Horrible Newes from Lancashire.
THe Troubles and distractions of this Kingdome are great and manifold are the plots and designes, that the Papists have in agitation both against the King and Parliament, private intentions, and publique actions, private designes, and cunning Stratagems have beene long hatching, and now they see such distractions and disturbances betwixt the King and Parliament, they Presume to put that in action, which has so long beene concealed.
A large and apparent testimony of [Page 4]this, late happened in Lancashire in Lancashire, on the 25. day of May within 7. Miles of Lancaster, upon a great Plaine, there assembled a great number of Papists, to the vallew of 3. hundred, with Swords by their sides, waiting as it semes for some more Company, what their councells or determination, were is not yet knowne.
Onely this I am informed, that they affrighted the neighbouring Inhabitants so that they gathered together, and put themselves into a Posture of defence, in the best manner that they could, withall sending with their best speed to the high Sheriffe of the said County to give him information of what they had cause to feare, but the high Sheriffe being rode to Lancaster to cause the Order of the houses of Parliament concerning the suppressing such meetings, to be published, by which meanes they were frustrate of their hopes, neverthelesse [Page 5]they tooke courage, and with unite consent march'd out upon them, and by the advice of some Gentlemen that were there, sent Massages unto them to demand the cause of that assembly, it being contrary to the Command of the high Court of Parliament, withall desiring them to depart by faire meanes, (withall giving them this to boo [...]e, that if they would not by faire meanes they would (knowing it to be for the preservation of his Maiesty, and the good of the Kingdome, to quell such uprores) force their departure, or make their Place of meeting a terrene Golgotha, and bury them and their designes together, which blunt embassage affrighted so the Papists, that they begun apace to take their Iourneys each to his habitation, muttering forth words full of despight and anger, as that the time should come ere long that they should repent those words, speaking as if they had some plot in agitaton.
This makes the Protestants to keepe a wary Watch and looke precisely on the Catholiques, the high Sheriffe using all speedy meanes for to disarme them and take away their force, hoping by that meanes to hinder any publique outrages, withall promising to studdy and conforme themselves to the Commands of the high Court of Parliament, they being the cheife preservers of the King and Kingdomes peace, whose Councells God direct for the best, so that true Religion may be settled, Unity increased, Papistry and Heresie banisht the confines of the Church, and Gods name praised and glorified both in Church and Common Wealth, so shall the Kings Honour increase, so shall the Parliaments Councell prosper, and the Subiects feare be translated into ioy, so shall those distractions cease, and unity triumph in his maiesties Dominions,
WHereas it appeares, that the King, seduced by wicked Councell, intends to make Warre against the Parliament, and under the colour of a guard to secure his Royall Person, doth command troops of Horse and Foote to assemble at Yorke; All which is against the Lawes of the Kingdome, tending to the dissolution of the Parliament, and destruction of his People. Jt is therefore Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the Sheriffs of the County of Lancaster, and all other Sheriffs of the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, shall by the power of that County, and of their severall Counties, respectively, suppresse the raising or comming together of any Souldiers Horse or Foote, by any Warrant, Commission or Order from his Maiesty without the consent of his Parliament, and that all Persous whatsoever [Page 1]doe forbeare to execute any such Commission, or warrant for levying Souldiers, or gathering them together without consent of the Parliament; And those who shall execute, or obey any such Commission, or warrant, are hereby declared to be disturbers of the peace of the Kingdome. And that his Majesties loving Subjects may the better understand what the Law, and their owne duty is in this behalfe, the said Sheriffe of Lancashire, and other Sheriffes of the other Co [...]nties of this Kingdome respectively, shall cause this present Order, forthwith to bee published in the severall Market Towns within their said Counties.