mislead and seduce his people, and “ entrance thither to his own person : that they lay some imputation upon him, of denying what is justified this act which they had not directed, fit to be granted; otherwise, it would not have cand took sir John Hotham into their protection upon his majesty, for making necessary and just “ his majesty : and all this, whilst his majesty had 66 3 WE CG 6 66 276 His majesty's answer to the petition of the parliament. [BOOK V. no other attendance than his own menial servants. “ Hull from him, may not put a garrison into NewUpon this, the duty and affection of this county “ castle to keep the same against him, he will prompted his subjects here to provide a small remove his from thence, and from Tinmouth ; guard for his own person ; which was no sooner “ till when, the example of Hull will not out of his done, but a vote suddenly passed of his majesty's memory. “intention to levy war against his parliament, “ For the commissions of array, which are legal, (which, God knows, his heart abhorreth ;) and, “and are so proved by a declaration now in the "notwithstanding all his majesty's professions, “press, his majesty wonders why they should, at “ declarations, and protestations to the contrary, “this time, be thought grievous, and fit to be re“ seconded by the clear testimony of so great a “ called : if the fears of invasion and rebellion be “ number of peers upon the place, propositions so great, that, by an illegal, pretended ordinance, “ and orders for levies of men, horse, and arms, “it is necessary to put his subjects into a posture were sent throughout the kingdom; plate and “ of defence, to array, train, and muster them, he money bronght in and received, horse and men “knows not why the same should not be done in a “ raised towards an army, mustered, and under “regular, known, lawful way. But if, in the ex“ command; and all this contrary to the law, “ecution of that commission, any thing shall be " and to his majesty's proclamation : and a decla- “ unlawfully imposed upon his good subjects, his “ration published, that if he should use force for majesty will take all just and necessary care for “the recovery of Hull, or suppressing the pre “ their redress. “tended ordinance for the militia, it should be “ For his majesty's coming nearer to his parlia"held levying war against the parliament: and ment, his majesty hath expressed himself so fully “ all this done, before his majesty granted any “ in his several messages, answers, and declara“ commission for the levying or raising a man, tions, and so particularly avowed a real fear of His majesty's ships were taken from him, and “his safety, upon such instances as cannot be committed to the custody of the earl of Warwick; “ answered, that he hath reason to take himself “who presumes, under that power, to usurp to somewhat neglected, that, since upon so manifest " himself the sovereignty of the sea, to chase, “reasons it is not safe for his majesty to come to fright, and imprison such of his majesty's good them, both his houses of parliament will not subjects, as desire to obey his lawful commands; come nearer to his majesty, or to such a place although he had notice of the legal revocation of “ where the freedom and dignity of parliament “ the earl of Northumberland's commission of “ might be preserved. However, his majesty shall admiral, whereby all power derived from that “ be very glad to hear of some such example in “ commission ceased. “ their punishing the tumults (which he knows “ Let all the world now judge who began this “not how to expect, when they have declared that war, and upon whose account the miseries, which“ they knew not of any tumults; though the may follow, must be cast ; what his majesty could “ house of peers desired, both for the freedom and “ have done less than he hath done; and whether dignity of parliament, that the house of commons “ he were not compelled to make provision both “ would join with them in a declaration against “ for the defence of himself, and recovery of what “ tumults; which they refused, that is, neglected “ is so violently and injuriously taken from him ; “ to do,) and other seditious actions, speeches, and “and whether these injuries and indignities are writings, as may take that apprehension of “not just grounds for his majesty's fears and appre danger from him; though, when he remembers “ hensions of further mischief and danger to him. “the particular complaints himself hath made of “Whence the fears and jealousies of the petitioners “ businesses of that nature, and that, instead of “ have proceeded, hath never been discovered; the “ inquiring out the authors, neglect of examination dangers they have brought upon his subjects are hath been, when offer hath been made to both too evident; what those are they have prevented, “ houses to produce the authors; as in that treano man knows. And therefore his majesty can “sonable paper concerning the militia : and when not but look upon that charge as the boldest, and “ he sees every day pamphlets published against “ the most scandalous, hath been yet laid upon his crown, and against monarchy itself; as the him ; That this necessary provision, made for his “ observations upon his late messages, declarations, own safety and defence, is to overrule the judg “and expresses; and some declarations of their “ment and advice of his great council; and by own, which give too great encouragement, in “ force to determine the questions there depending, “that argument, to ill-affected persons ; his ma concerning the government and liberty of the * jesty cannot, with confidence, entertain those kingdom. If no other force had been raised to hopes which would be most welcome to him. “ determine those questions, than by his majesty, “ For the leaving delinquents to the due course “ this unhappy misunderstanding had not been : “ of justice, his majesty is most assured he hath “and his majesty no longer desires the blessing “ been no shelter to any such. If the tediousness " and protection of Almighty God upon himself and delay in prosecution, the vast charge in “and his posterity, than he and they shall solemnly “ officers' fees, the keeping men under a general “ observe the due execution of the laws, in the accusation, without trial, a whole year and more, “ defence of parliaments, and the just freedom “ and so allowing them no way for their riefence “ thereof. “and vindication, have frightened men away from For the forces about Hull, his majesty will so chargeable and uncertain attendance, the remove them, when he hath obtained the end é remedy is best provided where the disease grew. “ for which they were brought thither. When “ If the law be the measure of delinquency, none “ Hull shall be reduced again to his subjection, he “ such are within his majesty's protection : but if “will no longer have an army before it. And ' by delinquents such are understood, who are " when he shall be assured, that the same neces “ made so by vote, without any trespass upon any 'sity and pretence of public good, which took “ known or established law: if by delinquents those 66 66 CG 1642.] His majesty's answer to the petition of the parliament. 277 “ nine lords are understood, who are made delin peace of the kingdom, that the whole force and quents for obeying his majesty's summons to strength of it may be united for the defence of come to him, after their stay there was neither itself, and the relief of Ireland, (in whose behalf he is confident, is the greatest breach of privilege, “his majesty, to those who trust them, and to understood, who refuse to submit to the pre “ act of parliament, to be diverted or employed navy; or to any other, which his majesty hath kingdom are ready to mutiny, or perish for want kingdom, in an humble manner, prepare petitions encouragement,) is graciously pleased once more lences of sir John Hotham's, since his burning ing his messages and declarations, as divers " and other provisions for his house, and scorn- industry, to poison and corrupt the loyalty and “and he will keep it; and so refusing to deliver majesty money, in the universities, or in any “ and in taking and detaining prisoners, divers power and strength; and directs, that, in these « occasions ; and such other indignities, as all cases, they submit not to any messengers, or gentlemen must resent in his majesty's behalf,) “ warrant; it being no less his duty to protect “his majesty, to shew his earnest desire of peace, “ those who are innocent, than to bring the guilty “ for which he will dispense with his own honour, to condign punishment; of both which the law " and how far he is from desire of revenge, will for 56 within that town. mands, his majesty must not sit still, and suffer “ be forthwith put into such hands, as he shall “ those ships. offices, as are necessary for the preservation of “ example his majesty hath been forced to make “ For the manner of the proceeding against “all power of imposing laws upon the subject delinquents, his majesty will proceed against “ without his majesty's consent, be disavowed ; “ those who have no privilege of parliament, or in 66 without which, the same pretence will remain "such cases where no privilege is to be allowed, “ to produce the same mischief. All which his as he shall be advised by his learned council, “ majesty may as lawfully demand as to live, and “ and according to the known and unquestionable can with no more justice be denied him, than "rules of the law; it being unreasonable, that he “ his life may be taken from him. by all his confidence and assurance in the affec- “ intended levies ; that there may be a general out of his princely love, tenderness, and com whereby the law may recover its due reverence, 66 66 66 278 Some credulous persons beseech the king to soften his answer. [BOOK V. “ themselves their full vigour and estimation ; “ fore, from the messengers; and, instead thereof, and so the whole kingdom a blessed peace, return the sum matter of his own propositions quiet, and prosperity. “only, in the most soft and gentle language ; “ If these propositions shall be rejected, his ma “ without the preamble, or any mention of their unjesty doubts not of the protection and assistance justifiable and unreasonable demeanour towards “ of Almighty God, and the ready concurrence of os him.” “ his good subjects; who can have no hope left But his majesty replied, “that he had for a long them of enjoying their own long, if their king time, even after great provocations, and their first may be oppressed and spoiled, and must be re general remonstrance to the people, treated with “ mediless. And though his towns, his ships, his “all imaginable compliance and lenity of words arms, and his money, be gotten, and taken from “ with them; and discovered their unjustifiable and “ him, he hath a good cause left, and the hearts “ most extravagant proceedings with and against “ of his people; which, with God's blessing, he him, and the consequences that would inevitably “ doubts not, will recover all the rest. “ attend their progress in them, with such tender Lastly, if the preservation of the protestant expressions, as if he believed whatever was amniss religion, the defence of the liberty and law of the to proceed from misinformation only, and un kingdom, the dignity and freedom of parliament, “ skilful mistakes : that this gentleness and regard “ and the recovery and the relief of bleeding and “ of his was so far from operating upon them, that “ miserable Ireland, be equally precious to the “ their insolence and irregularities increased; and petitioners, as they are to his majesty, (who will “ it might be from that reason, [that] their mes“ have no quarrel but in defence of these,) there sages and declarations were written in so high a “ will be a cheerful and speedy .consent to what dialect, and with that sovereignty of language, as “ his majesty hath now proposed and desired : “ if he were subject to their jurisdiction, and he “and of this his majesty expects a full and posi did not know but it might have some influence “ tive answer by Wednesday the 27th of this upon his people to his disadvantage, that is, raise “ instant July; till when he shall not make any “ terror towards them, and lessen their reverence attempt of force upon Hull, hoping in the affec “ towards his majesty, when all their petitions and “tion, duty, and loyalty of the petitioners : and, “ propositions were more imperative than his just “ in the mean time, expects that no supply of men “and necessary refusals : which condescension his “ be put into Hull, or any of his majesty's goods majesty had brought himself to, in hope, that his “ taken from thence.” example, and their natural shame, would have The whole court, upon the hearing that petition “ reformed that new license of words : that this from the two houses read, expressed a marvellous “ last address, under the name of a petition, (a few indignation at the intolerable indignities offered days after they had violently ravished his whole to the king by it; and seemed no better satisfied “ fleet from him; and prepared the same day, that with the messengers; who had professed, that they they had chosen a general, to whom they had brought an absolute submission to his majesty; sworn allegiance, to lead an army against him,) when, in truth, what they brought appeared to be “ contained a peremptory justification of whatsoa full justification of whatsoever they had done ever they had done, and as peremptory a threatbefore, and an implied threat of doing worse, and “ening of whatsoever they could do : and therefixing all the scandals upon his majesty, which “ fore, if he should now retract his answer, which they had scattered abroad before: insomuch as “ had been solemnly considered in council, before all men expected and believed his majesty to be “ all the peers, and which in truth implied rather engaged, for the vindication of his princely dignity a princely resentment of the indignities offered and honour, to return a much sharper answer to to him, than flowed with any sharp or bitter them than he had ever sent. So that, when this expressions, he should, by such yielding, give which is before set down (and which had before encouragement to new attempts; and could not been consented to, and approved in the full as “ but much discourage those, upon whose affecsembly of the peers and counsellors) was read “tions and loyalty he was principally to depend ; publicly, it was generally thought, that the king “ who could not think it safe to raise themselves had not enough resented the insolence and usur to an indignation on his behalf, when he expation of the parliament, or appeared sensible pressed so tender or so little sense of his own enough of the provocations : yet the thought of a sufferings : besides, that he was then upon an war, which wise men saw actually levied upon the “ avowed hostile enterprise for the reduction of king already, was so much abhorred, and men “ Hull; towards which he was to use all possible were so credulous of every expedient which was means to draw force together, equal to that pretended for peace, that by the next morning design; and by such a retractation as this pro(the answer being delivered in the evening) these posed, and a seeming declension of his spirit, active messengers for the parliament persuaded “ and depending upon their good natures, who many “that the king's answer was too sharp, and “ had done all this mischief, he should not only would provoke the houses, who were naturally “ be inevitably disappointed of the resort of new passionate, to proceed in the high ways they were strength, but, probably, deserted by those few “in; whereas, if the king would abate that severity “ whom he had brought together : that he could “ of language, and would yet take off the preamble “not reasonably or excusably depend upon the “ of his answer, they were confident, and the earl undertaking of the earl of Holland; who had “ of Holland privately offered to undertake, that so grossly deceived him in other undertakings, “ satisfaction should be given to all that his ma “ which were immediately in his own power to jesty proposed.” And, by this means, some “ have performed : whereas neither he, or either were so far wrought upon, as they earnestly im “ of the other two gentlemen, who were joined portuned the king, that he would take his answer, “ with him in this employment, had so much “ which he had publicly delivered the night be- | “ interest with the active and prevailing party, 1642.] Some unpleasant occurrences during the king's stay at Leicester. 279 as to know more of their intentions than was went to Doncaster; and the next day to Notting“ at present necessary to be discovered for their ham; and so to Leicester ; where he heard the concurrence. earl of Stamford, and some other parliament men, dertakings and promises of those, who were shut their gates against the king himself, as Hull depended, that it should be no disservice to him, expressions of duty and loyalty, by the appearance sobriety and moderation : and when they found reputation for learning and integrity; and who, in they might seem still to lead, themselves as there as judge; and Mr. Henry Hastings, younger to his majesty with some new expedient, as high sheriff, to contain the county within the limits possibly prevail upon the affections of those, from town but few hours before his majesty's entrance, as upon such plain and avowed courses, as, let magazine of the county, in a little storehouse at the “ the success be what it would, must, to all judg- end of the town, guarded by some inferior officers, ing men, appear to be prudently and honourably whom they had brought down to train and exercise to be relied on: and therefore he positively re- the militia, and other zealous and devoted men of insolence to be suffered; and, upon the matter, to other militia men, were newly gone out of the town, bear any part. |