ALthough the Expressions in your Majesties Message of the second of this instant March, do give just cause of sorrow to us your faith­full Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parlia­ment, yet it is not without some mixture of confi­dence and hope, considering they proceeded from the mis-apprehension of our Actions and Intenti­ons, which having no ground of Truth or Reality, may by your Majesties Justice and Wisdom be remo­ved when your Majestie shalbe fully informed, that those fears and jealousies of ours, which your Ma­jestie thinks to be causlesse, and without any just ground, do necessarily and clearly arise from those dangers and distempers, into which the mischievous and evill Counsels about you have brought this Kingdom; And that those other fears and jealou­sies, by which your favour, your Royall Presence, and confidence have been withdrawn from your Parliament, have no foundation or subsistance in any action, intention, or miscarriage of ours, but are [Page 4]meerly grounded upon the falshood and malice of those, who, for the supporting and fomenting their own wicked designs, against the Religion and Peace of the Kingdom, do seek to deprive your Majestie of the Strength and Affection of your People, them of your Grace and Protection, and thereby to sub­ject both your Royall Person, and the whole King­dom to ruine and destruction.

To satisfie your Majesties judgement and Con­science in both these points, we desire to make a clear and free Declaration of the causes of our fears and jealousies, which we offer to your Majestie. in these particulars:

1. That the design of altering Religion in this, and in your other Kingdoms, hath been potently carried on by those in greatest Authority about you for divers yeers together, the Queens Agent at Rome, and the Popes Agent or Nuncio here, are not onely evidences of this design, but have been great Actors in it.

2. That the War with Scotland was procured to make way for this intent, and chiefly invited and fo­mented by the Papists, and others popishly affected, whereof we have many evidences, especially their free and generall contribution to it.

3. That the Rebellion in Ireland was framed and contrived here in England, and that the English Pa­pists should have risen about the same time, we have severall testimonies, and advertisements from Ireland; and that it is a common speech amongst the Rebels, wherewith concur other Evidences and observations of the suspitions, meetings, and con­sultations, [Page 5]the tumultuary and seditious carriage of those of that Religion in divers parts of this King­dom, about the time of the breaking out of the Irish Rebellion; The deposition of O Connelly, the Infor­mation of M ^r. Cole Minister, the Letter of Trestram Whitcombe, the deposition of Thomas Crant, and many others which we may produce, do all agree in this. The publike Declaration of the Lords, Gentlemen, and others of the Pale, that they would joyn with the Rebels, whom they call the Irish Army, or any other, to recover unto His Majestie His Royall Pre­rogative, wrested from him by the Puritan faction in the Houses of Parliament in England, and to main­tain the same against all others, as also to maintain Episcopall Jurisdiction, and the lawfulnesse thereof; these two being the Quarrels, upon which His Ma­jesties late Army in the North should have been in­censt against us.

The great cause we have to doubt that that late design stiled, The Queens pious intention, was for the alteration of Religion in this Kingdom; for successe whereof, the Popes Nuncio, the Count Rosetti in­joyned Fasting and Praying to be observed every Week by the English Papists; which appeared to us by one of the Originall Letters, directed by him to a Priest in Lancashire.

The boldnesse of the Irish Rebells, in affirming they do nothing, but by Authority from the King; That they call themselves the Queens Army: That the prey or booty which they take from the English, they mark with the Queens Mark: That their pur­pose was to come to England, after they had done [Page 6]in Ireland, and sundry other things of this kinde, proved by O Connelli, and divers others, especially in the fore-mentioned Letter from Trestram White­combe, the Major of Kinsale, to his Brother Benjamin Whitecombe, wherein there is this passage, That ma­ny other strange speeches they utter, about Religi­on, and our Court of England, which he dares not commit to paper.

The manifold attempts to provoke Your Majesties late Army, and the Army of the Scots, and to raise a faction in the City of London, and other parts of the Kingdom: That those who have been Actors in those businesses, have had their dependance, their countenance, and encouragement from the Court; Witnesse the Treason whereof Master Iermyn and others stand accused, who was transported beyond Sea by Warrant, under Your Majesties Hand, after Your Majesty had given Assurance to Your Parlia­ment, that Your Majesty had laid a strict command upon all your Servants, that none of them should depart from Court: And that dangerous Petition, deliverd to Captain Legg by your Majesties own Hand, accompanied with a Direction, Signed with C. R.

The false and scandalous accusation against the Lord Kymbolton, and the five Members of the House of Commons, tendred to the Parliament by your Majesties own Command, endeavoured to be justi­fied in the City, by your own presence and perswa­sion, and to be put in execution upon their persons, by your Majesties demand of them in the House of Commons, in so terrible and violent a manner, as [Page 7]farre exceeded all former breaches of Priviledges of Parliament, acted by your Majesty, or any of your Predecessors: And whatsoever your own in­tentions were, divers bloody and desperate persons which attended your Majesty, discovered their affe­ctions and resolutions to have Massacred and de­stroyed the Members of that House, if the absence of those persons accused had not, by Gods providence, stopt the giving of that word which they expected, for the setting them upon that barbarous and bloody act: The Listing of so many Officers, Soul­diers, and others, putting them into pay, and under command of Colonells, feasting and carressing them in an unusuall manner, at White-hall, thereby main­taining them in the violent assaults, and other inju­ries which they offered to divers of your Subjects, coming that way in a lawfull and peaceable man­ner: the carrying them out of Town; after which they were told by the Lord Digby, That the King removed on purpose, that they might not be tramp­led in the durt: And keeping them so long in pay, endeavouring to ingage the Gentlemen of the Innes of Court, in the same course: The plotting and de­signing of a perpetuall Guard about your Majesty: The labouring to infuse into your Majesties Subjects an evill opinion of the Parliament, thorow the whole Kingdom, and other Symptomes of a dispo­sition of raysing Arms, and dividing your people by a Civill Warre; in which combustion, Ireland must needs be lost, and this Kingdom miserably wasted and consumed, if not wholly ruined and de­stroyed.

[Page 8]That after a Vote had passed in the House of Com­mons, declaring, That the Lord Digby had appeared in a warlike manner at Kingston upon Thames, to the terror and fright of your Majesties good Subjects, and disturbance of the publike peace of the King­dom; and that therefore the Lords should be mo­ved to require his attendance, he should, neverthe­lesse, be of that credit with your Majesty, as to be sent away by your own Warrant to Sir Iohn Fenning­ton, to Land him beyond rhe Sea; from whence he vented his own Trayterous conceptions, That your Majesty should declare your self, and retire to a place of strength in this Kingdom, as if your Maje­sty could not be fafe among your people: And withall took that transcendent boldnesse to write to the Queen, offering to entertain correspondency with her Majesty by Cyphers, intimating some ser­vice which he might do in those Parts; for which, he desired your Majesties instructions, whereby in probability, he intended the procuring of some for­raign force to strengthen your Majesty, in that con­dition into which he would have brought you: Which false and malicious counsell and advice, we have great cause to doubt, made too deep an Impres­sion in your Majesty, considering the course you are pleased to take, of absenting your self from your Parliament, and carrying the Prince with you, which seems to expresse a purpose in your Majesty, to keep your self in a readinesse for the acting of it.

[Page 10]The manifold Aduertisements which we have had from Rome, Venice, Paris, and other parts, that they still expect that your Majestie has some great designe in hand, for the altering of Religion, the breaking the neck of your Parliament: That you will yet finde meanes to compasse that designe, that the Popes Nuncio hath sollicited the Kings of France and Spaine to lend your Majestie foure thousand men a­piece to helpe to maintain your Royaltie against the Parliament: And this forraign force as it is the most pernicious and malignant designe of all the rest, so we hope it is and shall alwayes bee farthest from your Majesties thoughts, because no man can beleeve you will give up your people and Kingdome to bee spoy­led by strangers, if you did not likewise intend to change both your owne profession in Religion, and the publique profession of the Kingdome, that so you might still be more assured of those forraign States of the Popish Religion, for your future suport and defence:

These are some of the grounds of our feares and Iealousies which made us so ernestly to implore your royall Authoritie and protection for our defence and securitie, in all the wayes of Humilitie and submision, which being denied by your Majestie sedused by evill Counsell, wee doe with sorrow for the great and ina­voydable miserie and danger, which thereby is like to fall upon your owne person, and your Kingdomes apply our selves to the use of that power for the secu­ritie and defence of both, which by the fundamentall Lawes and Constitutions of this Kingdome resides in us, yet still resoluing to keepe our selves within [Page 10]the bounds of faithfulnesse and allegeance to your sacred Person and your Crown, so as to the second sort of jealousies and fears of us, exprest by your Majestie, we shall give a shorter, but as true, and as faithfull an Answer.

Whereas Your Majesty is pleased to say that for your residence neer the Parliament, you wish it might be so safe, and honourable, that you had no cause to absent your self from Whitehall; This we take as the greatest breach of Priviledge of Parlia­ment that can be offered; As the heaviest misery to your self, and imputation upon us that can be imagi­ned, And the most mischievous effect of evill Councells; it roots up the strongest foundation of the safety and honour which your Crown affords; It seems as much as may be, to cast upon the Parlia­ment, such a charge, as is inconsistent with the na­ture of that great Councell, being the body where­of your Majesty is the head; it strikes at the very being, both of King, and Parliament; depriving your Majesty in your own apprehension of their fidelity, and them of your protection, which are the mutuall bands and supports of Government, and Subjection.

We have according to your Majesties desire, laid our hands upon our hearts, we have askt our selves in the strictest examination of our Consciences; we have searcht our affections, our thoughts, con­sidered our Actions, and we finde none that can give your Majestie any just occasion to absent your self from Whitehall, and the Parliament; but that you may with more honour and safety, continue there then in any other place.

[Page 11]Your Majesty layes a generall taxe upon us; If you will be gratiously pleased to let us know the particulars, we shall give a cleer and satisfactory Answer: But what hope can we have of ever giving your Majesty satisfaction, when those particulars which you have been made beleeve were true, yet being produced and made known to us, appeared to be false; and your Majesty notwithstanding, will neither punish, nor produce the Authors, but go on to contract new jealousies and fears, upon generall and uncertain grounds, affording us no means or possibility of particular Answer, to the cleering of our selves; For proof whereof, we be­seech your Majesty to consider these Instances.

The Speeches alleadged to be spoken in a meeting of divers Members of both Houses at Kensington, concerning a purpose of restraining the Queen and Prince, which after it was denyed, and disavowed, yet your Majesty refused to name the Authors, though humbly desired by both Houses.

The report of Articles framed against the Queens Majesty, given out by some of neer relation to the Court; but when it was publikely, and constantly disclaimed, the credit seemed to be withdrawn from it; but the Authors being kept safe, will al­wayes be ready for exploits of the same kinde, wherewith your Majesty, and the Queen, will be often troubled, if this course be taken to cherish and secure them in such wicked and malicious slanders.

The heavy charge and accusation of the Lord Kimbolton, and the five Members of the House of [Page 12]Commons, who refused no tryall or examination, which might stand with the Priviledge of Parlia­ment; yet no Authors, no witnesses produced, a­gainst whom they may have reparation for the great injury and infamy cast upon them; notwithstanding three severall Petitions of both Houses, and the authority of two Acts of Parliament, vouched in the last of those Petitions.

We beseech your Majesty to consider in what State you are, how easie, and fair a way you have to happinesse, honour greatnesse, plenty, and security; if you will joyn with the Parliament, and your faith­full Subjects in defence of the Religion, and pub­like good of the Kingdom: This is all we expect from you, and for this we shall return to you, our lives, fortunes, and uttermost endeavours to support your Majesty, your just Soveraignty and power over us, but it is not words that can secure us in these our humble desires; we cannot but too well, and sor­rowfully remember what gratious Messages we had from you this Summer, when with your privitie, the bringing up the Army was in agitation; we can­not but with the like affections recall to our mindes, how not two dayes before, you gave directions for the above mentioned accusation, and your own coming to the Commons House, that House recei­ved from your Majestie a gratious Message, that you would alwayes have care of their Priviledges, as of your own Prerogative of the safety of their persons; as of your own children: That which we expect, which will give us assurance, that you have no thought, but of peace and justice to your People, [Page 13]must be some reall effect of your goodnesse to them in granting those things, which the present necessity of the Kingdom, do inforce us to desire: And in the first place, that your Majestie will be gratiously pleased to put from you, those wicked and mischie­vous Counsellors, which have caused all these dan­gers and distractions, and to continue your own Residence, and the Princes neer London, and the Parliament, which we hope will be a happy begin­ning of contentment, and confidence betwixt your Majesty, and your People, and be followed with many succeeding blessings of Honour and Greatnesse to your Majesty, and of security and prosperity to them.