January 1642/3
[9 January, 1642/3.]
Declaration for Defence of the County of Lincoln.
The Lords and Commons now in Parliament assembled, being
certainly informed that Papists and other wicked and ill-affected
Persons have traiterously combined together, and entered into
Association, and have raised, and daily do raise, great Forces both
of Horse and Foot in several Counties of this Kingdom, and are
at this present in a great Body together, under the Command of
William Earl of Newcastle, in the Counties of Yorke and
Nottingham, where they have plundered, spoiled and destroyed,
Multitudes of His Majesty's good Subjects, and, if not timely
prevented, will utterly subvert and destroy the true Protestant
Religion (which is their chief Design), the Laws of the Land, the
Privileges of Parliament, and the Liberty of the Subjects: The
said Lords and Commons do Declare. That they hold it a Thing
most fit and necessary for the State of this Kingdom, and for the
better Securing of the County of Lincolne, City of Lincolne and
County of the same, Towns Corporate, and Parts adjacent to the
said County; and accordingly Order and Ordain, That Francis
Lord Willoughby, Lord Lieutenant of the said County
of Lincolne, and the Committees of Parliament for
the Propositions of Subscriptions of Money, Horse, and
Plate, for the said County, and City of Lincolne and
County of the same, the High Sheriff of the County of
Lincolne for the Time being, the Mayor of the City of Lincolne
for the Time being, the Mayor of Boston, Aldermen of Grantham
and Soake, and the Aldermen of Stamford for the Time being,
and all Bailiffs of Liberties and Towns Corporate within the said
County, and all Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Serjeant Majors,
and other Captains and Officers, and all other well-affected Persons
within the said County, City of Lincolne and County of the same,
and Parts adjacent, shall and may associate themselves, and
mutually aid and succour and assist one another, in the mutual
Preservation and Defence of themselves and the Peace of the said
County of Lincolne, City of Lincolne and County of the same, and
all other Towns Corporate within the said County, from all Rapine,
Plunderings, and Spoilings of the said Papists and ill affected
Persons, as well under the Command of the said William Earl of
Newcastle, as any other of his and their Adherents: And it is
further Ordered, Ordained and Declared, That the said Lord
Lieutenant, Committees of Parliament, Colonels, Lieutenant
Colonels, Serjeant Majors, Captains, and other Officers, have
Power and Authority to raise Forces of Horse and Foot, and to
lead them into any Place which shall be fitting and convenient;
and to give Battle and to fight with all such as are, or shall be,
raised to levy War against the Parliament, and all other Forces
raised without Authority or Consent of both Houses of
Parliament, that make any Insurrection, and plunder
and destroy His Majesty's good Subjects; and them
to invade, resist, suppress, subdue, pursue, kill, and slay, and
put to Execution of Death, and by all Means to destroy, as
Enemies to the Kingdom; and to perform all Things else needful for the Preservation of the Safety and Peace of the said
County, City of Lincolne and County of the same, with the rest
of the Towns Corporate within the said County, and Parts
adjacent; observing from Time to Time such other Directions
and Commands as they shall receive from both Houses of Parliament, or from the Earl of Essex Lord General, or the Lord Fairefax
General of the Forces in the Northern Parts, with whom the said
County of Lincolne is already associated; and that all the said Persons and other Inhabitants, for so doing, shall be saved and kept
harmless, by the Power and Authority of Parliament: And the
said Lords and Commons, taking into their serious Consideration the Necessity of appointing a Commander in Chief
over the Forces, which are or shall be raised, in the said City and
County of the same, for the Service aforesaid; and in regard that,
by particular Commissions already granted to Persons in the said
County, there was no Power given to lead Forces out of their own
County; it is Ordered and Ordained, That the Lord General the
Earl of Essex shall be desired to grant a Commission to such
Person as he shall think fit, to command in Chief, as General of
all the Forces raised, or to be raised, in the said County, and City
of Lincolne and County of the same, and Parts adjacent, and have
Power to lead, command, and carry the same, to such Places
within the said County, City of Lincolne, and Parts adjacent, as
he shall think fit for the Defence thereof; and likewise Power to
give the same Order and Instructions, in his said Excellency's
Absence, for regulating the Soldiers which are, or shall be, under
his Command, as his Excellency hath given to his Army; and to
use Martial Law to compel Obedience thereunto, as Occasion
shall require; and also Power and Authority to make and appoint
all Officers, for Levying, Conducting, and Leading the said Forces,
as he shall think fit.