July 1647: An Ordinance to enable the Committee of the Militia of London to make searches, and to raise Six Hundred Horse.

July, 1647

[10 July, 1647.]

Ordinance for the Committee of the London Militia to search for Papists, &c., and to raise Horse.

The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do Declare and Ordain, That the Committee of the Militia of London shall have Power, and are hereby authorized and required, by themselves or such as they or any Nine or more of them shall appoint, to search all Houses and Places, within the Lines of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bills of Mortality, and Hamlets of The Tower, where the said Committee, or any Nine or more of them, shall have Cause to suspect, for all Popish Recusants or other Persons who have or shall discover their ill Affection to the Parliament, by any Act or offence for which they ought to be sequestered by any Ordinance of Parliament, and for such Person or Persons as by any Act or Ordinance Parliament be declared, ordained, or commanded, to depart, or not come into, or be removed out of, the City of London, and Liberties thereof, or out of the Line of Communication, or Parishes within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, and Hamlets of the Tower; and likewise to search for Arms, Ammunition, and Materials for War, in the Custody of, or belonging to, such Persons, and to seize and take away the same; and also to commit to safe Custody all such Persons as abovesaid, other than such as by both Houses of Parliament, or by Authority from the said Houses, are enabled, declared, or have Licence, to abide or come into the said City or Places, or to expel all and every such Persons (other than as abovesaid) out of the Line of Communication, and Limits aforesaid, as they shall see Cause: and, in case of Resistance, to command any Constable or Constables, or others in their Aid, to break open any House or Place within the said Limits, where any Resistance shall be made: And it is hereby further Declared and Ordained, and the said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do Declare and Ordain, for the better Suppression of all Tumults and unlawful Assemblies, within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Parts adjacent, and for the Defence and Safety of the Parliament and City, and Parts adjacent, That the Militia of the City of London, or any Nine or more of them, shall and may, and are hereby enabled, authorized, and required, to continue, raise, or levy, or cause to be continued, raised, or levied, from Time to Time, one Regiment of Horse, with Riders and Furniture fitting, not exceeding Six Hundred Horse with Officers: And for the better continuing, raising, and levying, the said Six Hundred Horse, it is further Ordained, and be it by Authority of Parliament Ordained, That the said Committee of the Militia of London, or any Nine or more of them, shall hereby have full Power and Authority, from Time to Time, to charge such Inhabitants who are constantly dwelling within the Lines of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bills of Mortality, and Hamlets of The Tower, or such Persons who have any Stocks going in Trade within the Limits aforesaid, and absent themselves, (as shall appear to them to be most able) to find and maintain Horses, with Riders and Furniture, at their proper Charge, for the Defence of the City and Parts adjacent (so as no Person shall be charged for the Raising and Maintaining of more than Two Horses), to be put under such Commanders and Officers as the said Committee shall think fit: And if any Person or Persons, who shall be charged to find Horses, Riders, and Furniture, as is aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to provide the same within Three Days after Notice thereof given to them, or left in Writing at their Dwelling, shall forfeit and pay Twenty Pounds; and if they shall neglect or refuse to send forth their Horse, or Horses, with Riders provided and furnished as is aforesaid, when and as often as he or they shall be summoned thereunto by the said Committee, or such Commanders or Officers, as they shall appoint; in Default thereof, that then they shall forfeit and pay Ten Shillings upon every such Failing, or suffer Four Days Imprisonment, without Bail or Mainprize, to be inflicted upon every such Offender, in such Manner and Form, and by such Officers and Persons, as are appointed for the inflicting of Penalties upon the failing of the Foot Soldiers of the Trained Bands, expressed in an Ordinance of Parliament, dated the 2d Day of May, Anno Domini 1643; and the said Fines to be employed by the said Committee towards the Payment of the Commanders and Officers of the said Horse, and for such other Uses as the said Committee shall find necessary for the better carrying on the said Service: And be it hereby further Declared and Ordained, That, for the better executing of this present Ordinance, and such former Ordinances which are now in Force concerning the Militia of the City of London and the Places aforesaid, Power and Authority be hereby given to the said Committee to make One or more Sub-committee or Sub-committees, within the said Limits, as they shall think fit, for the executing of this and the said former Ordinances concerning the Militia; and all Constables, Head-boroughs, and other inferior Officers within the said Limits, and all Commanders and Soldiers of the said Militia, are hereby required to obey and execute such Warrants and Orders as they from Time to Time shall receive from the said Committee, or Sub-committee, or Sub-committees, for and concerning the Execution of the same accordingly: And lastly, That no privileged Place or Person in the Limits aforesaid shall be exempted from the Power of this Ordinance, except the Peers of this Realm, and Members of the House of Commons, and Assistants of the House of Peers, and Officers and Attendants of both Houses of Parliament respectively, who shall be exempted from this Ordinance and all Things therein contained: Provided, That this Ordinance shall continue for Two Months and no longer.