XLV. To His Army, after the Reading of His Orders, between Stafford and Wellington, September 19. MDCXLII.
GEntlemen, You have heard these Orders read; it is your part in your several places to observe them exactly. The time cannot be long before we come to Action, therefore you have the more reason to be careful: And I must tell you, I shall be very se∣vere in the punishing of those, of what condition soever, who transgress these Instructions.
I cannot suspect your Courage and Resolution. Your Conscience and your Loyalty hath brought you hither to fight for your Religion, your King, and the Laws of the Land: You shall meet with no enemies but Traitors, most of them Brownists, Anabap∣tists, and Atheists, such who desire to destroy both Church and State, and who have already condemned you to ruine for being Loyal to Us.
That you may see what use I mean to make of your Valour, if it please God to bless it with success, I have thought fit to publish My Resolution to you in a Protestation, which when you have heard Me make, you will believe you cannot fight in a better Quarrel; in which I promise to live and die with you.
I do promise in the presence of Almighty God, and as I hope for His Blessing and Protection, that I will to the utmost of My Power defend and maintain the true Re∣formed Protestant Religion established in the Church of England; and, by the Grace of God, in the same will live and die.
I desire to govern by the known Laws of the Land; and that the Liberty and Property of the Subject may be by them preserved with the same care as My own just Rights. And if it please God, by his blessing upon this Army raised for My necessary Defence, to pre∣serve Me from this Rebellion, I do solemnly and faithfully promise in the sight of God, to maintain the just Privileges and Freedom of Parliament, and to govern by the known Laws of the Land to My utmost power, and particularly to observe inviolably the Laws consented to by Me this Parliament. In the mean while, if this time of War, and the great necessity and streights I am now driven to, beget any violation of those, I hope it shall be imputed by God and Man to the Authors of this War, and not to Me, who have so earnestly laboured for the preservation of the Peace of this Kingdom.
When I willingly fail in these particulars, I will expect no aid or relief from any Man, or protection from Heaven: But in this Resolution I hope for the chearful as∣sistance of all good men, and am confident of God's Blessing.