Charles I 'Speech to the Lords at York (24 September 1640)'

The last weeke all the subscrybing Lords of the Petit[i]on Came into Yorke together w[i]th resoluc[i]on not to receede from one tytle of their petic[]on: The King vseth all the Peeres w[i]th all possible kindnesse, and vpon Thursday last being the 24th makes a good speech to them, That vpon invasions, when Dangers were neere and instant, the Custome of his Ma[jes]ties predecessors had beene to assemble the great Councell of the Peeres by their Advice to giue timely remedy to such evills as could not admitt the delay of calling a Parliam[en]t, this being o[u]r Condic[i]on at this tyme, an Army of Rebells being lodged w[i]thin the Kingdome: In the first place, the King declared, that of himselfe hee had resolued to call his Parliam[en]t, my Lo[rd] Keeper having order to issue writts to assemble the Parliam[en]t the third of November next, whither if the Subiects bring those good affecc[i]ons, w[hi]ch become them towards him, it shall not faile on his parte to make it a happie meeting: but his Ma[jes]ty requires their present Advice in two thinge, w[hi]ch were the Causes of their meeting, first, what Answer to giue to the petic[i]on of the Rebells, and in what manner to treate w[i]th them, of w[hi]ch that they may giue a surer Iudgm[en]t, his Ma[jes]tie hath ordered their Lo[rdshi]pps shalbee clearely and truly informed of the state of the whole businesse, and vpon what reasons the Advices, that the privy Councell gaue his Ma[jes]ty vnanimously, were grounded: The second is, how the Army shalbee kept on foote, and mayntained, whiles the supply of a Parliam[en]t may be had, for so long, as the Scotts Army remaynes in England, his Ma[jes]ty thinkes noe man will Councell him to disband, for that would be an vnspeakeable losse to all that parte of the Kingdome, by subiecting them to the greedy appetite of Rebells, besides the unspeakable dishonour, that would thereby fall vpon this Nac[i]on, thus farre the Kings Speech; And nowe the King hath wholly put this busines into the hands of his Peeres to doe what they shall see fitt w[i]th this Caution, that if they Conclude vpon dishono[ura]ble Condic[i]ons, hee will not haue anie thing to doe in it, the dishonour shall fall vpon them, and their posterity, but as they agree, so it shall stand, and because the Scotts in a newe petic[i]on of the 24th present, desire a meeting of the English Lords, therefore theis 16. following are appoynted to meete and treate at Rippon. Bedford, Hartford, Essex, Salisbury Bristowe Warwicke, Holland, and Barkshire, Barons Pagett, Mandavile, Pawlett, Wharton, Howard, Dunsmore, Savile, and Brooke: