THE DECLARATION OF THE high-sheriff OF YORKSHIRE, AND OF The Commander in Chief of the PARLIAMENTS Forces in the NORTH, and the rest of the Gentlemen Commissioners in that County of York, the 19 of May 1648. OF Their intentions to rise for the suppression of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and Sir Philip Musgrave, and the Forces under their Command. ALSO, A Message from Gen. HALES, to his Excellency the Lord Gen. Fairfax, touching his holding out of Conditions of uncertain mercy to the people, and the Resolution of the Kentish Army, to live and die, and stand and f●ll together. SVbs●ribed in the Name, and by the Appointment of the Knight's Gentry, and Inhabitants of the County of Kent. Imprimatur GILBERT MABBOT. LONDON. Printed by john Clowes. MDCXLVIII. THE DECLARATION OF THE HIGH SHERIFF OF Yorkshire, and of the Commander in Chief of the Parliaments Forces in the North, and the rest of the Gentlemen Commissioners in that County of York, there assembled the 19 of May 1648: of their intentions to rise for the suppression of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, & Sir Philip Musgrave, and the Forces under their Command. THe Parliament having lately (with much expense of blood and public Treasure) reduced the whole Kingdom from the miseries of a long and dangerous War to a hopeful beginning of Peace, and having taken off Freequarter, and reduced the Forces of the Kingdom to a small Army, which is to be continued only for a season, until the ill humours, stirred up by the War, should be settled again, (the n●cess●ie whereof most evidently appears at this time) and being in hand to take off all other burdens and grievances of ●he people, and to settle the Government according to the ancient Laws and just freedom of this Nation. The same Malignant Parti● and Council that first involved the Land in th● la●e War, envying that the people should ●njoy the blessing of Peace, have now again invaded the North with some Forces brought in under Command of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, Sir Philip Musgrave, and others, who have already seized upon Barwick and Carlisle, and have possessed themselves of all or most part of Cumberland and Westmoreland, raising Forces in those parts, in great numbers, and drawing to them from this Gountie, and other parts of England very great multitudes of P●p●sts, Malignants, and other persons of desperate condition, that were formerly engaged in the late War, against the Parliament and Kingdom of England, and are now marched up very near the Borders of this County, which they threaten every day to invade, and by that means must infallibly bring upon all the Inhabitants the same or worse evils than those formerly suffered by the War, the bleeding wounds whereof are not yet staunched, which we having taken into serious consideration, and well knowing, that, how specious soever their pretences are, yet they intent the intra-ducing of a Tyrannical Government, and the destruction of the Laws, Liberties, and Religion of this Kingdom; and that if they be suffered to enter into this County, they will make it the seat of a most dangerous and lasti●g War, and thereby will undoubtedly destroy the lives of a great number of Inhabitants, and utterly consume the Estates and Livelihoods of all sort● of people whatsoever, which we being resolved (by the help of Almighty God) to prevent, and avoid, so much as in us lies, and to that end (having given order for the raising of Forces in this County, according to the V●tes and Resolutions concluded upon Us) We do Declare, that our intentions therein are no other than to oppose the invasion of this County, and the spoil thereof, by the said Forces raised by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his adherents; and that such forces as shall thus be raised by us shall neither be drawn out of the bounds of this County without their own consents, nor shall be longer continued in Arms then until the Country shall be secured from the danger now threatened, which we thought necessary to publish in this manner to all persons well-affected to the Peace and welfarre of the County, and the maintenance of the Protestant Religion, to encourage them cheerfully to rise, and take up Arms in this so just and necessary Defence of themselves, wherein we cannot doubt to find their compliance with Us; and to this extraordinary way we are at this instant necessitated, because we hea● that a part of ●he Parliaments Army, that were lately engaged in suppressing the like attempts of the Enemy in Wales, are still employed in se●ling of the peace of those parts, though part of that Army be now also upon their March this way for our Protection, yet the danger of the Country is so eminent, and at hand, as it requires all men's active readiness to defend it, and we doubt not that every one doing his duty therein, God will bless our endeavours. June the second 1648. Thomas Darcy Cler: A Letter to His Excellency THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX. My Lord. THe Laws of Nature are universal and perpetual, among which, that of self preservation is one, ye have Declared as much, judge if it be not; We have taken up Arms to defend ourselves, and providence hath now blest us with a power to do it, which we cannot relinquish but with the forfeiture of our reason, and honour. We invade not your right, but seek to secure our own, and so to do, is neither tumult nor rebellion. You are pleased to hold out conditions of uncertain mercy to the people, and withal a fi●t menassie of an exemplary and positive prosecution upon the principles. To this I must assure you (Sr.) it is but one soul which informs this body, and we are determined to stand, or fall together being rendered uncapable of any fear, save only, of relapsing into our former slavery; We need no other arguments (than what the fair manage of this business affords) to testify our love to peace, if yourself stand so inclined. Also be pleased rather to make this County a friend then an enemy, are to the Petition, we hope it will be seasonably considered of, Rochester. May 31. 1648. We are your servants Phil. Masvell Major, Edward Hales. Signed in the name and by the appointment of the Gentry of this County, by Us. Jmprimatur GILBERT MABBOT FJNJS.