THE PETITION and Resolution of the citizens of the City of Chester, as it was intended to be presented to the Commissioners of Array, but for special reason was afterwards waved, and the following Declaration presented by Citizens that were summoned to appear before his Majesties Commissioners at the Rood in the liberties of the said City for the clear manifestation of their allegiance to his Majesty and duty to the Parliament.  
Also the Resolution of the Deputie-Lieutenants, Captaines, Officers, Souldiers and Volunteeres of the Trained Bonds in the County of Warwick, to the Right Honourable Robert, Lord brooks, Lord Lieutenant of the aforesaid County; Also the said Lords answer thereunto annexed.  
Likewise an answer of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, which the Iudges and Iustices of Assize shall declare, that His Majesties Commission of Array is against Law, and Liberty, and privilege of the Subject.  
Ordered Die Sabbati. jo. Brown, clear. De come.  
Printed at London for Tho. Banks, and William lay. 1642.   

The humble Petition and Resolution of the Deputy-Lieutenants, Captains, Officers, Souldiers, and volunteers of the Trained Bands of the County of Warwick, to the Right Honourable Robert Lord brook, Lord Lieutenant of the County aforesaid, and by his Lordship presented to the high Court of Parliament, With the Answer of the Lords thereunto annexed.  
To the Right Honourable Robert L. Brook, Lord Lieutenant for the County of Warwicke, The Petition of the Deputy Lieutenants, Captains, Officers, and Souldiers of the Trained Bands, and volunteers of the County aforesaid.  
Humbly Sheweth.  
THat as it was no small comfort and settling to the well affencted of the whole kingdom when they understood the most excellent necessary and seasonable Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the Militia; so in special, we of this County, who did most earnestly petition for it, do desire to come short of none in the expression of our unfeigned thankfulness to them, for the happy accomplishment thereof; As also, for their respects to us, in appointing your Lordship our Lieutenant. Our request to your Lordship is, That you will present our most humble and hearty thanks to the Parliament, signifying our readiness to obey his Majesties royal Authority in this their happy Ordinance of the Militia, and our Resolutions to adhere to his majesty, and both Houses of parliament▪ to the loss of the last drop of our dearest blood in securing His and their Persons and advancing their designs; Which( though maliciously traduced by some few malignant Persons) we rest most assured, tends only to the establishment of truth and peace to us: and our Posterities. For the better securing whereof, we humbly and hearty pray this Ordinance may be continued, till by some other effectual provision the peace of this kingdom, and the security of our Laws be established, especially by putting the power and care of their execution, in such hands as the Parliament, and kingdom may confided in; which by the late violation of the petition of Right, wee have cause to recommend to the Parliament, as fearing the like miscarriages for the time to come, of whatsoever good Laws you can provide, without some such way of security.  
And we further pray that some speedy course may be taken, to remove from His Majesties most Sacred Person all pestilent troublers of this Church, and State; and for such Members as leave that great counsel, and lean to the malignant party, Our most humble and earnest desires are, That they may receive condign and speedy punishment( the kingdom groaning under so long delay) as shall be thought fit by the wisdom and Justice of this Parliament.  
One request more that concerns this County, Wee humbly present your Lordship with That the Magazine thereof which lies in the city and county of Coventrie, may be removed and laid up in your Lordships Castle of Warwick, as the safest place of the county, with a sufficient Guard, provided by the county for the securing of it.  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.   

The Lords Answer.  
MY Lords have taken your Petition into Consideration, and receive much contentment in the good affections you have expressed, thus seasonably and necessary, for the good of the King and kingdom, and for their Lordships encouragement in the performance of their Duty; For which they give you hearty thankes: And my Lords do assure you that( God willing) they resolve to insist in their former declared Resolutions for the upholding the true Religion; the Kings Authority in the highest Court, which by sundry late Declarations and practices to abuse the People, they find so much vilisted and invaded, The privileges of Parliament, The free course of Iustice, The Laws and Peace of this Kingdoms, notwithstanding any dangers and hazards that for that Cause may befall them.  
That for the manifestation of their good Affections, and their Lordships kinds acceptation thereof, they have commanded your Petition and this Answer, to be forthwith printed and published.  

Ordered Die Sabbati.  
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that this Petition and Answer be forthwith printed and published.  
John Brown, clear. Parl.    

An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the Iudges and Iustices of Assize, in the several Counties of England and Wales, in open Court, and in their several Charges to be delivered to the Grand Juries at the next Assizes, shall declare and publish, That the said Lords and Commons have resolved upon the Question, That His Majesties Commissions of Array are against Law,& against the Liberty and property of the Subject.  
WHereas several Commissions of Array have lately issued out under the great seal of England, into the several Counties of Liecester, Worcester. and other Counties of this realm, tending to the great danger of His Majesty, and the disturbance of the Peace of this kingdom: For the preventing thereof, and of the execution, and issuing out of any such Commissions for the time to come, it is ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Iudges and Iustices of Assize, of the several Counties of England and Wales, be required in their several Circuits, at the Assizes and great Sessions to be next held for each County, within this realm, and the Dominion of Wales, respectively, in open Court, and in their several Charges to be delivered to the Grand-juries at the said Assizes, and great Sessions, openly to declare and publish, That the said Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have, upon mature deliberation, Resolved upon the question, That the said Commissions of Array are against Law and against the Liberty and Property of the Subject: And that all those that are Actors in putting the same in execution, shall be esteemed disturbers of the Peace of the kingdom, and Betrayers of the Liberty of the Subject.  

Die Sabdati.  
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, That this Order shall be Printed and Published.  
Jo: brown Cleric. Parliament.    

To the Right Honourable and worshipful the Lords, and Gentlemen now in the Commission of Array, to be executed in this City of Chester.  
The humble Petition of divers of His Majesties loyal Subjects within the City of Chester:  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat your Petitioners hearing of the said Commission, and conceiv●ng it to be in the judgement of both Houses illegal, and contrary to the express Ordinance of Parliament, and also of dangerous consequence, do humbly pray that the execution there. of may be stayed, themselves excused from obeying the same, and that you would be pleased rather to mediate betwixt his Gracious Majesty and the honourable Houses of Parliament for a reconciliation, than to put your Petitioners to such desperate consequence; being as they humbly conceive against their Protestation, so to deceive their obedience, oppose the privileges of Parliament, and withstand their own Rights and privileges.   

The Citizens& inhabitants of the City of Chester, being summoned to appear before his Majesties Commissioners at the rood within the liberties of the said City, upon Friday being the first of july, 1642. for the clear manifestation of their allegiance to his Majesty, and duty to the Parliament do declare.  
THat as it is a sacred Truth that a kingdom divided cannot stand, so it is a legal principle that his royal Majesty is the head, and the Parliament the representative body of this kingdom, and that in the cordial union of his Majesty and the Parliament consists the safety, glory, and hope thereof.  
And they for their parts hearty wish they may be accursed as Corah and his complices that do or shall purposely occasion or foment any difference betwixt his Majesty and his Parliament: and therefore they further do declare their readiness with their lives and fortunes to obey his Majesty as their most dear and dread sovereign according to their due allegiance, and their resolution to defend the privileges of Parliament, according to their free and just Protestation, and that as God and the fundamental laws of this kingdom, have joined his Majesty and the Parliament together; so they cannot agree unto a disjointed obedience, but do declare themselves enemies to all such as shall go about to put his Majesty and the Parliament asundet.  
And for this resolution they have received encouragements from his Majesties own Declaration, attested with forty of the Nobility and prime counsellors, whereby he had most graciously assured them and all other his people, that he hath no more thoughts of making war against his Parliament, than against his own children; and that he will defend the just privileges of Parliament, and maintain and observe the Acts assented unto by his gracious Majesty this present parliament without violation, for which as for other his Majesties several gracious protestations for the defence of the protestant Religion, and the laws of the Land they return most humble thankes to his Majesty.  
FINIS,