May the 16. 1642.

HIS MAIESTIES RESOLVTION CONCERNING The Establishment of Religion and Church-government.

ALSO, HIS MAJESTIES SPEECH TO THE GENTRY of the County of York, Attending His Majesty at the City of York, on Thursday the 12. of May. 1642.

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.

John Brown Cler Parliament.

Printed for I. Tomson, and A. Coe, 1642.

Die Jovit 12. May, 1642.
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 whatsoe­ver 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 Commends, or the Instructions of both Houses, given unto them, shall be held Disturbers of the proceedings of Parliament, and publike 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, against 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 affistance from both Houses of Parliament.

Ordered by the Lordes and Commons assembled in Parl ament, That the abovesaid Declaration shall be forthwith Printed and Published,

John Brown Cler. Perl.

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] [...] [Page] [...] [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.

Wherupon, 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, unwil­ing 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.

Wherfore 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.

His Majesties Speech to the Gentry of the Countie of YORK, attending his Majestie at the Citie of YORK, On Thursday the 12. of May, 1642.

GEntlemen, I have cause of altering what I meant to say when I gave out the summons for this dayes appearance, I little thought of these Mes­sengers, or of such a Message as they brought, the which, because it confirms me in what I intend to speak, and that I desire you should be truly informed of all passages between me and the Parliament, you shall here read, First, my Answer to the Declaration of both Houses concerning Hull, the Answer [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]of the Parliament to my two Messages concerning Hull, together with my Reply to the same, and my Message to both Houses, declaring the Reasons why I refused to passe the Bill concerning the Militia.

All which being read, his Majestie proceeded.

I Will make no paraphrases upon what ye have heard, it more befitting a Lawyer then a King, only this observation, since Yreason is countenanced so neer me, it is time to look to my safety: I avow it was part of my wonder that men (whom I thought heretofore discreet, and moderate) should have undertaken this imployment, and that since they came (I having delivered them the Answer: you have heard, and commanded them to return perso­nally with it to the Parliament) should have flatly disobeyed me upon pretence of the Parliaments command. My end in telling you this is, is to warn you of them, for since these men have brought me such a Message, and diso­beyed so lawfull a Command. I will not say what their intent of staying here is, only. I bid you take heed, not knowing what doctrine of disobedience they may preach to you, under colour of obeying the Parliament. Hitherto I have found and kept you quiet, the enjoying of which was a chief cause of my comming hither (Tumults and disorders having made me leave the South) & not to make this a seat of War, as malice would (but I hope in vain) make you beleeve; Now if disturbances do come, I know whom I have reason to sus­pect. To be short, you see that my Magazine is going to be taken from mee (being my own proper goods) directly against my will; The Militia (against Law and my consent) is going to be put in execution. And lastly, Sir Iohn Ho­thams Treason is countenanced; All this considered, none can blame mee to apprehend dangers. Therfore I have thought fit (upon these reall grounds) to tell you, That I am resolved to have a Guard, the Parliament having had one all this while upon imaginary jealousies, only to secure my person. In which I desire your concurrence and assistance, and that I may be able to protect you, the Laws, and the true Protestant profession from any affront or injury that may be offered, which I mean to maintain my self without charge to the Countrey, intending no longer to keep them on foot, then I shall be secured of my just Apprehensions by having satisfaction in the particulars before mentioned.

Printed at Yorke, and now reprinted at London for Andrew Coe. 1642.

FINIS.
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