Several LETTERS From the COMMITTEES In several COUNTIES. To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of COMMONS, Read in both Houses of PARLIAMENT, June 27. 1642. Wherein (amongst divers other Passages very remarkable) is related how the Towns Men of Manchester, put themselves into Arms, and stood upon their defence against the Lord Strange and his Forces, who came to seize on the MAGAZINE. With an intercepted Letter from Sir Edward Fitton, to Sir Thomas Aston at York: Discovering a fowl design of the Malignant Party. Whereunto is added several Votes of both Houses.  

Die Lunae, 27. Junii, 1642.  
Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That these Votes and four Letters be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Job. Brown, Cler. Parliamentorum.   
London, Printed for Joseph Hunscott, and John Wright. 1642.   

To the honourable WILLIAM LENTHALL Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons, These present.  
Honourable SIR,  
THe high Sheriff of Lancashire having surprised the Powder and Match at Preston, as you have received Advertisements by a Letter herewith sent from M. Rigby, who instantly gave notice thereof to M. Ashton of Middleton, for prevention of the like in Manchester, where o● Barrels of Powder, and some few bundles of Match were lodged in a room of a house belonging to the Lord Strange, and by him lent for the keeping thereof: M. Ashton forthwith repaired to Manchester, and then Sir Alexander Ratcliff, and M. Thomas Prestwich, two of the Commissioners in the Commission of Array from the King and M Nicholas Mosley, and Thomas Danson the under-Sheriff, endeavoured to take away that Powder and Match, but were prevented by M. Ashton, who, with Sir Thomas Stanley, and others, Deputy lieutenants, took it, & removed it into other places of the Town: and thereupon my Lord Strange, who had upon Monday last seized and taken away above 30 Barrels of Powder, and a great quantity of Match from Leverpool, parcel of the country's Magazine, did, with many armed Forces, repair to a Town called Bury, near Manchester, but 20 miles distant from his own house: This appearance of his, struck a great terror and amazement into the country, so that instantly, for their safety and defence, the Townsmen of Manchester put themselves into Arms, and many of the parts Adjacent came voluntarily in unto them for their assistance: being come together, we and divers others of the deputy-lieutenants mustered and trained them, and with them began to execute our instructions for the Militia, and then stood in a posture of defence, as yet we do: And we and our fellow deputy-lieutenants, though our Forces were for the present much stronger than those of the Lord Strange, as we doubt not he well understood, did nevertheless, for prevention of effusion of blood, send unto him upon Thursday last two, and yesterday three of ourselves to treat with him, and to atone the business; the result of these Treaties was, That his Lordship offered, That if we would return the Powder and Match into his hands, in the place from whence it was taken, than he would deposit them into the hands of some of us, and of M. Robert Holt, one of his own deputy-lieutenants by Commission from the King; whereunto we and our fellow deputy-lieutenants could not assent, so that upon those treaties, in those two days nothing is yet done therein; however, yesterday the Lord Strange dismissed divers of his Forces, so that but few men did yesterday appear about him, which occasioned us and our fellow deputy-lieutenants to suffer many of our Forces which came out of the neighbouring Towns, to return to their own houses; and this morning we have again for the like purpose as formerly, sent to his Lordship one of ourselves, who is not yet returned: and since whose departure from us, we hear that there are new Proclamations sent from York, to be published in this County, against us and our proceedings upon your Instructions; that the King will be suddenly here with us, with great Forces; but yet we have seen or heard any of these Proclamations. We have this week discovered a foul design, by a Letter from Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth in Cheshire Baronet, directed to Sir Thomas Aston, and intercepted by us; which Letter we have here enclosed sent unto you, having no other information touching the Contents of that Letter but what is therein contained, save only that Sir Edward Fitton came yesterday very uncivilly amongst us and our fellow deputy-lieutenants, and required the Letter; and he and M. Peter Daniel the younger have given out great threats against some of us, for taking and detaining that Letter. Our high Sheriff, and his fellow Commissioners of Array, will readily, as we conceive, always upon all occasions, endeavour the power of the County against our proceedings upon your Instructions. These are all whereof we can for the present advertise you, only in regard we daily expect and fear great Insurrections of popish Protestant professors, Papists, and other malignant persons: which to prevent, as also to strengthen us in our proceedings in the Militia, we should infinitely rejoice in the presence of the Lord Wharton our lieutenant, and such other speedy assistance as you should hold meet for  
Your most humble, and faithful Servants, 

Ralph ASSHETON.  
JOHN Moor.  
ALEX RIGBY.   Manchester in Lincolnshire, 25 of June, 1642.   

For his truly honoured Friend, Sir THOMAS ASTON Baronet, at his lodging. York; present these. 27. Junii. 1642.  
Noble Sir,  
I Shall ever acknowledge it as an honour done unto me your poor Kinsman and servant, as that you did own me, in being so noble and friendly unto me while I continued at York: As also, the favour you did me, in bringing me to kiss the hands of him, to whom my life, my fortunes, and all that hath dependency on me, hath been ever, and ever shall be laid at His majesty's feet, to do him what service I am able. Sir, this day I have met with my fellow-Commissioners, concerning the Subsidies now in hand; we have chosen a Collector for the gathering of them, and appointed the Country, that they should with all convenient speed pay in the money, which I doubt not but will be within the compass of a fortnight I moved the Commissioners, that the Collectors should keep the money in their hands: But I found they were unwilling of it; I did not press them overmuch to it, in regard that this money is to be paid into the Lord Major of Yorks hands; as also, Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, with many other Counties. If you look into the Act, it will better satisfy you. Sir, I conceive, that if His majesty would be pleased to send to the Lord Major of York, and the Citizens, that they should not part with the moneys until they knew his farther pleasure, it might more properly be stayed there then here, until His majesty be satisfied, that the money go the true way it was intended. But if His majesty like not that way, and that I might know the way how for to stop it here, I would zealously perform it in what lies in my power. And, I hope His majesty will send me a Commission for the acting what I do.  
Sir William Brereton will be upon Saturday (as I hear) at Chester, to settle the Militia of this County for the Parliament if he can; you know what a spirit he is of, and having a company of Roundheads about him, may much advantage him about Chester; he is so near unto his Decoy, that he may send out his Ducks every way to fetch in others: what will be done in contradiction of him, I know not; for I hear nothing of my Lord Strange's stirring yet, nor of any Commission that is come from him. (Sir) I may assure you, that the major part of this Hundred of Manchester, where I live, will stand right. And now I will trouble you no further; only this I should wish from you, to favour me with three or four lines by this Bearer, to know what service I may do unto my King: And that you will be pleased, if there be any News stirring, to impart some of it unto me, and I shall acknowledge it as an extreme favour done unto me; And ever remain  
Your Kinsman, and most true Servant, EDWARD FYTTON. If my Lord Rivers be at Court, I beseech you present my most humble service to him. Gawsworth, 22 June, 1642.   

Die Sabbati, 12, Junii, 1641.  
Resolved upon the Question.  
THat the Clergy of England, Convented in any Convocation or Synod, or otherwise, have no power to make any Constitutions, Canons, or Articles whatsoever, in matter of Doctrine or Discipline, or otherwise, to bind the Clergy or the Laity of this Land, without common consent of Parliament.  
Resolved upon the Question. Nullo contra Dicente.  
THat the several Constitutions and Canons, ecclesiastical, treated upon by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, precedents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury, and York, and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of these Provinces, and agreed upon with Kings majesty's Licence in their several Synods, begun at London and York, 1640. Do not bind the Clergy, or Laity of this Land, or either of them.  
Resolved upon the Question.  
THat these Canons and Constitutions ecclesiastical, treated upon by the Archbishops of Canterbury, and York, precedents of the Convocations, for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York, and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of those Provinces, and agreed upon by the King's majesty's Licence in their several Synods, begun at London and York, in the year 1640. Do maintain in them many matters contrary to the King's Prerogative; To the fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Realm; To the right of Parliaments; To the propriety and liberty of the Subjects, and matters tending to Sedition, and of a dangerous consequence.  

Die Lunae, 27. Junii. 1642.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That these Votes be forthwith Published and Printed.  
Joh. Brown, Cler. Parl.   
FINIS.   

Honourable Sir;  
MAster Shutleworth and myself, being in obedience to the commands of both Houses in our way to Lancashire, and hearing as we found it true, that by colour of a Letter from the King to Sir John Girlington the high sheriff of that County, public Summons was given through all or most part of the County, that all the Protestant Subjects therein, should the next day appear at Preston, to hear read the last Lancashire Petition to the King, and his Answer thereunto, and his majesty's 2. last Declarations to that of both Houses of the 19 and that of the 26. of May, we by the way discharged some, with whom causually met of their appearance, & willed them to do the like to their neighbours, and from the Constable of Standish, we took a warrant directed to him alone, for the summoning of all within that Township, which warrnat had that very day being Sunday, been published in Standish Church, by Master Chaddock the Parson thereof; and we did that night repair to Preston, whither the next morning being the 20. of this instant June, the high sheriff accompanied with the Lord Strange his eldest son a child, the Lord Mollineux, son in law to the Lord Strange, and divers other Gentlemen resorted, and thither also then came about five thousand persons upon the said Summons, whom the sheriff did then draw out to a great Moor adjoining, called Preston Moor, but before the sheriff went forth, we, who by the shortness of time▪ could convene no other of the Committee, or of the rest of the Deputy-Lieutenants, acquainted the sheriff, that we with others, as a Committee of both Houses, Whereby them sent down for the preservation of the peace of the County, and showed him such parts of our instructions as enjoined his obedience thereunto, and conduced to the present occasion, and we demanding, he acknowledged that he, upon the said Letter, had caused the people to be summoned and convened to the purpose aforesaid, and showed us the Letter, but not the Declarations, we told him we feared the publishing of the Declarations might tend to the raising of a faction or party against the Parliament, and we therefore admonished and advised him to forbear the doing, publishing, or dispersing any thing of that nature, & we further demanding, he told us that he had a Commission of Array, directed to the Lord Strange, to himself, to Sir George Midleton, now lately made Baronet at York, Sir Alexander Radcliffe, Master Tildesley of Mierscough, Master William Farington, and others, and that when the people were drawn together, he would acquaint them with that Commission, and that he would also proclaim the King's Proclamation, of 27. of May, which as he affirmed, he had already caused to be proclaimed in many places, we thereupon wished him to forbear it, and afterwards according to our instructions, we tendered unto him, and required him in the name of the Lords and Commons, to read and publish to the people, several books containing the Declaration of the Lords and Commons, concerning the said Proclamation, and the supposed Statute, d. 7. Edw. 1. as also the Votes of both Houses, made the 20. of May last, with sundry Articles or Acts of Parliament, to confirm the same; but he refused to publish them or to receive them from our hands, and when the people were assembled, he and his under sheriff, Master Thomas Danfon; and Robert Male, a Popish Recusant, and others, did then read unto them the said Letter, Lancashire Petition and answer, the two last Declarations of the King, and the sheriff himself showed unto them the Commission of Array, under the great Seal of England, but before these passages were ended, the assembly went away, except as we believe about 6, or 700, persons, in whose presence we called to the sheriff, and told him that we were to speak unto him, in the name of the Lord▪ & Commons assembled in Parliament, and were to acquaint him with our instructions, concerning his Commission of Array, and his intermeddling with the Militia of the County, but he refused to stay to hear them, and then according to our instructions, we did in the name of the Lords and Commons of England, require and command him to deliver unto us that commssiion of Array, to be by us sent to the Parliament, or to give us his answer, and thereupon he denied to deliver that Commission, & Master Tidlesley of Mierscough told us we should receive an answer from York, we also in the name of the Lords and Commons commanded the sheriff and all his fellow Commissioners in that Commission of Array, to forbear the execution thereof, and all the people to forbear to obey the same, at which the sheriff departed, and he and divers about him cried out, all that are for the King go with us, crying For the King, for the King, and so about 400. persons, whereof very many, and as we believe the greater part were Popish Recusants went with him, and rid up and down the Moor, and cried, For the King, For the King, but the rest then staying with us, we proceeded and declared unto them, that we and others were sent down by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the preservation of the peace of this County, and that both Houses and ourselves in particular, ever had done and ever would do, all things tending to the safety honour, and peace of the King's person, & his kingdoms, and nothing to the contrary, and wished them not to divide between the King and Parliament, but to stand for the King and Parliament, whereupon with a general acclamation, they prayed for the King and the Parliament, we then wished all high Constables, and petty Constables, and others then present, to be attentive, and we read unto them such parts of the instructions as were applicable to the present passages, and the Militia of the County, concerning which we told them, that all the Deputy Lieutenants appointed by the Parliament, were forthwith to meet, and therefore we but being two, would give no further direction therein till that time, and then they should receive further advertisements how to behave themselves, and in the mean time we advised them not to suffer themselves to be drawn into arms without direction from the Parliament, and so we dismissed the assembly, Sir George Midleton, and Master Thomas Tildesley of Meriscough, and Master Thomas Prestwiche, whose wives are Popish Recusants, and Master William Farington a Justice of peace, were in our judgements, the most busy and active, and they assisted, countenanced, & abetted the sheriff in all the aforesaid passages, and therein pressed and urged him forward, who of himself was thereunto sufficiently inclined, and whilst these things were in acting upon the Moor, Will. Su●pner, servant to Master William Farington, who during his late Deputy Lieutenancy, had placed in a private house in Preston, about 13. barrels of Gunpowder, and some quantity of Match, did secretly convey away about 6. barrels thereof, in Packcloathes upon Packhorses, and the next morning about 6. of the clock and before, we had notice in whose house that Powder and Match was lodged the sheriff did convey away out of the town and Liberties of Preston, the residue of the said Powder and Match, which being made known to me, I forthwith repaired to the sheriff, and showed him the Order of the Lords and Commons, made the 10. of May last, for the disposing of the Magazines, and also a deputation from the Lord Wharton, authorising his Deputy Lieutenants, or any two or more of them, to dispose of the Magazines of Lancashire, and then desired him to cause that powder to be returned to Preston, but he answered that he would not return it, but would keep it and defend it with the power of the County, and the sheriff and Sir George Midleton then said, that that Order should not be obeyed, and I thought it not meet for so small a quantity of Powder and Match, though indeed a very considerable quantity for the time and place, to endeavour a return thereof by force, so that it now remaineth unknown to me where they (who took it) have disposed it: in the last place I make bold to present my opinion, that the Malignant party could not by any passage at the assembly on Preston Moor, distinguish that the affections of any considerable part thereof, inclined unto them, and I verily believe that we lost not, but gained by that day's work, for the safety and peace of the King and kingdom, yet concerning the sheriff, I considering the man, and the command incident to his place, the great number of Papists, the great store of Horses for service, now amongst them, the many Popish Protestant Professors and other Malignant persons, you may peradventure fear, that thereby we shall receive discouragement, unless your timely and full assistance be extended to us, & the other here entrusted by you, but however I trust in God, with the issue & sequel, his Majeststy shall find the loyalty, and you the fidelity, and industry of  
Your humble servant, Alex. Rigby.   

Sir,  
THe reason why Master Shutleworth subscribed not this Letter, is, for that before it could be made up, I was by many of my fellow Deputy Lieutenants, upon the occasions mentioned in their and my Letters, herewith sent suddenly, called away from Preston to Manchester, whether Master Shutleworth is not yet come, pardon I pray you the foulness of the Letter, in regard of the shortness of time, and multiplicity of our occasions.  
Manchester in Lancashire, the 24. of June, 1642.   

SIR,  
IN obedience to the Instructions (which I well endeavour punctually to observe) I have taken the boldness humbly to present you this Account, that upon my first access into these parts, I distributed the deputations and Instructions to the several Deputy Lieutenants therein concerned, and we have appointed a meeting of all the Deputy Lieutenants and captains in the County, upon Monday next: In the mean time it shall be the work of my endeavour, to dispose and incline the country to contribute their assistance to the public service, which I suspect may be the more difficultly obtained, because it is confidently believed and expected by many (who prepare accordingly) that his majesty intends within short time to come into these parts, and to prepare the country for his assistance and entertainment, hath issued a Commission of Array to the Lord Strange, wherein (it is credibly affirmed) there is joined in the Commission the Lord Kilmorrey Cholmondly and Brereton, Sir George Booth, Sir Richard Wilbraham, Sir Edward Fitton, Sir Thomas Aston, and Our sheriff, Master Leigh of Addlington, Master Thomas Cholmondly, Master Thomas Cotton, Master Whitmore, and others, some whereof have declared and discovered too much forwardness therein, though I hope one or two of them will be better advised.  
Because therefore it is apprehended that at the same time and places they will attempt to put the Commission in execution when the Ordinance touching the Militia is likewise to be executed.  
Give me leave (I beseech you) to represent this to your consideration, that so such further directions may be added to the former as may be thought requisite. For by the former (as may appear unto you by this clause herein closed) it seems to be intended, that the power and strength of the County is to be employed for the suppressing of such Assemblies, and for the apprehending and sending up all such persons as shall after admonition and command to the contrary persist, which is not to be expected to be ●ffected without force and violence, which being once entered into, may not be suddenly composed and allayed, nor perhaps made good, unless we can dispossess them of the country powder, which is in the public magazine in their hands, so as the country is much wanting, save only that which is in private hands.  
Notwithstanding we will use our best endeavours, within a short time to possess ourselves of the magazine, and what may be the further pleasure of the Parliament shall be observed by him, who will always make it a chief work of his duty to obey their command, And to yourself in particular, to approve myself,  
Your most faithful friend and servant Will. Brereton. Chester 24 June 1642.   

Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament.  
THat Sir John Girlington, Sir George Middleton, and Sir Edward Fitton, be forthwith sent for as delinquents.  
Resolved, &c.  
That the Lord Strange be required to deliver that part of the magazine of the County of Lancaster (seized by his Lordship) into the hands of the Deputy Lieutenants of that County appointed by the Ordinance for the Militia.  

Lunae 27 Iunii 1642.  
Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That these Votes and four Letters be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Jo. Browne Clerr. Paliamentorum.   
FINIS.