THE ANSWER OF Both Houses of Parliament, Presented to His Majesty at YORK, the ninth of May.  
Concerning Sir john Hothams' Refusal to give His Majesty entrance into His Town of Hull.  
With His Majesties REPLY thereunto.   Tudor rose  Scottish thistle  French fleur-de-lis  depiction of Irish harp 
YORK: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL.  
1642.   

¶ The most humble Answer of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to two Messages from His Sacred MAJESTY, Concerning Sir john Hothams' Refusal to give Him entrance into the Town of HULL.  
YOur Majesty may be pleased to understand, That we, your great Council, finding manifold Evidences of the wicked Counsels and Practices of some in near Trust and Authority about you, to put the Kingdom into a Combustion, by drawing your Majesty into places of Strength, remote from your Parliament, and by exciting your People to Commotions, under pretence of serving your Majesty against your Parliament, Lest this Malignant Party, by the advantage of the Town and Magazine of Hull, should be enabled to go thorough, with their mischievous intentions, Did (in discharge of the great Trust that lies upon us, and by that Power, which in Cases of this Nature, resides in us) command the Town of Hull to be secured, by a Garrison of the adjoining Train Bands, under the government of Sir john Hotham, requiring him to keep the same for the service of your Majesty and the Kingdom; wherein we have done nothing contrary to your Royal Sovereignty in that Town, or Legal Propriety in the Magazine.  
Upon consideration of Sir john Hothams' proceed at your Majesty's being there, we have, upon very good grounds, adjudged, That he could not discharge the Trust upon which, nor make good the end for which he was placed in the Guard of that Town, and Magazine, if he had let in your Majesty, with such Councillors and Company as then were about You.  
Wherefore, upon full Resolution of both Houses, we have declared Sir john Hotham to be clear from that odious Crime of Treason; And have Avowed, That he hath therein done nothing but in Obedience to the Commands of both Houses of Parliament; Assuring ourselves, That upon mature deliberation, your Majesty will not interpret his Obedience to such Authority, to be an Affront to your Majesty, or to be of that nature, as to require any Justice to be done upon him, or satisfaction to be made to your Majesty: But that you will s●e just cause of joining with your Parliament, in preserving and securing the Peace of the Kingdom, suppressing this wicked and Malignant party, who by false colours and pretensions of maintaining your Majesty's Prerogative against the Parliament, (wherein they fully agree with the Rebels in Ireland) have been the causes of all our Distempers and Dangers.  
For prevention whereof, we know no better Remedy, then settling the Militia of the Kingdom, according to the Bill which we have sent your majesty, without any intention of deserting or declining the validity or observance of that Ordinance which past both Houses, upon your Majesty's former refusal, But we still hold that Ordinance to be effectual by the Laws of this Kingdom.  
And we shall be exceeding glad, If your Majesty, by approving these our Just, Dutiful, and Necessary Proceed, shall be pleased to entertain such Council, as we assure ourselves (by God's blessing) will prove very advantageous for the Honour and Greatness of your Majesty, the safety and peace of your People, amongst which, we know none more likely to produce such good effects, than a Declaration from your Majesty, of Your purpose to lay aside all thoughts of going into Ireland; And to make a speedy return into these parts, to be near your Parliament. Which, as it is our most humble Desire, and earnest Petition, so shall it be seconded with our most dutiful care for the safety of your Royal Person, and constant Prayers▪ That it may prove Honourable and Successful in the happiness of your Majesty and all your Kingdoms.   

10. Maii. 1642.  
His Majesty's Answer to the Petition of both Houses of Parliament.  
Presented to Him the ninth of this Month, by the Lord Ed. Howard, Lord Fairfax, Sir Hugh Cholmley, Sir Ph. Stapleton, and Sir H. Cholmley.  
HIs Majesty was in good hope, that the Reason why you so long deferred your Answer to His Messages concerning Hull, was, That you might the better give him satisfaction therein, which now adds the more to His astonishment, finding this Answer (after so long advisement) to be of that nature, which cannot but rather increase, then diminish the present Distractions, if constantly adhered unto by the Parliament: Was it not too much, That His Majesty's Town of Hull had a Garrison put into it, to the great charge of the Country and inconvenience to the poor Inhabitants, without His Majesty's consent and approbation, under colour, at that time, of foreign Invasion, and apprehensions of the Popish party, but now the Reasons thereof must be enlarged with a scandal to His Majesty and His faithful Servants, only to bring in the more specious pretence for the avowing of Sir John Hothams' treasonable insolency?  
His Majesty hath often heard of the great trust, that by God and Man's Law is committed to the King, for the defence and safety of His People, but as yet hath never understood what trust or power is committed to either, or both Houses of Parliament, without the King; they being summoned to counsel and advise the King: but by what Law or Authority they possess themselves of His Majesty's proper Right and Inheritance, he is confident, that as they have not, so they cannot show.  
His Majesty, hitherto, hath not given the least interruption to public justice; But you, rather than suffer one of your Members to come so much as to a legal trial for the highest crime, will make use of an Order of Parliament to countenance Treason, by declaring him free from that guilt which all former ages never accounted other; And that, without so much as enquiring the opinion of the judges; For His Majesty is confident, That you would have mentioned their opinion, if you had asked the same.  
Therefore His Majesty expects, That upon further and better consideration, of the great and necessary consequence of the business of Hull, and seriously weighing how much this doth concern the peace and quiet of the Kingdom, you will (without further instance from His Majesty) give him full and speedy justice against Sir John Hotham; and He leaves all His good People to think what hope of justice there is left for them, when you shall refuse or delay to give your own Sovereign satisfaction: And, as His Majesty hath already said, Till this be done, he will intent no business whatsoever, other than that of Ireland.  
And His Majesty likewise expects, That in the way you have expressed in this your Answer, you will not put the Militia in execution, until you can show him by what Law you have authority to do the same without His consent, or if you do, He is confident, that He shall find much more Obedience, according to Law, than you against Law; and His Majesty shall esteem all those that shall obey you therein, to be Disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom, and in due time call them legally to a strict account for the same.  
As for Ireland, His Majesty refers you to His former Answer.  
And lastly, Concerning His Return, He never heard, That the slandering of a King's Government, and His faithful Servants, the refusing of Him justice in a case of Treason, and the seeking to take away His undoubted and legal Authority, under the pretence of putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defence, were Arguments to induce a King to come near or hearken to His Parliament.  
FINIS.