May 1648: Ordinance to settle the Militia of London; and for Colonel West to be Lieutenant of the Tower.

May, 1648

[18 May, 1648.]

The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking into their serious Consideration the present State and Condition of the Kingdom of England, and particularly of the City of London, do ordain and declare, and be it Ordained and Declared by the Authority of the Parliament, That John Warner Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir John Wollaston Knight and Alderman, Abraham Reynardson Alderman, Sir George Clarke Knight and Alderman, William Gibbs, Richard Chambers, Thomas Foote Samuell Avery, John Byde, Thomas Viner, Aldermen, Serjeant Major General Phillip Skippon, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London for the Time being, Colonel Francis West, Richard Glide, Edwin Browne, Peter Jones, Major Thomas Chamberlaine, Colonel Thomas Player, Colonel John Bellamy, Wm. Jesson, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, Wm. Kendall, Thomas Arnold, Nathaniell Hall, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bellamy, Francis Waterhouse, Anthony Bateman, Thomas Andrewes, Captain Richard Venner, Peter Mills, John Gace, John Juryn, Citizens, or any Nine or more of them, and no other Person or Persons whatsoever, be, and are hereby constituted and appointed, a Committee for the Militia of the City of London and Liberties thereof, and other Places within the same; and shall 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, 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 employ, 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, 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 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, Captains, 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 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 Twentieth Day of July, Anno Domini 1647; by an Order or Ordinance of Parliament; and that all and every Person or Persons, who shall act or do any Thing whatsoever by virtue of this or any former Order or Ordinances of Parliament concerning the said Militia, shall be saved harmless and indemnified, 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 drawn forth or compelled to go out of the said City, or Liberties thereof, for Military Service, without his or their free Consent; And further it is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, that Colonel Francis West shall be Lieutenant of The Tower of London, and have the Command thereof as formerly he had; and that the Soldiers now remaining in the said Tower shall be forthwith removed from thence: Provided, That this Ordinance, or any Thing therein contained, do not extend unto The Rolls, or Liberties thereof, nor unto the Two Houses of Serjeants Inne, nor unto any of the Inns of Court or Chancery, nor unto the Doctors Commons. And this present Ordinance is to continue during the Pleasure of both Houses of Parliament.