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A74694 His Majesties answer to the petition which accompanied the declaration of the House of Commons: presented to him at Hampton-Court, the first of December. 1641. England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I) 1641 (1641) Wing C2138; Thomason E181_6; ESTC R1470 2,529 16

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HIS MAJESTIES ANSWER To the PETITION which accompanied the DECLARATION of the House of COMMONS Presented to Him at Hampton-Court the first of December 1641. LONDON Printed by ROBERT BARKER Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie And by the Assignes of JOHN BILL MDCXLI HIS MAJESTIES ANSVVER To the PETITION which accompanied the DECLARATION Presented to Him at Hampton-Court 1º Decemb. 1641. WEE having received from you soon after Our return out of Scotland a long Petition consisting of many desires of great moment together with a Declaration of a very unusuall nature annexed thereunto VVe had taken some time to consider of it as befitted Us in a matter of that consequence being confident that your own reason and regard to Us as well as Our expresse intimation by Our Comptroller to that purpose would have restrained you from the publishing of it till such time as you should have received Our Answer to it But much against Our expectation finding the contrary that the said Declaration is already abroad in Print by directions from your House as appears by the printed Copy VVe must let you know that VVe are very sensible of the disrespect Notwithstanding it is Our Intention that no failing on your part shall make Us fail in Ours of giving all due satisfaction to the desires of Our people in a Parliamentary way And therefore VVe send you this Answer to your Petition reserving Our self in point of the Declaration which VVe think unparliamentary and shall take a course to do that which VVe shall think fit in prudence and honour To the Petition VVe say that although there are divers things in the Preamble of it which VVe are so far from admitting that VVe professe VVe cannot at all understand them as Of a wicked and malignant party prevalent in the Government Of some of that party admitted to Our Privie Councell and to other Imployments of trust and necrest to Vs and Our Children Of Endeavours to sowe among the People false scandals and imputations to blemish and disgrace the Proceedings of the Parliament All or any of which did VVe know of VVe should be as ready to remedy and punish as you to complain of That the Prayers of your Petition are grounded upon such Premisses as VVe must in no wise admit yet notwithstanding VVe are pleased to give this Answer to you To the first concerning Religion consisting of severall branches VVe say that for the preserving the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom from the designes of the Popish partie VVe have and will still concur with all the just desires of Our people in a Parliamentarie way That for the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament VVe would have you consider that their right is grounded upon the fundamentall Law of the Kingdom and constitution of Parliament This VVe would have you consider but since you desire Our concurrence herein in a Parliamentary way VVe will give no further answer at this time As for the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy VVe conceive that the taking away of the high Commission Court hath well moderated that but if there continue any Usurpations or Excesses in their Jurisdictions VVe therein neither have nor will protect them Unto that Clause which concerneth Corruptions as you stile 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 illegall Innovations which may have crept in VVe shall willingly concur in the removall of them That if Our Parliament shall advise Us to call a Nationall Synod which may duly examine such Ceremonies as give just cause of offence to any VVe shall take it into consideration and apply Our Self to give due satisfaction therein But VVe are very sorry to hear in such generall terms Corruption in Religion objected since VVe are perswaded in Our conscience that no Church can be found upon the earth that professeth the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine then the Church of England doth nor where the Government and Discipline are joyntly more beautified and free from superstition then as they are here established by Law which by the grace of God VVe will with Constancy maintain while VVe live in their Puritie 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 VVe require your timely and active assistance To the second prayer of the Petition concerning the removall and choice of Councellours VVe know not any of Our Councell to whom the Character set forth in the Petition can belong That by those whom VVe had exposed to triall VVe have already given you sufficient testimony that there is no man so neer unto Us in place or affection whom VVe will not leave to the Justice of the Law if you shall bring a particular charge and sufficient proofs against him and of this VVe do again assure you but in the mean time VVe wish you to forbear such generall aspersions as may reflect upon all Our Councell since you name none in particular That for the choice of Our Councellours and Ministers of State it were to debar Us that naturall libertie all Free-men have and it is the undoubted right of the Crown of England to call such persons to Our Secret Councels to publike imployment and Our particular service as VVe shall think fit so VVe are and ever shall be very carefull to make election of such persons in those places of trust as shall have given good testimonies of their abilities and integrity and against whom there can be no just cause of exception whereon reasonably to ground a diffidence and to choices of this nature VVe assure you that the mediation of the neerest unto Us hath alwayes concurred To the third Prayer of your Petition concerning Ireland VVe understand your desire of not alienating the forfeited Lands thereof to proceed from your much care and love And like wise that it may be a Resolution very fit for Us to take but whether it be seasonable to declare Resolutions of that nature before the events of a war be seen that VVe much doubt of Howsoever VVe cannot but thank you for this care and your cheerfull ingagement for the suppression of that Rebellion upon the speedy effecting whereof the glory of God in the Protestant Profession the safety of the Brittish there Our honour and that of the Nation so much depends all the Interests of this Kingdom being so involved in that businesse VVe cannot but quicken your affections therein and shall desire you to frame your Councels and to give such expedition to the work as the nature thereof and the pressures in point of time requires and whereof you are put in minde by the daily insolence and increase of those Rebels For Conclusion your promise to apply your selves to such courses as may support Our Royall Estate with Honour and Plenty at home and with Power and Reputation abroad is that which VVe have ever promised Our Self both from your Loyalties and Affections and also for what VVe have already done and shall daily go adding unto for the comfort and happinesse of Our people FINIS