To the Kings most excellent Maiestie.
The humble Petition of the Baronets, Esquires, Ministers, Gentlemen, Free-holders, and others peaceably affected in the Countie Palatine of LANCASTER.
OVr heartbreaking sense & sorrow for the unhappy Rents & Distractions in your Majesties Dominions, especially in the time of the Session of so grave & godly a [...] Assembly (most graciously convened by your Majestie) endevouring the Glory of Almightie God in the Reformation of Religion, and the Honour and Weal of your Majesty, and your Realms in setling and securing of your Royall Throne in plenty and peace. But perceiving the long and remote distance of your Majesty from that Honorable Assembly to have distracted the hearts of your good Subjects, and animated the Popish and Malignant party among us, and fearing it may expose us to the danger and fury of a forreigne foe, retard the setling of the weighty affaires in our Land, and the subduing of the Rebels in Ireland, and finding your Majesties late Resolution for that Expedition to threaten danger to your Royall Person, far more worth then ten thousand of us.
We therefore your Majesties most loyall Subjects out of our zeale to Gods true Religion, your Majesties Honour and safety, and the peace and welfare of your Dominions, and out of the deep sense and apprension of our interest in the same, doe in all humility present and prostrate our selves and supplication at your Royall feet, beseeching your Majesty to return to your great Councell (the Representative Body of your Kingdome) in whom this Nation hath so far confided, that they have intrusted them with their lives, liberties, and in which multitude of Counsel [...]ours, there is health and stedfastnesse, and whereby your Royall Throne may be established in Righteousnesse, and we with the rest of your faithfull Subjects shall continually prayse and pray for your prosperous and happy Reigne over us.
At the Court at Yorke, XI th May. 1642.
His Majestie hath expresly Commanded me to give you this his Answer to your Petition.
THat this Petition (as some others of this Nature) is grounded upon mis-information, and (being grieved and highly offended to see how his good People have been, and are abused by false Rumours and Intelligences (which have procured causelesse feares, and Apprehensions) refers the Petitioners to the Answers he hath given to the Declaration presented to him at New-Market, and to the Petition presented to him the 26. of March last at Yorke, wherein his Majesty faith, you will cleerely perceive that he is not gone, but driven from his Parliament; His Majesty likewise for your further information of His proceedings and intentions, recommends to your view and consideration his two Messages and Declaration concerning Hull, and his Message touching the Reasons of his refusall to grant the Militia: all which when they shall be fully represented to the rest of your County, he doubts not but that you will rest very well satisfied of his constant Resolution for the maintaining of, and governing his People by the Law of the Land, his unmoveable resolution for the maintenance, and defence of the true Protestant profession, and the Suppression of the Barbarous Irish Rebellion: And his Majestie faith, that he beleeves you may then find reason to Petition the Parliament to Comply with his Majesties just Desires and gracious Offers, which is the only way safely and speedily to Cure the present distractions of this Kingdome and (with Gods Blessing) to put a happy end to the Irish Rebellion, for the effecting whereof (as his Majestie hath often said) he will neither spare paines, nor decline any hazard of his Person or Fortune.
Printed at London by A. N. for Iohn Franke. 1642.