THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The Duke of Buckingham, and the Earls of Holland, and Peterborough, and other Lords and Gentlemen now associated for the KING and Parliament, the Religion, laws, and Peace of His majesty's kingdoms.  
WITH Three Letters (delivered July the 6.) One to the House of Peers; another to the House of Commons: And the third to the Ld. Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City, in common-council, Assembled.  
LONDON, Printed in the year, 1648.   

THE DECLARATION OF The Right Honourable The Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and the Earls of HOLLAND and PETERBOROUGH, &c.  
FInding this conjuncture to be the proper time, when this wearied kingdom may be delivered from those miseries, it both hath and may apprehend yet to feel, by such persons, as are ill-affected to our peace; who at this time without authority or Commissions, disperse themselves into all parts, to raise Forces, with no other intention, but to continue a bloody and intestine war, which may prove dangerous to the whole kingdom from the assistance they find by the Committees of the several Counties, who have so abused their power and the people, by an arbitrary way of Government, as they shun and apprehend nothing more than what we shall endeavour and seek, Peace, and a well-settled Government; and therefore that the whole kingdom may be satisfied upon what grounds and principles we go to oppose and prevent this mischief and danger, we do here declare that we do take up arms for the KING and Parliament, Religion and the known Laws, and peace of all His majesty's kingdoms: professing before Almighty God, that we have no other design in this undertaking, but to see this well, and speedily established, and will with readiness and joy lay them down whensoever God shall give us the enjoyment of this blessing, professing that whatsoever may be our success and prosperity in this good Cause, we shall not say by way of menace to the Parliament, that we will use the power God hath put into our hands, but shall bless God that he hath made us the instruments to serve the KING, the Parliament and kingdom in the way of peace, in a just and equal composure between them; and we hope the City and the kingdom, will well weigh and consider whether they may not more reasonably and conscionably join with us in these pious and peaceable resolutions, then with those Forces that have by their breach of faith, and their disobedience, kept up the Sword, when those that delivered it into their hands, commanded the laying of it down; which disobedience hath brought this fresh storm of blood, that is now falling upon this kingdom, and all those fears and confusions that Petitions daily show to be in the thoughts and apprehensions both of the City and the whole kingdom: we might add sad circumstances that are of late discovered and broken out concerning HIS majesty's Person, and likewise a confused and levelling undertaking to overthrow Monarchy, and to turn order that preserves all our lives and fortunes into a wild and unlimited confusion; but we desire not to express any thing with sharpness, since our ends and pursuit is only peace; which shall appear to all the world, whensoever we may see a personal Treaty so begun with His Majesty as we may expect a happy conclusion by it, that cannot follow but by a Cessation of arms, which in all parts of the world hath accompanied these Treaties, even between the bitterest enemies, Christians & Turks, much more to be expected in these our civil Divisions amongst ourselves, for the Sword should not be in action as long as a Treaty of peace is in agitation, since accidents of hostility on both sides will sharpen and divide us rather then close and unite us. This we thought fit both to desire and to declare that the discourses that may be raised upon our actions, may not have power to abuse the kingdom, as if we did only move in a way to set up His Majesty in a tyrannical power, rather than in His just regal government, the which hath been always found in this Nation, very well consistent with the due rights and freedoms of Parliament, the which we do here most faithfully protest the endeavouring a preservation of, and call God to witness of our sincerity in this intention.  


Holland.  
G: Buckingham.  
Peterborough.     

For the Right Honourable, the Speaker of the House of Peers.  
My Lord,  
WE do here take away your jealousies by giving you a clear knowledge of our designs; which if you shall be pleased to communicate to the House of Peers, we hope they will find, we do not vary from those principles and grounds, we have been engaged in, both from His Majesty and the Parliament, which God give them grace so to think, and advise upon it, as His Majesty may find His just rights, according to our Covenant and Declarations, and the Parliament rise and recover the dignity due unto them, by a speedy way of settling the peace of this distracted kingdom.  
Your lordship's most humble Servants, 

G. BUCKINGHAM.  
HOLLAND.  
PETERBOROUGH.    
The same to the House of Commons.   

To the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City in common-council Assembled.  
HAving a long time beheld the sad calamities and miseries of these Kingdoms, and finding no other means for redress, We are forced into this undertaking, which we desire may be rightly understood of all that are well-affected, especially of this City, whose actions and endeavours do sufficiently evidence their good affections. To this end we have enclosed a brief account of our intentions, which we hope may give satisfaction both to you, and the whole kingdom, whose assistance, (with God's blessing) we desire no farther, than our designs are real for the good and happiness both of the KING, Parliament, and kingdom, according to our Covenant,  
Your humble Servants, 

G. BUCKINGHAM.  
HOLLAND.  
PETERBOROUGH.     
FINIS.