On the 3rd of June, the King stated that he was resolved to defend the true Protestant religion established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to govern by law for the future; and that he had no intention to make war with his Parliament, except it were in the way of defence. In June the Parliament presented to the King certain propositions. Those relating to religion were:--That the laws against priests and Popish recusants be strictly put in execution, and a more effectual course be taken to disable them from making any disturbance; that the Popish lords in the House of Peers be deprived of their votes, and a Bill be drawn for the education of the children of Papists in the Protestant religion; that his Majesty do consent to such a Reformation of the Church as Parliament shall devise, and be pleased to give consent to the laws for removing innovations, pluralities, and scandalous ministers.[293] The King replied, that as to the Popish peers he was content that they should give their votes by proxy through Protestant lords; as to the education of Papists by Protestants, it was the very thing he wished: but, touching the Reformation to be made of the Church Government and Liturgy, he told them he hoped that what he had formerly declared had been sufficiently understood. He had said, in his answer to the petition presented at Hampton Court, that, for any illegal innovations which might have crept in, he should willingly concur in their removal, and that if Parliament should advise the calling a national synod he should take it into consideration: but he was persuaded that no Church upon the earth could be found with more purity of doctrine than the Church of England, that nowhere did government and discipline exist more free from superstition; and that he would with constancy maintain them in their purity and glory, not only against all invasions of Popery, but also from the irreverence of schismatics and separatists, for the suppression of whom he required their timely assistance.[294] Much of the royal reply had a specious look, and, if honestly meant, might have served as a ground for reconciliation; but to the Parliament, with their deep conviction of the King's insincerity founded on the experience of years, all his honied phraseology only seemed to cover hidden stings: and to persons bent on securing toleration for the sects--a daily increasing party--there was nothing in the King's words but what shewed the hopelessness of their cause if left to him. [Sidenote: _Manifestoes._] All these documents considered in reference to what they professed, were so much waste paper. Ostensibly they spoke of peace--virtually they meant war.