King of England James I

“ Our pleasure therefore is, that you shall in Our name tell them, that We are so loath to haue time mis-spent, which is so pretious a thing, in the well vsing whereof Our people may receiue so great a benefit, as We are thus farre contented to discend from Our Royall dignity, by explaining at this time Our meaning in Our sayd Answer, touching that point, That all Our good Subiects in that House, that intend nothing but Our [47] Honour, and the weale of the Common-wealth, may cleerely see Our intention. ”

“ For as concerning the point of Religion, We aswell in the beginning of the Parliament, by a publike and open Declaration made to both Houses in the higher House of Parliament, as also shortly after, by a gracious answere vnto a former Petition of theirs, expressed to the full Our immutable resolution to maintaine true Religion, besides the vntainted practise of Our whole life in that point. ”

“ MAster Speaker, Wee haue heard by diuers reports to Our great griefe, That the farre distance of Our Person at this time from Our high Court of Parliament, caused by Our want of health, hath emboldened some fiery and popular spirits in Our House of Commons, to debate and argue publikely, in matters farre beyond their reach or capacitie, and so tending to Our high dishonour, and to the trenching vpon Our Prerogatiue Royall. ”

“ So as in Iustice We confesse Our selues to be bound to maintaine them in their rights; and in Grace We are rather minded to encrease, then infringe any of them, if they shall so deserue at Our hands. To end therefore as Wee began, let them goe on cheerefully in their businesses, reiecting the curious wrangling of Lawyers vpon words and syllables; otherwise (which God forbid) the world shall see how often and how earnestly Wee haue pressed them to goe on, according to their calling, with those things that are fit to be done for the [50] weale of Our Crowne and Kingdome ”

“ For what haue you left vnattempted in the highest points of Soueraigntie in that Petition of yours, except the striking of Coine; For it containes the violation of Leagues, the particular way how to gouerne a warre, and the Marriage of Our dearest Sonne, both negatiue with Spaine, nay with any other Popish Princesse; and also affirmatiue, as to the matching with one of [33] Our Religion, which Wee confesse is a straine beyond any prouidence or wisedome God hath giuen Vs, as things now stand. These are vnfit things to be handled in Parliament, except your King should require it of you ”

“ Wee are sorrie to heare, that, notwithstanding Our reiterated Meßages to Our House of Commons, for going on in their businesses in regard of the shortneße of time, betwixt this and Christmas, and of their owne earnest desire, that Wee should now conclude a Seßion, by making of good and profitable Lawes, [46] they continue to loose time; And now of late, vpon Our gracious Answer sent vnto them, haue taken occasion to make more delay, in appointing a Committee to morrow, to consider vpon the points of Our Answer ”

“ It is true that We haue euer professed, and in that minde, with Gods grace, Wee meane to liue and die, That We will labour by all meanes poßible, either by treaty, or by force to restore Our Children [26] to their ancient Dignities and Inheritances; and whatsoeuer Christian Princes or Potentates will set themselues against it, Wee will not spare any lawfull meanes to bring Our so iust and Honourable purpose to a good end ”

“ And therefore it had well become him, especiallie being Our Seruant, and one of Our Councell, if hee had had any thing against it, to haue complained vnto Vs, which he neuer did, though he was ordinarilie at Our Court, since that time, and neuer had acceße refused vnto him. And although We cannot allow of the stile, calling it your ancient and vndoubted right and inheritance, but could rather haue wished, that ye had said that your priuiledges were deriued from the grace and permißion of Our Ancestours and Vs ”

“ And you may also be assured, We will leaue no care vntaken, as well for the good education of the youth at home, especially the children of Papists, as also for preseruing at all times hereafter the youth that are, or shall be abroad, [38] from being bred in dangerous places, and so poisoned in Popish Seminaries. ”

“ For most of them grow from precedents, which shewes rather a toleration then inheritance. Yet Wee are pleased to giue you Our Royall assurance, That as long as you shall continue to containe your selues within the limits of your dutie and respect to Vs (as Wee aßure Our selfe you will doe) Wee will bee as carefull to maintaine and preserue your lawfull liberties and priuiledges as euer any Our Predeceßours were, nay as to preserue Our owne Royall Prerogatiue. ”

“ All which they couered with the cloake of Religion, and with the faire pretence of a duetifull Petition to bee preferred to Vs. Wee vnderstanding right well, that those points were not disputable [6] in Parliament, without Our owne Royall direction, being of Our highest Prerogatiues, the very Characters of Souereignty; & thinking, that when euery Subiect by nature, and the Lawes of the Realme, had the power of matching their children according to their owne best liking, none should denie Vs the like ”

“ And with those, and such other vndutifull straines of wit, they spunne out the time vntill the returne of their Messengers, who being come to Newmarket, presented both the Petitions vnto vs, who well knowing before hand the effect of the former, and then obseruing the contents of the latter, and finding, that from both did reflect vpon Our Person and gouernment sundry causelesse aspersions, and that thereby Our Royall Prerogatiues were inuaded and assailed, after an admonition to beware of medling therewith, Wee returned vnto them Our Answere in writing, as followeth. ”

“ Vs, hauing in this, and all Our Actions euer affected such sinceritie and vprightnes of heart, as were Wee all transparent, and that men might readily passe to Our inward thoughts, they should there perceiue the selfe-same affections which Wee haue euer professed in Our outward words and Actions. ”

“ WE your most loyall and humble Subiects, the Knights, Citizens and Burgeßes of your Commons House of Parliament, hauing [57] this Morning, to our great comfort, heard your Maiesties Letter sent to our Speaker, full of Grace and Goodneße to vs and all your people, haue thought it our duetie foorthwith, to returne our most humble and heartie thankes to your Sacred Maiestie, for so Royall a fauour vouchsafed vnto vs ”