A DECLARATION OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, Concerning an insolent Letter sent to Mr. CLERK at Craughton near Brackley in Northamptonshire; From Sir JOHN BYRON Knight, since the Inhabitants of that County apprehended divers Rebels under his command; as he with them and many Troops of Horse, in a warlike and traitorous manner marched toward Oxford, to the great terror and affrightment of His Majesty's good Subjects in those parts.  
Whereunto is annexed a Copy of the said LETTER.  13. Septemb. 1642. ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Declaration and Letter shall be forthwith printed and published. J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum. 
LONDON, Printed for J. Wright. 14. Septemb. 1642.   

A DECLARATION Of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament.  
WHereas Sir john Byron Knight, upon the 28 of August last with divers Troops of Horse in a Traitorous and warlike manner, did march into the County of Northampton, with an intention to kill, rob, and spoil his Majesty's Subjects in that and other Counties, to the great terror and affrightment of the Inhabitants of those parts; whereupon divers of His Majesty's loyal and well affected Subjects of the said County, according to their duty did assemble themselves together, and pursue the said Traitors, and Rebels, and apprehended divers of them, and routed the rest, whereby their Traitorous designs were for that time prevented; Since which time the remainder of those Troops that escaped, joined again in a body, and in manner as before, forcibly entered the City of Oxford, and plundered, rob, and spoilt, his Majesty's faithful Subjects there, and forced divers to leave their own habitations, and to fly elsewhere for protection from their fury. And whereas the Lords and Commons, have been since informed, That the said Sir john Byron, the head and ringleader of those Traitors, in a presumptuous and insolent way, wrote a Letter to one Master Clarke of Craughton a Gentleman of quality in the said County of Northampton, a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, whereby most falsely and impudently he presumes to style the faithful, and dutiful service of His Majesty's good Subjects in apprehending and chase the said Rebels by the name of treachery and rebellion, endeavouring to transfer that odious crime and title due unto himself to them, and using divers menacing speeches against Master Clerk, and others, thereby as much as in him lieth to dete 〈…〉 Majesty's good Subjects from resisting him and his associate● in their Traitorous attempts.  
The Lords and Commons taking the same into their consideration, do declare that the Assembling together of the said Inhabitants of the County of Northampton, and their pursuing, apprehending, and chase the said Rebels, was according to the Laws of the Land and the duty they and all good Subjects own to the King and Commonwealth, and their service very acceptable to both Houses of Parliament, who will take them and all others that shall follow their good examples into their care and protection.   

To M. Clarke at Craughton near Brackley in Northamptonshire.  
SIR,  
IN my way to Oxford, I made some stay at Brackley to refresh myself, and my Horses, after a long march, where I was unexpectedly assaulted by sundry Troops of rebels that came (as I am since informed) from Northampton, and the adjoining places, and withal most treacherously set upon by the town of Brackley, so that I was forced to make a speedy retreat to the Heath to resist them, had they had the courage to come forth of the town. In this confusion one of my Grooms who had charge of my baggage was surprised in the town, another who had a Box, wherein was money, apparel, and other things of value, left it in a land of standing Corn, which since hath been found, and as I hear brought to you; I have therefore sent this Messenger to require the restitution of it; which if you do, I shall represent it to His Majesty, as an acceptable service, if not, assure yourself I will find a time to repay myself with advantage out of your estate; And consider, that as rebellion is a weed of a hasty growth, so it will decay as suddenly; and that there will be a time for the King's loyal Subjects to repair their losses sustained by rebels and traitors; So I rest in expectation of a speedy answer by this bearer,  
Oxford, 2. Sep. 1642. Your friend and servant, john Byron.  
FINIS.