THE HUMBLE PETITION Of the Lords & Commons assembled in Parliament unto his Majesty (with the Reasons moving them, to advise his Majesty) to decline his intended Journey into Ireland:  
Sent to York by the Earl of Stamford, Sir john Culpepper Knight, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Anthony Hungerford Esquire.  
Who presented the same to his Majesty at York, on Monday last, being the 18 day of April, 1642.  
And ordered to be printed and published by the Commons House of Parliament.  
Die Veneris 22 of April. H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
LONDON, Printed by A.N. for John Frank, 1642.   

May it please your Majesty,  
YOur Majesty's most loyal, and faithful Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament have duly considered the Message received from your Majesty, concerning your purpose of going into Ireland in your own person to prosecute the war there with the bodies of your English Subjects levied, transported, and maintained at their charge, which you are pleased to propound to us, not as a matter wherein your Majesty desires the advice of your Parliament, but as already firmly resolved on, and forthwith to be put in execution, by granting out Commissions for the levying of two thousand foot, and two hundred Horse for a Guard for your person when you shall come into that Kingdom, wherein we cannot choose but withal reverence and humility to your Majesty, observe that you have declined your great Council the Parliament, and varied from the usual course of your Royal Predecessors, that a business of so great importance concerning the peace and safety of all your Subjects, and wherein they have a special interest by your Majesty's promise, and by those great sums which they have disbursed, and for which they stand engaged should be concluded and undertaken without their advice, whereupon we hold it our duty to declare, that if at this time your Majesty shall go into Ireland, you will very much endanger the safety of your Royal Person and Kingdoms, and of all other States professing the Protestant Religion in Christendom, and make way to that cruel, and bloody Design of the Papists every where to root out and destroy the Reformed Religion as the Irish Papists have in a great part already effected in that Kingdom and in all likelihood would quickly be attempted in other places, if the consideration of the strength and union of the two Nations of England and Scotland, did not much hinder, and discourage the execution of any such design, and that we may manifest to your Majesty, the danger and misery, which such a journey and enterprise would procure we present to your Majesty the Reasons of this our humble opinion, and advice.  
1 YOur Royal person will be subject not only to the casualty of war, but to secret practices, and conspiracies especially your Majesty continuing your profession to maintain the Protestant Religion in that Kingdom which the Papists are generally bound by their vow to extirpate.  
2 It will exceedingly encourage the Rebels who do generally profess, and declare that your Majesty doth favour and allow their proceed, and this insurrection was undertaken by the warrant of your Commission, and it will make good their expectation of great advantage by your Majesty's presence at this time of so much distraction in this Kingdom, whereby they may hope we shall be disabled to supply the war there, especially there appearing less necessity of your Majesty's Journey at this time, by reason of the manifold successes which God hath given against them.  
3. It will much hinder and impair the means, whereby this war is to be supported, and will increase the charge of it, and in both these respects, make it more insupportable to your Subjects: and this we can confidently affirm, because many of the Adventurers who have already subscribed, do upon the knowledge of your Majesty's Intentions, declare their resolutions, not to pay in their money, and others very willing to have subscribed, do now profess the contrary.  
4. Your Majesty's absence must necessarily very much interrupt the proceed of Parliament, and deprive your Subjects of the benefit of those further Acts of Grace, and Justice which we shall humbly expect from your Majesty for the establishing of perfect union, and mutual confidence betwixt your Majesty and your People, and procuring and confirming the prosperity and happiness of both.  
5. It will exceedingly increase the jealousies and fears of your people, and render the doubts of your Subjects more probable, of some force intended by some evil counsels near your Majesty, in opposition to the Parliament, and favour of the malignant party of the Kingdom.  
6. It will bereave your Parliament of that advantage, whereby they were induced to undertake this war upon your Majesty's promise, that it should be managed by their advice, which cannot be done, if your Majesty contrary to their Counsel shall undertake to order and govern it in your own Person.  
Upon which and divers other reasons we have resolved by the full and concurring agreement of both Houses, that we cannot with the duty which belongs to us, consent to any Levyes, or raising of Soldiers to be made by your Majesty, for this your intended expedition into Ireland, or to the payment of any Army or Soldiers there, but such as shall be employed and governed according to our advice and direction, and that if such Levyes shall be made by any Commission of your Majesty, not agreed to by both Houses of Parliament, we shall be forced to interpret the same to be raised to the terror of your people, and disturbance of the public peace, and hold ourselves bound by the Laws of the Kingdom, to apply the authority of Parliament to suppress the same.  
And we do further most humbly declare, that if your Majesty shall by ill counsel, be persuaded to go contrary to this advice of your Parliament (which we hope your Majesty will not, We do not in that case hold ourselves bound to submit to any Commissioners, which your Majesty shall choose, but do resolve to preserve and govern the Kingdom by the counsel and advice of Parliament for your Majesty and your Posterity according to Allegiance, and the Law of the Land.  
Wherefore we most humbly pray, and advise your Majesty, to desist from this your intended passage into Ireland, and from all preparation of men and Arms tending thereunto, and to leave the managing of that war to your Parliament, according to your Majesties promise made unto us and your Royal Commission granted under your great Seal of England, by advice of both Houses, in prosecution whereof, by God's blessing we have made a prosperous entrance by many defeats of the Rebels, whereby they are much weakened and dis-heartened, and have no probable means of subsistence, if our proceed shall not be interrupted by this interposition of your Majesties I urney, but that we may hope upon good grounds, that within a short time, without hazard of your Majesty's person, and so much dangerous confusion to your Kingdoms, which must needs ensue if you should proceed in this resolution: We shall be enabled fully to vindicate your Majesty's right and authority in that Kingdom, and punish those horrible and outrageous cruelties which have been committed in the murdering, and spoiling so many of your Subjects, and bring that Realm to such a Condition as may be much for the advantage of your Majesty, and this Crown, the honour of your government and contentment of your people, for the better, and more speedy effecting whereof we do again renew our humble desires of your return to your Parliament. And that you will please to reject all Counsels, and apprehensions which may any way derogate from that faithfulness, and Allegiance which in truth and sincerity we have always borne, and professed to your Majesty, and shall ever make good to the uttermost with our lives and fortunes.   

Die veneris 22. of April 1642.  
It is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament, that this Petition shall be forthwith published in Print.  
H. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com.