WE have taken the last Message from you, touching your desire of a Guard, into serious consideration, and truly with great grief of heart (that after a whole yeers sitting of this Parlia­ment, [Page 2]wherein you have obtained those things, for the happinesse and security of your selves, and the rest of Our Subjects, as no age can equall) instead of reaping in Peace and tran­quillity the fruits of your Labours, and of Our Grace and affection to Our People, We should finde Jea­lousies, Distrusts, and Fears still so prevalent amongst you, as to induce you to declare them unto Ʋs, in so high a measure as you have done at this time.

We are wholly ignorant of the Grounds of your Apprehensions, but this We do Protest before Almighty God (to whom We must be account­able for those, whom he hath intrust­ed to Our care and Protection) that had We any knowledge, or belief of [Page 3]the least designe in any, of Violence, either formerly, or at this time, against you, We would pursue them to condigne punishment, with the same severity and detestation, that We would do the greatest attempt up­on Our Crown.

VVe know the duty of that place where God hath set Ʋs, the Prote­ction VVe owe to all Our Loyall Sub­jects, and most particularly to you, called to Our Service by Our VVrits; And VVe do ingage unto you so­lemnly the word of a King, That the security of all and every one of you from violence, is, and shall ever be as much Our care, as the Preservation of Ʋs and Our Chil­dren.

And if this generall Assurance shall not suffice to remove your Ap­prehensions, VVe will command such a Guard to wait upon you, as VVe will be responsible for to Him, who hath encharged Ʋs with the Safetie and Protection of Our Subjects.

WHITE-HALL, 3. Jan. 1641.