YOur Majesties most humble and faithfull Subjects , the Knights , Citizens , and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament , having considered your Majesties Reply to their Answer , touching such persons as have beene licenced by your Majestie to passe into Ireland , doe most humbly beseech your Majestie to believe , that they shall always with thankfulnes and joy receive from your Majesty any satisfactory Answer to their just requests : And , as they hope , they shall finde in your Majesty a readinesse to rectifie those things , which have beene done to their prejudice , so will they bee carefull to remove all apprehensions of their Actions or Speeches , which may seeme to cast any dishonour upon your Majesty .

For your Majesties better satisfaction concerning the positive affirmation , that many of the chief Commanders now in the head of the Rebels ( after the Ports were stopped by order of both houses ) have been suffered to passe by your Majesties immediate warrant . May it please your Majesty to consider that herein they have affirmed nothing but what they had cause to believe was true , the grounds whereof they humbly present to your Majesty .

The first ground is this , that both Houses of Parliament , ( having upon your Majesties commendation taken into their care the suppression of the Rebellion of Ireland ) had reason to be especially watchfull over the Ports , because the Rebels abounding in numbers of men for the most part ignorant of the use of their Armes could by no means become dangerous or formidable to this Kingdome , but by the accesse of Souldiers and Commanders , wherewith they were like to be furnished either out of France or Planders , from both which places the passage into Ireland is speedy and easie through this Kingdome , and thereof they could not chuse but be very sensible of whatsoever gave liberty or opportunitie to such a passage , as of a very hurtfull and dangerous grievance , for prevention whereof they did upon the seventh of November agree upon an Order and restrain all passage into Ireland , but upon due and strict examination by such persons as were trusted to make those Licences .

A second ground that the other Licence granted to the Lord Delvin , and then acknowledged by your Majesties Answer , were such ( both in regard of the persons to whom they were granted , and the extent of the words in which they were granted , ) as were apt to produce such an effect as is mentioned in that positive Affirmation , that is , to open a way for the passage of Papists and other dangerous persons to joyne with the Rebels , and to bee Heads and Commanders amongst them , which is thus proved .

The Warrant granted to Colonell Butler , ( since the order of restraint by both Houses of Parliament ) did extend to all Ports of England and Scotland , and did giue free passage to himselfe and to his Company , without any qualification of persons , or Limitation of Number , and this Colonell was himselfe a Papist , had a Brother in Rebellion , and Generall of the Rebels in Munster , was expected , and very much desired by those Rebels , who for a long time kept a Regiment to be commanded by him , as we have beene credibly informed .

The second was granted to a Sonne of the Lord Nettersfield , which Lord had foure sonnes in England since the Rebellion , one of which is settled in England , three others intended to passe into Ireland , and were all dangerous persons being Papists , bred in the Wars , in the service of the King of Spaine , and one of them lately become a Jesuit .

The third to the Lord Delvin extends to himselfe , and foure persons more unnamed , that one of those who should have past with him is taken to bee a Jesuite , and another who calls himselfe Ploncket , seems to be a man of some breeding and quality , and like to have beene serviceable to the Rebels , and to have done mischiefe , if he had gone over .

The fourth to Sir George Hamilton , and three more unnamed ; This Gentleman is likewise a profest Papist , and may be doubted to be of the partie of the Rebels , one of that Name being mentioned in the instructions of Sempill the Jesuit , amongst divers other dangerous persons of the popish party in Scotland and Ireland , which instructions were found in a ship stayed in Cornwall , which was going into Ireland with divers Jesuits , souldiers , and others for the incouragement of the Rebels .

A third ground is this , That by vertue and Authority of these Licences , severall persons have passed over , which are now in Actuall Rebellion , and Joyned with the Rebels , and some have command amongst them which is thus proved .

One Captaine Sutton , did by vertue and Authority of your Majesties Licence imbarque at White-haven , in the Coompany of Colonel Butler , and was driven backe by foule weather ; Whereupon the Colonell stayed , and went to Chester , but that Captaine reimbarqued himselfe in the same Bottome , and passed into Ireland , where he went into Rebellion with the Lord Dunsany , and hath since obtained the place of a Colonell amongst the Rebels , as we are very credibly informed .

Two of the Sonnes of the Lord Nettersfield , one a Jesuite , and the other a Souldier , passed into Ireland in December last , both of them by vertue of your Majestes Warrant , as we have cause to beleeve , for that they went both together in one Ship , and the Licence acknowledged to be granted by your Warrant must needs be granted to one of them , seeing the other Brother , who lately endevoured to passe over , did produce no Licence , and upon his Examination doth absolutely deny that he had any .

A fourth ground ( which we humbly offer to your Majesty ) is this , That your Majesty cannot be assured that no other did passe upon your Licence , as your Majesty doth conceive , and are pleased to expresse in your Answer , and that we had great cause to beleeve that divers other had passed over by your Warrant , besides the persons afore-mentioned , and that for these reasons ;

1. Because we received such a generall Information , that divers now in the head of the Rebels were passed by your Majesties Licence , which being true in part , and easie ●o be effected , in regard of the Nature and extent of the Warrants , and probable to be attempted , in regard of the subtilty and vigilancie of that party , to make use of all advantages , seemed to deserve credit , which we should not have given to it , if it had beene a naked information without such circumstances .

2. Because wee had concurring Advertisements from Ireland and Chester , that divers Priests , Jesuites , and popish Commanders had passed ouer , and were landed there , and particularly some of Colonell Butlers Company , and that the Officers of the Ports had kept no Entrie of the names of these persons , or of the Warrants by which they were transported .

These we hope will be sufficient to perswade your Majesty to beleeve , that as we had some cause to give credit to the said Informations , so we had no intention to make any ill use of them to your Majesties dishonour , but did impute the blame to your Ministers , who might have beene more carefull to have informed your Majestie of the Quality of those persons named in your Licences , and so to have limited them , that they might not have extended to others , as they did , how many and dangerous soever .

And they pray your Majesty to rest assured , that they shall alwayes be tender of your Honour and reputation with your good Subjects , and for this cause have made this true Declaration of the full state of this matter , that they may thinke no otherwise of it then the truth , & in all things shall labour to establish a good understanding and confidence , betwixt your Majestie , and your people , which they heartily desire , and pray for , as the chiefest meanes of preserving the Honour , safetie , and prosperity of your Majestie , and your Kingdome .