A DECLARATION Of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of ENGLAND, TO The High and Mighty Lords, the States of the United Provinces.  
LONDON, Printed by A. N. for Richard Best, October 8. 1642.   

High and mighty Lords,  
We are Commanded by the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England to signify to your Lordships, that they have chosen and appointed the bears hereof Walter Strickland Esquire, to repair to your Lordships, and to present to you in their names, and in the name of the whole Kingdom a Declaration, and some propositions and desires very much, importing the maintenance of the Protestant Religion, which is the surest foundation of the safety and prosperity of this Kingdom and your states, and the ancient amity between us to the advantage of both, desiring your Lordships to give ear to what shall be delivered or propounded to you by the same Master S●●ickland. And to expedite your answer thereunto, in such manner as shall stand with your wisdoms, and the due respects of the common good of this S●●●e and of yourselves, which is the earnest desire of.  
Your affectionate friends and servants. 

Maud●vile Speaker pro temp●re for the Lords house.  
William Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons.    
To the high and mighty Lo●ds, the States of the United Provinces.   

The Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England, to the high and might is Lords, the States of the United Provinces.  
WE the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking into serious consideration the means of composing the great distempers and combustions begun in this Kingdom, which threaten the destruction & ruin of it, & of all other Protestant Princes and States, have thought good to make this Declaration to the high and mighty Lords, the States of the United Provinces, That we understand by a Letter of the Lord Digby, a person fled out of this Kingdom for high Treason: That as he often endeavoured by his wicked and malicious Counsels to make division between his Majesty and the Parliament, and hath been in great part the cause of that miserable and unnatural war which is made against us by his Majesty, so he hath laboured by all means in the United Provinces to provide Arms, powder, and Ammunition for the fomenting of that war, and making it more dangerous to this Kingdom; And for this purpose did address himself to the Prince of Orange by whose countenance and help (as we are informed by the Lord Digbyes own Letters) he hath made provision of great quantities of Ordnance, powder, Arms, and divers other sorts of warlike provision.  
And we are further informed by credible advertisement, that the Prince of Orange in favour of the Lord Digby, and those other wicked Counselors & incendiaries, who being joined together in these mischievous practices against the peace of this Kingdom, hath not only licenced, but the better to encourage divers Commanders, experienced Officers, and Soldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of them against the Parliament, hath promised to reserve their places for them in their absence, and doth cause other provision of the same kind to be made and prepared to be sent over for their supply, to the great hurt of this Kingdom, and the danger of interrupting the most necessary, profitable, and long continued amity between the two States.  
We further desire to let them know that we cannot believe that this is done by any authority or direction from their Lordships, considering the great help that they have received from this Kingdom, when heretofore they lay under the heavy oppression of their Princes, and how conducible the friendship of this Nation (concurring with the wisdom, valour and industry of their own people) hath been to the greatness and power which they now enjoy.  
Neither can we think that they will be forward to help to make us slaves who have been useful and assistant in making them freemen.  
Or that they will forget that our troubles and dangers issue from the same fountain with their own, and that those who are set a work to undermine Religion and Liberty in the Kingdom are the same, which by open force did seek to bereave them of both.  
It cannot be unknown to that wise State, that it is the Jesuitical faction here, that hath corrupted the Counsels of our King, the consciences of a great part of our Clergy, which hath plotted so many mischievous Designs, to destroy the Parliament, and still endeavoureth to divide Ireland from this Kingdom, by a most wicked and cruel Rebellion there, and to divide the King from his Parliament and People here, and by false slanders, and imputations of things never done nor intended by us, hath incensed his Majesty so as that after many bitter invectives published against us without any just cause given, he hath now at last resolved to set up his Royal Standard, and draw his sword for the destruction and ruin of his most faithful and obedient people, whom by the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom he is bound to preserve and protect.  
The Cases and the Fortunes of both Estates being so involved and united, we cannot expect to be hindered by them in our just defence, or that they will do any thing, to aggravate the miseries and troubles of this Kingdom, in the peace and happiness whereof they have found much advantage, and by such unfriendly and unseasonable supplies of our common Enemies, make a way to their own aswell as our ruin.  
We therefore desire they may betimes look into this mischief, and having searched it into the bottom to stop the farther progress of it, That they will not suffer more Ordnance, Armour, or any other like warlike provision to be brought over to strengthen those, who assoon as they shall prevail against the Parliament (according to their principles and interests by which they are guided) will use that strength to the ruin of those from whom they have had it.  
We desire they would not send over any Countrymen to further our destruction, who were sent to them for their preservation, That they will not anticipate the spilling of English blood in a● unnatural Civil War, which hath been so cheerfully and plentifully hazarded and spent in that just and honourable War by which they have been so long preserved, and to which the blood of those persons, and many other Subjects of this Kingdom is still in a manner dedicated, but rather that they will cashier and discard from their employment those that will presume to come over for that purpose.  
And in satisfying these our reasonable and necessary desires, they shall thereby not only secure us but themselves, yea, they shall most of all advantage his Majesty, for whose service those things are pretended to be done.  
The question between his Majesty and Parliament is not, whether he shall enjoy the same prerogative and power which hath belonged to our former Kings, his Majesty's Royal Predecessors, but whether that prerogative and power should be employed to our defence, or to our ruin.  
We expect nothing from him but security and protection from those mischievous designs which have been so often multiplied and renewed against us, though hitherto (through God's providence) as often frustrated.  
It cannot be denied by th●se who look indifferently on our proceed and affairs, but that it will be more honour and wealth, safety and greatness to his Majesty in concurring with his Parliament, then in the course in which he now is: But so unhappy hath his Majesty and the Kingdom been in those, who have the greatest influence upon his Counsels, that they look more upon the prevailing of their own party, then upon any those great advantages both to his Crown and Royal person which he might obtain by joining with his people. And so cunning are those Factors for popery, in prosecution of their own aims, that they can put on a counterfeit visage of honour, peace, & greatness upon those courses and counsels, which have no truth and reality, but of weakness, dishonour, and miseries to his Majesty and whole Kingdom.  
We have lately expressed our earnest inclinations to that Nationall love and amity with the United Provinces which is nourished and confirmed by so many civil respects and mutual interests, as makes it so natural to us, that we have this Parliament in our humble Petition to his Majesty, desired, we might be joined with that State in a more near and straight league and union; And we cannot but expect some returns from them of the like expressions; And that they will be so far from blowing the fire which gins to kindle amongst us, that they will rather endeavour to quench it by strengthening and encouraging us, who have no other design but not to be destroyed, and preserve our Religion, save ourselves and the other reformed Churches of Christendom from the 〈◊〉 acres and extirpations with which the princ●●… of the popish Religion do threaten us & 〈◊〉 which are begun to be acted in Ireland, and 〈◊〉 hopes, endeavours and intentions of that 〈◊〉 had long since been executed upon us, if the ●●●cy, favour, and blessing of Almighty God had 〈◊〉 superabounded, and prevented the sub●●●●… and malignity of cruel wicked and bloodthirsty men.  
FINIS.   

A CONTINUATJON OF Special Remarkable Passages, from both Houses of Parliament: From Monday the 3 d. of Octob. till the 6 th'. of Octob. 1642.  
Monday there came Letters to the Parliament out of Lancashire from Manchester, intimating that there hath lately been a great fight between the Town, of Manchester and the Lord Strange, who set upon the Towte, having at least 2000 men, but the Townsmen did so bravely acquit themselves, that they slow six score of his men, and took fourscore Prisoners, and caused them to retreat towards Preston, the Townsmen losing but five men in all, three of them being accidentally slain by their fellow Soldiers. They do earnestly desire some speedy aid from the Parliament which was intended to have been sent unto them by the Lord General from Worcester: Eut the Parliament having received Information that his Majesty intends to draw all the forces he can possible together to meet the Lord General. It was not thought convenient that his Excellency should send any of those forces that are with him to Manchester, but the House have taken order that a thousand Dragoniers shall forthwith be ●●sed in London upon the Propositions and be sent thither ●●der the command of Sir Edward Ceton for it is very 〈◊〉 feared by the Town that the Lord Strange will make another attempt against it very suddenly, and they are resolved to try it out with him and not to yield, they having 〈◊〉 2. pieces of Ordnance into the Town, and are casting their Bells into Ordnance, whereby they may the better defend themselves until more aid and assistance can be sent unto them.  
Letters came from the Earl of Warwick intimating that he had lately taken 2. ships laden with store of Arms, and Ammunition, and about seven hundred thousand pounds in Money, which was coming out of Denmark to assist the King.  
A Letter came from the Earl of Essex signifying that he had sent to the Earl of Dorset to acquaint him that he had a Petition to present to his Majesty from both Houses of Parliament, desiring his Lordship to acquaint his Majesty therewith, and that he might be informed of some fitting way or means for the presenting thereof to his Majesty which for the present the Earl of Essex could not do in regard he known not certainly whether his Majesty would receive it, or how it should come peaceably to him, whereupon the Earl of Dorset sent a Letter to the Earl of Essex intimating that he had acquainted his Majesty therewith who answered that he would always have his ear open to any Petition that came from the Parliament but would not receive any from the hands of Traitors or any that he had proclaimed so.  
Whereupon being put to the Question it was voted to this effect. viz.  
That for his Majesty to deny the receiving of any Petition by the hands of those that he accounts to be Traitors, is in effect a flat denial of receiving any Petition at all from them, for in proclaiming the Earl of Essex a Traitor he had proclaimed the whole Parliament Traitors so that his Majesty's refusing to receive this petition was a great abridgement of the Privilege of Parliament, and therefore voted; that the said Earl should advance forwards with his forces, and that the Earl of Essex should use some means that those votes of the h●use should be presented to his Majesty.  
On Tuesday morning letters were read in the house, which came frow Yorkshire, certifying the house, that since the taking up of Arms in that County under the Command of the L. Fairfaxe against the Earl of Cumberland and his Cavaliers, there was a Treaty of Peace, and certain Articles agreed upon on both sides, whereby they agreed that Arms should be laid down on both sides, and th●t they should stand a Neuters between the King and Parliament, and preserve the peace of the County against all Fo●ces that should come against them and that his Majesty shall have liberty to remove all the Canons and Ammunition as he hath in t●at county, except such as M. Hotham brought from Hull, with divers o●her Articles very prejudicial to that county: but Mr. Hotham and many others that were for the Parliament did utterly refuse to join in the said agreement, but were gone to Doncaster there to remain with those Fo●ces they had, until they hear what further directions they shall receive from the Barliament.  
It was also certified by le●●ers to the house, that Sir Edward H●ron high Sheriff of Yorkshire, which formerly hath showed a good affection to the Parliament, had a great hand in drawing on the county to agree to those Articles.  
At which agreement the house was much discontented, and after long debate thereof, a Declaration was drawn up, showing, that none of the parties had any authority to bind the County to any such Neutrality, it being a privilege peculiar to the Parliament only,  
Secondly, That it is very prejudicial to the whole Kingdom. Thirdly, that it is derogatory to the power and authority of Parliament. Fourthly, That many things in that Agreement, are very unequal, contrary to the nature o● Neutrality, being more advantageous to one side then another, and would be a great Impeachment to that good Agreement betwixt his Majesty and his subjects, which both houses do earnestly desire.  
Information was also given to the house, that although the County of Hereford for the greatest part thereof, were heretofore against the Parliament, they are now better informed in their Judgements, and begin to incline much towards the Parliament being much incensed against the Cavaliers, and have sent 350. men to Worcester to aid and assist the Parliament, under the Lord General.  
There was Letters came to the house on Wednesday, that the Lord Willoughby of Parham in the County of Lincoln, signifying that he had received instruction from the house, for the aiding and assisting of Yorkshire against the E. of Cumberland, and that notwithstanding the Treaty and agreement that was made between the L. Fairfaxe and the rest of the Gentry and the Earl of Cumberland: yet he intends to go on according to his instructions, and that on Thursday next the whole body of Yorkshire were to meet, according to appointment at their making of the said Agreement; at which meeting they expect to hear the pleasure of the house, which doubtless they w●ll present for the whole west Riding, and a great other part of that County, were disascenting to the said Agreement.  
Letters were read in the house of Commons, intimating that the City of Hereford being apprehensive of the danger that they were in be reason of the Cavaliers, which they feared would surprise that City, and so expose them to much danger, as they had done lately at Worster, they sent to the E. of Essex, showing that they desired to assist the Parliament, but because there was a great Malignant party in the City, those that were well-affected did not dare to stand upon their guard without they had some forces sent from the Parliament which they might cleave unto. Whereupon his Excellency sent one thousand foot, and four Troops of horse to make good that City, and to settle the Militia there, and that a sufficient Garrison should stay there to maintain the peace thereof.  
Letters came out of Somersetshire, intimating that Sir Ralph Hopt●n with about 100 men were gone into Cornwall, but the Marquis of Hartford was in Monmouthshire in Wales, and that the Earl of Bedford had left a strong garrison at Mi●head and several other places, to keep the Marquis from coming back again to any of those strong holds.  
There was also upon Thursday last, being the sixth of October, a packet of Letters brought to the House from Yarmouth, which were taken coming out of Holland with a ship and divers other things together with many Commanders therein, coming from the Queen to assist his Majesty, which were taken in this manner, viz.  
On Monday night last, there was a ship driven in a Yarmouth by a contrary wind (it being bound for Newcastle) which came out of Holland being a ship which her Majesty bought with her own money, and had sent it before to his Majesty, the Queen herself as his supposed being very shortly to come after, having shipping prepared for her conduct, which ship was searched at Yarmouth, and about 140. Commanders were in it, and twelve pieces of Ordnance, with great store of powder, etc. which were brought up to London.  
This day News was brought to the House, that Prince Robert with about ten Troops of horse was at Bridgenorth, the King's Majesty being for the most part at Shrewsbury, and it was conceived that the E. of Essex with his main Army are now upon their march toward Bridgnorth, where the King hath drawn his main forces his Excellency being now in the midway between Worster and Bridgnorth, having left a strong Garrison in Bewdly, which stands upon the River of Severn, and so the two Armies being drawn so near together, it is very probable they will have another Battle very shortly.  
〈…〉 to have been some of the Friars Treasure, but being opened, there was nothing in it of any great consequence.  
Upon Friday there was a Conference of both ●●●ses, concerning the presenting of the petition which the E. of Essex hath to be presented to the King, 〈◊〉 ageeed that in regard his Majesty had refused to accept thereof from any that he had proclaimed to b●●traytors, and in so doing, he had denied to receive any petition from the Parliament. It was agreed that Hi● Excellency should proceed according to his Instructions, and that he should use such means for the presenting of the said petition to his Majesty, as he should think fit, and thereupon a Post was sent away to his Excellency with Letters to that effect.  
Letters was read in the house which came out of Holland from M, Strickland, intimating that the queen had provided 4. ships to come into England with men and ammunition to assist his Maj. and that the States of Holland had made stay thereof, and that the united Provinces did profess much love and affection to the Parliament, and was very vigilant that no provision of Men, Arms, or Moneys, should come from thence to aid his Majesty in this unnatural war against his good Subjects.  
Whereupon it was agreed, that a Letter of thanks should be sent to the States of Holland, for their faithfulness to this Kingdom.   

October 8. printed for Robert Wood, 1642.