THE HUMBLE PETITION AND DECLARATION of both Houses of Parliament, to the KING'S Most Excellent Majesty,  
Sent to York by one Lord, and two Members of the House of Commons, on Wednesday the 23. of March. 1641.  
In Answer to every particular of his Majesty's Speech at Newmarket: which he made to the Committee of both Houses when they presented the last Declaration.  
With their Additionall Information received from the Governor of Rotterdam, concerning the great Fleet prepared in Denmark, which by means of the Lord Digby should have been transported over to Hull.  
Whereunto is added, A Copy of the Petition, delivered to the King at Newark, by the Inhabitants of Lincoln.  
London, Printed by the copy that was printed for john Wright. Ann. Dom. 1641.   

March 23. 1641. TO THE KING'S Most Excellent Majesty.  
The humble Petition and Declaration of the Lords and Commons, assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
May it please your Majesty,  
YOur Majesty's most loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament, cannot conceive that the Declaration which your Majesty received from us at Newmarket, was such as did deserve that censure your Majesty was pleased to say upon us, in that Speech which your Majesty made to our Committees there, and sent in writing to both Houses; our address therein being accompanied with plainness, humility, and faithfulness, we thought more proper for removing the distraction of the Kingdom, then if we had then proceeded according to your Majesty's Message of the 20. of january. By which your Majesty was pleased to desire, that we would declare what we intended to do for your Majesty, and what we expected to be done for ourselves. In both which we have been very much hindered by your Majesty's denial to secure us and the whole Kingdom, by disposing the Militia, as we had divers times most humbly petitioned, and yet we have not been altogether negligent of either; having lately made good proceed in preparing a book of Rates, to be passed in a Bill of Tonnage and Poundage: and likewise the most material heads of those humble desires which we intended to make for the good and contentment of your Majesty and your people: but none of these could be perfected before the Kingdom be put into safety, by settling the Militia; And until your Majesty shall be pleased to concur with your Parliament in these necessary things, we hold it impossible for you to give the World or your People such satisfaction concerning the fears and jealousies which we have expressed, as we hope your Majesty hath already received, touching that exception which you were pleased to take to Master Pyms Speech.  
As for your Majesty's fears and doubts, the ground whereof is from seditious Pamphlets and Sermons, we shall be as careful to endeavour the removal, as soon as we shall understand what Pamphlets and Sermons are by your Majesty intended; as we have been to prevent all dangerous Tumults. And if any extraordinary concourse of people out of the City to Westminster, had the face and show of tumult and danger in your Majesty's apprehension, it will appear to be caused by your Majesty's denial of such a guard to your Parliament as they might have cause to confide in, and by taking into White hall such a Guard for yourself, as gave just cause of jealousy to the Parliament; and of terror and offence to your People. We seek nothing but your Majesty's Honour, and the peace and prosperity of your Kingdoms. And we are hearty sorry we have such plentiful matter of an answer to that question, Whether you had violated our Laws? We beseech You to remember that the Government of this Kingdom as it was in a great part managed by your Ministers before the beginning of this Parliament, consisted of many continued and multiplied Acts of violation of Laws, the wounds whereof were scarcely healed, when the extremity of all these violations, was far exceeded by the late strange and unheard of breach of our laws in the Accusation of the Lord Kimbolton, and the five Members of the Commons House, and in the proceed thereupon: for which we have yet received no full satisfaction.  
To your Majesty's next question, Whether you had denied any Bill for the ease and security of your Subjects, we wish we could stop in the midst of our answer; that with much thankfulness we acknowledge that your Majesty hath passed many good Bills full of contentment, and advantage to your People: But Truth and Necessity enforceth us to add this, That even in or about the time of passing those Bills, some design or other had been afoot, which if it had taken effect, would not only have deprived us of the fruit of those Bills, but have reduced us to a worse condition of confusion than that wherein the Parliament found us.  
And if your Majesty had asked us the third question intimated in that Speech, what we had done for yourself, our answer would have been much more easy, That we have paid two Armies wherewith the Kingdom was burdened last year; and have undergone the charge of the war in IRELAND at this time; when through many other excessive charges and pressures, whereby your Subjects have been exhausted, and the stock of the Kingdom very much diminished; which great mischiefs, and the charges thereupon ensuing, have been occasioned by the evil counsels so powerful with your Majesty, which have and will cost this Kingdom more than two millions: all which in justice ought to have been borne by your Majesty.  
As for that free and general pardon your Majesty hath been pleased to offer, it can be no security to our fears and jealousies, for which your Majesty seems to propound it; because they arise not from any guilt of our own actions, but from the evil designs and attempts of others.  
To this our humble Answer to that Speech, we desire to add an information which we lately received from the Deputy Governor of the Merchant Adventurers at Rotterdam in Holland, That an unknown person appertaining to the Lord Digby did lately solicit one james Henly a Mariner to go to Elsenore, and to take charge of a Ship in the Fleet of the King of Denmark there prepared, which he should conduct to Hull: in which Fleet likewise he said a great Army was to be transported. And although we are not apt to give credit to Informations of this nature, yet we cannot altogether think it fit to be neglected, but that it may justly add somewhat to the weight of our fears and jealousies, considering with what circumstances it is accompanied of the Lord Dighies preceding expressions in his Letter to her Majesty, and Sir Lewis Dives; and your Majesty's succeeding course of withdrawing yourself Northward from your Parliament, in a manner very suitable and correspondent to that evil counsel.  
Which we doubt will make much deeper impression in the generality of your People. And therefore we most humbly advise and beseech your Majesty for the procuring and settling the Confidence of your Parliament and all your Subjects, and for the other important reasons concerning the recovery of Ireland and securing this Kingdom, which have been formerly presented to your Majesty, you will be graciously pleased with all convenient speed to return to these parts, and to close with the Counsel and desire of your Parliament: where you shall find their dutiful affections and endeavours, ready to attend your Majesty with such entertainment, as shall not only give your Majesty just cause of security in their faithfulness; but other manifold evidences of their earnest intentions and endeavours to advance your Majesty's service, honour and contentment; and to establish it upon the sure foundation of the peace and prosperity of all your Kingdoms.  
FINIS.   

A copy of the Petition delivered to the KING at Newark, in his Majesty's passage to York, by divers of the Inhabitants of the County of Lincoln.  
To the KING'S Most Excellent Majesty. The humble Petition of your Majesty's loving Subjects, in the County of Lincoln.  
IN all humility representing, as our thankfullest acknowledgements to God, and to your Majesty, of the gracious blessings which we have for these many years enjoyed under your Majesty's Government, and particularly the blessed fruits of this present Parliament, by your Majesty's wisdom and goodness assembled, whereby many wholesome laws have been enacted for the great honour of your Majesty, the relief of your People, the prosperous Government of this Kingdom, and happy settling of the late troubles in both Kingdoms. So also our saddest regreat for any the least misunderstanding and differences which have happened between your sacred Majesty and the said Parliament, or any of the Members of the same, with our many distractions thereupon, and fears of the utter ruin of your Majesty, your royal Posterity and Kingdoms, by the malicious and insolent designs of the Popish party, and the advantage that foreign enemies may take thereby.  
Humbly prostrating ourselves at your Majesty's feet, do most affectionately pray, That your Majesty and Parliament may by all good means be firmly reunited, and for that purpose, That you would graciously please to reside near, and listen unto the faithful Counsels of your said Parliament; Whereby Romish Idolatry and Superstition may be extirpated. The Church and Commonwealth duly reform, the true Religion, and all things settled in a blessed peace under your Majesty's government, And we shall still have further cause to continue our cheerful Aides, both of persons and estates, for your Majesty and your Kingdom's prosperity and honour,  
And ever pray for your Majesty's long and happy Reign over us, etc.