Januarii 1649: An Act of the Commons Assembled in Parliament, For the setling of the Militia (of the City) of London, and Liberties thereof.

Januarii, 1649

[17 Januarii, 1648/9.]

The Commons assembled in Parliament, taking into their serious consideration the present state and condition of the Kingdom of England, and particularly of the City of London, Doe enact and ordain, and bee it enacted and ordained by the authority of the same, That Isaac Pennington, Sir John Wollaston Knight, Thomas Atkin, Thomas Andrews, John Fowke, William Gibbs, Thomas Foot, Christopher Packe, Rowland Wilson, Aldermen of the City of London; Major Generall Phillip Skippon, Colonele Francis West Leivetenant of the Tower, Colonell John Venn, Colonell Edmund Harvey, Francis Allen, Major Richard Sallway, Gregory Clement, Colonell Owen Row, Colonel Robert Titchborne, Colonell Mathew Sheppard, Colonell William Underwood, William Wyberd, John Deathick, John Strange, Daniel Tayler, Colonell Richard Turner, Colonell Nathaniel Camfield, Colonell John Heyes, Thomas Arnold, Samuell Moyer, Thomas Noell, Stephen Eastwick, Richard Shute, Mark Hildersly, James Russell, Tempest Milner, Captain Blackwell sen. John Pocock, citizens, or any nine or more of them, and no other person or persons whatsoever; bee and are hereby constituted and appointed a Committee for the Militia of the City of London, and liberties thereof; and shal have power, and are hereby authorized to assemble and call together, all and singular person and persons within the said City of London, and liberties thereof, that are meet and fit for the Wars, and them to Train, exercise, and put in readiness; and them after their abilities and faculties, wel and sufficiently from time to time to cause to bee 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 rebellious insurrections and invasions that may happen within the said City, and liberties thereof; And likewise shall have further power and authority, to lead conduct, and employ the persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed as well within the said City, as within any other part of this Realm of England, or Dominion of Wales, for the suppression of all rebellious insurrections and invasions that may happen, according as they shall from time to time receive directions from the Commons in Parliament assembled, And that the said Committee, or any nine or more of them as aforesaid, shall have power, and are hereby authorised, to constitute and make Colonells, Captains, and other Officers; and shal have power to remove and displace Colonells, Captains, and other Officers from time to time, as they, or any nine or more of them as aforesaid, see cause, and think fit; And that the said Committee or any nine or more of them as aforesaid, shall have the same power and Authority within the said City, and liberties thereof, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of London had, the sixteenth of May, one thousand six hundred forty eight, by Order or Ordinance of Parliament. And it is hereby further Ordained, That no citizen of the City of London, or any of the Forces of the said City, of liberties thereof, shall be drawn forth or compelled to go out or the said City or liberties thereof, for Military service, without his or their free consent: And this present Act is to continue during the pleasure of the Parliament. And bee it further Ordained, That no other person or persons, other then the persons aforenamed, doe, or shall from henceforth act or exercise any power or authority as members of the Militia for the City of London by force or colour of any former Order or Ordinance, or authority of Parliament.