The Anſwer and Reſolution of the States in Holland.
THe Queens Majeſty ſince her departure from the Engliſh Court and her arrivall in Holland, being moved with the conſideration of the manifold dangers which trouble this Kingeome, and which without ſpeedy prevention muſt of neceſſity produce greater and more full of danger; we being moved with theſe and the like conſiderations, being grieved at the difference between the King and his Parliament, did moſt ſeriouſly, as one moſt tender of this Kingdome, did expreſſe her ſelfe unto the States of Holland, and ſeriouſly entreated from them their aſſiſtance in the Reconciliation of the King and Parliament, and withall deſiring them that they would undertake to compoſe, and ſettle the difference which did ſo much diſtract this Kingdome, and for which ſhe her ſelfe, as a maine ſharer in theſe troubles, would acknowledge the benefit received, and accept as done unto her owne perſon. This Meſſage or Deſire was willingly received by the States, and at a publique Aſsembly at the Hague was openly read, but for the preſent they returned for anſwer to her Majeſty, that her Deſires were of ſo great weight and conſequence, that they muſt aſſume ſome time for Anſwer, and that for the preſent they could not returne any thing to her Majeſty in ſatisfaction to her deſires, but their promiſe of their ſervices, which ſhould ſuddainly waite upon her with their Reſolution to thoſe her Deſires.
Vpon the 2. of July there was another meeting aſsembled, and in the Audience of thoſe that were preſent, the ſenſe of Majeſties Deſires was reiterated, and after publication & a long debate thereof among the States, they did intimate their mind and choſe ths Duke of Luneburg to preſent their Anſwer and Reſolution to her Majeſty, who with all conveniency and ſpeed that might be, provided himſelfe to viſit and deliver the minds of the States unto her Highneſse. The ſumme whereof he delivered unto every particular of her Deſires. To the firſt Deſire, That it was a moſt unpleaſing Office and that it did not become any Kingdome to interpoſe or meddle with the affayres that concerne another Nation, or to ſcrew or ſearch into the ſecrets and private occurrences that doe belong unto another State. yet they did heartily deſire a Compoſure of all differentes to the Honour of God, the content of his Majeſty, and the proſperity of the Kingdome of England. For that they beſide the Relation which they were lately happy in by the Conjunction of their Nation, with ours of England, occaſioned by the moſt happy and moſt auſpicious Marriage of the Prince of Orange his ſonne to the moſt hopefull Lady MARY Eldeſt Daughter to the King of England, they had many other obligations and inducement to deſire and by all meanes further as much as in them lyes the Union and bleſſed eſtate of His Majeſties Kingdomes.
And with all promiſed their aſsiſtance, ſo farre as might ſtand with their Honour to uſe all poſsible meanes of reconcilement between His Majeſty and His Parliament.
And alſo informed the Queens Majeſty that they vvould diſpatch a ſuddaine Ambaſſage to the King and Parliament, by which Letters they would move both King and Parliament to a reconcilement, and intimate unto them the danger of Civill difference betweene the King and Subject, not doubting but they ſhould obtaine ſo much reſpect from both, as not to deny their deſires, which were onely grounded upon their faithfull deſires of peace, and their true intentions to ſerve His Majeſty and Parliament. To her Majeſties ſecond Deſire, to furniſh His Majeſty with ſtrength againſt the oppoſition of theſe preſent times. His reply in the name of all the States was, That what power or forces ſoever they were maſters of, they would wiſh no better imployd then to ſerve the King of England, and to aſsiſt him againſt the violence and invaſion of any forraigne enemy. But for any forces againſt His owne Subjects, they muſt deſire more deliberation. For they did ſo much tender His Majeſties Honour and advancement, and the proſperity of His Kingdomes, that they ſhall not dare to doe any thing which may by any meanes tend to the diſhonour of the King, or the diſquiet of His Subjects, or Kingdome, And that they did fore-ſee that if thoſe diſtracted proceedings of this Kingdome were not in time prohibited and that ruine and deſtruction would be the conſequence and effect of private diſſentions. This was the anſwer delivered by the Duke of Luneburg to her Majeſty concerning her Deſires for the preſent, but ſince that time it is generally reported that two ſhips very well laden with all Warlike proviſion were ſent over from the States with two hundred thouſand pound to His Majeſty in money, in which ſhips were alſo almoſt two hundred Ancient Commanders, which for this many yeares had ſerved under the States of Holland, all which both ſhips, moneyes, ammunition, and Commanders were landed at Holderneſſe the 4. of July and are now with His Majeſty at Yorke.