His Majesties answer to the petition of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled presented to His Majestie at York, June 17, 1642 : together with a catalogue of the names of the Lords that subscribed to levie horse to assist His Majestie in defence of his royall person, the two Houses of Parliament, and the Protestant religion.

To the Kings moſt Excellent Majeſtie. The humble Petition of the Lords and Commons in PARLIAMENT Aſſembled.

YO 〈…〉 moſt 〈…〉 faithfull Subjects, the Lords and Commons aſſem 〈…〉 great number of the Gentry, Free-holders, 〈…〉 ſembled there by Your Majeſties Command the 〈…〉 are unto Us, That having taken a reſolution to addreſſe themſelves 〈…〉 tie in the humble way of a Petition, for the redreſſe of thoſe Grievances which they now lie under, they were violently interrupted and affronted therein by the Earle of Linſey, the Lord Savill, and others, and notwithſtanding all the means they could uſe to preſent their juſt deſires to Your Majeſtie, yet they could not prevail with Your Majeſte to accept of their Petition; The Copie whereof they have ſent to us, with an humble Deſire, That we would take ſuch courſe therein as may tend to the Preſervation of their Liberties, and the Peace of the Kingdome; And that we would addreſſe our ſelves to Your Majeſtie in their behalf that by our means their deſires may finde better acceptation with Your Majeſtie; Whereupon, having ſeriouſly weighed, and conſidered the particulars of thoſe their Complaints and Deſires, as they are laid down in their Petition, and finding that the Grievances they complain of are the increaſe of the miſeries formerly ſuſtained by that County, (which hath well-nigh for three yeers laſt paſt been the Tragicall ſtage for Armies and War) by reaſon of Your Majeſties diſtance in Reſidence, and difference in Counſels from Your great Councell the Parliament, begetting great diſtempers and diſtractions thorowout the Kingdom, and eſpecially in that County; The drawing to thoſe Parts great numbers of diſcontented Perſons that may too juſtly be feared do affect the publike ruine for their own private advantage; The drawing together of many Companies of the Trained Bands and others both of Horſe and Foot of that County, and retaining multitudes of Commanders and Cavaliers from other parts; The daily reſort of Recuſants to Your Majeſties Court at York. The great preparations of Arms and other warlike proviſions, to the great terrour and amazement of Your Majeſties peaceable Subjects, and cauſing a great decay of Trade and Commerce amongſt them. All and every of which Particulars are againſt the Law, which Your Majeſtie hath made ſo many and ſo frequent profeſſions to uphold and maintain. And the Lords and Commons finding on the other ſide their humble deſires to be, That your Majeſtie would hearken to Your Parliament, and declining all other Counſels wharſoever, unite Your confidence to Your Parliament, and that your Majeſtie would not divide Your Subjects joint dutie to Your Majeſtie, the Parliament and Kingdom, not deſtroy the Eſſence of Your great Councell and higheſt Court, by ſubjecting the Determinations and Counſels thereof to the Counſels and Opinions of any private perſons whatſoever; That Your Majeſtie having paſſed an Act, That this Parliament ſhall not be diſſolved, but by Act of Parliament, Your Majeſty would not do any thing tending thereunto, by commanding away the Lords and great Officers, whoſe attendance is neceſſary therunto; That Your Majeſtie having expreſſed Your confidence in the affections of that County, You would pleaſe to diſmiſſe Your extraordinary Guards, and the Cavaliers and others of that quality, who ſeem to have little intereſt or affection to the publike good, their language and behaviour ſpeaking nothing but Diviſion and War, and their advantage conſiſting in that which is moſt deſtructive to others. And laſtly, that in ſuch Conſultations and Propoſitions as Your Majeſtie maketh to that Countie, ſuch may not be thruſt upon them as men of that Countie, that neither by their fortune or reſidence are any part of it.

All which their humble and moſt juſt deſires being according to Law, which your Majeſtie hath ſo often declared ſhould be the meaſure and Rule of your Government and Actions; And we your Majeſties moſt faithfull Subjects the Lords and Commons fully concurring with the Gentlemen and others of the County of York, in their Aſſurance that thoſe deſires of theirs will abundantly redound to the glory of God, the honour and ſafety of your Majeſtie, the good of your Poſteritie, and the peace and proſperitie of this Kingdom; we humbly beſcech your Majeſtie graciouſly to hearken unto them, and to grant them; and that you would joyn with your Parliament in a ſpeedy and effectuall courſe for the preſervation of their liberties, and the peace of the Kingdom, which duty as we are now called upon by that Countie to diſcharge, ſo do we ſtand engaged to God and man for the petformance thereof by the truſt repoſed in us, and by our ſolemn Vow and Proteſtation; And your Majeſtie, together with us, ſtands engaged by the like Obligation of truſt, and of Oath, beſides the many and earneſt profeſſions and proteſtations, which your Majeſtie hath made to this purpoſe to your whole Kingdom in generall, and to that Countie in particular; the peace and quiet of the Kingdom (as is well obſerved by the Gentlemen and Free-holders of Yorkshire in their Petition) being the onely viſible means under God, wherein conſiſts the preſervation of the Proteſtant Religion, the Redemption of our Brethren in Ireland, and the happineſſe and proſperitie of your Majeſtie and all your Dominions.

His MAJESTIES Anſwer to the Petition of the Lords and and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, preſented to His MAJESTIE at York the 17. of Iune. 1642.

HIs Majeſty having carefully weighed the matter of this Petition preſented to him at York on Friday the 17. of June, by the Lord Howard, Sir Hugh Cholmley, Sir Philip Stapleton; Though He might refer the Petitioners to His two laſt Declarations, wherein moſt of the particulars in this Petition are fully anſwered, or might refuſe to give any Anſwer at all, till He had received ſatisfaction in thoſe high Indignities He hath ſo often complained of, and demanded Juſtice for, Yet that all the world may ſee how deſirous His Majeſtie is to leave no Act which ſeems to carry the Reputation of both His Houſes of Parliament, and in the leaſt degree to reflect upon His Majeſties Juſtice and Honour, unanſwered; Is graciouſly pleaſed to return this Anſwer:

〈…〉 mentioned to be preſented to both Houſes of Parliament had bill annexed is this now delivered to him, His Majeſty might have diſcerned the 〈◊〉 and quality of the Petitioners, which His Majeſty hath great reaſon to beléeve, was not in truth ſo conſiderable as is pretended: For his Majeſty aſſures you, That He hath never refuſed any Petition ſo atteſted as that would be thought to be; But His Majeſty well remembers, that on the third of June, wh • n there was upon his Majeſties ſummons the greateſt, and moſt chéerefull concourſe of people that over was beheld of one County, appearing before Him at York, a Gentleman (one Sir Thomas Fayrfax.) offered in that great Confluence a Petition to His Majeſty, which His Majeſty ſéeing to be avowed by no man but himſelfe, and the generall and univerſall Acclamations of the people ſéeming to diſclaime it, did not receive; conceiving it not to be of ſo Publike a nature, as to be fit to be preſented or received in that place: And H • s Majeſty is moſt confident, (and in that muſt appeale to thoſe were then preſent) that what ever the ſubſtance of that Petition was, it was not conſented to b • any conſiderable number of Gentry, or Fréeholders of this County; by a few, meane, inconſiderable perſons, and diſliked, and viſibly diſcountenanced by the great Body of the knowne Gentry, Clergy, and Inhabitants of this whole County: And if the matter of that Petition was ſuch as is ſuggeſted in this, His Majeſty hath great reaſon to beléeve it was framed and contrived (as many others of ſuch nature have béene) in London, not in Yorkſhire: For ſure no Gentleman of quality and underſtanding of this County would talke of His great preparations of Armes, and other Warlike Proviſions, to the great terrour and amazement of His peaceable Subjects, when they are witneſſes of the violent taking His Arms from Him, and ſtopping all wayes for bringing more to Him: And if there were no greater terror and amazement of His Majeſties peaceable Subjects in other places by ſuch Preparations and proviſions, there would be no more cauſe to complaine of a great decay of Trade and Commerce there, then is in this place: But his Majeſty hath ſo great an aſſurance of the Fidelity and generall affections of his good Subjects of this County, which He hopes will prove exemplar over His whole Kingdome) that He hath great cauſe to beleeve; That they doe rather complaine of his Majeſties Confidence, and of his ſlowneſſe, that whilſt there is ſuch endeavour abroad to raiſe Horſe, and to provide Armes againſt his Majeſty, and that endeavour put in execution, His Majeſty truſts ſo much to the Juſtice of his cauſe, and the affections of his people, and neglects to provide ſtrength to aſſiſt that Juſtice, and to protect thoſe Affections.

For any affronts offered by the Earle of Lindſey, or the Lord Savill, to thoſe who intended to petition his Majeſty: His Majeſty wiſhes that both his Houſes of Parliament would have examined that information, and the credit of the informers, with that gravity and deliberation, as in Caſes which concerne the Innocence and honour of Perſons of ſuch quality hath béene accuſtomed, before they had proſcribed two Péeres of the Realme, and expoſed them (as much as in them lay) to the rage and fury of the people, under the Character of being Enemies to the Common-wealth, a Brand newly found out (and of no Legall ſignification) to incenſe the people by, and with which the ſimplicity of formed 〈…〉 mes 〈…〉 And then his Majeſtie hath ſome reaſon to beléeve they would have found themſelves as much abuſed in the report concerning thoſe Lords, as he is ſure they are in thoſe which tell them of the reſort of great numhers and diſcontented perſons to him, and of the other particulars mentioned to to be in that Petition: Whereas they who obſerve what reſort is here to his Majeſty, well know it to bee of the prime Gentlemen of all the Counties in England, whom nothing but the love of Religion, the care of the Lawes, and liberties of the Kingdome, beſides their affection to his perſon, could engage into great journeys, trouble and expence, men of as precious Reputation, and as exemplary lives, as this Nation hath any, whoſe aſſiſtance his Majeſty knowes he muſt not expect, if he ſhould have the leaſt Deſigne againſt honour and Juſtice: and ſuch witneſſes his majeſty deſires to have all his actions.

For the declining other Counſells and the Uniting his confidence to his Parliament, his majeſty deſires both his Houſes of parliament ſeriouſly and ſadly to conſider, that it is not the name of a great or little Councel that makes the Reſults of that Counſell juſt or unjuſt: neither can the imputation upon his majeſty of not being adviſed by his Parliament (eſpecially ſines all their actions and all their Orders are expoſed to the publike view) long miſlead his good Subjects, except in truth they ſée ſome particular ſound advice neceſſary to the peace and hapineſſe of the Common-wealth diſ-oſtéemed by his Majeſty, and ſuch an influence he is moſt aſſured neither can nor ſhall be given, and that they will thinke it merit in his Majeſty from the Common-wealth to rejoin ſuch a Counſell as would perſwade him to make himſelfe none of tho three Eſtates by giving up his negative voyce to allow them a power ſuperiour to that which the Law hath given him, whenſoever it pleaſeth the major part preſent of both Houſes to ſay that he doth not diſcharge his truſt as he ought, and to ſubject his and his Subjects unqueſtionable Right and Propriety to their Uotes, without and againſt Law, upon the méer pretence of neceſſity. And his Majeſty muſt appeale to all the World, who it is that endeavours to divide the joynt duty of his Subjects, his Majeſty who requires nothing but what their owne duty, guided by the infallible Rule of the Law, leads them to doe, or they who by Orders and Uotes (oppoſite and contradictory to Law, Cuſtome, preſident and reaſon) ſo confound the affections and underſtandings of his good Subjects, that they know not how to behave themſelves with honeſty and ſafety, whileſt their Conſcience will not ſuffer them to ſubmit to the one, nor their ſecurity to apply themſelves to the other. It is not the bare ſaying that his majeſties actions are againſt the Law (with which he is reproached in this Petition, as if hée departed from his often Proteſtations to that purpoſe) muſt conclude him, there being no one ſuch particular in that petition alleadged, of which his majeſty is in the leaſt degrée guilty: whether the ſame Reverence and eſtéeme be paid by you to the Law (except your owne Uotes be judge) néeds no other Evidence, then thoſe many, very many Orders publiſhed in print, both concerning the Church and State, thoſe long impriſonment of ſeverall perſons without hearing them upon generall information, and the great and unlimited Fees to your Office 〈…〉 , worſe then the Impriſonment, and the Arbitrary conſure upon them when they are admitted to be heard: Let the Law be judge by whom it is violater.

For that part of the Petition which ſéems to accuſe his Majeſty of a purpoſe to diſſolve this Parliament (contrary to the Act for the continuance 〈…〉 … ing away the Lords and greāt officers, whoſe attendance is neceſſary, which his Majeſty well knowe to be a new Calumny, by which the Grand Confrivers of ruine for the State hope to ſeduce the minds of the people from their affection to, or into jealouſie of his Majeſty, as if he meant this way to bring this Parliament (which may be the caſe of all Parliaments) to nothing; it is not poſſible for His Majeſty more to exereſſe his affection to, and his Reſolution for the Fréedom, liberty, and frequency of Parliaments, then he hath done; And whoſoover conſiders how viſible it muſt be to his Majeſty, that it is impoſſible for him to ſubſiſt without the affections of his people, and that thoſe affections cannot poſſibly be preſerved or made uſe of but by Parliaments, cannot give the leaſt credit, or have the leaſt ſuſpition, that his Majeſty would chuſe any other way to the happineſſe he deſires for himſelf and his poſterity, but by Parliaments: But for his calling the Lords hither, or any others abſenting themſelves, who have not bin called, who ever conſiders the tumults, which no votes or Declaration can make to be no tumults, by which His Majeſty was driven away, and many Members of either Houſe in danger of their lives, the demanding the names of thoſe Lords who would not conſent to their Propoſitions by Meſſage from the houſe of Commons delivered at the bar by M. Hollis, with that moſt tumultuous petition in the name of many thouſands, among many other of the ſame kind, directed to the Houſe of Commons, and ſent up by them to the Houſe of Lords, taking notice of the prevalence of a malignant faction, which made abortive all their good motions, which tended to the peace and tranquility of the Kingdom, deſiring that thoſe nobleworthies of the houſe of Peers; who concurred with them in their happy Uotes, might be earneſtly deſired to ioyn with that honourable houſe, and to ſit and vote as one entire body, profeſſing that ſome ſpéedy remedy were taken for the removal of all ſuch obſtructions as hindred the happy progreſſe of their great endeavours, their Petitioners ſhould not reſt in quietneſſe, but ſhould bee enforced to lay hold on the next remedy which was at hand to remove the diſturbers of their Peace, and want and neceſſity breaking the bounds of modeſty, not to leave any meanes unaſſayed for their relief adding that the 〈◊〉 of the poor and needy was, That ſuch perſons who were the Obſtacles of their peace, and hinderers of the happy Procéedings of Parliament might be forthwith publikely declared, whoſe removall they conceived would put a period to theſe diſtractions: upon which a great number of Lords departing, the Uote in order to the Ordinance concerning the Militia was immediatly paſt, though it had bin twice before put to the queſtion, and rejected by the Uotes of much the major part of that houſe. And whoſoever conſiders the ſtrange Orders, Uotes, and Declarations, which have ſince paſſed, to which whoſoever would not conſent, that is, with Freedom and liberty of language, and reaſon profeſſe againſt, was in danger of Cenſure and Impriſonment, will not blame our care in ſending for them, or theirs in comming, or abſenting themſelves from being involved in ſuch concluſions. Neither will it be any objection, that they ſtayed there long after any fumults were, and therfore that the tumults drave them not away; If every day produced Orders and Reſolutions as illegall as, and indéed but the effects of the tumults, there was no cauſe to doubt the ſame power would be ready to prevent any Oppoſition to thoſe Orders after they were made▪ which had made way and preparation for the Propoſitions of them, and ſo whoſoever conceived himſelf in danger of future Tumults, againſt which there is not the leaſt proviſion, was driven away by thoſe which were paſt And his Majeſty hath more reaſon to wonder at thoſe who ſtay behind, after all big Legall Power is • oted from him, and all the people told, That he might bée with modeſty and duty enough depoſed, then any man hath at thoſe who have bin willing to withdraw themſelves from the place where ſuch deſperate and dangerous poſitions are avowed: which his Majeſty doth not mention with the leaſt thought of leſſening the power or validity of an Act, to which he hath given his Aſſent this Parliament: All and every of which he ſhall as inviolably obſerve, as he looks to have his own Rights preſerved, but to ſhew by what means ſo many ſtrange Orders have of late bin made: And to ſhew how earneſtly his Majeſty deſires to be preſent at, and to receive advice from both houſes of parliament, againſt whom it ſhall be never in the power of a malignant party to incenſe His Majeſty, his majeſty again offers his conſent, that both houſes may be adjorned to 〈…〉 place, which may be thought convenient, where his majeſty will bée 〈…〉 the members of either Houſe will make a full appea 〈…〉 miſſion which muſt attend ſuch an Adjournment may not be the 〈…〉 of recovering that temper, which is neceſſary for ſuch De 〈…〉

And this his Majeſty conceives to be ſo very neceſſary, that if the minds and inclinations of every member of either Houſe were equally compoſed, the Licence is ſo great, that the mean people about London and the Suburbs have taken, that both for the Liberty and Dignity of Parliament that Convention for a time ſhould be in another place. And 〈…〉 e how much ſoever the ſafety and ſecurity of this Kingdome depends on Parliaments, it will never be thought that thoſe Parliaments muſt of Neceſſity be at Weſtminſter.

His Majeſties confidence is no leſſe then he hath expreſſed (and hath great cauſe to expreſſe) in the affections of this County, an inſtance of which affections all men know his guard (which is not extraordinary) to be, and wonders that ſuch a legall Guard at his own charge for his perſon (within 20. miles of a Rebellion, and of an Army in pay againſt him ſhould be objected by thoſe, who for ſo many months, and in a place of known and confeſſed ſecurity, have without and againſt Law kept a Guard for themſelves at the charge of the Common-wealth, and upon that ſtock of money which was given for the Relief of the miſerable and bleeding condition of Ireland, or the payment of the great debt due to our Kingdom of Scotland.

For the reſort of Papiſts to the Court, his Majeſties great care for the prevention therof is notoriouſly known, that when he was informed 2. or 3. of his intended Guard were of that Religion he gave eſpeciall direction, with expreſſions of His diſpleaſure, that they ſhould be immediatly diſcharged, and provided that no perſon ſhould attend on him under that Relation, but ſuch as took the Oaths of Allegeance, and Supremacie; that he commanded the Sheriffe to proceed with all ſeverity according to the Law againſt all papiſts that ſhould come within five miles of the Court, and if notwithſtanding this, there be any papiſts neer the Court, (which his Majeſty aſſures you he knows not, nor hath heard but by this Petition) He doth hereby command them to depart, and declares to all Officers and Miniſters of Juſtice, that they ſhall proceed ſtrictly againſt them according to the Law, and as they will anſwer the contrary at their perils.

For the language and behaviour of the Cavaléers (a word by what miſtake ſoever it ſeems much in disfavour) there hath not bin the leaſt complaint here and therfore it is probable the fault was not found in this County. Neither can his Majeſty imagine what is meant by the mention of any men thruſt • pon them in ſuch Conſultations and propoſitions as his Majeſty makes to this County, who are neither by their Fortune or Re 〈…〉 dence any part of it, and therfore can make no anſwer to it.

To conclude, his Maieſty aſſures you he hath never cefuſed to receive any Petition, whether you have or no, your ſelues beſt know, and will conſider what Reputation it will be to you of Juſtice or Ingenuity to receive all Petitions how ſenſleſſe and ſcandalous ſoever of one kind▪ under pretence of underſtanding the good peoples minds and affections, and not only refuſe the Petition, but puniſh the Petitioners of another kind, under colour that it is not a crime that they are not ſatiſfied with your ſenſe, as if you were only truſted by the people of one opinion: To take all pains to publiſh and print Petitions which agrée with your wiſhes, though they were never preſented, and to uſe the ſame induſtry and Authorlty to keep thoſe that indéed were preſented and avowed from being publiſhed (though by our own authority) becauſe the Argument is not pleaſant to you, To pretend impartiality and infallibility, and to expreſſe the greateſt paſſion and affection in the Order of your procéeding, and no leſſe error and miſ-underſtanding in your Judgments and Reſolutions, He doth remember well the Obligation of his Truſt, and of his Oath▪ and deſires that you will do ſo too, and your own ſolemn Now and proteſtation, and then you will not only think it convenient, but neceſſary to give his Majeſty a full Reparation for all the ſcandals laid upon him, and all the ſcandalous poſitions made againſt him, and that it is leſſe diſhonour to retract errors, then by avowing to confeſſe the malice of them, and will ſée this to be the ſureſt way for the preſervation of the Proteſtant Religion, the Redemption of our Brethren in Ireland, the happineſſe and proſperity of your ſelves and of all our Dominions, and of the Dignity and Fréedome of Parliament.

A Catalogue of the Names of the Lords that ſubſcribed to levie Horſe, to aſſiſt His Majeſty in the defence of, &c. THe Prince 200 The Duke of York 120 Lord Keeper 40 Duke of Richmond. 100 L Marqueſſe Hartford 60 L. Great Chamberlaine 30 E. of Cumberland 50 E. of Huntington 20 E. of Bath 50 E. of Southampton 60 E. of Dorſet 60 E. of Northampton 40 E. of Devonſhire 60 E. of Dover 25 E. of Cambridge 60 E. of Briſtol 60 E, of Weſtmerland 20 E. of Barkshire and L. Andover. 30 E. of Monmouth 30 E. Rivers 30 E. of Carnarvan 20 E. of Newport 50 L. Mowbray 50 L. Willoughby 30 L. Gray of Ruthin 10 L. Lovelace 40 L. Paget 30 L. Faulconbridge to come. L. Rich 30 L. Paulet 40 L. Newarks 30 L. Montague 30 L. Coventry 100 L. Savill 50 L. Mohun 20 L. Dunſmore 40 L. Seymor 20 L. Capell 100 L. Faulkland 20 Mr. Comptroller 20 M. Secret. Nicholas 20 L. Ch. Iuſtice Banks 20 The L. Thanet is not here, but one hath undertaken for 100. for him. Sum. totall, 1659▪