TO HIS VERY LOVING FRIENDS, The High sheriff, and justices of Peace of the County of SURREY.  

GENTLEMEN;  
IT is now some months since that the Protestation taken by the Lords, and House of Commons, was sent down into the Country, with an expectation that it should be generally taken throughout the kingdom, for a testimony of their good concurrence with the Parliament, but through the remissness of some of those that had the care of recommending it to others, very many there be that have not hitherto taken it. Now the House of Commons having discovered many dangerous designs plotted against the Parliament; and especially that of the fourth of this instant January, which had it taken effect would have strucken not only at the privileges, but the very being of Parliaments, as will more appear by the Declaration herewith sent unto you, which the House desires you to publish throughout all parts of the county, Have thought fit once again to recommend the taking of this Protestation; And have therefore commanded me in their Name to desire you the High sheriff, and the Justices of the Peace of that County, to meet together in one place as soon as possibly you may, and there to take the Protestation yourselves; and then dispersing yourselves into your several Divisions, that you will call together the Minister, the Constables, Churchwardens, and Overseers of the poor of every Parish, and tender unto them the Protestation to be taken in your presence; And to desire of them, that they will very speedily call together the Inhabitants of their several Parishes, both householders and others being of Eighteen years of age, or upwards, into one or more places, according to the largeness of their Parishes, and to tender unto them the same Protestation to be taken in their presence, and to take the names of those that do take, and do refuse to take the same Protestation, and to return them unto yourselves at such time as you shall appoint, which the House desires may be so speedily, as that you likewise may return such Certificate, as you receive from them, to the Knights and Burgesses serving for that County, if the same County be within sixty miles of London, before the twentieth day of February next; And if the said County be above sixty miles distant from London, then before the twelfth of March next, wherein the House desires your greatest Care and Diligence, as a matter very much importing the good both of the King and kingdom, which being all I have in command, I rest  
Your very loving friend WILLIAM LENTHALL, SPEAKER.   

SIR,  
I Have lately received a Letter from the Speaker of the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament, the Copy whereof is abovementioned: I desire you, according to the directions in the said Letter, to meet with the rest of the Justices of Peace (to whom I have written to the same purpose) and myself at Kingston in the Town Hall there on Thursday being the tenth day of this instant February, by nine of the Clock in the forenoon, to perform that which we are thereby required.  
Your very loving friend 2. Febr. 1641.