Chap. X. The HISTORY of the PURITAN 'S. 747 " necetfary to keep them in fuch a condition, that they may not be able K. Charles L 4' to do us any hurt." 164r. In the petition that attended this remonftrance, after having affured his Petition majefty, that they had not theleaft intention today any blemifh upon hisfatted with royal perfon by the foregoing declaration, but only to reprefent how his the remanf royal authority and truft had been abufed, they humbly befeech his ma- iVaUo,, jetty to concur with his people in a parliamentary way, (i.) For the de- p. 690. priving the bifhops of their votes in parliament, and abridging their immo- derate power, ufurped over the clergy, and other your goodfubjekts, to the hazard ofreligion, andprejudice of thejuji liberties ofyour people. (2.) For the taking awayfach opprfans in religion churchgovernment and dif= cipline, as have been brought in andfomented by them. (3.) For uniting allfilch your loyalfubjehh, as agree in fundamentals, againji paps, by re- movingfame opprtonsand unnecfary ceremonies, by which divers weak Cori- Ames have been ofended, andfeem to be dividedfrom the refl. (g..) They conclude, with befreching his majefty to remove,from his counfels, allfavou- rers of popery and arbitrary power, andpromoters of the above-mentioned prefures and corruptions, and to employ fuch as his parliament might confide in; and that in his princely goodnefs he would rejeel all fölicitations to the contrary, HOW POWERFUL AND NEAR SOEVER. His majefty in his anfwer to this petition, about a week after, com- The king's plains very juftly of the difrefpect of the commons in printing their re- anfwer to the monftrance before he had time to,return an anfwer. To the preamblePe"uon. and conclufion of the petition, he fays that he knows of no wicked, arbi- trary, and malignant party prevalent in the government, or near himfe f andhis children ; and affures them, that the mediation of the NEAREST TO HIM has always concurred in fuch perlons, againft whom there can be no juft caufe of exception. To the feveral articles his majefty replies ; Firft concerning religion, " That he is willing to concur with " all the juft defires of his people in a parliamentary way, for pre- " ferving the peace of the kingdom from the defigns of the po- pith party. " That for depriving the brfhopt oftheir votes inparliament, he thought their right was grounded on the fundamental laws of the kingdom, " and conftitution of parliament, but fince you deflre our concurrence in " a parliamentary way (lays the king) we will give no further anfwer at i° prefent. As for abridging theextraordinarypower of the clergy, if there remain "° any exceffes or ulurpations in their jnrifdietions, we neither have noi° " will protect them. 3 C 2 ee Con-
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