WHereas we are informed, that it is generally con­ceived and believed by the English, and Scotish Protestants Inhabitants of this Kingdome, that wee the Lords, Gentry, and others of the said Kingdome have taken Armes, and taken Forces, for the extirpation and banishing of them out of this Kingdome, thereby to acquire to our selves their goods and estates: we therefore desire to be rightly understood: for wee hereby declare, that we never consented, nor intended, nor ne­will intend, nor condescended to any such act, but do utterly dis­claime them: but that each man knowne to be a moderate con­formable Protestant, may (as well as the Romish Catholicks) re­spectively live and enjoy the freedome of their own Religion, and peaceably and quietly possesse their own estates, so far forth as they, or any of them, shall joyne with us in this Oath follow­ing:

I A. B. Doe in the presence of Almighty God, and all the Angells and Saints, and by the Contents of the Bible, promise, vow, sweare and protest, to beare true Faith and Allegiance to our Soveraigne Lord King Charles, and the heires and successors of his body begotten, and will defend him and them, as far as I may, with my life, power, and estate, against all persons that attempt any thing against his or their Persons, Honours Estates, and Dignities: and that I will [Page 4]with the exposing of my life, power, and estate, joyn with the said Irish or any other, to recover his estate, royall Prerogatives, forcibly wrested from him by the Puritanes, in the Houses of Parliament in England, and to maintaine the same against them and all others, that shall di­rectly or indirectly indeavour to suppresse or doe any act contrary to re­gall government; as also to maintaine Episcopall Iurisd [...]ction, and the lawfullnesse thereof in the Church, powers and Priviledges of Pre­lates, and the lawfull Rights and Priviledges of the Subject: And I will doe no act or thing direct [...]y or indirectly, to hinder the free and publike exercize of the Romish Catholick Religion in any His Maje­sties Dominions, and that I will joyne with, and be assistant to the members of this Common-wealth for redresse to be had of the griev­ances and pressures thereof in such manner and forme as shalbe [...]hought fit by a lawfull Parliament, and to my power as far as I may I will oppose and bring to condigne punishment, even to losse of life, l [...]berty, and estate, of all such as either by force, or practice, counsells, pl [...] s conspiracies, or otherwise, doe or attempt any thing to the con­tr [...]r [...], of a [...]y Article, Clause, or any thing in this present Oath, Vow, or P [...]otestation, contained, and neither for reward, feare, or punish­ment, or any respect whatsoever, shall relinquish this Oath and Prote­st [...]tion. So helpe me God.

WHereas the Scotish Army in the Province of Ulster, and other their adherents, in the said Province, and other parts of the Kingdom, have of late (as of­ten before) taken a trayterous Oath of Covenant against his sacred Majesty, his Crown, and Digni­ty, and made an unchristian and prophane Vow for the utter ex­tirpation of the Irish Nation, and totall suppression of the Catho­like Romane Religion, Subversion of Monarchicall govern­ment, and introduction of confused Anarchy within this Realme: and not contented with the inhumane and unparalleld Massacres by them committed on poore labourers, women, chil­dren, and many thousands of other Innocents of our Nation, without distinction of age, sex, or condition before the conclu­sion of the Cessation at Siggins Towne, on the 15. of September last, notwithstanding continuall depredations, robberies, thefts, burnings, and destruction of all the Corne and Inhabitants in many Counties & territories within the said Realm, & elswhere by them acted before the said Cessation: the said trayterous Co­venanters receiving their maintenance, support and orders, from the Rebells now in armes against His Majesty in England; have augmented, and do rather multiply and increase, then diminish their exhorbitant courses: and whereas the said rebells have joy­ned in a strict union and confederation to destroy the Irish Nati­on [Page 6]root and branch (as they terme it) and their Ministers and adherents, by their directions, at Sea as well as at Land, do ex­ercise no lesse cruelty: for, as oft as their shipping doe meet any weaker Vessels at Sea, transporting men from this Kingdom for His Majesties service in England, if Irish men, though Prote­stants, and valiant and usefull servitors against the confederate Catholikes in this war, the Irish are thrown over board, as doth appear by the late throwing into the Sea, and drowning of an I­rish Company of Foot of Colonell Willoughby's Regiment, all Protestants, and servitors as aforesaid; and many women in their passage from Dublin to Bristoll, by one of the pretended Parliament ships, and sundry other examples of that kind, a­gainst the Law of Warre and Nations. And whereas the said Scotish Army, all composed of Rebels and Assassinates, are now in their march in great numbers towards the three Provinces of this Kingdome, to accomplish the plots and machinations afore­said: And whereas the said Rebells in England have provided a great Navy, a considerable part whereof doth surround the sea coast in this Kingdome, and are resolved the next Summer, if it rest in their power, which God defend, to land great Forces in the Province of Munster and Leinster: and the said Rebells of Scotland have the like designe of landing of Forces in the parts of Ulster, next unto the Province of Conaght: And whereas the Auxiliarie Forces of the three Provinces, designed and raised for the necessary defence of our Religion, King, and Nation, are now marched to the Province of Ulster, under the Command of our very good Lord the Earl of Castlhaven, Generall, appointed by the last generall Assembly for the expedition of Ulster, to re­pell the said fury and insolency of the said Rebels. Wherefore we hold it of absolute necessity for the safety of the Kingdome, and His Majesties interest therein, that all the said other three Provinces be forthwith in Armes, as well to preserve themselves at home from the said intended invasions, as also to be ready to [Page 7]assist the said Army abroad marcht into Ulster, if need require. We do therefore by this publike Act and Proclamation, order, command, and require all the Lords, Knights and Gentlemen, Freeholders, and all other persons, from the age of 18. yeares, to the age of 60. forthwith to put themselves in armes and posture of defence; and such as want armes and ammunition, and are able, are hereby required to provide the same forthwith, for themselves, their servants and retinue. And for the better effect­ing this high and important service, we do hereby require, order & command all and every the Governours, Deputy-Governours, Majors, Sheriffes, and all other Head-Officers of the respective Counties, Cities, and incorporate Townes of this Kingdome within our quarters, viz. the Governours, Deputy-Governours in the Counties where they are Governours, to call to assistance the high Sheriffe, and two or more of the Commissioners of the Army: and in Counties where there is no Governour, the high Sheriffe, calling to his assistance three, or more of the Commis­sioners, of the Army: and in Cities, and corporate Townes, the Major and other Read-Officers, taking to assistance the re­commended Sheriffs and Bailiffs thereof, or any one or more of them, forthwith to summon all the Lords, Knights, Gentle­men, and Freeholders, and others, able and fit to beare armes, betweene the ages aforesaid, to appeare well armed upon a cer­taine day, and in a certaine place, with the said respective Coun­ties, Cities and Townes respectively, and upon such appearance, to inlist the names, sirnames, age, armes and ammunition of e­very person, who will so appeare, in a book fairly written, and the said Governour, Deputy-Governours, Major, high Sheriffs, and other Head-Officers, taking to their assistance, as aforesaid, are hereby required and authorized to impose Fines, to the dou­ble value of the armes and ammunition, upon any person or per­sons so summoned, that will make default, who ought to have, [...]ccording to the meaning of this our Proclamation, and of other [Page 8]our former Proclamations, to this effect: and to impose the single value of the armes he should have, upon such as will ap­peare, and not be armed as becometh: And we require the said governours, and other Officers aforesaid, at their perills to make due returne unto the generall Assembly now neer at hand, or un­to us, in a faire booke fairly written, of the number, names, sur­names, armes, ammunition, defaults, and fines aforesaid, at the furthest, by the 6. day of the moneth of August.