THE
HVMBLE
PETITION
of
the
Inhabitants
of
the
County
OF
BVCKINGHAM
,
Presented
to
the
KINGS
most
Excellent
Maiestie
at
WINDSOR
the
thirteenth
of
this
instant
January
.
1642.
In
the
behalfe
of
Mr.
Hampden
Knight
for
the
said
County
,
and
of
the
rest
of
the
members
of
Parliament
,
accused
by
his
Maiestie
of
Treason
.
With
his
Maiesties
gratious
answere
thereunto
.
Sheweth
,
THat
your
petitioners
having
by
vertue
of
your
highnes
writt
chosen
Iohn
Hampden
Esquire
Knight
for
our
Shire
in
whose
loyaltie
and
wisdome
,
we
his
Contrymen
,
and
Neighbours
have
ever
had
good
cause
to
confide
:
how
ever
of
late
,
to
our
no
lesse
amazement
then
greife
,
wee
find
him
with
other
members
of
Parliament
accused
of
Treason
,
and
haveing
taken
to
our
serious
consideration
,
the
manner
of
their
impeachments
we
cannot
but
(
under
your
Majesties
favour
)
conceive
,
that
it
doth
so
oppugne
the
rights
of
Parliaments
,
to
the
maintenance
whereof
our
Protestation
bind
us
:
That
we
beleive
it
is
the
malice
(
which
their
zeale
to
your
Majesties
service
,
&
the
State
,
hath
contracted
)
in
the
enemies
to
your
Majesty
,
the
Church
,
and
common
wealth
hath
occasioned
this
fowle
accusation
rather
then
any
desert
of
theirs
;
who
doe
likewise
through
their
sides
wound
the
judgement
and
care
of
us
your
Petitioners
,
and
others
,
by
whose
choice
they
were
presented
to
the
House
.
Your
petitioners
most
humbly
pray
that
Master
Hampden
,
and
the
rest
that
lye
under
the
burden
of
that
accusation
may
enjoy
the
Iust
priviledges
of
Parliament
.
And
your
Petitioners
will
ever
pray
&c.
His
Maiesties
answer
.
At
the
Court
at
Windsor
the
13th
.
of
Ianuary
.
1642.
HIs
Majesty
being
graciouslie
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
hee
is
pleased
(
because
of
the
doubt
that
hath
beene
raised
of
the
manner
)
to
waive
his
former
proceedings
against
the
said
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
appeare
that
hee
had
so
sufficient
grounds
to
question
them
,
as
hee
might
not
in
Iustice
to
the
Kingdome
,
and
Honour
to
himselfe
have
forborne
;
and
yet
his
Majesty
had
much
rather
that
the
said
persons
should
prove
innocent
,
then
be
found
guilty
,
however
,
hee
cannot
conceive
that
their
crimes
can
in
any
sort
reflect
upon
those
his
good
Subjects
,
who
elected
them
to
serve
in
Parliament
.