A DECLARATION Of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of ENGLAND TO The High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces LONDON Printed by A. N. for Richard Best October 8. 1642. High and mighty Lords WEe are Commanded by the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England to signifie to your Lordships that they have chosen and appointed the beares hereof Walter Strickland Esquire to repaire to your Lordships and to present to you in their names and in the name of the whole Kingdom a Declaration and some propositions and desires very much importing the maintenance of the Protestant Religion which is the surest foundation of the safetie and prosperitie of this Kingdome and your states and the antient amitie between us to the advantage of both desiring your Lordships to give eare to what shall be delivered or propounded to you by the same Master Sâ—â—ickland And to expedite your answer thereunto in such manner as shall stand with your wisedomes and the due respects of the common good of this Sâ—â—â—e and of your selves which is the earnest desire of Your affectionate friends and servants Maudâ—vile Speaker pro tempâ—re for the Lords house William Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons To the high and mighty Loâ—ds the States of the Vnited Provinces The Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England to the high and might is Lords the States of the United Provinces WE the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled taking into serious consideration the means of composing the great distempers and combustions begun in this Kingdome which threaten the destruction ruine of it of all other Protestant Princes and States have thought good to make this Declaration to the high and mighty Lords the States of the Vnited Provinces That wee understand by a Letter of the Lord Digby a person fled out of this Kingdome for high Treason That as he often endeavoured by his wicked and malicious Counsels to make division between his Majesty and the Parliament and hath been in great part the cause of that miserable and unnaturall warre which is made against us by his Majestie so he hath laboured by all means in the Vnited Provinces to provide Armes powder and Amunition for the fomenting of that war and making it more dangerous to this Kingdome And for this purpose did addresse himselfe to the Prince of Orange by whose countenance and help as we are informed by the Lord Digbyes own Letters he hath made provision of great quantities of Ordnance powder Armes and divers other sorts of warlike provision And we are further informed by credible advertisement that the Prince of Orange in favour of the Lord Digby and those other wicked Counsellours incendiaries who being joyned together in these mischievous practises against the peace of this Kingdome hath not only licenced but the better to encourage divers Commanders experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdome in aid of them against the Parliament hath promised to reserve their places for them in their absence and doth cause other provision of the same kind to be made and prepared to bee sent over for their supply to the great hurt of this Kingdome and the danger of interrupting the most necessary profitable and long continued amity between the two States We further desire to let them know that we cannot believe that this is done by any authority or direction from their Lordships considering the great help that they have received from this Kingdome when heretofore they lay under the heavy oppression of their Princes and how conducible the friendship of this Nation concurring with the wisdom valour and industry of their owne people hath bin to the greatnesse and power which they now enjoy Neither can we think that they will be forward to help to make us slaves who have bin usefull and assistant in making them freemen Or that they will forget that our troubles and dangers issue from the same fountaine with their own and that those who are set a worke to undermine Religion and Liberty in the Kingdome are the same which by open force did seek to bereaue them of both It cannot be unknown to that wise State that it is the Jesuiticall faction here that hath corrupted the Counsels of our King the consciences of a great part of our Clergy which hath plotted so many mischievous Designes to destroy the Parliament and still endeavoureth to divide Ireland from this Kingdome by a most wicked and cruell Rebellion there and to divide the King from his Parliament and People here and by false slanders and imputations of things never done nor intended by us hath incensed his Majesty so as that after many bitter invectives published against us without any just cause given he hath now at last resolued to set up his Royall Standard and draw his sword for the destruction and ruine of his most faithfull and obedient people whom by the Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom hee is bound to preserve and protect The Cases and the Fortunes of both Estates being so involved and united wee cannot expect to be hindred by them in our just defence or that they will doe any thing to aggravate the miseries and troubles of this Kingdome in the peace and happinesse whereof they have found much advantage and by such unfriendly and unseasonable supplyes of our common Enemies make a way to their own aswell as our ruine Wee therefore desire they may betimes looke into this mischief and having searched it into the bottom to stop the farther progresse of it That they will not suffer more Ordnance Armour or any other like warlike provision to be brought over to strengthen those who assoone as they shall prevail against the Parliament according to their principles and interests by which they are guided will use that strength to the ruine of those from whom they have had it VVe desire they would not send over any Countrymen to further our destruction who were sent to them for their preservation That they will not anticipate the spilling of English blood in aâ— unnaturall Civill VVar which hath been so cheerfully and plentifully hazarded and spent in that just and honorable VVar by which they have been so long preserved and to which the bloud of those persons and many other Subjects of this Kingdome is still in a manner dedicated but rather that they will cashiere and discard from their employment those that will presume to come over for that purpose And in satisfying these our reasonable and necessary desires they shall thereby not only secure us but themselves yea they shall most of all advantage his Majesty for whose service those things are pretended to be done The question betweene his Majesty and Parliament is not whether hee shall enjoy the same prerogative and power which hath belonged to our former Kings his Majesties Royall Predecessours but whether that prerogative and power should be employed to our defence or to
our ruine VVe expect nothing from him but security and protection from those mischievous designes which have bin so often multiplyed and renewed against us though hitherto through Gods providence as often frustrated It cannot be denyed by thâ—se who look indifferently on our proceedings and affairs but that it will be more honour and wealth safety and greatnesse to his Majesty in concurring with his Parliament then in the course in which hee now is But so unhappy hath his Majesty and the Kingdome bin in those who have the greatest influence upon his Counsels that they look more upon the prevayling of their owne party then upon any those great advantages both to his Crowne and Royall person which he might obtain by joyning with his people And so cunning are those Factors for popery in prosecution of their own aymes that they can put on a counterfeit visage of honour peace greatnesse upon those courses and counsels which have no truth and reality but of weaknesse dishonour and miseries to his Majesty and whole Kingdome VVe have lately expressed our earnest inclinations to that Nationall love and amity with the United Provinces which is nourished and confirmed by so many civill respects and mutuall interests as makes it so naturall to us that we have this Parliament in our humble Petition to his Majesty desired wee might be joyned with that State in a more neere and strait league and union And wee cannot but expect some returnes from them of the like expressions And that they will be so far from blowing the fire which begins to kindle amongst us that they will rather endeavour to quench it by strengthening and encouraging us who have no other designe but not to be destroyed and preserve our Religion save our selves and the other reformed Churches of Christendome from the 〈◊〉 acres and extirpations with which the princâ—â—… of the popish Religion do threaten us 〈◊〉 which are begun to be acted in Ireland and 〈◊〉 hopes endeavours and intentions of that 〈◊〉 had long since been executed upon us if the â—â—â—cy favour and blessing of Almighty God had 〈◊〉 superabounded and prevented the subâ—â—â—â—… and malignity of cruell wicked and bloodthiâ—â—â—â— men FINIS A CONTINUATJON OF Speciall Remarkable Passages from both Houses of Parliament From Munday the 3 d. of Octob. till the 6 th of Octob. 1642. MUnday there came Letters to the Parliament out of Lancashire from Manchester intimating that there hath lately beene a great fight between the Towne of Manchester and the Lord Strange who set upon the Towte having at least 2000. men but the Townesmen did so bravely acquit themselves that they slow six score of his men and tooke fourescore Prisoners and caused them to retreate towards Preston the Townesmen loosing but five men in all three of them being accidentally slaine by their fellowe Souldiers They doe earnestly desire some speedy aid from the Parliament which was intended to have been sent unto them by the Lord General from VVorcester Eut the Parliament having received Information that his Majestie intends to drawe all the forces hee can possible together to meete the Lord Generall It was not thought convenient that his Excellency should send any of those forces that are with him to Manchester but the House have taken order that a thousand Dragoniers shall forthwith be â—â—sed in London upon the Propositions and bee sent thither â—â—der the command of Sir Edward Ceton for it is very 〈◊〉 feared by the Towne that the Lord Strange will make â—nothet attempt against it very suddenly and they are resolved to try it out with him and not to yeeld they having 〈◊〉 2. pieces of Ordnance into the Towne and are casting their Bells into Ordnance whereby they may the better defend themselves untill more ayd and assistance can bee sent unto them Letters came from the Earle of Warwick intimating that he had lately taken 2. ships loden with store of Arms and Ammunition and about seven hundred thousand pounds in Money which was comming out of Denmarke to assist the King A Letter came from the Earle of Essex signifying that hee had sent to the Earle of Dorset to acquaint him that he had a Petition to present to his Majestie from both Houses of Parliament desiring his Loâ—dship to acquaâ—nt his Majestie therewith and that hee might be informed of some fitting way or meanes for the presenting thereof to his Majestie which for the present the Earle of Essex could not doe in regard he knewe not certainly whether his Majestie would receive it or how it should come peaceably to him whereupon the Earle of Dorset sent a Letter to the Earle of Essex intimating that he had acquainted his Majestie therewith who answered that he would alwayes have his eare open to any Petition that came from the Parliament but would not receive any from the hands of Traytors or any that he had proclaimed soe Whereupon being put to the Question it was voted to this effect viz. That for his Majestie to deny the receiving of any Petition by the hands of those that he accompts to be Traytors is in effect a flat denyall of receiving any Petition at all from them for in proclayming the Earle of Essex a Traytor hee had proclaymed the whole Parliament Traytors so that his Majesties refusing to receive this petition was a great abridgment of the Priviledge of Parliament and therfore voted that the said Earl should advance forwards with his forces and that the Earl of Essex should use some means that those votes of the hâ—use should be presented to his Majesty On Tuesday morning letters were read in the house which came frow Yorkshire certifying the house that since the taking up of Arms in that County under the Command of the L. Fairfaxe against the Earl of Cumberland and his Cavaleers there was a Treaty of Peace and certain Articles agreed upon on both sides whereby they agreed that Armes should be laid down on both sides and thâ—t they should stand a Neuters between the King and Parliamâ—nt and preserve the peace of the County against all Foâ—ces that should come against them and that his Majesty shall have libeâ—ty to remove all the Canons and Ammunition as he hath in tâ—at county except such as M. Hotham brought from Hull with divers oâ—her Articles very prejudiciall to that county but Mr. Hotham and many others that were for the Parliament did utteâ—ly refuse to joyn in the said agreement but were gone to Doncaster there to remain with those Foâ—ces they had untill they hear what further dâ—rections they shall receive from the Barliament It was also certified by leâ—â—ers to the house that Sir Edward Hâ—ron high Sheriffe of Yorkshire which formerly hath shewed a good affection to the Parliament had a great hand in drawing on the county to agree to those Articles At which agreement the house was much discontented and after long debate therof a Declaration was drawn up shewing that none of the parties had
any authority to bind the County to any such Neutrality it being a priviledge peculiar to the Parliament onely Secondly That it is very prejudiciall to the whole Kingdome Thirdly that it is derogatory to the power and authority of Parliament Fourthly That many things in that Agreement are very unequall contrary to the nature oâ— Neutrality being more advantagious to one side then another and would be a great Impeachment to that good Agreement betwixt his Majesty and his subjects which both houses do eâ—â—nestly desire Information was also given to the house that although the County of Hereford for the greatest part therof were heretofore against the Parliament they are now better informed in their Judgments and begin to incline much towards the Parliament beâ—ng much incensed against the Cavaleers and have sent 350. men to Worcester to aid and assist the Parliament under the Lord Generall There was Letters came to the house on VVednesday that the Lord VVilloughby of Parham in the County of Lincoln signifying that he had received instruction from the house for the aiding and assisting of Yorkshire against the E. of Cumberland and that notwithstanding the Treaty and agreement that was made between the L. Fairfaxe and the rest of the Gentry and the Earl of Cumberland yet he intends to go on according to his instructions and that on Thursday next the whole body of Yorkshire were to meet according to appointment at their making of the said Agreement at which meeting they expect to hear the pleasure of the house which doubtlesse they wâ—ll present for the whole west Ryding and a great other part of that County were disascenting to the said Agreement Letters were read in the house of Commons intimating that the City of Hereford being apprehensiue of the danger that they were in be reason of the Cavaleers which they feared would surprize that City and so expose them to much danger as they had done lately at Worster they sent to the E. of Essex shewing that they desired to assist the Parliament but because there was a great Malignant party in the City those that were well-affected did not dare to stand upon their guard without they had some forces sent from the Parliament which they might cleave unto Wherupon his Excellency sent one thousand foot and four Troopes of horse to make good that City and to settle the Militia there and that a sufficient Garrison should stay there to maintain the peace thereof Letters came out of Somersetshire intimating that Sir Ralph Hoptâ—n with about 100 men were gone into Cornwall but the Marquis of Hartford was in Monmouthshire in VVales and that the Earl of Bedford had left a strong garrison at Miâ—head and severall other places to keep the Marquis from comming back again to any of those strong holds There was also upon Thursday last being the sixth of October a packet of Letters brought to the House from Yarmouth which were taken comming out of Holland with a ship and divers other things together with many Commanders therein comming from the Queen to assist his Majesty which were taken in this manner viz. On Monday night last there was a ship driven in a Yarmouth by a contrary wind it being bound for Newcastle which came out of Holland being a ship which her Majesty bought with her own money and had sent it before to his Majesty the Queen her selfe as his supposed being very shortly to come after having shipping prepared for her conduct which ship was searched at Yarmouth and about 140. Commanders were in it and twelve pieces of Ordnance with great store of powder c. which were brought up to London This day Newes was brought to the House that Prince Robert with about ten Troops of horse was at Bridgenorth the Kings Majesty being for the most part at Shrewsbury and it was conceived that the E. of Essex with his mayne Army are now upon their march toward Bridgnorth where the King hath drawn his main forces his Excellency being now in the mid-way between VVorster and Bridgnorth having left a strong Garrison in Bewdly which stands upon the River of Severn and so the two Armies being drawne so neer together it is very probable they will have another Battle very shortly 〈…〉 to have bin some of the Friars Treasure but being opened there was nothing in it of any great consequence Vpon Friday there was a Conference of both â—â—â—ses concerning the presenting of the petition which the E. of Essex hath to be presented to the King 〈◊〉 ageeed that in regard his Majesty had refused to accept thereof from any that he had proclaimed to bâ—â—traytors and in so doing he had denyed to receive any petition from the Parliament It was agreed that Hiâ— Excellency should proceede according to his Instrâ—ctions and that he should use such means for the presenting of the said petition to his Majesty as he shold think fit and therupon a Post was sent away to his Excellency with Letters to that effect Letters was reade in the house which came out of Holland from M Strickland intimating that the queen had provided 4. ships to come into England with men and ammunition to assist his Maj. and that the States of Holland had made stay therof and that the united Provinces did professe much love and affection to the Parliament and was very vigilant that no provision of Men Arms or Moneys should come from thence to aid his Majesty in this unnatural war against his good Subiects VVherupon it was agreed that a Letter of thankes should bee sent to the States of Holland for their faithfulnesse to this Kingdome October 8. printed for Robert Wood 1642.