FRom the deep sence of the growing miseries which have formerly afflicted this distressed Country ; and out of the grievous apprehension of those inevitable ruines , and desolations , with a reall Warre fomented , hatched , and brought forth by our continuall distractions , must infallibly bring upon us ; We thought it the least of our duty to our God , our King , and our Countrey , to endeavour all means possible to discharge our selves before God and Man , and to leave nothing unattempted which might avert and prevent those fearfull calamities which as it must be consequently the most bloudy and ruinous Warre of all others ; and therefore in pursuance of that due affection to our Native Countrey ; We first prevailed with our most gracious Soveraigne , whose Royall Inclination met our humble desires , in the most ready wayes , and apparent meanes which we could devise and finde out the peace and safety thereof , and set aside all other respects , though never so much conducing to the main of His owne affaires , for our security ; and therefore carried away the fatall Cloud of Warre , which in a hideous form hung over our heads , to disburden it selfe in another Climate , so as wee conceived , wee had no further worke of labour , but to pay the duties of praise and thankfulnesse to our God and King , whose grace and goodnesse had freed us from the visible consequences of a great and terrible tempest , but since it hath pleased the unsearchable Wisedome of Almighty God so to order it , That another storme hath broken and powred a great part of it upon this Countrey ( when we least feared , and by those means which we least suspected ) and that contrary to all expectation work our misery ) there appeared those out of our owne Bowels , which have begun a War and kindled a flame , which doth hazard the ruine and destruction of their Native Country ; which we take as a Punishment due to our manifold sins and offences , and leave the particuler executioners thereof , to His owne wisedome and Justice hereafter , yet we have not been a wanting to the safety and protection of this People ( so long , and in so many wayes afflicted , but have appolyed our selves to all such wayes and means , which in Humane reason we could hope might procure a timely remedy to those bleeding wounds . And therefore in a Treaty at Rodwell , with some Gentlemen of this County , of whose affection to peace and Unity ( though differing in Opinion from us ) we were most confident : Sundry Articles were a greed and Concluded upon , all wholly tending to those ends , and conducing to reall settlement , which was sought after by us with so much candor plaine dealing , and earnestnesse , that we willingly let passe the manifest advantages which we then had over the opposers of the setled Peace of this County , and judging the affections of others by our own desires and inclinations , declined and quitted all other considerations , but such as might purchase a good correspondence and amity with those Gentlemen and others , whom at that time it lay in our Power to have forced or destroyed ; and that nothing might be a wanting to oblige them , set at Liberty sundry Prisoners , some of good quality , upon their word and Faith , to returne them againe if the Treaty were not performed ; and condescended to all the World knows that we aymed at the Publique safety and assurance : Yet notwithstanding all this , without the least breach on our behalf , particuler passions and interests hath so far prevailed , That as , soone as they were freed of the danger wherein they were then engaged , contrary to their Hands , Faith and protestations , they have wholly broken that Agreement so solemnly concluded , & without rendring the least reason ( which indeed is impossible and of which they can never excuse themselves ) have with indirect intentions ; and by a specious offer of Peace ( which it seems was the least of their thoughts ) strengthned , and prepared themselves for War , by pretence of safety to the County , disveloped themselves from danger , and procured security to their own persons , and by a seeming desire to stop the deluge of War ( began by them alone ) opened a breach to all the miseries & calamities which must now most invitable overwhelm this distressed Country ; wherby before the utmost extremity hath appeared , we have already suffered what can befall any people ( setting aside , firing Townes and Villages ) by the Hand of a cruell and Forr●igne enemy : Strangers brought into oppresse us , our houses plundred , good , destroyed and taken away , our housholds dispersed , Wives and children banished , the persons of divers of us seized , and Imprisoned , our lives endangered , and sought after , by Sword or Famine ; ( and what is beyond all beliefe ) those who are unquestionably innocent , and in no capacity to be involved in our pretended offences ( if we be guilty of any ) our Children ( even those whose Infant yeares admit no colour of objection ) our Servants ( employed only in domestick , commands ) sought after , and indangered in the same measure and degree of cruelty , violence , and oppression . And that no aggravation may be a wanting to enerease our sufferings , all those exorbitances executed under the glorious pretences of safety of Religion and preservation of State , and done by Authority and command of Parliament ( which we acknowledge and believe to be the Guardian of Publique liberty ) and who we are confident being chosen by us for assertors of our Freedoms , will not enthrale us ; being trusted with the property of our goods , wil not take them from us ; being selected for the preservation of our Laws , will not violate or infringe them ; and that in so high a measure , as more could not be perpetrated , if we were conquered and subdued by the most barbarous and violent Enemy . We have heard and do believe , That both the Houses have commanded the Militia to be setled and that they thinke it necessary , for some reasons ( best knowne to themselves ) that the power wch untill this time , hath bin unquestionably in the Kings of this land , should now be setled in themselves yet these admitted , we cannot be perswaded , That it is the intention or meaning of the Parliament , that all who are not convinced of the necessity , or who cannot dispence with their Oathes , which tyes them to the knowne Lawes of the Land till they be repealed , and to obey His Majesties command in those things wherein it appeares He hath manifest Right , untill He hath given away and parted with that Right by His owne assent ; or who are yet Newters , and conscionably , expect a legall Rule whereby to be directed , should presently with out due processe of Law , be devested from all property of Goods , Liberty of Persons , Lives and Fortunes , and be in a worse condition for not performing what is yet no Law , then any Man can be for offending and disobeyng all the Lawes which were ever yet established : and much lesse , that the friends and servants , the faulty and guiltlesse , those whose condition or inability free them from assisting in , or excercising any Militia , Clergy-men , Babes , Old Men , Women , should be included and wrapped up in one common fate and destruction , contrary to the rules of God and nature ; which make a large difference between the innocent , and the offender , & the customs and Lawes of this Realme , which give freedom to diverse in those cases and have so long maintained this Kingdome in peace , by distributing rewards and punishments ( not to all a like ) but to the conscionably obedient , or wilfull contemners thereof . These distructive courses of violence , pretending necessity , were ever opposed when they were executed by Regall power , deferred and protested against by his Sacred Majesty , altogether condemned by former , and this present Parliament , & not to be done or consented to by any , without disobedience to His Majesty , offence to the Parliament , and injury to the Freedom and Liberty of this people and Kingdom . But wee are farre from beleiving these to be the command and Acts of an English Parliament , which our selves have so earnestly desired , so faithfully supported ; but rather of some persons , who ( being now ) contrary to their hopes , armed with power to gaine the affections of their Souldiers for farther ends and designes , and to make their particular profit by the generall spoyle , give away to this licentiousnesse , and suffer them to ransome persons and destroy the goods of the innocent people , and to make havocke and spoyle of all which comes in their way , letting loose the Raines of government , and giving way to all manner of rapine ( though the gaine on their side doth in no measure countervaile the losse on the other ) to the unspeakeable detriment and dammage of this our flourishing , now miserable Countrey . By which courses it hath beene already endammaged ( as we offer to make good ) to the value of 100000 l. besides the sufferance of many such barbarous outrages , scarce credible to be committed by Christians ; and those so frequent , that if possible , they can be denied ; and that the Houses will admit the proofe , we shall make them appeare in such numbers , and so abhominable , will exceed the beliefe of any , unlesse they see them sufficiently witnessed and attested . Out of our desire of peace , wee have already endured beyond mortall sufferance , and are ready to suffer still in our owne particulars ; and to set a part all Interests of our owne , and to expose our selves to the height of violence and rigour though undelerved ( unlesse to obey our King according to His Laws be an offence ) before we will hazard the peace of this County , and this people , for any regard or respect whatsoever . And therefore because as our Adversaries doe speciously pretend , That their Armes are raised only for seizing upon Delinquents , and bringing them to condigne punishments , or driving them out of the Country ( which is their baite to catch the multitude . ) We do unanimously professe and declare ( although we are confident , and that their practises shew that whosoever hath mony or Place , or Moveables , is a Delinquent , and must part with them ere he be guiltles . ) to take away all scruples , if they will set down and expresse the names of the Delinquents ( if any be amongst us ) and their offences , upon assurance that no other end is sought by their Armes ; and that once obtained , they will absolutely lay them down , and free the country : it shall be manifested , That we will not decline any just and legall tryall , or desire that a war should be continued , or the people disturb'd for the safegard of them , or any of them : although we are most assured , that when by the tearme of Delinquency , they have quit their hands of such , who are most likely to oppose the ruinous proceedings , that others whose wealth , estates , or former actions unpleasing to these men , have made them obnoxious , shall succeed in the same misery ; and very many , who suppose themselves in a good condition of grace & favour with them , shall fall into the like misfortune , as soon as the Lyon sees fit time to discover his hidden Clawes ; it being impossible they should be in a better estate of Innocency , then our selves , who have not at all wilfully offended , or oppose any of the knowne Lawes of this Kingdom . We have had wofull and sad experience , that the more our Adversaries are sought unto for peace , the farther they are estranged from it ; and that all lenitive applications , doe but exasperate our disease . We doe protest before God and man , That wee will yet apply our selves to all meanes which may conduce to quiet , and settlement ; but in the meane time will really and effectually labour for the safety of this Country our selves , our wives , and children ; and if for the preservation of all , that ought to be defended , and maintained by Mortall man : we are necessitated and compelled by their example to call in Forces , and desire the Assistance of the Earle of Newcastle , and of our friends and Neighbours in the adjacent Counties ( being of our own nation , and whose turne is next , and cause the same with ours , and that thereby some unforeseen or unwished accident arise , not then to be remedied , and that Yorkshire become an Akeldama and field of blood , we lay the consequence ? and effects thereof at the dores , and upon the heads of those men who first began , and kindled the flame in this County , and have hitherto refused our most brotherly and peaceable offers , and endeavouring for Unity & tranquility , which on our parts hath bin so earnestly sought after , and attempted ; that wee can justly now say , we have freed our own soules , discharged the duty of Christians , Englishmen , Patriates , and have bin refused in all : so as there remaines no more , but to defend our Country from Strangers , our Lives from violence , our Wives and children from extremity of injury , our Houses from Rapine , our goods from spoyle , our Laws , liberties , property , and whatsoever is or can be neere or deare unto us , from utmost hazard and destruction . In execution or which resolution , there is no course or meanes omitted , which may ( as far as is possible ) conduce to the benefit and preservation of the people . The Earl of Newcastle required assurance before he would march to our assistance , that the Country should be payed the billet of his Souldiers , which was before thought upon , and resolved by us , and caution is accordingly given ; so that no man will receive ●osse or dammage by those forces , as far as it is in our power to provide or foresee . And because they have hitherto built up themselves upon false reports and foundations , and disguise and make the truth according as it my best fit their ends , and serve their purposes ; and thereby not onely perswade the people with deceitfull rumours of his Majesties unfortunate proceedings ( when in truth God hath wonderfully blessed him with most fortunate successe ) but also casting false lights before their eyes , lay scandalous aspertions upon our actions and reall intendments , for the benefit of this County , striving to possesse them with a prejudicacy of whatsoever we go about to do ; & accordingly are how seeking to poyson the minds of the people with a false opinion , and causelesse jealousie , That the Army now comming to our assistance , is assigned for the oppression , not deliverance ; the destrustion , not safegard of the Country ; and will be the ruine of it wheresoever they passe . To stop the poysonous mouthes of malice it selfe , the Earle of New-Castle hath declared his honourable intentions , to leave the County in peace , as soone as he hath delivered it from these enemies of His Majesty , who now oppresse and tyrannise over it . In which endeavour wee doubt not , to find the reall concurrence of all who have interest in this County , and that they will not be behind their Neighbours and Allyes in seeking their owne preservations , being all owners of one common cause , and must ( what ever pretences be made ) in the end , runne the same course of violence and disolation . How ever , though we perish in this worke , we shall rest satisfied , that we have preserved our Faith and Honour untainted : and if all other disert us in this resolution , we will not faile our selves , nor our duty to our King and Country ; wherein appeares so much Justice and Piety : but are most confident by Gods blessing upon the performance of our just endeaours ; to represse the enemies of his Majesties peace , and to conserve our selves and this Country , to the Glory of God , the service of our King , and mutuall comfort of one another .