we doe humbly beseech your Maiestie to be truely informed from vs, that although we haue beene very desirous in our duetie to your Maiestie, who called vs to this seruice, and to our Countrey for whom we serue, to haue some good Lawes now to haue beene paßed; and that there might haue beene a Seßion before Christmaße, to which your Maiestie vpon our humble Petition, was heretofore Graciously pleased to giue way: yet entring now into a serious consideration of the nature of those things, which must of neceßitie be prepared for the finishing of a Seßion, and the strait of time whereunto we are driuen, by some vnhappy diuersions which haue fallen vpon vs, to our great griefe, wee are enforced once againe to fly to your Maiesties Grace and fauour, humbly submitting our selues to your Royall wisedome, what time will be fittest for our departure, and for our reacceße, to perfect those beginnings which are in preparation with vs; which time by Gods grace we resolue to spend with that diligence and care, as shall giue good satisfaction to your Maiestie, to our Countrey, and to our owne consciences, that we shall make good vse thereof.

THis Wee accepted graciously, and returned them an answere by their owne Messengers in these words.

THAT We were sorrie this could not bee made a Seßion, according to their owne desire expressed in their late Petition preferred vnto Vs, to which Wee had most willingly aßented; that they knew there was no fault in Vs, who obseruing the needleße impediments, vpon which they tooke occasion to stay their proceedings, had often admonished them, not to lose time; first, by Secretary Caluert, and afterwards by three Sundry Letters and Answers. But since they conceiued the straitnesse of time (which they had drawne vpon themselues) was such, that it would permit nothing to bee done at this time, Wee had giuen order to adiourne the Parliament till the eighth of February next, which was the first day Wee had formerly appointed for Our meeting together.

Wee were likewise pleased to say, that Wee could not omit to tell them, that we expected other thankes from them, then they had sent Vs at this time, namely for Our gracious promises to maintaine their Priuiledges, as Our owne Soueraigne Prerogatiue: First contained in Our Answere to their Petition, and afterwards as clearely explaned and enlarged by Our next Letter to Secretarie Caluert, as Our wits, for their safetie, satisfaction and aduantage, could poßibly deuise; but of this We heard nothing, being slipt by, and wholly omitted by them.

WHich message was accordingly deliuered the next morning in the House of Commons. But while We were busied at Theobalds in receiuing their Petition, and returning this answere agreeable to Our Grace and good intention towards them, these mutinous and discontented spirits, neuer giuing ouer their wicked purpose, began anew to stirre the coles of discontentment amongst them; and making them beleeue, that their Priuiledges were yet in danger (upon what ground God knowes, Wee cannot imagine nor guesse) procured a Committee to be made for taking their Liberties into consideration; where a Protection was made, to whom Wee know not, concerning their Priuiledges, which they pretended to bee violated by Our Letters and messages, and thereupon in an vnseasonable houre, being sixe of the clocke at night, and a very thinne House, scarcely comming to the third part of the full number, contrary to their owne custome in all matters of weight, they conclude and enter a Protestation for their Liberties, in such ambiguous and generall words, as might serue for future times to inuade most of those Rights and Prerogatiues annexed to Our Imperiall Crowne, as bee the very markes and Characters of Monarchie and Souereigntie, and whereof Wee found Our Crowne vndoubtedly possessed. For founding the claime of their Priuiledges vpon the words of Our Writt for assembling a Parliament, the contriuers of that Protestation craftily mentioned some words, viz. Super arduis Regni negotijs, but of purpose left out quibusdam, which restraines that generalitie to such particular Cases, as Wee are to consult with them vpon. And the very vncontrolled Custome of all times doeth manifestly prooue, that the King Himselfe, or His Chancellour in his name, doeth at the very beginning of the Parliament declare vnto them what things these quibusdam are, wherein hee craueth their aduice and assistance; And vse is euer the best interpreter of words in a case of this nature: Vpon which vnduetifull Protestation Wee were iustly occasioned to publish Our pleasure for dissolution of the Parliament, as appeares by Our Proclamation.

Imprinted at London by     Bonham
Norton     and     Iohn Bill,
Printers to the Kings most
Excellent Maiestie.
M.DC.XXI.