September 1642
[17 September, 1642]
Whereas divers Commoners (being Citizens) of the City of
Worcester, in the Name of themselves and other their Fellow
Commoners, have presented their humble Petition to the House
of Commons; shewing the great Danger, which they and the
said City are in, by the Resort of divers Commissioners of Array
Popish Recusants, Cavaliers, Soldiers, and other dangerous
Persons and Delinquents, unto the said City of Worcester; and
therefore have desired Liberty and Power, from the Parliament,
to put themselves into a Posture of Defence, and to train and
exercise themselves, and such Voluntiers and others, within the
said City and Liberties thereof, as shall be willing to serve and
use their Arms, for the Defence of the King and Parliament,
under the Command of one Captain Rea (a Citizen of the said
City); and the said Captain Rea to appoint such other Officer
and Officers under him as he shall think fit and necessary for
the said Service: All which the Lords and Commons assembled
in Parliament do well approve of, and do much commend the Care
and Diligence and good Affection of the said Petitioners, and do
therefore Ordain, That the said Petitioners, and other Commoners
within the said City, under the Command of the said Captain Rea
as aforesaid, shall have the like Power and Authority touching the
Premises, as hath been given, by former Orders of both Houses
of Parliament, to the Town of Shrewsbury, and other Cities and
Towns within this Kingdom; and do further Order and require
the Mayors, Sheriffs, Aldermen, Citizens, and Commoners of the
said City, to take special care, that Watch and Ward be duly kept
(each Commoner in his Course), from Time to Time, at the
several Gates and Passages of the said City, for the apprehending
of all dangerous and ill-affected Persons; and the Mayor, Sheriff,
and Aldermen of the said City, are required to seize, and take
into their Hands and Custody, the Magazine of the said City, and
so much of the Magazine and Arms of the County of Worcester
as is remaining in the said City, or in or about the Cathedral
Church or other Places adjoining to the said City, and also all
such Arms, Ammunition, Money, or Plate, as hath been, or shall
be, brought into the said City, or Suburbs thereof, by any
Commissioners of Array, Cavaliers, or other dangerous and illaffected Persons, or that shall be likely to be employed against
the Parliament, and particularly the Arms, Money, and Plate of
the Lord Coventry, within or about the said City; and that they,
the said Mayor, Sheriff, and Aldermen, of the said City, do retain
and keep all such Arms, Ammunition, Money, and Plate, as
aforesaid, in their safe Custody, till further Order be taken by
both Houses of Parliament: And it is further Ordained, by the
said Lords and Commons, that no Commissioners of Array, or
other dangerous or ill-affected Persons, be permitted to take any
Houses, Lodgings, or Dwellings, within the said City, or Suburbs
thereof; and the said Mayor, Sheriff, Aldermen, and other
Inhabitants of the said City, are hereby required and enjoined to
see this Ordinance duly observed; and for their so doing, they,
and every of them, their Aiders and Assistants, shall be
protected and saved harmless, by the Power and Authority of
both Houses of Parliament.
And all and every Person and Persons, that shall be arrested,
proceeded against, or otherwise molested or troubled, by Colour of
the Commission of Array, or other Commission from His Majesty,
for doing any Service to the Parliament, shall have Power, and
are hereby authorized, to make Resistance, by Force or otherwise,
as Cause shall require, and to call others, out of the said City or
County, or elsewhere, to assist them.
And it shall be lawful for all and every other Person and
Persons to assist them accordingly; and all Officers, and other
Persons, are required to be aiding and assisting to them in this
Behalf, and to use their best Endeavours for the apprehending
of all such Persons as shall execute any such Commission as is
before mentioned, or be aiding thereunto, and to bring them up
to the Parliament; and all and every such Officer, and other
Person and Persons, which shall do any Thing in Execution of
this Ordinance, shall be protected and assisted by both Houses
of Parliament.