A DECLARATION Of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament.
WHereas Sir Iohn Biron Knight, upon the 28 of August last with divers Troopes of Horse in a Traiterous and warlike manner, did march into the County of Northampton, with an intention to kill, rob, and spoyle his Majesties Subjects in that and other Counties, to the great terror and afrightment of the Inhabitants of those parts; wherupon divers of His Majesties loyall and well affected Subjects of the said County, according to their duty did assemble themselves together, and pursue the said Traytors, and Rebells, and apprehended divers of them, [Page] and routed the rest, whereby their Trayterous designes were for that time prevented; Since which time the remainder of those Troopes that escaped, joyned againe in a body, and in manner as before, forcibly entred the City of Oxford, and plundered, robbed, and spoyled, his Majesties faithfull Subjects there, and forced divers to leave their owne habitations, and to fly elsewhere for protection from their fury. And whereas the Lords and Commons, have beene since informed, That the said Sir Iohn Biron, the head and ring-leader of those Traytors, in a presumptuous and insolent way, wrote a Letter to one Master Clarke of Craughton a Gentleman of quality in the said County of Northampton, a Coppy whereof is hereunto annexed, whereby most falsely and impudently he presumes to stile the faithfull, and dutyfull service of His Majesties good Subjects in apprehending and chasing the said Rebells by the name of treachery and rebellion, indeavouring to transfer that odious crime and title due unto himselfe to them, and using divers menacing speeches against Master Clarke, and others, [Page] thereby as much as in him lyeth to deterre His Majesties good Subjects from resisting him and his associates in their Traiterous attempts.
The Lords and Commons taking the same into their consideration, do declare that the Assembling together of the said Inhabitants of the County of Northampton, and their pursuing, apprehending, and chasing the said Rebells, was according to the Lawes of the Land and the duty they and all good Subjects owe to the King and Commonwealth, and their service very acceptable to both Houses of Parliament, who will take them and all others that shall follow their good examples into their care and protection.
To M. Clarke at Craughton neere Brackley in Northamptonshire.
IN my way to Oxford, I made some stay at Brackley to refresh my selfe, and my Horses, after a long march, where I was unexpectedly assaulted by sundry Troops of rebels that came (as J am since informed) from Northampton, and the adjoyning places, and withall most treacherously set upon by the towne of Brackley, so that J was forced to make a speedy retreate to the Heath to resist them, had they had the courage to come forth of the towne. Jn this confusion one of my Groomes who had [Page] charge of my baggage was surprized in the towne, another who had a Box, wherein was money, apparrell, and other things of valew, left it in a land of standing Corne, which since hath been found, and as J heare brought to you; J have therefore sent this Messenger to require the restitution of it; which if you doe, I shall represent it to His Majesty, as an acceptable service, if not, assure your selfe I will finde a time to repay my selfe with advantage out of your estate; And consider, that as rebellion is a weed of a hasty growth, so it will decay as suddenly; and that there will be a time for the Kings loyall Subjects to repaire their losses sustained by rebels and traytors; So I rest in expectation of a speedy answer by this bearer,