MANCHESTERS RESOLVTION againſt the Lord STRANGE.
WITH The PARLIAMENTS endeavour and care for the prevention of ſuch ſad calamities that may enſue upon the Nation, by their ſeverall VOTES, Reſolved upon in the Houſe of Peers, and in the Houſe of Commons, for the ſecuring the Kingdome of England, and Dominion of Wales.
Iohn Brown Cler. Parliamen.
Alſo a remarkable paſſage concerning His Majeſties blocking up of Hull.
Iuly 12. London, Printed for A. Coe, 1642
SUch are the ſeverall diſtempers and diſtractions of this Kingdome, that former ages could hardly paralell the like. Every day produces heavy newes, and ſad novelties of warres, and rumours of wars, proceeding from the Malignant Party of this Kingdome, ſuch as are open and profeſt enemies to the peace of great Brittaine; and ſuch (I am ſure) as beare no good will to Sion, nor to the tranquility of Jeruſalem. What hainous, and never the like heard of inſolencies they have already acted? what impudent affronts they have offred the Kings Majeſtie, and his good government? what horrid plots and hideous conſpiracies they have contrived and attempted, both by Forraigne invaſion and domeſtick inſurrection, the hiſtory of theſe times doth ſufficiently teſtifie.
The great Councell of the King and this Kingdome (the high and honourable Court of Parliament now aſſembled) have beene credibly within theſe few daies enformed of 8000. men, which are ſpeedily to be ſent from France and Spaine towards the Northerne parts: What the deſignes of thoſe two Kings are, none can as yet tell; God only knowes, and we may all certainely ſuppoſe that they doe intend no good to this little Iſland of ours: They (being of another Religion) have beene heretofore, and will bee ſtill adverſaries to us, and emulators of our proſperity. Beſides theſe, the two Houſes have had intelligence of late of Armes and Ammunition to be tranſported to New Caſtle, with many Captaines and Cavalliers (who are ſhrewdly ſuſpected to be the Malignant Party) whoſe deſignes have beene malevolent, and (tis much feared) will be little better towards the peace and welfare of the Kingdome of England, and this City of London.
There hath been likewiſe a Report made to the upper and lower Houſe of Parliament, how that the Popes Nuncio hath gone about to raiſe forces for the aforeſaid deſignes; and to that end, that he might effect, and the better accompliſh his attempts, hee hath ſollicited the two Kings of France and Spaine to lend the King of England foure thouſand men a piece. There hath beene likewiſe a Report made (and it was in a Letter ſent from Holland, which was read in the Houſe of Commons) that the Queenes Majeſty had provided certaine Ships laden with Ammunition, with a purpoſe and reſolution to goe in them towards the North: As alſo the Lord Digby that was impeacht by the Parliament, of high Treaſon, with Maſter Piercy (the Earle of Northumberlands brother) Maſter Termine, and divers others that runne away the laſt yeare, are all a comming over (as they ſay) with a great Fleet from Denmarke. And (if Fame be true, and we may give credit to a printed Pamphlet which this day came forth) there have beene ſtrokes given, and bullets ſhot here in England, which is lamentable to conſider that there ſhould be Civill Warres at this time amongſt us. Upon the fourth day of this inſtant Month of July, there was a skirmiſh between the Lord Strange and the Inhabitants of Mancheſter in Lancaſhire; the occaſion whereof was (as that Booke makes mention) through the Lord Stranges Reſolution to take away their Magazine by force, having received for that purpoſe many forces from Yorke. Tis very ſtrange, if this be true; I wiſh it may be falſe; if it be not, I am certaine it is an ill omen to the peace of England, and doth prognoſticate no good tidings to the City of London. If this be the beginning of Civill Warre, God knowes (and no mortall but he) when the ending will be: When that dreadfull time is once come (as God forbid it ever ſhould) many a weake wife will bee husbandleſſe, and many a poore childe fatherleſſe: Then will be mourning and lamentation in our Cities and Countries, many Rachels mourning for their children, becauſe they are not: Many thouſands will then loſe their lives before that this Kingdome be agine ſetled in peace.
A Civill Warre will teare in pieces our flouriſhing Kingdome, be a meanes for the invaſion of a forraigne foe, expoſing us to the fury and deriſion of our enemies, to the pitty and deploration of our friends. Bellum Dei fl•gellum, warre is the ſcourge of God; it will quickly bring a people and Nation to ruine, vaſtation and deſolation; we have had wofull experience of the miſeries of warre. Dulce bellum in expertis. If warre be ſweet, it is to them that are ignorant of it. No man truely knowes the malignity and cruelty of warre, but thoſe onely that have felt and tryed it: What a havocke has the Sanguinian hand of warre made in the Chriſtian World? How it hath enervated the ſtrength, vigour and ſinewes of whole Kingdomes, the direfull and ſad Tragedies of Germany, and ſtill bleeding Ireland, doe evidently declare and make known what a lamentable ſtory warre is: The very charge and continuall coſt of maintaining two Armies will exhauſt the wealth and treaſure of three Kingdoms. Of this we have had a deare example in the late skirmiſhes of Scotland.
After the pacification w••concluded betweene the two Kingdomes, it coſt England〈…〉then a million of pounds. And ſuch is the vaſt expe•••〈◊〉•••••aining two Armies, that if they be once on foot here〈…〉Kingdome, either a ſudden encounter will deſtroy one o•〈…〉the keeping them both will deſtroy the whole Kingd•••.
Theſe premiſes co〈8 letters〉, and the preſent ſtate of this Kingdome ſeriouſly weighed, we have great grounds of ſtrong feares. And for this cauſe, that wiſe Senate our hopefull and happy Parliament have taken into their ſage and grave conſideration the preſent condition of this tottering and diſtracted Kingdome and Nation, and finding it to be in ſuch a pittifull predicament as it now is, they have in their indefatigable endeavours againſt all oppoſitions of the malignant party, and in their conſcionable care for the preſervation of this Kingdome, given ſpeciall order to the right honourable the Earle of Warwicke, Admirall of his Majeſties Navy Royall, to intercept and ſtop the paſſages of all thoſe that ſhall at any time preſent or future, tranſport or cauſe to bee tranſported any manner of Armes or Ammunition, Powder or Shot, Furniture, Victualls, Commaunders and Souldiers from Rome, Venice, Paris, Holland, or any further or nearer places.
The wiſdome of prevention (we all know) is beyond the wiſdome of remedy; and that great Councell well knows, that it is better keeping out of danger, then getting out of danger. And therefore with an unanimous conſent all aiming at the peace and happineſſe of this Land for the prevention of the ſword, which is now brandiſhed over our heads, they have ſettled the Militia, and ſettled the Kingdome in ſuch a poſture of defence, as by their ſeverall Votes reſolved upon in both houſes of Parliament doth here appeare for the ſafety and ſecurity of the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales.
THat the Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the ſafety and defence of the Kingdome of England, and Dominion of Wales, is not any way againſt the Oath of Allegiance.
That the ſeverall Commiſſions, granted under the great Seal, to the Lievtenants of the ſeverall Counties are illegall and void.
That whoſoever ſhall execute any power over the Militia of this Kingdome, and Dominion of Wales, by colour of any Commiſſion of Lievtenancy, without conſent of both Houſes of Parliament, ſhall be accounted a diſturber of the peace of the Kingdome.
THat the Kingdome hath beene of late, and ſtill is in ſo evident and imminent danger, both from enemies abroad, and a Popiſh and diſcontented party at home; That there is an urgent and inevitable neceſſity of putting his Majeſties Subjects into a poſture of defence, for the ſafeguard both of his Majeſty, and his People.
That the Lords and Commons, fully apprehending this danger, and being ſenſible of their own duty; to provide a ſutable prevention, have in ſeverall Petitions addreſſed themſelves to his Majeſty for the ordering and diſpoſing of the Militia of the Kingdome, in ſuch a way as was agreed upon by the wiſdome of both Houſes, to be moſt effectuall and proper for the preſent Exigents of the Kingdome, yet could not obtaine it, but his Majeſty did ſeverall times refuſe to give his Royall aſſent thereunto
That in this caſe of extreame danger, and of his Majeſties refuſall, the Ordinance agreed on by both Houſes for the Militia, doth oblige the people, and ought to be obeyed by the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome.
That theſe ſhall be the Heads of a Declaration.
That ſuch perſons as ſhall be nominated Deputy-Levtenants, and approved of by both Houſes, ſhall receive the commands of both Houſes, to take upon them to execute their Offices.
Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that theſe ſeverall Votes ſhall be forthwith Printed and Publiſhed.
SIR Iohn Hotham through the care of that truſt impoſed upon him by the right honourable the Houſes of Parliament concerning the Towne of Hull, hath fortified it ſo, and hath floated the water foure miles about the ſaid Towne for the defence of it againſt any that ſhall oppoſe it. His Majeſty thinking it to be a diſturbance to his good Subjects, hath beſiedged it with five thouſand men, beſides he hath planted Ordnance, ſo that there can be no paſſage to it by Sea or Land: And it is thought that it will bee rendered up becauſe they will not be able to ſubſiſt long for want of proviſion.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A89460)
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