A
DECLARATION
OF
His
Excellency
the
Lord
Fairfax
,
Lord
General
,
AND
His
Councel
of
War
,
Concerning
their
Resolution
to
preserve
and
protect
the
Freedom
of
Trade
and
Commerce
.
WHereas
the
Enemies
of
the
Peace
of
this
Kingdom
,
being
sufficiently
sensible
how
all
their
designs
for
the
ruine
and
destruction
thereof
have
,
by
the
blessing
of
God
upon
our
endeavors
,
been
rendered
abortive
and
made
successless
to
the
producing
of
that
effect
,
have
notwithstanding
,
out
of
their
restless
desire
to
bring
their
wicked
purposes
into
execution
,
watched
for
and
pursued
all
opportunities
,
that
they
could
either
make
or
meet
with
,
conducing
to
that
end
;
and
have
not
ceased
to
lay
upon
us
and
lade
us
with
all
manner
of
Slander
and
Calumny
,
that
might
not
only
make
us
unacceptable
to
those
of
whom
We
have
best
deserved
,
but
also
render
Us
odious
to
all
the
World
:
And
being
informed
that
the
said
Enemies
of
the
Kingdom
have
,
upon
occasion
of
some
of
our
late
just
and
necessitated
Actions
,
given
publikely
out
,
and
written
to
the
parts
beyond
the
Seas
,
that
We
intend
to
put
all
into
Ruine
and
Confusion
,
and
to
seize
upon
all
Mens
Estates
,
destroy
Propriety
,
Trade
and
Commerce
,
and
that
their
goods
cannot
be
in
any
security
while
We
are
in
this
Town
,
or
keep
in
our
hands
any
of
the
strengths
of
the
Kingdom
;
and
understanding
that
thereupon
Bills
of
Exchange
begin
to
be
questioned
,
and
some
persons
begin
to
convey
away
their
goods
;
We
being
very
sensible
how
much
the
Wealth
,
Peace
and
Happiness
of
this
Kingdom
is
concerned
in
the
Freedom
and
Fulness
of
the
Trade
and
Commerce
thereof
;
and
how
much
the
said
Enemies
of
Peace
should
prevent
their
foresaid
wicked
end
,
if
their
said
Calumnies
should
go
on
to
be
beleeved
:
We
do
therefore
hereby
declare
,
That
as
by
all
the
Adventures
of
our
Lives
and
Blood
We
have
sought
nothing
more
then
the
prosperity
of
this
Kingdom
,
and
the
establishing
of
Justice
and
Righteousness
in
the
Land
;
so
there
is
nothing
that
We
more
abhor
then
those
wicked
Calumnies
,
that
We
should
invade
the
Propriety
of
any
not
wilfully
making
themselves
Enemies
,
or
do
any
thing
any
way
,
to
hinder
or
obstruct
that
Trade
and
Commerce
by
which
this
Kingdom
doth
both
subsist
and
flourish
:
But
that
We
shall
,
in
a
most
especial
manner
,
protect
,
defend
,
encourage
and
maintain
,
in
all
just
ways
(
according
to
the
Law
of
Nations
,
and
the
manner
hitherto
practised
in
this
Kingdom
)
all
manner
of
Trade
,
Traffique
and
Commerce
either
by
English
or
Strangers
:
and
that
We
shall
neither
do
,
nor
suffer
to
be
done
,
as
far
as
is
in
our
power
,
any
violence
,
wrong
or
injustice
to
the
persons
or
goods
of
any
,
as
aforesaid
,
exercising
any
Trade
or
Commerce
in
this
Kingdom
,
either
by
Sea
or
Land
:
Which
we
thought
fit
to
publish
for
the
satisfaction
of
all
persons
concerned
herein
.
By
the
appointment
of
his
Excellency
the
Lord
General
Lord
Fairfax
,
and
his
Councel
of
War
,
Signed
,
JO:
RUSHWORTH
,
Secretary
.
Decemb.
15.
1648.