Horrible News from LANCASHIRE, Declared in a Letter sent from Lancaster by one Mr. Benjamin Williamson to Mr. Adam Andrew's Merchant and Inhabitant in the Burrow of Southwark.  
Wherein is related what Tumultuous Uproars the Papists in those parts have lately made to the terror of the Inhabitants of the said County.  
Also a true Relation how the Protestants risen in Arms and forced them to fly.  
Likewise a large Manifestation of the great care of the Sheriff of Lancaster to disarm the Papists, and to prevent such Uproars and Tumults.  
Together with an Order sent from the House of Commons to the High Sheriff of Lancaster, touching the suppressing of the abovesaid Tumults.  
john Browne, Cler. Parl.  
LONDON, Printed for J. Horton, 1642. June 3.   

Horrible News from Lancashire.  
THe Troubles and distractions of this Kingdom are great and manifold are the plots and designs, that the Papists have in agitation both against the King and Parliament, private intentions, and public actions, private designs, and cunning Stratagems have been long hatching, and now they see such distractions and disturbances betwixt the King and Parliament, they Presume to put that in action, which has so long been concealed.  
A large and apparent testimony of this, late happened in Lancashire in Lancashire, on the 25. day of May within 7. Miles of Lancaster, upon a great Plain, there assembled a great number of Papists, to the value of 3. hundred, with Swords by their sides, waiting as it seems for some more Company, what their counsels or determination, were is not yet known.  
Only this I am informed, that they affrighted the neighbouring Inhabitants so that they gathered together, and put themselves into a Posture of defence, in the best manner that they could, withal sending with their best speed to the high Sheriff of the said County to give him information of what they had cause to fear, but the high Sheriff being road to Lancaster to cause the Order of the houses of Parliament concerning the suppressing such meetings, to be published, by which means they were frustrate of their hopes, nevertheless they took courage, and with unite consent marched out upon them, and by the advice of some Gentlemen that were there, sent Massages unto them to demand the cause of that assembly, it being contrary to the Command of the high Court of Parliament, withal desiring them to departed by fair means, (withal giving them this to boo●e, that if they would not by fair means they would (knowing it to be for the preservation of his Majesty, and the good of the Kingdom, to quell such uproars) force their departure, or make their Place of meeting a terrene Golgotha, and bury them and their designs together, which blunt embassage affrighted so the Papists, that they begun apace to take their journeys each to his habitation, muttering forth words full of despite and anger, as that the time should come ere long that they should repent those words, speaking as if they had some plot in agitaton.  
This makes the Protestants to keep a wary Watch and look precisely on the Catholics, the high Sheriff using all speedy means for to disarm them and take away their force, hoping by that means to hinder any public outrages, withal promising to study and conform themselves to the Commands of the high Court of Parliament, they being the chief preservers of the King and Kingdom's peace, whose Counsels God direct for the best, so that true Religion may be settled, Unity increased, Papistry and Heresy banished the confines of the Church, and Gods name praised and glorified both in Church and Common Wealth, so shall the King's Honour increase, so shall the Parliaments Council prosper, and the Subjects fear be translated into joy, so shall those distractions cease, and unity triumph in his majesty's Dominions,  
Die Sabbathi 28. May, 1642.  
WHereas it appears, that the King, seduced by wicked Council, intends to make War against the Parliament, and under the colour of a guard to secure his Royal Person, doth command troops of Horse and Foot to assemble at York; All which is against the Laws of the Kingdom, tending to the dissolution of the Parliament, and destruction of his People. It is therefore Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the Sheriffs of the County of Lancaster, and all other Sheriffs of the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, shall by the power of that County, and of their several Counties, respectively, suppress the raising or coming together of any Soldier's Horse or Foot, by any Warrant, Commission or Order from his Majesty without the consent of his Parliament, and that all Persous whatsoever do forbear to execute any such Commission, or warrant for levying Soldiers, or gathering them together without consent of the Parliament; And those who shall execute, or obey any such Commission, or warrant, are hereby declared to be disturbers of the peace of the Kingdom. And that his Majesty's loving Subjects may the better understand what the Law, and their own duty is in this behalf, the said Sheriff of Lancashire, and other Sheriffs of the other Counties of this Kingdom respectively, shall cause this present Order, forthwith to be published in the several Market Towns within their said Counties.   

Sabbathi, 28. Maii. 1642.  
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, that this shall be forthwith Printed and published.  
John Browne, Cler. Parl.   
FINIS.