THe Commons of England (That great Body) con­sisting of more then ten Millions of living soules, having with great ioy and hope waited now full twenty Moneths, for the happie effects of this long desired Parliament; do now perceive by His Maiesties Declarations to His Parliament, and His present proceedings in opposition to their Councells, they are like, not only to be frustrated of those ioyes and hopes but to have Confusion and Ruine immediately fall upon His Maiesty, themselves, and this whole Kingdome by Civill Discord: Whereof ( [...]s living men) they cannot but be sensible; and having no better meanes of accesse to His Maiesty, are constrained in this common way to breath out their Griefes and Feares, hoping in its Passage abroad, it may meet with some great Man, who (in imita­tion of him that had Compassion upon the Multitude) will convey it into His Maiesties Royall hand, of whose goodnesse His People have had more then 16. yeares experience.

That by the wisdome and iustice of His Maiesty, the Fidelity, Loyalty, and Duty of His Parliament, and the blessing of God upon both, those visible miseries (hanging over this whole Kingdome) [Page 2]may speedily be removed and a happie and blessed concord renewed and continued betwixt His Maiestie and His great Councell, the representative body of this Kingdome.

The Commons doe observe, that His Maiesty in His Declarati­ons doth declare, His intentions are not only to preserve His iust Prerogative, Rights and Priviledges, due to His Crown but also to preserve His People and Kingdome in peace and safety; and that His Subiects may also enioy their Religion Laws, Liberties Rights, and Priviledges due and belonging to them and their posterities.

They observe likewise, That the Parliament in their Remon­strances and Declarations published to the whole world, do professe the very same thing to be their ends and intentions concerning His Maiesty his People and Kingdome: For which His Maiesties gra­tious expressions as they are bound to give His Maiesty most hum­ble thanks, so are they obliged in all duty and service to those Noble Gentlemen, and others of their own chusing, not only for their long continued and unwearied paines for the good of His Maiesty, and this whole Kingdome: but also for their fidelity, wisdome and care, so really expressed and performed in discharge of that great trust they have committed to them being no lesse then al that they and their posterities have or are, and to be faithfull to them in obe­dience to all their lawfull commands tending to the good and safety of His Maiesties Royall person, and His Kingdome.

These being the mutuall, and (they hope) reall intentions of His Maiesty and His Parliament concerning them, thus concurring in one, and published to the whole world so to be: never (say they) was any Kingdome neerer to confusion (if not destruction) under a con­iuncture of so good intentions: And what Vipers, or rather what Devils are there upon the earth, that by wicked Councell would divide those intentions, and bring desolation upon this whole Kingdome; and what torments (lesse then hell) doe such men merit. But their hope and confidence is His Maiesties own goodnesse and care of His people, so often expressed and published to the world, will be motive sufficient to turne His eare from the Councells of such wicked persons, and to ioyne with His Parliament in pursuit of those good intentions, and not for such mens sakes to expose His own Royall person to danger, and His people and Kingdome to ruine.

They further observe, That it pleaseth His Maiesty in His De­clarations, to charge the cause of all unhappy differences betwixt His Maiesty and His Parliament, upon some few turbulent ambi­tious Factious spirits in both Houses of Parliament (Members thereof) whose cunning conveyance and carriage of busines in both Houses, for their own ambitious ends and advantage, have procured so great a party in both Houses, that their Votes are become the Parliament; and these men it is (saith His Maiesty) that make Or­ders and Ordinances, displeasing to his Maiestie being (as his Maie­sty affirmeth) against the established known Laws of the Land, and His Maiesties iust and Royall Prerogative, warranted by those Lawes.

They observe also, That the Parliament declare the cause of those differences to be a wicked and pernitious Councell about his Maiesty (who are seldome wanting about the Throne of the best and most pious Princes) being either Atheists, Papists, and Jesuites, Delinquents, or men of desperate Fortunes, engaged only to their own ends, though it prove the ruine both of King and Kingdome. And of necessity one of these two parties it must fall upon: for his Maiesties people doe well know the goodnesse of his own dis­position and inclination to his Subiects, manifested out of his Roy­all brest in the beginning of His reigne, before this viperous brood had time to take hold of Him; and call to mind His gracious ex­pressions and actions towards His Subiects in those times: And also His Maiesties frequent protestations and imprecations made this present Parliament, of his Maiesties great care and good inten­tions to preserve His people in peace, the true Protestant Religion, the Laws, Liberties and Priviledge of Parliament, from the least change or violation; and therfore whatsoever the French Histories have recorded and published, concerning congratulatory Letters, passed betwixt his Maiesty and the Pope of Rome, at His Maiesties being in Spaine, they dare not admit the least thought of change or alteration to be in his Maiesties own brest, but must cast it upon one of the parties afore named.

And therfore, for appeasing all differences, and prevention of all dangers, ready to fall upon his Maiestie, and this whole Kingdome, His People doe most humbly desire his Maiesty, to doe Himselfe, and His Kingdome that right and iustice (which lies in His owne power to doe) by naming such persons (if any such be) Members of [Page 4]both or either Houses of Parliament, as his Maiesty is informed are the Men, who draw all this feare of miserie on his Maiesty and His Kingdome, that they may come to Tryall before the Parlia­ment in a Parliamentary way, and there receive iudgement and pu­nishment (if they shalbe found guilty) or otherwise, their Accusers, (who have so highly wronged his Maiesty, His Parliament, and People) may come to like tryall and receive such punishment, as the iustice of that Court shall inflict upon them.

And for the same reasons, they would also most humbly beseech his Maiesty to name unto his Parliament, those persons neer about his Maiesty, who have been or are his Maiesties Councellors, in ex­pounding of Laws, framing, making and penning of Declarations, Proclamations, Messages and Passages, betwixt his Maiesty and his Parliament (for his Maiesty best knows who those men are) and deliver them to the Parliament to iustifie their doings, which as it will most magnifie the honour of his Maiesty to the love of truth and iustice, so will it be the clearest manifestation His Maiesty can give of the reallity of his Royall intention to His people, and lay the greatest obligation of duty love and obedience, upon them, and all good Subiects that his Marestie can expect from a loyall and true hearted people, which untill his Maiesty grant, their feares will keep them restlesse.

These most humble desires, the Commons conceive to be so iust, equall, seasonable and fuitable to his Maiesties gracious disposition that in honour, and iustice, he will not deny them to His People, being (as they think) the most hopefull meanes under heaven to secure his Maiesty & his people, from the approaching dangers and miseries of a bloody Warre, and to settle a firme and lasting peace between his Maiesty, his Parliament and People, which is that his Maiesty hath so often taken the Almighty God to witnesse, is the thing he so much desires; wherein the Commons are confident and will expect, that the Lords and others of his Maiesties most honou­rable Privie Councell and all the Peers of this Realme, and others, attending his Maiesty, who desire the safety, peace and prosperity of his Maiesty, his People and Kingdoms wil ioyn with them; and according to their relations offices, places, neernesse and credit with His Maiesty, will put forth their uttermost strength, Counsells and indeavours to preferre and accomplish these their humble d [...]sires to His Maiesty, otherwise they must think (as they may have iust [Page 5]cause) they are of the Malignant party, more willing to behold all of them, and this whole Kingdome streaming in blood, then relin­quish their owne pernitious Councels and ends, and be ready to execute the Commands of the Parliament against them.

The differences themselves between His Maiesty, and His Parli­ament, in His Maiesties Declarations appeare to be Foure. First, Detaining His Towne and Magazine of Hull. Secondly, removing the Magazine and Armes thence to other places, and the like in other parts of the Kingdome. Thirdly, Putting the Militia in exe­cution contrary to His Maiesties Proclamation. Fourthly, Making of Leavies, and raising of Men, Horse and Money; And these all done by Orders and Ordinances of Par-liament, and (as His Ma­iesties Declaration saith) against His Maiesties pleasure, because it is against the law, and His Maiesties Prerogative, warranted by the law.

The only question then is, Whether these proceedings by both Houses of Parliament in this time of danger (His Maiestie having refused to ioyne with them) be against the fundamentall lawes of the Land, and His Maiesties Prerogative warranted by those lawes, and above the power, and priviledge of Parliament to meddle in for the safety of his Maiesties Royall Person His Kingdome and people?

The Commons doe all know His Maiestie to be no expounder of lawes (for so his Maiestie is pleased to professe) as belonging nei­ther to his Person, nor office, but therein to be guided by the iudge­ment and councells of others, to whom His Maiestie doth com­mit that trust, To give right iudgement betwixt His Maiestie and people; and what Councellors his Maiesty hath had, and what ex­positions of Laws and Statutes have been made, during this pre­sent Parliament; and how iniuriously His Maiesty, His Parliament and People, have been dealt with therein, is like to appeare in the Kingdomes confusion, if His Maiesties goodnesse and wisdome, in casting off such Councells, and speedy ioyning with his Parliament prevent it not.

And what service such evill Councellors have done to this King­dome in former [...]ime, and what exposition of Laws they have made, let the Petition of Right, granted by his Maiestie to all his Subiects in ease of their Grievances witnesse.

And what Councells they have given, and exposstion of Laws [Page 6]they have made ssnce that Petition granted, let Ship money coat, and Co [...]auct money, and many other uniust and illegall impositions layed upon His Maiesties Subiects, and Declared in the Parliaments Re­monstrances witnesse also: And into what condition such perni­tious Councells and Councellors, have brought this Kingdome and His Maiesties Kingdome of Ireland, at this present, let the con­suming flames in the one, and the kindled fire in the other testifie.

The Parliament, the Commons doe know, and their Councells, Votes, Ordinances, Expositions and Declarations to His Maiestie, and his People, they heare and see attested under the authority of one or both Houses, and therefore are bound in reason and duty to beleeve their Proceedings are warranted by the Fundamentall laws of the Land, and are according to the Power and Priviledge of Par­liament, untill the like or better authority appeare to the contrary. For those who expound the Laws to his Maiesty and are his Coun­sellors, they know not their Persons or names, neither see their hands attesting the Counsels they give, nor Expositions they make, which makes them suspect they are Men of darknesse, and such as flee from the light of Parliament. Wherefore it is the most hum­ble desire of all His Maiesties good Subiects, that His Maiestie will put no longer confidence in their Councels or expositions of Laws; but hearken to the advise of his great Councell the Parliament.

And whether it bee more meet, safe, iust and honourable, for his Maiestie and his Subiects to put confidence in the Councells and iudgements of such Councellors, and the exposition they make of Lawes, and the Power and Priviledges of Parliament, or in the Par­liament, themselves being the great Counsell of the Kingdome, and the makers of all Laws, the Commons beseech His Maiestie and all the World to iudge.

As it is farre from the heart of every good Subiect to diminish the least part of His Maiesties Royall Prerogative, due by the Laws and Statutes of the Realme, being part of the inheritance of His Crowne and descended to His Maiestie from His Royall Pro­genitors, Kings of this Realme, so are all Subiects bound to main­tain the Liberties, Rights and Priviledges, due and belonging to the Parliament and People of England, and the Lawes that defend and preserve the same, the one as being the iust and undoubted inheri­tance of His Maiestie, the other as their inheritance as iust and un­doubtedly due to themselves & their Posterities, granted to their Pre­decessors [Page 7]more then five hundred Years past conrfimed to their An­cestors in all ages and not questioned or attempted to be violated, untill of late by the wicked Councell, and fraud of ill Ministers and Councellors (who for their owne ends, and to obtain the favour of Princes) have taken upon them the boldnesse, to advance the Pre­rogative above Law, and endeavoured to bring the Lawes and the Power and Priviledges of Parliament, to such construction them­selves would make, thereby at once breaking in upon the Privi­ledges of Parliament, and the inheritance of the Subiect, and so by pretence of Law, to root up the foundation of Law, the Parliament it selfe.

The Commons do therefore most humbly beseech His Maiestie that the distractions, griefes and feares, of so many thousand thou­sands of His Loyall Subiects layed before his Maiesty, in this time of danger may prevaile with His Maiesty speedily to return to His Parliament, and there in the way of iustice to examine all misin­formations his Maiesty hath had, both of Persons and Causes; and let all Offenders whatsoever, tast the severity of his Maiesties iu­stice, who have been Counsellors, instruments, or actors, to make so great a breach betwixt His Maiestie and His Parliament, and put his Kingdome and People into so much danger, and so many losses in their estates, by the long decay of their Trading in all parts, cau­sed by those divisions.

For the tumults which His Maiesty seemeth to flee from, the Commons doubt not, His Maiestie will find his Parliament, and all good Subiects, most willing to suppresse and punish, all unlawfull tumults and disorders caused by any Persons whatsoever, when it shall please His Maiesty to ioyne with his Parliament, in securing this and His other Kingdomes from the plots and designes of Je­suites, Papists and other instruments of theirs, whose worke it is now to disturbe the peace of his Maiesties Dominions, for preser­vation of their Spanish Monarchy, and Popish Tyranny, by sup­pressing or destroying of Prince, Parliament and People, that stand in their way: For the Commons would that all the world should know They are English Protestants, whose Religion is not founded either upon Superstirious Vanities, or Schismaticall Fancies, but upon the revealed will▪ and well warranted word of God consonant to the sound and Orthodoxe Doctrine of the Church of England, whereunto They will allwayes submit, provided it may be purged [Page 8]from what gives iust occasion of scandall or offence; and not so mixed or adorned with Rights and Ceremonies, that whilest the Body is drest, the Soule of Religion, which is life and power, should be lost: For God is a Spirit, and will be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, which is the Freedome they aske; without which, the Protestant Religion is but Protestant Profession, will make men but seeming Saints, while Devils, and set them but half the way to Heaven.