To the right Honourable the Lords and COMMONS assembled in the high Court of PARLIAMENT.
The humble Repromission and Resolution, of the Captaines and Souldiers of the Trained Bands, and other Inhabitants of the County of ESSEX.
THAT we having with joy and admiration, observed the wise and gratious Passages and Proceeding of this Parliament: and the pious, tender, and affectionate care of your Honours, for the preservation of the Peace and Honour of his most excellent Majestie, and these three thrice happily united Kingdomes; represented to the World in your severall Ordinances, Declarations, Votes and Remonstrances, sufficient to stop the mouth (if it were possible) of envy and malignity it self) cannot but with grief and indignation wonder to heare, that there should yet be found, & that even about the Regal Throne, such unnaturall & evil affected spirits, and malignant Councellors, who, desirous to swimme to the haven of their ambitious hopes, in the blood of their dearest Friends and Country-men, doe continually instill into his Majesties Royall breast, a sinister conceit, and mis-interpretation of your most Humble and Loyall Affections, and noble Actions, and Vndertakings.
Wherefore we understanding (not by mis-information of flying reports, but) by the late Votes and Declarations of both your Honourable Houses.
That his Majestie seduced by wicked Councell, intends to make Warre against the Parliament: That so to doe is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People, contrary to his Oath: And that whosoever shall serve, or assist him in such Warres, are Traytors by the Fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome.
And withall perceiving your most Christian & Heroical Resolutions to persist in your Honourable Endeavours: for the publique safety, though you should (which God avert) perish in the worke.
Wee thought it our duties most humbly to represent to your Honours, the faithfull affections and inviolable resolutions of our soules to Stand or Fall, Live or Die, together with you: According to our PROTESTATION.
Thus with our hands upon our Swords, wee stand ready at your command, to performe our Vows to God and Oathes of fidelity to his Majestie, In taking up Arms against those false Flatterers, and Traytors: who abuse his Royall Favour, intending under the glorious Title of his Name and Standard, to fight against the Peace and Honour of their Soveraigne, against Religion, and the Lawes: and to make a prey and spoyle, of three flourishing Kingdomes at once: And to spend our dearest blood in the defence of the lives, & liberties of our Country men; the Lawes which are the life of our liberty, and Peace; Religion more precious then both; and the King & Parliament: In whose lives lies bound up the life of all the rest. VVhosoever is otherwise affected, wee hold him not worthy the name of a Souldier but a Proditor of his King and Country to all Posterity.
Lastly, finding a multitude of well affected People, whose hearts are good to joyne with us but want Arms we most humbly crave, That Restitution may be made of those Armes, which weretaken out of their County; either out of the store lately arrived from HVLL; or otherwise as to your most excellent Wisdome shall seem best.
And wee shall ever Pray.
This Resolution was presented to the Trained Bands, and Companies of Ʋoluntiers, who appeared at Dunmow: Jun. 10. 1642. And was received with universall Approbation, by holding up of Hands, throwing up of Hatts, and Acclamations: professing, That they held them unworthy to live, that should dislike it. And it was within three dayes after, subscribed with ten Thousand Hands.