VVHat have been and still are the distractions of these times, are well knowne to all this King­dome, the meanest and weakest apprehensi­on needs no other expression then what they can apprehend from the indisposition of these times, arising from the discontents between his Majesty and his now assembled Parliament, which seemes to frustrate the happy and joyfull proceedings of the wil­ling Subject, whereby he would endeavour to settle the peaceable and flourishing E­state of this Kingdome. His Majesties re­movall beyond all thought or expectation from his Parliament, he having had no just occasion thereof offered unto him, but was raised by a most unjust suspition and jea­lousie of their fidelity and loyaltie, did stir [Page] up strange and feareful conceptions in their breasts, which for a while did dash and crush all their Designes and Proceedings for the peace of the Kingdome, which cannot smile and looke merry, so long as the State and quiet thereof stands thus distracted, and indeede how can the Bride but mourne, which at the time and expectation of most comfort, wants the true and reall consola­tion of her Bridegroome; or how can the Body be in health and prosperity, when it is deprived of the benefit and comfort of the Head; aswell may the Day looke smi­ling and glorious without the lustre of the Sunne, as the Subject looke cheerefull, be­ing deprived of the happy Society of his Soveraigne, whose chiefest happinesse con­sists in the fruition of a loving Soveraigne, as the happinesse of a Childe in the enjoy­ing of a loving Father. Often hath the House of Parliament endeavoured by many loyall and submisse Sollicitations and Peti­tions, to returne the Glory and Comfort of his Person unto his Subjects, whereby their diverted hearts will be much elevated and [Page] raised from the melancholly feares which they are now involved in; but all in vain, his Majesty being with-drawne from them by the sinister and malitious counsels of the malignant party. Since this unhappy losse of his Majesty, which hath produced such discontents generally in the Subject, worse counsell hath possessed his Majesties tender and loving breast, and so far prevailed with him, that against his first and naturall in­tention, he hath against the desire and in­treaty of the Parliament deprived them of the presence of his Highnesse the Prince, which hath produced a generall griefe and feare in the Subject, and caused him to su­spect, that his Majesties intentions are be­yond their former beliefe, crosse and oppo­site to their loyalty, and intentionall pro­ceeding for the benefit of this Kingdome: For what can their loves and loyalties o­therwise apprehend. when they are not on­ly denyed his Majesties presence and assist­ance to countenance and furtheir their Liberties, but also are denyed him in whose [Page] welfare and prosperity consists the future good and continuing happnesse of this Kingdome.

They first humbly desired his Majesty that his Highnesse might not be removed from Hampton Court, which did seeme to take some good effect, and to be with wel­come entertained by his Majesty, but upon the Queenes removall towards Dover, the King returning, and resolving his stay at Greenwich, the Prince was commanded from Greenwich to attend his Majesty there when they formerly conceived, that his Majesty had resolved his stay at Hampton Court: Whereupon they often did petition his Ma­jesty, that his Highnesse might returne to Hampton-Court, their desire being grounded upon the indisposition of the Marquesse of Hartford, whose fidelity & faith was thought worthy of so great a trust, as by the House to be chosen Governour to his Highnesse, who now being much disposed to sicknesse, was not able to attend the Prince to any remote place, being unable to travell, by reason of his continuall casualty of health, [Page] hee being chosen his Governour, it was not thought convenient he should farre depart: Neither was it to be construed or imagined a needlesse or unnecessary feare or jealousie, considering the future estate and welfare did wholly depend upon his safety and welfare, and in him did lye the joy and comfort of the Loyall Subject; from this one ground also the Parliament doth conceive many feares and jealousies may arise, and be pro­moted in the hearts of his Majesties most loyall Subjects, which will be very necessa­ry to remove for the content of the Sub­ject, and the peace of this Land: Neither can his Majesty in equity deny these faith­full desires of these his loyall Subjects, since their intentions, care, and vigilancie have been alwayes industrious to maintaine his Majesties Rights and Honours, and to pro­vide for the future welfare as the present, both of Majesties person, his Royall Pro­geny, and the security and happinesse of his whole Kingdome. They are confident that none doe mis-construe their pious inten­tions, but those onely who in an indispo­sition [Page] to the publike Good, or a guilt of their owne integrity, have strived to pos­sesse his Majesty with these sinister and evil counsels against his loyally disposed Parlia­ment, and their just proceedings.

To avoid these and the like occasion of discontents, the Parliament did desire his Majesty, that his Highnesse might continue at Hampton Court, by whose presence they hope to settle the discontents of these times and also to secure themselves from all fu­ture breaches, when they may daily behold the welfare of him in whom they doe place all their future hopes, and in whose mis­carrying an universall mourning must of necessity over-spread the face of the whole Kingdome.