'Theiss we do certifie whom it may concerne that the bearer hereof George Lassells Esqe was a Leivetent in the Lord Cravens Regiment of foot guards to his Majestic was borne and brought up amongst us beinge descended of an antient worthy ffamilye and hath exceedinglye suffered by an unkind Grandfather who sould and gave away to a younger sonn eight hundred pounds ayer which was entailed upon the father of this Gentleman who is his eldest sonne and hath served his late Maiestye of blessed memorye from forty three untill the end of the first warr and behaved himselfe as became a Gentleman and a souldier some of us whose names are heare subscribed have scene him uppon service act like a brave stout person as wee beleive manye hundreds att this day are able also to testifye his sufferinges have beene great beinge wounded and a longe time imprisoned after that fatall fight att Nazebuye in Northampton Goale then kept out of that estate which was left beinge neare two hundred pounds a year was enforced after he had used all just wayes not onely beyond the seas but heare in fiftye fowre addressed himselfe by ffreinds to that Generous Gentleman General Monck who gave him presentlye the cullours and continued dureinge his life verye kind to him lendinge him one thousand pounds since his Majestyes Restauration to buy out or rather compound with his fathers youngest brother who for (fifteene or sixteene yeares enjoyed the estate cheifelye upon the title of those rebellious Lawgivers whom all alonge he served and onelye hee of the ffamilye wee haveinge beene informed that After Woecester ffight a neare relation of the bearers one Mr. Henry Lassells was instrumentall in conveyinge and saveinge the person of our Dread Soveraigne ffrom the violence of those wicked wretches this Gentleman also with two of his Brothers which are now and have beene all alonge in his Majestyes service and under the command of General Monck have beene verye forward and fortunate to find out the plotts and Innentions which did tend to disapoynt the Generalls desighne of bringeinge in his Majestye as may and doth apeare by Generall certificates and credible Wittnesses hee can make it further manifest what dangerous Remonstrantes and addresses this bearer tooke ffrom Lamberts Agitatours in the Latter end of ffiftye nine with the Retakeinge most of a troope the cullours and that Grand Rogue Lockyer theire Capt. and Everard a mustermaster a craftye fellow att Melton Mowberrye the day before Lambert was taken att Daventrye the bearer havemge noe better a reward but the thankes of the then called Councell of State and twentye pounds given by theyr order as a testimonye of their respects for that service but the noble Generall however found out a better reward for him the truth of the premisses beinge made out as also the eminent danger hee was in when Lamberts party tooke him goinge downe to Generall Monck into Scotland and carryed him prisoner to Newcastle for refufeinge to march as Lambert commanded as more fullye apears by the Articles drawne up against him intendinge to take away his Life onelye for Actinge for the interest of his Generall which ithey would make treason The content's of this certificate most of us know and have crediblye beene informed is verye True.'

The above document is to be found in the Lassell family papers in the Nottinghamshire Archivies (Ref.DDA 71/3). It is printed with the kind permission of the Principal Archivist.