OUt of the long and continuall love and affection, and also in respect of your continuall expressions of kindnesse and curtesie extended unto me, where by you have obliged me unto a necessary gra­titude, I could not neglect my service unto you, whereby you may aswell taste of our joy and comfort, as you have formerly un­derstood of our jealousies and fears, justly conceived in these parts; occasioned here amongst us by reason of his Majesties ab­sence and alienation from the Honourable House of Parliament, and by reason of his a­bode amongst us here in these Northerne parts: For since his Majesties residence a­mongst us, we have had continuall rumours of Civill Warres in this Kingdome, no dis­course almost stirring, but what hath pos­sest the Subjects hearts with feare and terror, by reason of the continuall expectation of [Page] blood and mischief. But now we hope all things are at the worst, and that the blessed Sun of peace and prosperitie, which hath long slept under a discontented cloud, will break forth, and with its happy and cheere­full beams, warm the benummed estate of this distracted State and Kingdome. I may indeed truly call it distracted, and distempe­red, when a generall malady had over-run and over-spread the whole body, so that one continuall grief had disquieted the Head, and all the members, both Head and members suffering a most grievous and terrible mala­die, which daily did beget in all true hearts, the fear and expectation of ruine and destru­ction, which must of necessitie ensue the dis­agreement of the King and Parliament. I doubt not but you have heard of the Decla­rations which have been published on both sides, both by his Majestie and the Houses of Parliament, which have taken but small ef­fect, so that the maladie of this Kingdome yet remains unrelieved.

Upon the seventh of June last, since His Majestie gave answer unto the last Declara­tion of the House of Parliament, his Maje­stie [Page] at an Assembly of the Peers and Coun­cell which were then present with him at York, declared his last intentions unto them, and resolved them that this his last and ab­solute determination, was to set up his Stan­dard, and that since he could not win and perswade the Houses of Parliament to con­sent unto his desires, that he would defend himself by his sword, and by that meanes secure his Crown and Royall prerogatives; which he said he well understood they had an aim and intention to abridge and deprive him of.

This Resolution was diversly received and entertained among the Nobles, some being resolute to hazard all, both their per­sons, lives and fortunes, in this His Maje­sties Resolution, and to endeavour by all means to justifie his undertakings; Others upon more mature consultation and delibe­ration, were of another mind, and thought that by this meanes they could not acquit themselves of the fidelitie imposed upon them for the generall good and benefit of the whole Kingdome.

[Page]So that induced by these and other faithfull and mature considerations, as in duty, and by oath they stood bound, they did apply themselves to divert his Majesty from this his intention and determination, whereby his Majesty did perceive his Majesty might bring a ruine unto this Nation, and also that it was impossible by this meanes to ef­fect his determined purpose without the danger and losse of those who were most neere and deare unto him, and in whose fi­delity his Majesty did repose his trust and confidence, and also out of their loyaltie and care informed his Majesty, that they feared that those who had possessed his Majesties eares and breast with this evill and destru­ctive counsell, they did very much feare would at the time of most hazard and dan­ger, be backward and unwilling to put his will in execution. These perswasive reasons could not alter his Majesties resolution for the present, but he seemed to be somewhat displeased with their advise; Whereupon some of his counsell whose hearts and inte­gritie stood well affected to the State, left his Majestie, viz. the Earle of Dorset, the Earle [Page] of Salisbury, the Earle of Clare, with one Lord more whose name for the present I canot remember, took their leave and would have come for London. Afterwards Sir John Banks endevored to perswade His Majestie to make His return to London; Which at first seemed as pleasing to his Majestie as to the Subject desirous of this most happy union, and it received such welcome entertainment with His Majestie, that he was graciously pleased to prepare himself for London. This was most welcome newes, and gave a gene­rall and ample satisfaction to all, but those whose aimes are the difference between His Majestie and the loyall Subject. Much joy was at the first conceived and expressed, and and in this joy and comfort the night was spent. But joy and grief have their continual succession, and seldome is joy of a long con­tinuance, for now when the morning vvas come, and the accomplishment of their con­ceived joy vvas expected, a suddain cloud overspread their cheerfull breasts, and a new discontent vvas spread through those parts, for His Majesties resolution vvas quite alte­red from what he had over night determi­ned, [Page] which did cause a generall sorrow in all true hearts; the cause of this so suddain change, is not as yet made known, but tis supposed that His Majestie was moved thus so suddainly to alter his resolution, by the wicked advice of some malignant and dan­gerous spirits, who are near His Majesties person.

Thus have I enformed you of the last proceedings that have happened amongst us, God in his good time settle all things, that this Nation again may flourish: So I hum­bly take my leave, and rest