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To Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir William Ger••rd Baronet, Sir Cecill Trafford Knight, Thomas Clifton, Charles Townley, Christoph••r Ander••••n, and Jo•••• Clansfield, and other of Our Sub••ects, Recu••••nts Esqui••••s, in the Co••nty o•• Lancaster.
CHARLES R.
Trusty and Welbeloved,
WEe greet you well, whereas by reason of the Lawes and Statues of our Realme, by which all Recusants convicted are to be without Arms, your Arms have been taken from you; so that now in this time of immiment danger, wherein there are Armies raised against Our Commands, and contrary to Our Proclamations, and are marching against Ʋs, and divers of Our good Subjects, for obeying Our lawfull Commands, and opposing the rebellious proceedings of others ill-affected, are by strong hand seized upon and impri∣soned, their houses plundered, and their goods taken away; and the like is threatned to our selves, who as all others Our Subjects ought to have Our protection against all un••••wfull violence and force: And the Laws made for dis-arming Recusants were made onely for a provision to prevent danger in time of peace, & were not intended to bar you from a neces∣sary use of Arms in time of actuall war, for your own safety, or for the defence of Our Per∣son against all Rebels and Enemies, which by your duty and allegiance you are bound unto▪ which is not, nor ever was meant to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 discharged or taken away by any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And wh•••••• as the Arms▪ which were taken from you▪ ought by Law to have been 〈…〉〈…〉to have been made use of by you in such time of open war, or of such others 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you should pro∣vide: yet under the specious pretence of dis-arming Recusants, and persons 〈…〉〈…〉 your Arms have been disposed and dispersed into the hands of fever all persons 〈…〉〈…〉 and for the most part Fomenters and Exciters of these Commotions 〈…〉〈…〉 Kingdom; Our Will and Command therefore is, and We charge and require you upon your Allegiance▪ and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you tender the safety of Our Person, and the peace and welfare of Our Kingdom, That you with all possible speed provide sufficient Armes for your selves, your servants, and your tenants, which We authorize and require during the time of open war raised against Ʋs, to keep and use for the defence of Ʋs, and of your selves, and of your Country, against all Forces and Arms raised, or to be raised against Ʋs, or ••gainst Our consent, or contrary to Our Proclamations, by colour of any Order, or Ordinance, or Authority whatsoever. And We shall (according as We are bound to all Our Subjects) use Our utmost powers for the protection of you and yours, against all 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 vio∣lence. And whensoever these Arms which you shall so provide (after it shall please God to put an end to these dangers and distractions) shall be taken away from your custody, by reason of Our Law 〈…〉〈…〉 the same, so much as you shall have dispended in provision thereof.
Given under Our Signet at Our Court at Chester, the 27 of September, in the eighteenth year of Our Raigne