THE KINGS majesties CHARGE SENT TO ALL THE JUDGES OF ENGLAND, To be published in their respective Circuits, By His majesties special Command.  
London, Printed for Laurence Blaiklock, july 26. 1642.   

Charles R.  
TRusty and well beloved, We greet you well. We call to mind that in former times the constant custom was, by the mouth of the Lord Keeper for the time being, at the Court of Star-chamber, in the end of Trinity term, to put the Judges of assize( shortly after to undertake their several Circuits) in mind of such things as were then thought necessary for the present, for the good government of the kingdom. This course in Our judgement We do well approve of, That although We want the opportunity, which We and Our Predecessors then had, of communicating Our thoughts to Our Judges, for the good of Our People, yet We do still retain the same care for the safety and prosperity of Our good Subjects. And much more, by how much the distempers and distractions of the present times, unhappily fallen, have given us more occasion. We have therefore thought it fit, to supply the defect by these Our Letters; wherein, besides the general care of Our justice, committed to us by God, and by us delegated to Our Judges by Our several Commissions, We recommend unto you in your Circuits, as We shall do to the rest of your Brethren in their several Circuits, these particulars following.  
First, that you take care, by all the best means you can, to suppress Popery in all those Counties whither you are to go, by putting the laws made against them in due execution: And that you take like care to give a stop to the over-hasty growth of anabaptism, and other schisms, as far as by the good laws of the Land you may; and to punish the Delinquents with an equal hand, and those specially of either sort whom you shall discover to bee seditious stirrers and movers of others to any Acts of disobedience to us, and our government; And that in your Charge, and otherwise, as you shall have sit opportunity, you assure our good Subjects in our name, and in the word of a King, who calls God to witness, that by his gracious assistance we are constantly resolved to maintain the true Protestant Religion, established by Law in this Church of England, in the purity thereof, without declining either to the right hand or to the left, as wee found it at our access to the Crown, and as it was maintained in the happy times of queen Elizabeth, and King james our dear Father, both of happy memory, and therein both to live and die.  
Secondly, You shall let Our People of those Counties know, That, according to Our Kingly duty and Oath, We are also constantly resolved to maintain the laws of this Our kingdom; and by, and according to them to govern Our Subjects, and not by any Arbitrary power, whatsoever the Malevolent Spirits of any ill affencted to Our Person or Government, have suggested, or shall suggest to the contrary. And that We shall also maintain the just privileges of Parliament, as far as ever Our Predecessors have done, and as far as may stand with that justice which We owe to Our crown, and the honour thereof: But that We may not, nor will admit of any such unwarranted power, in either, or both Houses of Parliament, which in some things hath been lately usurped, not onely without, but against Our royal Consent and Command. And We require and command you, as there shall be just occasion offered, in a legal way, that you take care to preserve Our just right in these cases.  
Thirdly, We charge you, as you tender the peace of this Kingdom, in the Government whereof, according to the laws, you Our Judges of the Law have a principal part under us, that you take care for suppressing of all Insurrections, if any such should happen, and of all Riots and unlawful Assemblies under any pretence whatsoever, not warranted by the laws of this Land; and whosoever shall transgress therein, that you let them know that they must expect that punishment which by the Law may be inflicted upon them, and at your hands We shall look for such an account herein, within you Circuit, as becometh the quality of the place wherein you serve Vs.  
Fourthly, because the distempers of the present times, unhappily stirred up& fomen●ed by some, under specious, but unjust pretences,& probable to stir up loose& ungoverned people, under hope of impunity as far as they dare to make a prey of Our good Subjects, We straitly charge and command you to take the best order you can in those Counties, That Rogues, V●g●bonds, and other disorde●l● people may bee 〈…〉, dealt with and punished according to the laws, whereby the good and quiet people of our K●●●●o●e may be secured, and the wicked and licentious may 〈◇〉 suppressed: and Wee charge and command you to 〈◇〉 in charge in all the Counties whither you are 〈…〉 Commissions, that Watches and Wards be stratily kept ●● all Parishes and places convenient, whereby the laws made against such disorders may be put in due execution.  
Fiftly and lastly, you shall let Our people of those Counties know from us, and by Our command, that if they shall profess unto us, or unto you in Our stead, any thing wherein they hold themselves grieved, in an humble and sitting way, and shall desire a just Reformation or relief, We shall give a gracious ear unto them, and with all convenience return them such an answer, as shall give them cause to thank us for Our Justice and Favour: And when you shall have published Our clear intentions to Our people in these things, lest at the first hearing they should not so fully apprehended Our sense therein, you shall deliver a copy of these Our letters to the Fore-man of the Grand-Jury, and to any other, if any one shall desire copies of these Our letters for their better information; And to the end that Our services in your Circuit may not suffer through the absence of Our learned counsel, Our Will and Command is, that you assign in every place of your Sessions some of the ablest Lawyers who ride that Circuit to be of counsel for us, to assist in such Pleas of the Crown, that may bee most necessary for Our service in the execution and punishment of notorious Delinquents.  
Of all these things We shall expect that good account from you, as We shall from the rest of your Brethren Our Judges, to whom Wee have also written to the like purpose, of whose fidelity and good affections Wee are confident as becometh us to look for from you, and for you to render to us, wherein you have so great a trust committed,  
Given at Our Court at york, 4 july, 1642. To Our trusty and well-beloved the judge or Iudges of Assize for Our Count●es of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hartford, and Essex.  
FINIS.