IN our last Letter we gave you an Accompt of our first and se∣cond waiting on the King, we writ to you then, that his Majesty commanded us to attend him yesterday being Thursday, to heare what he said to the Gentlemen, Which a little before the meeting, he seconded by a particular Message. Being come thither, his Majesty caused the severall Messages be∣tween him, and the Parliament, mentioned in this enclosed prin∣ted Paper to be read.

This was done with much humming, and applause of the Kings Messages by some persons who had placed themselues neere about where the King stood. But when any thing from the Parliament came to be read, with so much hissing, and reviling rhe Parliament, that though in respect, and duty to the Kings Person, wc could not present it, as otherwise we should have done, yet have since expo∣stulated, and complained of it to his Majesty. Some were so bold as to say openly, That the Parliament men should set their Houses in order, for many of them should shortly have their heads off; One of which (as since we are credibly informed) was one Hurst, a servant to one Master William Crofts. In this which was said by the King, you will see what reason we had to vindicate our selves, and therefore we immediatly repayred to the Deanes house with all the other Gentlemen, and there we tooke notice of the rough u∣sage we had received; We told them that it was neither indifere∣tion nor disobedience in us (as his Majesty was pleased to call it) to deliver the Parliaments Message, or to stay here though com∣manded to the contrary since we conceived no man needed to be satisfied in so cleare a case as this; That every Member of each House ought to obey their Commands, when they were pleased to employ them. But since his Majesty thought fit to bid them, take heed of us, not knowing what doctrine of disobedience we might preach to them under colour of obeying the Parliament, we appealed to every man whether we had in word or deed, in pub∣lick or in private done any thing that became not hon•st m•n and Page  [unnumbered] person imployed from the Parliament. That wee had communi∣cated our instructions to his Majesty, being that we would avow all our Actions, and that we were confident it would not be said, wee had transgressed them. This was very well taken and iusti∣fied by the Country. Yesterday there came divers thousands of Freeholders to this Citie, though none but the Gentry were sum∣mon'd, but receiving a command from the King not to come to the Court, they forbore, and stayed in the Castle Yard, yet sent this petition enclosed to his Maiesty, and received the Answer an∣nexed thereunto. There was likewise a Committee of twelve Gentlemen appoynted yesternight to consider of drawing up an Answer to the Kings proposition concerning a Guard▪ but no∣thing cou•d be done, b•cause it was past three 〈◊〉 clocke before the Gentlemen were admitted to the King. This morning the Free∣holders assembled againe in the Castle yard, and there they made this Protestation enclosed, of their right of Voting in what con∣cerneth the Peace of the Country, as having their interest ther••n.

When we all met this morning againe at the Deanes house, we who are your Committees received this Message by Sir Edward Stanhop, that he came from his Maiesty, to command us, that we should depart from this meeting, and if we did stay, his Maiesty would iudge us guilty of that he spake on yesterday, which was tampering. Notwithstanding which command▪ We read the fourth Article of our instructions to the whole Company, that being pertinent to the businesse we were then upon, and desired them to consider, whether the Parliament had not expressed there∣in such a care of the Kings safety, that there would be little need of Guards: We told them that we had good right of being there as Freeholders of the County, but that in obedience to the King wee would depart for this time: But whensoever thete should be occasion of our being there in pursuance of our Instructions and Commands from the Parliament, we should be ready. The whole company received great satisfaction, and desired a Coppy of that instruction, which we gave them. Wee were the more willing at that time to goe from thence, because we should not onely give obedience to the Kings command, which otherwise he would have said, we constantly disobeyed, but because the Committe of Page  [unnumbered] twelve appointed yesternight were then to withdraw, so that there was nothing for the present for us to doe; We immediately went to the King, and besought him that since we were continual∣ly so discountenanced by him, in the face of our Country, that he would be pleased to let us know in particular wherein we had gi∣ven the occasion, for we otherwise conceived we were deprived of that Liberty, which was our due in respect of that interest wee had here. His Maiesty was pleased to tell us, that if we would lay aside that condition of Committees from the Parliament, he would not hinder us to be there as Gentlemen of the Country; We humbly replyed, that we could not lay that downe, nor could we be absent from any meeting where our presence was required, for the service as Committees from the Parliament: to which his Maiesty said, that indeed he thought we could not lay it down-neither that it was reasonable we should have Votes, and bee in a double capacity. The Committee hath beene together most part of this day, but not agreeing: Six of them have drawne up this Answer enclosed, which they have communicated to the Gentle∣men, and Freeholders. The greater part of the Gentlemen, and all the Freeholders have agreed too, and subscribed it. The other sixe have concluded upon this other Answer, consenting to a guard of Horse, but this wee doe not heare that they have gotten many names too, nor can we get a Copie of those names as yet, thovgh these be very few, yet whether they can bring in any Horse or no we cannot yet Iudge.

The King have received both these resolutions, which with his an∣swers to them, you shall likewise have here inclosed. His Majesty had declared himselfe yesterday▪ that hee would raise that Regi∣ment, which was Sir Robert Stricklands for his foot Guard, but he hath now laid aside that Resolution. The Freeholders of the County are now newly summoned to attend his Majesty about a weeke hence the three Rydings upon three severall dayes, but for what service wee doe not know.

Sir, you have here a large Narrative of the passages at this meeting; what dangers this poore Counttey lyes under, wee humbly referre it to you to judge, not taking upon us to deliver Page  [unnumbered] any opinion. The businesse lasted so long, that it hindered us from giving a more speedy accompt. Sir, This is what at this time is sent from