SO farre hath the Malignant Party prevailed with his Maiesty, by their deluding and faire seeming Stratagems by their most wick­ed and pernitious Councels, that it is more then to be feared his Maiesty gives way to the raising of Armes against the Parliament, to which end there hath beene both Forraigne, and Domesticke prepara­tion [Page 2] for the raising of Men, and Monyes, which the High court of Parliament taking into consideration, thought it convenient to hinder such a fatall mischiefe, by a time­ly prevention, to which end they propoun­ded severall propositions touching the brin­ing in of Horse, Plate, and Money, for the raising of Armes to secure the Parliament, (on the happy continuance of which) de­pends the safety, and Peaceable inioy­ment of the Gospell, and sweet fruition of the true reformed Protestant Religion, the increase of his Maiesties Honour, and happy continuance of his Maiesties Raigne, the firme and peaceable inioyment of his Regall Dignity, and Royall Authority, e­stablished to his Royall Maiesty, and his successive Posterity for ever, the Liberty, and Propriety of the Subiect, the security of Lives and estates, the maintenance of the Lawes by which we are governed, and the blessed freedome of our Christian Professi­on) and finding that the Malignant Party by their calumnious reports, and seditious [Page 3] words, began to slander such their procee­dings, casting aspersions on their unblemi­shed Actions, giving out that their propo­sitions for the bringing in of Plate, and Money, is to promote a warre against the King; therefore they, beeing desirous to give the world satisfaction, and to cleere all doubts, they have thought it necessary to declare to the world their reall intenti­ons and determinations concerning this Designe, as followes.

The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, doe declare, that the Designe of those Propositions, is as was formerly declared to maintaine the Protestant Reli­gion, the Kings Authority, the free course of Iustice, the Lawes of the Land, the Peace of the Kingdome, and priviledges of Parliament, against any force which shall oppose them.

Likewise the Lords and Commons doe really appeale to all His Maiesties loving Subiects, desiring them to judge whether they have not just cause to feare, and fea­ring [Page 4] to prevent Intestine Warre, and such uncivill discord as homebred Broiles pro­duceth to a Kingdome, the effect of which is Rapine, Murder, Spoyle unto King and People, these are the Fruits of seditious di­ssention, and this we must expect, should the Romish Faction (which God forbid) get the upper hand, could they but obtaine their desires, and their yet promising hopes gaine their wished effects, the unbounded Ocean of their viprous Envie, would like a swelling Torrent overflow the bounded limmits, and in a Deluge of revenge and Blood, drowne both the King and People, for though they cover all their Stratagems under a pretence of standing for the King, yet we have just cause to feare the event, & with our utmost endeavours labour to pre­vent, such the malignant practizes of Our, and the Kingdomes Enemies,

The House of Commons having received a report, concerning the Earle of Newcastle, that the said Earle hath put in about 500. [Page 5] Men in Garrison, and that the said Earle is about to raise a Troope of Horse, and beats the Drum for Voluntiers, the Trained Bands refuse to come in, foure pieces of Ordnance is gone towards South Sheeles, Tinmouth, and there are 300. men in worke making a Sconce, to command all Ships, that come in or goe out, the Towne is in greater perplexity then they were the last yeare, Ship-masters refuse to goe in, least their Ships be Staid.

Many other reports dayly come to the House, of slanders cast upon severall Mem­bers of Parliament, especially against Mr. Pym, concerning Letters sent from Sir John Hotham, the contents whereof are here specified.

First, he desired present supplies of Mo­neys for the payment of the Garrison, who were very orderly, and observant to his commands.

Secondly, he desired that three Hundred Pounds might be designed him, for the ma­king [Page 6] of new Fortifications, and in a pri­vate Letter to Mr. Pym, desired a supply of 300. Souldiers more, in case of any sud­daine attempt upon the Towne, which he privately intimated, not to be publique­ly insisted upon (as by a mistake it was) but to make what use thereof for the advan­tage of the Service of Parliament, as he should thinke sit, he being confident of the Townes obedience to the King and Parlia­ment, except a few inconsiderable Persons, for whose invectives against the Parliament some of them are in restraint.