YOur Majesties most loyall and faithfull Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, have duely considered the Message re­ceived from your Majesty con­cerning your purpose of going into Ireland in your own Person, to prosecute the War there with the bodies of your English subjects, leavied, transport­ed, and maintained at their charge; which you are pleased to propound to us, not as a matter wherein your Majesty desires the advice of your Parliament, but as already firmly resolved on, and forthwith to be put in execution, by granting out Commissions for the leavying of 2000 Foot, and 200 Horse for a Guard for your Person when you shall come into that Kingdom; Wherein we cannot choose but with all reverence and humility to your Majesty, observe, That you have declined your great Councell, the Parliament, and varyed from the usuall course of your Royall Predecessors, that a businesse of so great importance, concerning the peace and safety of all your Subjects, and wherein they have a speciall inte­rest by your Majesties promises, and by those great sums which they have disbursed, and for which they [Page 4] stand engaged, should be concluded and undertaken without their advice: Whereupon we hold it our dury to declare, That if at this time your Majesty shall go into Ireland, you will very much endanger the safety of your Royall Person and Kingdome, and of all other States professing the Protestant Religion in Christendom, and make way to that cruell and bloudy designe of the Papists every where, to root out and destroy the Reformed Religion, as the Irish Papists have in a great part already effected in that King­dom, and in all likely-hood would quickly be at­tempted in other plac [...]s, if the consideration of the strength and union of the two Nations of England and Scotland did not much hinder and discourage the execution of any such designe: And that we may manifest unto your Majesty the danger and misery which such a journey and enterprise would procure, we present to your Majesty the Reasons of this our humble Opinion and Advice.

• I. Your Royall Person will be subject, not onely to the casualty of War, but to secret practices and conspiracies, especially your Majesty continuing your profession to maintain the Protestant Religion in that Kingdome, which the Papists are generally bound by their vow to extirpate.
• II. It will exceedingly encourage the Rebells, who do generally professe and declare, That your Majesty doth favour and allow their proceedings, and this Insurrection was undertaken by the Warrant of your Commission; and it will make good th [...]ir ex­pectation [Page 5] of great advantage by your Majesties Pre­sence at this time of so much distr [...]ction in this King­dome, whereby they may hope we shall be disabled to supply the War there, especially there appearing lesse necessity of your Majesties Journey at this time, by reason of the manifold successes which God hath given against them.
• III. It will much hinder and impair the means whereby this War is to be supported, [...]nd encrease the charge of it, and in both these respects, make it more insupportable to your Subjects; And this we can confidently affirm, because many of the Adven­turers, who have already subscribed, do upon the knowledge of your Majesties intentions, declare their resolutions not to pay in their money, and others very willing to have subscribed, do now professe the contrary.
• IV. Your Majesties absence must necessarily very much interrupt the proceedings of Parliament, and deprive your Subjects of the benefit of those further Acts of Grace, and Justice, which we shall humbly expect from your Majesty, for the establishing of perfect Union, and mutuall confidence b [...]twixt your Majesty, and your People, and procuring and con­firming the prosperity and happinesse of both.
• V. It will exceedingly encrease the jealousies and fears of your People, and render the doubts of your Subjects, more probable of some force intended by some evill Councels neer your Majestie, in opposition [Page 6] to the Parliament, and favour of the malignant party of the Kingdom.
• VI. It will bereave your Parliament of that ad­vantage, whereby they were induced to undertake this War upon your Majesties promise, that it should be mannaged by their advice, which cannot be done if your Majesty contrary to their Councell, shall undertake to Order and Govern it in your own Person.

Upon which, and divers others Reasons, we have resolved, by the full and concurring agreement of both Houses, That we cannot with the duty which belongs to us, consent to any levies, or raising of Souldiers to be made by your Majesty, for this your intended expedition into Ireland, or to the payment of any Army, or Souldiers there; but such as shall be employed and governed according to our advice and direction; and that if such Levies shall be made by any such Commission of your Majesty, not agreed to by both Houses of Parliament, we shall be forced to interpret the same to be raised to the terror of your People, and disturbance of the publike Peace, and hold our selves bound by the Laws of the Kingdom, to apply the authority of Parliament to suppresse the same.

And we do further, most humbly declare, That if your Majesty shall by ill Councell be perswaded to go, contrary to this advice of your Parliament (which we hope your Majesty will not:) We do not in that case hold our Selves bound to submit to any [Page 7] Commissioners which your Majestie shall chuse, but do resolve to preserve and govern the Kingdom by the Councell and advice of your Parliament, for your Majesty, and your Posterity, according to our Allegiance, and the Law of the Land.

Wherefore we humbly pray, and advise your Ma­jesty to desist from this your intended passage into Ireland, and of all preparation of Men and Arms tending thereunto and to leave the mannaging of that Warre to your Majesties Parliament, according to your Majesties promise, made unto us, and your Roy­all Commission, granted under your great Seal of England, by advice of both Houses; In prosecution whereof, by Gods blessing, we have made a prospe­rous entrance by many defeats of the Rebels; where­by they are much weakned, and disheartned, and have no probable means of subsistance if our pro­ceedings shall not be interrupted by this interpositi­on of your Majesties journey, but that we may hope upon good grounds, that within a short time, without hazard of your Majesties Person, and so much dan­gerous confusion to your Kingdoms, which must needs ensue, if you should proceed in this Resolution, we shall be enabled fully to Vindicate your Majesties Right and Authority in that Kingdom, and punish those horrible and outragious cruelties which have been committed in the murthering, and spoiling so many of your Subjects, and bring that Realm to such a condition, as may be much for the advantage of your Majesty and this Crown, the honour of your Government and Contentment of your People; for the better and more speedy effecting whereof, we do [Page 8] again renew our humble desires of your return to your Parliament; And that you will please to reject all Councels, and Apprehensions which may any way derogate from the faithfulnesse, and allegiance, which in truth, and sincerity, we have alwayes borne, and professed to your Majesty, and shall ever make good to the uttermost, with our lives and fortunes.