A MESSAGE SENT From the Kings Majesty, with certain propositions to the mayor and Aldermen, and other the Inhabitants of the town of Boston, by Sir John Mounson Knight and baronet. july 30. 1642. for the forbidding them the exercise of the MILITIA.  
Likewise the Answer of the mayor and Aldermen with the inhabitants of the said County to the Kings Message and Propositions.  
Together with the Resolutions of divers of the Gentry of Nottingham, subscribed to a Letter sent to Sir Thomas Hutchinson Knight, and Robert Sutton Esquire, Knights of the County of Nottingham.  
Printed at London, for Tho. Banks and Will. lay. 1642.   

The message and propositions brought to the mayor and Aldermen, and other inhabitants of the town of Boston from our sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty by Sir John Mounson Knight and Baronet, the 30. of july. 1642.  
HIs Majesty considering the importance of this place, as it may be an inlet of much mischief upon the inhabitants, and bring many sad effects upon this County, have just cause for the safety of 〈◇〉 g●od Subjects, and prevention of such dangerous consequences, to secure it from any imposition from abroad, or tumults within by his own power; and the rather because he hath heard of undutiful Actions from a few t●affected amongst you, in mustering& training contrary to the laws of his Proclamation, yet his Majesty is graciously pleased to lay aside these thoughts, and by endeavouring the assurance himself of your loyalty and affections, to assure the town and County by them of a continued peace and prosperity, if you shall propose a way that his M●jesty may upon good grounds be invited to that confidence, and as a preparation to it.  
First, his Majesty requires that y●u suffer not any further mustering and training of men, countenanced by any authority whatsoever contrary to his Commands.  
Secondly, that you declare your unanimous resolution, to resist the landing or taking in of any Forces without his Majesties allowance, and if any such thing should be attempted, that you do desire the contribution of his power and this Countries Forces to assist you in so great and necessary, and public duty tending to the preservation of the public Peace, and his Majesty will be forbearing to sand any Forces amongst you.  

The answer of the said mayor, and Aldermen, and inhabitants to the Message and Propositions aforesaid.  
THe said mayor, Aldermen and other principal inhabitants answer, That they were not in fear of any Forces coming to this town in opposition to his Majesty, and therefore did not conceive need of any to be sent hither, but thought it would be of ill consequence to these parts, and would fill the minds of his peaceable and quiet subjects with new fears and jealousies, and they declare themselves that they would not receive any Forces under the command of any against his Majesty, and the peace of the kingdom, but will resist the same to their powers. And touching the mustering of men within this Borough contrary to his Majesties Command, they conceive the mayor and Aldermen of this Borough have already satisfied his Majesty concerning the same; and the said mayor and Aldermen will endeavour to make good what they have therein already sent to his Majesty.    

To our much Honoured Friends, Sir Thomas Hutchinson Knight, and Robert Sutton Esq; Knights of the Shire for the County of Nottingham.  
Gentlemen.  
FInding, to our great grief( by divers printed Declarations) the unhappy difference btwixt his Majesty and his Parliament, and from thence apprehending great fear of further distractions, we have thought sit to impart our hearts freely unto you as men chosen by us, and entrusted for us, to represent us, and our desires in Your Honourable House of Commons: Where in the first place, upon all occasions, we desire you to tender the acknowledgement of our humble and hearty thanks for those many good laws, which by their Care and wisdom, together with His Majesties Grace and Favour, have been obtained for us, both for the securing us in the point of our property, and also for the freeing us from the unlimited power of Arbitrary government: And herein His majesty: having concurred with you in all rhat Wee could expect or can desire both for our Persons and Estates, and at several times promised to join with his Parliament for the Reforming and Reducing both the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church to the best and purest times since the Reformation; And if this were done, what others would expect wee know not, wee desire no more And now Wee cannot but stand amazed, to see the King, the Lords and Commons agree in all that wee can think necessary for Reformation, and for securing Us hereafter to bee governed according to the good laws of the Land in force, and yet such great Distraction amongst those thr●e Estates. Wee heard long since reports, and saw printed Papers of the great dangers of Papists, and that even in our own ●●●nty, but believe there was no truth nor ground of any s●●h. Wee heard great Rumours of foreign Force from France and ●●●marke; but, thankes be to God, wee see no such danger: And yet under these pretences, there is great preparation of putting us in a posture of Defence, and a great necessity pretended of settling the Miltia: But Wee see more cause to fear the remedy, then the disease; For this posture( as you call it) of Defence doth carry a face of War with it, even amongst ourselves and concerning it we are distracted with contrary commands; the Houses of Parliament command one thing, the King forbids that command; the King commands, and the Houses of Parliament forbids that command, and we are at a stand, and yet wee are ever ready to yield obedience to all the know Laws of the Land: and we have ever been taught, That all those laws made in Parliament, consist of three Estates, the Commons, Lords, and King, and wee think it dangerous to untwist that triple Cord; and wee hold it our greatest privilege. That the King and Lords, whom we have heard sometime joined in counsel, could not make a Law to bind us without our consent in Parliament; and by the same reason, we cannot expect that the Commons, with the Lords, should make a Law or an Ordinance, of the force of a Law, to bind without the King, especially against the King. And as we do no yield any Act of Obedience to the King's Command simply, but as it is warranted by Law, made by His Authority, with the Consent of both Houses; so we shall not conceive ourselves bound to obey one or both Houses without the King, but in such things as are according to the known laws of the Land. When the King by his writ gave us power to choose you, it was to treat De quibusdam arduis, &c. Wee nexe● conceived your only Votes should bee our Law, nor conceived Wee had such a power to confer upon you: And Wee require you not to consent to lay any such command upon us, nor to engage us in any Civill war for the maintenance of such Votes, under colour of ●riviledges against our lawful King, to whom many of us, by the appointment of the Law, have taken the Oath of supremacy, and Alleg●ance to which all of us are bound. And beside we have at the command of both Houses taken the late protestation, wherein wee have vowed to maintain the Doctrine of the Church of England, His Majesties royal Person, Honour, and Estate, the privileges of Parliame●t, and the Liberties of the Subject: and Wee shall endeavour to maintain every part and clause thereof respectively with our lives and fortunes. And we conceive our best directions therein to be the known laws, the maintenance whereof wee account our onely liberty and defence. And we account the surest way to enjoy the benefit of these laws, is to join and comply with his Majesty, under whose protection, next under God, wee can onely hope to enjoy the benefit thereof; especially his Majesty having ever since this Parliament joined in the making of as good laws as ever any King hath done; and made so gracious promises of his future Government according to the laws, and given abundant satisfaction for some unhappy accidents in his past Government, that we conceive great cause to return him cheerful thankfulness for these laws, and to yield a faithful obedience, and to confided in him for the future. This is the clear expression of our hearts; this is that we desire you to consent in for us. And we shall hearty pray, that we might be an example to many others to make the like expressions: And then wee should not doubt but this would bring a right understanding betwixt the King and his people, and take away all fears and jealousies, and settle a firm peace amongst us. We should gladly, with all humility, have petitioned your Honourable House, but still to this purpose. And we understand some Countries have done so, which hath been displeasing unto them, because they contrary to sense; and we, perhaps through ignorance might fall into the same error. Yet wee hope it will not be displeasing unto you, that we give you our sense freely, for you are us, and we hope you will not be unwilling to follow our sense, so far as you conceive it to be the sense of your County whose you are, and for whom you serve. And so we rest your very loving Friends and Country-men.  


John Digby, High sheriff.  
John Byron.  
Richard Parkins.  
William Aploton.  
Robert Pilson.  
George Lascells.  
Matthew Palmer.  
Roger Cooper.  
Isham Parkins.  
jo. Wood.  
G. Hollis.  
Richard Byron.  
jo. Nevile.  
edmond Hastings.  
Edward Andrewes.  
Thomas Blackwall.  
William sands.  
Thomas Longford.  
Iervas Sanford.  
Rich. Harper.  
Gabriel Arme-strong.  
action Burnell.  
Sam. bowls.  
Rowland Pand.  
John Odingsells.  
Anthony Gilby.  
Robert Eyre.  
park Cresly.  
Thomas holder.  
Robert Saunderson.  
John Walker.  
Thomas Fox.  
I. bowls.  
Gri. Dwall.  
William Smyths.  
Nich. Stoyt.  
Tho. Hollwell.  
Rich. Draper.  
Tho. Athinson.  
Lancelot Rolston.  
Tho. Newton.  
William Wild.  
Rerbert Leek.  
Tho. brown.  
William Smyths●n.  
jo. Gosling.  
William Oglethorpe.  
Geo. Lascells.  
John day.  
Geo. Milford.  
William Needham.  
Rich. borough.  
John Butterworth.  
Tho. pool.  
John Lee.  
jo. Worsdale.  
William Shipman.  
Charles Leek.  
William Apsley.  
Francis Cavindish.  
Charles North.  
Matthew Palmer.  
Rich. Holliwell.  
Roger jackson.  
John soldier-like.  
Rich. Simman.  
Stephen broom.  
William Colby.  
John Newport.  
Hen. Caldecott.  
Edw. Holland.  
Hen. broom.  
William Hacker.  
james Forbeny.  
job Holden.  
Rich. Boyer.  
William Poclington.  
Hen. Green.  
Walter Garrington.  
John Grundy.  
G. Flower.    
FINIS.