THE House of Commons having with aff [...]ctionate zeal to the publick good of this Kingdome, and loyall fidelity to the Imperiall Crowne, presented thei [...] Petition to his M [...]je­sty, and wi [...]h [...]ll receiving so gracious an answer to their Petition, doe withall obsequious hum [...]lity ac­cept the same with gr [...]ti [...]ude, and resp [...]ctively doe thus reply to his M [...]j [...]sties answer to their Petition. Your M [...]j [...]st [...]es good hopes that your graciou [...] Mes­sag [...] the twentieth of this mon [...]h to both Houses, would have produced some such over [...]ur, which, by offering what is fit on our parts to doe and what is proper for your M [...]j [...]sty to grant, might [...] get a mutu [...]ll confidence in each other: these (we s [...]y) good hopes of y [...]u [...] M [...]j [...]sty are yet nei [...]er f [...]u­str [...]te, nor scarce retarded for w [...] endeav [...]u [...] with sedulou [...] diligence rather to stre [...]then an [...] corro­ [...]or [...]te, then in any wise to debil [...] the sa [...] reci­p [...]ocall conjunction, and mutuall co-op [...]ration.

Concerning the Tower of London, wee did greatly suspect that your Majesty having preferred a person of a fortune (though perhaps better known to your Majesty) yet unknowne to us, and the City, and in that regard of a questionable reputation to that trust, would be graciously pleased, and respe­ctively induced (and not thereunto pressed) to re­move him, many particular charges being there in agitation to be objected against him, and therefore we returne this answer, that if hereafter upon due examination many particulars shall be presented to your Majesty, whereby it shall appeare, that your Majesty was respectively mistaken in your good o­pinion of the Gentleman, and that he is suspected to be unfit for the trust committed to him, your Majesty will make no scruple in discharging him, for otherwise (wee acknowledge) your Majesty is obliged in justice to yourself to preserve your own worke, that your favour and good opinion may prove a great advantage, and the highest fortune to your servants without any other preferment, of which your Majesty needs not to doubt, but this House of Commons would have beene so imparti­ally t [...]nder (as of all businesse wherein your Maje­sties honour is so much concerned) that if they had not found many materiall exceptions against his person, they would have rather endeavoured to satisfie and reforme the feares of other men, then (by complying with them) induce your M [...]jesty to any resolu [...]ion, which may seem so much to reflect upon your Honour and Iustice.

For the Forts and Castles of the Kingdome wee [Page] are obsequiously most gratefull, that your M [...]jesty is so graciously resolved, that they sh [...]ll [...]lwaies be in such hands, and onely in such, as the Parlia [...]ent may safely confide in; yet we were more sollici­tous for the common safety of the Realme, and therefore we presumed to elect deserving per­sons for the same; but withall (wee confess [...]) the nomination of any person to those places being so principall and inseparable a flower of your Crowne vested in you, and derived to you from your Ance­stors, by the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome, you may reserve to your selfe; in bestowing where­of, as your Majesty will t [...]ke care that no corrupt or sinister courses shall prevaile with you, so your M [...] ­jesty is graciously willing to declare that you will not bee induced to express [...] that favour so soone to any one, as to those whose good demeanour sh [...]ll bee eminent to you, or your Parliament. And we are very respective to heare of your Majesties so gracious conjunction with us, wherein you de­clare, that if you have now or shall at any time by mis-information confer such trust upon an unde­serving person, you are, and alwaies will be ready to leave him to the Wisdome and Iustice of your Parliament.

As for our petitionary desire for the Militia of the Kingdome, your Majesty hath given us a most plenary and contentive Answer to the great satis­faction of us all (which Militia we likewise acknow­ledge, by the Law is subject to no comm [...]nd but of your M [...]jesty, and of authority lawfully derived from you) that when any particular course for or­dering [Page] the same (which your Majesty, as is decla­red, holds very necessary for the peace and security of your Kingdome) sh [...]ll bee considered, ( [...]s your M [...]jesty hath expr [...]ssed) and digested by you [...] Par­liament, and proposed to you, your M [...]j [...]sty will be pleased to returne such an Answer as shall be agree­able to your Honour, and the safety of your P [...]ople: you have beene graciously pleased to answer us so fully in every particular proposition herein, that we are respectively satisfied. A [...]d wee doe moreover willingly subscribe to that, wherein your M [...]j [...]sty is resolved to impose the [...]l [...]ction on our parts, but onely to deny those things, the granting whereof would alter the fundamentall Lawes, and endanger the very foundation, upon which the publike happi­nesse and welfare of your peo [...]le is founded, and constituted, and would nourish a greater and more destructive jealousie betwixt the Crowne and the Subjects, then any of these, which would seeme to bee taken away by such a satisf [...]ction. And your M [...]jesty need not to doubt, or have the least dubi­tation, that your having granted more then ever King hath granted, will ever perswade your House of Commons to aske more then ever Subjects have asked. And wee most humbly gratifie your Maje­sty for your gracious solicitation for, and conjuncti­on with us, in that you have declared, that if wee shall acqu [...]int your M [...]j [...]sty with the particular grounds of our doub [...]s and feares, you will very willingly apply remedies proportion [...]ll to those feares. For we call God to witnesse, that the invio­lation of your Imperiall Crowne, and the preserva­tion [Page] of the publike peace, the Lawes and liberties of the Subjects, shall alwayes bee our chiefest care and industry, as of our owne lives, and the lives of our dearest friends. And therefore wee by all the Acts of Iustice and favour, that wee have received from you this P [...]rliament, by our hopes of future happines in your Majesty, and in one anothers love of Religion, and peace of this Kingdome (in which that of Ireland shall not be forgotten) that wee will not be transported with jealousies, and apprehen­sions of possible dangers, to put our selves and your Majesty into reall and present inconveniences, but that we will speedily pursue the way proposed by your Majesties former message, which you in hu­mane reason are the onely way to compose, and both co [...]un [...]tely to mi [...]igate the distractions of the Kingdome, in a conjoyned concurrance of our de­terminations: and with Gods propitious blessings wee shall thereby restore a great measure of felicity to King, Parliament, and whole Realme.