A Declaration of the Committee for the safety of the County of Southampton, sitting at Winton the 9th day of June. 1648.  

Southamp. County.  WHereas it is notoriously known, that divers who have been in arms against the Parliament, and other persons ill affected to the present peace and quietness, which by God's blessing we have of late enjoyed, have upon a specious pretence of Petitioning the Parliament for a speedy settlement and ease against all Burdens and Taxes, drawn together great multitudes of People in a riotous and warlike manner: And after they have once got into a considerable Body, then led them on into desperate attempts, to the great hazard of inflaming the kingdom again into a new and fatal war, whereby the Parliament is not only retarded and hindered in the settlement of the Peace and Government of this kingdom, but also very sad effects have lately happened to the said Counties by such tumultuous and disorderly Petitioning by great effusion of blood, as in Kent, and in other neighbour Counties. And we being credibly informed that the like unlawful and dangerous practices are beginning to be set on foot in some parts of this County bordering on Surrey and Sussex, by sending copies of the said Petitions of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, (in all which is the same matter) unto such persons as are ill affected to the peace and quiet of this County, thereby labouring and endeavouring to make the same disturbance in this County, as they have so unhappily done in others, to the almost undoing of the same, by making them the seat of a war; besides their spilling of so much Christian blood.  
We do therefore according to the duty we owe unto God, and this our County, hereby give notice and warning to all the Inhabitants of this County, to take heed of, and forbear all Tumultuous meetings, whether upon pretence of reading, setting hands too, promoting any such Petitions, or upon any other pretences whatsoever. And for farther prevention of such mischiefs and unhappy accidents, we do hereby require all Mayors, Constables, and other Officers to be careful and vigilant, to find out, and apprehend all such as they shall find active in drawing together unlawful Assemblies of people to any such or other pretence whatsoever. And to apprehend and bring them before us, or some of his majesty's Justices of the Peace for this County, to be proceeded against as disturbers of the Peace. We do likewise think meet to advise all others whatsoever, as they desire the continuance of the Peace and quiet of this County, to be aiding and assisting for the suppressing and quietting any such disorders.  
This is to be published in every Parish-Church in the County of Southampton by the Minister of every respective Parish on the next Lord's day after the receipt hereof.  


Fran: Tilney Vic: Com:  
Robert Wallop.  
Henry Mildmay.  
Thomas Jervoise.  
Robert Reynolds.  
John Feilder.  
John Wolveridge.  
Richard Moor.  
Richard Major.  
Nicholas Love.  
Francis Rivet.  
William Jepson.  
Henry Bromfeild.  
William Pitt.  
Thomas Husey.  
Thomas Creswell.  
John Evelin.