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<ETS>
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<REVDESCR>
<CHANGE>
<DATE>2007-12-02</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Elspeth Healey</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
</RESPSTMT>
<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B071113.tech.</ITEM>
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<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A84696">
<STC T="W">F154</STC>
<STC T="T">669.f.23[47]</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99870290</BIBNO>
<VID>163703</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="declaration">
<PB REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 18 -->
<HEAD>THE
DECLARATION
OF
Thomas Lord Fairfax,
And the re&s;t of the Lords, Knights, E&s;quires, Citizens, Mini&s;ters
and Freeholders of the County and City of YORK.</HEAD>
<P>WHereas this Famous County, Honoured formerly for its pui&s;&s;ance and &s;trength
by which they have always been taken for the Bulwork of this Nation, are
now reputed &s;o incon&s;iderable that they have not at this time a Repre&s;enta|tive
in Parliament: and being deeply &s;en&s;ible of the Confu&s;ions and Di&s;tractions of the
Nation, the particular Decay and Ruine of the Cloathing-Trade of this County, which
nece&s;&s;arily bears an influence upon the Publick: as al&s;o the Future Evils that will attend
this <HI>Vacancy of Government</HI> during the imperfection and incompleatne&s;s of <HI>Our Parliaments,</HI>
who&s;e entirene&s;s, and <HI>Full Number</HI> hath been in <HI>all Times</HI> (as to a <HI>Right Engli&s;h Con&s;titution</HI>)
the only <HI>Con&s;ervative</HI> of our <HI>Liberties.</HI></P>
<P>We the <HI>Lords, Knights, E&s;quires, Gentlemen, Mini&s;ters</HI> and <HI>Citizens</HI> afore&s;aid do Declare,
That we finde a <HI>Corrupt Intre&s;t</HI> in the pre&s;ent Government, abetted by <HI>Factious Parties,</HI> and
carried on with an <HI>Irreconciliable Violence</HI> again&s;t our Peace: Predominant, and &s;itting at the
Helm, whereby the <HI>Freedom</HI> and <HI>Liberty</HI> of the <HI>Subject</HI> is &s;o far <HI>endangered,</HI> that we judge it
pa&s;t Application, or any other <HI>Wording Remedy</HI> to Retrive it. And as this is not only our
own opinion, but the <HI>general Sen&s;e of the Nation,</HI> fruitle&s;ly hitherto made known to the
World: We will therfore allow our &s;elves the precedency of <HI>A&s;&s;erting</HI> and <HI>Defending</HI> the
<HI>ju&s;tice</HI> of this our <HI>Common Right</HI> by open <HI>Armes,</HI> if no other pre&s;ent Temperament and Expe|dient
can be adju&s;ted or fitted for our Grievances.</P>
<P>We do therefore require <HI>A Free and Full Parliament</HI> to be &s;traitwith Convened, according
to the Directions and Provi&s;ions made in the <HI>Act for the Triennial Parliament;</HI> the intent and
de&s;ign whereof, after &s;uch a <HI>bloody Conte&s;t</HI> we may not &s;ee eluded and fru&s;trated with
<HI>&s;trange VOTES</HI> and <HI>Qualifications:</HI> Therefore we de&s;ire a <HI>Free Parliament,</HI> or el&s;e the re|turn
of the <HI>&s;ecluded Members</HI> by the force of the Army in 1648. (to which his Lord&s;hip
Prote&s;ts he was unwittingly and unwarily acce&s;&s;ory) to the remaining Di&s;charge of their
<HI>Tru&s;t,</HI> they having given <HI>&s;ingular</HI> and <HI>&s;uperlative</HI> evidence of their <HI>capacity</HI> and <HI>fitne&s;s</HI> for it,
by their <HI>wi&s;e</HI> and <HI>judicious moderation.</HI></P>
<P>We &s;hall in their <HI>Wi&s;dom</HI> and <HI>Coun&s;els</HI> acquie&s;ce, and otherwi&s;e &s;hall not be &s;atisfied, for
that our pre&s;&s;ing <HI>Calamities</HI> will give no <HI>Re&s;t</HI> to the Kingdom, till the&s;e our <HI>De&s;ires</HI> are
accompli&s;hed. To which purpo&s;e, we have at this our <HI>general Meeting</HI> or <HI>Rendevouz</HI>
Signed this our Declaration to be forthwith Communicated to the <HI>NATION.</HI></P>
<CLOSER>Signed
<DATELINE>Leeds <DATE>Febr. 13. 1659.</DATE></DATELINE>
<SIGNED>Thomas Fairfax, &amp;c.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="colophon">
<P>London, <HI>Printed for</HI> Iames William&s;on.</P>
</DIV1>
</BACK>
</TEXT>
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