July, 1647
[23 July, 1647].
Names of Committee for Militia of London.; Powers.; Indemnity; No citizen of London to be compelled to serve outside City.; Ord. 4 May, 1647 repealed. This Ord. to continue during pleasure of Parliament.
The Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, taking into
their serious Consideration the present state and Condition of
the Kingdome of England and particularly of the City of London,
Do Ordaine and Declare, and be it Ordained and Declared by the
Authority of Parliament, That the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the
City of London, for the time being, Sir John Wollaston, Isaac
Pennington, Thomas Atkin, John Warner, James Bance, John
Fowke, William Gibbs, John Hendrick, John Langham, and
Richard Chambers, Aldermen, Field Marshall Skippon, Randall
Manwaring, Francis Peck, Samuel Warner, James Russell,
Nathaniel Wright, William Barkley, Alexander Normington,
Stephen Estwick, Owen Rowe, Richard Turner son. William
Hobson, Richard Bateman, Richard Turner, Jr., Robert Tichborne,
Tempest Milner, William Antrebus, Thomas Player, Senr., Samuel
Harsnet, Francis Allen, Colonell Wilson, Colonell John Bellany,
Alexander Jones, Citizens, or any nine or more of them, be, and
are hereby constituted and appointed a Committee for the Militia
of the City of London and Liberties thereof, and all other places
within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality;
And shall have power and are hereby authorized, to assemble
and call together all and singular person and persons of the said
City of London, and Liberties thereof, within the Lines of
Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, that are meet and
fit for the Wars, and them to traine, exercise, and put in
readinesse, and them after their abilities and faculties, well and
sufficiently from time to time, to cause to be arrayed and
weaponed, and to take the Musters of them in places most fit for
that purpose: And that they shall have power to lead, conduct,
and imploy the persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, for the
suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that
may happen within the said City and Liberties thereof, or within
the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality; And
likewise shall have further power and authority to lead, conduct,
and imploy the persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, as well
within the Said City, as within any other part of this Realme of
England and Dominion of Wales, for the suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions that may happen, according as
they shall from time to time receive Directions from the Lords
and Commons Assembled in Parliament. And that the said
Committee, or any nine or more of them, as aforesaid, shall have
power, and are hereby authorized, to constitute and make
Colonels, Captaines and other officers; and shall have power to
remove and displace Colonels, Captains, and other Officers from
time to time, as they or any nine of them as aforesaid, shall see
cause and thinke fit: And that the said Committee, or any nine
or more of them, as aforesaid, shal have the same powers and
authorities, to all intents and purposes, and in the same manner
and forme, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of
London had the 20 day of July, Anno Dom. 1647, by any Order
or Ordinance of Parliament; And that all and every person and
persons who have heretofore acted or done, or hereafter shall act
or do any act or thing whatsoever by vertue of this or any former
Ordinance or Ordinances of Parliament concerning the said
Militia shall be saved harmlesse and indempnified, for and concerning the same, by authority of Parliament. And it is hereby
further Ordained, That no Citizen of the City of London, nor any
of the Forces of the said City or Liberties thereof, shall be drawne
forth, or compelled to go out of the said City or Liberties thereof,
for Military Service, without his or their free consent. And it is
lastly Ordained and Declared by Authority aforesaid, That the
Ordinance of Parliament of the fourth day of May, 1647, for the
Militia of London, shall from henceforth cease and be determined
to all intents and purposes whatsoever. And this present Ordinance is to continue during the pleasure of both Houses of
Parliament.