A Declaration of the House of Commons, touching a late Breach of their Privileges; And for the Vindication thereof, and of divers Members of the said House.  
WHereas the Chambers, Studies, and Trunks, of Master Denzill Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Master John Pym, Master John Hampden, and Master William Strode Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, upon Monday the 3. of this instant January, by colour of His Majesty's Warrant have been sealed up by Sir William Killigrew, and Sir William Flemen, and others, which is not only against the Privilege of Parliament, but the Common Liberty of every Subject: Which said Members afterwards, the same day were under the like colour, by Sergeant Francis, one of His Majesty's Sergeants at Arms, contrary to all former Precedents demanded of the Speaker sitting in the House of Commons, to be delivered unto him, that he might Arrest them of high Treason. And whereas, afterwards the next day His Majesty in His Royal Person, came to the said House attended with a great multitude of men armed in warlike manner, with Halberds, Swords, and Pistols, who came up to the very door of the house, and placed themselves there, and in other places, and passages near to the said house, to the great terror and disturbance of the Members then sitting; and according to their duty in a peaceable, and orderly manner, treating of the great affairs of England, and Ireland. And his Majesty having placed himself in the Speakers Chair, demanded of them the Persons of the said Members to be delivered unto him, which is a high Breach of the Rights, and Privileges of Parliament and Inconsistent with the Liberties, and Freedom thereof. And whereas afterwards his Majesty did issue forth several Warrants to divers Officers, under his own hand, for the apprehension of the Persons of the said Members, which by Law he cannot do; there being not all this time, any Legal charge or accusation, or due Process of Law issued against them, nor any pretence of charge made known to that House; all which are against the Fundamental Liberties of the Subject, and the Rights of Parliament. Whereupon we are necessitated, according to our duty, to declare? And we do hereby declare that if any Person shall Arrest M. Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, M. Pym, M. Hampden, and M. Strode, or any of them, or any other Member of Parliament, by pretence or colour of any Warrant issuing out from the King only, is guilty of the Breach of the Liberties of the Subject, and of the Privilege of Parliament, and a public enemy to the Commonwealth. And that the Arresting of the said Members, or any of them, or of any other Member of Parliament, by any Warrant whatsoever, without a legal Proceeding against them, and without consent of that House, whereof such Person is a Member, is against the liberty of the Subject, and a Breach of Privilege of Parliament; And the Person which shall Arrest any of these Persons, or any other Member of the Parliament, is declared a public enemy of the Commonwealth. Notwithstanding all which we think fit, further to declare that we are so fare from any endeavours to protect any of our Members, that shall be in due manner prosecuted according to the Laws of the Kingdom, and the Rights and Privileges of Parliament for Treason, or any other misdemeanours, That none shall be more ready and willing than we ourselves, to bring them to a speedy, and due trial, being sensible that it equally imports us, as well to see Justice done against them that are Criminous, as to defend the just Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and Parliament of England.  
And whereas upon several examinations taken the 7. day of this instant January, before the Committee appointed by the House of Commons, to sit in London, it did fully appear, that many soldiers, Papists, and others, to the number of about 500 came with His Majesty on Tuesday last, to the said House of Commons, armed with Swords, Pistols, and other Weapons; and divers of them pressed to the door of the said House, thrust away the door Keepers, and placed themselves, between the said door and the ordinary attendants of his Majesty; holding up their Swords, and some holding up their Pistols ready cocked near the said door; and saying, I am a good Marksman, I can hit right I warrant you, and they not suffering the said door, according to the custom of Parliament to be shut, but said they would have the door open, and if any opposition were against them, they made no question, but they should make their party good, and that they would maintain their party; and when several Members of the House of Commons were coming into the house, their attendants desiring that Room might be made for them, some of the said Soldiers answered, A Pox of God confound them, and others said, A Pox take the house of Commons, let them come and be hanged, what a do is here with the house of Commons; and some of the said Soldiers did likewise violently assault, and by force disarm some of the Attendants, and servants of the Members of the house of Commons, waiting in the Room next the said house, and upon the Kings return out of the said house, many of them by wicked oaths, and otherwise, expressed much discontent, that some Members of the said house, for whom they came were not there, and others of them said, when comes the word, and no word being given at his Majesty's coming out, they cried a lane, a lane; afterwards some of them being demanded, what they thought the said company intended to have done, answered, That questionless in the posture they were set, if the word had been given, they should have fallen upon the house of Commons, and have cut all their throats. Upon all which we are of opinion, that it is sufficiently proved, that the coming of the said Soldiers, Papists, and others with his Majesty to the house of Commons on Tuesday last, being the fourth of this instant January, in the manner aforesaid, was to take away some of the Members of the said house; and if they should have found opposition, or denial, then to have fallen upon the said house in a hostile manner, And we do hereby declare that the same was a traitorous design against the King and Parliament. And whereas the said M. Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, M. Pym, M. Hampden, and M. Strode, upon report of the coming of the said Soldiers, Papists, and others in the warlike and hostile manner, aforesaid, did with the approbation of the house absent themselves from the service of the house, for avoiding the great, and many inconveniences, which otherwise apparently might have happened: Since which time a printed paper in the form of a Proclamation, bearing date the sixth day of this instant January, hath issued out for the apprehending, and imprisoning of them, Therein suggesting that through the conscience of their own guilt, they were absent and fled not willing to submit themselves to Justice; We do further declare that the said printed paper is false, scandalous and illegal, and that notwithstanding the said printed paper, or any warrant issued out, or any other matter yet appearing against them; or any of them, they may and aught to attend the service of the said house of Commons, and the several Committees now on foot, And that it is lawful for all persons whatsoever to lodge, harbour or converse with them, or any of them; And whosoever shall be questioned for the same, shall be under the protection and privilege of Parliament.  
And we do further declare, That the publishing of several Articles purporting a form of a charge of high Treason against the Lord Kimbolton, one of the Members of the Lords house, and against the said, M. Hollis, Sir Arthur Haslerig, M. Pym, M. Hampden, and M. Strode, by Sir William Killigrew, Sir William Flemen, and others in the Innos of Court, and elsewhere in the King's Name, was a high Breach of the Privilege of Parliament, a great scandal to his Majesty and his Government: A seditious Act manifestly tending to the subversion of the Peace of the Kingdom, and an injury, and dishonour to the said Members, there being no legal charge or accusation against them.  
That the privileges of Parliament, and the liberties of the Subject so violated and broken, cannot be fully and sufficiently vindicated, unless his Majesty will be graciously pleased, to discover the names of those persons, who advised his Majesty to issue out Warrants, for the sealing of the Chambers, and Studies of the said members, to send a Sergeant at Arms to the house of Commons, to demand their said Members, to issue out several Warrants under his Majesties own hand, to apprehend the said members. His Majesty's coming thither, in his own Royal Person. The publishing of the said Articles, and printed paper in the form of a Proclamation against the said Members in such manner as is before declared; To the end that such persons may receive condign punishment.  
And this house doth further declare, That all such persons as have given any Council, or endeavoured to set or maintain division or dislike, between the King and Parliament, or have listed their names, or otherwise entered into any combination or agreement, to be aiding, or assisting, to any such council or endeavour, or have persuaded any other so to do, or that shall do any the things above mentioned; And shall not forthwith discover the same to either house of Parliament: Or the Speaker of either of the said houses respectively, and disclaim it, are declared public enemies of the State and Peace of this Kingdom, and shall be inquired of, and proceeded against accordingly.   

Die Lunae 17. Januarii. 1641.  
It is this day ordered, By the Commons Assembled in Parliament, that this Declaration shall be forthwith published in Print.  
Hen. Elsing. Cler. Parl. De Com.   

London, Printed for joseph Hunscott. 1642.