A true RELATION Of the TRANSACTION Of the Commands of both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT in the execution of the Militia in the County of LEICESTER. By the right Honourable Henry Earl of Stamford, Lord Lieutenant of the said County. The honourable the Lord Ruthen, Sir Arthur Haselrigge Knight, Deputy Lieutenants, and others subservient to the same Commands. Performed in the town and County of Leicester aforesaid, before and upon Wednesday the two and twentieth of June 1642. With the Votes of both Houses of Parliament, dissanuling his majesty's illegal Commission of array.  

Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, that this execution of the Militia for Leicester-shire, with these Votes, be forthwith published in Print.  
Ioh. Brown Cler. Parliam.   
LONDON, Printed for George Lindesay, and for all those who truly love and honour the King and Parliament, and desire their Amity and Unity. July 5. 1642.   

A Relation of the execution of the Ordinance of Parliament touching the Militia.  
ON Saturday the fourth of June the Earl of Stamford came to Leicester, where his Lordship issued out his warrants to all the head Constables to summon all the Trained, and desired all the private men within their several divisions to appear before him, or his Deputies at the town of Leicester on Wednesday following. Afterwards the very same Saturday, came a messenger from York with a writ to the high sheriff, to send forth his majesty's Proclamations to the contrary. Notwithstanding the warrants being sent out by the head Constables, the country came in, both Trained soldiers, private men and volunteers, far beyond expectation, who generally declared themselves for the King and Parliament.  
But the said Earl, thought fit again the week following to appoint the five companies of the Trained Bands to appear severally in such convenient places as might be most for their ease, and least chargeable, and thereupon they came.  
The first on Tuesday, June the fourteenth, to Broughton-Ashley, where appeared above an hundred volunteers, and the Trained and private men, all save only out of one division, the head Constable thereof being persuaded by the Parson of the town, where he lives, refusing to send out his warrants; and yet out of that division, the Trained soldiers and private men in many towns came in without warning.  
The second, on Wednesday at Kibworth, where there was a very good appearance, except some of the Clergy, with above an hundred volunteers.  
The third, on Thursday at Melton Mowbray, where they made: general appearance.  
The fourth, upon Friday at Ruinborough, where the appearance was very good, considering how many great Papists and ill affected people live thereabouts.  
The last, on Monday at the Coptoake, there was a general appearance of the Trained and private men with two hundred volunteers at the least. And in every one of these places, very many of the country men came to the said Earl, and desired him to help them to arms for their own defence, and the public safety.  
And after his return home from that days Muster▪ he was advertised that Richard Hawford, Sir John Bale Knight, John ●ate Esquire, had prevailed with Mr. Major of Leicester to set a guard upon the remainder of the Magazine left at that place, and that one of that worthy gentleman's servants should watch the same, together with divers desperate fellows of that town; the Earl repaired thither, accompanied with the Lord Ruthen, Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr. Thomas Bramour, and divers other Gentlemen of good worth in that County, and commanded the Major to remove away the remainder of the Powder, Match and Bullets, and put it into a place of more strength and safety.  
But on Wednesday the fifteenth of June, as the said Earl returned from Kibworth, he heard at Leicester that Mr. Henry Hastings Esquire, was immediately before come thither from York with a commission of array. So the said Earl having first given advertisement thereof to the Parliament, removed very early the next morning a great part of the Magazine from the town of Leicester for more security to his own house. That day being Thursday, Master Hastings caused the under sheriff (in the absence of 〈◊〉 high sheriff) to send forth warrants in the high sheriff's name, to the whole County, as well Trained soldiers, private men and the Clergy should come to Leicester according to his commission, there to be mustered upon the Wednesday following. In the interim, the said Earl having notice given him from divers persons, of many menacing words cast forth against him, tending to the hazard of his life, and destruction of his house; on Monday the said Earl set a guard about his house of an hundred and fifty of his neighbours, tenants and servants, who hearing the report, came and offered themselves to do him service, whom he maintained at his own charge.  
On Tuseday early in the morning a messenger from the high Court of Parliament, did attach the under sheriff for sending forth warrants by virtue of the commission of array, and with a sufficient guard carried him away to the Parliament.  
In the afternoon Master Hastings being newly returned again from York, came to Loughborough, and hearing that the under sheriff was gone, sent out again other warrants himself to summon all the towns near his abode to come to him at Loughborough betimes the next morning, & being the Master of certain Cole-mines he caused all his horses belonging to the engines, to be in a readiness, and there raised about one hundred colliers out of Darbishire, whom he had armed with Pikes, Muskets and Calivers, and few or none of the Trained Bands coming into him▪ he assembled his friends (many of them Papists & such others as are ill affected towards the proceedings of Parliament) at Loughborough on Wednesday morning, where, and at Ashby-de-la-zouch he bought up all the powder and old troopers saddles that on the sudden could be got: when all were come in together, he made proclamations that whosoever wanted arms should be furnished from Garradon Abbey, and other Popish places, as is credibly repotted; and so they marched with drums and colours towards Leicester, eight miles distant, himself still marching before them when they came near a town.  
Within three miles of the town of Leicester, he caused powder, match and bullets to be delivered to every musketeer, and commanded by a Sergeant that every man should charge with powder and bullet, which was done immediately, and match lighted, and so himself marched in the head of them into the town of Leicester, and commanded they should not discharge till the word of command was given.  
The Earl of Stamford having intelligence of his march by Scouts which he sent abroad, might have laid his ambuscado, and by the advantage of the way have cut them all off, for the said Earl was furnished with about an hundred and fifty musketeers and shot, and twenty good horse well mounted with carabines and pistols, besides the neighbouring towns came running in, offering their lives and fortunes at his dispose, and in effect, the whole County ready and willing to have been raised at his command.  
The provocations were great from Mr. Hastings, and his troops consisting of horse as well as pike men and musketeers, who gave out by the way (to the terror of the people that came affrighted and gave intelligence to the said Earl) that they would fetch away the Magazine from him, fire his house, have his heart blood, and never leave him till they had made him turn up the white of his eyes. Yet the said Earl chose rather to stand upon his guard at home, then to sally out and levy a war, well weighing with himself the misery that might have ensued, not to this County alone, but to the whole kingdom.  
When Mr. Hastings and his company were come into the field, but not in the place where by the warrant he had appointed the country to meet (very few of the Trained Bands obeying that summons) having made a speech, and therein pretended his affection to his country, that he had not a Papist in his company, and that his desire was to avoid the effusion of blood, he began to read his Commission of array.  
Thereupon the high sheriff caused the Votes of both Houses of Parliament to be read, wherein his Commission was voted illegal: So a Messenger from both Houses of Parliament did presently attach him as a delinquent, as also some others of the Commissioners that were present with him, by virtue of a Warrant from the high Court of Parliament. Then notwithstanding his foresaid Oration, divers of his Company both horse and foot did cock their Match and draw out their pistols, and presented them towards the high sheriff: Master Hastings and the rest being much daunted at the unexpected courage and spirit both of the high sheriff and the Messenger, said after they had executed his majesty's Commission they would appear at the Parliament; but the horse pressing upon them (consisting chiefly of the four delinquents their captains, Officers, and Servants, with others, Papists and unknown persons, rescued them, and shot at the Messenger, and two Butchers of Leicester throwing Mr. Hastings on horseback, he drew out his pistols and marched directly with the rest of his company to his inn, and shut up the Gates.  
The Earl of Stamford hearing of the Rescue, sent foam of his Servants to Leicester, to give command to every man that had any soldiers in his house to seize their arms when they were asleep. In the mean while Master Hastings and the rest hearing what men the said Earl had in a readiness, and apprehending that Mr. Sheriff might require his aid, did all thereupon very fairly run away that night at eleven of the clock. So it happened that all or most of their arms were seized upon according to the stratagem proposed, and are now remaining at the dispose of the said Earl of Stamford, the which shall be employed as both Houses of Parliament please to command.  
It is to be remembered that Mr. Hastings had his man at Leicester ready upon the coming down of the Earl of Stamford to carry him word, and that he immediately posted away to York, and brought back with him Proclamations, which he dispersed about the Country, writing himself upon the backside in the nature of a warrant that it was to be conveyed from town to town, and published in every place.  
That the day before the Country was to come in, that he came himself to Leicester & Master Major and the Aldermen being met in the town Hall to advise about the appearance of the trained soldiers in the town (which Master Major promised on Saturday before should come in, if the Earl of Stamford would grant him a warrant which was granted) Master Hastings came to the Hall, and sent for Master Major from his brethren, and so changed his resolution that he utterly refused to issue out any warrants, for which Master Hastings since hath procured a letter of thanks from the King to the Major.  
Notwithstanding the backwardness of the Major, about 100 men, many of the major's brethren, and of the Company of the burrow, with others well affected to the King, Parliament, and kingdom, and the safety of them, came as volunteers well Armed, and many others offered in a short time to provide themselves with arms, to be ready at the next Summons of the Earl of Stamfords to be trained and exercised.  

Die Sabbathi 18. Iunii 1642.  
Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament.  
THat this Commission of array for Leicester is against Law and the Liberty and property of the Subject.  
Die Lunae 20. Irunii, 1642.  
Resolved upon the Question, &c.  
THat all those that are Actors in putting the Commission of array in execution, shall be esteemed as disturbers of the peace of the kingdom, and betrayers of the liberty of the Suject.  
John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.    

A NARATION Of the Service performed by John Chambers, and James Stanforth, by command of both Houses of Parliament touching the Militia.  
ON Saturday the eighteenth of this instant June, 1642. they received at the rising of the House of Commons their warrants against the several Delinquents therein named, viz. Henry Hastings Esquire, son to the Right Honourable the Earl of Huntington, Henry Hastings of Humerston Esquire, Sir Richard Hawford Knight, Master Pate, Sir John Bale Knight, and Master Gregory the undersheriff of the County of Leicester.  
On Monday the 20 of the said month, they came by eleven of the clock in the morning to Broadgate, in the said County, to the House of the Right Honourable the Earl of Stamford; where they were informed that his Lordship, together with the Lord Ruthin, and Sir Arthur Haslerig, were training of soldiers at a place called C●pt oak, three miles distant from the Lord Stamfords house, where the said Chambers and Stanforth waited till the evening, when they returned from the Muster, and presently took horse as the Lords, Sir Arthur Haslerig, and others then presently did, and waited on them to the Town of Leicester; where they attended the said Lords: and Sir Arthur Haslerig, who received information that Sir Richard Hawford had prevailed with Thomas Ruddier the Maior there, to set a Guard on the remainder of the Magazine, and they having sent for the said Maior and Justices of the said Town of Leicester, removed the same from the South-gate, into a strong Tower called Neworks-Gate near the Town; by the approbation of the said Maior, and Justices who were then present that evening, and the next day they waited for further command from their Lordships, and Sir Arthur Haslerig; who being at Leicester; where they heard that Master Henry Hastings, sir Richard Hawford, and others, intended to come in a Warlike manner against them the day following being Wednesday, the 23. of the said June, after the Lords, and Sir Arthur Haslerig had fixed the Votes of both Houses on the In-Gates, where they the said Master Hastings, and the other Delinquents were to lie, and had done what was possible in the business for the time present. About nine of the clock in the morning they departed to the Lord Stamfords, leaving the said Chambers, and Stanforth, together with one Thomas Horton, one of the said Sir Arthurs servants at Leicester, to wait on the said high-sheriff Archdale Palmer Esquite, to manage the business, as the sheriff and they were required.  
On the Wednesday aforesaid, about eight of the clock in the morning, the high-sheriff came to Leicester, attended on by men Armed with swords and javelins to keep the King's Peace there; that being in an inn called the Hearon in Leicester; the said Chambers saw a barrel brought in by a Porter, which he deemed to be Gunpowder, which doubts to satisfy, the Porter was examined: whereupon he confessed, the barrel was filled with gunpowder, and that it was sent thither by Master Andrew Hawford. Son to the said sir Richard Hawford; which Powder, the high-sheriff then seized upon, by power of an Order of the honourable House of Parliament, Dated the eleventh day of June aforesaid.  
That about ten of the clock the said day, one Master Walter Hastings mounted on a Bay stone-horse, with a great saddle and Petronels, in a Warlike manner Rid into the yard of the said inn, and with him the Lord Lovelace, and one Master Killigrew (as they were informed) who traversing up and down the said Yard on horseback, the said Walter Hastings swore that he would eat up the Lord Stamford; to which one of the said gentlemen replied, leave one bit for me, or to the same effect; and than the said Hastings made a short distracted speech to the people saying: What, my friends and countrymen, ye stand for the King and the Hastings, who have ever been true to the Crown: The people answered, we are all for the King and the Parliament. Then the said Hastings required the said sheriff to read His majesty's Proclamation, which (with an oath of God damn him) he the said Hastings swore the sheriff had received; Whereunto the sheriff modestly replied, it was not true; which done, he the said Hastings departed, and the rest of his company, in an outrageous and uncivil manner, swearing and cursing as they rid out of the said inn.  
About two of the clock of the same day, they the said high-sheriff, Chambers, and Stanforth, had intelligence that the said Delinquents, or most of them, with all their Troops and Foot soldiers, to the number of about 300, were met in a Commou or green, called the Horse fair near the said Town, whither they repaired, attended on by the said Sheriff, men on Foot, and found the said Parties there, met some of them on great Horses, with Petronels, and the rest Armed with swords, Muskers, Caleevers, Pikes, and halberds.  
Master Henry Hastings, alighted and told the sheriff, and the rest; he was come thither to execute his majesty's Commission of Array, to himself and others, then granted for that County, and then tendered to the said sheriff two bundles, the one of Proclamations, the other of books, with an imposition on the sheriff to read and publish the same; Master Hastings swearing, he was the King's body and Soul; and the said sheriff being often and very uncivilly pressed by the said Master Hastings, to read and publish the said Proclamations, made this answer: I cannot perform His majesty's single commands, till I have acquainted the Parliament therewith, nor do any thing contrary to their Votes, I am for the King and for the Parliament, (and if I perish, I perish.) Whereupon the said Chambers produced the last Votes of both Houses concerning the illegality of the Commissions of Array, and read the same plainly and openly, endeavouring thereby to let the people hear them so read. And likewise read the last Declaration of both Houses concerning the Militia, concluding with these words; God save the King and Parliament: which words the people plausibly reiterated (except the said Henry Hastings, who (as before) again said, he was the King's body and soul;) and then and there the said Chambers drew forth the Warrants of both Houses, and entreated the people's silence, read them openly, and called the Delinquents Master Henry Hastings, Sir Richard Hawford, Sir John Bale, Master John Pate, they being then and there present and within hearing (as the said Chambers was informed) requiring them at their utmost perils to yield their obedience to the power of the said Warrants; and the said Chambers required the sheriff to keep the King's peace, and to be aiding and assisting unto him the said Chambers in this due execution of the said Warrants. To prevent and utterly hinder the due execution whereof, the said Master Hastings began to read the King's Commission, which being in Latin, and he not being ready therein, did there endeavour to comment upon the meaning thereof in English, which being altogether then unable to do, one Master Edward Palmer the town clerk of Leicester, took the said Commission out of his hand, saying, it ought to be read, who read it in Latin, to which most of the people gave ear, but answered nothing. That done, the said Chambers laid a strict command on the said sheriff to have a special care of the said Delinquents, and required them likewise to obey: which words the said Sir Richard Hawford hearing (being very near to the said Chambers) answered thus, viz. When this his majesty's great business is over, then I'll come to you Master sheriff, and give such security for my attendance on the Parliament as shall be fitting. Master Hastings also willed the said Chambers to repair to the angel in Leicester, where all the Delinquents (as he said) intended to lodge that night, where he should have civil deportment from them; which he much doubted, seeing their carriage before in the Field to be so outrageous  
Immediately after that Master Hastings pretended he would divide the Troopers and soldiers into four parts, and call them by their names; but having severed them for his own advantage, to gain his Horse, he was (by two rude Butchers, one by name Henry Cotes, as the said Chambers was informed) lifted up into his great Saddle, and a petronel ready cocked given into his hands, by one of the said Butchers. Then the cavaliers and the rest of the soldiers joining with the rude multitude, and about four and twenty Parsons in canonical Coats, well horsed, rid all towards the town with loud exclamations, a KING, a KING, others, for the KING, for the KING, in a strange and unheard of manner; captain Worsley giving the Word of command to the soldiers, Make ready, Make ready; which as they were providing to do, a sudden and extraordinary abundance of rain falling, the soldiers were hindered from firing.  
Then the said Master Walter Hasting endeavoured to ride over the said Chambers, who to prevent that, got up a high bank, whereon a rude fellow standing struck him with a club on the breast, and with the violence thereof the said Chambers fell backward into a ditch, but as soon as his strength served him to recover himself, he made all the haste he possibly could towards the town to escape murdering: then they followed Master sheriff, Chambers and Stanforth crying out at the Cap, at the Cap, which was at that time on Chambers his head, and one of the persons endeavoured to ride over the said sheriff, another of them would have ridden over the said Stanforth, and Master Walter Hastings gave fire at Chambers with one of his Petronels, but the same did not discharge; so they got to the said inn with much hazard, who afterwards were in forced, for their own safety, to stand upon their guard; and being very much tired, were unable that night to do any further service, except the writing of a Letter, which Chambers did, and recommended the same to the Lord Stamford, and the rest to satisfy what done, and to have further direction what was fitting after to be done therein; which directions about one of the clock in the morning were, that the said Chambers and Stanforth should by the assistance of the said sheriff, and the Major, and Justices of Leicester, use their best power and endeavour to surprise the said Delinquents: But they too sensible of their ill carriage and misdemeanour, privately in the evening had got away, leaving the soldiers behind them. About two of the clock the said morning, the said Chambers and Stanforth, with the assistance of the Justices and other townsmen, with about forty persons more, made several searches in inns and other drinking-houses, where they found many soldiers laid in bed, some on the bed, but most of them distempered with drink; and then seized on their arms, and caused them to be carried to the sheriff in the said inn, viz. one great Saddle, three Petronels, and about one hundreth Pikes, one lance, above threescore Muskets and Caleevers, about twenty Swords, and four long pieces about seven foot in length. All which the said Chambers and Stanforth, and others of the sheriff's men, searching, found charged some with Bullets, some with half Bullets, and others with goose shot very deeply and dangerously; which ammunition being left in the sheriff's custody, part of them were delivered to some of the train Band, and the rest presented by the said Chambers to the Lord Stamford.  
Then the said Chambers being further informed that Master Henry Hastings had procured about an hundred and twenty Colliers out of Darbishire, to attend him to Leicester; upon the like search, the said Chambers with Stanforth being accompanied with the said Justices and townsmen, found two of them, who confessed they were poor Darbishire Colliers, neither trained men, nor men that had at any time before that born arms for any other, and that they and their fellows were commanded to come to Leicester in aid of his Majesty, and their Master the said Master Hastings; which said Colliers never appeared before the sheriff to demand or receive their arms, but got privately away: the Major in the whole progress of this business, seemed backward to do any thing for the Parliament, and as forward to further Master Hastings in the business aforesaid. The effect of which proceedings the said Chambers and Stanforth thought fit humbly to present to the construction and grave consideration of this honourable Assembly; ready always to prostrate themselves and service at your further commands,  


John Chambers,  
James Stanforth.    
FINIS.