TO THE KINGS MOST Excellent Majestie, The humble Petition of Vs the Inhabitants of Lancashire, whose names are hereunder written, in the behalfe of our Selves and divers others, being Recusants:
THat whereas we and the rest of the said Countie, Your Majesties most loyall Subjects, are disarmed, and not sufficiently provided for the defence of Your Royall Person and our owne families; Our most humble Supplication to Your Majesty is, That we may be received into Your most gracious protection from violence, have our Armes taken from us, re-delivered in this time of actuall War, and by Your Majesties speciall directions be inabled further to furnish our selves with competency of weapons for the security of Your Royall Person (if we be thereunto required) our Countries and Families, who now are not onely in danger of the common disturbance; but also menaced by unruly people to be robbed: And when by the Almighties assistance Your Majesties Kingdome shall be settled, in case we be again dis-armed, that a full value in mony in liew thereof to us may be restored:
To Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir William Gerard Baronet, Sir Cecill Trafford Knight, Thomas Clifton, Charle Townley, Christopher Anderton, and John Clansfield and other of Our Subj [...] Recusants, Esquires, in the County of Lancaster.
WEe greet you well, whereas by reason of the Lawes and Statutes of our Realme, by which all Recusants convicted are to be without Arms, your Arms have been taken from you; so that now in this time of immiment danger, wherein there are Armies raised against Our Commands, and contrary to Our Proclamations, and are marching against Ʋs, and divers of Our good Subjects, for obeying Our lawfull Commands and opposing the rebellious proceedings of others ill-affected, are by strong hand seized upon and imprisoned, their houses plundered, and their goods taken away; and the like is threatned to our selves, who as all others Our Subjects ought to have Our protection against all unlawfull violence and force: And the Laws made for dis-arming Recusants were made onely for a provision to prevent danger in time of peace, & were not intended to bar you from a necessary use of Arms in time of actuall war, for your own safety, or for the defence of Our Person against all Rebels and Enemies, which by your duty and allegiance you are bound unto; which is not, nor ever was meant to be discharged or taken away by any Act; And whereas the Arms which were taken from you, ought by Law to have been kept and preserved to have been made use of by you in such time of open war, or of such others as you should provide: yet under the specious pretence of dis-arming Recusants, and persons ill-affected, your Arms have been disposed and dispersed into the hands of severall persons ill-affected, and for the most part Fomenters and Exciters of these Commotions now raised in this Kingdom; Our Will and Command therefore is, and We charge and require you upon your Allegiance, and as you tender the safety of Our Person, and the peace and welfare of Our Kingdom, That you with all possible speed provide sufficient Armes for your selves, your servants, and your tenants, which We authorize and require during the time of open war raised against Ʋs, to keep and use for the defence of Ʋs, and of your selves, and of your Country, against all Forces and Arms raised, or to be raised against Ʋs, or against Our consent, or contrary to Our Proclamations, by colour of any Order, or Ordinance, or Authority whatsoever: And We shall (according as We are bound to all Our Subjects) use Our utmost powers for the protection of you and yours, against all injuries and violence. And whensoever these Arms which you shall so provide (after it shall please God to put an end to these dangers and distractions) shall be taken away from your custody, by reason of Our Laws now in this force; We doe hereby assure you, We will allow you for the same, so much as you shall have dispended in provision thereof.
[Page]Given under Our Signet at Our Court at Chester, the 27▪ of September, in the eighteenth year of Our Raigne.
- Sir William Riddell.
- Sir Edw. Widdrington.
- Sir Era. Howard.
- Sir Nic. Thornton.
- Col. Tho. Howard.
- M. Lance Errington.
- M. Errington of Befron.
- M. Geo. Wray.
- M. Ralph Mellet.
- M. Chr. Wray.
- M. Lambton.
- M. Hodgeson.
- M. Smith.
- M. David Errington.
- M. Pudsey.
- M. Antho. Bulmer.
- M. Jo. Bulmer.
- M. Askwith.
- M. Geo. Collingwood.
- M. Forcer.
- M. Evers.
- M. Holtby.
- M. Evers.
- M. William Fenwicke.
- M. Ratcliffe.
- M. Haggerston.
- M. Forcer.
- M. Edw. Gray.
These are the Names of divers of the Collonels, Lieutenants Collonels, Sergeant Majors, Captaines, and Lieutenants that are Papists, and Commanders in the Army, under the command of the Earle of Newcastle.