At the Court at Oxford, the 24. day of Decem. 1642. His MAIESTY hath graciously considered this Petition, and hath commanded me to returne this His Answer.

THat He fully concurres with the Petitioners in their sense of the present distractions and Calamities of this Kingdome, the pre∣vention whereof His Majesty hath so much laboured, that well fore-seeing the Miseries of a Civill-warre, Himselfe (notwithstan∣ding so many provocations, well known to the Petitioners, and to all the world) forbore to raise an Army for his defence, till he was almost swallowod up by a desperate and unnaturall Rebellion, what he hath done since, towards the removing those horrid pre∣parations, and dissolving the Clouds of Iealousies and discontent, by his severall Messages, to invite and desire a Treaty, and how those Mes∣sages have been entertained, is well and generally known too. And if the care of others had been as great in the observation and execution of the Lawes, as his Majesty hath been to make such Lawes▪ The Peace and security of the Kingdom had not been now disturbed, neither would it have been in the Power of a few furious Persons to have raised this misunderstanding between his great Councell and his Maiesty. And therefore the Petitioners shall doe well (not being deterred by the reception other Petitions have found) to apply themselves to both Houses of Parliament, for composing the present Distempers; and if they can prevaile with them, to make such Propositions to his Majesty, as he may with Honour and Iustice consent to, That is, such Propositions as may tend to the establishment of the true Protestant Religion, the Lawes of the Land, His Majesties just rights, the Liberty and Property of the Subject, and the just Priviledges of Parliament, if his Majesty consent not to them, he is contented to be thought a Promoter of this present war. But if no such Propositions shall be made to him, (all his desires that such should be made, having been rejected) He hopes the Petitioners, and all the world will be easily disabused, and will not suffer them, who have raised, and doe foment this Odious Civill-warre, to lay the Envy, and impute the miseries of this Warre upon His Majesty, whose heart bleeds at the sufferings of his People.