THough the Declaration lately presented to us at New-market , from both Our Houses of Parliament , be of so strange a nature , in respect of what We expected ( after so many Acts of Grace and Favour to Our People ) and some expressions in it so different from the usuall Language to Princes , that We might well take a very long time to consider it ; Yet the clearnesse and upr●ghtnesse of Our Conscience to God , & love to our Subiects , hath supplyed Us with a speedy Answer , and Our unalterable Affection to Our People prevailed with Us , to suppresse that Passion , which might well enough become Us , upon such an Invitation .

We haue reconsidered Our Answer of the first of this Moneth at Theobalds , which is urged to have given just cause of sorrow to Our Subjects . Whosoever looks over that Message ( which was in effect to tell Us , That if we would not joyne with th m ( ●n an Act which we conceived might prove prejudiciall and d●ngerous to Us and the whole Kingdome ) they would make a Law without Us , and impose it upon Our People ) will not thinke that sudden Answer can be accepted to .

We have little encouragement to Replyes of this nature , when we are told of how little value Our words are like to be w●th you , though they come accompanied with all the Actions of Love and Justice ( where there is room for Actions to accomp●ny them ) yet we cannot but disavow the having any such evill Councell or Councellors about Us , to our knowledge , as are mentioned , and if any such be discovered , we will leave them to the Censure and Judgement of Our Parliament ▪ In ●he meane time , We cou●d wish , that Our own immediate Actions which We avow , and Our own Ho●●●● mi●●● 〈…〉 roughly censured and wounded , under that common stile of Evill Councellours .

For Our faithfull and zealous affection to the true Protestant Profession , and Our resolution to concur with our Parliament in any possible course for the propagation of it , and suppression of Popery . We can say no more then We have already expressed in Our Declaration to all Our loving Subjects published in Jan. last by the advice of Our Privy Councell , in which We endeavoured to make as lively a Confession of our Selfe , in this point , as We were able , being most assured that the constant Practice of our Life hath been answerable thereunto : And therefore We did rather expect a Testimony , and Acknowledgement of such Our Zeal and P●ety , then those Expressions We meet with in this Declaration , of any designe of altering Religion in this Kingdome . And we do ( out of the Innocency of Our Soule ) wish , That the Judgements of Heaven may be manifested upon those , who have , or had any such Designe .

As for the Scots troubles , We had well thought that those unhappy differences had bin wrapt up in perpetuall silence , by the Act of Oblivion , which being solemnly past in the Parliament● of both Kingdomes , stops Our mouth from any other Reply then to shew Our great dislike for reviving the memory thereof .

If the Rebellion in Jreland , ( so odious to all Christians ) seems to have been framed and maintained in England , or to have any countenance from hence . We conjure both Our Houses of Parliament , and all Our loving Subiects whatsoever , to use all possible means to discover and find such out , that We may joyne in the most exemplary vengeance upon them that can be imagined : But We must thin●e Our selfe highly and causlesly injured in Our Reputation , if any Declaration , Action , or Expression of the Irish Rebels , any Letter from Count Rosetti to the Papists , for fasting and praying , or from Trestram Whitcombe , of strange Speeches u tered in Jreland , shall beget any ●ealousie , or misapprehension in Out Subjects , of Our Iustice , Piety and affection it being evident to all vnderstandings , That th●se mischievous and wicked Rebels are not so capable of great advantage as by having their false discours●s so far beleeved , as to raise Fe●res and Jea●ousies to the distraction of thi● Kingdome , the onely way to their security : And we cannot expresse a deeper sence of the suffering of Our poor protestant Subjects in that Kingdom , then we have done in Our often Messages to both Houses , by which we have offered , and are still ready to venture Our Royall Person for their Redemption , well knowing , that a● We are ( in Our own ●nterest ) more concerned in them , so We are to make a strict Accompt to Almighty God for any neglect of Our duty , or their preservation .

For the manifold attempts to provoke our late Army , and the Army of the Scots , and to rayse a faction in the City of London , and other parts of the Kingdome ; If it be said , as relating to us , we cannot without great indignation , suffer Out selfe to be reproached , to have intended the least force or threatning to our Parliament ; as the being privie to the bringing up of the Army would imply : wheteas we call God to witnesse , we never had any such thought , or knew of any such resolution concerning our late Army .

For the Petition shewed to us by Captaine Legg , we well remember the same , and the occasion of that Conference : Captaine Legg being lately come out of the North , and repairing to us at Whitehall , we asked him of the state of our Army , and ( after some relation made of it ) he told us , that the Commanders and Officers of the Armie had a mind to petition the Parliament , as others of our people had done , and shewed us the copy of a Petition , which we read , and finding it to be very humble , desiring the Parliament might receive no interruption in the Reformation of the Church and State , to the modell of Queen Elizabeths dayes ; We told him , We saw no harme in it , Whereupon he replyed , that he beleeved all the Officers of the Army would like it , onely he thought Sir Jaccob Ashley would be unwilling to signe it , out of feare it might displease Us. We then read the Petition over againe , and then observing nothing in matter or forme We conceived could possi●ly give iust cause of offence , We delivered it to him againe , bidding him give it to Sir Iacob A●hley , for whose satisfact on We had written C. R. upon it , to testifie Our approbation ; and Wi●h that the Petition might be seen and published , and then We beleeve it will appeare no dangerous one . not a iust ground for the least jealousie , or misapprehension .

For Master Iermin , it is well knowne that he was gone from Whitehall before We received the desire of both Houses for the restraint of Our servants : neither returned he thither , or passed over by any Warrant granted by Us after that time .

For the breach of Priviledge in the Accusation of the Lord Kymbolton , and the five Members of the house of Commons , We tho●ght We had given so am●le satisfaction in Our severall Messages to that purpose , that it should be no more pressed against us , being confident if the breach of Priviledge had beene greater then hath bin ever before offered , Out acknowledgement and retractation hath beene greater then ever King hath given , besides the not examining how many of Our Priviledges have beene invaded in defence and vindication of the other ; And therefore We hoped Our true and earnest Protestation in Our an●wer to your Order concerning the Militia , would so farre have satisfied you of your intentions then , that you would no more have entertained any imagination of any other designe then We there expressed .

But why the listing of so many Officers , and entertaining them at Whitehall should be misconstrued , We much marvell , when it is notoriously knowne ; the tumults at Westminster were so great , and their demeanours so scandalous and seditious , that We had good cause to suppose Our owne Person , and those of Our Wife and Children to be in apparent danger , and therefore We had great reason to appoint a Guard about us , and to accept the dutifull tender of the services of any of Our loving Subjects , which was all we did to the Gentlemen of the Innes of Court .

For the Lord Digby , We assure you in the word of a King , that he had Our Warrant to passe the Seas , and had left Our Court before We ever heard of the Vote of the house of Commons , or had any cause to imagine that his absence would have beene excepted against .

What your advertisements are from Rome , Venice , Paris , and other parts , or what the Popes Nun●io Sollicites the Kings of France or Spaine to doe , or from what persons such informations come to you , or how the credit and reputation of such persons have beene sifted and examined , we know not , but are confident , no sober honest man in Our Kingdomes can beleeve , that wee are so desperate or so senselesse , to entertaine such Designes , as would not onely bury this Our Kingdome in sudden distraction and ruine , but ●ur owne Name and Posterity in perpetuall scorn and infamy . And therefore we could have wished , that in matters of so high and tender a nature ( wherewith the minds of Our good Subjects must needs be startled ) all the expressions were so plain and easie , that nothing might stick with them with reflection upon Us , since you thought fit to publish it at all .

And having now dealt thus plainly & freely with you by way of Answer to the particular grounds of your Fears , We hope ( upon a due consideration and weighing both together ) you will not find the Grounds to be of that moment to beget , or longer to continue a misunderstand●ng betwixt Us , or force you to apply your selves to the use of any other power then what the Law hath given you , the which we alwayes intend shall be the measure of Our owne power , and expect it shall be the rule of our Subiects Obedience .

Concerning Our Feares and Iealousies , as Wee had no intention of accusing you , so are We sure no words spoken by Us ( on the sudden ) at Theobalds will bear that Interpretation We said for Our Residence neer you We wisht it might be so safe and Honourable , that We had no cause to absent Our self from White-Hall , And how this can be a breach of Priviledge of Parliament We cannot vnderstand , We explained Our meaning in Our Answer at New-Market , at the Presentation of this Declaration concerning the printed seditious pamphlets and Sermons , and the great tumults at Westminster : And We must appeal to you and all the world whether we might not justly suppose Our self in danger of either , And if we were now at White-Hall , what security have we , that the like shall not be againe , especially if any Delinquents of that Natu e have been apprehended by the Ministers of ●ustice , And been res●ued by the people . And so as yet escape vnpunished ; Jf you have not been informed of the seditious words used in , and the circumstances of those Tumults , and will appoint some way for the Examination of them We will requ●re some of Ou● Le●rn●d Councell to atte●d with such evidence as may satisfie you , And till that ●e done , or some o●her cout●e taken for Our security , you cannot ( with reason ) wonder that We intend not to be where We most desire to be .