WEE the Gentrry, Free-holders, and others of the County of Yorke, whose names are here­unto subscribed, being none or very few of us present, and none at all of us consenting to the late Assembly and Con­sultations at Yorke, wherein Propositions have been made for the raising of forces of Horse and foot in this Coun­ty, the levying of monyes for the maintenance of them, and taking away the Armes of some peaceable Sub­jects, nor none at all of us consenting to the lawlesse and unpresidented presentment of the grand Iuries at the last Assizes held for this County, being framed to give more strength and colour to part of these proposi­tions, the said propositions and presentments, being [Page 4]contrary (as we conceive) to the Lawes of the Land, and tending to the introducing of an arbitrary govern­ment. The taking away the propriety of every Sub­ject in his estate, the liberty of the person, and the most necessary use and priviledge of Parliaments, and which is the worst of all evills to beget a warre in the bowels of this County. Wee thinking our selves and all the rest of the Subjects of this County, to bee so highly concerned in the proceedings afore mentioned, as without great disadvantage to us all, we may not be silent therein, doe make this our Protestation and de­claration before God and the world, that as our acti­ons have hitherto beene altogether peaceable, so our desires, intentions and resolutions are altogether pacifi­call, and that all our indeavours and labours shall onely tend to the settlement and continuance of a reall peace (according to the Lawes of the Land) and to the uni­ting of the fractions, and taking away the distractions that have most unhappily broken the generall unity of the Inhabitants of this County. And that nothing can be more dangerous and destructive thereunto then the raising and continuing together in a body, such forces of Horse and foote in this County, as hath been propounded and advised, as aforesaid without consent and authority of Parliament. We conceiving the advi­sings thereof to proceed from some destructive Coun­sells, the ends whereof are to imbroyle this Kingdome in such a deluge of warre, as hath already (though un­der other pretences) swallowed up the Protestant Re­ligion, [Page 5]the peace and prosperous condition of the King­dome of Ireland.

And seeing his sacred Majesty hath of en Declared to us, that the Lawes of the Land shall be the Rule of His Government: and that He expects it shall bee the measure of our Subjection; We cannot conceive that any of these proceedings, so grievous to the Subject, are consented to, or warranted by His gracious Maje­sty.

And therefore, We further declare that we will not consent, nor as much as in us lyeth, suffer that any such Forces, either Horse or Foot, be raised of the Trayned bands of this County, nor that moneyes be levied for the maintaining thereof, nor that the Armes of any Subjects (other than Popish Recusants) be taken from them, nor will we consent nor suffer (as much as in us lyeth) that any War or Hostility be acted in this Coun­ty, nor any Forraine Forces brought in upon us; and if any such attempts shall be offered or made, we will endeavour to resist and suppresse them, and to keepe the Peace of the County entire, so farre as the Antient knowne Lawes of the Land, and the late Declarations and Orders of Parliament, made upon these immer­gent Occasions shall inable us therein.

And we do likewise Declare, that we shall be most ready and willing upon generall Summons given at Yorke or any other convenient place to be appointed to meet the rest of the Gentry and other considerable inhabitants of the County to advise of such matters as [Page 6]may indanger the violation of the Peace, and may con­duce to the prevention thereof, and the uniting the whole Countrey into an amicable resolution to oppose all such unlawfull pressures, so as such an Assembly of the County may bee with Freedome of every mans person and vote, and not overawed by any Forces of Horse or Foot, laid together in place where they may command the Assembly, in which Assembly and Con­sultation, We Declare that it is not our intention to de­cline the provident care of the Parliament, in placing a Garrison for the present at Hull to prevent the surprizall of that important place, either by Forraine Forces or such native Plots and Conspiracies, as are to the life re­presented to us in that most deplorable Kingdome of Ireland, which by the bloudy Councels and rebellion of the Papists is in a manner brought to utter desola­tion.

And we desire that this our Declaration and Prote­station may be published in all the Parish Churches and Markets of this County, to the end that all men may take notice of our legall and peaceable resolutions,