"Whereas in a Paper, inscribed To our trusty and well-beloved the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs of the City of London, dated the 11th of June, 1642, it is affirmed,

That great labour is used to persuade his majesty's subjects to raise Horse, and to furnish Money, upon pretence of a Guard for the parliament; but, in truth, to be employed against his majesty: the lords and commons do declare, That the design of those Propositions is, as was formerly declared, to maintain the Protestant religion, the king's authority and person in his royal diguity, the free course of justice, the laws of the land, the peace of the kingdom, aud the privileges of parliament, against any force which shall oppose them. And they do further declare, That as the forces already attending his majesty, and the preparation which his maj. is now making of arms, horse, and ordnance, within his kingdon and from without, at first coloured under the pretence of a Guard, do evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary design; so they give just cause of fear and jealousy to the parliament, and do fully justify their Votes of the king's intention of levying War against the Parliament, to be altogether free from any imputation of scandal, as is injuriously cast upon them by that Paper: for,

*This Commission is at large in Rushworth's Collections, vol. iv. p. 655.

dangerous and mischievous intentions of some about his maj. being such, that whatsoever is most precious to men of conscience and honour, as religion, liberty, and public safety, are like to be overwhelmed and lost in the general confusion and calamity of the kingdom; which will not only question, but overthrow, the charter of the city of London; expose the citizens, their wives, and children, to violence and villainy; and leave the wealth of that ismous city as a prey to those desperate and necessitous persons.-The lords and commons, as they hope by this means those horrid mis chiefs may be prevented, so those of the city, which contribute hereunto, (whereof none are so mean and base as to deserve the reproaches cast on them by that Paper) and all his maje ty's good subjects, may be assured that, in doing their duty herein, they shall be protected and secured in their persons, liberties, and estates, by the power and authority of bot houses of parliament, according to their for mer engagements, which they will ever fait fully perform."

The King's Reply. sently followed by a

viz.

This Answer was preReply from the King:

so long as his maj. shall continue those levies and preparations, the lords and conmmons in parliament, having been so often threatened and reviled for their proceedings about Hull and the Militia, so necessarily undertaken for the good and peace of the kingdom, cannot be secured by his majesty's solemn Protestation alone, expressed in this and other Declarations, That all his desires and purposes are for the public peace, and that he hath not the least thought of using force, except he be compelled to it for the defence of his person and protection of the laws; seeing his majesty, in a Declaration published at Heworth-Moor, doth interpret the protection of the laws in such a manner, as giveth just and full occasion to believe, that, by protecting the laws, his maj. intendeth force upon, or against, those who shall submit to the Ordinance of the Militia; and because it appears, by divers expressions of his maj. that he hath discovered an intention of making some attempt upon Hull in both which cases they do declare, That whatsoever violence shall be used, either against those who exercise this Militia, or against Hull, they cannot but believe it as done against the parliament.-And whereas the houses have, upon loan, received great sums of Money for the service of Ireland, from the companies of the city of London, (for which they give them great and hearty Thanks) they do declare, That these sums shall be dispended, as the former have been, to that only service; notwithstanding an insinuation, laying an aspersion upon them as if they had done otherwise. Further: Whereas it is declared, to the great reproach of the parliament, That the sums desired towards the raising of Horse and Arms, are contrived upon general pretences, by some few factious persons,' we leave it to the world to judge how it is possible the houses should have all their members, seeing many of them are, by his majesty, summoned to York; and To our Trusty and Well beloved, &c.' And there, contrary to the laws of the land and it is a wonder that, since they have usurped privileges of parliament, detained, nay, pro- the supreme power to themselves, they have tected, from the justice of both houses.--And, not taken upon them the supreme style to secondly, How that can possibly be called a and directed this very new Declaration, T Faction, which is done by both houses of par- their trusty and Well-beloved, their subject liament, the greatest court of England, the of the city of London; for it is too great and most faithful council his majesty hath. But at palpable a scorn to persuade them to take such language as this they wonder not, con- arms against our person, under colour of being sidering by what wicked counsel his majesty's loving subjects to our office; and to destroy affairs are guided, and by what malignant us, that they may preserve the king.-The spirits his majesty's affections to the parliament are offended that we should believe, Th of late have been misled.--Both houses well their end of persuading our subjects to rais weighing the premises, do forbid any mayors, Horse, and to furnish Money upon pretence of sheriffs, bailiffs, or other officers whatsoever, to a Guard for the parliament, is, in truth, to em publish or spread that Paper, as they will an- ploy those horse, men, and money, against us. swer their contempt to the parliament. And Let the reasons of our belief be never so strong do assure themselves, that neither his majesty's and their actions never so evident to compe commands, nor his threats, will withdraw or all other men to believe so too, the lords and deter men, well-affected to the public, from commons do declare, (think what you will, and doing their duty; in contributing such Money, see what you can) That the design of those Horse, and Plate, as will be necessary for the Propositions for raising Men, Horse, and Mopreserving the being of parliament, the peace ney, is to maintain the Protestant religion, the of the kingdom, and those other ends before-king's authority and person in his royal dignity, mentioned, for which they are desired: the the free course of justice, the laws of the

"It seems, by a new Declaration of the 18th of June, in Answer to our Letter of the 14th of the same month, to the lord mayor of London, that the lords and commons in parliament have much more leisure than they pretend; or that those persons, whom we have before described in our former Answers and Declarıtions, and of whom only we would be under stood to speak, think such Declarations and Votes to be such unresistable engines of ba tery against us and the law, that no strengli can oppose them; and therefore, though they will not take notice from whence that Letter came, they will vouchsafe it no other mentis but a Paper, (as if found by chance) inscribed

and, the peace of the kingdom, and privileges against those who exercise this Militia, or of parliament, against any force which shall against Hull, they cannot but take it as done oppose them.' And this all men are bound to against the parliament.' We are beholden to believe, though they see the Protestant reli- them that they have explained to all our good gion, and the professors thereof, miserably re- subjects the meaning of their charge against proached, and in danger of being destroyed by us; that by our intention of making war vicious and malignant party of Brownists, against our parliament, no more is pretended Anabaptists, and other Sectaries: (the princi- to be meant, but our resolution not to submit pal ring-leaders of whom have too great a to the high injustice and indignity of the Ordipower, even with some members in both our nance, and the business of Hull. We have houses of parliament) our authority despised, never concealed our intentions in either of and, as much as in them lies, taken from us, those particulars; (we wish they would deal as and reviled in pulpits and presses by persons clearly with us) but have always, and do immediately in their protection, and of their now declare, That that pretended Ordinance recommendation; our person driven away by is against the law of the land, against the tumults and rude multitudes, against whom we liberty and property of the subject, destructive can have no justice; the course of justice in- to sovereignty; and, therefore, not consistent terrupted and stopped by Orders and Injunc- with the very constitution and essence of the tions, never heard of till this parliament; the kingdom, nor with the right and privilege of laws of the land trampled under foot, and frus- parliament: that we are bound by our Oath, trated; new laws attempted to be made, and (and all our subjects are bound by theirs of imposed upon our subjects, without, and against, allegiance and supremacy, and their own Proour consent; the peace of the kingdom shaken testation lately taken, to assist us) to oppose and frighted away by discountenancing the that Ordinance, which is already put in execulaws; absolving, as much as in them lies, the tion against us; not only by training and armpeople from the rules of government or obe- ing our subjects, but by forcibly removing the dience, and even declaring a war against us, magazines from the places trusted by the counand the laws of the land; and, lastly, the privi- ties, to their own houses, and guarding it there leges of parliament so far extended, as if, to with armed men; whither it will be next rethe bare sound of privilege of parliament, the moved, and how used by such persons, we liberty and property of the subject, the dignity know not. That the keeping us out of Hull, and certainty of the law were in such subjec- by sir John Hotham, was an act of high treation, that they may first make what Orders son against us; and the taking away our maga they please, and in what cases they please; zine and munition from us, was an act of vioand whosoever disputes those Orders, and sub-lence upon us; (by what hands, or by whose mits not to those Votes, breaks their privileges: and whosoever breaks their privileges is an enemy to the common-wealth, and worthy of such other attributes (either of favouring the Rebellion in Ireland, or advancing the war here) as are most likely to reuder that person sespected or odious to the people. If, in truth, this be evidently and demonstrably the case, such Declarations will no more gain credit with, or longer mislead, our subjects, than if they should tell them, that we are personally with them in Loudon, when all men see us here at York. As they have declared,' (the best argument or evidence you are to look for) That all that they do is lawful, because they do it; so they proceed, by the same prower, to assure those who are apt to be deceived by them, That the force already attending us,' (they would certainly do otherwise if they did really believe such force to be about us) and the preparation we are making, do evidently appear to be intended for some great and extraordinary design, and do justify their former Votes of our intention of levying war against our parliament. And they have at last given some Reasons for that Vote and Declaration: they find, by our several Declarations, that we intend force against those who shall submit to the Ordinance of the Militia, and that we intend to make an attempt upon Hull: in both which cases they are pleased to declare, 'That whatsoever violence shall be used, either

direction soever it was done) and in both cases, by the help of God and the law, we will have justice, or lose our life in the requiring it; the which we do not value at that rate, as to preserve it with the infamy of suffering ourself to be robbed and spoiled of that dignity we were born to.-And if it be possible for our good subjects to believe that such a defence of ourself, with the utmost power and strength we can raise, is making a war against the parliament; we do not doubt (however it shall please God to dispose of us in that contention) but the justice of our cause will, at the last, prevail against those few malignant spirits, who, for their own ends and ambitious designs, have so misled and corrupted the understandings of our people; and that both our houses of parliament will, in a short time, discern, by their own observation, and the information we shall speedily give them, how near this flourishing kingdom is brought to ruin and confusion by these persons.--And since neither our Declaration, nor the testimony of so many of our lords now with us, can procure credit with these men; but that they proceed to levy Horse, and to raise Money and Arms against us, we are not to be blamed, if (after so many gracious expostulations with them, upon undeniable principles of law and reason, which they answer only by voting' that which we say to be neither law nor reason; and so proceed actually to levy war upon us, to justify that

again, and publish to all the world, That we shall proceed against all persons whatsoever, that shall assist those levies, by furnishing Horse, Money, and Plate, as against the dis turbers of the public peace, and the authors of those distractions which threaten the ruin of us and this kingdom."

Ordinance of Parliament for coining Plate.] How little weight the king's reply had with the parliament, will appear by the following Ordinance, made and agreed to the day, by both houses: "Whereas great quantties of Plate are brought to the treasurers, ap pointed by both houses for the receiving a Plate and Money, according to the uses t pressed in the Propositions; it is therefore or dered by the lords and commons in parliament, That the said treasurers shall have power, by virtue of this Order, to melt down the sand Plate, and cause it to be forthwith comed and shall likewise have power, from the to time, to melt down and cause to be coins. all other Plate as shall, hereafter, be brough in.”

Lord Paget's Reasons for leaving the Pr liament and going to the King.] June 201 copy of a Letter from lord Paget was this y entered in the Lords Journals, intitled, 'It Reasons of his departure from Parliament the King's most Excellent Majesty at Yori. and is in these words:

which cannot be otherwise defended) at last | we make such provision, that, as we have been driven from London, and kept from Hull, we may not be surprized at York; but be in a condition to resist and bring to justice those men, who would persuade our people that their religion is in danger, because we will not consent it shall be in their power to alter it by their Votes; or their liberty in danger, because we will allow no judge of that liberty but the known law of the land: yet whatever provision we shall be compelled to make for our security, we will be ready to lay down, as soon as they shall have revoked the Orders by which they have made levies; and submit those persons who have detained our towns, carried away our arms, and put the Militia in execution contrary to our Proclamation, to that trial of their innocence the law directs, and to which they were born.-If this be not submitted to, we shall with as good a conscience (and we believe we shall not want the affections of our good subjects to that end) proceed against those who shall presume to exercise that pretended Ordinance for the Militia, and the others who keep our town of Hull from us, as we would resist persons who came to take away our life or our crown from us. And therefore we shall again remember and require our city of London to obey our for mer commands, and not to be misled by the orations of those men, (who are made desperate by their fortunes, or their fortunes by them) who tell them their religion, liberty, and property is to be preserved no other way but by their disloyalty to us: That they are now at the brink of the river, and may draw their swords, when nothing pursues them but their own evil consciences. Let them examine what excellent fruits of religion the lives of those men have brought forth, and what great advancers they have been of the public liberty and property: how long they have had those opinions, that they would ruin them to defend, and how they came to those opinions: let them consider whether their estates come to them, and are settled upon them by Orders of both houses, or by that law which we defend: what security they can have to enjoy their own, when they have helped to rob us; and what a happy conclusion that war is like to have, which is raised to oppress their sovereign: that the wealth and glory of their city is not like to be destroyed any other way, but (and that way inevitably it must) by rebelling against us: nor their wives and children to be exposed to violence and villiany, but by those who make their appetite and will the measure and guide to all their actions. Let them not fancy to themselves melancholic apprehensions, which are capable of no satisfaction; but let them seriously consider what security they canning of the parliament; had been one of the have, that they have not under us, or been offered by us; and whether the doctrines these men teach, and would have them defend, do not destroy the foundations upon which their security is built.-And we do, lastly, declare

"It may seem strange that I, who, with zeal and earnestness, have prosecuted, in beginning of this parliament, the reforma of all disorders in church and comtnon-west should now, in a time of such great distra tions, desert the cause. Most true it is the my ends were the common good; and, whe that was prosecuted I was ready to lay d both my life and fortune; but, when I a preparation of arms against the king # der the shadow of loyalty, I rather resolve to obey a good conscience than particular ** and am now on my way to his majesty, wher I will throw myself down at his feet, aut de a loyal subject. PAGET. June 11, 1612

We do not find any notice taken of this le ter by the lords; but the same being pr and published by one Hugh Perry, the c mons ordered him to be summoned before th house; and he was afterwards committed the Gatehouse.-We have before taken tice, That the lord Paget had not only cepted of a commission of lord lieutenan the county of Bucks, under the Ordinance parliament, but had also appointed his depa lieutenants. This is confirmed by lord Clar don with the following additional particula "the lord Paget, who had contributed al faculties to the parliament's service, and to prejudice of the king's, from before the beg

teizers to broach those bold high overtures s berer men were not, at first, willing to be sert in; had, with great pomp and solemnity, e cuted their Ordinance, in defiance of the kg proclamation; and had subscribed a great