A DECLARATION AND ORDINANCE Of the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in Parliament, For the better securing and settling of the peace of the County of Kent, and for enabling them to associate with the City of London, or any other Counties adjacent. And to raise Forces within the said County, as well Horse as Foot, and therewith to give, or cause battle to be given to all such forces as are or shall be raised without the consent of both houses of Parliament; and all such persons with their Abettors and Adherents to invade, resist, put to flight, pursue, suppress, kill, slay, put to execution of death, and by all means to destroy, as enemies to the Kingdom.  
Likewise, Instructions for the Lord-Lieutenant, Deputy-Lieutenants, and other Officeers, and Commanders in the County of Kent. And, that every person which shall be employed as Soldiers in this service, of the age of 16. years and upwards, shall solemnly take an Oath, to be approved of by the Parliament, and they that wilfully neglect the same shall be proceeded against as Delinquents, and enemies of the peace of the Kingdom.  
Die Martis, 30 Maii. 1643.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this Declaration and Ordinance with the Instructions shall be forthwith printed and published.  
J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum:  
LONDON, Printed for I. Wright in the Old-baily, june 1. 1643.   

Die Martis, 30 Maii. 1643. A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the better securing and settling of the Peace of the County of Kent, and for enabling them to associate with the City of London, or any other Counties adjacent.  
THe Lords and Commons now in Parliament assembled, being certainly informed, and by sad experience finding it true, That divers Papists, Traitors, Delinquents and other persons ill affected to the King and Parliament, have Traitorously combined and associated themselves in this Kingdom, for the utter extirpation of the true Protestant well affected party therein; And for that end have raised and daily do raise great Forces both of Horse and Foot, and have plundered, spoilt, and destroyed multitudes of His Majesty's good Subjects, using also their utmost endeavours to bring in to their assistance Foreigners of their own Faction, All which if not speedily prevented will utterly subvert the true Protestant Religion, (which is their chief design) the Laws of the Land, the privileges of Parliament, and the Liberty of the Subject: For the timely preventing and withstanding of which mischievous designs, the well affected of the County of Kent, have been and still are desirous to have a considerable moving body of Horse and Foot raised and maintained at the charge of the said County, and to enter into association for the mutual defence and preservation of the peace of the said County, and of all those that shall join with them therein: The said Lords and Commons do thereupon declare that they hold it a thing most fit and necessary for the present state of the kingdom, and security of the said County of Kent; And do ordain and declare, and be it ordained and declared by the said Lords and Commons, that the Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-lieutenants, Colonels, Captains, and other Officers that are or shall be employed in the said County of Kent, the County and City of Canterbury, and Cinqueports, with their members, and all other well affected persons inhabitants in them, or any of them, shall and may associate themselves each with other, and with all those who shall enter into the said Association; And that the said Lord lieutenant and Deputy-lieutenants, or any seven or more of them, for the foresaid ends and purposes, and also for the forcing and compelling refractory persons to yield obedience unto the Orders and Ordinances of either or both Houses of Parliament, shall have full Power and Authority, and are hereby authorised to raise, arm, and maintain a moving body of Foot, consisting of one Thousand or more Volunteers, whereof none to be of the Trained-bands; and one or more Troop or Troops of Horse which now are or hereafter shall be subscribed or otherwise provided within the said County, whereof none also are to be taken out of the Trained Forces: And also to nominate, constitute, and appoint a Major General over the said Forces, and to give full power and authority to the said Major General, in case of sickness or disability of body, from time to time constitute and appoint in his stead such trusty and able person as he shall think fit to be his Deputy, and in his absence to do all things belonging to the Office of a Major General: And the said Lord-lieutenant, and Deputy-Lieutenants, or any seven or more of them, shall be, and are hereby authorised to Constitute and appoint Colonels, Lieutenant-collonels, Serjeant-maiors, Captains, and other Officers over the said Forces: and from time to time, in and into all convenient places to Lead, Conduct, Quarter, and Exercise, or cause to be lead, conducted, quartered, and exercised, the said Forces, or any part thereof, and therewith to give or cause battle to be given to all such Forces as are or shall be raised against, or without authority or consent of both Houses of Parliament, or that shall make or endeavour to make any Invasion, Rapine, Tumult, or Insurrection, or shall plunder, pillage, or destroy any of His Majesty's good Subjects, And all and singular such persons, their abettors, and adherents, to invade, resist, put to flight, pursue, suppress, kill, flay, put to execution of death, and by all means to destroy as Enemies to the kingdom: And to perform, and cause to be performed all things else which they shall in their judgements think needful, as well for the preservation and safety of the peace of the said County and places aforesaid, as of all those which shall join in the said Association, observing the Instructions hereunto annexed, with such other Directions, and Commands as they shall receive from time to time from both Houses of Parliament, or from his Excellency the Earl of Essex. And be it also Declared and Ordained, by the authority aforesaid, That the said Lord-Lieutenant, Deputy-lieutenants, and other Inhabitants of the said County, and every of them, and every other person which is or shall be employed in that service, in what they have any way already done towards the preparing and perfecting so necessary a work, or shall hereafter do or perform in pursuance thereof, shall be saved and kept harmless by the Power and Authority of Parliament: And the said Lords and Commons do hereby Declare and Ordain, that neither the said Forces, nor any part of them shall or may at any time be removed out of the said County without special Order and Direction from both Houses of Parliament, or from his Excellency the Earl of Essex, unless it be to the aid and assistance of the Counties with whom they shall enter into association, and in pursuance of their said association: And for the better ordering and managing of the said Forces of Horse and Foot, Be it declared and ordained, by the authority aforesaid, That the said Lord-lieutenant, and Deputy-lieutenants, or any seven or more of them shall have hereby full power and authority to make, give and execute the same Orders and Instructions for regulating and punishing the Officers, Troopers, and Soldiers of the said Forces, as his Excellency the Lord General hath done in his Army, and to compel them to obedience, as occasion shall require. And the better to defend the said County and Inhabitants thereof from all invading, plundering and pillaging, and that speedy means may be used for the furnishing and providing of Horses, Arms, and Ammunition, making Fortifications, payment of Officers, and other necessary charges, And for the repayment of all such sums of money as are or hath been already, or shall be advanced and subscribed, towards the forwarding of this work: It is hereby declared and ordained, That forthwith, and from time to time until the said Forces shall by authority of both Houses be disbanded, there be raised by way of tax or rate within the said County and places aforesaid such sums of money for the intents aforesaid, as to the Lord-lieutenant, Deputy-lieutenants, or any seven or more of them shall be thought requisite and necessary: And that the Deputy-Lieutenants or any three or more of them after three month's next ensuing the first sessement made by virtue of this Ordinance, shall issue forth their several Warrants unto such persons as by them or any three of them have been or shall be constituted and appointed Treasurers or Receivers of such sums of money as have been, or at any time hereafter, before the said sessement or any levies thereupon made, shall be lent towards the advancement of this work for the repayment of the same unto the lender's thereof, they the said lender's producing the Acquittance or Acquitances of the said Treasurers or Receivers for the said moneys lent as aforesaid.  

Instructions for the Lord-lieutenant, Deputy-lieutenants, and others Officers and Commanders in the County of Kent, the City and County of Canterbury, and the Cinqueports, and members thereof, within the said County of Kent.  
I. THat the Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants of the said County of Kent, of the City and County of Canterbury, the said Cinqueports and members of the same, or any two or more of them, do with all convenient speed summon the several Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants thereof, as well within the Liberties and Corporations as without, that do bear, or are able to bear or find Arms to such places in the said Counties and places aforesaid, as they hold most fitting; and at such meeting to take a view of what Arms and Forces may be raised, besides the Trained-bands in the said Counties and places, and examine the defects of Arms and Ammunition, and to consult of some sitting course how to have the want of Arms and other defects supplied; And at such meetings, or at any other fit time or times the said Deputy-lieutenants, or any two or more of them, shall and may propound to all the inhabitants of the said Counties and places aforesaid, that are able to bear or find Arms, or to contribute towards the same, what present and imminent danger and necessity the Kingdom is now reduced unto by the wicked advice, attempts, and conspiracies of Papists, Traitors, Delinquents, and other ill affected persons, declaring themselves against the Parliament; And to persuade and stir them up to join in a mutual defence of one another, and of all that shall associate with them, to give, provide, furnish lend, or advance, Horse, Money, Plate, or Arms, towards the defence & preservation of the peace of the said Counties and places aforesaid, and towards the raising furnishing and maintaining of the Forces hereby ordained to be raised and maintained within the said Counties and places aforesaid.  
II. And for the better levying of all sums to be assessed and set upon the said Counties and places, for the defence and preservation of the same as afore said, the said Lord lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants of the said Counties and places aforesaid, or any two or more of them shall and may assess and tax, or cause to be assessed and taxed the said sum and sums upon the several Cities, Corporations, Lath, Rapes, Wapentakes, Hundreds, Townes, Hamlets, and Villages in the said Counties and places aforesaid; And that they or any two or more of them shall and may nominate and appoint Treasurers, Collectors, and Assessors, in the said Counties and places aforesaid, for the assessing, receiving, and collecting such sum and sums of money as aforesaid; And that the Deputy-Lieutenants or any two or more of them shall and may grant Warrants under their hands and feales in writing to any Constable, Officer, or any other person or persons whatsoever to raise and levy the said sum and sums so to be assessed and taxed as aforesaid, by distress, sale of goods, or by such other ways or means, as to the said Deputy-lieutenants, or any two of them shall be thought requisite upon all such person and persons upon whom any sum shall be assessed and set as aforesaid, that do refuse or neglect to pay the same. And in case no distress is or may be found, than the said Deputy-lieutenants or any two or more of them shall and may commit such person & persons so refusing & neglecting to pay as aforesaid, to some common Goal, or to such other place as the said Deputy-lieutenants or any two of them shall think fit, there to remain without bail, or mainprize, until payment be made of such sum and sums as abovesaid, wherein special care shall be had and used that such sum and sums of money shall be imposed, taxed and levied upon all Papists, Delinquents, and such who have either contributed nothing upon the subscriptions & Propositions, or very small and inconsiderable sums as may in proportion equal the subscriptions and contributions of those who are well affected and have already liberally contributed and subscribed.  
III. That all Sheriffs, Justices of the peace, Majors, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other His Majesty's Officers, as well within Liberties as without, be from time to time aiding and assisting unto the said Lord-lieutenant, & Deputy-lieutenants in execution of the power now or heretofore to them given by both Houses of Parliament; And if they shall refuse or forbear to be aiding and assisting to them therein, that the said Lord-lieutenant and Deputy-lieutenants, or any one or more of them, shall them apprehend and imprison, or cause them to be apprehended and imprisoned, or sent up to the Parliament for further punishment as to justice shall appertain.  
iv That if any person or persons being nominated or appointed Sessors or Collectors by virtue of this Ordinance, shall refuse or neglect to be aiding and assisting in execution of such office so enjoined him or them, That for the first neglect of the said service the said Deputy-Lieutenants, or any two of them, shall impose upon every such Collector or Sessor so refusing or neglecting the said Service, the sum of ten pounds by way of mulct; and for his second refuse all or neglect, shall punish him with imprisonment till he shall conform himself.  
V That the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants, or any two or more of them, do put in execution in the said Counties and Places aforesaid, as well this present Ordinance and Instructions, as other Ordinances and Instructions formerly to them granted by both Houses of Parliament, for raising of Money upon the Propositions, for the executing of the Militia, disarming of Papists and other ill affected persons, or any other Ordinance or Instructions of both Houses heretofore granted to them & now in forces And for that purpose, that they, or any two, or more of them, shall have power and authority to Arm, Exercise, Train, and put in readiness, as well all and every the trained Bands and Troops of the said Counties and Places aforesaid, and other Volunteers both of Horse and Foot, as the said Forces of Horse and Foot raised or to be raised, or maintained by virtue of this present Ordinance, as aforesaid, and them under the command of such Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Sergeant-Majors, Captains, and other Officers, as from time to time being nominated by the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants, or any three or more of them, as shall be approved of or appointed to lead and conduct the said Forces, as well against all foreign Power that shall in hostile manner invade the said Counties, as also against all other Forces which shall be either within the said Counties and Places aforesaid, or elsewhere raised to the disturbance of the Peace thereof, or which shall stand in opposition to the Orders, Commands, and Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament. And if any person or persons whatsoever shall leavy, or endeavour to leavy, or billet any Soldiers, or raise, draw forth, or keep together the trained Bands of the said Counties and places, or other armed Forces thereof by colour or pretence of any Commission▪ Warrant or Authority from his Majesty under the great Seal, or otherwise, without order or consent of both Houses of Parliament, That they the Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants, and every of them, are to make known to the said Trained-bands and Forces aforesaid, and other Inhabitants of the said Counties and places aforesaid, that those who shall appear upon any such Warrant, or obey any such Commission shall be held enemies to the public peace; And those that shall not appear upon any such Warrant and Commission, nor do any thing in execution thereof, but conform and submit themselves to the Ordinance of the Militia, and to this Ordinance and the Instructions thereupon, shall be protected by both Houses of Parliament, and also shall make known to the said Inhabitants, That it hath ever been, and still shall be the care and endeavours of the Parliament to provide for His Majesty's safety; and that they do not, nor never did intent any evil against His Majesty's P●●son, His Crown, or Dignity, that His greatest safety is in the Afflictions and fidelity of His Subjects, and in the Advice and Council of His Parliament. And His greatest danger is in withdrawing Himself from them, and joining Himself to such dis●aff●cted and malignant Persons, obnoxious to Justice for their great enormities, who under colour of doing Him service, have raised Forces which they labour to increase, to the hazard of ruining Religion and the whole Kingdom.  
VI That no Treasurer or Receiver of Money lent or assessed towards the raising and maintaining of these Forces shall issue out any such Money, but under the hands of the Deputy-Lieutenants, or two or more of them: And that the said Deputy-Lieutenants shall not sign or grant any Warrant or Warrants for the issuing or paying of any sum or sums of Money, but for the furnishing of Horses, Arms, and Ammunition, making Fortifications, payment of Officers and Soldiers, or r●parment of the Money already advanced or to be advanced by loan for this Service, or other necessary charges tending to the safety and preservation of the said Counties and places aforesaid, and not otherwise.  
VII. That the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants, besides the Magazines already within the said Counties and places aforesaid, shall out of the moneys to be raised as aforesaid, provide and furnish such quantities of Arms, Ammunition, Powder, Match, and Bullet, as shall be by them, or any seven or more of them thought requisite and necessary for the furnishing of the said Forces both of Horse and Foot, to be raised, armed, and maintained by virtue of this Ordinance and Instructions, and for the safety and necessary defence of the said Counties, and the same being so provided to be carefully kept in some one or more Magazines for that purpose; And that as for such of the said Arms and Ammunion which after the disbanding of the said Forces, as aforesaid, shall remain, full restitution shall be made of so many thereof as are or shall be borrowed or lent towards the present arming of the said Forces; and the residue thereof, shall be kept and preserved in store in public Magazines for the said Counties and places aforesaid.  
VIII. That the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants, or any one or more of them, shall take away, and cause to be taken away, the Arms, Horses, and Moneys of all such persons inhabiting within the Counties and places aforesaid, as shall refuse to contribute Money, Plate, Horse, Men▪ or Arms upon the Propositions, or upon this Ordinance and Instructions, or upon any other Ordinance formerly made and now in force, or hereafter to proceed from both Houses of Parliament And that they or any two of them, shall and may in manner aforesaid, compel all Papists, Delinquents, and persons dis●affected to the Parliament, to contribute in proportion to their estates to the maintenance of the Army raised in defence of the Parliament and Kingdom, and to the Forces raised or to be raised by virtue of this present Ordinance and Instructions.  
IX. That the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenants, and every of them, shall take care that the said Forces of Horse and Foot, raised or to be raised by virtue of this Ordinance and Instructions, so long as they shall continue in the said County, or any other County that shall associate therein, be governed according to the Laws and Ordinances published by his Excellency the Earl of Essex, and be paid out of such Moneys as shall be levied and paid upon this Ordinance and Instructions.  
X. That all and every person and persons which are or shall be employed as Soldiers in this service, or which are of the age of sixteen years▪ or upwards, inhabiting in the Counties and places aforesaid▪ shall for the better securing and uniting thereof, solemnly take such Covenant or Protestation, or form of Association, as shall be agreed upon, propounded, or approved of by the Parliament, to be taken by all persons therein exceeding the said age: And that whosoever shall refuse, or wilfully neglect to take the same, shall be taken within the intent and meaning of this Ordinance to be a Delinquent, and an enemy to the good and peace of the said County and Kingdom, and so to be proceeded against to all intents and purposes within this and all other Ordinances and Declarations published by authority of Parliament.  
XI. That to the end all Orders and Ordinances of Parliament may be better divulged, & intelligence received and given from and to the Parliament, and that the said Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy-Lieutenant may upon all occasions receive Informations concerning the state of the said Counties and places aforesaid, and determine and advise concerning the same. It is therefore ordained, That the said Deputy-Lieutenants be hereby enjoined constantly to convene once every month at the least in some one convenient place of the said County during the time of these public distractions.  
Lastly, for the better securing of all such Inhabitants of the said County and places aforesaid, as now are, or hereafter shall be voted Delinquents by both Houses of Parliament, or either of them, or which for their disobedience or contempt already, or hereafter, expressed against this or any other Ordinance of Parliament, or other proceed thereof, or for whatsoever other cause shall be thought fit by the said Deputy-Lieutenants, or any two of them, to be committed and remain in safe custody: The said Deputy-Lieutenants, or any two of them, are hereby authorized to apprehend, or by their Warrant cause to be apprehended, and to commit all and singular such persons as aforesaid unto the next Goal, or to such other place or places as the said Deputy-Lieutenants, or any two of them shall think fit.   
FINIS.