THE DECLARATION OF THE KNIGHTS, GENTRY, AND Trained Bands of the County of KENT, Presented to the Honourable House of COMMONS.
Wherein th [...]y declare their Resolution to march against the Kings Army with all the power and strength they can raise, and to rescue His Majesty out of the Cavaleers hands.
Likewise the Answer of the House of Parliament to the said Declaration and Propositions.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in parliment, that this Declaration and Answer be printed and published.
Decemb. 22. printed for J. Barks, 1642.
THE DECLARATION AND PROPOSITIONS Of the Lords, Knights, Gentry, and Commonalty of the county of Kent.
Presented to the House of Commons, December the 21.
WE your humble and faithfull Petitioners, the Knights, Gentry, and Commonalty of the County of Kent, being deeply sensible of the many miseries which these calamitous times (notwithstanding your great care and vigilence to prevent the same) are likely to produce.
Wherein His Gracious Maiesty seduced by the malevolent counsell of an ill-affected party of Malignants and Cavaleirs, the protestant Religion, His Royall person, and Honour, the priviledge of Parliament, and the Subiects Liberty, are thr [...]atned with too too apparent hazzard and Ruine.
Towards the support of which, Wee the Knights, Gentry, and Commonalty of the County of Kent, according to the Duty of Loyall Subiects, and good Christians, are not onely willing to contribu [...]e our best wishes and Votes, but even the utmost of their endeavours, both with their lives and fortunes, for the redeeming of his Maiesty from such hands, and Our Religion and Liberty from such perill and danger:
But may it please this Honourable House to consider that we do apprehend themselves in a condition and posture nothing sutable to this their Resolution being deprived, and left naked by the taking our Arms from us: And therefore beseech your provident care to impower us with such a proportion of Arms and Ammunition to be magazined in these parts, whereby [Page]wee may be inabled to manifest our Affections and obedience to the Command of King and Parliament, both for the pursuance of the aforesaid Intentions, and opposition of all illegall Inf [...]ingemen [...]s of our Law [...]s and Liberties, such as the Commission of Array, wherwith we are at this time threatned, and what other of the like Natu [...]e and condition soever shall be hereafter obtruded upon us.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this be printed and published,
THE ANSWER OF THE House of Commons to the aforesaid Declaration.
THE House of Commons have taken your Deelaration into serious consideration, & cannot but with great content observe the constancie of your good affection to the King and Parliament, whic [...] as well formerly as at this present yo [...] have expressed by your Declaration and Propositions to this House, and disclayming and opposing with so much industry [Page]and fidelity, the sedicious Designs and Endeavours of some Malignant and ill-affected persons within your County, to suppresse those malitious practises, and to preserve that County in peace; care hath already bin taken by the House of Commons with good successe, and as they intended it, and do believe to your safety and satisfaction.
And the House of Commons do further declare and assure you, that they will alwayes continue the like care, as for the good, safety, and peace of the whole Kingdome, so in particular of that County, being incouraged thereunto by this seasonable Declaration, of your Resolutions and good affections, for the manifestation wherof, of the whole Kingdome, and of their kind acceptation, and thanks for the same.
The House of Commons have commanded your Declaration, and their Answer, to be forthwith printed.
They do also most earnestly desire, that [Page]all other Counties would take the same Resolution for the upholding of GODS true Religion, and that every man would lay his hand upon his heart, and seriously consider with himself, what danger the Gospell is in, it that the Papists grow Conquerors and Masters of the field.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembed in Parliament, that this Declaration and Answer shalbe forthwith printed and published, and read in all Churches and Chappels within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, by the Parsons, Vicars, or Curates of the same.