January 1643: A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the Defence and Preservation of the Inhabitants within the County of Lincolne, and Peace and Quiet of the said County.

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.