The humble petition of divers noblemen and gentlemen, estated in Ireland, and now at London, presented to His Maiestie at York together with His Majesties answer thereunto, March 28, 1642.

TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE.

The humble Petition of divers Noblemen and Gentlemen, estated in Ireland, now at London,

Humbly sheweth,

THat most of Your Petitio∣ners, and many thousands of Your Majesties most faithfull Subjects, and late Inhabitants of Your King∣dom of Ireland, being robbed and spoiled of all their substance (and thereby many of them reduced to a most miserable con∣dition, who formerly faithfully served your Majestie) are now enforced to flie into this Kingdom, by occasion of the unexampled bloody and inhumane Cru∣elties of the Rebels of that Kingdom, who

through the instigation of popish Priests, Fryers, and Iesuits, and other malignant persons, have risen in Armes in that King∣dom, against your Majesties Crown and Dignity, and destroyed or banished al∣most all your Majesties loyall and dutifull Subjects, the Protestants there, for no other cause, but for that they do not wor∣ship God after their idolatrous and super∣stitious manner; which is manifest by their publique Declarations, Speeches, Oaths, and Confederacies (albeit some few other fond Pretences are added to glosse their most barbarous actions) That these four moneths past, the expectation of power∣full Supplies, Treasure, and Amunicion from England and Scotland, hath support∣ed the drooping and languishing Spirits of your Petitioners, and others, the Prote∣stants interressed in that Kingdom; who finding but small Succours hitherto sent thither, notwithstanding the severall Or∣ders of both Houses of Parliament, do now, with unspeakable grief of heart, ap∣prehend nothing but despair of ever being restored to their habitations, if your Ma∣jestie

be not graciously pleased to give Life and Power to the painfull endevours of both Hou∣ses of Parliament; the prosecution of that War necessarily requiring a great sum of Money to be presently raised. And in all humility, the Petitioners conceive the Act lately passed by Your Maiesties Royall Grace and Goodnesse (upon the Propositions made by those who shall adventure their Moneys) to be the onely way left for raising present Money for that work: And they finde that the removall of your Sacred Maiestie to places so remote and distant from the Parliament, doth much discourage the Adventurers in advancing Money for ef∣fectuall proceeding in the work, & consequent∣ly will be a means unavoidably to retard the long expected Supplies, contrary to your Ma∣iesties Royall Intentions often expressed, and will much encourage the Rebels and their Ad∣herents in that Kingdom; and may, in the opi∣nion of some, as they fear, gain a beleef of those false reports which divers of the Rebels have taken the boldnesse to raise, even very lately, since the publishing of your Maiesties Proclamation for suppressing the Rebels, That they are your Majesties Souldiers, and that the

Supplies that arived there, were but the Parlia∣ment Supplies. And your Petitioners further humbly shew, That if strong Forces be not pre∣sently raised and transported thither (the season of the yeer now serving) the Brittish and Prote∣stants in that Kingdom cannot long subsist, but will be extirpated, and Papists, and the idola∣trous Masse thereby established; which is alrea∣dy publikely used in most of the Churches of that Kingdom.

May it therefore please Your most Sacred Majestie to reflect upon the desperate and mise∣rable Condition of that poor Kingdom, and weighing the Premises, and other the Conse∣quences of delaying the effectuall setting for∣ward of the War against the Rebels in Ireland, of Your Princely Goodnesse and Wisdom to vouchsafe Your Majesties Presence unto Your Parliament, for the encouragement of the Ad∣venturers and all other Your Maiesties good Sub∣iects in this pious work, for the Discourage∣ment of the Rebels, and for expediting such further Acts, Commissions, or Warrants to issue, as shall be requisite for the preservation of the remnant of your good Subjects, the Prote∣stants yet left in Ireland, or driven for the present thereout. And your Suppliants will pray, &c.

At the Court at York. 28. Martii, 1642.

His Majestie hath given me expresse Command to give you this His An∣swer to your Petition.

THat this Petition (as some others of this nature) is grounded upon mis-in∣formation, and (being grieved and highly offend∣ed to see how His good People have been, and are abused by false Rumors and Intel∣ligences, which have procured causelesse Fears and Apprehensions) refers the Peti∣tioners to the two Answers He hath given to His Parliament, viz. To the Declarati∣on presented to Him at New-Market, and to the Petition presented to Him the six and twentieth of this moneth at York:

wherein you will cleerly perceive, That His Maiestie is not gone, but driven from His Parliament: And therefore His Maiestie hath reason to think, that now (understanding the love He bears to, and Confidence He hath of, His Peoples Fi∣delity; As likewise His constant Resoluti∣on for the maintaining of, and governing by the Laws of the Land) you may finde reason to petition the Parliament to com∣ply with His Maiesties iust Desires, and gracious Offers; this being the onely Way, safely and speedily to cure the pre∣sent Distractions of this Kingdom, and (with Gods blessing) to put a happy end to the Irish Rebellion for the effecting whereof (as His Maiestie hath often said) He will neither spare pains, nor decline any hazard of His Person or Fortune.

Signed by Master Secretary Nicholas.

FINIS.