THE DECLARATION AND RESOLUTJON OF THE Knights, Gentry, and Freeholders' of the COUNTY of KENT, Now in Arms for the defence and preservation of the King's Majesties Royal Person, ●he Privileges of the Subjects, and the Laws and Liberties of the Freeborn People of this NATION.  
With their Resolution touching the Army; and a●l others that shall oppose them.  
And their randevouzing at Black-Heath, and their Skirmish with a Party of the G●nerals horse, with the manner thereof, and their taking of divers Pieces of Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition.  
May 29. London, Printed for R. W. Anno Dom. 1648.   

A DECLARATJON OF THE Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders' of the County of KENT  
THat the innocency of our intentions, and Justice of undertake, may more clearly appear to all men of uncorrupt understandings, and hearts not made too servile by the long and odious custom of oppression: We the Knights, Gentlemen, and Franchlins of the County of Kent, the most free people of this late Flourishing Nation; by the wisdom and valour of our Ancestors, delivered from the Laws of a Conqueror, and to these late days unhappy confusion and distraction enjoying the same, through all the Reigns of the most glorious victorious Kings and Princes of this Nation: Do hereby declare and manifest to all the world, That our assembling and meeting together at this time, is no other than for a vindication of ourselves and purposes, from the scandal, and aspersions of the Committee of this County; who upon occasion of a Petition in behalf of the County of Kent, assented and subserbed to by the Grand Jury at the Sessions of the Judges upon an especial Commission of Oyer and Terminer executed at the Castle of Canterbury the 11. of May last, for the said County; not only made Orders agoinst the same, and commanded them publicly to be read in all Churches sentencing & condemning the said Petition and all the Abetors thereof: and have summoned the Troops of Horse, and Forces of Foot of this County for suppresion of the said Petition: which tends not only to the suppression of the Liberty, even of the most enslaved persons of the world; but also as much as in them lies, endeavour upon any causes whatsoever, which suits not with their humours, to over ●we the senses of other men, and upon opposition therein think they have ground enough to take away the lives and Fortunes, or both, of their said opposers.  
In consideration of which, and that now the said Committee finding themselves unable to involve this County in blood; have made their address to the Parliament, and Army; and make strange and malicious representations, of our purposes, thereby discovering nothing so much as their own pride and malice. We the said Knights, Gentlemen, and Frree-Yeomen of the County of Kent do herein appeals to a●l the world to judge, If it were not high time for us to put ourselves in●o a posture of Defence; & do further declare, that we will prosecute our said petition with our lives and fortunes, not doubting of a fair reception from the two houses of Parliament; whom we know to have been instigated against us by the said Committee: And therefore saving to ourselves the enlarging of the said Committee with increasing the Taxes of this County above the du● proportions, and only for maintaining their own private luxury and pride; with usurping a power over the Estate and Fortunes of this County not grafted in them, and expressed by words and actions, all along the exercise os th●s power, (which m●kes them unfit for rule) to the exasperating of the people's hearts into all annimomosity, and overthrowing of all love and peace in this County: which also hath been followed to that height of prosecution, That had not two Houses given a stop to their exorbitant proceed, we had suffered much more uder the torment of these men's projected designs: wherein we acknowledge ourselves to have been secured in the temper and moderation of the Houses. we have no more to say or do, but to defend ourselves, till we can have a right understanding of our purposes and action before the Houses. In the mean time, we shall look upon all opposition, as the provocation of a conscious and enraged Committee, and in respect of the invasion lately made upon the persons of our Neighbours we think fit not to lie at the mercy of Soldiers, but to have refuge to our Arms, from which no threats or face of Soldiery shall drive us, knowing well the justice of our cause, and the temper of our ow● hearts.   

An exact and full Relation of the proceed of the Kentish-men, and the manner of their Fight at Dedford, with the Parliaments Forces.  
SIR,  
ON Friday last being the 26 of this instant the Kentish-men boarded a Pinnace that lay on the River, and seized on all the Arms and Ammunition, and took all her Ordnance, which they landed near Dedford, and planted them in two or three passages, placing their Guards both of horse and foot; then they marched to New-Cross, & with Carts, harrows, and such like materials blocked up the passages to stop the Parliaments horse in their march, and placed two Drakes at a Court of Guard there; from thence they went to Dedford bridge, and did the like: the colours which their Ensigns bore were white and red. Their body of horse and foot (which at this time consisted of about 800.) randezvouzed at Black-heath, where divers other of the country forces made their appearance.  
Also this evening divers Gentlemen and Esquires went from this town over into Essex, to know their resolutions; but what answer they received, as yet I cannot hear; but they are assured from Surrey, that before Sunday morning, they will bring to their assistance 5000, men completely armed. On Saturday about five of the clock in the afternoon came in five Companies more to Black-health with yellow Colours, at whose approach the Body gave such a shout, that they made the place to ring. It is confidently reported, that they expected to be about 16000 before Sunday at noon, and this Evening they took four Drakes out of another Ship which lay upon the River over against Detford. This day likewise they put themselves into a posture of defence, and made choice of their Officers both Horse and Foot, and it it is reported, that they intent to choose the Earl of Thanet General. On Saturday in the morning about three of the clock, a party of Horse belonging to Col. Rich his Regiment, faced the Guard at New Cross, where both parties fired at each other, but the Kentish horse pursuing them, and returning, met some of their own foot (who went over the fields, and thought to have engaged Col. Riches horse) and had like to have falu upon them, but that they presently gave them the word, God grant a happy uniting betwixt both parties, and stop the further effusion of blood, which shall be the constant prayers of him, who remains  
Greenwich 27. May, 1648. Your obliged Friend, G. MALLOTT.   
FINIS.