Basiliká the works of King Charles the martyr : with a collection of declarations, treaties, and other papers concerning the differences betwixt His said Majesty and his two houses of Parliament : with the history of his life : as also of his tryal and martyrdome.

XLII. To the Inhabitants of Lincolnshire, at LINCOLN, July 15. MDCXLII.

GEntlemen, If I could have suspected your Affections, or have censured the Duty of this County by some late Actions in it, I should not have taken this pains to have given you a testimony of my Affection to you, and to remove those Objections, which being raised by a Malignant party, may, by their cunning and industry, get credit even with honest minds.

The truth is, I come to you to assure you of My purposes and Resolutions for the de∣fence of whatever is and should be dear unto you, your Religion, your Liberty, your common Interest, and the Laws of the Land; and to undeceive you of that opinion which I hear hath mis-led many of you, that the pretended Ordinance of the Militia is war∣ranted by my Consent and Authority. As I have already informed you by my several Declarations and Messages, that the same is against the known Law, and an invasion of my unquestionable Right, and of your Liberty and Property; so I do now declare unto you, that the same is imposed upon you against my express Consent, and in contempt of my Regal Authority: And therefore whosoever shall henceforth presume to execute or obey the same, I shall proceed against them as against such who promote Rebellion, and actually levy War against Me.

And I doubt not but you will sadly consider, that if any Authority without and against my Consent may lawfully impose such burthens upon you, it may likewise take away

all that you have from you, and subject you to their lawless Arbitrary Power and Go∣vernment. And how far they are like to exercise that jurisdiction towards you, you may guess by the insolence of Sir John Hotham at Hull, who, being a Subject, not only pre∣sumes to keep his Sovereign by force of Arms out of His Town; but murthers his fel∣low-Subjects, imprisons them, burns their houses, drowns their land, takes them cap∣tive, and commits such Outrages and acts of Hostility, as the most unequal and outragi∣ous Enemies practise in any Country: That you may see how impossible it is for your Liberties and Properties to be preserved, when your King is oppressed, and His just Rights taken from Him. Who hath brought these Calamities upon your Neighbours at Hull every man sees; and they only can bring the same upon you.

I will not believe you to be so insensible of the benefits you have received from Me, that I need put you in mind of the Gracious Acts passed by Me this Parliament on your behalfs: And if there be any thing wanting to the making you the happiest Subjects in the world, I am sure it is not My fault that you have not that too. Be not deceived with words and general expressions: It is not in your power to name one particular which might make you happy, that I have refused to grant.

Be not frighted with apprehensions that this Country is like to be the seat of War. The seat of a War will be only where persons rise in Rebellion against Me: that will not, I hope, be here; and then you shall be sure of My Protection; I will live and dye in your defence. And that you may be in a readiness and a posture to defend your selves and Me against any Invasion or Rebellion, I have armed several Persons of Honor, Quality and Reputation amongst you, and of your own Country, with a Commission of Array to that purpose. There is no honest end declared in that Ordinance which is not pro∣vided for by this Commission; which being according to the old known Law, is fit for your obedience, and I doubt not but you will find it.

In a word, I assure you upon the Faith and Honor of a Christian King, I will be al∣ways as tender of any thing which may advance the true Protestant Religion, protect and preserve the Laws of the Land, and defend the just Privilege and Freedom of Par∣liament, as of My Life or My Crown: And when I fail in either of these, I will not look for your assistance. Till then you are concerned not to see Me suffer.