A
Declaration
of
the
Lords
and
Commons
in
Parliament
,
concerning
the
execution
of
the
Militia
.
WHereas
Robert
Smith
Esquire
,
now
high
Sheriffe
of
the
County
of
Essex
,
hath
lately
received
a
Writ
bearing
date
the
twenty
seventh
day
of
May
,
in
the
eighteenth
yeer
of
his
now
Majesties
reign
,
thereby
commanding
him
to
publish
a
Proclamation
,
whereby
all
his
Majesties
Subjects
belonging
to
the
Trained
Bands
or
Militia
of
this
Kingdome
,
are
forbidden
to
raise
,
March
,
Muster
,
or
exercise
by
vertue
of
any
Order
or
Ordinance
,
of
one
or
both
houses
of
Parliament
,
without
consent
or
warrant
from
his
Majestie
upon
paine
of
punishment
according
to
the
Lawes
.
And
whereas
the
said
high
Sheriffe
hath
now
addressed
himselfe
to
both
houses
of
Parliament
,
for
advice
and
directions
therein
concerning
the
said
Proclamation
to
bee
contrariant
and
repugnant
to
the
Ordinance
and
Iudgement
of
both
houses
of
Parliament
concerning
the
Militia
.
It
is
therefore
Declared
by
the
Lords
and
Commons
in
Parliament
(
they
intending
nothing
by
the
said
Ordinance
,
but
the
protection
and
securitie
of
his
Majesties
person
the
defence
of
the
Kingdome
against
Forreigne
invasion
,
and
preservation
of
the
publike
peace
against
intestine
Rebellions
and
insurrections
here
at
home
,
the
maintenance
of
the
priviledges
and
authoritie
of
Parliament
according
to
the
Protestation
.
That
the
said
Writ
is
illegall
for
that
by
the
constitution
and
policie
of
this
Kingdome
,
the
King
by
his
Proclamation
cannot
declare
the
Law
contrary
to
the
resolution
of
any
of
the
inferiour
Courts
of
Iustice
,
much
lesse
against
the
high
Court
of
Parliament
.
And
likewise
for
that
this
Writ
forbiddeth
that
to
bee
done
which
they
are
obliged
unto
by
their
duty
to
God
,
their
alleagiance
to
his
Majestie
,
and
the
trust
reposed
in
them
by
the
Common-wealth
,
(
the
Law
having
intrusted
them
to
provide
for
the
good
and
safetie
thereof
.
)
And
that
the
said
high
Sheriffe
hath
done
nothing
in
forbearing
to
publish
the
said
Proclamation
,
but
according
to
his
duty
,
and
in
obedience
to
the
Order
of
both
Houses
.
And
hee
is
hereby
required
not
to
publish
the
said
Proclamation
,
or
any
other
Proclamations
or
Declarations
of
the
like
nature
,
that
concerne
the
Parliament
,
without
first
acquainting
the
said
Houses
.
And
it
is
further
declared
that
the
said
high
Sheriffe
,
and
other
Sheriffs
of
other
Counties
within
this
Kingdome
of
England
,
and
the
Dominion
of
Wales
,
for
their
obedience
to
the
Orders
and
Ordinances
of
Parliament
;
Or
that
have
,
or
hereafter
shall
doe
any
thing
in
the
execution
thereof
,
shall
be
protected
by
the
power
and
authoritie
of
both
the
said
Houses
.
FINIS
.