Five speciall passages viz. two petitions of the covntie of Yorke. The one presented to the Kings most excellent Majestie at York the third of Iune, 1642. The other, to the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled. With the additionals thereunto annexed. Die Lunæ Jun. 6. 1642. Ordered by the Lords assembled in Parliament, that these petitions, together with the additions, be forthwith printed and published. John Brown, Cler.Parliamentor. The petition of the Kingdom of Scotland, to the Lords of His Majesties most honourable Privie Councell of that Kingdome. Also His Majesties letter to the Lords of his Privie Counsell of the Kingdome of Scotland. And a letter from Sir Io. Bourchier to Sir Thomas Barrington Knight and baronet.

To the Kings most Excellent Maiesty.

The humble Petition of the Gentry, Ministers, Free-holders, and other Inhabitants of the County of York, Assembled by his Majesties speciall Summons at Heworth Moore; neere the City of York, on Fridy the third of Iune, 1642.

Sheweth,

THat this particular County, most affectionate to your Majesties service, hath well night for these three yeers last past been the Stage, whereon the Tragi∣call miseries, which necessarily accompany Warre and Armies, have beene presented and acted, whereby the generall wealth and plenty of this County is exhausted and brought very low: Which waight of miseries are sensibly become much more heavy, by reason of your Majesties distance in residence, and difference in Counsells, from your great Councell the Parliament; begetting great distempers and distractions throughout the Kingdome; and have, specially amongst us, produced facti∣ons and divisions, drawing into these parts great numbers of discontented persons, that may too justly be feared doe affect the publike ruine, for their private advantage. All which evils are daily fomented, and made more formidable, by your Majesties drawing together (as wee conceive not according to Law) many Companies of the Trained Bands, and o∣thers both Horse and Foot of this County, and retaining multitudes of Commanders and Cavaleers from other parts, and by the daily resort of Recusants, and persons disaffected in Religion, to your Majesties Court at York; and by the great preparation of Armes, and o∣ther warlike provisions, which begets in us feares of Warrs, to the great terrour and amaze∣ment of us your Majesties peaceable Subjects, and to the great decay of all Commerce and industrious courses, for the wealth and prosperity of the Country, especially of Clothing, which is the maine subsistence of this County, and is since your Majesties residence amongst us, and the following distractions thereupon, suddenly obstructed; insomuch that many thousand Families, who are of, and have their livelihood by the Trade of Clothing, are now at the point of utter undoing; which inevitably will prove to be of dangerous consequence, and will be the in-let to our approaching and unavoidable ruine, unlesse your Majesty please graciously to give redresse, by removing the causes which produce these miserable ef∣fects; it being too true, that very many in these and other parts of the Kingdome, doe wholly withdraw themselves from their former Commerce and Dealing; and others, both Mer∣chants and Chapmen, doe generally refuse to make payment for Goods long since sold and delivered; alledging, that others refuse to pay them for any Commodity formerly sold, till the fears and distractions of the Land be settled: Which if not suddenly prevented, will fortwith over-turn all such wayes of advantage and comfort as have formerly made this Kingdome (and this County in particular) prosperous and happy.

We doe therefore in all humility and duty, in the sence of our present deplorable condi∣tion, beseech your Majesty to pardon Vs, if We importune Your Majesty more than others, since We have endured, and are in hazard more than any; and that from these apprehensi∣ons, We may offer to Your Majesty our earnest Petition, for redresse and prevention of these evils daily threatning danger to Your Majesty, and destruction to us; which we con∣ceive is impossible any other way to be effected, than by Your Majesties entertaining a right understanding betwixt Your Selfe and Parliament, and affording Your Gracious eare and consent to such counsels and Propositions, as shall be tendered by them to Your Majesty, for

the honour and greatnesse of Your Majesty and Posterity, and the good of this Church and Kingdome, and by Your Majesties declining all other Counsels whatsoever, and uniting Your confidence to Your Parliament: And that Your Majesty would in no way think fit to put us upon that Rock of dividing the duty we owe to Your Majesty, Your Parliament, and the whole Kingdome, to which we are so deeply engaged by our Protestation, which Your Maiesty (to our knowledge) never dissented from, nor declared against; and that whilst Your Maiesty expects our performance in one part thereof, we may not (being equally engaged) impeach at all, or in the least degree doe lesse than our duty in the other, which (we stand resolved of) by no meanes either of feare or favour to bee drawn to doe: and that Your Maiesty would take into consideration, that Your Parliament being the su∣preame Judicatory of Your Kingdom, the very essence thereof must of very necessity bee destroyed, if their Counsels and determinations be subiected to alteration, or reversall, by the Counsels or opinions of any private persons, how learned or iudicious so ever; and seeing your Maiesty hath passed an Act, that this Parliament shall not be dissolved, or ad∣journed, without consent of your Majesty, and both Houses, Wee humbly beseech your Majesty to take into your gracious and provident thoughts, that nothing may be done ten∣ding thereunto, and that the Lords and great Officers now called hither by your Majesties command, may speedily return to the High Court of Parliament, whereby it may be evident to the World, that your Majesty intends not to decline the Law so enacted; and that since your Majesty hath graciously declared your confidence in the affections of this County, Your Majesty would not think it fit an extraordinary Guard should be raised thereour, and the Cavaleers, and others of that quality still continued about your Majesty, as men most usefull, and as if kept for some d••signe; they not having (for ought we know) either in∣terest in, or affections to the publike good, their language and behaviour speaking no∣thing else but division and warre, and their advantage consisting in that which is most de∣structive to others.

And lastly, that since your Majesty hath called in this County to attend your Majesty this day, your Petitioners do most humbly supplicate, that none, either Cavaliers or others, (who in truth have not present fortunes in this County) may be admitted into any meeting this day, concerning the publike businesse thereof, or hereafter into any present Vote, or Con∣sultation, when any further meeting may be, to prepare and consider of some fit answer to what your Majesty shall propound; we humbly conceiving it neither just nor equall (but a thing to be protested against) that any whosoever should be thrust upon us, as men of this County, that are not either by their fortune or residence, any part of us.

And now your Petitioners doe even heartily pray, that the God of Heaven (in whose hand are the hearts of Kings) would this day incline your Majesties heart seriously to con∣sider these present and imminent miseries that this your Kingdome now groanes under; in the peace whereof (visibly under God) consists the preservation of the Protestant Religion, the redemption of our Brethren in Ireland, and the establishment of that Kingdom to your Majesty and Posterity, from those desperate and unparaleld Rebels; that so your Majesty might graciously grant these your Petitioners humble desires; which (whatsoever will be said to the contrary) your Petitioners are well assured would abundantly redound to the glory of God, the honour and safety of your Majesty, the good of your Posterity, and the only probable meanes, under God, with peace and plenty to make this your Kingdome happy; besides the acquisition of your peoples hearts, the greatest treasure of Princes: all which will gloriously represent your Majesty a lively portraiture of him, who is the foun∣taine of Wisedome and Piety: To whom we shall ever pray for your Majesties long and prosperous Reigne.