The resolution of Wiltshire presented at Oxford to His Majestie with their contributions. Also the resolution of Herefordshire, &c.

A Declaration of the Resolution of the County of HEREFORD.

WHereas the Kingdome for many yeares past hath groaned under many taxes of Loane, Ship-money, and the like dismall effects of an arbitrary Govern∣ment, and an high stretcht prerogative: for the cure of which distemper a Parliament was beleeved by all men to be the onely good old way of Physicke, to cleanse the body poli∣tique from oppressing crudities (which was heartily desired) but not by over-strong purgatives to weaken it in the princi∣pall parts, causing it to receive a disposition to the like distem∣per, or a relapse into the same, or a worse disease; which in stead of restoring it to its primitive vigour and health, must needs drive it to a fatall period. Such is our misery, such the just judgement of God upon our sinnes: this wholesome and approved Physicke hath not wrought in us that blessed effect, as was either beleeved by some, or hoped for by all men. But as if God had answer'd our importunity for a Parliament, as he did of old the Israelites for a King, in his anger; we drive on with more haste then good speed to the other extreame, which por∣tends no lesse symptomes of ruine and destruction, then the for∣mer. So that having maturely considered what hath proved destructive to this and other Parliaments, we may the more easi∣ly avoid those Rocks upon which others have split themselves: viz.

1. The venting of particular ends of Avarice and Ambition in the publique State.

2. Private Combinations and Chamber-conventicles, to re∣solve before hand what shall be done in the house.

3. Hindering the freedome of speech by imprisonment of the persons.

4. Denying informations by the humble way of Petitions from the Countries; as that most excellent and orthodox Peti∣tion of our brethren of Kent: of rejecting information by let∣ters to our Knights and Burgesses.

5. The ready swallowing of informations and jealous ru∣mours against His Majestie, by styling them malignant enemies to the State, which were onely truly, and conscionably His friends.

6. Private, if not publique encouragement of the mutinous Rable, which ill spirit was ready at all times to be raised by a whisper by any of those worthy members emphatically so cal∣led, if not exclusively; as if all Justice, Reformation, and Go∣vernment were onely to be expected from them.

7. The new and unheard of State-Law, and Logick, to style and believe that a Parliament which is divided in it selfe; which is severed from the King the Head thereof.

If these things may be remedied, (as we hope they are not all past cure) we shall desire rather to change some of our Phy∣sitians, then our Physick; there being no better way, nor more necessary to preserve or restore the health of a Common∣wealth, then a well-temper'd Parliament: Wherefore we, as faithfull subjects to His Majestie, as free-borne English-men, do joyne in an unanimous resolution to maintaine

• 1. The Protestant Religion:
• 2. The Kings just Power:
• 3. The Lawes of the Land:
• 4. The Liberties of the Subject.

For the first, The Protestant Religion, wee cannot but with griefe of heart remember how it hath beene assaulted in the out-workes and skirts of it, the Liturgie and decent Ceremonies established by Law; yea, in the very body of it, the 39 Ar∣ticles.

In what danger the Church of England hath beene to be o∣ver-runne with Brownisme, and Anabaptisme, let all the world judge.

For the second, The just Power of the King; God knowes, he hath beene so farre unable to defend that from violation, as it was Gods great goodnesse rather than His owne power, which secured, or rather rescued His Person from violence: And what their aime was, who to please the vulgar Rabble, would uphold them in, or not punish them for those high insolencies, as we feare to imagine for the present, so we cannot but with horrour and amazement doubt the consequence: Nor can we conceale our joy of heart, or thanks to His Majesties good Sub∣jects of the County of Yorke, for endeavouring to secure His Person with a Guard, (being of more value than many thou∣sands) and putting him into a posture of defence, which some have either ignorantly or malitiously interpreted, an intention of warre against the Parliament; whereas it is plaine enough, his desires are onely to secure himselfe and his servants from those prodigious tumults and disorders, which have endange∣red his sacred Person: Nor can we blame him, considering Sir John Hothams act at Hull, and Sir Henry Ludlowe's Speech in Parliament, with M^r Martine's.

For the two last, The Lawes of the Land, and The Liberties of the Subject, which must not be separated; how have they beene violated also by some of those who were chosen to be the conservators of them? as imprisonments of the persons, con∣trary to the Petitions of Right; sessing the Clergy, without a body of their owne, contrary to Magna Charta; shuffling the Convocation into a Synod, or an Assembly, or Conventicle, without the choyce, consent, or election of the Clergy, as if they were neither the Kings Subjects, nor Gods Servants.

As we conceive our selves obliged by the Lawes of God, by the Law of the Land, and by the dictate of nature and reason, to maintaine all these; so by Gods grace assisting us, we hope we shall not be terrified to yeild any active obedience to any dis∣joynted part of a Parliament, without the consent of the whole; (which we heartily desire may be united) or to any uncertaine Debates, Votes, or Ordinances, which are not digested and set∣led into a Law; nay, which seemes to contradict former Lawes tendred unto us with so much earnestnesse, as some dare hardly

deny with safety. Now we cannot obey with conscience, nor shall we yeeld our selves such slaves, or betray the liberty pur∣chased with our fore-fathers bloud, and bequeathed unto us, as to suffer our selves to be swayed by any Arbitrary government whatsoever; or strive with so much contention of spirit to cast off the yoke of one Tyranny, to induce many worse: Seeing his Majestie is graciously pleased to maintaine

• 1. The Protestant Religion:
• 2. His owne just Power:
• 3. The Lawes of the Land:
• 4. The Liberties of the Subject.

And that these waters of Reformation having beene long stirr'd, we want onely the favour of His Princely Majestie, as our good Angell, to let us in and heale us; for we doe recipro∣cally declare, that we conceive our selves bound to maintaine Him in all the premises with our lives and fortunes.