THE ASSOCIATION, AGREEMENT, AND PROTESTATION OF THE COUNTIES OF CORNWALL, AND DEVON.  
January 5. 1643.   Tudor rose  Scottish thistle  French fleur-de-lis  depiction of Irish harp 
BRISTOL, Printed by ROBERT BARKER, and JOHN BILI, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: MDC.XLIII.   

The Articles of the Associations, etc.  
1 THat a Protestation be taken by all men within the two Counties, above the age of Sixteen years, and Subscription thereunto, according to the form agreed on, before the Minister of the Parish, or some other person as shall be appointed in each Parish by the Justices of Peace of each County, or two of them. The same being first taken by all the commissioners at this meeting; and all Persons refusing be forthwith certified to the Justices of the Peace; and be secured as Enemies to the Peace of the Kingdom. And this to be done with all speed, and account given before the twentieth of February.  
2 That his Highness be moved, that there be two Commissioners of each County to take the Musters of the Army, and that the Treasurer give an account monthly to the Committees of each County, of his disbursments.  
3 That there be strict continual search for all Soldiers, that have at any time been in Pay since these Wars, in every Parish; and that they be forthwith sent to recruit the Army: and such as shall refuse, that they be sent to the Provost-Marshall-Generall. And that no Soldier departed from his Colours without licence, according to His Majesty's Proclamation and Articles; and Offenders to be proceeded with according to their merits; and that as many more be raised in each County, as may recruit the Companies; and that every Foot Company consist of one Hundred; and every Troop of Horse and Dragooners, of threescore. And if any Foot Company have less than fifty, and of Horse and Dragooners less than thirty; then if such Company be not recruited to these last numbers, or more, within a month after the Muster, the Officers pay to be detained: and after that, the Company paid and reduced; and the same rule to be held for Proners, as for Foot Companies. And herein his Highness' directions are to be desired, and that the Committees may be informed of the present number of the Army; and what the present weekly Charge of it cometh to.  
4 That there be account taken of the Captains and other Officers, that have had any charge of Arms, how the same have been disposed; and that by warrant from the Commissioners, there be a general search for Arms through both Counties. And that the Constables of each Parish repair to every house within the same, and take view of them; and give in their account to the high-Constables: who are to bring it to the Commissioners. That the weekly payments in both Counties, be raised with all diligence, and Arrears collected and accounted for, until Plymouth be reduced. And that Committees be appointed in each County respectively, to take the accounts of all Receivers of the weekly payments: which are to be the same that take the Treasurer's accounts.  
5 That the Commissioners of Devon, as hath been done in Cornwall, proceed against such as have failed to attend the Sheriff upon warrant for the Posse Comi atûs: and that the Fines may be employed for the present supply of His Majesty's Army, with Arms, and Ammunition for a present Magazine of Arms, Ammunition, and Tools, in each County: wherein His Majesty's Pleasure is to be desired.  
6 That there be an humble Remonstrance of the estate of both Counties to His Majesty: and of the necessity, that all Moneys coming of Delinquents Estates, Fines, and Compositions, may be employed to the use of the Army and Garrisons, and payment of the Debts contracted for His Majesty's Service, and by His former Proclamations to be secured: and that His Majesty's Commissions may authorise that disposition, and that the Delinquents Estates in both Counties, be seized and disposed of, by the Commissioners of each County, to the same purpose respectively; and to Commanders of the Army intermeddle with it, without their Authority.  
7 That no Sequestration be made after Composition made and paid, but by Order at the General Sessions of the Peace, or other general meeting of the Commissioners by common Consent there: unless for new offences.  
8 That the Army be governed according to His Majesty's Articles, and that all Persons of what condition soever, be held infamous and Enemies to the public Peace, that shall raise, or cause any Mutinies, or disobedience thereunto: and suffer all severity, according to His Majesty's Articles.  
9 That all such Persons as have been or shall be slain in the present War, or die in the service, by whose life any other Person held any Lands or Rents; the party to whom the Right to grant such Land or Rent belongeth unto, shall be bound to grant an Estate for a life, instead of the Person so killed or dying, under the Rents and Covenants as was formerly held, unto such Person and Persons, as was entitled to hold the same, and at his nomination. And the refusers to lose the double value of the Estate; one half to His Majesty, the other to the Party: and to be imprisoned till payment.  
10 That if either or both Counties of Somerset and Dorset, will enter into this Union and Association, they shall be received with all cheerfulness.  
11 That if any Minister shall refuse, or wilfully neglect the solemn Celebration of the Fast appointed by His Majesty on the second Friday of the Month; or shall not read the Service and Prayers appointed for that Fast; and being called before a Justice of Peace, shall not promise and protest his future conformity, he be forth with secured, and his Estate sequestered. And the like course to be taken with such Ministers, as absent themselves that day: unless upon sickness or other cause, allowed by two Commissioners, or Justices of Peace. And the like order to be taken with such as shall not read such Books as shall be appointed to be read by His Majesty. And the Constables and Churchwardens, are to certify their defaults to the next Justices.  
12 That His Majesty be moved for a Confirmation of the present Union and Articles.  
13 That there be provided a Thousand Barrels of Powder, and ten Thousand Fire-Arms at the charge of both Counties, whereof Cornwall to be a Fourth, and Devon three parts, according to the proportion of the grand Subsidy.  
14 That the Army shall be recruited, and increased to the number of Eighteen Thousand Horse and Foot: to be raised proportionably in both Counties.  
15 That His Highness be entreated that a Commission be granted to authorise an impress of Soldiers, for the present Service.  
16 That on the first Wednesday of the next Month, and every Month following, the Committee now appointed for Cornwall, which are Sir Samuel Cosewarth, Richard Prideaux, Walter Langdon, Nevil Bligh, and Renatus Bellat, Esquires; and of Devon, Arthus Basset Esquire, William Tothill, john Mere, Gilbert Pard, and Thomas Mediford, Esquires, do meet first at Exeter, and continually afterwards where the Cornish Committee appoint to take the monthly Accounts of the Receivers of the Weekly Rates, and Treasurer of the Army, and what else concerns these Articles. And in case of impediment, the Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in each County respectively, name other Committees, or supply the place of any one himself.  
17 That there be Copies of this Protestation delivered out by the Sheriff, at the Sessions of each County, to the Constables of each Hundred respectively, and that the said Hundred Constables, do immediately deliver out several Copies to all the Petty-Constables, which are by the Minister of every Parish, Church, and Chapel, to be published the next Sunday following after the receipt: and then every man present to take the same, and 2ubscribe his name thereunto, before the said Minister, Constable, or Churchwardens, or two of them: and such of his Parish as shall not be present at the time, to take the same within ten days following. And the Ministers and Constables are to give in the List or Certificate of their names that take it, and of them that are absent or refuse, to the Constables of the Hundred: who are to deliver the same to the Commissioners, at their next general meeting after the Twentieth of February next.  
Whereas a few Malevolent and Ambitious persons, in the name of two Houses of Parliament, have by Treasonable practices embroiled this Kingdom in a Civil War, pursued His Majesty's Person, murdered His good Subjects: some, barbarously by the common Hangman, against Law and Justice: others, by Hostile assaults: brought a general devaslation upon the whole Kingdom; taking away all liberty from the Members of both Houses; by awing, terrifying, and assaulting them with Tumults and Armies; usurping the Royal power, Counterfeiting a Great Seal: and to she their horrid intentions against the King, Kingdom, and Government, finding their Acts nor likely to protect them from the punishment due to their merits, have unnaturally invited and brought in the Scots to invade this Kingdom: and in these distractions, to make a total conquest of this Nation. For resistance whereof, and preserving the Common-Peace, the inhabitants of Cornwall and Devon have united themselves; and for continuance of which Union, this ensuing Protestation is to be taken.  

The Protestation.  
I A. B. Do in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest, with my utmost power to maintain and defend the true. Reformed Protestant Religion, established by Law in this Kingdom, against all Popery, Popish, and other innovations of Sectaries and Schismatics; as also His Majesty's person and Rights, against all forces whatsoever; and in like manner, the Laws, Liberties, and Privileges of Parliament, and of this Kingdom. And I shall, to the utmost of my power, preserve and defend the Peace of the two Counties of Cornall and Devon; and all Persons that shall unite themselves by this our Protestation, in the due performance thereof. And to my power assist His Majesty's Armies for reducing the Town of Plymouth; and resistance of all Forces of Scots, invaders, and others, levied under pretence of any authority of two Houses of Parliament, or otherwise, without His Majesty's personal consent.   
In regard of the restless endeavours of the Contrivers of the present distractions, who after the unnatural divisions they have wrought, and move misery by calling in the Scots, to make the desolation of this Nation it recoverable: and it being the duty of all good Subjects and lovers of their country, in such times to unite themselves, that they may the better resist the disturbers of the public Peace.  
We of the Counties of Cornwall and Devon, (by rcason of situation and alliance of families, nearly concerned in each others condition) for the preservation of the Peace already obtained among us and for a further increase and security of it; do associate andunite ourselves (according to our duty to God, His Majesty, and our Country) for the common defence of these Counties, against all forees that oppose His Majesty's Army, or Commissioners, authorized under His Great Seal of England: and against all Towns, Castles, and Forts, that shall resist His Majesties said Army or Commissioners.  
And we do promise in the presence of Almighty God, that we will not break this union, nor desist from following all just, necessary, and Honourable ways, to the urmost of our power, for perfecting and securing the said Peace, and the reducing all Places, Persons, Towns, Castles, and Forts, within the said Counties, to His Majesty's obedience, and particularly the Town of Plymouth.  
And in case either of the said Counties be invaded by Sea or Land, we do bind ourselves, to mutual defence of each other, against all persons raised without His Majesty's personal consent: and to resist all such power, with all the strength each County can raise for the others defence.   
FINIS.