WE are so troubled and astonished to finde the unexpected reception, and misunderstanding of Our Mes­sage of the eighth of April, con­cerning Our Irish journey, that being so much disappointed of the approbation and thanks We looked for to that De­claration; We have great cause to doubt, whether it be in Our power to say or do any thing which shall not fall within the like interpretation. But as We have in that Message called God to wit­nesse the sincerity of the profession of Our onely Ends for the undertaking that Iourney: so We must appeal to all Our good Subjects, and the whole world, whether the Reasons alleadged against that Iourney be of weight to satisfie Our [Page 7]understanding, or the counsell presented to disswade Vs from it, be full of that duety as is like to pre­vail over Our affections.

For Our resolving of so great a Businesse with­out the Advice of Our Parliament; We must re­member you howoften by Our Messages We made the same offer, if you should advise Vs thereunto: To which you never gave Vs the least answer: But in your late Declaration told Vs, That ye were not to be satisfied with words: so that We had reason to conceive you rather avoided (out of regard to Our person) to give Vs counsell to run that hazard, then that you disapproved the inclina­tion. And what greater comfort or security can the Protestants of Christendome receive, then by seeing a Protestant King venture and engage His Person for the defence of that Profession, and the suppression of Popery, to which We solemnly pro­tested in that Message, never to grant a Tolerati­on, upon what pretence soever, or an Abolition of any of the Lawes there in force against the Profes­sors of it. And when We consider the great cala­mities, and unheard of cruelties Our poor Prote­stant Subjects in that Kingdom have under­gone for the space of neer, or full six Moneths, the growth and encrease of the strength of those barba­rous Rebells, and the evident probabilitie of Forreign Supplies, (if they are not speedily suppressed) The very slow succours hitherto sent them from hence; That the Officers of severall Regiments, who have long since been allowed en­tertainment from you for that Service, have not raised any Supply or Succour for that Kingdom: [Page 8]That many troups of Horse have long lien neer Chester untransported; That the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on whom We relied principally for the Conduct and managing of Affairs there, is still in this Kingdom, notwithstanding Our earnest­nesse expressed that he should repair to his Com­mand; And when We consider the many and great scandals raised upon Our Self by report of the Rebells, and not sufficiently discountenanced here, notwithstanding so many professions of Ours; And had seen a Book lately printed by the Order of the House of Commons, Entituled; A Remonstrance of divers remarkable Passages concerning the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, Wherein some Examinations are set down, which (how impro­bable or impossible soever) may make an impres­sion in the mindes of many of Our weak Sub­jects; And lastly, When We duely weigh the disho­nour which will perpetually lie upon this King­dom, if full and speedy relief be not dispatched thi­ther, We could, nor cannot think of a better way to discharge Our duety to Almighty God, for the defence of the true Protestant Profession, or to ma­nifest Our affection to Our three Kingdoms for their preservation, then by engaging Our Person in this Expedition, as many of Our Royall Pro­genitors have done, even in Forreign parts, upon causes of lesse Importance and Pietie, with great Honour to themselves, and advantage to this Kingdom: And therefore We expected at least thanks for such Our Inclination.

For the danger to Our Person; We conceive it necessary and worthy of a King to adventure His [Page 9]life to preserve His Kingdom, neither can it be imagined, that We will sit still, and suffer Our Kingdoms to be lost, and Our good Protestant Subjects to be Massacred, without exposing Our own Person to the utmost hazard for their relief and preservation: Our life, when it was most pleasant, being nothing so precious to Vs, as it is, and shall be to govern and preserve Our people with Honour and Iustice.

For any encouragement to the Rebells, because of the reports they raised, We cannot conceive that the Rebells are capable of a greater Terrour, then by the presence of their Lawfull King in the head of an Army to chastise them: Besides, it will be an unspeakable advantage to them, if any re­ports of theirs could hinder Vs from doing any thing which were fit for Vs to do, if such reports were not raised: This would quickly teach them, in this jealous Age, to prevent by such reports any other persons coming against them, whom they had no minde should be so imployed.

We marvell that the Adventurers, whose advan­tage was a principall Motive (next the reason be­fore mentioned) to Vs, should so much mistake Our purpose, whose Interest we conceive must be much improved by the Expedition we hope (by Gods blessing) to use in this Service: this being the most probable way for the speedy Conquest of the Rebells: Their Lands are sufficiently secured by Act of Parliament.

We think not Our self kindely used, That the ad­dition of so few men to your Leavies (for a Guard to Our Person in Ireland) should be thought fit for [Page 10]your refusall: and much more, that having used so many Cautions in this Message, both in the smalnesse of the number: In Our having raised none untill your Answer: In their being to be rai­sed onely neer their place of Shipping: In their being there to be Armed, and that, not till they were ready to be Shipped: In the provision, by the Oaths, that none of them should be Papists (all Which appears sufficient to destroy all grounds of jealousie of any force intended by them in oppositi­on to the Parliament, or favour to any malignant partie) any suspicion should notwithstanding be grounded upon it.

Neither can it be understood, That when We recommended the Managing of that War to you, That We intended to exclude Our self, or not to be concerned in your counsels, That if We found any expedient (which in Our conscience or under­standing We thought necessary for that great work) We might not put it in practice. We look upon you as Our great Councell, whose advice We alwayes have and will (with great regard and deliberati­on) weigh and consider: But We look upon Our self, as neither deprived of Our understanding, or devested of any right we had, if there were no Par­liament sitting. We called you together by Our own Writ and Authority (without which you could not have met) to give Vs faithfull Counsell about Our great Affairs: But We resigned not up Our own Interest and Freedom. We never subjected Our self to your absolute determination. We have alwayes weighed your Counsels, as proceeding from a Body entrusted by Vs: And when we [Page 11]have dissented from you, We have returned you the Reasons, which have prevailed with our consci­ence and understanding, with that Candor as a Prince should use towards His Subjects; and that Affection, which a father can expresse to his children. What application hath been used to rectifie Our understanding by reasons, or what Motives have been given to perswade Our Affe­ctions, We leave all the world to judge. And then We must tell you, howsoever a Major part may binde you in matter of Opinion, We hold Our self (and We are sure the Law, and the Constitution of the Kingdom hath alwayes held the same) as free to dissent (till Our Reason be convinced for the generall Good) as if you delivered no Opinion.

For Our Iourney it self, The circumstances of your Petition are such, as We know not well what answer to return, or whether We were best to give any. That part which pretends to carry reason with it, doth no way satisfie Vs: The other, which is rather reprehension and Menace, then advice, can­not stagger Vs. Our Answer therefore is, That we shall be very glad to finde the work of Ireland so easie as you seem to think it, which did not so appear by any thing known to Vs, when we sent Our Message. And though we will never refuse, or be unwilling to venture Our person for the good and safetie of Our People; We are not so weary of Our life, as to hazard it impertinently. And there­fore since you seem to have received Advertise­ments of some late and great Successes in that Kingdom, We will stay some time to see the event of those, and not pursue this Resolution, till we [Page 12]have given you a second Notice. But if We finde the miserable Condition of Our poor Subjects of that Kingdom be not speedily releeved, We will (with Gods assistance) visit them with succours, as Our particular Credit and Interest can supply Vs with, if you refuse to ioyn with Vs. And We doubt not but the Leavies We shall make (in which We will observe punctually the former, and all other Cautions, as may best prevent all Fears and Iealousies, and to use no Power but what is Le­gall) will be so much to the satisfaction of Our Subjects, as no person will dare presume to resist Our Commands; and if they should, at their perill. In the meane time We hope Our forwardnesse, so remarkable to that service, shall be notorious to al the world, and that all scandals laid on Vs in that Businesse, shall be clearly wiped away.

We were so carefull that Our Iourney into Ireland should not interrupt the proceedings of Par­liament, nor deprive Our Subjects of any Acts of Iustice, or further Acts of Grace, for the reall benefit of Our People; That We made a Free offer of leaving such Power behinde, as should not onely be necessary for the Peace and Safetie of the Kingdom; but fully provide for the happy Progresse of the Parliament. And therefore We cannot but wonder, since such Power hath been alwayes left here by Commission for the Govern­ment of this Kingdom, when Our Progenitours have been out of the same during the sitting of Parliaments: and since your selves desired that such a Power might be left here by Vs, at Our last going into Scotland, what Law of the Land [Page 13]have you now found to dispense with you, from submitting to such Authority Legally derived from Vs in Our absence, and to enable you to Go­vern this Kingdom by your own meer Autho­ritie?

For Our return towards London, We have given you so full an Answer in Our late Declara­tion, and in Answer to your Petition presented to Vs at York the 26 of March last, that We know not what to adde, if you will not provide for Our Security with you, nor agree to remove to another Place, where there may not be the same Danger to Vs. We expected that (since We have been so particular in the Causes and Grounds of Our Fears) you should have sent Vs word, that you had published such Declarations against future Tumults, and unlawfull Assemblies, and taken such Courses for the Suppressing of Sedi­tious Sermons and Pamphlets, that Our Fears of that kinde might be laid aside, before you should presse Our return.

To Conclude, We could wish that you would (with the same strictnesse and severity) weigh and examine your Messages and Expressions to Vs, as you do those you receive from Vs: For We are very confident, that if you examine Our Rights and Priviledges, by what Our Predecessours have enjoyed; and your own addresses, by the usuall Courses of your Ancestors; ye will finde ma­ny Expressions in this Petition, warranted onely by your own Authority, which indeed We for­bear to take notice of, or to give Answer to, lest We should be tempted (in a just indignation) to [Page 14]expresse a greater Passion, then We are yet willing to put on. God in his good time (We hope) will so inform the hearts of all Our Subiects, that We shall recover from the mischief and dan­ger of this Distemper; On whose good pleasure We will wait with all pa­tience and humilitie.