To the Right Honorable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament:
The humble Declaration and Resolution of the Deputy-Lievtenants, Colonells, Captains, and Officers, assented unto, and with great cheerfulnesse approved of, by the Souldiers of the Trained Bands within the County of Southampton, at the generall Musters begun the 21 day of June, 1642. being to the number of above five thousand men, besides a great many Voluntiers, who then offered to serve in Person.
THat the Ordinance of Parliament concerning the Militia, doth much conduce to the defence of the true Protestant Religion, The security of His Majesties sacred Person. The preservation of the publique Peace, and Priviledge of Parliament, against the evills that threaten them, by Forraign Invasion, Rebellion, or Insurrection. Neverthelesse, with great sence and grief of heart, we cannot but apprehend the continuall Practises and Attempts of the Malignant Party, to invalidate the said Ordinance, wickedly endeavouring to crosse the settlement of the Militia as aforesaid, by colour of a Proclamation set forth in His Majesties Name, forbidding the Execution thereof; Which we humbly conceive to be Illegall, upon those Reasons laid down in the late Declaration of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the said Proclamation; and thereby unjustly to hazard the very Being and Constitution of this Kingdom.
Therefore in pursuance of the said Ordinance, and in obedience thereunto, being assembled in Arms, we have thought it our duties, hereby to make our humble tender unto this Honourable Assembly, of our Lives and Fortunes, in maintenance of the said Ordinance, so necessary for the defence of our Religion, His Majesties sacred Person, The publique Peace of this Kingdom, The Priviledge, and very Existence of Parliament.
The Lords Answer.
MY Lords have taken your Petition into Consideration, and receive much contentment in the good affections you have expressed [...] seasonably and necessarily, for the good of the King and Kingdom, and for their Lordships [...]ent in the performance of their Duty▪ For which they give you hearty thanks: And my Lords do [...] That (God willing) they resolve to insist in their forme [...] declared Resolutions for the upholding the true Religion, The Kings Authority in the highest Court, whic [...] by sundry late Declarations and Practises to abuse the people, they finde so much vilified and invaded, Th [...] Priviledges of Parliament, The free course of Justice, The Laws and Peace of this Kingdom, notwithstanding any dangers and hazards that for that Cause befall them.
That for the manifestation of their good Affections, and their Lordships kinde acceptation thereof, the [...] have commanded your Petition and this Answer, to be forthwith printed and published.
Die Veneris, 2 Julii, 1642.
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, That this Declaration and Answer be forthwith Printed an [...] Published.
July 6. London, Printed for Joseph Hunscott. 1642.