THe Lords and Commons in Parliament doe declare , That it is against the Laws & liberties of the Kingdom , that any of the Subjects therof should be commanded by the King to attend him at his pleasure , but such as are bou●d thereto by speciall service . And if any Messenger or Officer shal by colour of any command from his Majesty , or wa●rant under his Majesties hand Arrest , take , or carry away any of his Majesties Subjects to any place whatsoever , contrary to their wills ; That it is both against the Laws of the Land , the liberty of the Subjects , and is to the disturbance of the publike peace of the Kingdome ; and any of His Majesties Subjects so Arrested , may lawfully refuse to obey such Arrests and commands .

And it is further declared , that whosoever is imployed by both or either House of Parliament concerning the Ord●nance for the Militia , or in advancing the Propositions for raysing of Horse , Money , or Plate , according to the Instructions of both Houses , or in furthering the subscriptions for Ireland , or in any other Service of both or either House of Parliament , shall not depart that service or attend his Maiesty , upon any Summons or Command , Signified by Letter , Proclamation , or otherwise , except such persons shal be compelled to such departure , or attendance , by Authority of Law ; And in so doing , both Houses of Parliament will extend the uttermost of their power for their indempnity .

TRusty and well-beloved , We greet you well . We call to mind that in former times the constant custom was , by the mouth of the Lord Keeper for the time being , at the Court of Star-chamber , in the end of Trinity Terme , to put the Judges of Assise ( shortly after to undertake their severall Circuits ) in mind of such things as were then thought necessary for the present , for the good government of the Kingdome . This course in Our judgement we doe well approve of , That although We want the opportunity , which We and Our Predecessors then had , of communicating Our thoughts to our Judges , for the good of our people , yet We do still retaine the same care for the safety and prosperity of Our good Subjects : And much more , by how much the distempers and distractions of the present times , unhappily fallen , have given us more occasion . Wee have therefore thought it fit , to supply the defect by these Our Letters ; wherein , besides the generall care of Our justice , committed to Us by God , and by Us delegated to Our Judges by Our severall Commissions , We recommend unto you in your Circuits , as We shall do to the rest of your Brethren in their severall Circuits , these particulars following .

First , that you take care , by all the best meanes you can to suppresse Popery in all those Counties whither you are to goe , by putting the Lawes made against them in due execution : And that you take like care to give a stop to the over-hasty growth of Anabaptisme , and other Schismes , as far as by the good Lawes of the Land you may ; and to punish the Delinquents with an equall hand , and those specially of either sort whom you shall discover to be seditious stirrers and movers of others to any Acts of disobedience to Us , and Our government ; and that in your Charge , and otherwise , as you shall have fit opportunity , you assure our good Subjects in Our name , and in the word of a King , who cals God to witnesse , that by his gracious assistance we are constantly resolved to maintaine the true Protestant Religion , established by Law in this Church of England , in the purity thereof , without declining either to the right hand or to the left , as we found it at Our accesse to the Crowne , and as it was maintained in the happy times of Queene Elizabeth , and King James Our deare Father , both of happy memory , and therein both to live and dye .

Secondly , you shall let Our People of those Counties know , that , according to Our Kingly duty and Oath , We are also constantly resolved to maintaine the Lawes of this Our Kingdome ; and by , and according to them to governe Our Subjects , and not by any Arbitrary power , whatsoever the Malevolent Spirits of any ill affected to Our Person or Government , have suggested , or shall suggest to the contrary . And that we shall also maintain the just Priviledges of Parliament , as far as ever Our Predecessors have done , and as far as may stand with that justice which We owe to Our Crowne , and the honor thereof : but that We may not , nor will admit of any such unwarranted power , in either , or both Houses of Parliament , which in some things hath beene lately usurped , not onely without , but against Our Royall Consent and Command . And We require and command you , as there shall be just occasion offered , in a legall way , that you take care to preserve Our just right in these cases .

Thirdly , We charge you , as you tender the peace of this Kingdome , in the Government whereof , according to the Lawes , you Our Judges of the Law have a principall part under Us , that you take care for suppressing of all Insurrections , if any such should happen , and of all Riots and unlawfull Assemblies under any pretence whatsoever , not warranted by the Laws of this Land ; and whosoever shall trangresse therein , that you let them know that they must expect that punishment which by the Law may be inflicted upon them , and at your hands We shall looke for such an account herein , within your Circuit , as becommeth the quality of the place wherein you serve Us.

Fourthly , because the distempers of the present times , unhappily stirred up and fomented by some , under specious , but unjust pretences , and probable to stir up loose and ungoverned people , under hope of impunity , as far as they dare to make a prey of Our good Subjects , Wee straitly charge and command you to take the best order you can in those Counties , that Rogues , Vagabonds , and other disorderly people may be apprehended , dealt with and punished according to the Lawes , whereby the good and quiet people of Our Kingdome may be secured , and the wicked and licentious may be suppressed : and We charge and command you to give it in charge in all the Counties whither you are sent by Our Commissions , that Watches and Wards be straitly kept in all Parishes and places convenient , whereby the Laws made against such disorders may be put in due execution .

Fifthly , and lastly , you shall let Our people of those Counties know from Us , and by Our Command , that if they shall professe unto Us , or unto you in Our stead , any thing wherein they hold themselves grieved , in an humble and sitting way , and shal desire a just Reformation or reliefe , We shall give a gracious eare unto them , and with all convenience returne them such an answer , as shall give them cause to thanke Us for Our Justice and Favour : and when you shall have published Our cleare intentions to Our people in these things , lest at the first hearing they should not so fully apprehend Our sense therein , you shall deliver a Copy of these Our Letters to the Fore-man of the Grand Jury , and to any other , if any one shall desire Copies of these Our Letters for their better information ; and to the end that Our services in your Circuit may not suffer through the absence of Our learned Counsell , Our Will and Command is , that you assigne in every place of your Sessions some of the ablest Lawyers who ride that Circuit to be of Counsell for Us , to assist in such Pleas of the Crowne , that may be most necessary for Our service in the execution and punishment of notorious Delinquents .

Of all these things We shall expect that good account from you , as We shall from the rest of your Brethren Our Judges , to whom We have also written to the like purpose ; of whose fidelity and good affections We are confident as becommeth Us to looke for from you , and for you to render to Us , wherein you have so great a trust committed .