THis Answere being giuen at Newmarket, on Tuesday, the eighth of December, and returned to the house on Friday, the fourteenth of December, some carping wits that were more inclinable to peruert and wrest Our words vnto a sence contrary to our meaning, then to doe any good office betweene Vs and Our people, began to take exception at some words concerning their priuiledges toward the end of Our sayd Answere, that thereby their Priuiledges were denied and infringed; And by their example others of more moderate and better temper were drawen into some doubts and iealousies, which occasioned much discontentment in the House, which comming to Our eares, and being willing to omit nothing on Our part, that might aßure the Commons that Wee meant nothing lesse then to violate their Priuiledges, for explanation of Our true intent in the former, We wrote Our Letters directed to Our Secretary, which followe in these words.
RIght trusty and Welbeloued Councellour, Wee greet you well. Wee are sorrie to heare, that, notwithstanding Our reiterated Meßages to Our House of Commons, for going on in their businesses in regard of the shortneße of time, betwixt this and Christmas, and of their owne earnest desire, that Wee should now conclude a Seßion, by making of good and profitable Lawes, they continue to loose time; And now of late, vpon Our gracious Answer sent vnto them, haue taken occasion to make more delay, in appointing a Committee to morrow, to consider vpon the points of Our Answer; and especially concerning that point in it which maketh mention of their priuiledges. Our pleasure therefore is, that you shall in Our name tell them, that We are so loath to haue time mis-spent, which is so pretious a thing, in the well vsing whereof Our people may receiue so great a benefit, as We are thus farre contented to discend from Our Royall dignity, by explaining at this time Our meaning in Our sayd Answer, touching that point, That all Our good Subiects in that House, that intend nothing but Our Honour, and the weale of the Common-wealth, may cleerely see Our intention. Whereas in Our sayd Answere We told them, that Wee could not allow of the stile, calling it their ancient and vndoubted right and inheritance; but could rather haue wished, that they had sayd their priuiledges were deriued from the grace and permißion of Our Ancestors and Vs: (for most of them grow from presidents, which shewes rather a toleration then inheritance) the plaine truth is, That Wee cannot with patience endure Our Subiects to vse such Antimonarchicall words to Vs concerning their Liberties, except they had subioyned, that they were granted vnto them by the grace and fauour of Our Predecessours. But as for Our intention herein, God knowes Wee neuer meant to deny them any lawfull Priuiledges that euer that House enioyed in Our Predecessours times, as We expected Our said Answere should haue sufficiently cleered them; neither in Justice what euer they haue vndoubted right vnto; nor in Grace what euer Our Predeceßours or We haue graciously permitted vnto them: And therefore We made that distinction of the most part; For whatsoeuer Priuiledges or Liberties they enioy by any Law or Statute, shall be euer inuiolably preserued by Vs; And Wee hope Our Posteritie will imitate Our footsteps therein. And whatsoeuer Priuiledges they enioy by long Custome, and vncontrolled and lawfull Presidents, Wee will likewise be as carefull to preserue them, and transmit the care thereof to Our Posteritie; neither was it any way in Our minde to thinke of any particular point wherein Wee meant to disallow of their Liberties. So as in Iustice We confesse Our selues to be bound to maintaine them in their rights; and in Grace We are rather minded to encrease, then infringe any of them, if they shall so deserue at Our hands. To end therefore as Wee began, let them goe on cheerefully in their businesses, reiecting the curious wrangling of Lawyers vpon words and syllables; otherwise (which God forbid) the world shall see how often and how earnestly Wee haue pressed them to goe on, according to their calling, with those things that are fit to be done for the weale of Our Crowne and Kingdome; And how many curious shifts haue beene from time to time maliciously found out, to frustrate Vs of Our good purpose, and hinder them from the performance of that Seruice, which they ought to Vs and to Our whole Kingdome; whereof when the Countrey shall come to be truely enformed, they will giue the Authours thereof little thankes.
Giuen at Our Court at Royston, the sixteenth day of December, 1621.
To Our right trustie and welbeloued Councellor, Sir George Caluert, Knight, one of Our principall Secretaries.