HIS MAJESTIE's Answer to the Petition of the MAYOR, ALDERMEN, and COMMON COUNCIL of the City of LONDON.

HIS Majesty having fully considered the matter of this Petition, is graciously pleased to declare, That being unalterably resolved to make good all His Expressions and Declarations of His care of this City, Of the true Protestant Religion, and of the Priviledges of Parliament; His Majesty takes in good part, the intimation given by the Petitioners, of the fears and distractions wherein the City now seems to be. And though He conceives He did on Wednesday, at the Guildhall, satisfy most of those particulars, is pleased to add this further Answer.

1. That for the sad business of Ireland, His Majesty cannot possibly express a greater sense than He hath done, there being nothing left on His Majestie's part unoffered or undone. And He hoped, by the speedy advice and assistance of His Parliament, that great and necessary Work would be put in a just forwardness, to which His Majesty will contribute all His power: And how zealous He is, and hath been therein, will appear in a Declaration speedily to be set-forth by His Majesty.

2. For the Tower: His Majesty wonders, that having removed a Servant of good Trust and Reputation, from that Charge, only to satisfy the fears of the City, and put in another of unquestionable Reputation, and known ability, the Petitioners should still entertain those fears; and whatever preparation of Strength is there made, is with as great an eye of safety and advantage to the City, as to His Majestie's own Person, and shall be equally employed to both.

way:

3. For the fortifying of Whitehall with Men and Munition in an unusual His Majesty doubts not, but the Petitioners have observed the strange provocation He hath received to entertain that Guard: That by the disorderly, and tumultuous conflux of people at Westminster and Whitehall, his Majestie's great Council was not only disquieted, but his own Royal Person in danger, most seditious language being uttered even under His own windows, whilst the examination and punishing such Tumults by the course of Law were interrupted and stopped. And if any citizens were wounded or ill-intreated, His Majesty is confidently. assured, that it happened by their own evil and corrupt demeanours.

4. His Majesty knows no other endeavours to the Innes of Court, then a gracious Intimation, That He received the tender of their loyal and dutiful Affections with very good Approbation and acceptance, and an encouragement given them to continue the same upon all occasions. Neither doth His Majesty know, what discovery hath been lately made of Fire-works in the hands of any Papist.

5. For his going to the House of Commons (when his attendants were no otherwise armed than, as Gentlemen, with swords,) his Majesty is verily persuaded, That, if the Petitioners knew the clear grounds upon which those Persons stand accused of high Treason, and what will be proved against them, (which in due

time they shall be acquainted with,) and considered the gentle way his Majesty I took for their apprehension (which he preferred before any course of violence, though that way had been very justifiable; for his Majesty is very well assured, that it is notoriously known, That no priviledge of Parliament can extend to Treason, Felony, or breach of the Peace,) the Petitioners would believe his Majestie's going thither, was an act of grace and favour to that House, and the most peaceable way of having that necessary service, for the apprehension of those persons, performed; especially, if such Orders have been made (which his Majesty is not willing to believe) for the resistance of all lawful Authority, as are discoursed-of.

6. And for the Proceedings against those Persons mentioned in the Petition; his Majesty ever intended the same should be, with all justice and favour according to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm; to the which all innocent men would cheerfully submit.

And this extraordinary way, of satisfying a Petition of so unusual a nature, his Majesty is confidently persuaded, will be thought the greatest instance can be given of his Majestie's clear intention to his Subjects, and of the singular estimation he hath of the good affections of this City, which he believes in gratitude will never be wanting to his just Commands and Service.

By the KING.

A PROCLAMATION for a General FAST throughout this REALM of ENGLAND.

HIS Majesty, taking into His Princely and Pious consideration, the lamentable and distressed estate of His good Subjects, in His Majestie's kingdom of Ireland, and conceiving it to be a just and great occasion calling upon Him, and His people of this His kingdom of England, for a general humiliation of all estates of this kingdom before Almighty God, in Prayer and Fasting, for drawing-down His Mercy and Blessing upon that kingdom: His Majesty doth therefore by this His Proclamation, straightly charge and command, that a General, Publick, and Solemn, Fast be kept and holden, as well by abstinence from food as by publick Prayers, Preaching, and hearing of the Word of God, and other Sacred duties, in all Cathedrall, Collegiate, and Parish-Churches and Chapels within this His Majestie's kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales, (His Majestie's Cities of London and Westminster only excepted, where it hath already been observed,) on the twentieth day of this present Month of January.

And His Majesty doth further, by this His Proclamation, straightly charge and command, that a General, Publick, and Solemn Fast be kept and holden, as well

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by abstinence from food, as by publick Prayers, Preaching, and hearing of the Word of God, and other sacred Duties, in all Cathedral, Collegiate, and Parish Churches, and Chapels, within this kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales, (without any exception) on the last Wednesday of the month of February next following the date hereof, and from thenceforth to continue, on the last Wednesday of every Month, during the Troubles in the said kingdom of Ireland. All which, His Majesty doth expressly charge and command, shall be reverently and devoutly performed by all His loving Subjects, as they tender the favour of Almighty God, and would avoid His just indignation against this Land, and upon pain of such punishments as His Majesty can justly inflict, upon all such as shall contemn or neglect so religious a Work.

Given at the Court at Whitehall the eighth day of January, in the seventeenth year of His Majestie's Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. God save the King.

The KING'S MESSAGE to both Houses, January 12, 1641.

HIS Majesty, taking notice that some conceive it disputable whether His proceedings against my Lord Kymbolton, Master Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerigg, Master Pym, Master Hampden, and Master Strode, be legal and agreeable to the Priviledges of Parliament, and being very desirous to give satisfaction to all men, in all matters that may seem to have relation to Priviledge; is pleased to wave his former Proceedings: and, all doubts by this means being settled, when the minds of men are composed, his Majesty will proceed thereupon in an unquestionable way: And assures his Parliament, that upon all occasions he will be as careful of their Priviledges, as of his Life or his Crown.

To the KING's Most Excellent MAJESTY.

The humble PETITION of the INHABITANTS of the County of BUCK

INGHAMSHIRE.

Sheweth,

THAT your Petitioners, having, by virtue of your Highness's Writ, chosen John Hampden Knight for our Shire, in whose loyalty We, his Countrymen and Neighbours, have ever had good cause to confide: However, of late, to our no less amazement than grief, we find him with other Members of Parliament, accused of Treason: And having taken to our serious consideration, the manner of

their Impeachment, we cannot but (under your Majestie's favour) conceive that it doth so oppugne the Rights of Parliament, to the maintainance whereof our Protestation binds us, that we believe it is the malice, which their zeal to your Majestie's Service and the State, hath contracted in the enemies to your Majesty, the Church, and Common-wealth, hath occasioned this foul Accusation, rather than any deserts of theirs, who do likewise, through their sides, wound the Judg ment and Care of us your Petitioners, and others, by whose choice they were presented to the House.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray, that Master Hampden, and the rest that lie under the burden of that Accusation, may enjoy the just Priviledges of Parliament.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

Windsor, 13 Jan. 1641.

HIS Majesty being graciously pleased to let all his Subjects understand his care, not knowingly to violate, in the least degree, any of the Priviledges of Parliament, hath therefore (lately) by a Message sent by the Lord-Keeper, signified, That he is pleased, because of the doubt that hath been raised of the manner, to Wave his former proceedings against Master Hampden and the rest, mentioned in this Petition; concerning whom, his Majesty intends to proceed in an unquestionable way. And then, his Majesty saith, It will appear, that he had so sufficient grounds to question them, as he might not in Justice to the kingdom, and honour to himself, have forborn: And yet his Majesty had much rather, that the said Persons should prove innocent than be found guilty: However, he cannot conceive that their Crimes can in any sort reflect upon those his good Subjects who elected them to serve in Parliament.

Die Jovis, 13. Januarii, 1641.

WHEREAS Information hath been given to the Parliament, that the Lord Digby (son to the Earl of Bristol) and Colonel Lunsford, with others, have. gathered Troops of Horse, and have appeared in a warlike manner, at Kingston upon Thames, in the County of Surry, (where the Magazine of Arms for that part of the County lies) to the terrour and affright of His Majestie's good Subjects, and disturbance of the publick weal of the Kingdom:

It is this day ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Sheriffs of the several Counties of England and Wales, calling to their assistance the Justices of the Peace, and the Trained-Bands of those several Counties, (or so many of them as shall be necessary for the service) shall suppress all unlawful Assemblies gathered-together, to the disturbance of the publick peace of the

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Kingdom,

Kingdom, in their several Counties respectively: And that they take care to secure the said Counties, and all the Magazines in them.

Die Veneris, viz. 14. die Jan. 1641.

Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, that this Order be printed and published in all the Market-towns in this Kingdom.

John Brown, Cler. Parliament.

IIIS MAJESTIE's Profession and Addition to His last MESSAGE to the PARLIAMENT, January 14, 1641.

HIS Majesty (being no less tender of the Priviledges of Parliament, and thinking himself no less concerned, that they be not broken, and that they be asserted and vindicated whensoever they are broken, than the Parliament itself,) hath thought fit to add to his last Message this Profession, "That in all his proceedings against "the Lord Kymbolton, Master Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Master Pym, Master "Hampden, and Master Strode, He had never the least intention of violating the "least Priviledge of Parliament; And, in case any doubt of Breach of Priviledges "remain, will be willing to clear that, and assert those, by any reasonable way that "His Parliament shall advise Him to." Upon confidence of which, He no way doubts His Parliament will forthwith lay-by all Jealousies, and apply themselves to the publick and pressing Affairs, and especially to those of Ireland, wherein the good of this Kingdom, and the true Religion, (which shall ever be His Majestie's first care) are so highly and so nearly concerned: And His Majesty assures himself, that His care of their Priviledges will increase their tenderness of His lawful Prerogative, which are so necessary to the mutual defence of each other; and both which will be the foundation of a perpetual perfect-Intelligence between His Majesty and his Parliaments, and of the happiness and prosperity of his people.

The Questions propounded to Master ATTOURNEY GENERAL, by the House of COMMONS, and his Answer thereunto.

Question 1.

WHETHER did you contrive, frame, or advise, the said Articles, or any of Answer.

I will deal ingenuously and freely, and shall say the same which before I did to your Lordships; I need no longer time to answer this: I did none of these three, neither contrive, frame, or advise these Articles, or any of them, and will be content to die if I did it.

Question

them?