[A1641/8/21]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Answers to the doubts proposed by his majesty to the estates of parliament concerning the election of officers of state, councillors and sessioners
We have considered of that which it pleased your majesty to impart to some of our several bodies yesterday, and as we acknowledge that your majesty has just reason to be careful of your own royal authority and even to be wary not to do that in any of your kingdoms which your majesty conceives may by example be drawn to your prejudice elsewhere, so we desire your majesty to believe that we shall never to our knowledge intend anything to the least derogation of your just power, which we are bound to maintain not only by our common allegiance but also by our national oath and covenant. And therefore we beseech your majesty to consider that the demand concerning the election of officers of state, councillors and sessioners is grounded upon the ancient laws and custom of this kingdom and upon the just sense we have of the necessity of your royal absence from this your native country, which if we could redeem, we would esteem above any such privilege. And if we did enjoy the many benefits of your majesty's continual residence amongst us (which is the great happiness of our brethren of England), then would we forbear to press these things which we are forced now to insist upon in supplement of that want. And so we expect your majesty's gracious answer to this our reasonable and well grounded demand.