TRuſty and well-beloved, Wee greet you well. We call to mind, that in former times the conſtant Cuſtome was, by the Mouth of the Lord Keeper for the time being, at the Court of Star-chamber, in the end of Trinity Terme, to put the Judges of Aſsize (ſhortly after to undertake their ſeverall Circuits,) in mind of ſuch things as were then thought neceſſary for the preſent, for the good government of the Kingdome. This courſe in Our Judgement▪ We doe ſo well approve of, that although We want that oportunity which We and Our Predeceſſors then had, of Communicating Our thoughts to Our Iudges, for the good of Our People: yet We doe ſtill retaine 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 this defect by theſe Our Letters; wherein beſide the generall care of Our Iuſtice committed to Us by God, and by Us delegated to Our Iudges by Our ſeverall Commiſsions, We recommend unto you in your Circuit, as We ſhall doe to the reſt of your Brethren in their ſeverall Circuits, more eſpecially theſe particulars following.

Firſt, That ye take care by all the beſt meanes you can, to ſuppreſſe Popery in all thoſe Counties whither you are to goe, by putting the Lawes made againſt them in due execution: And that you take the like care to give a ſtoppe to the overhaſty growth of Anabaptiſme, and other Schiſmes, as farre as by the good Lawes of this Land you may, and to puniſh the delinquents with an equall hand; and thoſe eſpecially of either ſort, whom you ſhall diſcover to be ſeditiouſly ſtirrers and moters of others, to any Act of diſobedience to Us, and to Our Government. And that in your Charges and otherwiſe, as you ſhall have fit opportunity, you aſſure Our good Subjects in Our name, and in the word of a King (who calls God to witneſſe of His integrity and ſincerity therein) That by His gratious 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 We found it at Our Acceſſe to the Crowne, and as it was maintained in the happy times of Queen Elizabeth, and King Iames (Our deer Father) both of happy memory; and therein both to live and dye.

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 Lawes of this Our Kingdom, and by, and according to them, to governe Our Subjects, and not by any Arbitrary power, whatſoever the malevolent Spirits of any ill-affected to Our Perſon, or Government have ſuggeſted, or ſhall ſuggeſt to the contrary; and that we ſhall alſo maintain the Juſt Priviledges of Parliament, as farre as any of Our Predeceſſors have done, and as farre as may ſtand with that Iuſtice which We owe to Our Crowne, and to 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 ſomethings hath been lately uſurped, not only without, but againſt Our Royall Conſent and Command; And We require and Command you, as there ſhall be juſt occaſion offered, in a legall way, that you take care to preſerve Our juſt Right in thoſe Caſes.

Thirdly, We charge you, as you tender the Peace of the Kingdom, (in the government whereof, according to Our Lawes, you Our Judges of the Law have a principall part under Us) that you take care for the ſuppreſsing of all Inſurrections (if any ſuch ſhould happen) and of all Riots, and unlawfull Aſſemblies, under any pretence whatſoever, not warranted by the Lawes of the Land, and whoſoever ſhall tranſgreſſe 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 accompt herein, within your Circuit, as becometh the quality of the place wherein you ſerve Us.

Fourthly, Becauſe theſe diſtempers of the preſent times, unhappily ſtirred up, and fomented by ſome, under ſpecious, but unjuſt pretences, are probable to ſtirre up looſe and ungoverned perſons, under hope of impunity, as farre as they dare, to make a prey of Our good Subjects, We ſtrictly charge and command you to take the beſt order you can in thoſe Counties, that Rogues and Vagabonds, and other diſorderly people may be apprehended, dealt with, & puniſhed according to the Lawes, whereby the good and quiet People of Our Kingdom may be ſecured, and the wicked and licentious may be ſuppreſſed. And We Charge and Command you to give it in Charge in all the Counties whither you are ſent by Our Commiſſions, that Watches and Wards, be ſtrictly kept in all Pariſhes & Places convenient, whereby the Lawes 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 preferre unto Us, or unto you in Our ſtead, any thing wherein they hold themſelves grieved, in an humble and fitting way, and ſhall deſire a juſt reformation or reliefe, We ſhall give a gratious Eare unto them, and with all conveniency return them ſuch an Anſwer, as ſhall give them cauſe to thank Us for Our Juſtice and Favour.

And when ye ſhall have publiſhed Our cleer intentions to Our People in theſe things, leaſt, at the firſt hearing, they ſhould not ſo fully apprehend Our ſence therein, you ſhall deliver a Copy of theſe Our Letters to the Foreman of the Grand-jury, and to any other, if any ſhall deſire Copies of theſe Our Letters for their better information, you may deliver the ſame.

And to the end that Our Service in your Circuit may not ſuffer through the abſence of Our learned Councell; Our will and Command is, That you aſsigne in every place of your Seſsions ſome of the ableſt Lawyers who ride that Circuit, to be of Councell for Us, to aſsiſt in ſuch pleas of the Crowne, as may be moſt neceſſary for Our ſervice, in the examination and puniſhment of notorious delinquents.

Of all theſe things We ſhall expect that good Accompt from you, as We ſhall from the reſt of your Brethren Our Iudges, to whom We have alſo written to the like purpoſe, (of whoſe fidelity and good affections We are confident,) as becometh Us to look for from you, and for you to render to Us, from whom you have ſo great a truſt committed.

Given at Our Court at YORKE the 5 of Iuly 1641.