GENTLEMEN
;
IT
is
now
some
moneths
since
that
the
Protestation
taken
by
the
Lords
,
and
House
of
Commons
,
was
sent
down
into
the
Country
,
with
an
expectation
that
it
should
be
generally
taken
throughout
the
Kingdome
,
for
a
testimony
of
their
good
concurrence
with
the
Parliament
,
but
through
the
remissenesse
of
some
of
those
that
had
the
care
of
recommending
it
to
others
,
very
many
there
be
that
have
not
hitherto
taken
it
.
Now
the
House
of
Commons
having
discovered
many
dangerous
designes
plotted
against
the
Parliament
;
and
especially
that
of
the
fourth
of
this
instant
Ianuary
,
which
had
it
taken
effect
would
have
strucken
not
onely
at
the
Priviledges
,
but
the
very
beeing
of
Parliaments
,
as
will
more
appeare
by
the
Declaration
herewith
sent
unto
you
,
which
the
House
desires
you
to
publish
throughout
all
parts
of
the
Countie
,
Have
thought
fit
once
again
to
recommend
the
taking
of
this
Protestation
;
And
have
therefore
commanded
me
in
their
Name
to
desire
you
the
High
Sheriffe
,
and
the
Justices
of
the
Peace
of
that
County
,
to
meet
together
in
one
place
assoon
as
possibly
you
may
,
and
there
to
take
the
Protestation
your selves
;
and
then
dispersing
your selves
into
your
severall
Divisions
,
that
you
will
call
together
the
Minister
,
the
Constables
,
Churchwardens
,
and
Overseers
of
the
poore
of
every
Parish
,
and
tender
unto
them
the
Protestation
to
be
taken
in
your
presence
;
And
to
desire
of
them
,
that
they
will
very
speedily
call
together
the
Inhabitants
of
their
severall
Parishes
,
both
Housholders
and
others
being
of
Eighteen
yeares
of
age
,
or
upwards
,
into
one
or
more
places
,
according
to
the
largenesse
of
their
Parishes
,
and
to
tender
unto
them
the
same
Protestation
to
be
taken
in
their
presence
,
and
to
take
the
names
of
those
that
doe
take
,
and
doe
refuse
to
take
the
same
Protestation
,
and
to
return
them
unto
your selves
at
such
time
as
you
shall
appoint
,
which
the
House
desires
may
be
so
speedily
,
as
that
you
likewise
may
return
such
Certificate
,
as
you
receive
from
them
,
to
the
Knights
and
Burgesses
serving
for
that
County
,
if
the
same
County
be
within
sixty
miles
of
London
,
before
the
twentieth
day
of
February
next
;
And
if
the
said
County
be
above
sixty
miles
distant
from
London
,
then
before
the
twelfth
of
March
next
,
wherein
the
House
desires
your
greatest
Care
and
Diligence
,
as
a
matter
very
much
importing
the
good
both
of
the
King
and
Kingdome
,
which
being
all
I
have
in
command
,
I
rest
Your
very
loving
friend
WILLIAM
LENTHALL
,
SPEAKER
.
SIR
,
I
Have
lately
received
a
Letter
from
the
Speaker
of
the
House
of
Commons
now
assembled
in
Parliament
,
the
Copy
whereof
is
above-mentioned
:
I
desire
you
,
according
to
the
directions
in
the
said
Letter
,
to
meet
with
the
rest
of
the
Justices
of
Peace
(
to
whom
I
have
written
to
the
same
purpose
)
and
my selfe
at
Kingston
in
the
Town
Hall
there
on
Thursday
being
the
tenth
day
of
this
instant
February
,
by
nine
of
the
Clock
in
the
fore-noon
,
to
perform
that
which
we
are
thereby
required
.
Your
very
loving
friend
2.
Febr.
1641.