THE PETITION OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT TO His majesty, Concerning His intended going to IRELAND.  
Whereunto is added Six Reasons, or Motives, to dissuade His Majesty from going thither.  


April 22.  
It is this day Ordered, that this be forthwith Published.  
Hen. Elsinge, clear. come. D. Parl.    
London, Pr●nted for Joseph Hunscott. 1642.   

May it please Your Majesty:  
YOur Majesties 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 2000 Foot, and 200 Horse for a Guard for your Person when you shall come into that Kingdom; Wherein we cannot choose but with all 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 Majesties promises, 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 dury 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 kingdom, 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 unto 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.  

I. Your royal Person will be subject, not onely 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.  
II. It will exceedingly encourage the Rebells, who do generally profess and declare, That your Majesty doth favour and allow their proceedings, and this Insurrection was undertaken by the Warrant of your Commission; and it will make good th●ir expectation of great advantage by your Majesties Presence at this time of so much distr●ction in this kingdom, whereby they may hope we shall be disabled to supply the War there, especially there appearing less necessity of your Majesties Journey at this time, by reason of the manifold successses which God hath given against them.  
III. It will much hinder and impair the means whereby this War is to be supported, ●nd 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 Majesties intentions, declare their resolutions not to pay in their money, and others very willing to have subscribed, do now profess the contrary.  
IV. Your Majesties absence must necessary very much interrupt the proceedings 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.  
V. 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 councils near your majesty, in opposition to the Parliament, and favour of the malignant party of the Kingdom.  
VI. It will bereave your Parliament of that advantage, whereby they were induced to undertake this War upon your Majesties promise, that it should be managed by their advice, which cannot be done if your Majesty contrary to their council, shall undertake to Order and Govern it in your own Person.   
Upon which, and divers others 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 levies, or raising of Souldiers to be made by your Majesty, for this your intended expedition into Ireland, or to the payment of any Army, or Souldiers there; but such as shall be employed and governed according to our advice and direction; and that if such Levies shall be made by any such 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 council 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 council and advice of your Parliament, for your Majesty, and your Posterity, according to our Allegiance, and the Law of the Land.  
Wherefore we humbly pray, and advice your Majesty to desist from this your intended passage into Ireland, and of all preparation of Men and Arms tending thereunto and to leave the managing of that war to your Majesties 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 Gods blessing, we have made a prosperous entrance by many defeats of the Rebels; whereby they are much weakened, and disheartened, and have no probable means of subsistence if our proceedings shall not be interrupted by this interposition of your Majesties journey, but that we may hope upon good grounds, that within a short time, without hazard of your Majesties 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 Majesties 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 councils, and Apprehensions which may any way derogate from the faithfulness, and allegiance, which in truth, and sincerity, we have always born, and professed to your Majesty, and shall ever make good to the uttermost, with our lives and fortunes.  
FINIS.