A DECLARATION By Direction of the COMMITTEE AT YORKE, TO Their deluded and oppressed Countrey-men.
ALSO The Letters, with the Propositions and Articles sent to the Earle of Newcastle, upon which he entred this County, and his Answer thereunto.
With Observations thereupon.
Printed at Yorke by Tho. Broad. 1645.
A Declaration by the Committee at York, to their deluded and oppressed Countrey-men.
WHen the Royall presence and the traine of a number of Malignant Nobility was lately among you, when Courtly, curious, and cunningly penned Language was written, and uttered in your hearing, when you saw so many of the Gentry of this County your Neighbours and Land-lords flock to Yorke, and adhere to, and assist the conspirators and contrivers of that opposition and force against the Parliament of England, which since hath broken forth, and been manifested to all the Kingdome. It is no great wonder though the Common sort were [Page 2] deceived and came up in such flockes to Heworth-Moore to doe service to the golden Idoll. But do but look a few years beyond that, and you may see severall oppressions upon the Subject by all manner of Monopolies and Extortions of money; Lawes trodden under foot, Justice set to sale in every Court, from the highest Bench in Westminster-hall, to the Sessions and Commission of Sowers in the Countrey. The purity of the Protestant Religion stained with Popish, Arminian, and other new invented Doctrines, and that by Authority, and out of Pulpits; and the true Worship of God turned into apish and popish inventions of men: Popery grew fast and received favour, and the true Protestant Ministers suppressed and disgraced. And Parliaments (which were the proper and onely remedy to help all this, and the rest of the diseases in the politicke body) not onely abandoned, but by Proclamation declared a high crime, for any one to say there should be a Parliament [Page 3] called, and there was none in foureteene yeares; in which time the distempers of the Kingdom by such misguidance grew so deadly, especially by the Scotish Army raised in defence of that Nation, and brought into this to prevent inroades into their owne, by the forces raised by instigation of the Prelaticall party, that in the end this Soveraigne Parliament was summoned by due course of Law, and so established as never Parliament was before, by the highest confirmation this Kingdome can give, and not to be dissolved against their wills, unlesse by the sword of Traytors. When this Parliament had sitten a while, and had beene courted by granting severall convenient Lawes to sweeten the bitternesse was past: This bridle of Tyranny and soveraigne purge of the Common-wealth, & Churches Maladies, could no longer be indured, by the Prelaticall and Malignant party, and that which no Jesuiticall craft could dissolve, is resolved upon, the Sword must, [Page 4] and after many bitter reviling words from York in Declarations and Answers against the Parliament, (of which the Law sayes, No man ought to thinke dishonourably) Within this unhappy County, (and by it) which will be an infamy to the Actors for ever, notwithstanding all the applawces for it by the Court, as they had many; the first allowed Arms were taken up, and the Commands of Parliament disobeyed, and their Messengers and Officers with Scorne abused, and the Judgement of that most Honourable Court which is the eye and reason of the Common-wealth in the question of the Militia contemned, and the opinions of private men admired and advanced, which the Lawes of this Kingdome never appointed, nor is of any value. When the King by the assistance of the Malignant Gentry of this County whose names are hereafter mentioned, had in order to these opinions of flattering aspiring Lawyers about the Throne, of which it never wanted, more (then a good many) [Page 5] had seised upon the Militia of this County, the King with some of that Militia departs into the other neighbour Counties to doe the like, and by the same Gentry the first Illegall and unjust Assesment of eight thousand pound is put upon the Countrey to maintaine some part of that Militia left behind, to suppresse the Lawes, and the rest of the Gentry, who obeyed the Judgement and Direction of the Parliament; but this was opposed as a thing against Law, so much bragged on, should be the square of Government, and an oppression which made but way for a greater, as in short time it proved, rising from 8000. to 30000 l. by month, and afterwards to 80. thousand l. per mensem. When these Gentlemens unlawfull powers assembled at Yorke could not defend such their unjust proceedings, nor their persons from the Justice of the Parliament, nor the forces raised to suppress these trespasses and trayterous acts against the State and Law, they conspire to call into the [Page 6] County the Earle of Newcastle, then under censure of Parliament for High-treason, and a Semi-papian and an Athisticall person, as was more declared afterward by that horrid crew he brought in with him, and they presse him by arguments of Service to the King and his own Honour to come to their assistance, which was in truth to protect themselves against the Justice of the Parliament. Newcastle entertaines the motion, upon termes of horrible oppression to the Countrey, and to serve the Queene. And these oppressours of their Countrey agree to all, and especially to that Proposition about the Queene, and promise any further contribution to that good service. And by a second Letter, magnifie the Earle of Newcastle for his entertaining the invitation, and make vows of honour and obedience to his Lordship, and tell of their distresses for Loyalty to the King, when they are about traiterously to destroy both the Law, and the Parliament, the fountain and [Page 7] bulwarke both of Law and Justice, and consequently the Kingdome, and so to make him a King of bruites and not reasonable men. This Lord thus courted, checks at one Article, omitted, which was the maine one to inrich his Popish Tyrannical Officers and Minions with a full pay; and if that be granted, then his little Lordship is in a huge disposition to be really the faithfull Servant of these complotters and enemies to the State, as he afterwards proved, being the Leader, ( Judas like) to these betrayers of Christ and his Cause, but are since fallen backward to the ground as that Band of men did. At the Rendition of Pomfret Castle there was found the Originall Letters by which this bargaine was made with the Earle of Newcastle by the Conspiratours to sell their Countrey, and all that was of worth in it to that Popish Commander and Army: which Letters being shewed to the Commitees for that County attending at York, and by them duely considered of, it was [Page 8] agreed and thought fit that those Letters should be Printed, and a Declaration upon them, that posterity might see who had been the chief destroyers of their Country.
The Letters are these being examined by some of the Committee appointed for that purpose, and the Originalls remaine in safe hands to be seene by any man that shall desire it.
IT is the desire of us, and the most of the Gentry of this County to crave assistance from your Lordship in this time of Mr. Hotham's infesting the Countrey; which favour we shall alwayes acknowledge from your Lordship, and we are the bolder in this businesse, because we know it to be a great Service to his Majesty, by the preservation of this County, and will be much to your Honour, to preserve in peace and safety.
- Savile▪
- George Wentwo [...]th
- [Page 9] William Savile
- Tho. Gower, Vi. Co.
- Henry Slingsby
- Peter Middleton
- Iohn Key.
- Iobn Ramsden
- Fardinando Leigh
- Iohn Mallery
- Francis Nevill.
- Tho. Ingram
- Iohn Goodricke.
- Richard Hutton.
- William Ingram.
- Robert Rockley
I Have received from you a Letter of invitation by the hands of Sir Mar. Langdale, and Mr. Aldburgh, and shall (for the esteeme and affection I beare in generall to the Country, being my native Countrey, and in particular to many of you to whom I have the Honour to be knowne) be ready to contribute my best aid and assistance in that worke, since it is likely to conduce to his Majesties Service, and peace and quiet of all his good Subjects, and to conclude this agreement, I have sent you inclosed certaine Propositions, which by way of Articles should be drawne, and signed and s [...]aled by you, and as many more as you shall ingage in [Page 10] that worke, which I shall expect from you before I march. And so presenting my Service to you all, I remaine,
To the Right Honourable, and my Noble friends the Nobilitie and Gentrie now assembled at York for his Majesties present service.
Propositions in answer to your Letter of Invitation.
FIrst, that I have all your consents and promises that the Army be paid whilest they are in that County.
That an Assessement be laid upon the Countrey to enable you for that undertaking, and that if money be not gotten in time, that I may have free Billet for the Souldiers, for which Billet you are to ingage your selves to the Quarters, and that the Officers be paid according to his Majesties present establishment, out of that Assesment.
[Page 11] That there be some of the Gentry of that Country appointed as a Committee, enabled by the rest of the Gentry, to agree and conclude of such further Propositions as may happen to be necessary for this Service, and not here mentioned, and to march along with the Army, whose councell and assistance from time to time I am resolved to use.
That I have assurance that all manner of Provisions fit for an Army, be prepared and brought to the Army the first day it enters.
That since this Army was levied, a purpose to guard her Majesties person, that it shall not be held a breach of any engagement betwixt us, if I retire with such numbers, as I shall thinke fit for that service.
WEE have received from your Lordship an Answer to our Letters of [Page 12] Invitation, (Noble as your selfe) which shall we hope make you the Master of such a worke of Honour, as besides your great Service it will be to his Majesty, shall both enoble your selfe farther and oblige us. We have signed and sent unto your Lordship, Articles proportionable to your Lordships desire (as we conceive,) besides a particular power to those Gentlemen now with you, more fully to declare our selves. My Lord, beleeve this, That wee suffer here no distresses, but for our Loyalty to the King, and your Lordships favour to us will equally oblige both; therefore, Good my Lord, make all possible speed to march hither, or to send some force before, lest a little delay make all our endeavours fruitlesse; and in the generall, beleeve that their is nothing in the power of us, or of this County, which shall not faithfully serve you, and more you cannot expect from,
- [Page 13]H. Cumberland
- Savile
- Tho. Gower, Vi. co.
- William Savile
- Henry Griffith
- Henry Slingesby
- Edward Stanhope.
- Iohn Key
- John Mallery
- Ferdinando Leigh
- William Ingilby
- John Ramsden
- George Wentworth
- Conyers Darcy
- Robert Strickland.
- William Wentworth.
- Ingram Hopton.
- Iohn Goodricke.
- William Wentworth.
- John Batty.
- Richard Hutton
- Francis Monckton
- Robert Rockley
- W. Thornton
The Answer of the Nobility and Gentry of Yorkshire, assembled at York for His Majesties Service to the Propositions sent unto them by the Right Honourable the Earle of Newcastle.
1. THat your Lordship shall have our consents and promises, the Army which your Lordship shall bring with you into this County for the defence thereof, shall be paid by this County.
[Page 14] 2. There is an Assessement of eight thousand pounds already laid upon this County, which shall be levied as soone as by your Lordships assistance we are enabled to doe it, and that till money be gotten in, your Souldiers shall have free billet, for which we will engage our selves to the Quarters; and for the payment of your Officers for the Army, it is referred to the Committee for this County, who have Instructions and power to treat and conclude with your Lordship in that particular.
3. There shall be a Committee of some of the Gentry of the County appointed, and enabled by the rest to agree, and conclude of such further Propositions as may happen to be necessary for this service, not here mentioned, and to march along with your Lordships Army, whose councell and assistance wee desire your Lordship may use, the names of which Committee wee send your Lordship herewithall, who are appointed to attend you at Newcastle, and [Page 15] to march along with your Army, when you enter into the County.
4. That assoone as we have notice of your Lordships march, we will use all possible means to bring to your Army all such provisions, as this Countrey can afford.
5. We are tender of the safety of her Majesties person, that we shall not onely consent to your Lordships performance of that service, but will also contribute our utmost endeavours to assist your Lordship therein.
6. Lastly, we have appointed our Committee to be, Sir Edward Osborne, Baronet, Sir Marmaduke Langdale Knight▪ Francis Tindall and Richard Aldburgh Esquires, and given them Instructions and power to treat with your Lordship and to conclude in such particulars as may further conduce to this Service, or in these Propositions admit a doubtfull interpretation,
- H. Cumberland
- Savile
- Tho. Gower, Vi. co.
- George Wentworth
- Conyers Darey
- Robert Strickland.
- [Page 16] William Savile
- Henry Griffith
- Henry Slingesby
- Edward Stanhope
- Iohn Key
- John Mallery
- Ferdinando Leigh
- William Ingilby
- John Ramsden
- Iohn Savile.
- William Wentworth.
- Ingram Hopton.
- Iohn Goodricke
- William Wentworth.
- John Batty.
- Richard Hutton
- Francis Monckton
- Robert Rockley
- Francis Nevill.
- Walter Haukesworth.
I am to give you many thankes for your favourable Letter by Mr. Aldburgh, and the signing so far my desired Articles, which had no other end, then the better to enable me to serve you. And I beseech you give me [...] as I intend faithfully to serve you, so to deale clearly and freely with you, which I hold a duty; The truth is, I am very sorry you pleas'd to leave out the Article for the Officers pay, or coldly refer'd it to your Committee, being the principall thing in all the Articles, for you know the Souldier [...] is encouraged with nothing [Page 17] but money, or hopes of it, and truely yesternight when I was going to bed, there came Collonels and Lievtenant-Col. and said, they heard you had left it out, and for their parts, that they must thinke, that if you were so cantious not to grant it is paper, before we came in, they doubted very much of it in money, when they were there, and that the workman was worthy of his hire, and such like discontented words; so the truth is, rather then not come cheerfully to serve you, I will not come at all, for I see before-hand I shall either disband with a Mutinie, or fall of plundering without distinction, either of which would be destructive to me: and besides, I hold my self free, since my Articles are not sign'd for I never understood any of those Articles to be referr'd to the Committee, but such things as we could not remember, and the present occasion offer'd. Could I pay them, or his Majesties you should not have had such an Article, but since that cannot be, [...]ou will pardon me in telling you how I am capable to serve you▪ and how not, and so I rest in a huge disposition to be really
Observation.
IT is plaine out of the first Letter that these Gentlemen began with a false Insinuation, to terme themselves the most of the Gentry of Yorkeshire, who are not the fourth part of them. In it they call Captaine Hothams coming to Doncaster, which was by command of the Parliament of England to assist the Lord Fairfax to set up the Militia, (an infesting the Country) They invite Athists, Papists, and who ever will to come to joyne with them, the better to enable them to oppose the resolutions of the Parliament, and call it great Service to the King and preservation of the Country, which was the ruine of the Country that bred them, and more service to the Pope then the King. That Lord so invited, yeelds presently to that bait they call Honour, but inthralls them with Articles to oppresse the Country by Assessements which no Law warrants, by Free-quarter which the knowne Lawes forbid to be taken without Authority of Parliament, [Page 18] and they pawne their cred [...] poore County shall pay for all, and [...] did. They are carefull to guard her Majesties person, who had no care for the five Members of Parliament. They tel that Lord, he shall be Master (as they hope) of a work of Honour, &c. which was to burn Bradford, much of Yorke, and numbers of other houses; to rob, plunder, and imprison the well-affected of the County. They would have his Lordship beleeve they suffer no distresse but for loyalty to the King, which was but a sconce for their own protection from the Justice of Parliament▪ In the second Letter, They tell that Lord his favour to them shall oblige the King, and promise there is nothing in the County shall not faithfully serve him, so he will serve their turns, and in a great part they performe it; their bodies, their estates, their wives, their daughters, were his servants, and his servants servants too: nay, their consciences, the Gospell, and true Ministers of it were made to serve that Papisticall [Page 19] crew. The proud Haman, because he had all things but one granted him, by their Articles, (which was his Officers pay) that not granted or coldly referred to a Committee, without this also hee lightly values all the rest, and will not come to their assistance. Thus Countrymen you see how you and all yours, what ever is deare to any of you, hath beene bought and sold by these Gentlemen, who in stead of peace and preservation to the Countrey, have brought in War, Bloudshed and ruine upon it; and in stead of Honour to his Lordship, both he and they like blazing comets are gone out in a stinch, which will last for ever.
It was thought fit to publish in Print one Letter more, found in the same place, which is the proper hand writing of Cap. John Htham, written to the Enemy when he was the profest servant to the Parliament, Hear the Letter.
I have found out a way to doe his Majesty reall Service, and [Page 21] to be your Servant without scandall; for I confesse nothing went hard, but that I could not come in to your Lordship in such a condition as befitted him that you esteem worthy your friendship. I shall desire you would by this Bearer send me a safe conduct for forme sake, not that I desire or care for it: if you could write me but a word what my L. Fairfax hath done, I could make great advantage of it in this businesse, for I thinke you will see such a considerable party brought to the King, as hath not beene yet; all which he is to thank you for. I shall add no more because I shall wait on you so soon, but to desire the countenance of your good opinion, to
By this secret contrived treason of his against the Common-wealth, and for which he suffered death is more discovered, and that righteous sentence cleared and ratified.