HIS MAJESTY'S ANSWER To the PETITION which accompanied the DECLARATION of the House of COMMONS: Presented to Him at Hampton-Court, the first of December. 1641.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. MDCXLI.   

  

HIS MAJESTY'S ANSWER To the PETITION which accompanied the DECLARATION Presented to Him at Hampton-Court, 1ᵒ Decemb. 1641.  
WE having received from you, soon after Our return out of Scotland, a long Petition, consisting of many desires, of great moment, together with a Declaration of a very unusual nature annexed thereunto, We had taken some time to consider of it, as befitted Us in a matter of that consequence, being confident, that your own reason and regard to Us, as well as Our express intimation by Our controller to that purpose, would have restrained you from the publishing of it, till such time, as you should have received Our Answer to it: But, much against Our expectation, finding the contrary, that the said Declaration is already abroad in Print, by directions from your House, as appears by the printed Copy; We must let you know that We are very sensible of the disrespect. Notwithstanding, it is Our Intention, that no failing on your part, shall make Us fail in Ours, of giving all due satisfaction to the desires of Our people, in a Parliamentary way; And therefore We send you this Answer to your Petition, reserving Ourselves in point of the Declaration, which We think unparliamentary, and shall take a course to do that which We shall think fit in prudence and honour.  
To the Petition, We say; that although there are divers things in the Preamble of it, which We are so far from admitting, that We profess We cannot at all understand them, as, Of a wicked and malignant party prevalent in the Government; Of some of that party admitted to Our Privy Council, and to other Employments of trust, and necrest to Us and Our Children; Of Endeavours to sow among the People false scandals and imputations, to blemish and disgrace the Proceed of the Parliament: All, or any of which, did We know of, We should be as ready to remedy and punish, as you to complain of. That the Prayers of your Petition are grounded upon such Premises as We must in no wise admit; yet notwithstanding We are pleased to give this Answer to you.  
To the first concerning Religion, consisting of several branches, We say, that for the preserving the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom from the designs of the Popish party, We have, and will still concur with all the just desires of Our people in a Parliamentary way; That for the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament, We would have you consider, that their right is grounded upon the fundamental Law of the Kingdom, and constitution of Parliament; This We would have you consider, but since you desire Our concurrence herein in a Parliamentary way, We will give no further answer at this time.  
As for the abridging of the inordinate power of the Clergy, We conceive that the taking away of the high Commission Court hath well moderated that, but if there continue any Usurpations, or Excesses in their Jurisdictions, We therein neither have nor will protect them.  
Unto that Clause which concerneth Corruptions (as you style them) in Religion, in Church-government, and in Discipline, and the removing of such unnecessary Ceremonies as weak Consciences might cheque at. That for any illegal Innovations which may have crept in, We shall willingly concur in the removal of them. That if Our Parliament shall advise Us to call a Nationall Synod, which may duly examine such Ceremonies as give just cause of offence to any. We shall take it into consideration, and apply Ourselves to give due satisfaction therein; But We are very sorry to hear in such general terms, Corruption in Religion objected, since We are persuaded in Our conscience, that no Church can be found upon the earth that professeth the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth, nor where the Government and Discipline are jointly more beautified, and free from superstition, then as they are here established by Law, which (by the grace of God) We will with Constancy maintain (while We live) in their Purity and Glory, not only against all invasions of Popery, but also from the irreverence of those many Schismatics and Separatists, wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds, to the great dishonour and hazard both of Church and State; for the suppression of whom We require your timely and active assistance.  
To the second prayer of the Petition, concerning the removal and choice of Counsellors, We know not any of Our Council to whom the Character set forth in the Petition can belong. That by those whom We had exposed to trial, We have already given you sufficient testimony, that there is no man so near unto Us in place or affection, whom We will not leave to the Justice of the Law, if you shall bring a particular charge and sufficient proofs against him; and of this We do again assure you, but in the mean time We wish you to forbear such general aspersions as may reflect upon all Our Council, since you name none in particular.  
That for the choice of Our Counsellors and Ministers of State, it were to debar Us that natural liberty all Freemen have, and it is the undoubted right of the Crown of England, to call such persons to Our Secret Counsels, to public employment, and Our particular service, as We shall think fit, so We are, and ever shall be very careful to make election of such persons in those places of trust, as shall have given good testimonies of their abilities and integrity, and against whom there can be no just cause of exception whereon reasonably to ground a diffidence; and to choices of this nature We assure you that the mediation of the nearest unto Us hath always concurred.  
To the third Prayer of your Petition, concerning Ireland, We understand your desire of not alienating the forfeited Lands thereof, to proceed from your much care and love; And like wise that it may be a Resolution very fit for Us to take, but whether it be seasonable to declare Resolutions of that nature before the events of a war be seen, that We much doubt of. Howsoever, We cannot but thank you for this care, and your cheerful engagement for the suppression of that Rebellion; upon the speedy effecting whereof, the glory of God in the Protestant Profession, the safety of the British there, Our honour, and that of the Nation so much depends; all the Interests of this Kingdom being so involved in that business, We cannot but quicken your affections therein, and shall desire you to frame your Counsels, and to give such expedition to the work, as the nature thereof, and the pressures in point of time requires, and whereof you are put in mind by the daily insolence and increase of those Rebels.  
For Conclusion, your promise to apply yourselves to such courses as may support Our Royal Estate with Honour and Plenty at home, and with Power and Reputation abroad, is that which We have ever promised Ourselves, both from your Loyalties and Affections, and also for what We have already done, and shall daily go adding unto, for the comfort and happiness of Our people.  
FINIS.