HIS majesty's LATE gracious MESSAGE AND Summons to the City of Gloucester Aug. 1643. With their Answer thereunto.  

OUt of Our tender Compassion to our City of Gloucester, and that it may not receive prejudice by Our Army, which We cannot prevent, if We be compelled to assault it, We are personally come before it to require the same, and are graciously pleased to let all the Inhabitants of, and all other persons, within that City, as well soldiers as others, know, That if they shall immediately submit themselves, and deliver this Our City to Us, We are contented freely & absolutely to pardon every one of them without exception; And do assure them in the word of a KING, that they nor any of them shall receive the least; damage or Prejudice by Our Army in their Persons, or Estates; But that We will appoint such a Governor, and a moderate Garrison to reside there, as shall be both for the ease and security of that City and that whole County. But if they shall neglect this proffer of Grace and Favour, and compel Us by the Power of Our Army to reduce that place (which by the help of God We doubt not We shall be easily and shortly able to do) they must thank themselves for all the calamities and Miseries must befall them. To this Message We expect a clear and positive Answer within two hours after the publishing hereof, And by these presents do give leave to any Persons safely to repair to, and return from Us whom that City shall desire to employ unto Us in that business. And do require all the Officers and soldiers of Our Army, quietly to suffer them to pass accordingly.   

August, 1643.  
WE the Inhabitants, Magistrates, Officers and soldiers within this Garrison of Gloucester: unto His majesty's gracious Message return this humble Answer. That We do Keep this City according to Our oaths and allegiance to and for the use of His Majesty and His royal Posterity; And do accordingly conceive ourselves wholly bound to obey the Commands of His Majesty signified by both Houses of Parliament; And are resolved by God's help to keep this City accordingly.  


De. Wise Major.  
John Brewster.  
William Luggo.  
My. Singleton.  
Thomas Hill.  
Thomas Pury.  
John Scriven.  
Nich. Webb.  
Jo. Dorney.  
Anth. Edwards.  
John Halford.  
Toby Jordan.  
G. Dawidssone.  
Robert Maxwell.  
Edw. massy.  
Con. Ferrer.  
Hum. Mathews.  
Isaac Dobson.  
Edward Gray.  
Charles Blount.  
Peter Crispe.  
Rob. Backhouse.  
Ja. Harcus.  
Tho. Pury Iun.  
Rob. Stevenson.  
Tho. Blayney.     

LEt the World now judge if His Majesty could have sent a more gracious Message to His most loyal Subjects, and whether these desperate Rebels deserve any Mercy, who after so many offers do still refuse a Pardon. But since their returning this Rebellious Answer, they have set their own Suburbs on fire, which surely is not to keep the City either for the KING or Parliament.    

Printed at Oxford, by Leonard Litchfield, Printer to the university. 1643.