VVE the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, doe in the presence of Almighty God, for the satisfaction of our Consciences, and discharge of that great trust which lyes up­on us, make this protestation and Declaration to this King­dome and Nation, and to the whole world, that no private passion or respect, no evill intention to his Majesties person, no designe to the prejudice of his just honour and authority, engaged us to raise Forces and take up armes against the au­thors of this War, wherewith the Kingdome is now infla­med.

And we have alwayes desired from our hearts and soules, manifested in our actions and proceedings, and in severall humble Petitions and Remonstrances to his Majesty, pro­fessed our loyalty and obedience to his Crown, readinesse & resolution to defend his person, and support his estate with our lives and fortunes to the uttermost of our power.

That we have beene willing to passe by, not onely those Injuries, Ignominies, Slanders, and false Accusations, where­with we have beene privately oppressed and grieved, but likewise many publike incroachments, and high usurpati­ons, to the prejudice of Religion and Liberty, divers bloo­dy, Trayterous and cruell practises and designes, for the ut­ter ruine and distruction of the Church and State, so as wee might for the time to come have beene secured from that wicked and Malignant party, those pernicious and Trayte­rous counsells, who have beene the authors and fomentors [Page] of the former mischiefes and present calamities which have, and still doe distemper this Church and State.

That for the same purpose, and for the avoyding of blood we directed the Earle of Essex Lord Generall by himselfe, or others in some safe and honourable way to cause to be deli­vered an humble Petition, wherein we doe desire nothing from his Majesty but that he would returne in peace to his Parliament, and by their faithfull counsell and advice com­pose the distempers and confusions abounding in his King­doms, as he is bound to do, we therin professing in the sight of Almighty God, which is the strongest obligation & assurance that any christian, and the most solemne publike faith which any such State as a Parliament can givetx, hat we would receive him with all honour, yeeld him all true obedience and sub­jection, and faithfully endeavour to defend his person and e­state from all danger, and to the uttermost of our power to establish to him and to his people, all the blessings of a glorious and happy Raigne, as it is more largely exprest in that Petition.

For the delivery of which Petition, his Excellency hath twice sent unto the King, humbly desiring a safe conduct for those who should be imployed therein, but his Majesty refused to give any such safe conduct, or to receive this hum­ble and dutifull Petition, by any addresse from the Earle of Essex, saying that if Justice had beene done, the Gentleman which brought the second Message could not expect his liberty.

By all which and many other evidences and Inducements, we are fully convinc't in our judgements and beleefe, that the Kings counsells and resolutions are so engaged to the Popish party, for the suppression and extirpation of the true Reli­gion, that all hopes of peace and protection are excluded, and that it is fully intended to give satisfaction to the Pa­pists by alteration of Religion, and to the Cavaliers and [Page] other Souldiers, by exposing the wealth of the good sub­jects, especially of this City of London, to be sackt, plunde­red, and spoyled by them.

That for the better effecting herof, great numbers of Papists have in show conformed themselves to the Protestant Reli­gion, by comming to the Church, receiving the Sacrament, and taking the oathes of Alegiance and Supremacy, which some of their owne Priests have encouraged them to doe, by maintaining that they might doe all those things and yet con­tinue good Catholikes: Under which cover his Majesty did at first begin to strengthen himselfe, those of that Religion being weake, and unable to indure the envy and discontent which the arming of the Papists would procure in the King­dome, and therefore endeavoured to keepe off all Jealousies and suspitions by many fearefull oathes and imprecations, concerning his purpose of maintaining the Protestant Reli­gion and the Lawes of the Kingdome; causing some profest Papists to be discharged out of his Army, and none to be received that would not indure the Test of comming to Church, receiving the Sacrament, and taking the oathes of Allegiance.

That his Majesty being now growne stronger, and able as he conceives to make good his owne ends by Armes, his confidence in the Papists, doth more clearely appeare: Per­sons imprisoned for Priests and Iesuits have bin released out of the Goale of Lancaster, porfest Papists have bin in vi­ted to rise and take up Armes, Commissions under his Ma­jesties Authority have bin granted to many of them for pla­ces of command in this war, with power to raise men and great numbers have bin raised by them, and they daily en­crease, as namely to Sir Nicolas Thornton Sir Tho. Howard Bar. Sir Edward Widdington, Sir William Riddell, Master Smith, of Ash, Master George Wray, Master Edward Gray, of Morpeth Castle, Master Lancelot Errington, of Dento, Master Lancelot [Page] Holtby, all of Northumberland, Bishopricke of Durham and New-Castle, to Master Clifton, Master William Walton, Sir William Gerrard, Baronet, Sir Cicill Trafford, Master Anderson, of Lostock in the County of Lancaster, and diverse Forces are raised and paid by the Earle of Worcester, and his Son the Lord Herbert, & as we are informed by an expresse messenger, sent from those parts, the said Lord Herbert, a notorious Pa­pist, is made Generall of all South-Wales, and we are further informed out of Yorkshire, by diverse persons of great worth and quality, that those that raise Forces in these parts for his Majesty, doe arme and imploy Papists, and use their advice in their consultations, all which is contrary to the solemne Oathes, Protestations and execrations, whereby his Ma­iesty bound himselfe to maintaine the Protestant Religion, and the lawes of the Land, by which he endeavoured to get a confidence in the people of his good intentions, which how well it is answered, wee leave to the world to iudge,

That S. Iohn Hinderson & Col. Cockram, men of ill repor both for Religion & honesty, sent to Hamburg & Denmark, as we are credibly informed to raise Forces there, & to bring them to New-Castl. & to ioyn with the Earl of New Castl. & the Ar­my of Papists, which they intend to rais there, & that divers endeavours have bin used in other foraigne parts to bring in strange Forces into the Kingdome; that the King hath recei­ved about him diverse Papists of Ireland, some of which are indited of high Treason for their rebellion there, notoriou­sly known to have bin in actuall Rebellion, as namely the L. Yaffe, S. Iohn Dungane, proclaimed a Rebell, Colo, Fitz VVil­liams, Doctor Meara indited for the Rebellion in Ireland, and fled for the same, and yet appointed Physitian to Prince Rupert; and that his Maiesty hath sent for the Petition of the Irish Rebels, which the Justices had stopt, with evident expression of favour to them, whereby that Kingdome is like to become an unfit habitation of any Protestants, and [Page] a seminary of war and treason against this Kingdome.

That diverse English Traytors, actors in the former de­signes against the Kingdome and Parliament, are the chiefe Councellors and actors in this unnaturall warre against his Subiects, as the Lord Digby, Oneale, Wilmot, Pollard, Ashburn­ham and others.

That wee have bin likewise credibly informed, that diverse Jesuits, and Priests in foraigne parts, make great collections of money, for reliefe of the papists in Ireland, and the fur­thering of his Maiesties designes here against the Parlia­ment, and that by them, and some others, fled out of this Kingdome for Treason: great meanes are made to take up the differences betwixt some Princes of the Roman Religi­on, that so they might unite their strength, for the extirpati­on of the protestant Religion, wherein principally this Kingdome, and the Kingdome of Scotland are concerned, as making the greatest body of the Reformed Religion in Christendome, and best able to defend themselves, and succour other Churches.

For all which reasons we are resolved to enter into a so­lemne oath and Covenant with God, to give up our selves, our Lives and Fortunes into his hands, and that we wil to the uttermost of our power, and Judgement, maintaine his truth, and conforme our selves to his will, That wee will defend this cause with the hazard of our lives, against the Kings Army, and against all that shall joyne with them in prose­cution of this wicked designe, according to the forme to be agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, to be subscribed by our hands, and that we will for the same ends associate ourselves, and unite with all the well affected in the City of London, and other parts of his Majesties Dominions.

That we expect our Brethren of Scotland, according to the act of pacification, whereby the two Kingdomes are mu­tually bound to suppresse all debates and differences, to the [Page] disturbance of the publike peace, that they will helpe and assist us in defence of the Cause, which if the Popish partie prevaile, must needs either involve them in that alterati­on of Religion which will be made here, or ingage them in a War against this Kingdome, to defend their owne Religion and Liberty: And we doubt not but the God of Truth, and the great protectior of his people, will assist and ina­ble us in this our just defence, to restraine the malice and Fury of those that seeke our Ruine, and to secure the per­sons, estates, and liberties of all that ioyne with us: And to procure and establish the safety of Religion, and fruition of our Lawes and Liberties, in this and all other his Maiesties Dominions, which we doe here againe professe before the ever-living God, to be the chiefe end of all our Counsells and Resolutions, without any intention or desire to hurt or injure his Maiestie, either in his Person or iust Power.