A DECLARATION of the Great and weighty Affayres and Matters of Consequence concerning this Kingdome.
Also the severall Orders made by the House of Parliament, March 22, 1641.
With some Remarkeable Occurrences from Holland, and the Kingdome of IRELAND.
Printed by Order of the House of Parliament, March 22. 1641.
LONDON, Printed for John Thomas. 1641.
Expresse Commands from both the Honourable Houses of Parliament.
WHereas the Abuses and Vsurpations of the Papists in their Religion, hath given cause to the poore Subjects of this his Majesties Kingdome, to present divers Peitions unto this Honourable Assembly; therein desiring reliefe and deliverance from their eminent grievances, appearing by reason of their too much power over them, and over-much duty towards the Pope; by which occasion they deny that authority and supremacy belonging to his Majesty over the Church, contributing the same unto his Holinesse, who is their supream head; as also, being men of abilities for the most part, thay use extream rigour towards chose Tenants, who are Protestants, not onely in the way of exaction of their due before the time it should grow payable, but also by raising their Rents yearly, by renewing of Fines, and laying other exactions upon them; we therefore having been moved often in this behalfe, taking it into our consideration have Ordered concerning the same, as followeth.
1 That all Papists and Recusants within this his Majesties Kingdome of England and Wales, of what condition, state, or ability soever, denying to take the Oath of Supremacy, administred unto them by a Justice of the Peace, be forthwith committed to prison in his Majesties Goaie next adjoyning, unlesse they give security for their appearance at the next Sessions, their surety being bound in the value of 1000. l. to produce the party, or parties so denying the same.
2 Concerning those Knights and Gentlemen within this Kingdome, who are Recusants, and whose Tenants are Prokestants: It is Ordered, that the Rent of their Lands, Leases House, or house-roome be valued and payed for according to [Page]the proportion that other Neighbours adjoyning, shall pay to their Protestant Landlords, there being deducted out of the said sum upon every pound to be distributed to the poore, the summe of twelve pence.
3 That as for those persons Papists, who shall be proved to have any mutuall concurrence with the Rebels in Ireland in these wayes, either for supplyes of Victuall, contribution of money, loan, or such like, their goods be confiscate to the King, and those that shall desire the same, shall have a reward from the Parliament.
The Order concerning fortifying His Majesties Forts and Castles.
THere being likewise divers Petitions delivered to this Honourable Assembly, to free them from those feares of Innovations, by reason of his Majesties Forts in the County of South-hampton, and the Isle of Wight, not being Fortified as they ought to have beene in some of them; there being not above two, others three pieces of Ordnance, fit for service: also others not having Powder and Ammunition to ressist Innovations; For the amendment of which, and Removall of the Country Grievances, it was Ordered:
1 That the Cattles of Yarmouth, the Cows Hurst Castle, Southside Castle, Dunse Castle Morby Port, Newston Port in the Isle of Wight, the Castles of Weymouth, Purbeck; Nelson. Holibey, Darkingdon, Mockliffe, Painswick, Harrowbey, Bantum, Walloway, Aggerton, and Vestoll in the County of Dorsot. The Castles of Tanton Dean, Appleby, Brownsoad, Bridgwater, Pimbley, and Norton in the County of Somerset, with all other his Majesties Castles within the aforesaid Dominions, should be every one provided with 100. of the best and most ablest men, neare and neighbouringly adjoyning to the said Castles, chosen out of the Train-Bands of the said Counties; and such as shall not faile in performance of their duty therein.
2. That every one of the said Castles be fortifled with ten pieces of Ordnance at the least, well mounted, and sit for service.
[Page] 3 That the Captain of the Castle be a man noted for a Religious person, and not given to the Catholique Roman Religion, but to be carefull of performing that duty imposed upon his charge. But if in case they shall prove otherwise, upon just complaint and proofe thereof be discharged; according to the Order now Enacted.
4 That to every of the aforesaid Castles, there be allowed as many Gunnes as Ordnance; besides, every Gunner to have his Matise or man to attend him.
An Order made by the House of Parliament, concerning the suppressing of those men, that are gathered together in a warlike manner in the Countie of Durham.
WHereas by Letters written by the Sheriffe, and divers Iustices of peace of the County of Durham, to an Honorable Member of this House, and this day read in this house, It doth appeare that great Multitudes of People have of late assembled themselves at severall times, in severall places of that County, to the number of three or foure Hundred in one Company in Warlike manner, vpon a pretence of pulling downe some inclosurs, which they have already done in a very outragious manner in some parts of the County, and threaten to doe the like in other parts, And for that, this House conceiveth that such tumultuous and disorderly meetings are altogether in themselves vnlawfull, and may in these times prove of very dangerous consequence. It is therefore this day, Ordered by the House of Commons, that the Justices of peace of the said County shall make diligent inquitie after the names of such Persons, as were the chiefe Leaders in the said tumultuous assemblies, or any of them and certifie their names forthwith to this House, that such speedy and exemplarie courses may be held against them as to Law and Justice appertaines. And for the f [...]e it is farther Ordered, that if any tumultuous assemblies or routs of people, vpon any [Page]pretence whatsoever shall at any time hereafter be made in any part of the said County, that the said Iustices of peace & Sheriffe shall by all wayes and meanes possible endeavour to suppresse the same, and that if need be, the Sheriffe shall goe with the power of the County to arrest such offenders and Riotours and shall Arrest them, and the said Justices and Sheriffe shall record that which they shall so find done in their presence against the Law, and if it happen that such trespassers and offenders shall be scattered and departed before the comming of the said Justices and Sheriffe, that the said Justices or any three or two of them shall diligently enquire after such assembly and Rout of people so made, and shall doe therein, what by the Statute and Lawes of this Realme they are enabled to doe, and they are hereby further required to certifie the names of offenders and their further proceedings in the premisses to this House, That in case such offenders shall by their Multitudes as otherwise evade such punishment as the Justices of the Peace can inflict upon them.
Then this House may take the same into further consideration and take such courses for Punishing the offenders as inJustice shall be thought meete.
Neverthelesse this House doth further declare, that if any Person or Persons whatsoever be injured by any inclosure of late made in this County without just Warrant of Law or consent of parties vpon their addresse to this House by Petiton otherwise of their just complaint. This House will bee carefull to take speedy course for their reliefe as shall bee agreeable to Justice. And will also take into consideration in due time the Petition now remaining before them: against the Bishop of Durham and others, for their inclosuers. And the Sheriffe of the Countie is likewise hereby required to publish this Order that it may be taken notice of throughout the Countie.
The Coppie of a Letter, written by Master William Nowton, one of the Gentleman Vshets unto the Lady Elizabeth, unto his Brother Francis Newton, Esq and one of the Foure Squires of the Body to his Majestie.
WEE are here at the Hage, but in little better case, as touching feares and Iealousies, then you are in England: true, the matter of the Prince of Orange is seemingly composed, J wish I could say ended, fire raked up, may possibly appeare, yea and flame: The States will not trust him with monies. and paying of the Armie, as formerly, but will set up and create a new Officer for that purpose, this sometimes discontents his Highnesse, the Governor of Bergin up Zone, that towne of so great strength, being once a neere servant to his Highnesse, and brought up a long time under him, in very neere services, and preferred unto that great place of trust by the Princes mediation, him would the States now very faine remove; but the talke goes here that he will not hearken to it, having that great garrison firme on his side; as it is feared upon too just grounds; the Prince hath all the Armie, so that wee are not yet here quite cleer of all furmizes of after claps the Burgers in the Townes, plainely give out, that they feare the Prince has been aforehand with them, and one of the Burgemasters of Flushing, openly in my Mr. the Princes-presence Chamber, told my Lord Goring, in my hearing, that they had just cause to feare, that the Princes Sons Marriage with the eldest daughter of the King of great Brittaine, had set the Prince on such a high straine, that shortly he doubted either their ruine or his owne, pray God things stand as they were, for unwonted aspiring thoughts, produce many times enterprizes more pleasing then successfull, if distempers should againe breake out heere: I thinke we must be forted to come and visite you in England, truth is, the States General have never the better opinion of the Prince since this match, some [Page]thinke the worse, nay their usuall respects are something colder toward my Lady, and Master, who J dare say upon oath, is heartily grieved for this difference, and discorrespondencie between the Prince and them, and hath no interest or partnership but sorrow in in it, and who must reape disconvenience by it, and may account this to the rest of her crosses the Queenes entertainment at the Hage, is in my very soule more royall then heartie the Dutch liberalitie is almost at an end and the Queenes entertainment begins to slacken with them, only his Highnesse houlds on his wonted noblenesse in chearing her, they set her Majestie a day, that they would be rid of her, if so it please or stand with her occasions, Proclamation is made against your Parliament delinquents, forbidding them strictly to repayre hither during her Majesties abode here upon paine of imprisonment, and sending backe into England with strict guard, hath been here published in all Townes and Dominions of the States, yet two have bravely adventured to kisse her hand, who came hither wonderfully well disguised and walked not openly in Court, lay in the Prince of Oranges ownelodging, and after two dayes tooke leave to goe to Brusiels, God knowes the Queene is very narrowly warched here, as a personage of her quality may be, and I durst pawne my life the Parliament hath some agents here meerely to attend that busines, and three of them are in my Conscience L. O. S. S. J. H. Her Majestie would have gone to Cullen, to have attended upon her Mother, then to Brussels, but was denied, the Prince of Orange seemed very forward to accomplish her desire in both, as farre as in his power, but he was not so forward, but she found the Dutch as froward, who absolutely denyed in plaine termes, studying all the wayes they can to gratifie and comply with the Parliament, not caring who they displease, so they satisfie them, I verely thinke the Queen as the matter stands will not trouble them long here, and that yee shall have her in England yet a good while before Easter.
Thus hoping your welfare, and all our contents from his Highnesse Court at the Hage this present Friday, March the 18., J remaine your ever true and loving Brother and Servant,
Very Joyfull Newes from Jreland.
I Have written by the two last Posts, and now J have gotten a lame hand: but having good Newes, it shall trot to impart it unto you. The last Saturday the Lord Moore and Sir Henry Titchbourne fallyed out of the Towne, and fell upon the enemies, and drove them out of their Trenches, and rais'd their siege, slew about 350, of their men, and tooke many of their chiefe Officers, and have relieved themselves bravely, and tooke 150, of their Muskers, and a field full of Pikes, we having lost as some affirme, no men. Here are three of our Captaines come by Land, so that this Newes is true. Vpon Munday our Forces went out, 4000. Foot and 500. Horse, they are already within 5. myles of Tredagh: by the way; Lievtenant Colonell Read came in to our men, and submitted; if he had not done it, he could not have fled: he is sent hither, and lodg'd in the Castle. I doe believe we shall now get good store of Corne out of the Country, which will keepe the price from rising. Our men are not expected home this weeke, pray God keepe them safe. Sir Philimy Oneale was in the Battell, but was faine to slye; and that was not like to serve turne, so he hid himselfe in a Furs-Bush.
It is this day Ordered, That this Letter be forthwith printed.