instructions Agreed upon by the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT, For Sir William Brereton B●r●onet, one of the Members of the House of Commons, and for Sir GEORGE BOOTH, Knight and baronet: and the rest of the deputy Lieutenants of the city and county of CHESTER.  

Die Lunae Januarii. 9. 1642.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that these Instructions shall be forthwith printed and published.  
John brown Cleric. Parliament.   
 decorative woodcut  
LONDON, Printed for John Wright, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Old-Baily. Ian. 11. 1642.   

Instructions agreed upon by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Chester.  
WHereas it doth appear, to the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament; that the King seduced by wicked council, hath raised War against the Parliament, and other his good Subjects, and hath drawn together great store of Papists, and ill affencted persons, and sent out Commissions, for the levying of others, to the great hazard of Religion, and the public peace of the kingdom.  
1. You the said Deputy Lieutenants, shall take special care therefore that the Ordinance concerning the Militia, from time to time, be put in execution▪ through the said county, as you shall see cause: And for that purpose, you or any two or more of you shall have power and authority, to arm, train, and put in readiness, all and every the Inhabitants of that County, fit for the War, as well Trained band, as other volunteers, both Horse and foot, and them, under the Command of such colonels Lieutenant Collonells, sergeant Majors, Captaines, and other Officers, as the Lieutenant of the said county, or you or any three or more of you shall in his absence nominate and appoint, to lead and conduct, as well against all foreign Forces, that shall in hostile manner invade the said county, as for resisting, and opposing of all other forces, which shall be either within the said County, or elsewhere, raised to the disturbance of the peace of that county, or which shall stand in opposition to the Orders, Commands, and Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament; and the Sheriffes and all other Officers and Subjects of the said County, are hereby enjoined, to assist you and every of you therein; and if any person whatsoever shall levy or endeavour to levy or billet▪ any Souldiers or to raise, draw or keep together, the Trained Bands or other Armed Forces of the said county or any other Forces, by colour or pretence of any Commission or Warrant from his Majesty, under the great seal or otherwise without Order or consens of both Houses of Parliament: You are to make known to the Trained Bands or other Inhabitants of the said County; that those who shall appear upon any such Warrant▪ or obey any such Commission, shall be held disturbers of, and enemies to the public peace: and those who shall not appear upon any such Warrant and Commission, nor do any thing in execution thereof, but shall conform and submit to the Ordinance of the Militia, shall be protectd by both Houses of Parliament.  
And you the said Deputy Lieutenants or any two or more of you, shall in the name▪ and by the authority of both Houses of Parliament, require and command all persons, to forbear the execution of such Commission or Warrant and to cause the same to be delivered up to you, or any of you, to be sent to the Parliament. And you the said Deputy Lieutenants, or any two or more of you, are hereby required, to draw together, such of the Trained Bands, and other forces of the said County, as shall be expedient for the suppressing of all such Assemblies, and for the apprehending and impri●●oning of all or any such person or persons, as shall after admonition and command, by you or any of you made unto them, to forbear the execution of any such Commission or Warrant, or the calling or gathering or keeping together of any such Forces or Assemblies, still perfix in doing the same; and likewise such as shall bear arms, by colour of any Warrant or Commission from his Majesty, under the great seal or otherwise, without order or consent of both Houses of Parliament. And also such disaffected persons, as shall be found raising any parties or factions against the Parliament; or casting any reproaches or aspersions against them or their proceedings, to be sent up to the Parliament, to answer such their offences, as to Law and justice shall appertain.  
2. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you, shall stay, search and examine, or cause to be stayed preached and examined all suspicious persons, and caryages, and shall search or cause to be preached, all suspicious places, and to seize upon all Horses, arms and ammunition, Money, Plate or other provisions whatsoever which you or any one or more of you shall have just cause to suspect is▪ or are raised, or provided for the fomenting or maintaining war 'gainst the Parliament and the kingdom.  
3. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants or any one or more of you shall oppose and suppress all rebellion and commotion whatsoever within the said county of Chester or in any other Counties in association with the said county of Chester.  
4 You the Deputy Lieutenants or any one or more of you, shall conduct and lead all such forces of Horse and foot▪ as shall be raised within the said county of Chester, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament for the service of the Parliament and kingdom.  
And you the said Deputy Lieu●enants and Inhabitants and every of you, shall fight with kill and slay all such as shall by force oppose you, or any of you in the execution of this or an other Order or Ordinance of both ●ouses of Parliament and all other their assistants, aiders and abettors: and you or any one or more of you shall levy such other forces of Horse and foot as( his Excellency) the earl of Essex shall by his Commission give you power to leavy under such colonels Comman●ers and other Officers as shall be by him appointed or directed: And you shall pursue ●he said Traitors and Rebells and their adherents, in the said County of 〈◇〉, or in any other places or Counties of the Kingdom into which they shall retire themselves. And you shall defend and protect his Ma●esties good Subjects from violence and oppression, by the illegal Commission of Array▪ or otherwise: And you shall hinder and forbid, the execution of that illegal Commission; and in all places, to the utmost of your power and endeavour▪ to restore and preserve the peace of the Kingdom.  
5. You the said deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you shall take from the said Rebells and Traytors, and their adherents, all such arms, Ordinance, and ammunition and goods as they have taken from any of his Majesties Subjects, and restore the same to the Owners: And if any of those arms▪ Ordinance, ammunition or other goods so taken, be wasted spent consumed or so concealed from you that you cannot come to the same, then you or any one of you, shall in leiw thereof cause due recompense to be made to the parties grieved, out of and with the offenders goods.  
6. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants or any one or more of you, shall take care▪ that such Resolutions and Orders of both Houses, as have been or shall be made and delivered or sent down to your▪ or any of you be put in execution, and shall require the Sheriffes and Justices of the Peace, and all other his Majesties Officers and Subject● of the said County, to be aiding and assisting unto you, and every of you, for that purpose: And if any of them shall refuse, or forbear to be aiding and assisting to you therein, you or any one or more of you, shall them apprehended and imprison, and sand up to the Parliament, or otherwise dispose of them, for further punishment, as to justice shall appertain.  
7. You the said Deputy Lieutenants; shall likewise declare unto all men, That it hath ever been▪ and still shall be the care and endeavours of the Parliament, to provide for his Majesties safety; and that they do not nor never did know, of any evil intended towards his Majesties Person, which might more him to require any Army, or extraordinary guard: That his greatest safety is in the affection and fidelities of his Subjects, and in the advice and council of his Parliament; and his greatest danger in withdrawing himself from them and joining himself to such disaffected and malignant persons; obnoxious to Justice for their great enormities, who under colour of doing him service, have raised forces which they labour to increase, to the hazard of ruining Religion and the whole Kingdom.  
8. And you the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any or more of you shall in the name of the Lords and Commons, publish, or cause to be published throughout the said County, the Declarations already commanded or hereafter to be commanded to be published by both Houses of Parliament, and you and every of you shall endeavour to clear the proceedings of the Parliament, from imputations and aspersions and shall from time to time certify the Speaker of the House of Commons, of all things which you conceive necessary for the present service; and that a speedy account thereof may be made, and that the directions of the Lords and Commons to you, as well as your Advertisements to them, may have a clear and speedy passage, you and every of you, shall lay a strict charge upon all Host-masters, Messengers and others, that they do not suffer any Letters or other dispatches to, or from the Parliament, or any other employed in their service, to be intercepted or stayed: And if any shall presume to make stay of such dispatches, you, and every of you, shall direct the Postmasters to repair to the Justices of Peace, Constables, and other Officers for their aid and assistance, who are hereby required, to take special care, that there be no such Interruption.  
9. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any two or more of you, are hereby authorised and required, forthwith to disarm all Popish Recusants, and other dangerous and ill affencted persons as well clergy men as others, as have testified, or shall testify their ill dispositions to the peace of the kingdom and proceedings of Parliament: and all such arms, and all other arms formerly taken from Popish Recusants▪ shall be employed by you for the defence of the said county, and shall be put into the hands of such as you or any two or more of you, shall conceive to be persons well affencted in Religion and to the peace of the Kingdom, and the proceedings of Parliament.  
10. You the said Dequty Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one, or more of you shall take care that none of the Recusants arms▪ or other Ammunition of the said county; shall be taken or carried out of the same upon any pretence or command whatsoever, without warrant from both Houses of Parliament, or authority derived from them: And you or any one, or more of you shall apprehended and imprison, in such places as you shall think meet▪ all such Popish Recusants in the said County, as do not confine to themselves to their dwelling places, according to ●he statute in that case provided.  
11. You the Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you shall seize: and take into your custody the public Magazines of the said County, and the same shall be disposed, and employed for the defence of the County▪ in such manner, as shall bee thought fit, by the said Sir William Brereton one of the Members of the House of Commons or in his default or neglect▪ then by any two or more of the said Inhabitants, and any three or more of the said Deputy Lieutenants.  
12. And you the said D●puty lieutenants or any two or more of you are likewise to give charge from both Houses of Parliament, to all colonels Captaines, lieutenants, and all other Officers for the M●… that they shall bee observant to such directions, as they shall from time to time receive from the Lord lieutenant of the said County, or his Deputies, or any of them, for the due performance of any the commands, of the said Houses.  
13. You the Deputy lieutenant and Inhabitants, or any one, or more of you shall resist and repel, and are hereby authorised, to resist and repel, by the power of the said County, and all other ways▪ and means, all such force and violence as shall be raised, or brought by any person or persons to the hindrance or disturbance of this present service or for the arresting or seizing the persons of you, or any of you, or any other which shall bee employed in performance of the Ordinance, Instructions and Commands of both Houses of Parliament, for any thing done in execution thereof: And the Sheriffes and Justices of peace, of the said county, and all other Officers and subjects, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to you, and every of you, for the better and more speedy execution of the premises.  
14. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any two or or more of you, shall with the consent, of any two of the said deputy lieutenants have power and authority, to fortify the City, town of of Chester, or any other place of the said County, in such a manner and sort as you, or any two or more of you with the consent of any two of the said Deputy lieutenants, shall think fit for the safety of the said County; and for the more security of the same, shall set such several guards and forces, in all places and towns of the said county, as you or any two or more of you, with the consent of any two, of the said Deputy Lieutenants, shall think fit and requisite, and to cause the Beacons, within the said County, to be watched guarded and fired, as occasion shall require.  
15. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you and every other person or persons, to be thereunto nominated and appointed, by you, or any one or more of you, shall or may call together the Inhabitants of the said County, at such times and places, as you, or they shall think fit and propound to them, what horse, men and arms▪ they will find▪ and maintain, and what money; plate horse, or victuals for horse and man, they will give, lend or advance; for the defence of the said County of Chester, and the kingdom of England, and to take their answers and subscriptions, and to appoint Treasurers for those moneys, plate and victuals and Commissioners for the valuing of the horse, Arms and Victuals the receiving and listing& enrolling therof; which tresurers and Commissioners are hereby required, to receive, issue forth▪ and employ all the said money, plate, horses arms and victuals respectively in such manner as by warrant from you or any two or more of you▪ shall be appointed for providing of ammunition for war, and for payment officers or souldiers or for any other things necessary for the defence of the said County or kingdom: And whosoever within the said County, shall bring in any money, Plate, horse▪ arms or V●ctualls, or shall furnish or maintain▪ any men horse, or arms for the service of the said County or kingdom, shall have their money repaid with interest; according to eight pounds per centum; and the full value of their plate with consideration▪ for the fashion, not exceeding one shilling per ounce, and shall have full recompense for all their charge, in finding furnishing and maintaining of men▪ horse and arms: And for this both houses of Parliament, do engage the public faith▪ and a signification of the said Tresurers or any two of them for the receipt of the said moneys and plate for the purposes aforesaid, shall be a sufficient ground for the parties so lending, money or plate to demand the same again with interest and consideration for the fashion of the plate; and a signification under the hands of the said Commissioners, for the valueing of the said horses, arms and Victuals or any two of them, of the valves of the horse, arms and victuals; and of the time when they were first brought in; shall bee a warrant to demand satisfaction, according to those valves; and they shall keep an account of the time from the first enrolement; of any such horse and horsemen, that such as find and maintain them may be repaid, according to the rate of two shillings sixpence per diem, for so long time as they have mainained them in this service.  
16. And you the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you, are hereby authorised, and required, to apprehended, and sand up to the Parliament all such persons in the said County of Chester, as by both or either Houses of Parliament, are or shall bee Voted Delinquents.  
17. You the said Deputy Lieutenants, or any three or more of you, whereof the aforesaid Member of the House of Commons, to be one, shall or may in the absence of the Lieutenant of the said County, make and appoint such colonels, Captaines and other Officers as shall be requisite for the service and defence of that County, and to remove them out of their places, and to make others, from time to time, as you shall think fit for that purpose.  
18. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you shall or may cause and require, strong watches and wards to bee set by the Constables or such other persons as you shall think meet; in all convenient places in that County, for the peace and safety thereof.  
19. You the said Deputy lieutenants or the greater part of you whereof the aforesaid member of the House of Commons to bee one, may join in assosiation, with the adjacent Counties, for the mutual defence of each other County: And for that purpose you or any of you, shall have power to conduct and led, or to cause to bee conducted and lead; any force out of the said County of Chester, into any other county or Counties whatsoever, as shall be expedient for the service, and to require and receive, into the said County of Chester, out of and from, any other Counties or place, the aid and assistance of any persons or forces whatsoever.  
20. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any one or more of you, shall or may apprehended and imprison, all such persons, as shall oppose you or refuse to obey you in the premises respectively▪ and to sand him or them in safe custody up to the Parliament or any Committee of Parliament to be proceeded with according to Justice.  
21. You the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, and every of you shall observe and execute all such further directions, and instructions, as you shall from time to time receive from both Houses of Parliament: And whatsoever you shall do therein, or any other person in aid or assistance of you, it shall bee accepted of as good and acceptable service to the kingdom: And for their and your so doing, they and you shall be defended and protected by the authority of Parliament and the resolution of the Lords and Commons to protect those that shall obey and further their commands you shall publish and ●eclare upon all occasions for the better encouragement of the Subjects of this kingdom in that be half.  
22. You the Deputy Lieutenants or any two or more of you shall publish and declare, that if any who have assisted the Commissioners of Array and their Adherents in execution of any thing contrary to any Ordinance or Order of both Houses of Parliament; shall willingly within ten dayes after publication made; by you or any of you return to their duty not doing any hostile act, with i● the ●ime limited▪ and bring in their arms to you, or any one or more of you and join themselves with the parliament in defence of Religion, his Majestes Person; the liberties and Laws of the kingdom, and privileges of Parliament with their persons and Estates: That the Lords and Commons will bee ready upon their submission, to receive such persons, in such manner as they shal have cause to aclowledge that they have been used with clemency and favour; provided that this shall not extend to admit any man into either House of Parliament who stands suspended, without giving satisfaction to the House whereof he shall bee a Member: And except all persons who stand impeached, or particularly Voted in either House of Parliament, for any Delinquency whatsoever; excepting likewise such Adherents, of those who stand impeached in Parliament, of Treason as have been eminent persons and chief actors in those Treasons: and except the earl of Bristol: the earl of Cumberland, the earl of Newcastle, the earl Rivers, Secretary Nicholas, Mr. Endym●n Porter, Mr. Edward hid, the Duke of Richmond, the earl of Carnarvan, the Lord V. Newarke, the Lord V. ●a●lkland.  
23. You the said Dep. Lieut. and Inhabitants, or any one, or more of you, shall take and seize all such Rents▪ Goods and chattels as shall belong to any that are in arms against the Parliament: And shall put the same into such hands as shall be answerable and accountable for the same and thereof shall sand a perfect Schedule to the Speaker of the House of Commons  
24. You the said Deputy Lieutenants or Inhabitants, and any one or more of you, shal take away the arms and Horses of such as shall refuse to contribute Moneys, Plate or Horse, Men or arms upon the Propositions: And you shall force all Papists and persons disaffected to the Parliament, to contribute to the maintenance of the Army.  
25. You the said Deputy Lietenants and every of you shall take care that the Armies under your or any of your Conducts or Commands be governed according to the laws and Ordinances published by his Excellency the earl of Essex, and to pay them out of such moneys as shall be paid upon the subscriptions or otherwise upon the Contributions▪ and upon the Estates of such as are in actual Service against the Parliament; or have contributed any Supplies for the maintenance of it.  
26. You the said Deputy Lieutenants or any three of you, shall have power to take into your protection of the Parliament such as shall bring in their arms, and forsake the Party of the Commissioners of Array, and their Adherents against the Parliament so as they be not Papists or Delinquents declared by both Houses of Parliament, or by either of them.  
27. And lastly, all such Victuals Money, Plate, arms, Ammunition and provision for war, as shall be raised or brought in by virtue, means or occasion of this Ordinance, or any thing therein contained; or as shall be sent down unto you the said Deputy Lieutenants and Inhabitants, or any of you by direction or appointment of both or either the Houses of Parliament: or of any Committee of both or either Houses of Parliament; shall be employed and bestowed in such manner as shall be agreed, directed and appointed by the said Sir William Brereton one of the Members of the House of Commons, or in default or neglect, then by three or more of the said Deputy Lieutenants, by Warrant under their hands in writing.  
FINIS.