WEE having received from you, ſoon after Our return out of Scotland, a long Petition, conſiſting of many deſires, of great moment, together with a Declaration of a very unuſuall nature annexed thereunto, VVe had taken ſome time to conſider of it, as befitted Us in a matter of that conſequence, being confident, that your own reaſon and regard to Us, as well as Our expreſſe intimation by Our Comptroller to that purpoſe, would have reſtrained you from the publiſhing of it, till ſuch time, as you ſhould have received Our Anſwer to it: But, much againſt Our expectation, finding the contrary, that the ſaid Declaration is already abroad in Print, by directions from your Houſe, as appears by the printed Copy; VVe muſt let you know that VVe are very ſenſible of the diſreſpect. Notwithſtanding, it is Our Intention, that no failing on your part, ſhall make Us fail in Ours, of giving all due ſatisfaction to the deſires of Our people, in a Parliamentary way; And therefore VVe ſend you this Anſwer to your Petition, reſerving Our ſelf in point of the Declaration, which VVe think unparliamentary, and ſhall take a courſe to do that which VVe ſhall think fit in prudence and honour.

To the Petition, VVe ſay; that although there are divers things in the Preamble of it, which VVe are ſo far from admitting, that VVe profeſſe VVe cannot at all underſtand them, as, Of a wicked and malignant party prevalent in the Government; Of ſome of that party admitted to Our Privie Councell, and to other Imployments of truſt, and necreſt to Ʋs and Our Children; Of Endeavours to ſowe among the People falſe ſcandals and imputations, to blemiſh and diſgrace the Proceedings of the Parliament: All, or any of which, did VVe know of, VVe ſhould be as ready to remedy and puniſh, as you to complain of. That the Prayers of your Petition are grounded upon ſuch Premiſſes as VVe muſt in no wiſe admit; yet notwithſtanding VVe are pleaſed to give this Anſwer to you.

To the firſt concerning Religion, conſiſting of ſeverall branches, VVe ſay, that for the preſerving the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom from the deſignes of the Popiſh partie, VVe have, and will ſtill concur with all the juſt deſires of Our people in a Parliamentarie way; That for the depriving of the Biſhops of their Votes in Parliament, VVe would have you conſider, that their right is grounded upon the fundamentall Law of the Kingdom, and conſtitution of Parliament; This VVe would have you conſider, but ſince you deſire Our concurrence herein in a Parliamentary way, VVe will give no further anſwer at this time.

As for the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy, VVe conceive that the taking away of the high Commiſsion Court hath well moderated that, but if there continue any Uſurpations, or Exceſſes in their Juriſdictions, VVe therein neither have nor will protect them.

Unto that Clauſe which concerneth Corruptions (as you ſtile them) in Religion, in Church-government, and in Diſcipline, and the removing of ſuch unneceſſary Ceremonies as weak Conſciences might cheque at. That for any illegall Innovations which may have crept in, VVe ſhall willingly concur in the removall of them. That if Our Parliament ſhall adviſe Us to call a Nationall Synod, which may duly examine ſuch Ceremonies as give juſt cauſe of offence to any. VVe ſhall take it into conſideration, and apply Our Self to give due ſatisfaction therein; But VVe are very ſorry to hear in ſuch generall terms, Corruption in Religion objected, ſince VVe are perſwaded in Our conſcience, that no Church can be found upon the earth that profeſſeth the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine then the Church of England doth, nor where the Government and Diſcipline are joyntly more beautified, and free from ſuperſtition, then as they are here eſtabliſhed by Law, which (by the grace of God) VVe will with Conſtancy maintain (while VVe live) in their Puritie and Glory, not only againſt all invaſions of Popery, but alſo from the irreverence of thoſe many Schiſmaticks and Separatiſts, wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds, to the great diſhonour and hazard both of Church and State; for the ſuppreſsion of whom VVe require your timely and active aſsiſtance.

To the ſecond prayer of the Petition, concerning the removall and choice of Councellours, VVe know not any of Our Councell to whom the Character ſet forth in the Petition can belong. That by thoſe whom VVe had expoſed to triall, VVe have already given you ſufficient teſtimony, that there is no man ſo neer unto Us in place or affection, whom VVe will not leave to the Juſtice of the Law, if you ſhall bring a particular charge and ſufficient proofs againſt him; and of this VVe do again aſſure you, but in the mean time VVe wiſh you to forbear ſuch generall aſperſions as may reflect upon all Our Councell, ſince you name none in particular.

That for the choice of Our Councellours and Miniſters of State, it were to debar Us that naturall libertie all Free-men have, and it is the undoubted right of the Crown of England, to call ſuch perſons to Our Secret Councels, to publike imployment, and Our particular ſervice, as VVe ſhall think fit, ſo VVe are, and ever ſhall be very carefull to make election of ſuch perſons in thoſe places of truſt, as ſhall have given good teſtimonies of their abilities and integrity, and againſt whom there can be no juſt cauſe of exception whereon reaſonably to ground a diffidence; and to choices of this nature VVe aſſure you that the mediation of the neereſt unto Us hath alwayes concurred.

To the third Prayer of your Petition, concerning Ireland, VVe underſtand your deſire of not alienating the forfeited Lands thereof, to proceed from your much care and love; And like wiſe that it may be a Reſolution very fit for Us to take, but whether it be ſeaſonable to declare Reſolutions of that nature before the events of a war be ſeen, that VVe much doubt of. Howſoever, VVe cannot but thank you for this care, and your cheerfull ingagement for the ſuppreſsion of that Rebellion; upon the ſpeedy effecting whereof, the glory of God in the Proteſtant Profeſsion, the ſafety of the Brittiſh there, Our honour, and that of the Nation ſo much depends; all the Intereſts of this Kingdom being ſo involved in that buſineſſe, VVe cannot but quicken your affections therein, and ſhall deſire you to frame your Councels, and to give ſuch expedition to the work, as the nature thereof, and the preſſures in point of time requires, and whereof you are put in minde by the daily inſolence and increaſe of thoſe Rebels.

For Concluſion, your promiſe to apply your ſelves to ſuch courſes as may ſupport Our Royall Eſtate with Honour and Plenty at home, and with Power and Reputation abroad, is that which VVe have ever promiſed Our Self, both from your Loyalties and Affections, and alſo for what VVe have already done, and ſhall daily go adding unto, for the comfort and happineſſe of Our people.