A DECLARATION MADE TO THE kingdom, BY HENRY Earl OF HOLLAND.  
LONDON, Printed for Matthew Walbancke.  
Anno Dom. 1643.   

A DECLARATION made to the kingdom, by Henry Earl of Holland.  
I Have not forborn either out of forgetfulness, or guiltiness, to send forth these Expressions thus publicly, though I confess, they are of a nature, in the which I have so little dexterity, as, I may rather give advantage, to such as would be ready to seek it; then satisfaction, to those, that would be pleased to take it.  
I was willing to take this national Covenant, that binds up these kingdoms in such an unity, and in so happy an agreement. And likewise to pass through any trial, that so may Actions might be laid open, before this discourse, That thereby it might find the more credit. And I do passionately wish, that the thoughts and intentions I carried to Oxford could likewise be so; Which since they cannot, nor pass by any other Conveyance, to the knowledge of such, as I desire to satisfy, I shall here freely, and faithfully express them.  
Though I have ever, both in my pious duties, and my natural reason, wished, and endeavoured, to see this kingdom restored to the comforts, and rest of Peace, yet, was I never such a seeker of it, as to desire to find it, without those blessings, we have endeavoured to procure with it, of Truth, and true liberty, agreeable to the Condition of free, and undejected Subjects; Yet, such were my hopes, I confess, (made so, by many public relations, and discourses from Oxford, as they were even, formed into an opinion) That upon a free, and faithful representation to his Majesty, of the sad, and deplorable condition of his kingdoms of England, and Ireland, he might have been persuaded, to have Offered, even those things, from his own reason, or wisdom, that we for our necessity, and Conservation have often, and humbly petitioned him for. And when this was made, not only possible, but probable, unto me; I did conceive myself not to be the unproperest person to represent these things unto His majesty, from a long and near relation not only to His Person, but His counsels: Where I may truly say, I have endeavoured to oppose all advices, that, I believed, could raise any misunderstanding or division betwixt His Parliament and people. And this, I am persuaded, hath been apparent in all my actions, and that, very clearly, (I will not say dangerously) when His majesty advised with his counsel, concerning the breaking off the last Parliament, I having ever looked upon those resolutions, as unhappy, and dangeous ways of government in this kingdom.  
But I shall say no more in this way, since, as it leads towards myself, even truths, thus looking homeward, may, abroad, be looked upon as vanities; Otherwise, there are many particulars, that would show my counsels to His majesty, and my employments from him, to have been ever expressed, and governed, with great Fidelity to this kingdom.  
These faithful, and free counsels, made me hope, His majesty, with some reason, and justice, might have reflected, and looked back upon my usual advices unto him, and from thence have given me encouragement, to have pursued both my Fidelity to Him, and to His kingdoms, brought to this condition by contrary counsels. Which finding His majesty not persuaded to do, And at that time, such a Cessation concluded in Ireland, as made me see the streams of council died in the blood of many thousand Protestants, massacred in their martyrdom there: And not only so, But a danger likewise by too many visible circumstances, threatened to our Religion, in this kingdom. These reasons prevailed straight, both upon my Conscience, and my judgement, speedily to return unto the Parliament; streams, though by accident, or by breaches, they may hastily run, even out of their own bosom, yet naturally are they inclined to revert, and to look back to their channels, and long-kept course again, so was it with me, to return unto this Great channel of the kingdom's safety, the Parliament; the life-stream, that doth encompass, and hath depth only, to bear the weight, and to buoy up the honour of this endangered, and distracted kingdom: Where, I faithfully embark myself, to take those Fortunes, that God shall send me, either with them, or from them. And no Tempest shall have power to make me repent my Adventure, both of Life, and Fortune with them; Where, though I may be justly esteemed but as a grain in a balance, yet the smallest does; to, adds something to the Scales; And since I have made an uneven step, from the unclearenes of my information, more than from the unfaithfulness of my affections, or intentions, I hope, it may be looked upon, and considered, as the proverb, that saith, Whosoever stumbles, and falls not, gets rather than loses, ground.  
And, this ground I profess faithfully to stand, or fall upon, That, I shall choose rather to perish with the Parliament, in their intentions, to maintain our Religion, laws, and Liberties, then to prosper in the abandoning of the least of them. And this I bind up by the vows of a Christian, and a Gentleman.  
This is Printed according to Order.