THough the Declaration lately presented to us at New-market, from both Our Houses of Parliament, be of so strange a nature, in respect of what We ex­pected (after so many Acts of Grace and Favour to Our People) and some expressions in it so diffe­rent from the usuall Language to Princes, that We might well take a very long time to consider it; Yet the clearnesse and up­r [...]ghtnesse of Our Conscience to God, & love to our Subiects, hath supplyed Us with a speedy Answer, and Our unalterable Affection to Our People prevailed with Us, to suppresse that Passion, which might well enough become Us, upon such an Invitation.

We haue reconsidered Our Answer of the first of this Moneth at Theobalds, which is urged to have given just cause of sorrow to Our Subjects. Whosoever looks over that Message (which was in effect to tell Us, That if we would not joyne with th m ( [...]n an Act which we conceived might prove prejudiciall and d [...]ngerous to Us and the whole Kingdome) they would make a Law without Us, and impose it upon Our People) will not thinke that sud­den Answer can be accepted to.

We have little encouragement to Replyes of this nature, when we are told of how little value Our words are like to be w [...]th you, though they come accompanied with all the Actions of Love and Justice (where there is room for Actions to accomp [...]ny them) yet we cannot but disavow the having any such evill Councell or Councellors about Us, to our knowledge, as are mentioned, and if any such be discovered, we will leave them to the Censure and Judgement of Our Parliament▪ In [...]he meane time, We cou [...]d wish, that Our own immediate Actions which We avow, and Our own Ho [...] mi [...] [...] roughly censured and woun­ded, under that common stile of Evill Councellours.

For Our faithfull and zealous affection to the true Protestant [Page] Profession, and Our resolution to concur with our Parliament in any possible course for the propagation of it, and suppression of Popery. We can say no more then We have already expressed in Our Declaration to all Our loving Subjects published in Jan. last by the advice of Our Privy Councell, in which We endea­voured to make as lively a Confession of our Selfe, in this point, as We were able, being most assured that the constant Practice of our Life hath been answerable thereunto: And therefore We did rather expect a Testimony, and Acknowledgement of such Our Zeal and P [...]ety, then those Expressions We meet with in this Declaration, of any designe of altering Religion in this Kingdome. And we do (out of the Innocency of Our Soule) wish, That the Judgements of Heaven may be manifested upon those, who have, or had any such Designe.

As for the Scots troubles, We had well thought that those un­happy differences had bin wrapt up in perpetuall silence, by the Act of Oblivion, which being solemnly past in the Parliament [...] of both Kingdomes, stops Our mouth from any other Reply then to shew Our great dislike for reviving the memory thereof.

If the Rebellion in Jreland, (so odious to all Christians) seems to have been framed and maintained in England, or to have any countenance from hence. We conjure both Our Houses of Par­liament, and all Our loving Subiects whatsoever, to use all pos­sible means to discover and find such out, that We may joyne in the most exemplary vengeance upon them that can be imagined: But We must thin [...]e Our selfe highly and causlesly injured in Our Reputation, if any Declaration, Action, or Expression of the Irish Rebels, any Letter from Count Rosetti to the Papists, for fasting and praying, or from Trestram Whitcombe, of strange Speeches u tered in Jreland, shall beget any [...]ealousie, or misap­prehension in Out Subjects, of Our Iustice, Piety and affection it being evident to all vnderstandings, That th [...]se mischievous and wicked Rebels are not so capable of great advantage as by having their false discours [...]s so far beleeved, as to raise Fe [...]res and Jea [...]ousies to the distraction of thi [...] Kingdome, the onely way to their security: And we cannot expresse a deeper sence of the suf­fering of Our poor protestant Subjects in that Kingdom, then we have done in Our often Messages to both Houses, by which [Page] we have offered, and are still ready to venture Our Royall Per­son for their Redemption, well knowing, that a [...] We are (in Our own [...]nterest) more concerned in them, so We are to make a strict Accompt to Almighty God for any neglect of Our duty, or their preservation.

For the manifold attempts to provoke our late Army, and the Army of the Scots, and to rayse a faction in the City of London, and other parts of the Kingdome; If it be said, as relating to us, we cannot without great indignation, suffer Out selfe to be re­proached, to have intended the least force or threatning to our Parliament; as the being privie to the bringing up of the Army would imply: wheteas we call God to witnesse, we never had any such thought, or knew of any such resolution concerning our late Army.

For the Petition shewed to us by Captaine Legg, we well remember the same, and the occasion of that Conference: Cap­taine Legg being lately come out of the North, and repairing to us at Whitehall, we asked him of the state of our Army, and (af­ter some relation made of it) he told us, that the Commanders and Officers of the Armie had a mind to petition the Parlia­ment, as others of our people had done, and shewed us the co­py of a Petition, which we read, and finding it to be very hum­ble, desiring the Parliament might receive no interruption in the Reformation of the Church and State, to the modell of Queen Elizabeths dayes; We told him, We saw no harme in it, VVhereupon he replyed, that he beleeved all the Officers of the Army would like it, onely he thought Sir Jaccob Ashley would be unwilling to signe it, out of feare it might displease Us. We then read the Petition over againe, and then observing nothing in matter or forme We conceived could possi [...]ly give iust cause of offence, We delivered it to him againe, bidding him give it to Sir Iacob A [...]hley, for whose satisfact on We had written C. R. upon it, to testifie Our approbation; and VVi [...]h that the Petiti­on might be seen and published, and then VVe beleeve it will ap­peare no dangerous one. not a iust ground for the least jealousie, or misapprehension.

For Master Iermin, it is well knowne that he was gone from Whitehall before VVe received the desire of both Houses for the [Page] restraint of Our servants: neither returned he thither, or passed over by any VVarrant granted by Us after that time.

For the breach of Priviledge in the Accusation of the Lord Kymbolton, and the five Members of the house of Commons, VVe tho [...]ght VVe had given so am [...]le satisfaction in Our seve­rall Messages to that purpose, that it should be no more pressed against us, being confident if the breach of Priviledge had beene greater then hath bin ever before offered, Out acknowledgement and retractation hath beene greater then ever King hath given, besides the not examining how many of Our Priviledges have beene invaded in defence and vindication of the other; And therefore VVe hoped Our true and earnest Protestation in Our an [...]wer to your Order concerning the Militia, would so farre have satisfied you of your intentions then, that you would no more have entertained any imagination of any other designe then VVe there expressed.

But why the listing of so many Officers, and entertaining them at VVhitehall should be misconstrued, VVe much marvell, when it is notoriously knowne; the tumults at Westminster were so great, and their demeanours so scandalous and seditious, that VVe had good cause to suppose Our owne Person, and those of Our VVife and Children to be in apparent danger, and therefore VVe had great reason to appoint a Guard about us, and to ac­cept the dutifull tender of the services of any of Our loving Sub­jects, which was all we did to the Gentlemen of the Innes of Court.

For the Lord Digby, VVe assure you in the word of a King, that he had Our VVarrant to passe the Seas, and had left Our Court before We ever heard of the Vote of the house of Com­mons, or had any cause to imagine that his absence would have beene excepted against.

What your advertisements are from Rome, Venice, Paris, and other parts, or what the Popes Nun [...]io Sollicites the Kings of France or Spaine to doe, or from what persons such informations come to you, or how the credit and reputation of such persons have beene sifted and examined, we know not, but are confident, no sober honest man in Our Kingdomes can beleeve, that wee are so desperate or so senselesse, to entertaine such Designes, as [Page] would not onely bury this Our Kingdome in sudden distraction and ruine, but [...]ur owne Name and Posterity in perpetuall scorn and infamy. And therefore we could have wished, that in mat­ters of so high and tender a nature (wherewith the minds of Our good Subjects must needs be startled) all the expressions were so plain and easie, that nothing might stick with them with re­flection upon Us, since you thought fit to publish it at all.

And having now dealt thus plainly & freely with you by way of Answer to the particular grounds of your Fears, We hope (upon a due consideration and weighing both together) you will not find the Grounds to be of that moment to beget, or longer to continue a misunderstand [...]ng betwixt Us, or force you to apply your selves to the use of any other power then what the Law hath given you, the which we alwayes intend shall be the measure of Our owne power, and expect it shall be the rule of our Subiects Obedience.

Concerning Our Feares and Iealousies, as Wee had no inten­tion of accusing you, so are We sure no words spoken by Us (on the sudden) at Theobalds will bear that Interpretation We said for Our Residence neer you VVe wisht it might be so safe and Honourable, that VVe had no cause to absent Our self from White-Hall, And how this can be a breach of Priviledge of Par­liament VVe cannot vnderstand, VVe explained Our meaning in Our Answer at New-Market, at the Presentation of this De­claration concerning the printed seditious pamphlets and Ser­mons, and the great tumults at VVestminster: And VVe must appeal to you and all the world whether we might not justly suppose Our self in danger of either, And if we were now at VVhite-Hall, what security have we, that the like shall not be againe, especially if any Delinquents of that Natu e have been apprehended by the Ministers of [...]ustice, And been res [...]ued by the people. And so as yet escape vnpunished; Jf you have not been informed of the seditious words used in, and the circum­stances of those Tumults, and will appoint some way for the Ex­amination of them We will requ [...]re some of Ou [...] Le [...]rn [...]d Coun­cell to atte [...]d with such evidence as may satisfie you, And till that [...]e done, or some o [...]her cout [...]e taken for Our security, you cannot (with reason) wonder that We intend not to be where We most desire to be.

And can there yet want evidence of Our hearty and importu­nate desire to joyn with our Parliament, and all Our faithfull Subjects, in defence of the Religion and publique good of the Kingdome; Have we given you no other earnest but words, to secure you of those desires; The very Remonstrance of the House of Commons (published in November last) of the state of the Kingdome allows vs a more reall Testimonie of our good Affections then words: That Remonstrance valued Our Acts of Grace and Justice at so high a rate, that it declared the King­dome to be then a gainer, though it had charged it selfe by Bils of Subsidies and Pol-money, with leavy of 600000 pounds, besides the contracting of a Debt to Our Scots Subjects of 220000 pounds.

Are the Bils for the Trienniall Parliament, For relinquishing Our Title of Jmposing upon Merchand [...]ze, and Power of Pres­sing of Souldiers, For the taking away the Starchamber, and high Commission Courts For the Regulating the Councell Ta­ble, but words? Are the Bills for the Forrests, the Stannery Courts, The Clerke of the Market, And the taking away the Votes of Bishops out of the Lords House, but words? Lastly, what greater earnest of Our trust and reliance on Our Parliament could or can we give, then the passing of the Bill for the conti­nuance of this present Parliament? The length of which VVe hope will never alter the nature of Parliaments, and the Con­stitution of this Kingdome, or invite Our Subjects so much to abuse our Confidence, as to esteem any thing fit for this Par­liament to doe, which were not, if it were in Our power to dis­solve it to morrow. And after all these, and many other Acts of Grace on Our part that VVe m [...]ght be su [...]e of a perfect Recon­ciliation betwixt Us and all our Subjects) VVe have offered, and are still ready to grant a free and generall Pardon, as amp [...]e as your selves shall thinke fit. Now if these be not reall expressi­ons of the Affections of our Soule, for the publike good of Our Kingdome, VVe must confesse that We want skill to manifest them.

To conclude (although we thinke our Answer already full to that point) concerning our Returne to London: We are willing to Declare, that we looke upon it as a matter of so great weight, [Page] owne inclinations and desires, that if all we can say or doe, can raise a mutuall Confidence (the onely way with Gods blessing to make us all happy, and by your incouragement the Lawes of the Land, and the government of the City of London, may reco­ver some life for our Security, we will overtake your desires▪ and be as soone with you as you can wish. And in the mean time, we will be sure, that ne [...]ther the businesse of Jreland, or any o­ther advantage for this Kingdome shall suffer through Our de­fault, or by our absence: not being so farre from repenting the Acts of Our Justice and Grace, which we have already perfor­med to Our People, that we shall with the same Alacrity, bee still ready to adde such new Ones, as may best advance the peace, Honour, and prosperity of this Nation.