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.