A DECLARATION OF The Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
In Answer to His Majesty's Declaration, Entitled His Majesty's Declaration to all His loving subjects, after His late Victory against the Rebels, on Sunday the 23 of October, 1642.  
Together, With a Catalogue of the names of divers of the Colonels, Lieutenant-colonells, Sergeant Majors, Captains, and Lieutenants, that are Papists and Commanders in the Army, under the Command of the Earl of NEW-CASTLE.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, That this Declaration be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Hen. Elsing. Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.  
London, Printed for Edward Husbands, and John Frank, 1642.   

A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
WE the Lords and Commons in Parliament, having seen a Printed Declaration entitled His Majesty's Declaration to all his loving Subjects, after his late victory against the Rebels, on Sunday the 23 of October: And finding the same to be full of scandals and invectives against the Parliament, without any ground or colour of truth to support them. Thought it our duty aswell for the discovery of the falsehood thereof, as of the malice and subtleties of the Contrivers of those scandals, who to our unspeakable sorrows, have gained so much power with His Majesty, as to vent the same under the title of his own Royal name, to make this ensuing Declaration in answer thereunto.  
In the beginning of that Declaration, the contrivers thereof speak in His Majesty's name, of a great preservation of His Majesty and his Children in the late Battle.  
If His Majesty and his Children escaped any danger in that Battle, as we are ready with the Contrivers to rejoice thereat, so do we apprehend a just cause of sorrow, That His Majesty seduced by the desperate advice of lewd and wicked Counsel, who tender their own preservation before His, would intermix himself with Traitors and Rebels, and expose his own Royal Person and his Children to that danger.  
And whereas the Parliament under the name of a Malignant party is charged with an endeavour to poison the hearts, and corrupt the Allegiance of the King's Subjects, by urging and pressing a false groundless imputation (as it is there styled) of favouring Popery, and employing many of that Religion in his Majesty's Army.  
Though we have just cause to believe that our late Declaration of the 15 of October is sufficient to prove, That the aspersion of favouring Papists, and employing them in the King's Army, the same being there not only barely alleged, but the evidence proving the same, and the persons so employed particularly set down: Yet since the Contrivers of that Declaration have the confidence to deny it, We thought it necessary for the confirmation thereof, to publish some evidences and advertisements that we received since the issuing out of our said late Declaration, touching that particular.  
First, that it doth appear by the examination of Master Dormer, who professeth himself a Papist, taken before a Committee of the House of Commons, That a Commission under the Kings own hand was delivered unto him, by Sergeant Maior Courtney▪ a notorious Papist, Authorising the said Dormer to be a Captain of a Foot Company, in the Regiment of Sir John Beaumond, another professed Papist, and with that Commission, threescore and fifteen men raised in the County of Lancaster, consisting (as is probable) of Papists, though Mr. Dormer in his examination allegeth he knoweth not whether they were Protestants or Papists. And it doth further appear by a Commission now remaining in the House of Commons, signed with the Kings own hand, that the said Courtney is made Sergeant Maior of that Regiment. And by the same examination, another professed Papist is Lieutenant Colonel; and by a letter intercepted sent from one Dan. Chambers a Papist (as is informed) directed to one Captain Thomas Rookewood, That he expresseth his joy for the good success of the general Cause, and the advancement of their design. And by another letter intercepted likewise, and sent from the same Dan. Chambers to Sergeant Maior Courtney, That he was going to the North where (as we are now advertised) the Papists are raising a considerable Army, That he liked well the way of two year's composition, and would propound it, That his endeavours should never be wanting to further any good action, and the more wherein he the said Courtney was interessed; And though the Hothamites would hinder his travelling, yet he would venture hard, and daily pray for the general Cause. And in a letter sent from one Savage, a servant of the Earl of Newcastle, his Majesty's General in the North, directed to one John Atkins of Lambeth, are contained these words, Tell them that the Pope rules in peace here in Northumberland. etc. no prosecution neither of Priest or Papist: And in another sent from one George Tempest a Papist, to his brother John Tempest in the King's Army, are these words: Our Priests at Lancaster are all at liberty, Catholic Commanders admitted, and all well enough that way, God Almighty (as I hope) will the better prosper the design: And in the Printed Declaration itself, it is confessed, That Popish Commanders are employed in the King's Army, and that which is as notorious as any of the rest, They of the Popish Religion are arrived to that height of favour, that upon their Petition presented to his Majesty, they have obtained an express command and direction, That they and their servants and Tenants (though Convict Recusants, and consequently by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm to be disarmed) should Arm themselves, and use them for the defence of his Majesty's Person, and in opposition to the Forces raised by the Parliament; which Petition and Answer we have caused to be printed herewith, We need not again recite the Earl of Worcester and his Son the Lord Harbert, two of the most eminent and powerful Papists in the Kingdom, their levying of great Forces in Mounmouthshire and Wales, having mentioned it in our former Declaration. And we purposely omit many other demonstrations of favour extended unto them, as the not putting the Laws in execution against them, their free reception into the King's Court and Presence, the tender care of them and their persons and estates from the danger of the King's forces, when the most pious and zealous Protestant Ministers and others, are most barbarously murdered, plundered, and rob of their estates and fortunes. And upon what is already said, submit it to the World to judge, whether the favouring of Popery, and employing them of that Religion in the King's Army, be a false and groundless imputation; and we do the more wonder at the confidence of the Contrivers, in urging that to be a groundless imputation and scandal, when we see a Declaration published by the Earl of Newcastle, his Majesty's General in the Northern parts, which doth not only confess that he hath taken divers Popish R●cusants in those parts, under his command and conduct, but spends some Leaves (weakly enough) in endeavouring by the examples and precedents of former times, to justify the same; and therefore we need not any further to labour the proof of the matter of fact.  
For the Allegation, That great number of Popish Commanders and others serve in the Army under the conduct of the Earl of Essex, and of the private promises and undertake made to them, That if they would assist against his Majesty, all the Laws made in their prejudice, should be repealed; A charge contrary not only to the profession and several protestations of both Houses of Parliament, but even to reason and policy itself, That they who have raised an Army for the just defence of their Privileges, Laws, and Liberties, and of the true Protestant Religion, should make use of Papists, the only enemies of them all, to be the Instrument and means to protect them.  
If the Contrivers of that Declaration had been pleased to name some of that great number of Papists they suppose to be in the Earl of Essex his Army, they had not only afforded us the means to have cleared ourselves from that Imputation, by joining issue with them of the truth thereof, but given us opportunity in case any of that Religion, under the name and profession of a Protestant (for otherwise we are assured they could not) had crowded themselves into the Army, to remove them: But in regard they omitted the mention of any particular, we are confident, That ei●her they could not name any, or in case any of the Popish Religion be in that Army, they are subtly, by the cunning and malicious practice of our enemies conveyed thither, under the mask and profession of Protestants, to corrupt (if they can) the good affection of others, and so made Instruments to destroy us, as David Alexander should have been, had not God's goodness and providence, by a timely discovery, prevented it.  
But to show how much the Parliament did always abhor and detest the aid and assistance of Papists, of what nature soever, we hold it fit upon this occasion, to let the World know, That about the beginning of this Parliament, divers eminent Papists of this Kingdom did prefer a Petition to the House of Commons, for the repealing of some Laws now in force against them, with an humble submission to all reasonable Conformity; the substance of the same being opened, it was apprehended with such Indignation, that it was never so much as vouchsafed to be read but quite rejected.  
And upon Information given, That the Lord Dillon, and Colonel Taffe were employed by the Rebels of Ireland, to bring some Propositions to his Majesty; and that (amongst others) one was, That there should be a Toleration of the Popish Religion in Ireland; It was thereupon resolved on the eighth of Decemb. 1641, upon solemn debate, by the Lords and Commons, That they would never give consent to any Toleration of the Popish Religion in Ireland, or in any other of his Majesty's Dominions. And when the Lord Herbert, son of the Earl of Worcester, this Parliament, made an offer to the House of Commons, to give freely 500 a year, or 15000 to be disposed at the pleasure of the Parliament, yet the House, though in a time of great necessity to use money, because the same came tendered by the hand of a Papist, did refuse to accept. All which had been passages of great weakness, had we intended any correspondency with them. And we are confident, That this Charge is so full of malice, and so far from truth, that we dare challenge all the world, not to be able to make it good against any one particular Member.  
For the matter of his Majesty's raising an Army against the Parliament, and taking away the Privileges thereof, which the contrivers of that Declaration termed to be a senseless scandal, we shall refer it to the judgement even of ordinary Capacities, Whether is most void of sense, to say, That this War is raised against the Parliament, or, That both Houses, whereof the one consists of all the Peers, the other, of eminent and principal Gentry of the Kingdom, who for their Abilities, and known Integrities, are by the Universal Consent of the Kingdom, chosen to represent them, are governed by the number of not above 12 or 20 persons, and that those few should have a power to force and compel the rest to submit to their Faction, and to have their Liberty and Freedom of Consultation taken from them.  
But the truth is, That it is not a few persons, but the Parliament itself is the thorn that lies in these men's sides; which heretofore, when it was wont to prick them, was with much ease, by a sudden dissolution, pulled out: But now that it is more deeply fastened by the Act of Continuance, they would force it out by the power of an Army.  
And whosoever will pursue the several Speeches and Declarations made upon the breaking up of former Parliaments since the beginning of his Majesty's Reign, will find the pretences of those unjust and illegal Dissolutions, to be grounded upon the exceptions against some particular Members, under the name of a few factious and seditious persons: So that the aspersing and wounding of the Parliament thorough the sides of a few Members, is no new Invention.  
And for the satisfaction of all indifferent men, that this War is raised against the Parliament, we shall refer them to former Declarations issued out in his Majesty's Name, being so many Invectives, and groundless Accusations, not against particular Members only, but against the Votes and Proceed of both Houses, and in plain terms, declaring and publishing both Houses guilty of high Treason; (a Charge not to be presidented by any former times, or in truth that Council canbe capable of.) And that the Earl of Essex, General of the Forces raised for the defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, is a Traitor; and that all those that aid and assist him, thereby comprehending both Houses of Parliament, by whose Command and Authority he bears that place, are Rebels, and guilty of high Treason: Notwithstanding all which, the Contrivers of that Declaration can have the face to term it, A groundless Accusation to affirm, That the Army raised by his Majesty, is raised against the Parliament, or to take away the privileges thereof.  
But if the truth were, as that Declaration seems to imply, That this Army is raised to force some particular Members of this Parliament to be delivered up, yet upon that Ground would it follow, That the same is levied against the Parliament: For it cannot be denied by any ingenious man, but that the Parliament, by their inherent Rights and Privileges, hath the power to judge and punish their own Members: And we have often declared to his Majesty and the world, That we were always ready to receive any evidence or accusation against any of them, and to judge and punish them according to their demerits; yet hitherto no Evidence produced, no Accuser appearing: And yet notwithstanding to raise an Army to compel the Parliament to expose these Members to the fury of those wicked Councillors, that thirst after nothing more, than the ruin of them and the Commonwealth: What can be more evident, then that the same is levied against the Parliament; for did they prevail in this, then by the same reason might they demand twenty more; and consequently, never rest satisfied, until their malice and tyranny did devour all those Members they found cross and opposite to their lewd and wicked Designs.  
Touching the privileges of Parliament, which the Contrivers of that Declaration (in his Majesty's Name) seem to be so tender of, and to profess all Conformity unto, and to deny this Army to be raised in any degree to violate, we shall appeal to the Judgement of any indifferent man that will take a short view of their proceed, how little truth is contained in this their Assertion.  
The Parliament is to be considered in three several respects: first, As it is a Council, to advise: secondly, As it is a Court, to judge: thirdly, As it is the Body Representative of the whole Kingdom, to make, repeal, or alter Laws. And whether the Parliament hath enjoyed its privileges in any of these respects, let any that hath his eyes open judge.  
For the first, we dare appeal even to the consciences of the Contrivers themselves, Whether the Parliament, for the most part of the time they have sat, hath been consulted with in any matter concerning the Church or State, of what nature or consequence soever; nay, Whether matters of highest Importance have not been agitated and determined, not only without, but contrary to their Advice; and, Whether private and unknown Counsels, destructive both to Church and State, have not been harkened unto, approved, and followed, when the faithful and wholesome Advice of that greatest Council hath been scorned and neglected; and yet none can deny, but it is one of the principal ends why a Parliament is called to consult of the great Affairs of the Church and State: And what miserable effects, and sad events this neglect of that great Council, and preferring of unknown and private counsels before it, hath produced, let the present Distractions of this Kingdom bear witness.  
Concerning the second, that is, The Judicature of the Parliament, not to insist upon the private practices, even from the first sitting thereof, to interrupt our legal proceed against Delinquents, in the secret conveying them b●yond the Seas, by immediate Warrants procured from his Majesty, as in the Cases of Secretary Windebank, the Lord Finch, the Lord Digby, M. Percy, M. Germyn, and others accused in Parliament of high Treason; we shall mention only what hath been done therein by public Actio●s, and of them, recite some few particulars notoriously known to the Kingdom; As first the rescuing of Beckwith, a professed Papist, by the Cavaliers, from our messenger at York, being sent for to answer a notable Delinquency against the Parliament; and by his Majesty's own personal command, discharged, though the messenger informed his Majesty of his Warrant from the Parliament to apprehend him, and the violence done him by the Cavaliers, The abusing, beating, and scoffing of divers other our messengers at York, being sent thither by the Parliament for Delinquents, and forced by the Cavaliers to return back well beaten, without their prisoners: His Majesty's express Commands sent to several Sheriffs of this Kingdom, and to divers others, not to obey any M●ssenger or Command of both or either Houses of Parliament, and to resist them; His Majesty's enjoining the Members of both Houses to reside with him, whereas by the legal and respective Summons of both Houses whereof they were Members, they were commanded to repair to the Parliament, and which they were bound, by the Duty of their places and calling, and the known Laws of the Land, to obey: The taking away of the Great Seal, whereby the execution of Justice, which is the soul and life of all Laws, is much interrupted; an act not to be paralleled by the example of any former times, and such (were it done to the meanest Court of the Kingdom) could not be justified, there being no Cou●t without a Seal belonging to it.  
The making the King's Court by the force and power of the King's Army, the sanctuary and refuge of all sorts of Delinquents against the Parliament and Kingdom, and protecting and defending them from the justice thereof: His Majesty's receiving into His grace and favour, and by force and violence protecting them from the Justice of the Parliament, such as stand impeached of high Treason, and so far convinced of their own guilt, that they durst not stand to their Trial, but fled out of the Realm to avoid the same; and are now returned, and in most eminent credit and esteem with His Majesty, and bear places of great trust in the Army, and stand in defiance of the Parliament, and the Authority thereof; as namely, The Lord Digby, M. Henry Percy, Master Dani●l Oneal, and Captain Legg, all impeached of high Treason, Master Wilmot, and Master Ashburnham, impeached of Misprision of Treason; and all those Impeachments before any Army raised by the Parliament.  
Touching the third particular of making and altering Laws, we shall need to say little of that, it being well known to the Kingdom, that divers Bills highly importing the peace and prosperity of the Church and Commonwealth have past both Houses, and been presented to his Majesty for his Royal assent, and all denied; and Declarations have been made and published in his Majesty's name, that he would not pass any Bill of what Importance or consequence soever (the business of Ireland excepted) before certain Demands of His Majesty in those Declarations mentioned, which the Parliament could not in Honour or Justice assent unto, were granted. A Declaration, (we are confident) that cannot find a precedent to warrant it in any King's time.  
By all which it is apparent how our Privileges have been torn from us by peece-meales from time to time. And we might mention many passages, whereby they were endeavoured to be pulled up by the root, and totally subverted. As the attempt to bring up the late Army from the North to force Conditions upon the Parliament; The Petition and Protestation of the Bishops, to Invalide all the Acts and Proceed thereof. His Majesty's Letters and Commands to the Members of both Houses (which found obedience in a great many) to attend Him at York; and so by depriving the Parliament of their Members, destroy the whole Body. But we shall rest satisfied with what is already said, which is enough to prove the vanity of the Contrivers, to feed themselves with hope of belief, That the Privileges of Parliament are not violated, but intended to be preserved with all due observance.  
Concerning the Allegations that the Army raised by the Parliament is to murder and depose the King; We hoped the Contrivers of that Declaration, or any that professed but the name of a Christian, could not have so little charity as to raise such a scandal, especially when they must needs know the Protestation taken by every Member of both Houses, whereby they promise in the presence of Almighty God, to defend His Majesty's Person. The Promise and Protestation made by the Members of both Houses upon the nomination of the Earl of Essex to be General, and to live and die with him, wherein is expressed, That this Army was raised for the defence of the King's Person.  
Our often, earnest, and most humble addresses to His Majesty to leave that desperate and dangerous Army where with He is now encompassed, raised and upheld to the hazard of his own and the Kingdom's ruin; And to come in Person to His Parliament, where he should be sure to remain in Honour and Safety. And our humble Petition directed to be presented to Him by the hands of the Earl of Essex, before any blow given, to remove His Royal Person from that Army, a request inconsistent with any purpose to offer the least violence to His Person, which hath and ever shall be dear unto us.  
It was well known we raised not any Forces until a considerable body of an Army was raised against the Parliament to destroy us, our Liberties and Religion, which being secured unto us, and the Army raised against us disbanded, we shall be ready and willing to disband, and do most earnestly desire it.  
And concerning the imputation laid to our charge of our raising this Army to alter the Frame of Government, and established Laws of the Land, we shall need to give it no other Answer then this, That if to raise an Army in our own just defence, when another is marching towards us to destroy us and our Laws, be to alter the Frame of Government, then is that Army raised for that purpose, otherwise it is for our own and our Laws necessary preservation.  
And whereas the contrivers of that Declaration urge it as a necessary consequence, That because the King's Person was in danger in the late Battle of the 23. of October, therefore the Army raised by the Parliament, and that gave Battle to the other Army, was not raised for the defence of the King's Person, but of purpose to destroy him: We confess we understand not the Logic thereof, no more than if the King's Person should be chased, apprehended and possessed by Thiefs and Robbers, and the King's good Subjects should raise an Army to pursue those Robbers, and by Battle dispossess them of him, and rescue him from their Power and Tyranny; That therefore this was an Army raised to murder and destroy the King.  
And we cannot but wonder that we are still charged with that scandal (so often answered) That the greatest part of our Members are driven away by violence, when instance cannot be made of any one in particular, and that it is well known, that many of them, if not most of them that absent themselves have been by express Letters from His Majesty commanded to repair to Him to York: And contrary to the express Summons of either House required to continue there, and many of them have since been Principals and Inciters of this War against the Parliament and Kingdom.  
Concerning the Book of Common Prayer, suggested by that Declaration to be rejected, we have by several Declarations cleared ourselves of that Charge, that we never rejected it, that we intent to take nothing out of it, but what shall be evil and justly offensive, or at least but unnecessary and burdensome, and for that purpose to require the Advice of a Religious, Learned and Orthodox Assembly of Ministers.  
Touching the Aspersion of our giving no countenance to any, but to Brownists and Anabaptists, we would have been very glad to know who, and what kind of persons the Contrivers of that Declaration intent by Brownists and Anabaptists, for now all such as will not submit to those unwarranted Ceremonies, and Popish Innovations lately introduced in the Church by the Prelatical party, such as in truth and sincerity of heart make conscience of their ways, such as will not by blasphemous oaths profane God's Name, and contemn the Lords Day, and such as look after, and hearty wish a perfect and thorough Reformation in the Church, are by that Malignant and Popish party comprehended under the name of Brownists and Anabaptists: And if by Brownists and Anabaptists they intent such Persons, we acknowledge the countenancing of them: But if by that name and style they mean such, who are truly so, according to the real and proper signification of the expression, we do affirm it to be a false groundless imputation; And had not His Majesty (seduced thereunto by that Popish and Prelatical Faction) denied His consent to the Bill for the Assembly so often by both Houses presented unto Him, we had long since manifested to the world by a well settled Reformation, our utter dislike of Brownism and Anabaptism. But we very well know it is one of the Stratagems of that Prelatical party, to interrupt us of the means to settle Church Government, that by the delay thereof they may stir up Factions and Divisions amongst the people, (who having not the rule before them, are apt to run several ways, and so impute the Errors and indiscreet carriage of few persons unto the Parliament: But God in his good time will unmask their plots and confound their devices.  
The Contrivers of that Declaration suggest an endeavour by us to raise an implacable malice and hatred between the Gentry and Commonalty of the Kingdom. A charge of a very strange nature▪ That we should endeavour to raise up a spirit of hatred and malice in the Commonalty against ourselves; For so it must necessarily follow, unless these Contrivers will deny us to have any part or interest in that style or Title of Gentry. And though we know very well there are too many of the Gentry of this Kingdom, who to satisfy the lusts of their own ambition, are content like Esau to ●ell their Birthright and render themselves and their posterity to perpetual slavery, and care not to submit themselves to any Arbitrary and unlimited Government; so they may for their own time partake of that Power to trample and insult over others: yet we are assured that there are of the Gentry many worthy and truehearted Patriots, who are ready to lay down their Lives and Fortunes, (and of late have given ample testimony thereof) for maintenance of their Laws, Liberties, and Religion, and with them and others of their resolution, we shall be ready to live and die.  
And though we must own it as our duty, to use our best endeavours, That the meanest of the Commonalty may enjoy their own Birthrights, Freedom, and Liberty of the Laws of the Land, being equally entitled thereunto with the greatest Subject, yet we hope this is far from any purpose to raise hatred or malice between them and the Gentry, but rather to knit and unite them more fast together.  
And that the Commission of Array doth take away the Estates of the King's people, is a Charge so far from a scandal, or being senseless or impossible, that we are ready to make it good, That it is not only so in Intention, but Actually put in Execution; For the matter of Intention we shall need to go no further than the words of the Commission itself, that giveth an Arbitrary power to the Commissioners, over the persons and estates of the King's Subjects, which we have made apparent in our Declaration of the illegality thereof; and therefore as to that particular shall refer ourselves to that Declaration, adding there unto His Majesties own Letter sent with divers of the said Commissions, to require the Commissioners to bring the Trained Bands of several Counties to attend His Majesty's Royal Standard at Shrewsbury, and that the several Counties should furnish them with sufficient Ammunition for the journey, and money to bear their charge: And that the said Commission hath been put in practice to take away the estates of the King's Subjects, we shall make it good, that by colour thereof, divers great sums of money have been imposed upon the Inhabitants of several Counties, and they forced to pay the same both by distress and imprisonment of their persons. And the Commissioners of Array in the County of Carnarvan, assessed that County by colour of that Commission to the proportion of above two and twenty Subsidies. And for the levying thereof issued out Warrants forthwith to distrain, and commit the persons of such as resisted, and accordingly divers were distrained and imprisoned.  
And by this time we are confident all the world will rest satisfied, That the King's Army was raised against the Parliament, and to destroy the Rights and Privileges thereof.  
That persons of the Popish Religion are principally employed in that Army, That the same, and the Forces of the North under the Conduct of the Earl of Newcastle, and in Monmouth Shire and Wales, under the comm●nd of the Lord Harbert, do most consist of Papists, and are maintained and continued by them; That by the power of these Forces, the Intention is not only to subvert Parliaments, and the Laws, but to follow the Examples of their Brethren in Iniquity, the Rebels in Ireland, to pull up the Protestant Religion by the roots, and in the place thereof to plant their own Idolatry and Superstition. That the Army raised by the Parliament is to no other end, but for the preservation of His Majesty's Person, to defend themselves, the Laws of the Land, and the true Protestant Religion. All which the Lords and Commons thought good to publish, to the intent the danger the Protestant Religion lies under may be clearly discerned, and that all persons that love the same, may now as one man extend their utmost endeavours, and join with the Parliament to suppress this Popish Army and Forces, that otherwise in a short time will bring our Religion and Kingdom into ruin.   

TO THE KING'S MOST Excellent Majesty, The humble Petition of Us the Inhabitants of Lancashire, whose names are hereunder written, in the behalf of ourselves and divers others, being Recusants:  
Humbly showeth,  
THat whereas we and the rest of the said County, Your Majesty's most loyal Subjects, are disarmed, and not sufficiently provided for the defence of Your Royal Person and our own families; Our most humble Supplication to Your Majesty is, That we may be received into Your most gracious protection from violence, have our Arms taken from us, re-delivered in this time of actual War, and by Your Majesty's special directions be enabled further to furnish ourselves with competency of weapons for the security of Your Royal Person (if we be thereunto required) our Countries and Families, who now are not only in danger of the common disturbance; but also menaced by unruly people to be rob: And when by the Almighty's assistance Your Majesty's Kingdom shall be settled, in case we be again dis-armed, that a full value in money in lieu thereof to us may be restored:  
And we shall daily pray, etc. 

W. G.  
C. Tr.  
C. T.  
Chr. An.  
Io. C.     

To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir William Ger●rd Baronet, Sir Cecil Trafford Knight, Thomas Clifton, Charles Townley, Christoph●r Ander●●n, and Jo●● Clansfield, and other of Our Subjects, Recu●●nts Esqui●●s, in the County o● Lancaster.  
CHARLES R.  
Trusty and Well-beloved,  
We greet you well, whereas by reason of the Laws and Statues of our Realm, by which all Recusants convicted are to be without Arms, your Arms have been taken from you; so that now in this time of immiment danger, wherein there are Armies raised against Our Commands, and contrary to Our Proclamations, and are marching against Us, and divers of Our good Subjects, for obeying Our lawful Commands, and opposing the rebellious proceed of others illaffected, are by strong hand seized upon and imprisoned, their houses plundered, and their goods taken away; and the like is threatened to ourselves, who as all others Our Subjects ought to have Our protection against all unlawful violence and force: And the Laws made for dis-arming Recusants were made only for a provision to prevent danger in time of peace, & were not intended to bar you from a necessary use of Arms in time of actual war, for your own safety, or for the defence of Our Person against all Rebels and Enemies, which by your duty and allegiance you are bound unto▪ which is not, nor ever was meant to 〈◊〉 discharged or taken away by any 〈◊〉 And wh●●● as the Arms▪ which were taken from you▪ ought by Law to have been 〈…〉 to have been made use of by you in such time of open war, or of such others 〈◊〉 you should provide: yet under the specious pretence of dis-arming Recusants, and persons 〈…〉 your Arms have been disposed and dispersed into the hands of fever all persons 〈…〉 and for the most part Fomenters and Exciters of these Commotions 〈…〉 Kingdom; Our Will and Command therefore is, and We charge and require you upon your Allegiance▪ and 〈◊〉 you tender the safety of Our Person, and the peace and welfare of Our Kingdom, That you with all possible speed provide sufficient Arms for yourselves, your servants, and your tenants, which We authorise and require during the time of open war raised against Us, to keep and use for the defence of Us, and of yourselves, and of your Country, against all Forces and Arms raised, or to be raised against Us, or ●gainst Our consent, or contrary to Our Proclamations, by colour of any Order, or Ordinance, or Authority whatsoever. And We shall (according as We are bound to all Our Subjects) use Our utmost powers for the protection of you and yours, against all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 violence. And whensoever these Arms which you shall so provide (after it shall please God to put an end to these dangers and distractions) shall be taken away from your custody, by reason of Our Law 〈…〉 the same, so much as you shall have dispended in provision thereof.  
Given under Our Signet at Our Court at Chester, the 27 of September, in the eighteenth year of Our Reign 

Sir William riddel.  
Sir Edw. Widdrington.  
Sir Fra. Howard.  
Sir Nic. Thornton.  
Col. Tho. Howard.  
M. Lance Errington.  
M. Errington of Befron.  
M. Geo. Wray.  
M. Ralph Mellet.  
M. Chr. Wray.  
M. Lambton.  
M. Hodgeson.  
M. Smith.  
M. David Errington.  
M. Pudsey.  
M. Antho. Bulmer.  
M. Jo. Bulmer.  
M. Askwith.  
M. Geo. Collingwood.  
M. Forcer.  
M. Evers.  
M. Holtby.  
M. Evers.  
M. William Fenwicke.  
M. Ratcliff.  
M. Haggerston.  
M. Forcer.  
M. Edw. Grace.    
These are the Names of divers of the Colonels, Lieutenants Colonels, Sergeant Majors, Captains, and Lieutenants that are Papists, and Commanders in the Army, under the command of the Earl of Newcastle.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.   
FINIS.