The humble PETITION AND REPRESENTATION OF The Gentry, Ministers, and others of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, to His Sacred majesty.  
With His majesty's Answer thereunto.  
York 5 July. 1642.  
YORK: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John BILL. 1642.   

To the King's most Excellent majesty.  
The humble Petition and Representation of the loyal and dutiful Affections of the Gentry, ministry, and others, your majesty's Subjects of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, whose names are hereunto annexed.  
Most Gracious sovereign,  
WE acknowledge, with all possible Retribution of gratitude, Your majesty's Princely favour in yielding your royal Assent to such Bills as have passed since the beginning of this present Parliament. As for your gracious Declaration to continue the same as occasion required, for remedying the evils and perils incident to Church and State, and for your firm Resolution that the Laws of the Land should be the Rule of your Government; But more particularly endeared to our memories is that royal sense your majesty expressed of our dangerous condition and impendent fears, when we stood engaged as part of the Pledge to the Scottish Army; and your personal recommendation thereof to the speedy consideration of both your Houses of Parliament. The former benefits we hold as the fruit of your general care, equally extending to all; by this you suffered your royal Nature to be tendered with a Compassion more nearly regarding us; for which Grace we conceive ourselves tied in a more singular and strait Obligation than the most of your other Subjects are, in which respect our just fears might have presented us too remiss in performance of this duty, after so many had gone before us, but that our paucity, and the inconsiderableness of these Counties for quantity and quality, withheld us thus long, until the too visible distempers of the times justled out such fears, as now unseasonable: Our own sense is our assurance of your Gracious Government, we see and acquiesce in this truth, that your majesty's profession of the true Protestant Religion, & the exercise of it go together; nor can we take up any more effectual ground for a belief of sincerity. All our happiness, and that of all Your Dominions would be complete, and what were wanting we were in the way for, if a right Understanding were renewed between your majesty and great council.  
It is therefore our humble desire, That your majesty would still be pleased in your wisdom to recollect, and in your goodness to embrace all good means that may tend to this happy union, whereby we may reap the true enjoyment of the long labours of your majesty and great council, for the effecting whereof we shall redouble our Petition, That some place may be thought on, which may be free from exception both of danger and distrust; and then we doubt not, but by God's Almighty power, such ways and means might happily be propounded, as may reconcile all differences and mistakings; and your majesty have full satisfaction in your Demands.  
And we (as we are bound) shall be ready, according to Our Power, with our lives and fortunes to defend your majesty's Person, Honour, Crown, and Dignity, the Religion and Laws established against all Maligners of your majesty's royal Prerogative, and the peace and prosperity of this Kingdom.  
Hereunto were annexed the names of four thousand, seven hundred, seventy and four, of the Knights, Gentlemen, and others, of the Counties aforesaid.   


Dieu ET MON DROIT  At the Court at York, 5 July. 1642.  
His majesty Hath Commanded me to give this express Answer to this Petition.  
THat His majesty is very well pleased with the Duty and Assertion of this Petition, and hath commanded me to signify His good Acceptance of it, and Thanks for it to the Petitioners, and to assure them, That if some others had had the same sense of, and gratitude for His justice and favour towards them in the yielding of His royal assent to so many good Bills as the Petitioners have, and given as good credit to His Professions and Protestations for the defence of the Religion and Laws established as the Petitioners give, and been as ready to recollect and embrace all good means that might tend to a happy union, and renew a right understanding between His majesty and His Parliament, as His majesty hath been, is, and ever shall be; This (by the help of God) had been by this time a most secure, united, and happy Kingdom, free from all the present jealousies, Distractions, and Dangers. And as His majesty consents with the Petitioners in a most earnest desire that such a way may be discovered and pursued, which might reconcile all Differences and Mistakings, and by which He might have full satisfaction in His just demands; so He likewise consents with them, that the choice of some place free from exception, both of danger and distrust, would be the most probable, and indeed a certain means to attain that end: which out of His great Affection to justice and Peace, and His Care of the freedom, (which is the principal privilege) of Parliament, His majesty hath often intimated, and of late seriously recommended to both Houses; But not only without success, but without Answer.  
His majesty doth likewise assure the Petitioners, that He will no longer expect, that they should make good their Professions of being ready, according to their power, with their Lives and Fortunes to defend His Person, Honour, Crown, and Dignity, than He shall be ready, occording to His Power, with His Life and Fortune to defend the Religion and Laws established, against all Maligners of the Peace and Prosperity of the Kingdom.  
FALKLAND.  
FINIS.