HIS majesty's royal DECLARATION AND PROTEST●TION, TO all his loving Subjects in England.  
BEING A full satisfaction to all the whole world, against all aspersions which have lately been cast upon His Majesty, that he is Popishly affected, to the great dishonour of his Majesty, and the withdrawing His loving Subjects from him.  
TOGETHER, With His Gracious Resolution for the maintenance of the true Protestant Religion, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, with the just privileges of Parliament.  
Published by His majesty's special Command.  
OXFORD, Printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the famous University.   

His majesty's royal Declaration, and Protestation to all his Loving Subjects in England.  
IT is a wonder that We so just, so pious, and mercicifull in our words and intentions should not be believed in all our Declarations and Protestations: certainly it is impiety to be so full of infidelity towards the words of a King, some whereof we have here drawn out of our own several writings, that all the world may see Our fair expressions, of ourselves and the just end of all Our actions, and how unjustly both have been interpreted. First concerning Our being affected to Popery, We protest in the word of a King, and call the searcher of all hearts to record, that We intend not the alteration of the true professed and established Protestant Religion, the laws of the kingdom, the know●e liberty of the Subject, the right and just privileges of Parliament. Of the laws his Majesty saith thus: A new power hath been assumed to interpret and declare laws without Us, by extemporary votes, tending to a pure arbitrary power: Ordinances, and Orders were pressed upon the people as laws, and their obedience required to them. His Majesty saith further, We do believe, and accordingly profess to all the world, that the malignity of this design (as dangerous to the laws of this kingdom, the power of the same, and the Liberties of all Our good Subjects, as to ourselves, and Our just Prerogative) hath proceeded from the subtle informations and evil counsels of ambitious turbulent Spirits, disaffected to God's true Religion, and the unity of the professors thereof, Our Honour and safety, and the public peace and prosperity of our people. His Majesty addeth further: But how fautly soever others are, we shall (with God's assistance) endeavour to discharge Our duty in the uprightness of heart. The King goes on further in declaring his own candour and uprightness, together with affronts offered unto Him, saying thus they endeavour to turn this government into a new Utopia of Religion, and therefore We are resolved to change none of Our trusty Officers, till they appear to have behaved themselves otherwise then they ought to have done, and be evicted by legal proceedings to have done so. We were ever willing that Our Parliament should debate, resolve, and transact such matters as are now proper for them, and we heartily wish that the course of Law be no ways diverted, much less disturbed. Moreover we call God to witness that as for our Subjects sakes all rights are vested in Us, so for their sakes as well as for Our own, we are resolved not to quit them, nor to subvert (though in a Parliamentary way) the ancient, just constitution of the Government of this kingdom, nor to make ourselves of a King of England, a Duke of Venice, and this of a kingdom, a republic. Besides the King's Majesty saith further, Nolumus leges Angliae mutari, We promise that We will be as careful of preserving the laws in what doth concern Our subjects, as in what most concerns ourselves, for We profess to believe that the preservation of every Law concerns Us. We have by many of Our messages to you by Our voluntary promise to you, so solemnly made never to pardon any popish Priest by Our strict Proclamation which lately published in this point, sufficiently expressed Our zeal herein. We will also with constancy maintain (while We live) The Protestant Religion in its purity and glory, not only against all invasions of Popery, but also from the irreverence of schismatics, and Separatists, wherewith this kingdom of late, and Our City of London abounds, to the great dishonour and hazard, both of Church and State. To conclude, We conjure you, and all men to rest satisfied with the truth of Our professions and the reality of Our intentions. And then We shall receive much more in the hope of a full & constant happiness of our people in the true Religion, and under the protection of the same by a blessed union between Us and Our Parliament, & so much desired by Us, then in any increase of Our own Revenue, which beyond former grants of Our Subjects when most wealthy, could by our Parliament be settled upon Us. Thus We in all our Protestations and Messages desire the good of the kingdom, before Our own private interest.  
His Majesty saith further, We profess before and declare to all the world, that we always have and did abhor all such designs, but that all Our endeavours (according to Our many Professions) did and shall ever tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion, the just privileges of Parliament, the Liberty of the Subject, the laws, Peace and prosperity of this kingdom.   

In a Letter from His Majesty to both Houses of Parliament, the conclusion you may read thus.  
If all these present distractions (which so apparently threaten the ruin of this kingdom) do not (by the blessing of almighty God) end in a happy and blessed accommodation, his Majesty will then be ready to call heaven and earth, God and man to witness, that it hath not failed on his part.  
I am confident that you expect not I should give a speedy answer to this strange and unexpected Declaration, that in the distraction of this kingdom, you should think this way of address more convenient, then that proposed by my message the 20 of January last to both houses: as concerning the grounds of your fears and jealousies, I will take time to answer particularly, and doubt not but I shall do it to the satisfaction of the whole world. God in his good time will discover the secrets and bottoms of all plots and treasons; and then I shall stand right in the eyes of my people. God so deal with me and mine, as all my thoughts and intentions are upright, for the maintenance of the true Protestant profession, and for the observation, and preservation of the laws of this Land, and I hope God will bless and assist those laws for my preservation.  
When we duly weigh the dishonour which will perpetually lie upon this kingdom, if full and speedy relief be not dispatched, We could not, nor cannot think of a better way to discharge Our duty to Almighty God, for the defence of the true Protestant Profession, or to manifest Our affection to Our three kingdoms, then by engaging Our Person in this Expedition, as many of Our royal progenitors have done even in foreign parts, upon causes of less importance and piety, with great honour to themselves, and advantage to this kingdom.  
For the danger of Our Person, We conceive it necessary and Worthy of a King, to adventure his life to preserve his kingdom, neither can it be imagined, that We will fit still, and suffer Our kingdom to be lost, and Our good Protestant Subjects to be massacred, without exposing Our Person to the utmost hazard for their relief and preservation.  
God, in his good time, We hope, will so inform the hearts of all Our good Subjects, that We shall recover from the mischief and danger of this distemper, on whose good pleasure We will wait with patience and humility.  
For the bringing up of the Army to London, as we have heretofore (by no other direction than the testimony of a good conscience) called God to witness we never had or knew of any such resolution; so upon the view of the Depositions now published with that Declaration, it is not evident to Us, there was ever such a design, unless very loose discourse or argument be instance enough of such a design.  
And if no better effects than loss of time, and hindrance of the public affairs have been found by Our Answers and Replies, let all good men judge, by whose default, and whose want of duty such effects have been.  
And We call Almighty God to witness, all Our complaints and jealousies, which have never been causeless, nor of Our Houses of Parliament, but of some few schismatical, factious, and ambitious spirits: Our denial of the Militia, Our absenting ourself from London, have been the effects of an upright and faithful affection to Our English Subjects, that We may be able, through all the inconveniences We are compelled to wrestle with, at last to restore their Religion, laws, and Liberties unto them.  
We desire Our actions may no longer prosper, or have a blessing from God upon them and Us, than they shall be directed to the glory of God in the maintenance of the true Protestant profession, to the preservation of the property and liberty of the subjects in the observation of the laws, and the maintenance of the Rights and freedom of Parliament, in the allowance and protection of all their just privileges.  
We would have you to be assured, that We never intended the least neglect unto you in any former Summons of the county, Our love, as well as Our protection, extending to all Our Subjects; but as you are a great body, time and conveniency must be observed in your assembling.  
That you may know the general reasons of Our being here, you must understand, that when We found it neither safe nor honourabl● to expose Our Person to the tumultuous and licentious proceedings of many (which to this day are unpunished) who did disorderly approach near Our Court at White-Hall, we trusted this part of Our dominions chiefly to reside in, where, as most of the Gentry already have, so we assure ourself, the rest of you will give Us clear testimony of your service and obedience, which We will never use otherwise then for the defence of Our orthodox Religion, professed and settled in Queen Elizabeth's time, and confirmed by the authority of the Statutes of this realm, the defence of the laws and fundamental Constitutions of the kingdom (as the justest measure and rule for Our Prerogative, your Liberties and Rights) and lastly, for the preservation of the peace of this kingdom.  
As for Our own zeal to the Protestant profession, we refer all the world to Our daily exercise of, and Our Declarations concerning it, and execution of the Laws against the Papists, so likewise We cannot but declare ourself most heartily sorry to find such Separatists and schismatics, who presume against Law, to foment new doctrines and disciplines, to the disturbance of Church and State. For the Law, it being the common inheritance of Our people, We shall never enforce any Prerogative of Ours beyond it, but submit ourself to it, and give you and all Our Subjects the fullest latitude of it, both for the liberty of your persons, and the propriety of your estates, and for an inviolable confidence and assurance hereof, as We take God (the searcher of all hearts) to witness Our real intention herein, so We shall no longer desire you to stand for the defence of Our Person, Honour, and just Prerogatives, than We shall maintain the laws of the Land, the liberty of your persons, and propriety of your goods.  
For the resort of Papists to the Court, His majesty's great care for the prevention thereof, is notoriously known, that when he was informed two or three of his Guard were of that Religion, he gave special direction, with expressions of his displeasure, that they should be immediately discharged, and provided, that no person should attend on him under that relation, but such as took the oath of Allegiance and supremacy.  
There having been many rumours spread, and informations given, which may have induced many to believe, that We intend to make war ●gainst Our Parliament.  
We profess before God, and declare to all the world, that we always have and do abhor all such designs, and desire all Our Nob●●● and council, who are 〈…〉 place, to declare whether they have not been witnesses of Our frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions to this purpose, whether they see any colour of Preparations or counsels that might reasonably beget a belief of any such design; and whether they be not fully persuaded, that We have no such intention, but that all Our endeavours (according to Our many professions) tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion, the just privileges of Parliament, the Liberty of the Subject, Peace and prosperity of this kingdom.  
The God of heaven direct you, and in mercy divert those judgements which hang over this Nation, and so deal with Us and Our posterity, as We desire the preservation and advancement of the true Protestant Religion, the Law, and the Liberty of the Subject, the just Rights of Parliament, and the peace of the kingdom.  
FINIS.