A DECLARATION OF His Excellency the Lord Fairfax, Lord General, AND His council of war, Concerning their Resolution to preserve and protect the Freedom of Trade and Commerce.  
Whereas the Enemies of the Peace of this Kingdom, being sufficiently sensible how all their designs for the ruin and destruction thereof have, by the blessing of God upon our endeavours, been rendered abortive and made successless to the producing of that effect, have notwithstanding, out of their restless desire to bring their wicked purposes into execution, watched for and pursued all opportunities, that they could either make or meet with, conducing to that end; and have not ceased to lay upon us and lade us with all manner of Slander and Calumny, that might not only make us unacceptable to those of whom We have best deserved, but also render Us odious to all the World: And being informed that the said Enemies of the Kingdom have, upon occasion of some of our late just and necessitated Actions, given publicly out, and written to the parts beyond the Seas, that We intend to put all into ruin and Confusion, and to seize upon all men's Estates, destroy Propriety, Trade and Commerce, and that their goods cannot be in any security while We are in this Town, or keep in our hands any of the strengths of the Kingdom; and understanding that thereupon Bills of Exchange begin to be questioned, and some persons begin to convey away their goods; We being very sensible how much the Wealth, Peace and Happiness of this Kingdom is concerned in the Freedom and fullness of the Trade and Commerce thereof; and how much the said Enemies of Peace should prevent their foresaid wicked end, if their said Calumnies should go on to be believed: We do therefore hereby declare, That as by all the Adventures of our Lives and Blood We have sought nothing more than the prosperity of this Kingdom, and the establishing of Justice and Righteousness in the Land; so there is nothing that We more abhor then those wicked Calumnies, that We should invade the Propriety of any not wilfully making themselves Enemies, or do any thing any way, to hinder or obstruct that Trade and Commerce by which this Kingdom doth both subsist and flourish: But that We shall, in a most especial manner, protect, defend, encourage and maintain, in all just ways (according to the Law of Nations, and the manner hitherto practised in this Kingdom) all manner of Trade, traffic and Commerce either by English or Strangers: and that We shall neither do, nor suffer to be done, as far as is in our power, any violence, wrong or injustice to the persons or goods of any, as aforesaid, exercising any Trade or Commerce in this Kingdom, either by Sea or Land: Which we thought fit to publish for the satisfaction of all persons concerned herein.  
By the appointment of his Excellency the Lord General Lord Fairfax, and his council of War, Signed, JO: RUSHWORTH, Secretary. Decemb. 15. 1648.   

LONDON, Printed for John Partridge and George Whittington. 1648.