Whereas we understand, That Sir Iohn Hotham takes upon him (without any legall Authority or Power) to issue warrants to Constables, and other Our Officers, to raise diverse of our Trained bands of this Our County, and requires them to ma [...]ch with their Armes, and to come into Our Towne of Hull, where he hath disarmed diverse of them, keepes their Armes, and discharges the men: And whereas Wee are credibly informed, that diverse persons, Who were lately Colonels, Livetenant-Colonels, Captaines and Officers of the trained Bands of this Our County, intend shortly to summon, and indeavour to muster the forces of this Our County: For as much as by the Law of the Land, none of Our trained Bands are to be raised or mustered, upon any pretence or authority whatsoever, but by special war­rant under Our owne hand, or by a legall Writ directed to the Sheriffe of the County, or by warrant from the Lord Lievtenant, or Deputy-Lievtenants of the County, appointed and authorized by Com­mission under Our Great Seale. And whereas at present there is no Lord Lievetenant or Deputy Lievetenant legally authorized to command the Forces and trained Bands of this Our County of Yorke, and the Commissions, to Com­mand, and Power of all Colonells, Lievetenant Colonels, Captaines and Officers of Our trained Bands, (which were derived from the Commission and Power of the Lord Lievetenant onely) are now actually voyd, and of no force and Authority. Our will and Command therefore is, that you forthwith issue Warrants under your Hand, to all the late Colonels, Lievetenant-Colonels, Captaines and Officers, who (whiles the Lord Lievtenants Commission was in force) had the command of the trained Bands of this Our County: And also to all High and Petty Constables, and other our Officers, in this Our County, whom it may concerne, charging and commanding them, and every of them, in Our Name, and upon their Allegiance, and as they tender the Peace of this Our Kingdome, not to Muster, Leavie, or Raise, or to Summon, or Warne (upon any pretence or Directions whatsoever) any of Our trained Bands to Rise, Muster, or March, without expresse Warrant Under Our Hand, or Warrant from you Our Sheriffe grounded upon a particular writ to that purpose, Which we also command you, not to put in Execution without Our Privity and Allowance, whiles we shall reside in this Our County.

And in case any of Our trained Bands shall rise, or gather together, contrary to this Our Command, Then Wee will and command you to charge and require them, to dissolve, and retire to their dwellings. And if upon due Sum­mons from you, they shall not lay downe their Arms, and depart to their dwellings, We will and command you u­pon your Allegiance, and as you tender the peace and quiet of his Our Kingdome, to raise the power of the County, and suppresse them by force, as the Law hath directed and given you Power to doe. And too the end that this Our expresse Command may be notified to all Our good Subjects in this Our County, so as none may pretend hereafter to have been misled through ignorance; We require you to cause these Our Letters to be forthwith read, and published o­penly in all Churches and Parishes in this Our County. Herein you may not faile, as you tender the safety and honour of our Person, the good and peace of this Our Kingdome, and will answer the contrary at your peril. For which this shall be your sufficient Warrant.

Given at Our Court at YORKE the fifth day of May, in the eighteenth yeare of Our Reign, &c.