A DECLARATION of the Great and weighty Affairs and Matters of Consequence concerning this Kingdom. Also the several Orders made by the House of Parliament, March 22, 1641. With some Remarkable Occurrences from Holland, and the Kingdom of IRELAND. Printed by Order of the House of Parliament, March 22. 1641. Hen. Elsinge, Cler. Parl. Dom. Com. LONDON, Printed for John Thomas. 1641. Express Commands from both the Honourable Houses of Parliament. WHereas the Abuses and Usurpations of the Papists in their Religion, hath given cause to the poor Subjects of this his Majesty's Kingdom, to present divers Peitions unto this Honourable Assembly; therein desiring relief and deliverance from their eminent grievances, appearing by reason of their too much power over them, and overmuch duty towards the Pope; by which occasion they deny that authority and supremacy belonging to his Majesty over the Church, contributing the same unto his Holiness, who is their supreme head; as also, being men of abilities for the most part, they use extreme rigour towards chose Tenants, who are Protestants, not only in the way of exaction of their due before the time it should grow payable, but also by raising their Rents yearly, by renewing of Fines, and laying other exactions upon them; we therefore having been moved often in this behalf, taking it into our consideration have Ordered concerning the same, as followeth. 1 That all Papists and Recusants within this his Majesty's Kingdom of England and Wales, of what condition, state, or ability soever, denying to take the Oath of Supremacy, administered unto them by a Justice of the Peace, be forthwith committed to prison in his Majesty's Goaie next adjoining, unless they give security for their appearance at the next Sessions, their surety being bound in the value of 1000 l. to produce the party, or parties so denying the same. 2 Concerning those Knights and Gentlemen within this Kingdom, who are Recusants, and whose Tenants are Prokestants: It is Ordered, that the Rent of their Lands, Leases House, or houseroom be valued and paid for according to the proportion that other Neighbours adjoining, shall pay to their Protestant Landlords, there being deducted out of the said sum upon every pound to be distributed to the poor, the sum of twelve pence. 3 That as for those persons Papists, who shall be proved to have any mutual concurrence with the Rebels in Ireland in these ways, either for supplies of Victual, contribution of money, loan, or such like, their goods be confiscate to the King, and those that shall desire the same, shall have a reward from the Parliament. The Order concerning fortifying His Majesty's Forts and Castles. THere being likewise divers Petitions delivered to this Honourable Assembly, to free them from those fears of Innovations, by reason of his Majesty's Forts in the County of South-hampton, and the Isle of Wight, not being Fortified as they ought to have been in some of them; there being not above two, others three pieces of Ordnance, fit for service: also others not having Powder and Ammunition to ressist Innovations; For the amendment of which, and Removal of the Country Grievances, it was Ordered: 1 That the Cattles of Yarmouth, the Cows Hurst Castle, Southside Castle, Dunse Castle Morby Port, Newston Port in the Isle of Wight, the Castles of Weymouth, Purbeck; Nelson. Holibey, Darkingdon, Mockliffe, Painswick, Harrowbey, Bantum, Walloway, Aggerton, and Vestoll in the County of Dorsot. The Castles of Tanton Dean, Appleby, Brownsoad, Bridgwater, Pimbley, and Norton in the County of Somerset, with all other his Majesty's Castles within the aforesaid Dominions, should be every one provided with 100 of the best and most ablest men, near and neighbouringly adjoining to the said Castles, chosen out of the Train-Bands of the said Counties; and such as shall not fail in performance of their duty therein. 2. That every one of the said Castles be fortifled with ten pieces of Ordnance at the least, well mounted, and sit for service. 3 That the Captain of the Castle be a man noted for a Religious person, and not given to the Catholic Roman Religion, but to be careful of performing that duty imposed upon his charge. But if in case they shall prove otherwise, upon just complaint and proof thereof be discharged; according to the Order now Enacted. 4 That to every of the aforesaid Castles, there be allowed as many Guns as Ordnance; besides, every Gunner to have his Matise or man to attend him. An Order made by the House of Parliament, concerning the suppressing of those men, that are gathered together in a warlike manner in the County of Durham. WHereas by Letters written by the Sheriff, and divers justices of peace of the County of Durham, to an Honourable Member of this House, and this day read in this house, It doth appear that great Multitudes of People have of late assembled themselves at several times, in several places of that County, to the number of three or four Hundred in one Company in Warlike manner, upon a pretence of pulling down some inclosurs, which they have already done in a very outrageous manner in some parts of the County, and threaten to do the like in other parts, And for that, this House conceiveth that such tumultuous and disorderly meetings are altogether in themselves unlawful, and may in these times prove of very dangerous consequence. It is therefore this day, Ordered by the House of Commons, that the Justices of peace of the said County shall make diligent inquitie after the names of such Persons, as were the chief Leaders in the said tumultuous assemblies, or any of them and certify their names forthwith to this House, that such speedy and exemplary courses may be held against them as to Law and Justice appertains. And for the f●…e it is farther Ordered, that if any tumultuous assemblies or routs of people, upon any pretence whatsoever shall at any time hereafter be made in any part of the said County, that the said justices of peace & Sheriff shall by all ways and means possible endeavour to suppress the same, and that if need be, the Sheriff shall go with the power of the County to arrest such offenders and Riotours and shall Arrest them, and the said Justices and Sheriff shall record that which they shall so find done in their presence against the Law, and if it happen that such trespassers and offenders shall be scattered and departed before the coming of the said Justices and Sheriff, that the said Justices or any three or two of them shall diligently inquire after such assembly and Rout of people so made, and shall do therein, what by the Statute and Laws of this Realm they are enabled to do, and they are hereby further required to certify the names of offenders and their further proceed in the premises to this House, That in case such offenders shall by their Multitudes as otherwise evade such punishment as the Justices of the Peace can inflict upon them. Then this House may take the same into further consideration and take such courses for Punishing the offenders as inJustice shall be thought meet. Nevertheless this House doth further declare, that if any Person or Persons whatsoever be injured by any enclosure of late made in this County without just Warrant of Law or consent of parties upon their address to this House by Petiton otherwise of their just complaint. This House will be careful to take speedy course for their relief as shall be agreeable to Justice. And will also take into consideration in due time the Petition now remaining before them: against the Bishop of Durham and others, for their inclosuers. And the Sheriff of the County is likewise hereby required to publish this Order that it may be taken notice of throughout the County. The Copy of a Letter, written by Master William Nowton, one of the Gentleman Vshets unto the Lady Elizabeth, unto his Brother Francis Newton, Esq and one of the Four Squires of the Body to his Majesty. From the Hage, March the 18. New stile, 1641. Brother, WE are here at the Hage, but in little better case, as touching fears and jealousies, than you are in England: true, the matter of the Prince of Orange is seemingly composed, I wish I could say ended, fire raked up, may possibly appear, yea and flame: The States will not trust him with moneys. and paying of the Army, as formerly, but will set up and create a new Officer for that purpose, this sometimes discontents his Highness, the Governor of Bergin up Zone, that town of so great strength, being once a near servant to his Highness, and brought up a long time under him, in very near services, and preferred unto that great place of trust by the Prince's mediation, him would the States now very feign remove; but the talk goes here that he will not hearken to it, having that great garrison firm on his side; as it is feared upon too just grounds; the Prince hath all the Army, so that we are not yet here quite clear of all furmizes of after claps the Burghers in the Towns, plainly give out, that they fear the Prince has been aforehand with them, and one of the Burgemasters of Flushing, openly in my Mr. the Princes-presence Chamber, told my Lord Goring, in my hearing, that they had just cause to fear, that the Prince's Sons Marriage with the eldest daughter of the King of great Britain, had set the Prince on such a high strain, that shortly he doubted either their ruin or his own, pray God things stand as they were, for unwonted aspiring thoughts, produce many times enterprises more pleasing then successful, if distempers should again break out here: I think we must be forted to come and visit you in England, truth is, the State's General have never the better opinion of the Prince since this match, some think the worse, nay their usual respects are something colder toward my Lady, and Master, who I dare say upon oath, is hearty grieved for this difference, and discorrespondencie between the Prince and them, and hath no interest or partnership but sorrow in in it, and who must reap disconvenience by it, and may account this to the rest of her crosses the Queen's entertainment at the Hage, is in my very soul more royal than hearty the Dutch liberality is almost at an end and the Queen's entertainment gins to slacken with them, only his Highness holds on his wont nobleness in cheering her, they set her Majesty a day, that they would be rid of her, if so it please or stand with her occasions, Proclamation is made against your Parliament delinquents, forbidding them strictly to repair hither during her Majesty's abode here upon pain of imprisonment, and sending bacl into England with strict guard, hath been here published in all Towns and Dominions of the States, yet two have bravely adventured to kiss her hand, who came hither wonderfully well disguised and walked not openly in Court, lay in the Prince of Orange's ownelodging, and after two days took leave to go to Brusiels, God knows the Queen is very narrowly warched here, as a personage of her quality may be, and I durst pawn my life the Parliament hath some agents here merely to attend that business, and three of them are in my Conscience L. O. S. S. J. H. Her Majesty would have gone to Cullen, to have attended upon her Mother, then to Brussels, but was denied, the Prince of Orange seemed very forward to accomplish her desire in both, as fare as in his power, but he was not so forward, but she found the Dutch as froward, who absolutely denied in plain terms, studying all the ways they can to gratify and comply with the Parliament, not caring who they displease, so they satisfy them, I verily think the Queen as the matter stands will not trouble them long here, and that ye shall have her in England yet a good while before Easter. Thus hoping your welfare, and all our contents from his Highness' Court at the Hage this present Friday, March the 18., I remain your ever true and loving Brother and Servant, Wil Newton. March 22. Very Joyful News from Jreland. Master John Ha●kredge: I Have written by the two last Posts, and now I have gotten a lame hand: but having good News, it shall troth to impart it unto you. The last Saturday the Lord Moor and Sir Henry Titchbourne fallyed out of the Town, and fell upon the enemies, and drove them out of their Trenches, and raised their siege, slew about 350, of their men, and took many of their chief Officers, and have relieved themselves bravely, and took 150, of their Muskers, and a field full of Pikes, we having lost as some affirm, no men. Here are three of our Captains come by Land, so that this News is true. Upon Monday our Forces went out, 4000 Foot and 500 Horse, they are already within 5. miles of Tredagh: by the way; Lieutenant Colonel Read came in to our men, and submitted; if he had not done it, he could not have fled: he is sent hither, and lodged in the Castle. I do believe we shall now get good store of Corn out of the Country, which will keep the price from rising. Our men are not expected home this week, pray God keep them safe. Sir Philimy Oneale was in the Battle, but was feign to sly; and that was not like to serve turn, so he hide himself in a Furs-Bush. With my true love, I rest: Your affectionate Friend, Raphael Hunt. 22. Martii. It is this day Ordered, That this Letter be forthwith printed. Hen. Elsinge, Cleric. Parl. D. Com. FINIS.