A RELATION OF Divers Remarkable proceedings betwixt the Kings Majesty and his loyall Subjects, exprest in these particulars following.
- 1. His Majesties Speech to the Gentry of the County of Yorke, attending his Majesty at his Court at York the 12. of May.
- 2. The Answer and Resolution of the Gentry, and Commonalty of the County of Yorke, to his Majesties Speech.
- 3. A Letter of thankes from the Lords in Parliament assembled, to the County of Yorke.
- 4. A Declaration of both Houses of Parliament, as it was ordered to be printed the 12. of May. Iohn Browns, Cler. Parl.
- 5. Stafford-shire Petition, presented to the Honourable House of Commons by the Knights Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Free-holders, and other Inhabitants of the County of Stafford.
London, Printed for F. Ceules, and T. Bates. 1642.
HIS MAIESTIES Speech to the Gentrie of the County of York, attendng his Majestie at the City of York, on Thursday the 12. of May. 1642.
I Have cause of adding not altering, what I meant to say, when I gave out the summons for this daies apperance I little thought of these Messengers, or of such a Message as they brought, the which, because it confirmes me in what I intend to speak, and that I desire you should be truely informed of all passages between me and the Parliament, you shall heare read. First, my Answer to the Declaration of both Houses concerning Hull the answer 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 Maiesty proceeded.
I Will make no Paraphrases upon what ye have heard, it more benefitting a Lawyer then a King, onely this observation, since Treason in countenanced so neere me, it is time to looke to my safety: I avow it was [Page] part of my wonder, that men (whom I thought heretofore discreet, any moderate) should have undertaken this imployment, and that since the-came (I having delivered them the Answer: you have heard, and comdmanded them to returne personally with it to the Parliament) should have flatly disobeyed mee upon pretence of the Parliaments command. My end in telling you this, is to warne 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, onely 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 chiefe cause of my comming hither (Tumults and disorders having made me leave the South) and not to make this a seate of Warre, 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 me (being my owne 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 me to apprehend dangers. Therefore 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,) onely to secure my person. In which I desire your concurrence and assistance, and that I may be able to protect you, the Lawes, and the true Protestant profession from any Affront or Injury that may be oftered, which I meane to maintaine my selfe without charge to the Country, intending no longer to keepe them on foote, then I shall be secured of my just Apprehensions by having satisfaction in the particular before mentioned.
An Answer to His Majesties Speech, by the Gentry of the County of Yorke, attending his Majesty at the Court of York on Thursday the 12. of May, 1642.
YOur Propositions delivered to Vs yesterday from your Majesty are of so high concernement to the Weale and peace of the whole Kingdome, and doe so nearely touch upon the affection and fidelity of all your Subjects in Generall, and wee being but a part of one County only, doe not conceive it safe for Vs to advise therein, but rather humbly to beseech. Your Majesty to impart the ground of Your Majesties feares and jealousies. to Your high Court of Parliament, (of whose most loyall care and affection to your Majesties Honour and safety, and the prosperity of Your Subjects and Dominions, we are most confident) and whatsoever shall be advised by your Great Counsell, therein we shall most willingly embrace, and give our concurrence and assistance to it as shall become us; In whose fidelity your Majestie hath often declared especiall trust, and albeit we doe not presume to advise Your Majesty to that particular, it being of transcendent consequence.
Neverthelesse, in the behalfe of those Members of Parliament, lately imployed to attend your Majesty, from both Houses, being all Gentlemen of quality and estate in this County and trusted to serve in that most Honourable Assembly, we humbly crave Your Maiesties leave to expresse our corfidence in their unstained loyalty and affection to Your Majesty to be such as Your Majesty may securely admit their attendance to Your Majesty to be such as Your Majesty may secarely admit their attendance to negotiate their imployments untill they be recalled by the Parliament, and for their fidelity we do all ingage our selves to Your Majesty, and we are most assured that Your Royall Person shall be secured in the reall fidelity of Your Subjects of this County without any extraordinary Guard.
The Declaration of both Houses of PARLIAMENT.
THE Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament doe declare, That they are resolved to maintaine those Lords and Gentlemen, Committees of both Houses of Parliament, residing at Yorke, in those things they have done, and shall further doe, in obedience of their commands, for the preserving the peace of the Kingdome.
The Lords and Commons doe 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 shall 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 pursuunce of their commands, 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 endevour to bring them to condigne punishment.
The Lords and Commons doe declare, that those of the City of London, and all other persons that have obeyed 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 Houses of Parliament, and for the defence and safety of the King and Kingdome, and shall have the assistance of both Houses of Parliament, against any that shall presume to question them for yeelding 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.
A Letter of thanks from the Lords in Parliament assembled to the Countie of York.
THis House hath read the Petition from the County of York, the expressions wherein are so full of affections to the publike good of the kingdom and Parlament, that they receive it with much content, and satisfaction, and assure you by mee, that your zeale to the Common-wealth, hath added much to the honour of your Countrey; commanding me in their names, to returne their very hearty thanks; the House concurres with you in opinion, that the onely remedy for this distracted Kingdome to recover its ancient strength, happinesse, and lustre, is unity; which as it hath ever beene the ayme and scope of all their proceedings, so shall it ever be the chiefest of their endevours. And for this purpose they are already upon framing their humble desires to his Majesty, wherein they shall request such things as they conceive doe chiefely tend the honour of God, the greatnesse and prosperity of his Majestie, and the publike good of this Common-wealth, these were almost perfected before the receipt of your Petition, and will very speedily be to the King, which had beene done ere this, but that his Majesty withdrawing himselfe so farre from the Parliament, and those many denyalls, they have had in those things they have desired, have necessitated them to spend much of their time in Messages, and diverted them from their other more necessary businesses, but they doubt not but in these desires they will make such cleare demonstrations of their duty to the King, and love to his people, who have intrusted them, that they shall fully acquit themselves thereof, both to him and them. Sir, this is what at this time I am commanded to write to you, onely adding, that I am, &c.
Stafford-shire Petition, To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Comons House of Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Free-holders, and other Inhabitants of the Countie of
STAFORD.
THat in their owne names, and in the names of many thousands of the Inhabitants of the Countie of Stafford, your Petitioners with hearts fuller of thankfulnes, than their tongues can be of expression, humbly acknowledge their sensiblenesse of the unparalelled travaile and indefatigable endevour of this Honourable House, already spent in the discharge of that trust deservedly by the Commons of all the Land vested in you, whereby an ample Testimony is given, as of your faithfulnesse and courage, in the exposure of your selves and fortunes in these desperate times; So likewise of the good hand and providence of God, carrying you thorow many difficult straights, and dangerous conspiracies of the Popish and Malignant partie, who have hitherto way laid your proceedings.
All which your Petitioners take as very promising beginnings, and faire Pledges of the healing of the insupportable grievances, both Ecclesiasticall and Civill, which the Church and State grone under; And doe concurrently and freely professe their Contributions [Page] to the work under your hands, not only by their prayers, but also by the devotement of their lives, power, and estates, according to that wise and Religious Protestation set forth by you; concerning their owne lives and safeties to be shipt in one bottome with yours.
And your Petitioners further shew, That it is not the least par [...] of their comfort, that you have continued the Militia of th [...] Countie unto so Honourable Lord, in whom we may safely confid [...]
And your Petitioners doe humbly pray, That the unexampled miseries and almost expiring state of our Brethren in Ireland, m [...] be considered by an expedite dispatch of seasonable succour; An that they may from time to time during their miseries bee looke, upon by you, not only as English, and fellow-subjects; but as Protestants and Professours of Gods truth, under which Notion they suffer these extremities; and that the Insurrection of the Papists there may be reckoned of, not onely as a Rebellion, but a horrid persecution of Christ in his Truth and Members, that so the interest of God and his cause may quicken your sympathy with, and endevours for them.
That the Papists (who are a great number in this small Countie) may be thorowly and speedily disarmed, and so disposed of; That they be not formidable to your Petitioners, by being able, either to keep us in jealousies by their practices at home, or to soment that fire kindled by their partie in Ireland.
That the Church in her government, Officers and worship, may be ordered according to the Rule of Gods holy Word, the particular accommodation of which wee humbly leave to the wisdome of this Honourable House to determine, by the assistance of an Assembly of godly and learned Divines.
That the present state and condition of the Church may bee thought upon for Ministry maintenance, and supply of an able Preaching Ministerie, Pluralities supprest, the Fountaines of Learning cleared; All insufficient for the work of the Ministry, All grossely scandalous and negligent in their sunctions, removed, that they may no longer remaine a burthen to keep out others.