HIS Majesty's DECLARATION To all His loving SUBJECTS, Occasioned by a false and scandalous Imputation laid upon His Majesty of an Intention of Raising or Levying War against His Parliament, and of having raised Force to that end.  
ALSO, His Majesty's Declaration and Profession, together with that of the Lords and others of His Council there present, disavowing any Preparations or Intentions of Levying War against His two Houses of Parliament.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. 1642.   

 royal blazon or coat of arms   

His Majesty's Declaration to all His loving Subjects, occasioned by a false and scandalous Imputation laid upon His Majesty of an Intention of raising, or levying War against His Parliament, and of having raised Force to that end.  
Published at His Court at York, the 16. day of June. 1642.  
THough We have these last seven Months met with so many several Encounters of strange and unusual Declarations, under the Names of both Our Houses of Parliament, that We should not be amazed at any new Prodigy of that kind; And though their last of the 26 of May gave Us a fair Warning, that the Contrivers of it, having spent all their Stock of bitter and reproachful Language upon Us, We were to expect they should now break out into some bold and disloyal Actions against Us; And having by that Declaration (as far as in them lies) devested Us of that preeminence and authority, which God, the Law, the Custom and Consent of this Nation had placed in Us, and assumed it to themselves, That they should likewise with expedition put forth the fruits of that supreme Power, for the violating and supressing that power they despised (an effect of which Resolution their wild Declaration against Our Proclamation concerning the pretended Ordinance for the Militia, and the punishing of the Proclaimers appears to be) yet We must confess, in their last attempt (We speak of the last We know, they may probably since, or at this present have outdone that too) they have outdone what We conceive was their present Intention; And whosoever hears of Propositions and Orders for bringing in of Money or Plate to maintain Horse, Horsemen and Arms for the preservation of the public Peace, or for the defence of the King, and both Houses of Parliament (such is their Declaration, or what else they please to call it, of the 10 of june) will surely believe the Peace of this Kingdom to be extremely shaken, and (at least) the King himself to be consulted with, and privy to these Propositions; But We hope, that when Our good Subjects shall find that this goodly Pretence of The defence of the King, is but a specious Bait to seduce weak and inconsiderate Men into the highest Acts of Disobedience and Disloyalty against Us, and of Violence and Destruction upon the Laws and Constitutions of the Kingdom, they will no longer be captivated by an implicate Reverence to the name of both Houses of Parliament, but will carefully examine and consider what number of Persons are present, and what Persons are prevalent in those Consultations, and how the Debates are probably managed, from whence such horrid and monstrous Conclusions do result, and will (at least) weigh the Reputation, Wisdom, and Affection of those, who are notoriously known, out of the very horror of their proceed, to have withdrawn themselves, or by their skill and violence to be driven from them and their Counsels.  
Whilst their Fears and jealousies did arise, or were infused into the People from discourses of the Rebels in Ireland, of s●ippers at Rotterdam, of Forces from Denmark, France or Spain (how improbable and ridiculous soever that bundle of Information appeared to all wise and knowing Men) it is no wonder, if the easiness to deceive, and the willingness to be deceived did prevail over many of Our weak Subjects, to believe that the Dangers, which they did not see, might proceed from Causes, which they did not understand: But for them to declare to all the world, that we intent to make War against Our Parliament (whilst We sit still complaining to God Almighty of the injury offered to Us, and to the very being of Parliaments) and that We have already begun actually to leavy Forces both of Horse and Foot (whilst We have only in a legal way provided a smaller Guard for the security of Our own Person, so near a Rebellion at Hull, than they have had, without lawful authority, above these eight Months, upon imaginary and impossible dangers) to impose upon Our People's sense, as well as their understanding, by telling them, We are doing that which they see We are not doing, and intending that they all know (as much as Intentions can be known) We are not intending, is a boldness agreeable to no power but the omnipotency of those Votes, whose absolute supremacy hath almost brought confusion upon King and People, and against which no knowledge in matter of Fact, or consent and authority in matter of Law they will endure shall be opposed.  
We have upon all occasions with all possible Expressions professed Our fast and unshaken Resolutions for Peace; And We do again (in the presence of Almighty God Our Maker and Redeemer) assure the world, That We have no more thought of making a War against Our Parliament, then against Our own Children; That We voill maintain and observe the Acts assented to by Us this Parliament without Violation, of which, That for the frequent assembling of Parliaments is one; And that We have not, or shall not have any thought of using any Force, unless We shall be driven to it for the security of Our Person, and for the defence of the Religion, Laws, and Liberty of the Kingdom, and the just Rights and Privileges of Parliament: And therefore We hope the Malignant Party, who have so much despised Our Person, and usurped Our Office, ●● all not by their specious fraudulent Insinuations prevast with Our good Subjects, to give credit to their wicked Assertions, and so to contribute their Power and Assistance for the ruin and destruction of Us and themselves.  
For Our Guard about Our Person (which not so much their Example as their Provocation enforced Us to take) it is known it consists of the prime Gentry (in Fortune and Reputation) of this County, and of One Regiment of Our Trained Bands, who have been so far from offering any Affronts, injuries, or disturbance to any of Our good Subjects, that their principal end is to prevent such; and so may be security, can be no grievance to Our People. That some ill affected Persons, or any Persons have been employed in other Parts raise Troops under colour of Our Service, or have made large (or any) Offers of Reward and Preferment to such as will come in, is (for aught We know, and as We believe) an un-truth devised by the Contrivers of this false Rumour; We disavow it, and are confident there will be no need of such Art or Industry to induce Our loving Subjects, when they shall see Us oppressed, and their Liberties and Laws confounded, (and till than We shall not call on them) to come in to Us, and to assist Vs.  
For the Delinquents, (whom We are said with an high and forcible hand to Protect) let them be named and their Delinquency, and if We give not satisfaction to justice, when We shall have received satisfaction concerning Sir John Hotham by his legal Trial, then let Us be blamed: But if the Design be (as it is well known to be) after We have been driven by Force from Our City of London, and kept by Force from Our Town of Hull, to protect all those who are Delinquents against Us, and to make all those Delinquents who attend on Us, or execute Our lawful Commands; We have great reason to be satis fied in the truth and justice of such Accusation, lest to be Our servant, and to be a Delinquent grow to be Terms so convertible, that in a short time We be left as naked in attendance, as they would have Us in power, and so compel Us to be waited on only by such whom they shall appoint and allow, and in whose presence We should be more miserably alone, then in desolation itself.  
And if the seditious Contrivers and Fomenters of this Scandal upon Us shall have (as they have had) the power to misled the major Part present of either or both Houses, to make such Orders, and send such Messages and Messengers, as they have lately done, for the Apprehension of the great Earls and Barons of England, as if they were Rogues or Felons; And whereby persons of Honour and Quality are made Delinquents, merely for attending upon Us, and upon Our Summons, whilst other men are forbid to come near Us (though obliged by the Duty of their places and Oaths) upon Our lawful Commands; It is no wonder if such Messengers are not very well entreated, and such Orders not Obeyed neither can there be a surer and a cunninger way found out to render the Authority of both Houses scorned and vilified, then to assume to themselves (merely upon the Authority of the name of Parliament) a Power monstrous to all understandings, and to do Actions, and to make Orders Evidently and Demonstrably contrary to all Known Law and Reason, (As to take up Arms against Us under colour of defending Us; To cause Money to be brought in to them, and to forbid Our own Money to be paid to Us, or to Our use, under colour that We will employ it ill; To beat Us, and starve Us for Our own good, and by Our own Power and Authority) which must in short time make the greatest Court, and the greatest Person cheap, and of no Estimation.  
Who those sensible Men are of the public Calamities, of the Violations of the Privileges of Parliament, and the Common Liberty of the Subject, who have been baffled and injured by Malignant Men, and Cavaliers about Us; We cannot imagine; And if those Cavaliers are so much without the fear of God and Man, and so ready to commit all manner of Outrage and Violence as is pretended, Our Government ought to be the more esteemed, which hath kept them from doing so; insomuch as We believe no person hath cause to complain of any injury, or of any damage in the least degree, by any man about, or who hath offered his service to Us: All which being duly considered, if the Contrivers of these Propositions and Orders had been truly sensible of the Obligation which lies upon them, in Honour, Conscience, & Duty, according to the high trust reposed in them by Us, and Our People, they would not have published such a sense and apprehension of imminent danger, when themselves in their consciences know, that the greatest & (indeed) only danger which threatens this Church and State, the blessed Religion and Liberty of Our People, is in their own desperate and seditious designs, and would not endeavour upon such weak and groundless reasons to seduce Our good Subjects from their Affection and Loyalty to Us, to run themselves into Actions unwarrantable, and destructive to the peace and Foundation of the Commonwealth.  
And that all Our loving Subjects may see how causeless and groundless this scandalous Rumour and Imputation of Our raising War upon Our Parliament is, We have, with this Our Declaration, caused to be Printed the Testimony of those Lords, and other persons of Our Council, who are here with Us, who being upon the place could not but discover such Our Intentions and Preparations, and cannot be suspected for their Honours and Interests to combine in such mischievous and horrid Resolutions: And therefore We straightly charge and Command all Our loving Subjects upon their Allegiance, and as they will answer the contrary at their Perils, That they yield no obedience or consent to the said Propositions and Orders, and that they presume not (under any such Pretences, or by colour of any such Orders) to raise or levy any Horse or Men, or to bring in any Money or Plate to such purpose: But if notwithstanding this Clear Declaration and Evidence of Our Intentions, these Men (whose Design it is to compel Us to raise War upon Our Parliament (which all their skill and malice shall never be able to effect) shall think fit by these Alarms to awaken Us to a more necessary care of the defence of Ourselves and Our People, and shall themselves (under colour of Defence) in so unheard of a manner provide (and seduce others to do so too) to offend Us, having given Us so lively Testimony of their Affections what they are willing to do, when they have once made themselves able; All Our good Subjects will think it necessary to look to Ourselves: And We do then excite all Our well affected People, according to their Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and according to their solemn Vow and Protestation (whereby they are obliged to defend Our Person, Honour, and Estate) to contribute their best Assistance to the Preparations necessary for the opposing and suppressing of the Traitorous Attempts of such wicked and Malignant Persons, who would destroy Our Person, Honour and Estate, and engage the whole Kingdom in a Civil War, to satisfy their own lawless Fury and Ambition, and so rob Our good Subjects of the blessed fruit of this present Parliament; which they already in some degree have, and might still reap, (to the abundant satisfaction and joy of the whole Kingdom) if such wicked hands were not ready to ruin all their possession, and frustrate all their hopes.  
We do therefore declare, That whosoever, of what degree or quality soever, shall then upon so urgent and visible necessity of Ours, and such an apparent distraction of the Kingdom (caused and begotten by the malice & contrivance of this Malignant party) bring in to Us, and Our use, ready Money or Plate, or shall underwrite to furnish any number of Horse, Horsemen and Arms for the Preservation of the public peace, the defence of Our Person, and the vindication of the Privilege and Freedom of Parliament, We shall receive it as a most acceptable service, and as a testimony of his singular affection to the Protestant Religion, the Laws, Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom, and shall no longer desire the continuance of that affection, than We shall be ready to justify and maintain those with the hazard of Our life.  
And We do further Declare, that whosoever shall then bring in any sums of Money or plate to assist Us in this great extremity, shall receive consideration after the Rate of 81. per Cent. for all such moneys as he shall furnish Us withal, and shall upon the payment of such money to such Persons, whom We shall appoint to receive the same, receive security for the same by good lawful Assurance of such of our Lands, Forests, Parks, and Houses, as shall be sufficient for the same, and more real security than the name of Public Faith given without Us and against Us, as if We were no part of the Public; And besides We shall always look upon it, as a service most affectionately and seasonably performed for the preservation of Us and the Kingdom: But We shall be much gladder that their submission to those Our Commands, and their desisting from any such Attempt of raising Horse or Men, may ease all Our good Subjects of that Trouble, Charge and Veration.   

His Majesty's Declaration and Profession, disavowing any Preparations or Intentions in Him to leavy War against His Houses of Parliament.  
THere having been many Rumours spread, and Informations given, which may have induced many to believe, That We intent to make War against Our Parliament; We profess before God, and declare to all the World, That We always have, and do abhor all such Designs, and desire all Our Nobility and Council, who are here upon the place, to declare whether they have not been witnesses of Our frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions to this purpose; whether they see any colour of Preparations or Counsels, that might reasonably beget a belief of any such Design, and whether they be not fully persuaded, that We have no such Intention; but that all Our Endeavours (according to Our many Professions) tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion, the just Privileges of Parliament, the Liberty of the Subject, the Law, Peace, and Prosperity of this Kingdom. Given at Our Court at York this fifteenth of June 1642.   

The Declaration and Profession of the Lords and others of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, now present at York, disavowing any Preparations or Intentions in His Majesty to leavy War against His PARLIAMENT.  
WE whose Names are underwritten, in Obedience to His Majesty's desire, and out of the Duty which We own to His Majesty's Honour, and to Truth, being here upon the place, and Witnesses of His Majesty's frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of His abhorring all Designs of making War upon His Parliament, and not seeing any colour of Preparations or Counsels that might reasonably beget the belief of any such Design, do profess before God, and testify to all the World, That we are fully persuaded that His Majesty hath no such Intention, But that all His Endeavours tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion, the just Privileges of Parliament, the Liberty of the Subject, the Law, Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom.  
York, June fifteenth, 1642. 

Lo. Keeper.  
Du. Richmond.  
Marq. Hertford.  
Lo. Gr. Chamberlain.  
Ea. Cumberland.  
Ea. bath.  
Ea. Southampton.  
Ea. Dorset.  
Ea. Salisbury.  
Ea. Northampton.  
Ea. Devonshire.  
Ea. Cambridge.  
Ea. Bristell.  
Ea. Clare.  
Ea. Westmoreland.  
Ea. Berkshire.  
Ea. Monmouth.  
Ea. Rivers.  
Ea. Dover.  
Ea. Carnarvan.  
Ea. Newport.  
Lo. Mowbray & Matravers  
Lo. Willoughby of Eresby  
Lo. Grey of Ruthin.  
Lo. Howard, Andover.  
Lo. Newarck.  
Lo. Poulett.  
Lo. Lovelace.  
Lo. Rich.  
Lo. Savile.  
Lo. Mohun.  
Lo. Coventrye.  
Lo. Dunsmore.  
Lo. Seymour.  
Lo. Capell.  
Lo. Falkland.  
Sir Peter Wych controller.  
Mr. Secretary Nicholas.  
Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.  
Lo. Chief Justice Banks.     
FINIS.