December 1642
[31 December, 1642.]
A Declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament
The Lords and Commons now in Parliament assembled, being
certainly informed, that Papists and other wicked and illaffected Persons have traiterously combined together, and
entered into Association, and have raised, and daily do raise,
great Forces both of Horse and Foot, in several Counties of this
Kingdom, and have plundered, spoiled, and destroyed, Multitudes of His Majesty's good Subjects, and, if not timely prevented, will utterly subvert and destroy the true Protestant
Religion (which is their chief Design), the Laws of the Land, the
Privileges of Parliament, and the Liberty of the Subjects: The
said Lords and Commons do Declare, That they hold it a Thing
most fit and necessary for the present State of this Kingdom,
and for the better Securing of the County of Warwick and City
and County of Coventry, and of the County of Stafford, and
City and County of Lichfeild, and the Parts adjacent to the said
Counties; and do accordingly Order and Ordain, That the Lords
Lieutenants and the Committees of Parliament hereafter named;
(that is to say) for the County of Warwick and City and County
of Coventry, Sir Peter Wentworth Knight of the Bath, William
Purefoy Esquire, Godfrey Bossevile Esquire, John Barker Esquire,
William Jesson Esquire, the present Mayor of the City of Coventry,
John Hales Esquire, Anthony Stoughton Esquire, Thomas
Boughton Esquire, William Colemore Esquire, George Abbott
Esquire, and Thomas Barsnett, Alderman: and for the County
of Stafford, and City and County of Lichfeild.
And all Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Serjeant Majors, and
other Captains and Officers, and all other well-affected Persons,
inhabiting within the said several Counties and Cities, and Parts
adjacent, shall and may associate themselves, and mutually aid,
succour, and assist one another, in the mutual Preservation and
Defence of themselves, and the Peace of the said Cities and Counties, from all Rapines, Plunderings, and Spoilings of the said
Papists and ill-affected Persons: And it is further Ordered, Ordained, and Declared, That the said Lords Lieutenants, Committees of Parliament, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Serjeant
Majors, Captains, and other officers, have Power and Authority
to raise Forces of Horse and Foot, and to lead them into any Place
which shall be fitting and convenient, and to give Battle and to
fight with all such as are or shall be raised, to levy War against
the Parliament, and all other Forces raised without Authority
and Consent of both Houses of Parliament, that make any
Insurrection, and plunder or destroy His Majesty's good subjects;
and them to invade, resist, suppress, subdue, and pursue, kill, and
slay, and put to Execution of Death, and by all Means to destroy,
as Enemies to the Kingdom, and to perform all Things else needful for the Preservation of the Safety and Peace of the said Cities
and Counties and Parts adjacent; observing from Time to
Time such other Directions and Commands as they shall
receive from both Houses of Parliament, or from the
Earl of Essex Lord General; and that the said Persons and
other the Inhabitants, for so doing, shall be saved and kept
harmless, by the Power and Authority of Parliament: And the
said Lords and Commons, taking into their serious consideration
the Necessity of appointing a Commander-in-Chief over the
Forces which are or shall be raised in the Cities and Counties
aforesaid, or any of them, for the Service aforesaid, in regard
that, by particular Commissions already granted to Persons in
the said several Counties, there was no Power given to lead
Forces out of their own Counties, it is Ordered and Ordained,
That the Lord General the Earl of Essex shall be desired to
grant a Commission to Robert Lord Brooke, to command in
Chief, as General of all the Forces raised, or to be raised, in the
said Cities and Counties, and Parts adjacent; and to have
Power to lead, command, and carry the same, to such Places
within the said Cities and Counties and Parts adjacent, as he
shall think fit for the Defence thereof; and likewise Power
to give the same Order and Instructions, in his said
Excellency's Absence, for regulating the Soldiers, which are
or shall be under his Command, as his said Excellency hath
given to his Army, and to use Martial Law, to compel
Obedience thereunto, as Occasion shall require; and also
Power and Authority to make and appoint all Officers, for
levying and conducting and leading the said Forces, as he
shall think fit.