THE DECLARATION AND RESOLUTION OF The Countie of Leicester.

Delivered in Answer to to His Majesties Speech, made to the whole County. Wherin they expresse their Zeal and Loyalty to His Majesty and also their unchange­able constancie to maintain the Proceedings of Parliament against all Opposition.

Also the Protestation of the County of Lincoln, de­livered to the Lords, by the Lord Willoughby of Parham, and by a Message communicated to the House of Commons, and by them approved of.

Also the Parliaments Charge and Command to all Iustices.

Ordered, that this be forthwith Printed and Published.

Hen. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com.

July 29. Printed for J. Wels. 1642.

THE DECLARATJON AND Resolution of the County of Leicester, to his Maiesty.

VVHen His Majesty came into Leicester-shire. He was pleased to deliver himself, his Intentions, and Desires, to the understanding of that County; the Particular Grounds of whose Speech, were, That as he was their lawfull Sove­reign so he might find their Loyall and faith­full acknowledgement of that Royalty, which he made no question they were fully resolved was due unto him.

And that they would deliver up un­to him the town of Leicester, and the Arms, which he did conceive did be­long unto him, and which was for a long while against their Loyalty detai­ned from him, and was disposed of con­trary to his intentions, and their Obe­dience.

And also that for the safeguard of his person, the Trained Bands might attend him, while he should remain in those parts.

His Majesty having thus delivered himself, after some deliberation, answer was returned again to his Majesty in the name of the whole County.

That they hoped his Majesty did not so misconstrue their true and Loyall hearts, as that they should make any question of his undoubted Supremacie; whom they alwayes held, and will for ever maintain to be their lawfull and Royall Sovereign.

And that they would against all op­posers whatsoever, maintain His Maje­sties [Page]Honours and Dignities, so farre forth as his Majesty shall love the Ho­nour of God, and the Liberty of the Subject.

And yet wheras now according to the ancient custome of Parliaments, they and the rest of the Counties within his Ma­jesties Dominions; had entrusted some select members with their [...], and liberties, to be directed, and rectified ac­cording to their judgment, and accor­ding to Law and Equity.

And wheras there hath bin bred some unhappy differences betwixt his Maje­sty and his Parliament, occasioned by the malignants, thinking to bring this Kingdom to destruction.

We are very confident, that well af­fected people will not prosecute any thing, but what shall be for the glory of God, the advancement of the true Pro­testant Religion, the Honour of his Ma­jesty, the enlargment and advancement of his Crown and Dignities, and the li­berty of the Subject.

His Majesty having received this Message, seemed, and was very much dis­contented, and moved, and as it is repor­ted, hath raised some Forces against Lei­cester Town, and is resolved to obtaine that by force of Arms, what he could not perswade nor entreat from them.

Many have bin the troubles in Lin­colnshire, concerning the Militia, and the Lord Willoughby who was elected by the House of Parliament, as one fit and wor­thy of so great a place, had the Militia of that County committed unto him, yet in the execution of that Trust he hath bin molested, and found much op­position.

Yet that County hath no way beene defected in their faithfull expressions unto him, which moved the Lord Wil­loughby to signifie the same unto the House.

Whereupon, upon the 19. of July a Declaration or Protestation was pre­sented to the Lords, the Number of them being compleat, by the Lord Wil­loughby [Page]of Parham, from the County of Lincoln, which Declared their fidelity co the Houses Commands, touching the Militia, which being communicated to the House of Commons by a Message, was received with much alacrity, and approved of, and it was desired that thanks might be returned in both Hou­ses Names for the same.

The Parliaments Resolution concerning the Commissions of Array:

WHeras severall Commissions of Array have lately issued out under the Great Seal of England, into the severall Counties of Leicester, Worcester, and other Counties of this Realm, tending to the great danger of his Majesty, and the disturbance of the peace of this Kingdome: 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, That the Jud­ges and Justices of Assize, of the severall [Page]Counties of England and Wales, bee required in their severall Circuits, at the Assizes and great Sessions to be next held for each County, within th [...] Realm, and the Dominion of Wales, in open Court, and in their severall Charges to be delivered to the Grand Juries at the said Assizes openly to declare and publish, that the said Lords and Commons 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 this King­dome, and Betrayers of the Liberty of the Sub­ject.

Ordered that this be printed and published.

  • Iohn Brown Cler, Parl.
  • Hen. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. C.

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