A copy OF 1. The letter sent by the Queen's majesty concerning the collection of the Recusants money for the Scottish war, Apr. 17. 1639. 2. The Letter sent by Sir Kenelme Digby and Mr. Montague concerning the Contribution. 3. The Letter sent by those assembled in London, to every shire. 4. The names of the Collectors in each County in England and Wales. AND 5. The Message sent from the Queen's majesty to the house of Commons by Master controller the 5. of Febr. 1639. Printed at London in the year of the discovery of Plots, 1641. Henrette Marie. R. We have so good a belief of the loyalty and affection of his majesty's Catholic Subjects, as we doubt not but upon this occasion, that hath called his Majesty into the Northern parts for the defence of his Honour and dominions, they will express themselves so affected as we have always represented them to his Majesty; So in this common consent, which hath appeared in the nobility, judges, Gentry and others, to forward his majesty's service by their persons and states, we have made no difficulty to answer for the same correspondency in his Catholic Subjects, as Catholics: Notwithstanding they all have already concurred to this his majesty's service, according to the qualities whereof they are, when others of the same quality were called upon. For we believe that it became us, who have been so often interested in the solicitation of their benefits, to show ourselves now in the persuasion of their gratitudes. Therefore having already by his Majesty by other means recommended to them this earnest desire of ours to assist and serve his Majesty, by some considerable sum of money, freely and cheerfully presented: we have thought fit (to the end that this our desire, may be the more public and the more authorized) hereby to give you Commission and direction to distribute copies under your hand of this testification thereof, unto those that have met in London by our direction, about this business: And unto the several Collectors of every County. And as we presume the sum they will raise will not be unworthy our presenting to the King; so shall we be very sensible of it, as a particular respect to ourselves, and will endeavour in the, most efficacious manner we can to improve the merit of it, and to remove any apprehension of prejudice, that any (who shall employ themselves towards the success of this business) may conceive; by this they may be assured that we will secure them from all such objected inconveniences: And we are very confident that this our first recommendation will be so complied with all, as may not only afford us particular satisfaction, but also, facilitation towards their own advantages. Given under our Signet at White-Hall this 17. of April, 1639. Sir Kenelme Digby and Mr. Montague's Letter concerning the contribution. IT is sufficient already known to every one, the extraordinary Graces and Protections we owe the Queen's majesty, to whose favourable intercession we must ascribe the happy moderation we live under; So as we doubt not, but an occasion of the expression of our gratitudes will joyfully be embraced by everybody; which the present estate of his majesty's affairs, doth now offer us. We have already by our former letters endeavoured to prepare you to a cheerful assistance of his majesty in his declared journey to the Northern parts, for the securing of his kingdom, and such other purposes as his royal wisdom shall resolve of: That so you may really demonstrate yourselves as good Subjects, as God and nature requires of you. Now her majesty hath been graciously pleased to recommend unto us the expressions of our duties, and zeal to his majesty's service, by some considerable gift from the Catholics. And to remove all scruples (that even well affected persons may meet with) she undertakes to secure us, and all that shall employ themselves in this business, from any inconvenience, that may be suspected by their or our forwardness and declaration in this kind. It will easily appear to everybody how much it imports us, in our sense of her majesty's desires to press everybody to strain himself even to his best abilities in this proposition, since by it we shall certainly preserve her graciousness to us, and give good Characters of our devotion to the King and State; of whose benignity we have all reason to give testimonies, and to endeavour to produce arguments for the prosecution and increase of it. Now for the best expedition of this business (which is the chief circumstance that importeth in it) we have thought fit to recommend it to your nominations of such persons as shall in your opinions be agreed of for the ablest and best disposed in every several County, not only to solicit, but to collect such voluntary contributions, as everybody's conscience and duty shall proffer: And we shall desire you to give us an account of what acceptation his friends, which we cannot but expect very successful, and answerable to the forwardness we meet with here about London, for which we shall offer up our prayer to God. W. Montague. Ke. Digby. The copy of the Letter sent by those Assembled in London, to every Shire. THe enclosed Advices and motives being so ample, as you will perceive by perusing them, it will not be needful that we enlarge ourselves upon any particulars concerning the conduct of the business, which they direct the way in. This therefore serveth only to convey them to you, (as we are entreated by those that have met here, and have undertaken to do) and desire you to repair immediately unto those persons to whom they be directed, and to deliver the same unto them in the name of all the Noble men and Gentry (together with ourselves) assembled here at London by the Queen's commandment to set forward this work. And we pray you assure them in the most efficacious manner you can (Engaging all our credits for the trust thereof) that it is the sense of us all both ecclesiastical and lay persons, that besides the discharging of their and our duties to God and the King, it mainly importeth the good of Catholics to have their business take good success. Therefore entreat them to deal actively and efficaciously and speedily according to these advices and motives. We are so well persuaded of their devotion to put forward so pious a work, that we doubt not but they will be as well satisfied in the needfulness of the thing, and be as ready to employ themselves in it, receiving the assurance thereof, and persuasions thereunto, only from our hands, as if they came by all the most formal ways that can be imagined; which in a business of this nature cannot be expected. And although the advices and motives be directed only to lay Gentlemen yet we desire you, (& have answered for you) that you will employ yourselves and all those that depend on you, sincerely to solicit & dispose all their minds that you have relation unto, as powerfully as you can, to contribute cheerfully and bountifully upon this occasion; which is the first that ever we laboured in of this kind, so we hope in God it will be the last: there being no probability of so pressing and urgent a necessity to occur any more. London April, 1639. Yours, &c. The names of the Collectors for gathering the Recusants money. Bedfordshire. Mr. Church, Sir Robert Charnock, Mr. Robert Hewet. Berkshire. Mr. Anthony Inglefield, Mr. Tirrell. Buckinghamshi. Mr. Robert Dormer, Sir Edward Manfield, Mr. Throgmorton, Mr. Bringhurst. Cambridgshire. Mr. Hon. Huddlestone, M. Charles Paryes, Mr. Barker. Cheshire. Mr. Bidulph of Bidulph, Sir William Massey, Mr. William Stantey, Mr. James pool. Cornwall. Mr. Victor, Mr. Burlacey, Mr. Trevilian. Cumberland. Sir Francis Howard, Mr. Joseph Porter. Darbyshire. Sir Francis Willoughby, Mr. Aere of Hassop Mr. Poole of Spinckill. Devonshire. Sir. Sir Edward Carey, Mr. Berry, Mr. Anthony Gifford, Dr. Chichester. Dorsetshire. Mr. George Penny the elder, Mr. George Arundel, Mr. Webbe of Lanford, Mr. Wells of Purbecke. Durham. Sir Ralph Conniers, Mr. George Collingwood, Mr. Edward Smith. Essex. Mr. William peter's, Mr. Thomas Wright, Mr. Richard White. Glocestershire. Sir John Winter, Mr. Wakeman, Mr. Benedict Hall, Mr. Atkinson. Hertfordshire.— Huntingtonshi. Mr. Price of Washingley, Sir Tho. Shirley, Mr. Tho. Cotton. Herefordshire. Mr. William Bodenhum, Sir John Wigmore, Mr. William Moor of Burrop, Mr. John Harp. Hampshire. M. John Arundel, Mr. George Penny the younger, Mr. William Owen. Kent. Mr. Benjamin Wyborne, Mr. Clement Finch, Mr. 〈◊〉. Lancashire. Mr. Bradshaw, Sir Cecil Crayford, Sir William Gerrard, Mr. Molineaux of the wood, Mr. Townley of Townley, Mr. Anderton of Lostock. Lecetershire. Sir Francis Englefield, Mr. Golding. Lincolnshire. Mr. Anthony Mounson, Sir John Thymbleby, Mr. Robert Constable. London and Middlesex. Mr. Cape, Mr. Thomas Rox, Mr. Becket, Mr. Richard Betham, Mr. Edward Harpe, Mr. Morgan, Mr. John Chapperley, Dr. Kirton. Norfolk. Mr. Everard, Mr. Charles Walgrave, Sir Hen. Beddingfield, Mr. William Paston. Northamptonsh. Sir William Saunders, Mr. John Poulton. Nottinghamsh. Mr. Thomas Smith the elder, Mr. Thomas Smith the younger. Northumberla. Sir William Fenwick, Mr. Haggerston, Mr. Withrington, Sir Edward Ratliffe. Oxfordshire. Sir Richard Farmer of Kiddington, Mr. Will. Stone, Mr. Ralph Sheldon. Rutlandshire. Mr. Nicolas Cripps, Mr. William Andrew's, Mr. Alcock, Mr. James Digby. Shropshire. Sir Basill Brooke, Mr. Plowden, Mr. John Harrington. Sommersetsh. Mr. Rayno, Mr. John Ewnis the elder. Staffordshire. Mr. Brooke of Lapley, Mr. Stamford of Perry Hall, Mr. Philip Draycot. Surrey. Mr. Edw. Cotton, Sir Rich. Weston. Sussex. Sir John Shelley, Sir John Carol. Suffolk. Sir Francis Monnocke, Sir Roger Martin, Sir Edward Sylyard, Mr. Tho. Beddingfield of Beddingfield. Warwickshi. Mr. Anthony Dormer Mr. Thomas Morgan, Mr. William Sheldon, Mr. Rich. Middlemore. Wiltshire. Mr. William Arundel, the Lord Baltimore, Mr. Edward Stilling. Worcestershi. Mr. William Abingdon, Mr. William Sheldon. Westmoreland. Mr. Anthony Ducket, Mr. John Leyborne, Mr. Fleming. Yorkshire. East Riding. The Lord Dunbarre, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Longdaill. West Riding. Baronet Vavasar, Baronet Gascoigne, Mr. Thomas Waterton, Mr. Philip Hungate. North Riding. Mr. Craythorne the younger, the Lord Fairfax, Mr. Anthony Mennell, Mr. Laurence Sare. Isleof Wight.— Anglesey.— Brecknockt. Mr. Winter, Mr. Bevan, Mr. Maddock. Carnarvan. Mr. Lewis. Caermarden. Mr. Towley. Cardigan. Mr. Lewis. Glamorgan. Mr. Turbervile the younger. Denbigh. Mr. Richard Floyd, Mr. Crew. Flintsh. Sir John Connoway, Mr. Pennat. Monmouth. Sir Charles Somerset, Mr. Morgan of Lantarnam, Mr. Morgan of Itton. Mountgomery. Sir Piercy Herbert. Merioneth.— Pembrookesh. Mr. Towley of Arnostill. Radnorshi. Mr. Thomas Crowther. A Message sent from the Queen's Majesty to the House of Commons by Mr. controller, Febr. 5. 1640. THat her Majesty hath been ready to use her best endeavour for the removing of all misunderstanding between the King and kingdom. That at the request of the Lords who petitioned the King for a Parliament, her Majesty at that time writ effectually to the King, and sent a gentleman expressly to persuade the King to the holding of a Parliament. That she hath since been most willing to do all good offices between the King and his people, which is not unknown to divers of the Lords, and so shall ever continue to do as judging it the only way of happiness to the King, herself, and kingdom. That all things be justly settled between the King and his people 〈…〉. That her majesty having taken a knowledge that having one sent to her from the Pope is distasteful to the kingdom, she is desirous to give satisfaction to the Parliament within convenient time she will remove him out of the kingdom. That understanding like wise that exception hath been taken to the great resort to her chapel at Denmark house she will be careful not to exceed that which is convehient and necessary for the exercise of her Religion. She further taketh notice that the Parliament is not satisfied with the manner of raising money for the assistance of the King in his journey to the North, in the year 1639. at her entreaty from the Catholics, she was moved there unto merely out of her dear and tender affection to the King, and the example of other his majesty's subjects▪ she seeing the like forwardness would not but express her forwardness to the assistance of the King. If any thing be illegal, she was ignorant of the Law, and was carried therein only out of a great desire to be assisting to the King in so pressing an occasion but promiseth to be more cautious hereafter, not to do any thing but what may stand with the established laws of the kingdom. Her majesty being desirous to employ her own power to unite the King and people and desireth the Parliament to looke-forwards and pass by such mistakes and errors of her servants as may be formerly, and this your respect she promiseth shall be repaid with all the good offices she can do to the house, which you shall find with real effects as often as there shall be occasion. FINIS.