Die Mercurii, 23 Novemb 1642.  
THE Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, being certainly informed ●hat the Papists and other malignants, and illaffected persons in the County of York, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire, County Palatine of Duresme, and Town and County of Newcastle, have entered into association, and have caused, and daily do cause great Forces both of Horse and Foot to oppose and distress the well-affected Subjects, and to aid and secure the Popish and malignant party in those Northern parts, and in particular those now in the city of York: The said Lords and Commons do declare, That they hold it a thing most fit, necessary and healthful for the present State of this Kingdom, and do accordingly order, That all Lord lieutenants, Deputy-lieutenants, Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, and all other well affected persons, inhabitants in the several Counties of York, Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, Stafford, Chester, Lancaster, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, County Palatine of Duresme, and Town and County of Newcastle, do and shall associate themselves, and mutually aid, succour, and assist, one another, by raising forces of horse, and foot, and leading them into places which shall be most convenient and nocessary, and by all good ways and means whatsoever, to suppress and subdue the popish and malignant party in the said several counties, and to preserve the peace of the Kingdom, according to the orders and declarations of Parliament, and that the said inhabitants of the said several counties, and every of them for so doing, shall be saved and kept harmless by the power and authority of Parliament.  
And the said Lords and Commons taking into their serious consideration, the necessity of appointing a commander in chief, over the Officers, which are or shall be raised in the Counties aforesaid, or any of them, for the ●ervice aforesaid, in regard that by the particular Commissions already granted to persons in the said several Counties, there is not power given, to lead Forces out of their own Counties: It is ordered, that the Lord General the Earl of Essex his Excellency, shall be desired to grant such commissions to the Lord Fairefax (in his Excellency's absence from the said counties) for levying, leading and conducting, all such Forces as are or shall be raised in the said several Counties for the service of the King and Parliament, as his said Excellency to himself hath, and likewise power to give the same Orders and instructions, for regulating the Souldiary, which is or shall be under his commands, as his said Excellency hath given to his Army, and to use martial law, to compel obedience thereunto as occasion shall require, And also power and authority to make and appoint Colonels, Captains, and other Officers for levying, conducting, and leading the Forces, as he shall think fit.  
FINIS.