THE Lords and Commons holding it neceſſary for the peace and ſafety of this Kingdome▪ to ſettle the Militia thereof, did for that purpoſe prepare an Ordinance of Parliament, and with all humility did preſent the ſame to His Majeſtie for His Royall aſſent, Who notwithſtanding the faithfull advice of His Parliament, and the ſeverall reaſons offered by them of the neceſſity thereof, for the ſecuring of His Majeſties Perſon, and the peace and ſafety of his people, did refuſe to give his conſent, and thereupon they were neceſſitated, in diſcharge of the truſt repoſed in them as the repreſentative body of the Kingdome, to make an Ordinance by Authority of both Houſes, to ſettle the Militia, warranted therunto by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land: his Majeſty taking notice thereof, did by ſeverall Meſſages invite them to ſettle the ſame by Act of Parliament, affirming in His Majeſties Meſſage ſent in Anſwer to the Petition of both Houſes preſented to His Majeſty at Yorke, March 26. That he alwaies thought it neceſſary the ſame ſhould be ſetled, and that he never denyed the thing, only denyed the way; and for the matter of it, took exceptions only to the Preface, as a thing not ſtanding with His honour to conſent to, and that Himſelfe was excluded in the execution, and for a time unlimited: Whereupon the Lords and Commons being deſirous to give His Majeſtie all ſatisfaction that might be, even to the leaſt tittle of forme, and circumſtance; and when His Majeſty was pleaſed to offer them a Bill ready drawne, did for no other cauſe then to manifeſt their hearty affection to comply with His Majeſties deſires and obtaine his conſent, entertaine the ſame; and in the meane time no way declining their Ordinance, and to expreſſe their earneſt zeale to correſpond with His Majeſties deſire (in all things that might conſiſt with the peace and ſafety of the Kingdome, and the truſt repoſed in them) did paſſe that Bill, and therein omitted the preamble inſerted before the Ordinance, limitted the time to leſſe then two yeeres, and confined the authority of the Lievtenants to theſe three particulars, namely Rebellion, Inſurrection, and forraigne Invaſion, and returned the ſame to his Majeſty for His royall aſſent. But all theſe expreſſions of affection and loyalty, all thoſe deſires and earneſt endeavours to comply with His Majeſty, hath (to their great griefe and ſorrow) produced no better effect then an abſolute denyall, even of that which His Majeſty by His former Meſſages, as we conceive, had Promiſed; the advice of evill and wicked Counſels, receiving ſtill more credit with Him, then that of His great Counſell of Parliament, in a matter of ſo high importance, that the ſafety of His Kingdome, and the peace of his people depends upon it. But now what muſt be the exceptions to this Bill? not any ſure, that was to the Ordinance; for a care was taken to give ſatisfaction in all theſe particulars. Then the exception was becauſe that the diſpoſing and execution thereof was referred to both Houſes of Parliament, and His Majeſty excluded: and now that by the Bill, the Power and execution is aſſertained, and reduced to particulars, and the Law of the Realme made the Rule thereof, His Majeſtie will not truſt the Perſons. The power is too great, too unlimited to truſt them with. But what is that power? Is it any other, but in expreſſe termes to ſuppreſſe Rebellion, Inſurrection, and forraigne invaſion? And who are thoſe Perſons? are they not ſuch as were nominated by the great Counſel of the Kingdome, and aſſented to by his Majeſty. And is it too great a power to truſt thoſe perſons with the ſuppreſſion of Rebellion, Inſurrection, and forraigne Invaſion? ſurely the moſt wicked of them that adviſed his Majeſty to this Anſwer cannot ſuggeſt, but that it is neceſſary for the ſafety of his Majeſties Royall Perſon and the peace of the Kingdome, ſuch a power ſhould bee put in ſome hands. And there is no pretence of exception to the perſons. His Majeſty for the ſpace of above fifteene yeares together, thought not a power farre exceeding this to be too great to intruſt particular perſons with, to whoſe will the Lives and Liberties of his people by Martiall Lawes were made ſubject, for ſuch was the power given to Lord Lievtenants, and Deputie Lievtenants in every Countie of this Kingdome, and that without the conſent of his people, or authority of Law. But now in caſe of extreame neceſſity, upon the advice of both Houſes of Parliament for no longer ſpace then two yeares, a leſſer power, and that for the ſafety of King and people, is thought too great to truſt particular perſons with, though named by both Houſes of Parliament, and approved of by his Majeſtie himſelfe. And ſurely if there bee a neceſſity to ſettle the Militia (which his Majeſty was pleaſed to confeſſe) the perſons cannot bee intruſted with leſſe power then this to have it all effectuall. And the Preſidents of former Ages when there hapened a neceſſity to raiſ ſuch a power, never ſtraitned that power to a narrower compaſſe, witneſſe the Commiſſions of Array in ſeverall Kings Raignes, and often iſſued out by the conſent and the authority of Parliament. The Lords and Commons therefore intruſted with the ſafety of the Kingdome, and peace of the People, (which they call God to witneſſe is their onely aime) finding themſelves denied theſe their ſo neceſſary, and juſt demands, and that they can never be diſcharged before God or Man, if they ſhould ſuffer the ſafety of the Kingdome and peace of the people to bee expoſed to the malice of the malignant party at home, or the fury of enemies from abroad. And knowing no other way to encounter the imminent & approaching danger, but by putting the people into a ſit poſture of defence, doe reſolve to put their ſaid Ordinance in preſent execution, and doe require all perſons in authority by vertue of the ſaid Ordinance forthwith to put the ſame in execution, and all others to obey it, according to the fundamentall lawes of the Kingdome in ſuch caſes, as they tender the upholding of the true Proteſtant Religion, the ſafety of his Majeſties Perſon, and his Royall Poſterity, the peace of the Kingdome, and the being of this Common-wealth.