A Copie of a Letter sent from the Committee at Lincoln, to the House of Commons, directed to the Speaker of the said House, and subscribed with the names of the said Committee.
Die Sabbati 4. Iunii. 1642.
Likewise an Order from both Houses of Parliament, concerning the Ordering of the Militia, directed to the Deputy Lievtenants of the respective Counties throughout all England, and Dominion of Wales.
Ordered that this be Printed and Published.
Also Exceeding Ioyfull Newes from Yorke.
With the RESOLVTION Of the Protestant Gentry and Commonalty of CHESHIRE, Concerning their Petition lately presented to the Kings Majesty at Yorke.
London, Printed for J. Horton, 1642. June 6.
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Deputy-Lievtenants of the severall and respective Counties within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of VVales, that are not Members of the House of Commons, be hereby required and enjoyned to be present at the dayes, and places which are, or shall hereafter be appointed by the Lord Lievtenants, or their Deputies, for the Training, Mustering, and Euer [...]ising of the Inhabitants of the said Counties, according to the authority given unto them by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament. And it is further Ordered, That all Deputy Lievtenants, aswell those that are Members of the House of Commons, as others, shall give such dispich, by preparing of Warrants, Commissions, or Letters, and subscribing of the same as the service shall require; And that such as shall refuse, or neglect so to doe, that their Names be certified unto us by their fellow-Deputies, or any one of them that shall or doe performe the said Service.
And it is further declared, that it is the intention of both houses, fur the better incouragement of so good a Worke, so much conducing to the safety of his Maiesties person and Kidgdomes that some of their Members at the times and places appointed, or to be appointed for the execution of the said Ordinance, shall be sent down to give their Personall attendance upon the said Service.
The Resolution of the Protestestant Gentry and Commonalty of Cheshire.
SUch have beene the feares and distractions of the County of Chester, by reason of the innumerable and indeed unsufferable assemblies and tumultuous meetings of the Papists, and others that are Newtralls, or as we may terme them, lukewarme both in Loyalty and Religion, that the Gentry and Commonalty of the Protestant Party were constrayned to draw themselves to a head, and set downe their Resolution, protesting to to performe these two particulars.
First they resolved to be Loyall to his Maiesty, according to their Petition [Page]lately presented to his Maiesty at York, by the Gentry and Commonalty of of the said County.
Secondly, they resolved to be obedient to the Parliamen.
Withall desiring that all true hearted Protestants, that desire to expresse themselves Loyall Subjects to his Maiesty, and obedient Servants to the Parliament, would with unite consent take the same Resolution.
The maner and Forme followeth in as true and as exact a manner as could be gathered by one that was a spectator when the Oath was taken, and Resolution declared to the high Sheriffe of the said County.
First they resolved and sollemnely Protestest to declare themselves true and loyall Subiects to his Sacred Maiesty, and to his heires for ever.
Next to maintaine and to defend the Protestant profession in all points whatsoever, agreeable to the Church of England, against all Sects and Schismes, against all Papïsts, Donatists, Arminians, and all other Hipocriticall Doctrines whatsoeves, all so to maintaine the iust Prerogative of his Maiesties Regall Authority, against all opposers whatsoever.
Secondly, they Constantly and with a ioynt consent resolved to maintaine and defend the high Court of Parliament, and according to their bounden Dutie to acknowledge them (next to God, and his Maiesty) the cheife Authors of their present security, and the onely meanes of their happy continuance, and future preservation, declaring their Councels to be Religious, their Commands Lawfull, and their Actions Loyall, withall promising and protesting obedience to their Commands, [Page]and to those appointed [...] by them to have Command, and to be Governours of the Militia.0
This is the Resolution of the Protstant Gentry and Commonalty of Cheshire and this ought to be the resolution of all the Prottestants in the Kingdome, seeing that we have so many unknown Enemies, so many Absoloms which dayly rebell against his Maiesty, seeing we have so many disturbers, so many Arons lifting up the golden Calfe of Idolatry so many deceivers sowing teares among the Corne, so many Goliah's blaspheming the Lord of Hosts, plotting the destruction of Gods annointed, we had need to have some Davids, to quell their swelling and ore daring Pride, we have need of some true hearted Protestants, to defend the Protestant Religion, seeing we have so many Papists, so many wolves in Sheeps clothing, so many destroyers, so many private conspirators, [Page]that dayly conspire the downfall of the Gospell.
Wherefore let all those that would be esteemed either the zealous Servants of God, or the Loyall Subiects of their gratious Soveraigne and obedient Servants to the high Court of Parliament, let them I say take up the resolution of the Gentry and Commonalty of Cheshire and with them cry, long live King Charles, and God preserve the Parliament.
The Copy of a Lerter sent from the Committee at Lincoln, to the House of Commons, directed to the Speaker of the said House, and subscribed with the names of the said Committee,
SUch is our earnest desire, to manifest our obedience to the Commands of both Houses, That we cannot omit any opportunity to advertise you of our first dayes proceeding, and successe therein. The Lord Francis Willoughby appointed by the Ordinance of Parliament, to be Lord Lievtenant of this Cnunty, had by his Warrae [...], summoned the chiefe Cons [...]bles to attend him yesterday, the last of May, in this place, to give him [...] account concerning the Armes of the Trained Bands and Ammunition, within their severall hundreds, and Wapentakes, which service accordingly they performed with all read nesse and alacrity, even beyond our expectations; there being the fullest apparance of them that we have observed upon any occasion heretofore, so as about fourscore in this great County, not above two or three of them were absent; Neither did the Kings Proclamation (published [Page]of purpose as wee conceive, throughout the County, and which some had officjously fixed upon the Gates of the J [...]ne where we met;) nor this inclosed Letter from his Maiesty sent to the old, (but as we heare new established Deputy Lievtenants, under the Earle of Linsey, who likewise hath a Commission under the Broad Seale, for the Lievtenane of Lincolnshire, as we are informed, any whit deterre, or hinder them.
Wee have all ready delivered forth Warrants to those head Constables for Musters to be held (for the more conveniency) in severall places of this County, at each of which, God willing) wee all of us intend to be assistant; the rather because wee understand that our presence heere both not a little revive she Spirits of all honest and well afflicted persons in this County; Whose forward good examples will (we doubt not) be a meanes to draw the rest to a more ready conformity,. Jn which hopes we are further incouraged by this dayes tryall in the Citty, finding, besides the Trained Bands thereof a like number of Volunteers well and compleatly Armed, who are ready to make tender of their Service, for the defence of his Maiesties Person, the Parliament, and the Kingdome, according to their late Protestation. These are our first beginings in your Service, which we humbly submit unto you, and so remaine,
Or [...]ed by the [...]se of Commons, that this be forthwith printed.