YOur honest Resolutions and Af­fections to mee and your Coun­try, for the defence of my Per­son, and the Lawes of the Land, have been, and are so notable, that they have drawn me hither only to thank you: I goe to other places to confirm and un­deceive my Subjects, but am come hither only to thank and encourage you: You have made the best judgemnt of happinesse, by relying on that foundaton, which the experience of so many hundred yeares hath give such proofe of, The Assurance and Securiy of the Law: And assure your selves when Laws shall bee altered by any other Authority, then that by which they were made, your foundations are destroyed; And though it seemes at first but [Page 2]to take away my Power, it will quickly swal­low all your Interest. I aske nothing of you (though your demeanour gives me good evi­dence that you are not willing to deny) but to preserve your owne Affections to the Religi­on and Lawes established; I will justifie and protect those Affections, and will live and die with you in that quarrell.

IF I could have suspected your affecti­ons, or have censured the dutie of this County by some late Actions in it, I should not have taken this paines to have given you a Testimony of my Affection to you, and to remove those Objections, which being raised by a Malignant party, may, by their cunning and industry, get credit even with ho­nest mindes, The truth is, I come to you to assure you of my purposes and Resolutions for the De­fence of what ever is or should be deare unto you, your Religion, your Liberty, your Common Inte­rest, and the Law of the Land: and to undeceive you of that Opinion, which I heare hath mis-led ma­ny of you, That the pretended Ordinance of the Mi­litia is warranted by my consent and Authority. As I have already informed you, by my severall De­clarations and Messages, that the same is a­gainst the knowne Law, and an Invation of my unquestionable Right, and of your Liberty [Page 4]and Property, so I doe now declare unto you, that the same is imposed upon you against my Expresse Consent, and in Contempt of my Re­gall Authoritie; And therefore whosoever shall henceforth presume to Execute o [...] Obey the same, I shall proceed against them, as against such who promote Rebellion, and actually leavie Warre against me: And I doubt not, but you will sadly consider, That if any authoritie with­out and against my Consent may lawfully im­pose such Burthens upon you, it may likewise take away all that you have from you, and subject you to their Lawlesse Arbitrary Pow­er and Government: And how farre they are like to exercise that Jurisdiction towards you, you may guesse by the Insolence of Sir John Hotham at Hull, who (being a Subject) not onely presumes to keep His Soveraign, by force of Armes, out of His Towne, but murthers his Fellow-Subjects, Imprisons them, burnes their Houses, drownes their Land, takes them Captives, and commits such Outrages, and Acts of Hostilitle, as the most equall and outragious Enemies practise in any Countrey; That you may see how impossible it is for your Liberties and Properties to bee preserved, when your King is Oppressed, and His just Rights taken from Him. Who hath brought these Cala­mities upon your Neighbours at Hall, every Man sees; and they onely can bring the same upon you. I will not beleeve you to be so insensible of the be­nifits you have received from me, that I need put you in minde of the Gracious Acts passed by mee this Parliament on your behalfes; And if there [Page 5]be any thing wanting, to the ma [...]ing you the hap­piest Subjects in the world, I am sure it is not my fault that you have not that too: Be not deceived with words, and generall Expressions; It is not in your power to name one particular, which might make you happy, that I have refused to Grant, Be not frighted with Apprehensions, That this Countrey is like to be the Seat of a War; the Seat of a war will be only where persons rise in Rebelli­on against me; that will not, I hope, be here, and then you shall be sure of my protection. I will live and die in your Defence; and that you may bee in a Readinesse, and a Posture to Defend your selves and me, against any Invasion or Rebellion, I have Armed severall Persons of Honour, Qualitie and Reputation amongst you, and of your owne Coun­trey, with a Commission of Array to that purpose: There is no honest end declared in that Ordi­nance, which is not provided for by this Commis­sion, which being according to the old known Law, is fit for your Obedience, and I doubt not will finde it.

In a word, I assure you, upon the Faith, aad Ho­nour of a Christian King, I will be alwayes as ten­der of any thing which may advance the true Pro­testant Religion, protect and preserve the Lawes of the Land, and defend the just Priviledge and Free­dome of Parliament, as of my Life, or my Crowne: and when I faile in either of these. I will not looke for your assistance; till then you are concerned nor to see me suffer.