THe World cannot be ignorant how active the malig­nant party hath beene in their de­signes, and coun­cells about his Majesty, both before and during the sitting of this present Parliament, using their utmost power to ruine the true Protestant Religion, with the liberty and Lawes of the Kingdome, and that after many trayterous designes against [Page] the Parliament, (by Gods providence made frustrate) they drew his Majesty into the Northerne parts, publishing in his name many scandalous reproa­ches against the Lords and Commons assembled in parliament, making his Majesties Court a priviledge place to shelter Delinquents from the Iustice of Parliament, with many other Actions tending to the subversion of the origi­nall constitution and frame of this Kingdome.

And that the path of their Designes might be more easie, and that they might obtaine power to perfect their bad purposes, they wrought with His Majesty to displace the Earle of Pem­brooke, the Earles of Essex and Holland, and the Lord Fielding, for no other cause then discharging their Conscien­ces in Parliament.

Likewise the Earle of Northumberland put from his place of high Admirall-ship, then the which Act, there can be [Page] none so great a promoter of future di­stractions and fatall confusion, as the sad bereaving the State of the Service of so noble a Person as he is.

By his Maiesties Order, a Garrison of Souldiers is put into Newcastle, un­der the Command of the Earle of New­castle, who should have seized upon Hull, if not timely prevented by the discreet wisdome and judicious care of that great Councell of the Kingdom, the high Court of Parliament.

Moreover there is another cause of feare that some sudden stratagem will suddenly be put in execution by the Papists, by reason the Earle of Rivers lately a notorious Papist, although he now come to Church, (as is conceived purposely to be made capable of imploy­ment) is put into the Commission of Array, which he hath executed with ri­gor, imprisoning divers persons which refused to submit thereunto, or did a­ny way oppose him.

Fortifications are raised upon the mouth of the River Tine, whereby up­on the least occasion the Trade of coals may be stopt, or at least sold at such rates as they shall please to set, to the great detriment of the whole Kingdom, especially the Citty of London.

Sundry Commissions are granted for raising of Horse, divers Officers for the Army are already appointed.

Severall Troopes of Horse are sent into Lincoln-shire, to the great terrour of the well affected People, who are thereby forced either to forsake their dwellings and habitations, or to de­fend themselves with Armed men, they beginning already to commit divers outrages, taking away mens Horses by Force, and dayly committing other Acts of Hostility.

Likewise their invetterate mallice extends so farre against all those that strive to oppose them, and takes part with the Parliament, that they neglect [Page] no attempt that may conduce to the dammage of the distressed party, as may appeare by their proceedings a­gainst Hull, where all meanes of reliefe is kept from comming to the inhabi­tants of the said Towne, his Majesty (perswaded by them) is come thither with an Army, all which being consi­dered, the Warre being thus begunne by his Majesty, the Lords and Com­mons hold themselves bound in Con­science to raise Forces for the preserva­tion of the Peace of the Kingdome, the defence and security of Parliament, and of all those who have beene imployed by them in any publique service for these ends.

In the performance of which, they desire the concurrance of the well dis­posed Subjects of this Kingdome, and shall manifest by their courses and en­deavours, that they are carried by no respects but of the publique good, and they will alwaies preferre the same be­fore [Page] their owne lives and fortunes, and shall ever be more carefull in their en­deavours and Councels, to prevent a civill Warre, so that it rests onely that the true borne English Nation doe con­sider whether they will adhere to the King and Parliament, by whom they have so long enioyed all that is deare unto them, or to the King seduced by wicked Councell, and Cavaleers, which have designed all to slavery and confu­sion, which by Gods blessing and our endeavours, may be timely prevented.