May the 18. 1642.
HIS MAIESTIES LAST PROCLAMATION, May the Fourteenth, 1642.
ALSO, HIS MAJESTIES RESOLVTION CONCERNING The Establishment of Religion and Church-government.
Whereunto is annexed, The Declaration of both Houses of Parliament, May the 12. 1642.
Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this Declaration bee forthwith published in Print.
Printed for I. Tomson, and A. Coe, 1642.
By the King
WHeras, upon Summons from Us, divers Gentlemen of this our County of York did attend Us upon Thursday the 18. of this instant May, when We declared Our Resolution for the Reasons then delivered by Us, to have a guard to secure and defend Our person, and desired therin the concurren [...]e and assistance of the Gentry of this County. And wheras divers Gentlemen of this County, for many Reasons and Occasions, could not then appear to receive Our pleasure on that behalf, wherunto divers have subscribed. We have therefore thought good herebe to give notice as well to those Gentlemen who were not then present, as to those who did then attend Us, that Our Command is, That as well those Gentlemen who are charged with Horse, as others appear at York upon Friday the 20. of this month, in such manner and equipage as will be convenient for the Guard of our person. And we require and command, that in the interim no other Warrants, Order, or Command whatsoever shall distract or h [...]nder this Our service, and we further will [...]nd comm [...]nd that thrs Our Order be forthwith publishid by the Sheriffe of this Our County: for which this shall be sufficient Warrent.
Giuen at our Court at York, the fourteenth day of May in the eighteenth Yeere of our Reigne, 1642.
Imprinted at Yorke, by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: and the Assings of Iohn Bill 1642.
And reprinted at London for Andrew Coe.
HIS MAIESTIES RESOLUTION, Concerning the Laws of this Realm, and the Protestant Profession.
THe humble Desires of the Subject have bin very graciously entertained and welcommed, and the Petitioners themselves have departed satisfied and contented.
But as yet the sick Church hath not bin purged from her malignant distempers, neither hath she as yet taken an [Page]Antidote to preserve her from the Venome and poyson of Romes malice.
These manifold Petitions, with the earnest supplications of his Majesties most loyall Subjects, did cause a deep impression in his Royal consideration, and also His Majesty having rightly & consideratly weighed the disquiet of His Subjects, occasioned by so weighty a cause, knowing that Salus populi is Suprema Lex, the safety and welfare of the Subject is and ought to be the Princes greatest care, hath bin graciously pleased to Declare himself, and publish his intention concerning the Government of the Church.
His Majesty hath formerly for the satisfaction of the subject, Declared himself to be a true maintainer of the true and ancient Protestant Religion, and hath denyed all coherence with the Church of Rome.
And hee hath also now of late, to give a full and plenary satisfaction unto all, resolved upon a general Reformation. And to this purpose hath consented, that the main matters [Page]of difference which have occasioned all these distractions, shall be framed, and discussed by a number of grave, wise, and Religious Divines, which shall be thought fit by the House of Parliament, every County electing two for this so great and weighty a businesse, that so all things being according to Gods true word, scand and examined, by the iudicious and religious Judgments of those worthy persons, the truth may appear, light and instructions may be given unto Authority, and by their power and uniformity of Government and worship, agreeable to Gods Word, may be stiled in the Church.
And his Majesty did further declare, that it was always his care and desire, that all offensive and unnecessary adjuncts whatsoever might be removed and taken away, that so the tender Conscience might not apprehend any cause to slight and neglect the obeservation of Religious duties
The enemies a gainst this Kingdome occasioned by the discontented spirits of the Catholick faction, have at last wakened [Page]his confident thoughts, and he now most seasonably conceives the hazard which was like by that means to seize the security of the Kingdom.
Wherfore the better to effect and perfect his so well begun Resolution, hath given strict and severe apprehension of all Catholiques, for their disarming, and unlesse they will take the Oath of Supremacie for their imprisonment.
Neither do his waking and vigilant cares rest here, but out of his tender respect and affection to his Subjects, will with all speed prevent the growth of the insuing dangers, which must succeed the increase of Papists in this Kingdome.
Whereupon, being moved with the Consideration of those insuing Evils, he hath taken Order for the expulsion of all Priests, and Jesuits whatsoever from out of His Majesties Dominions, and if any shall be taken whose contumacious spirit shall dare to oppose, and contempt this His Majesties most Royall [Page]Authority, That then His Majesty will leave them to the Justice of the Law, and will deny unto them the expression of any favour, but what the Law in Justice and Equity shall think their contumacious offence may deserve.
They shall not now as in former times rely and depend upon His Majesties Clemency, and so take advantage of His Majesties mournfull disposition, to bail and maintain their Hereticall and unjustifiable courses.
He now perceives that his indulgency, their Errours, and his tendernesse of their lives and p [...]rsons, unwilling to merit the Name of a severe Prince, hath very much encouraged them, whereby they have taken more then civill Liberty to seduce his loving people, and subvert both the Laws and Liberty of this Kingdom.
Wherefore he is now resolved, that Justice shall take its free and uncontradicted course against them, and that all favour and clemency shall be as free from them, as their practises are from Justice and Conscience.
The Declaration of both Houses of Parliament.
THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do declare, That they are resolv'd to maintain those Lords and Gentlemen, Committees of both Houses of Parliament residing at York, in those things they have done, and shall further do in obedience of their Commands for the preserving the peace of the Kingdom.
The Lords and Commons do Declare, That if any person whatsoeever shall Arrest, or Imprison the persons of those Lords and Gentlemen or any of them, or any other member of either House, that are, or shal be imployed in the service of both Houses of Parliament; or shall offer violence to them, or any of them for doing of any thing in pursuance of their Commands, or the Instructions of both Houses, given unto them, shall be held Disturbers of the proceeding [...] of Parliament and pub [...]ike enemies of the State. And that all persons are bound by their Protestation, to endeavour to bring them to condign punishment.
The Lords and Commons do declare, That those of the City of London and all other parsons that have obaied the Ordinance for the Militia and done any thing in execution thereof, Have done it according to the Law of the Land, and in pursuance of what they were commanded by both Houses of Parliament, and for the defence and safety of the King and Kingdom, And shall have the assistance of both Houses of Parl [...]ament aga [...]nst any that shall presume to question them, for yeilding their obedience to the said command in this necessary and important service; And that whosoever shall obey the said Ordinance for the time to come, shall receive the same approbation and assistance from both Houses of Parliament.
Ordered by the Lordes and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the abovesaid Declaration shall bee forthwith Printed and Published.