we are, and ever shall be, very careful to mak election of such persons in those places of trust as shall have given good testimonies of the abilities and integrity, and against whom them can be no just cause of exception, wheren: reasonably to ground a diffidence; and choices of this nature, we assure you that the mediation of the nearest unto us hath al concurred.—To the third Prayer of your F tition, concerning Ireland: we understa

thereof to proceed from your much care and love, and likewise that it may be a resolvi = very fit for us to take; but whether it be sess able to declare resolutions of that nature le fore the events of a war be seen, that we ma doubt of. Howsoever, we cannot bat the. you for this care, and your chearful engageme for the suppression of that Rebellion; upa the speedy effecting whereof, the glory of God in the Protestant profession, the safety of the British there, our honour, and that of the nat so much depends; all the interests of the kingdom being so involved in that business, te cannot but quicken your affections therein, 2 shall desire you to frame your counsels, and give such expedition to the work, as the nat thereof, and the pressure in point of th.. requires; and whereof you are put in u by the daily insolence and increase of the rebels. For conclusion, you promise to ap: yourselves to such courses as may supp our royal estate with honour and plenty home, and with power and reputation abrost this is that which we have ever prome. ourself, both from your loyalties and affectio and also for what we have already done, *** shall daily go adding unto, for the comfort 22 happiness of our people."

designs of the Popish party, we have and will still concur with all the just desires of our people in a parliamentary way that for the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in parliament, we would have you consider that their right is grounded upon the fundamental law of the kingdom, and constitution of parliament. This we would have you consider; but since you desire our concurrence herein, in a parliamentary way, we will give no further Answer at this time. As for the abridging of the inor-your desire of not alienating the forfeited an dinate Power of the Clergy; we conceive that the taking away the High Commission Court hath well moderated that; but if there continue any usurpations or excesses in their jurisdictions, we therein neither have nor will protect them.-Unto that clause which concerneth Corruptions, as you style 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 illegal Innovations, which may have crept in, we shall willingly concur in the removal of them. That if our parliament shall advise us to call a National Synod, which may duly exatnine such ceremonies as give just cause of offence to any, we shall take it into consideration, and apply ourself to give due satisfaction therein; but we are very sorry to hear, in such general terms, Corruption in Religion objected; since we are persuaded in our conscience, that no church can be found upon the earth that professeth the true religion with more purity of doctrine than the church of England doth; nor where the government and discipline are jointly more beautified, and free from superstition, than as they are here established by law; which, by the grace of God, we will with constancy maintain, while we live, in their purity 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, we require your timely and active assistance.--To the second prayer of the Petition, concerning the Removal and Choice of Counsellors: we know not any of our counsel to whom the character, set forth in the Petition, can belong. That, by those whom we have exposed to trial, we have already given you sufficient testimony that there is no man so near unto us in place or affection, whom we will not leave to the justice of the law, if you shall bring a particular charge and sufficient proofs against him; and of this we do again assure you: but, in the mean time, we wish you to forbear such general aspersions as may reflect upon all our council, since you name none in particular.-That for the Choice of our Counsellors and Ministers of State, it were to debar us that natural liberty all freemen have; and as it is the undoubted right of the crown of England, to call such persons to our secret councils, to public employment, and our particular service, as we shall think fit; so

His

MAJESTY'S DECLARATION to all his let :: Subjects, published with the Advice of s Privy Council, in ANSWER to the R MONSTRANCE of the Commons, (p. 940. Although we do not believe that our hoge of commons intended, by their Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, to put us to my apology, either for our past or present actions notwithstanding, since they have thought it very necessary, upon their observation of the present distempers, to publish the same, the satisfaction of all our loving subjects, we thought it very suitable to the duty of our plant with which God hath trusted us, to do our par to so good a work; in which we shall not think below our kingly dignity to descend to any pa ticular, which may compose and settle the fections of our meanest subjects; since we are so conscious to ourself of such upright inter tions and endeavours, and only of such, which we give God thanks, for the peace s happiness of our kingdom, in which the pr perity of our subjects must be included, th we wish from our heart, that even our mos secret thoughts were published to their view and examination: though we must confess, we cannot but be very sorry in this conjuncture

e, when the unhappiness of this kingdom is by unanswerable reasons, so we hope we should generally understood abroad, there should readily seal it by the effusion of our blood, if such a necessity of publishing so many par- it pleased God to call us to that sacrifice: and ulars; from which, we pray, no inconve- therefore nothing can be so acceptable unto ences may ensue that were not intended.us, as any proposition which may contribute e shall, in few words, pass over that part of to the advancement of it here, or the propagae narrative, wherein the misfortunes of this tion of it abroad, being the only means to draw ngdom, from our first entering to the crown down a blessing from God upon ourselves and the beginning of this parliament, are re- this nation. And we have been extremely unembered in so sensible expressions: and that fortunate if this profession of ours be wanting er, which acknowledgeth the many good to our people; our constant practice in our vs, passed by our grace and favour, in this own person having always been, without ostenrliament, for the security of our people; of tation, as much to the evidence of our care ich we shall only say thus much, That as and duty herein, as we could possibly tell how have not refused to pass any bill presented to express. For differences amongst ourselves, us by our parliament, for redress of those for matters indifferent in their own nature conievances mentioned in the Remonstrance, cerning Religion, we shall, in tenderness to we have not had a greater motive for the any number of our loving subjects, very wilasing those laws than our own resolution, lingly comply with the advice of our parliaunded upon our observation, and under- ment, that some law may be made for the exnding the state of our kingdom, to have emption of tender consciences from punished our subjects, for the future, from those ment or prosecution for such Ceremonies, and ssures which were grievous to them, if those in such cases, which, by the judgment of men, s had not been propounded; which, there- are held to be matters indifferent, and of some e, we shall as inviolably maintain, as we to be absolutely unlawful; provided that this kto have our own rights preserved; not case be attempted and pursued with such moabting but all our loving subjects will look desty, temper, and submission, that, in the those Remedies with that full gratitude and mean time, the peace and quiet of the kingdom ction, that even the memory of what they be not disturbed, the decency and comeliness e formerly undergone by the accidents and of God's service discountenanced, nor the cessities of those times, will not be un- pious, sober, and devout actions of those reveasant to them: and, possibly, in a pious rend persons who were the first labourers in se of God's blessing upon this nation, how the blessed Reformation, or of that time, be le share soever we shall have of the acknow- scandalized and defamed: for we cannot, withgment, they will confess they have enjoyed out grief of heart, and without some tax upon reat measure of happiness, even these last ourself and our ministers for the not executing years, both in peace and plenty; not only of our laws, look upon the bold licence of nparatively in respect of their neighbours, some men, in printing of pamphlets, in preacheven of those times which were justly ac-ing and printing of sermons, so full of bitinted fortunate.-The fears and jealousies, ich may make some impression in the minds our people, we will suppose may be of two ts; either for Religion, or Liberty, and their il Interests. The fears for Religion may ly be, not only as ours here established y be invaded by the Romish party, but as accompanied with some Ceremonies, at ich some tender consciences really are, or tend to be, scandalized; for of any other ich have been used without any legal warit or injunction, and already are, or speedily y be abolished, we shall not speak.-Conning Religion: as there may be any suspin of favour or inclination to the Papists, we willing to declare to all the world, That we have been, from our childhood, brought in, and practised the religion now established this kingdom, so it is well known we have, t contented simply with the principles of our acation, given a good proportion of our time 1 pains, to the examination of the grounds this religion, as it is different from that of me; and are, from our soul, so fully satisand assured that it is the most pure and eeable to the sacred Word of God, of any igion now practised in the Christian world, it as we believe we can maintain the same

terness and malice against the present government and the laws established, so full of sedition against ourself and the peace of the kingdom, that we are many times amazed to consider by what eyes these things are scen, and by what ears they are heard; and therefore we have good cause to command, as we have done, and hereby do, all our judges and ministers of justice, our attorney and solicitor general, and the rest of our learned counsel, to proceed with all speed against such and their abettors; who, either by writing or words, have so boldly and maliciously violated the laws, disturbed the peace of the commonwealth, and, as much as in them lies, shaken the very foundation upon which that peace and happiness is founded and constituted. And we doubt not but all our loving subjects will be very sensible that this busy, virulent, demeanor is a fit prologue to nothing but confusion; and, if not very seasonably punished and prevented, will not only be a blemish to that wholesome accommodation we intend, but an unspeakable scandal and imputation even upon the profession and religion of this our kingdom of England.-Concerning the Civil Liberties and Interests of our Subjects, we shall need to say the less, having crected

the particular shall be no sooner discovered a
us, either by our own observation or other ce-
tain information, then we will leave them
public justice, under the marks of our displa
sure.-If, notwithstanding this, any malign
party shall take heart, and be willing to see
fice the peace and happiness of their coun:
to their own sinister ends and ambitions, un
what pretence of religion and conscience soever,
if they shall endeavour to lessen our reputat
and interest, and to weaken our lawful poze
and authority with our good subjects; in or
shall go about, by discountenancing the prest
laws, to loosen the bands of government,
all disorder and confusion may break in
us, we doubt not but God, in his good t
will discover them unto us; and the wat
and courage of our high court of parlia
join with us in their suppression and pre
ment.-Having now said all that we
express the clearness and uprightness of cer
tentions to our people, and done all we
manifest those intentions, we cannot but
dently believe all our good subjects w
knowledge our part to be fully performed,
in deeds past and present resolutions,
whatsoever, with justice, may be required o
and that their quiet and prosperity depe
now, wholly upon themselves, and is in
power, by yielding all obedience and de
verence to the law, which is the inherita
every subject, and the only security be
have for his life, liberty, or estate; ar
which being neglected or disesteemed.
what specious shews soever, a great m
of infelicity, if not an irreparable cons
must, without doubt, fall upon them: An
doubt not, it will be the most acceptabes
claration a king can make to his subjects
for our part, we are resolved not only
observe the laws ourself, but to mainta
against what opposition soever, though
the hazard of our being.-And our bey

so many lasting monuments of our princely and fatherly care of our people, in those many excellent laws passed by us this parliament; which, in truth, with very much content to ourself, we conceive to be so large and ample, that very many sober men have very little left to wish for. We understand well the right, and pretences of right, we departed from in the consenting to the bills for the Triennial Parliament; for the Continuance of this present Parliament; and in the preamble to the bill of Tonnage and Poundage; the matter of which, having begot so many disturbances in late parliaments, we were willing to remove, that no interest of ours might hereafter break that correspondence; abundantly contenting ourself with an assurance, which we still have, that we should be repaired and supplied by a just proportion of confidence, bounty, and obedience of our people. In the bills for the taking away the High Commission and StarChamber Courts, we believed we had given that real satisfaction, that all jealousies and apprehensions of arbitrary pressures, under the civil or ecclesiastical state, would easily have been abandoned; especially when they saw all possible doubts secured by the visitation of a Triennial Parliament. These and others of no mean consideration, we had rather should be valued in the hearts and affections of our people, than in any mention of our own; not doubting but, as we have taken all these occasions to make our people happy, so they will always, in a grateful and dutiful relation, be ready, with equal tenderness and alacrity, to advance our rights, and preserve our honour, upon which their own security and subsistence so much depends. And we will be so careful that no particular shall be presented unto us, for the completing and establishing that security, to which we will not, with the same readiness, contribute our best assistance. If these Resolutions be the effect of our present counsels, (and we take God to wit-That not only the loyalty and good af ness that they are such, and that all our loving of all our loving subjects will concurs subjects may confidently expect the benefit of in the constant preserving a good undes them from us) certainly, no ill design upon the ing between us and our people; bots public can accompany such resolutions; nei- time their own and our interest, and ca ther will there be greater cause of suspicion of sion to the lamentable condition of ou any persons preferred by us to degrees of ho- Protestant subjects in Ireland, will invite nour, and places of trust and employment, since to a fair intelligence and unity amongst this parliament. And we must confess, that selves; that so we may, with one heart, amongst our misfortunes, we reckon it not the the relieving and recovering that unhape least, that having not retained in our service, dom, where those barbarous rebels practs nor protected, any one person against whom inhuman and unheard of outrages upsi our parliament hath excepted, during the whole miserable people, that no Christian sitting of it, and having, in all that time, scarce hear without horror, nor story paralle vouchsafed to any man an instance of our grace as we look upon this as the greatest a and favour, but to such who were under some it hath pleased God to lay upon us, so eminent character of estimation amongst our happiness is increased, in that, by the s people, there should so soon be any misunder-pers at home, so early remedies have t standing or jealousy of their fidelity and up-applied to those growing evils, as the a rightness; especially in`a time when we take tion and necessity there requires; the all occasions to declare, That we conceive our our part, as we did, upon the first net self only capable of being served by honest quaint our parliament of Scotland, men, and in honest ways: however, if, in truth, then were, with that rebellion, requiriz we have been mistaken in such our election, aid and assistance, and gave like spe

e

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names of the person or persons by whose mis formation and evil counsel your maj. was duced to the same, that so he or they may re ceive condign punishment, as shall appertain to justice in that behalf. And this they mas humbly desire, as your greatest and most fath ful council; and advise your inaj. to perform; as that which will be not only a comfort to themselves, but likewise a great advantage to your maj. by procuring and confirming such a con fidence and unity betwixt your maj. and you people, as may be a foundation of homes, safety, and happiness, to your person, and yar throne, as they are bound always to prayi and endeavour."

After the lords returned to their house, the archbishop of York reported, That they hand waited on the king with the Remonstrant; and his majesty said He would send an Ar swer to it, in writing, in convenient time.' B Mr. Pym's report of it in the house of comm was more particular; He said, That the com mittee had a sudden admittance and a gracios

taken some time to prepare, so he would tass some time to answer it; and that, lest ther might be some mistakes in words, be wa give his Answer in writing.'

Dec. 18. A message was brought from commons to accuse Daniel O'Neal, esq. High Treason; and that the commons would bring up particular Articles against him in de time: upon which the said O'Neal was brong to the bar of the lords, and committed to the gatehouse.

every one of your subjects is intitled, (the maintenance and preservation whereof doth very highly conduce to the public peace and properity of your majesty, and all your people) they conceive themselves more especially obliged, with all tenderness and care, yea, with all earnestness and constancy of resolution and endeavours, to maintain and defend the same. --Amongst other the privileges of parliament, they d, with all dutiful reverence to your most excellent maj. declare, That it is their an- | tient and undoubted right, that your maj. ought not to take notice of any matter in agitation and debate in either of the houses of parliament, but by their information or agreement; and that your maj. ought not to propound any condition, provision, or limitation to any bill or act in debate or preparation in either house of parliament, or to manifest or declare your consent or dissent, approbation or dislike, of the same, before it be presented to your maj. in due course of parliament; and that every particular member of either house hath free liberty of speech to propound or de-acceptance: that his majesty said, As it ha bate any matter, according to the order and course of parliament; and that your maj. ought not to conceive displeasure against any mau for such opinions and propositions as shall be in such debate; it belonging to the several houses of parliament respectively to judge and determine such errors and offences, which, in words or actions, shall be committed by any of their members, in the handling or debating any matters there depending. They do further declare, That all the privileges above mentioned have been lately broken, to so great, a grievance of your most humble and faithful subjects, in that speech which your maj. made in parliament to both houses upon the 14th day of this month of Dec. in that your maj. did therein take notice of a Bill for impressing of soldiers, being in agitation in the said houses, "My lords and gentlemen; In answer to y and not agreed upon; and that your maj. did Petition, concerning our speech to both house therein offer a salvo jure, or provisional clause, the 14th of Dec. last, we do declare, first, The to be added to that bill, before it was presented we had no thought or intention of breakaz to your maj. by the consent of both houses; the privileges of parliament; neither are and did at the same time, declare your dis- satisfied, that our being informed of any bi pleasure against such person or persons, as transmitted by the house of commons to t had moved some doubt or question concerning house of peers, especially where our leart the same bill all which they do affirm and counsel are admitted, by the peers, to speak or declare to be against the antient, lawful, and our behalf, as they were in this case, and there undoubted privilege and liberty of parliament.-fore our direction necessary therein, can be And, further, they most humbly beseech your maj. by your royal power and authority, to maintain and protect them in these and other the privileges of your high court of parliament; that you will not for the time to come, break or interrupt the same; and that none of your loyal subjects may suffer and sustain any prejudice in your majesty's favour, or good opinion, for any thing done or spoken in parliament: and, for the reparation of your loyal subjects in this just grievance and complaint for the breaches of their privileges above-mentioned, and prevention of the like for the time to come, that your maj. will be pleased to declare, and make known, the name or

The King's Answer to the Remonstrance Dec. 20. A committee of lords and comme was ordered to attend the king, at White-lla to receive his majesty's Answer to the late Rmonstrance; which was soon after read to the lords, in hæc verba :

judged any breach of the privileges of parament.-And as to our taking notice theret and desiring the insertion of a saving clause of our rights, we neither willingly nor knowing did any thing to the breach of the privileges parliament; but what we did therein was cut of the great zeal we had, and ever shall have, to the suppressing the Rebellion in Ireland, tit quick dispatch of which bill contributed s much to the effecting thereof; and it could r but have received great delay, had it passe both bouses in a way we could not have gives our royal assent to.--Neither had we any intertion to express our displeasure against any p ticular man, for any opinion or propositions