HIs Majestie having made his Residence a long time at Nottingham, found that His time and expences there, had avai­led Him little: wherefore He resolved to remove from thence to Darby, from Darby, into Stafford­sheire to Ʋxeter; to the end that He might be fur­ther from the Earl of Essex, and nearer to Wales, from whence He expected most of His Forces should come.

Where being arrived, He found an unexpected welcome, for in stead of multitudes of people as­sembled to entertain Him with applause, Hee found a little Army of Knights and Gentlemen ral­lied [Page 2] in a Warlike Posture, rather to oppose then welcome Him. Wherefore He sent a Herrald to demand the cause of their appearance in such a forme of opposition? Who being arrived, He re­ceiv [...]d this Answer: That they appeared rather Petitioners, then opposers; neither was it their in­tent, any way to oppose His Majestie, whom they were bound to protect, but to defend His Maje­stie, and themselves from the oppression, Rapin, and murder of those Blood-thirstie Papists and o­thers, who had assembled themselves together un­der a pretence of standing for His Majestie, when indeed their practises and endeavours, are only to ruine both Him and His Kingdom. This being apparently known, and seriously weigh'd, they found themselves bound in Loyaltie to His Ma­jestie, and in care of their own safety, (now while they had power in their own hands) to provide both for the protection of His Maiestie, and the Peace of the Kingdom.

Likewise they delivered to the said Herald, a short Scedule, wherein was contained a Declara­tion of their affection, both to the King and Parli­ament, with their Resolution concerning certain Propositions which they had received from His [Page 3] Majestie by the Lord Strange. The effect of which Propositions was as followeth.

1. That whereas a present Rebellion and actu­all warre was leavied in the South under a pre­tence of standing for his Majesty, and for the pro­tection of His sacred person, when in deed it was done by some factious persons, who onely ayme at the subversion of the Law of the Land, and the known Religion of the Church of England, abso­lutely invading the prerogative of the King, and propriety of the Subiect: wherefore his Maiesty finding himself bound in conscience to defend all his loving Subiects, from being made subiect to an Arbitrary Power; And whereas it was not in his power to defend them, or Himself, without their loyall assistance, He was forced to demand their Aid for the suppressing the present rebellion and insurrection.

2. That whereas a warre of such consequence and danger cannot be managed and maintained wirhout money, which He was destitute of, by reason that His Revenue was detained, and all means of subsisting taken from him, his goods seiz [...]d on, and his Forts and Ships kept by vio­lence from him: wherefore he was forced (they being obliged thereto, their own securitie and [Page 4] future freedome lying at stake) to demand their utmost assistance both of men, armes and money; which granted, he doubted not but that by Gods protection, he should reduce those insurrections people to their pristine obedience, and make it a happy return to all those that had or should stand close to him in a time of such danger and distra­ction.

These Propositions they returned this Answer.

That whereas His Maiestie was pleased to terme that a Rebellion in the South, which was done onely for his own securitie, and of whose loyall affections to his Maiestie, they had recei­ved a large testimony: They humbly desired his Maiestie to recall that scandall which he had thrown upon them, it being onely the fruit of the evill Counsellors about his Maiesty, who for the furtherance of their own desperate & bloody designes, strive to make the true Protestants of this Kingdom (under the notion of Puritans) to appear odious to his Maiestie; so that by that means they might gain strength to themselves, and weaken his Maiestie, by with-drawing the affection of his Subiects from him. As touching his Maiesties desires, that they should aid and as­sist him, they promised their best aid against the [Page 5] malignant party of Papists, Prelates, Proiectors, under whom they had so long groaned, and by whom his Maiestie had so long been seduced to make war against his loyall Subiects, onely to support them in their lordly pride, and domi­neering Prelacie. As for his Maiesties securitie, they promised during his abode there, that what Forces he should think requisite for his guard, should be at his command; and what other sup­plies should be necessary for Princely support, and might be agreeable to their dutie. But for any for­ces or assistance of men or moneys, to be imploy­ed against the Parliament, both their loyalties to his Maiestie, nor their care of the peace of the Kingdom could no way consent to.

Likewise they humbly desired his Maiestie to abandon those evill Counsellors that laboured his destruction, and that he would withdraw his protection from those Delinquents, and deliver them up to the iustice of the Law, that their pu­nishment might deterre others from offending in the like nature.

Likewise they humbly desired his Maiestie to throw down his Armes, and embrace his loyall Subiects in the Arms of his love, which was the onely and most effectuall means to increase a [Page 6] better obedience, and a firmer obligation of love and peace, then any forces could ever obtain: this if they might obtain, they would be aiding and assisting, and during life daily pray, &c.

At the receit of this, his Maiesty seemed but little discontented, but with an affable behaviour marcht up to Vxeter, where having made his re­sidence that night, on the morrow Prince Robert with his Troops endeavoured to force men to serve, and to seise their Armes for the Kings use: And such as refused he burnt their houses, inso­much that the County was forced to rise and fall upon the Troops. So that Prince Robert was for­ced to flie to Vxeter, for his own security. Very few come in to the King, onely some raged in­certain Welsh. His Maiestie intends to leave Vxe­ter very suddenly, and to go toward Shrewsbury: but what his intent is we cannot discern.