WHich Letters being publikely read in the House, they were so farre either from reforming their intended Petition, which conteined those points by Vs forbidden, or yet from going on cheerefully in propounding of good Lawes, for which they were called, and to which purpose Wee granted them in the end of Our said Letter to the Speaker, to make it a Session before Christmas, whereof Wee vnderstood them to bee very desirous, that they resolued to send the same vnto vs together with another Petition iustifying the former, notwithstanding Our forbidding them in Our said Letter to send the former Petition vnto Vs, as also sate euer silent thereafter, till they were dissolued, as shall hereafter more largely be expressed.
Those petitions being sent from the Commons by a select number of that House vnto Vs then being at Newmarket for Our health, the House forbare to proceed in any businesse of importance, purposing, as was apparently discerned, and as the euent prooued, so to continue vntill the returne of their Messengers with Our Answere, which wee vnderstanding, and being desirous to haue the time better husbanded, as was fit (the shortnesse thereof, by reason of the approach of Christmas being respected) required Our Secretarie to deliuer a Message vnto them for this purpose, which he did, first by word of mouth, and after by appointment of the House set it downe in writing in these words, viz.
HIs Majestie, remembring that this House was desirous to haue a Seßion betweene this and Christmasse, whereupon it pleased Him to signifie vnto vs, that wee should haue contentment therein, and that there should be a Seßion, if wee our selues were not in fault, taking now notice that the House forbeares to proceede with any Billes vntill the returne of the Messengers, lately sent vnto his Majestie, hath enioyned mee to commaund the House in his Name not to lose time in their proceeding for preparing of good Lawes in the meane while, in consideration of this so neere approach of Christmaße; And that his Majestie hopes they will not take vpon them to make a Recesse in effect, though not in shew without his warrant.
BVt this Message being deliuered, was so farre from working that good effect, which Wee did most iustly expect, that contrariwise some captious and curious heads tooke exception thereat, as tending to the breach of their Priuiledges, by commanding them to proceede with Bills, though We thereby, neither designed any particular Billes for them to proceed with, nor yet forbade any other Parliamentary proceedings; And with those, and such other vndutifull straines of wit, they spunne out the time vntill the returne of their Messengers, who being come to Newmarket, presented both the Petitions vnto vs, who well knowing before hand the effect of the former, and then obseruing the contents of the latter, and finding, that from both did reflect vpon Our Person and gouernment sundry causelesse aspersions, and that thereby Our Royall Prerogatiues were inuaded and assailed, after an admonition to beware of medling therewith, Wee returned vnto them Our Answere in writing, as followeth.
HIS MAJESTIES ANSWERE