Five speciall Passages: viz. TWO PETITIONS OF THE COVNTIE OF YORKE.
The one Presented to the Kings most Excellent Majestie at York the third of Iune, 1642.
The other, to the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled.
With the Additionals thereunto annexed.
Die Lunae Jun. 6. 1642. Ordered by the Lords assembled in Parliament, that these Petitions, together with the additions, be forthwith Printed and Published.
John Brown, Cler. Parliamentor.
The Petition of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND, to the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell of that Kingdome.
ALSO His Majesties Letter to the Lords of his Privie Counsell of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND.
AND A Letter from Sir Io. Bourchier to Sir Thomas Barrington Knight and BARONET.
LONDON, Printed for Edward Blackmore, 1642. May 8.
To the Kings most Excellent Maiesty.
The humble Petition of the Gentry, Ministers, Free-holders, and other Inhabitants of the County of York, Assembled by his Majesties speciall Summons at Heworth Moore; neere the City of York, on Fridy the third of Iune, 1642.
Sheweth,
THat this particular County, most affectionate to your Majesties service, hath well night for these three yeers last past been the Stage, whereon the Tragicall miseries, which necessarily accompany Warre and Armies, have beene presented and acted, whereby the generall wealth and plenty of this County is exhausted and brought very low: Which waight of miseries are sensibly become much more heavy, by reason of your Majesties distance in residence, and difference in Counsells, from your great Councell the Parliament; begetting great distempers and distractions throughout the Kingdome; and have, specially amongst us, produced factions and divisions, drawing into these parts great numbers of discontented persons, that may too justly be feared doe affect the publike ruine, for their private advantage. All which evils are daily fomented, and made more formidable, by your Majesties drawing together (as wee conceive not according to Law) many Companies of the Trained Bands, and others both Horse and Foot of this County, and retaining multitudes of Commanders and Cavaleers from other parts, and by the daily resort of Recusants, and persons disaffected in Religion, to your Majesties Court at York; and by the great preparation of Armes, and other warlike provisions, which begets in us feares of Warrs, to the great terrour and amazement of us your Majesties peaceable Subjects, and to the great decay of all Commerce and industrious courses, for the wealth and prosperity of the Country, especially of Clothing, which is the maine subsistence of this County, and is since your Majesties residence amongst us, and the following distractions thereupon, suddenly obstructed; insomuch that many thousand Families, who are of, and have their livelihood by the Trade of Clothing, are now at the point of utter undoing; which inevitably will prove to be of dangerous consequence, and will be the in-let to our approaching and unavoidable ruine, unlesse your Majesty please graciously to give redresse, by removing the causes which produce these miserable effects; it being too true, that very many in these and other parts of the Kingdome, doe wholly withdraw themselves from their former Commerce and Dealing; and others, both Merchants and Chapmen, doe generally refuse to make payment for Goods long since sold and delivered; alledging, that others refuse to pay them for any Commodity formerly sold, till the fears and distractions of the Land be settled: Which if not suddenly prevented, will fortwith over-turn all such wayes of advantage and comfort as have formerly made this Kingdome (and this County in particular) prosperous and happy.
We doe therefore in all humility and duty, in the sence of our present deplorable condition, beseech your Majesty to pardon Vs, if We importune Your Majesty more than others, since We have endured, and are in hazard more than any; and that from these apprehensions, We may offer to Your Majesty our earnest Petition, for redresse and prevention of these evils daily threatning danger to Your Majesty, and destruction to us; which we conceive is impossible any other way to be effected, than by Your Majesties entertaining a right understanding betwixt Your Selfe and Parliament, and affording Your Gracious eare and consent to such counsels and Propositions, as shall be tendered by them to Your Majesty, for [Page] the honour and greatnesse of Your Majesty and Posterity, and the good of this Church and Kingdome, and by Your Majesties declining all other Counsels whatsoever, and uniting Your confidence to Your Parliament: And that Your Majesty would in no way think fit to put us upon that Rock of dividing the duty we owe to Your Majesty, Your Parliament, and the whole Kingdome, to which we are so deeply engaged by our Protestation, which Your Maiesty (to our knowledge) never dissented from, nor declared against; and that whilst Your Maiesty expects our performance in one part thereof, we may not (being equally engaged) impeach at all, or in the least degree doe lesse than our duty in the other, which (we stand resolved of) by no meanes either of feare or favour to bee drawn to doe: and that Your Maiesty would take into consideration, that Your Parliament being the supreame Judicatory of Your Kingdom, the very essence thereof must of very necessity bee destroyed, if their Counsels and determinations be subiected to alteration, or reversall, by the Counsels or opinions of any private persons, how learned or iudicious so ever; and seeing your Maiesty hath passed an Act, that this Parliament shall not be dissolved, or adjourned, without consent of your Majesty, and both Houses, Wee humbly beseech your Majesty to take into your gracious and provident thoughts, that nothing may be done tending thereunto, and that the Lords and great Officers now called hither by your Majesties command, may speedily return to the High Court of Parliament, whereby it may be evident to the World, that your Majesty intends not to decline the Law so enacted; and that since your Majesty hath graciously declared your confidence in the affections of this County, Your Majesty would not think it fit an extraordinary Guard should be raised thereour, and the Cavaleers, and others of that quality still continued about your Majesty, as men most usefull, and as if kept for some d [...]signe; they not having (for ought we know) either interest in, or affections to the publike good, their language and behaviour speaking nothing else but division and warre, and their advantage consisting in that which is most destructive to others.
And lastly, that since your Majesty hath called in this County to attend your Majesty this day, your Petitioners do most humbly supplicate, that none, either Cavaliers or others, (who in truth have not present fortunes in this County) may be admitted into any meeting this day, concerning the publike businesse thereof, or hereafter into any present Vote, or Consultation, when any further meeting may be, to prepare and consider of some fit answer to what your Majesty shall propound; we humbly conceiving it neither just nor equall (but a thing to be protested against) that any whosoever should be thrust upon us, as men of this County, that are not either by their fortune or residence, any part of us.
And now your Petitioners doe even heartily pray, that the God of Heaven (in whose hand are the hearts of Kings) would this day incline your Majesties heart seriously to consider these present and imminent miseries that this your Kingdome now groanes under; in the peace whereof (visibly under God) consists the preservation of the Protestant Religion, the redemption of our Brethren in Ireland, and the establishment of that Kingdom to your Majesty and Posterity, from those desperate and unparaleld Rebels; that so your Majesty might graciously grant these your Petitioners humble desires; which (whatsoever will be said to the contrary) your Petitioners are well assured would abundantly redound to the glory of God, the honour and safety of your Majesty, the good of your Posterity, and the only probable meanes, under God, with peace and plenty to make this your Kingdome happy; besides the acquisition of your peoples hearts, the greatest treasure of Princes: all which will gloriously represent your Majesty a lively portraiture of him, who is the fountaine of Wisedome and Piety: To whom we shall ever pray for your Majesties long and prosperous Reigne.
To the Right Honourable, the Lords and Commons in the High Court of Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of the Gentry, Ministers, Free holders, and other Inhabitants of the County of York, assembled there at his Majesties command, the 3. of June, 1642.
WEe being resolved humbly to petition His Majesty for the redresse of those grievances which we now lie under, did desire to have met in the Castleyard at York, we conceiving it the fittest place to consider of such publique affaires as concerned the County; which we were not only denied of, but charge was given to the Officer there, that we should not have admittance; and when we assembled upon the place appointed by his Majesty, and did acquaint the County there met with the forme of a Petition, the sense whereof they formerly approved of, and then upon the reading thereof, generally consented to, and desired the same should be presented to his Majesty, wee were violently interrupted by the Earle of Lindsey, who with a great Troop attending him, in an imperious way, snatcht out of a Gentlemans hand of good quality, a copy of the fore-names Petition, which at the desire of the Countrey he was reading to them, and some of his Lordships company laid hold of his Bridle and Cloak, haling him in great fury, and said, you are a company of traiterous Rogues and Villanes, and often lifted up his Cane, as if he would have struck him. And also a Knight of this County was affronted by the Lord Savile, upon his reading the draught of a Petition to himself, upon the place aforesaid, the day above: First, his Lordship told him it was a Pamphlet, which he denied, thereupon the Lord Savile demanded it of him, which he refusing to deliver, his Lordship laid hands upon his sword, and almost pluckt him from his Horse; upon which the said Knight, fearing some mischiefe would be done him, delivered the same: And then the said, Lord Savile told him, he laboured to sow seeds of Sedition, and if he would fight, there should be fighting enough, and many of the said Lord Savil's company held up their Canes at him, and one of them said, hold your prating, it were good to Cane you: Which provocations, had not the people been peaceably inclined, might have produced bloody effects. Notwithstanding all which, and divers other insufferable injuries, so confident were we, of his Majesties former professions, never to refuse any Petition presented by his people to him in an humble way, that we desisted not to wait our best opportunity, to present the said Petition to his Majesty: (A copy whereof wee here humbly present unto your grave considerations,) which his Majesty notwithstanding pleased not to accept of.
We therefore humbly desire these Honourable Houses well to weigh these particulars, and to take such course therein as may tend to the preservation of our Liberties, and the peace of the Kingdome. And that you would please to addresse your selves to His Majesty on our behalfe, that through your wisdomes our Desires may finde better acceptation with his Majesty.
And we shall heartily pray, &c.
Monday the 6. of Iune, 1642. P. Merid.
THe Lords and Commons observing not only the wisdom, but the affections of the County of York expressed in these Petitions, and likewise that they cannot be discouraged from their constant fidelity to the laws and government of this Kingdom, which have their life and being from the Parliament, have thought it fit to declare their good acceptations of their affections, assuring them that they will interest themselves in this their Demands, which tends to the honour and safety of his Majesty, the peace of his Kingdom, and may prove an effectuall means to keep us from the desperate mischiefs those Lords that opposed this Petition, would have brought this Kingdome into.
The PETITION of the Kingdome of Scotland, To the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell of that Kingdome: Declaring their loyalty to his Maiesty, and sincere affection and love to their Brethren of England, And the Parliament now Assembled.
[...]resented by two Earles, two Knights, two Burgesses, and two Ministers, in behalfe of themselves, and the well affected of the whole Kingdom,
[...]o the Right Honourable, the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell, the humble Petition of many Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgesses, and Ministers occasionally meeting at Edenburgh.
Most humbly shewing,
WHereas they upon the report and sight of great Convocations suddenly endeavoured and unexpectedly brought into this great Counsell day, for the most part by those who have beene esteemed by the Countrey and challenged by the Parliament, as Incendiaries, plotters, and enemies to the peace of this Kingdome, have [...]ccasionally conveened at Edenburgh. And having heard of Letters from His Majesty, and Declaration from the Parliament of England anent the present distractions of that King [...]ome, they have reason from bygon experience, and present presumptions, to feare the inten [...]ions and endeavours of these evill affected persons and their adherents, lest by their convotations and sollicitations they take occasion of these differences to raise jealousies and divisions betwixt these Kingdomes. And considering the common interest of all the Subjects of this Kingdome to preserve the late peace, so happily concluded betwixt these Nations, by the providence of God, His Maiesties goodnesse and wisedom, and the moderation of the Parliament of England, and so solemnly established by the late Treaty, oath of Parliament, publike faith, and the great Seales of these Kingdomes; as in all other points, so especially in these Articles (whereunto the rest are called but prefaces) for setling and entertaining a solid peace betwixt these Nations in true union; lest upon any pretence they should be dasht one against another. Wherein it is declared the duty of the estates, yea of every subiect for to conveene and suppresse any evill affected persons who would raise Armes against the subiects of the other Kingdome without consent of Parliament, as traytors to the estate, much more to Petition against it; and wherein there is appointed a Commission of the estates for the conservation of this peace in the interim betwixt Parliaments. All which the Petitioners, amongst the rest of the good subiects of this Kingdome, did hazard their lives and estates to obtaine: And did demand in the Treaty upon their dangerous experience of the Councell of England there medling in the affaires betwixt His Maiesty and this Kingdome, to the engaging of the Nations in Warre, which is so often condemned by the estates of this Kingdome in their Remonstrances, pressing that common rule of Equity, To doe as you would be done unto; which now is and may bee retorted on this Kingdom. Like as desiring earnestly, that your Lordships in these publique resolutions of so great consequences to these Kingdoms, may carry along with you the hearts and consciences of the body of this Kingdom, and prevent that the breaches grow not wider by false confidences grounded upon sudden undertakings of any persons, as also their naturall affection and duty to their gracious [...]
Die Lunae 6. Junii 1642. The copy of a Letter sent from Sir Io. Bourchier to Sir Tho. Barrington Knight and Baronet, from YORKE.
YEsterday being at Heworth-Moor, I observed one reading something, so as I drew nee to him, and by enquiry I found that it was a Petition, that was to be presented present to His Majesty: those that heard it read, approved of it. Meeting with a friend, I enquire of him if he had not the Petition, or a copy of it; which he told me he had: I entreated hi [...] that he would lend me it; which accordingly he did: And having read part of it, my Lor [...] Savill came with a great company in a furious manner, and demanded what I did ther [...] and told me that I was reading some Pamphlet to the People, and that I was labouring t [...] sow some seeds of Sedition, to seduce the Kings Subjects: Whereupon I told him that it wa [...] a Petition that I was reading privately to my self, which I upon his approach put in my pocket. My Lord Sav [...]ll in an imperious manner demanded of me to deliver it to him; which refused: Then his Lordship laid his hand on the belt of my sword, and almost pulled me of my horse, and forced me to deliver the Petition to him; lest otherwise some greater mischie [...] might have come to him; for his Lordship told me, If we loved fighting we should hav [...] fighting enough. I told his Lordship, I came this day to labour for peace. And immediately before his Lordships departure, he told me that he knew me well enough; then I told his Lordship, that I hoped he knew no ill by me. Many that were with his Lordship held up their Games in a terrifying manner; and one of them said, Hold your prating, it were good to cane you: and when his Lordship and the rest were gone, one of them turned back, and bid me be quiet, or else I should be caned; and that it were a good deed to set me in the stocks. Afterwards there was one Captaine Blague, who was one of my Lord Savils company, came in an intruding manner into my company, and I being discoursing with Sir Richard Darley and some other, and telling them how I was affronted even now by my Lord Savill, and formerly having fire throwne into my Coach, and some other affronts done unto me, which I have formerly told you of; this Captain told me I did ill to lay aspersions upon persons of Honour: Whereupon I told him I did not lay it upon my Lord, but that I was so abused and affronted: upon due consideration, I verily beleeve he came to make some quarrell.
Sir, upon my parting from you, you desired to heare from mee; here I thought good to let you know thus much concerning my selfe. Thus with my service to you and my Lady, I rest
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament, That this Letter be forthwith Printed and published.