October, 1645
[28 October, 1645.]
Ordinance for the Government and Security of Bristol.
Forasmuch as Francis Creswicke Mayor, Humfry Hooke,
Richard Longe, Ezekiell Wallis, Alexander James, Thomas
Colston, William Fitz Herbert, Henry Creswicke, William
Colston, Nathaniell Cale, William Bevan, Richard Grigson, and
John Elridge, Aldermen, and Members of the Common Council
of the City of Bristoll, have (as both Houses of Parliament are
credibly informed by divers well-affected Persons of the said City)
become very much disaffected to the Proceedings of Parliament,
and forward and active to promote the Designs of the Enemy,
so as their Continuance in the Magistracy, Government, and
Common Council of the City (of so great Concernment to the
whole Kingdom) will be altogether inconsistent with the Safety
and Welfare thereof in these Times of War and Danger: It is
therefore Ordained, That the said Francis Creswick, Humfrey
Hooke, Richard Longe, Ezeckiell Wallis, Alexander James,
Thomas Colston, William Fitz Herbert, Henry Creswick, William
Coleston, Nathaniell Cale, William Bevan, Richard Gregson,
and John Ellridge, be forthwith suspended from their respective
Places of Aldermen and Members of the Common Council of
the said City; and that the Committee of Parliament for the
City of Bristoll, appointed by this or any other former Ordinance
do speedily and effectually proceed to the Examination of
their several Delinquences, and return the Proofs of their
their Delinquencies, proved by sufficient Testimonies upon Oath, to
the Parliament, to the End the Parliament may proceeed to
further Judgement: And they do further Ordain, Nominate, and
Appoint, John Gonning Mayor of the City of Bristoll, to all
Intents and Purposes, in the Room and Place of the above
mentioned Francis Creswick; hereby enjoining and requiring
the Sheriffs of the said City, presently after such Proof of
Delinquency as aforesaid, to summon the rest of the Aldermen
and Common Council Men of the said City, or such others
which, by and according to the Charters of the same, ought to be
present, to meet, within Two Days after the said Summons, at
their usual Place, and then and there to give unto the said John
Ganning, according to the ancient Custom, the Oath usually
taken by him which is chosen Mayor of the said City, and to
elect so many other Persons, Freemen of the said City, wellaffected to the Parliament, as will complete the Number of those
Persons above mentioned, which shall be so disabled and
removed as aforesaid; and that no Person for the Time to come
shall be elected into any of those Places, whose Person shall be
imprisoned, or his Estate sequestered, by virtue of any Ordinance
of Parliament: And they do further authorize the said Committee, or the major Part of them, to remove and displace all
other Inferior Officers of the said City from their respective
Places and Offices, which shall be proved before them to be
Malignants or Delinquents, within the Compass of any Ordinance
of Parliament, and to elect others to succeed them in their
Offices and Places, who shall execute and enjoy the same by
virtue of this Ordinance: And it be Ordained, that all Person
and Persons shall have free Liberty to trade and traffic, by Land
and Sea, to and from the said City, as formerly they might have
done when the same was under the Obedience of Parliament:
And the Lords and Commons do further Order and Ordain,
That Serjeant Major General Skippon Governor of Bristoll,
Edward Stevens, Alexander Popham, John Ashe, and Richard
Aldworth, Esquires, Robert Haynes, and Denis Hollister, be
added to the Committees of Parliament in the said City, who
have hereby as full Power and Authority, together with them
to all Intents and Purposes, as if their several Names had been
inserted in the former Ordinances.