HIS majesty's Last MESSAGE, Septemb. 12. 1642. Directed to His Right Trusty and well-beloved, the Speaker of the House of peers.  
WITH A Declaration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, Concerning an insolent Letter sent to Mr. Clerk at Craughton near Brackley in Northamptonshire, From Sir JOHN Byron Knight, since the inhabitants of that County apprehended divers Rebels under his command. Whereunto is annexed a copy of the said LETTER.  

13. Septemb. 1642. ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Declaration and Letter shall be forthwith printed and published.  
J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.   
LONDON, Printed for J. Wright. 14. Septemb. 1642.   

To Our Right Trusty and Well beloved, The SPEAKER of the House of peers.  
WE have taken most ways, used most endeavours, and made most real expressions to prevent the present distractions and dangers; let all the World judge, as well by former passages as by Our two last Messages, which have been so fruitless, that though we have descended to desire and press it, not so much as a treaty can be obtained, unless we would denude ourself of all force to defend us from a visible strength marching against us, and admit those persons as Traitors to us who according to their duty, their oaths of Allegiance, and the Law, have appeared in defence of us their King and Liege-Lord, whom We are bound in Conscience and Honour to preserve, though We disclaimed all Our Proclamations and Declarations, and erecting of Our Standard as against Our Parliament: All We have now left in Our power is to express the deep sense We have of the public misery of this kingdom, in which we involved that of our distressed protestants of Ireland, and to apply ourself to our necessary defence, wherein we wholly rely upon the providence of God, and the justice of our cause, and the affection of our good people, so far We are from putting them out of Our protection, when you shall desire a treaty of us, We shall piously remember whose blood is to be spilled in this quarrel, and cheerfully embrace it. And as no other reason induced us to leave our City of London, but that with honour and safety We could not stay there nor raise any force, but for the necessary defence of Our Person, and the Law, against levies in opposition to both, so we shall suddenly and most willingly return to the one and disband the other as soon as those causes shall be removed. The God of Heaven direct you and in mercy divert those judgements which hang over this Nation, And so deal with us and our Posterity as we desire the preservation, and advancement of the true Protestant Religion, the Law and liberty of the Subject, the just rights of Parliament, and the peace of the kingdom.   

A DECLARATION Of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament.  
WHereas Sir John Byron Knight, upon the 28 of August last with divers troops of Horse in a traitorous and warlike manner, did march into the County of Northampton, with an intention to kill, rob, and spoil his majesty's Subjects in that and other Counties, to the great terror and affrightment of the Inhabitants of those parts; whereupon divers of His majesty's loyal and well affected Subjects of the said County, according to their duty did assemble themselves together, and pursue the said traitors, and rebels, and apprehended divers of them, and routed the rest, whereby their traitorous designs were for that time prevented; Since which time the remainder of those troops that escaped, joined again in a body, and in manner as before, forcibly entered the City of Oxford, and plundered, robbed, and spoiled, his majesty's faithful Subjects there, and forced divers to leave their own habitations, and to fly elsewhere for protection from their fury. And whereas the Lords and Commons, have been since informed, That the said Sir John Byron, the head and ringleader of those traitors, in a presumptuous and insolent way, wrote a Letter to one Master clerk of Craughton a Gentleman of quality in the said County of Northampton, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed, whereby most falsely and impudently he presumes to style the faithful, and dutiful service of His majesty's good Subjects in apprehending and chasing the said rebels by the name of treachery and rebellion, endeavouring to transfer that odious crime and title due unto himself to them, and using divers menacing speeches against Master Clarke, and others, thereby as much as in him lieth to deter His majesty's good Subjects from resisting him and his associates in their traitorous attempts.  
The Lords and Commons taking the same into their consideration, do declare that the Assembling together of the said Inhabitants of the County of Northampton, and their pursuing, apprehending, and chasing the said rebels, was according to the laws of the Land and the duty they and all good Subjects owe to the King and Commonwealth, and their service very acceptable to both Houses of Parliament, who will take them and all others that shall follow their good examples into their care and protection.  
To M. Clarke at Craughton near Brackley in Northamptonshire.  
SIR,  
IN my way to Oxford, I made some stay at Brackley to refresh myself, and my Horses, after a long march, where I was unexpectedly assaulted by sundry Troops of rebels that came (as i am since informed) from Northampton, and the adjoining places, and withal most treacherously set upon by the town of Brackley, so that i was forced to make a speedy retreat to the Heath to resist them, had they had the courage to come forth of the town. In this confusion one of my grooms who had charge of my baggage was surprised in the town, another who had a Box, wherein was money, apparel, and other things of value, left it in a land of standing corn, which since hath been found, and as i hear brought to you; i have therefore sent this Messenger to require the restitution of it; which if you do, I shall represent it to His Majesty, as an acceptable service, if not, assure yourself I will find a time to repay myself with advantage out of your estate; And consider, that as rebellion is a weed of a hasty growth, so it will decay as suddenly; and that there will be a time for the King's loyal Subjects to repair their losses sustained by rebels and traitors; So I rest in expectation of a speedy answer by this bearer,  
Your friend and servant, John Byron. Oxford, 2. Sep. 1642.  
FINIS.