AN ADDRESS From the JUSTICES of the PEACE Of the COUNTY of MIDDLESEX, As it was Ordered by the Court at HICKS'S HALL, And Humbly presented to His MAJESTY By the Body of the said Justices, on Munday the Eighteenth of April, 1681. WITH HIS MAJESTIES Gracious Answer.
Dublin, Reprinted by Benjamin Tooke and John Crook, Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majestie; And are to be sold by Mary Crook and Andrew Crook at His Majesties Printing-house in Skinner-Row, 1681.
Midd ss. Ad generalem Quarterialem Sessionem pacis Domini Regis, tent' per Adjornament' pro Com' Midd' apud Hicks's-hall in St. John-street in Com' praed' die Sabbati scil't decimo sexto die Aprilis Anno Regni Regis Caroli Secundi nunc Angl' &c. Tricesimo Tertio.
The ANSWER of His Majesties Justices of the Peace, to the Message sent to them from His Majesty by the right Honourable Sir Leoline Jenkins Principal Secretary of State, as also their Humble and Thankful Acknowledgment of His Majesties Grace and Favour to His Subjects expressed in His Majesties Declaration lately Published by His Command.
WE, your Majesties most dutiful and loyal Subjects; your Majesties Justices of the Peace for this your County of Middlesex, having by your Majesties Command, received a Signification from the right Honourable Sir Leoline Jenkins, by Letter dated the Fifteenth of April instant; That it is your Majesties Pleasure we should Depute some of our Body to Wait upon the right Honourable the Lords of your Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council, to propose Ways and Methods for the putting in Execution, with Effect, the Statute made in the 43 Year of Queen Elizabeth, for the Relief of the Poor, in pursuance of a Petition heretofore by us presented to your Majesty for that end, have with all readiness obeyed your Majesties Command, and have Deputed some of our Body to wait upon the Lords. And as we cannot but with all Humility acknowledge your Majesties transcendent Goodness, and Charity to the Poor, in reminding us of our Duty, for their Relief, so (with your Majesties leave) we must presume to say, That we esteem our selves obliged to lay hold on this seasonable Opportunity to make our further Humble Acknowledgment to your Majesty withall Gratitude for that most Gracious Declaration lately. Published by your Majesties Command; by which your Majesty [Page 4] is pleased to put your People in mind of the Miseries they endured (when the Monarchy was shaken off) by those most Illegal and Arbitrary Powers, (who most Tyrannically disposed of the Lives and Fortunes of your good Subjects at their pleasuers, and left them neither Religion, Liberty Property,) And that your Majesty is Graciously pleased to give us your Royal Word to Govern according to the Laws of the Kingdom, which cannot but Extinguish, and thereby quiet the Fears and Jealousies of all rational, and good Men, and we hope bring them to a right Sense of their Duty to your Majesty, and their own Interest, and make them confident they shall enjoy their Religion, Liberty and Property. And for our own parts, we do assure your most Sacred Majesty, It hath made so deep an Impression in us, that we unanimously Resolve our Lives and Fortunes shall be at your Majesties Service, for the Defence of your Majesties most Sacred Person from Danger (whom God preserve) and for the preservation of the true Protestant Religion, and your Majesties Government in Church and State as by Law established.
Presented to His Majesty by the Justices of the Peace of the said County in a Body.
Whereunto His Majesty was pleased to return this Gracious Answer,
I Heartily thank you for your Address, and for your Assurance of Assisting Me in the Support of the Church of England as by Law it [...]s Established. I am an utter Enemy to all Arbitrary Proceedings, and shall Endeavour much as in Me lies to Maintain the Legal Rights and Properties of My Subjects, it being the best▪ if not the only Way for the Preserving the publick Peace.