A
DECLARATION
OF
Oliver
Cromwell
,
Captain
General
of
all
the
Forces
of
this
COMMON-WEALTH
.
WHereas
,
the
Parlament
beeing
dissolved
,
Persons
of
approved
Fidelitie
and
Honestie
,
are
,
according
to
the
late
Declaration
of
the
22th
of
April
last
,
to
bee
called
from
the
several
parts
of
this
Common-wealth
to
the
Supreme
Authoritie
;
And
although
effectual
proceedings
are
,
and
have
been
had
,
for
perfecting
those
Resolutions
;
yet
,
som
convenient
time
beeing
required
for
the
Assembling
of
those
Persons
;
It
hath
been
found
necessarie
,
for
preventing
the
mischiefs
and
inconveniencies
which
may
arise
in
the
mean
while
to
the
Publick
Affairs
,
that
a
Council
of
State
bee
constituted
,
to
take
Care
of
,
and
intend
the
Peace
,
Safetie
,
and
present
Management
of
the
Affairs
of
this
Common-wealth
:
which
beeing
setled
accordingly
,
the
same
is
hereby
declared
and
published
,
to
the
end
all
persons
may
take
notice
thereof
;
And
,
in
their
several
Places
and
Stations
,
demean
themselves
peaceably
,
giving
obedience
to
the
Laws
of
the
Nation
,
as
heretofore
.
In
the
Exercise
and
Administration
whereof
,
as
Endeavors
shall
bee
used
that
no
oppression
or
wrong
bee
don
to
the
people
;
so
a
strict
Account
will
bee
required
of
all
such
as
shall
do
any
thing
to
indanger
the
Publick
Peace
,
and
Quiet
,
upon
any
pretence
whatsoever
.
O.
CROMWELL
.
April
the
last
.
1653.