The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

The King's Answer to the Petiti∣on.

MY Lords and Gentlemen, The chief Motive of your Petition, being the deplorable condition of the Reformed Churches abroad, is too true: And our duty is, so much as in us lieth, to give them all possible help; but certainly, fighting will do them more good than fasting; though I do not wholly disallow of the latter: yet I must tell you, that the custom of fasting every Session, is but lately begun, and I confess, I am not fully satisfied with the necessity of it at this time.

Yet to shew you how smoothly I desire your business to go on, (eschewing, as much as I can, Questions or Jealousies) I do willingly grant your request herein; but with this Note, That this shall not hereafter be brought into president for frequent Fasts, except upon great occasions; and for form and time, I will advise with my Lords the Bishops, and then send you a parti∣cular Answer.

After that the Commons make the address fol∣lowing to his Majesty concerning their preferring the matter of Religion, so call'd, to the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage.

MOst gracious Sovereign, We have within these three daies received from your Majesty a Message, putting us in mind of our present entring upon the conside∣ration of a Grant of Tunnage and Poun∣dage; but the manner of possessing the House therewith being disagreeable to our Order and Priviledges, that we could not proceed therein; and finding our selves, in your Majesties Name, pressed in that business, and that we should give precedency thereun∣to, we cannot but express some sense of sor∣row, fearing that the most hearty and for∣ward affections, wherewith we desire to serve your Majesty, are not clearly represented unto you; besides, such is the solicitous care we have in presenting our selves in your Majesties most gracious and good opinion, that it cannot but breed much trouble in us, when ever we find our selves (as now we are enforced) to spend that time in making our humble Apologies (from whence do usu∣ally arise long Debates) which we conceive might very profitably be applied in the grea∣ter Services of your Majesty and the Com∣mon-wealth, which we did, with all humble diligence, apply our selves unto; and find∣ing

the extreme dangers wherewith our Re∣ligion is threatned (clearly presenting it unto our thoughts and considerations) we thought, and we think we cannot without impiety to God, dissoyalty to your Majesty, (and un∣thankfulness to those from whom we are put in trust) retard our proceedings until some∣thing be done to secure us in this main point, which we prefer above our lives, and all earthly things whatsoever. And here we do with all humble thankfulness acknowledge your Majesties most pious care, and Prince∣ly intentions, to suppress both Popery and Arminianism; the Professor of the one being an open enemy to the maintainer of the other, a subtile & more dangerous underminer of the Religion of Almighty God, established with∣in your Realms & Dominions: The truth of which our whole Religion, or any part thereof (as being sufficiently known, & received gene∣rally here of all the Members of our Church, except only of some Schismatical persons, who have, of late years, taken the boldness to broach their contrary corrupt opinions) we desire should not be called in question, or doubt; but howsoever it hath pleased your Majesty, to our exceeding great comfort, by many testimonies to declare your own con∣stant resolution to maintain the said Religi∣on, yet we see how your gracious purposes are therein crost, and into what a miserable condition your whole Kingdom is likely, by that means, to be reduced; we shall earnest∣ly endeavour (as that which doth nearly con∣cern us) the safety and prosperity of your Majesty, and People, which are in such sort disordered, that ruin thereby threatned to both, may, by God's blessing, be prevented; being most heartily sorry that these occasions are offered, which did thus hinder our pro∣ceedings: And therefore as well for the digni∣ty and necessity of the matter, as for that we conceive it to be the most speedy and effectual way, by uniting of all our hearts and endea∣vours to dispatch all other business of impor∣tance, particularly those which may seem more immediately to respect your Majesties profit, we pray, that our resolutions of pre∣ferring this business before all others, may be acceptable to your Majesty, to whom, both in the matter & manner of our proceed∣ings, we desire to give all possible satisfacti∣on.

Notes

• His Maje∣sties An∣swer.
• The Com∣mons De∣claration to the King, to give pre∣cedency to Religion.