Chapter 22

Men.The London ShippesThe Hercules120Theis shipps beinge set furthe by the Cyttie are victuallid by them alreadie until the xthof Auguste and shalbe here furnyshid with a moneths victuall more at the Cytties chardge accordinge to yorLo: order.The Tobie110The Senturyon90The Marget and John84The Mynyon84The Assention84The Red Lyon84The May Flower84The Primrose80The Teger72The guyfte of god64The B. Burre64The Brave64The golden Lyon64The Royall defence60The Thomas bonaventur60The releif16instead of theis to have 2 pynnassesThe Moneshine30The Pasporte30The Dyana16

Government order to victual ships furnished by the City; 24 July, 1588.

State Papers Dom. Vol. ccxiii. No. 15.

Mr. Quarleis theis are to praie you presentlie to victuall theis shippes hereunder written nowe at the seas wthmy Lo: Admirall wthone moneths victuall of xxviij daies to begyn the xthof August 1588 and to end the vijthof September followinge both daies included Of wchmonnethes victualls you are to victuall the said Flete for the fyrst xiiij daies at Portesmouth The other xiiij daies the victuall to be sent to Dover. This to be doune with all spedepossible and so fare you well from my house at Stroude the xxiiijthof Julie 1588

1The HerculesOf London.2The Tobie3The Senturion4The Marget and John5The Mynion6The Assention7The Red Lion8The Tygar9The Mayflower10The Prymrose11The gift of god12The bark Burle13The Brawle14The golden Lion15The Riall defence16Thelen Nathan20The foure pynnasses

List of all the ships furnished by the City against Spain in 1588.

State Papers Dom. Vol. ccxxxvii, fos. 15b-16b.

The whole flete sett out in 88 against the Spaniards and wchwere payed by Q. Eliz: and how many were payed by London and the Porte Townes?

Queene Eliz: whole armye at Sea against yeSpanish forces in anno 1588.

Shippes set forth and payde upon yecharge of yeCity of London anno 1588

Men.The Hercules120George BarnesThe Tobie110Robert BarrattThe May flower90Edw: BankesThe Mynion90John DaleThe royall defence80John ChesterThe Assention100John BaconThe Guift of God80Thom: LuntloweThe Prime Rose90Rob: BringborneThe Margarett and John90John FisherThe goulden Lyon70Rob: WilltonThe Dyana40The B. Burre70John SarracoleThe Tigar90WillmCæsarThe Brane70WillmFurthThe Red Lyon90Jarvis WillesThe Centurion100Samuel FoxcraftThe Pastporte40Chr. ColethurstThe Mooneshine30John BroughThe Tho. Bonaventure70William AlldrigeThe Releife30John KingThe George Noble80Henery BillinghamThe Anthony60George HarperThe Tobie70Chr. PigottThe Sallamander60DamfordThe Rose Lyon50Barn. ActonThe Antellope60DennisonThe Jewell60RowellThe Paunce70WillmButlerThe Providence60Rich. ChesterThe Dolphin70WillmHare30 Shipps and Barques2130men.

Letter from King James I to the City upon his accession to the throne. Dated Holyrood House, 28 March 1603.

Journal 26 fo. 75b.

Trustie and welbeloved we greit you hartelly well beinge informed of youre great forduartnes in that iuste and honorable action of proclaminge ws youre Souverane lord and King immediatlye after the deceas oure late darrest Sister the quene, wherin youhave gevin a singulare good proufe of your ancient fidelitie, a reputation hereditarie to that oure Citie of Lundon, beinge the Chamber of oure Imperiall crowne and ever free from all shedowes of tumultous and onlawful courses wee could not omitt wthall the speid possible wee might to give you hereby a teast of oure thankfull mynde for the same and withall assurance that youcannot crave anie thing of ws fitt for the mentenance of yow all in generall and everie one of yow in particulare but it shalbe moast willingly performed by avs whose speciall care shall ever be to provide for the continewance and incresse of your present happines desiringe yow in the meane tyme to goe constantly forduart in doinge all and whatsumer things yow shall find necessary or expedient for the good goverment of oure said Citye in execution of Justice as yow have bene in wse to doe in oure said darrest Sisters tyme, till oure pleasure be knowen unto yow in the contrare This not douting but ye will doe as ye may be fully assured of oure gratious favour towards yow in the hieghest degrie, we bid you hartely farewell Halyrudhous the 28 of Marche 1603.

Reply to the above. Dated 29 March, 1603.

Id., fo. 76.

To the most high & mighty Prince our most dread & gracious Soveraigne Lord King James yeFirst King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland.

Most mighty prince & our most dread & gracious Soveraigne Wee cannot expresse the great comfort and exceeding ioy conceived here for this great blessing of Almighty God in preserving yorsacred Matiefor this yorright and yorright for yuand yufor us yorLiege people of this yorRealme wchis increased & redoubled by the perfect union and concurrence of all yorMaties faithful subjects throughout yorRealme especially of this yorHighnes City in harty love & loyall affeccõn towards yorHighnes a Prince so famous and renowned through the world for yorgreat wisdome piety iustice Magnanimity & other great & princely vertues whereby our selves and all other yorLoyall Subjects of this your Land are made assured of yecontinuance and increase of that happy peace holy religion & other great & infinite blessings of Almighty God, which wee have enjoyed soe many yeares by the happy governmtof orlate gracious and glorious Queene of famous memory.

What thancks sufficient can wee render to Almighty God for this his mercy and unspeakable goodnes towards this Land whoe hath thus tempered orgreat sorrow wtha greatrcomfort & repaired this orgreat losse of a Mother with the advantage of a greater gain in the succession of yorHighnes as a Father which is accompanied wththe union of both Kingdoms to the great Strengthening of yorHighnes and noe lesse terror of yeEnemies (if any be) of yorHighnes person & estate.

Touching orselves to whom the Charge & preservacõn of this yorChamber and principall City is comitted as wee have endeavored with all orpowers to advance yorHighnes most iust clayme and rightfull title to the Succession of this yorKingdome soe orfuture care & indeavour shall extend it selfe to yevery uttermost of our witts & power to preserve yesame wthall humble duty & circumspeccõn for yorHighnes use agtall power & opposicõn both of this Land (if any happen as God forfend) and the whole world. For assurance of wchorLoyalty & devoted loves towards yorHighnes Wee have sent unto yuorspeciall Messenger to witt orSecretary & Remembrancer Mr. DoctorFletcher a man (wee heare) non unknowne unto yorHighnes As alsoe to returne unto us the Significacõn of yorHighnes pleasure and direccõn in such matters as shall conduce to the well ordering of this yorChamber Wchwee humbly pray Almighty God & intreate yorHighnes for yorowne and yorpeoples sake may be accelerate wthall safety and due caucõn of yorperson to the publique ioy both of orselves and yorwhole Realme From London this xxixthof March 1603.

Your Matiesmost humble & loyall SubjectsThe Maior & Aldermen of your Highnes Citty & Chamber of London.

Your Matiesmost humble & loyall Subjects

The Maior & Aldermen of your Highnes Citty & Chamber of London.

Letter from King James I to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, in reply to the foregoing. Dated Newcastle, 11 April 1603.

Journal 26, fo. 80.

JAMES R.

Right trustie and welbeloved wee greet you well Althoughe before the Comeynge of yorLettres and this gentleman sente unto us wee had wthgreate Contentment by Comon reporte understoodof your forwardnes in Joyninge wthyenobillitie of this our Realme in the publishinge of oure righte to the succession of this Crowne. Yet weare wee not a little gladd to finde yesame confirmed by soe honeste and diutifull a testimonie thereof under yorowne handes and by yespeeche of a persone of soe greate truste wthyou and chieflie that you are not lead into this devosion onlie by the undoubted belief of oure righte, but alsoe for yeassurance you have of oure zeale to yepreservacõn of Religion for that wee have alwaies accompted those accõns that aryse oute of religious groundes to be the beste founded. And as wee doubte not but that in that poynte we shall give you and yereste of orpeople satisfaction. Soe maie you be assured that in all other thinges, wherein wee shall understande that anie breache or wronge hath bene done to yeliberties and priviledges of that orCittie wee wilbe readie to restore whatsoever shalbe justelie expected of us as we have more at lardge spoken to this gentleman and will by oure actes when wee shalbe amongest you make knowne to yorselves esteeminge youworthie to be helde in noe lesse accompte of us then you have byne to anie of orprogenitors whoe esteemed you moste. Given under orSignet at orTowne of Newcastle yexjthdaie of Aprill 1603 in yefirste yeare of orraigne of England.

Letter from the Lords of the Council to Sir Arthur Chichester, Deputy in Ireland, as to the course to be pursued with the City's Commissioners, appointed to view the Irish Estate. Dated Whitehall, 3 Aug., 1609.

Transcripts, &c., Irish Government (Public Record Office), Vol. I, fo. 500.

After orvery harty comendacõns to yorLp. we have written unto yourLp. and the Counsell there a letter wherein we have in generall recommended certaine cittizens appointed by the Citty of London to view the Derrye and Colrane and the cuntrie between them; And in this have thought it expedient to declare orminde somewhat more particulerly, because we shoulde be sorry thatany endeavoror informacõn should be lacking that might either satisfie or encourage them For when we consider how slowly this busines hath yet gon forward since it was first intended, how fit & able the Citty is for a work of ytimportaunce, of what good use their example wilbe to draw on others and lastly what reputacõn it will give both abroad and at home to yeaction ytis like really to be effected we are moved to recommend them the more earnestly unto yorLp. to take order that all occasions of discouragement may be prevented which som indiscreete persons may unprovidently suggest, if choice be not made of such to conduct and accompany them, who for their experience and understanding shalbe able both by discourse and reason to controule whatsoever any man shall reporte, either out of ignorance or mallice, and to give the undertakorssatisfaccõn when they shalbe mistaken or not well informed of any particuler. For which purpose the conductors must have care to lead them by the best waies and to lodge them in their travaile, where if it be possible, they may have English entertainement in Englishmens howses. And howsoever we have had the opportunitye heere to lay the first hand upon this offer, and to make the project unto the Cittie thereby to drawe them on to entertaine the same for an entraunce into the business yet that it may be both begun and well followed we send the same here inclosed and must leave it to your lordship to perfect. Wherein we thinck it fit. That those ytbe sent in their company be so well prepared before hand to confirme and strengthen every part thereof by demonstracõn as they may plainely apprehend & conceive the comodities to be of good use and profit; on the other side, that matters of distast as feare of the Irish, of the souldiers, cess and such like be not so much as named, seeing you knowe that discipline and order will easilie secure them. And if there be any thing conteyned in the Project, whether it be the Fishing, the Admiralty or any other particuler wchmay serve for a motyve to enduce them; Although yorlordship or any other have interest therein yet you shall make no doubt but his Matywill have such consideracõn thereof that no man shalbe a looser in ytwchhe shall parte wthfor the furtheraunce of this service. And thus not doubting of yorLpsdiscreete carriadge of this busines ytcannot besides your generall dutie but be glad in your owne particuler to have so good neighbors to yorplantacõn we byd yorLp. very hartely Farewell. From Whitehall the third of August 1609.

Letter from Speaker Lenthall to the Lord Mayor asking, on behalf of Parliament, for a City loan of £60,000. Dated Covent Garden, 15 Jan., 1640-1.

Journal 39, fo. 167.

My Lord,

The greate necessetie of supplyinge the Kinges Army and providinge for the Northen Counties without which the peace of the Kingdome wilbe much endangered is such that the Howse of Commons is inforced to thinke upon a more present way of raysinge moneyes then can bee effected in the Course of Subsidies. Whereupon they have directed mee to pray your Lorpp. to call a Cõmon Hall with as much speede as conveniently you may and to comend to the Cittizens of London the Loane of £60000 by such as shall freely and willingly contribute thereunto. Which they intende not as any burthen unto them, but as an occasion of further expressinge of theire good affeccõns to the publiq. Whereof they have soe often had experience and they will soe provide that the Sũme now desired to bee lent shalbe truly repaide out of the Subsedies wthinterest for the time it shalbe forborne wherein not doubtinge of yorLoppsCare in the best way you may to further this request for yeCõmon safetie of the Kingdome and to receyve an answer as speedily as the bussines will permitte, ffrom my house in Covent Garden this instant 15thof Januarij 1640.

I rest Your Lopps. verie loveinge ffreindWmLenthall, Speaker.

Another letter from Speaker Lenthall on the same matter. Dated Covent Garden, 6 Feb., 1640-1.

Id. ibid.

My Lord,

The present necessity requiringe the sũme of £60000 for the good of the Kingdome to be advanced sooner then by way of subsidies it can be levied as hath bin formerly signified vnto yorLorpp. by Ald̃ran Pennington. The house hath commaunded me this day againe to intimate unto you their desire that wththe help of such Citizens as are willing to lend particuler sumes you will take such Course that £60000 may presently be paid into the Chamber of London that soe it may be disposed of as the house shall direct. Wherein not doubting of yorLorpps care I rest from my house in the Coven garden the sixth of ffebruary 1640.

YorLorppsvery loving freindWmLenthall, Speaker.

A third letter from Speaker Lenthall on the same matter. Dated Charing Cross, 19 Feb., 1640-1.

Journal 39, fo. 180.

My very good Lord and Gentlemen,

I have formerly by my lrēs directed by order of the house of Cõmons vnto yorLorpp signified their desire to borrow of the City sixty thousand pounds for the presente supply of the Kings Army and releif of the Northern partes conceived to tend principally to the gen'all safety of the whole kingdome.

We could not but take notice of the forwardnes of the Citty to comply and albeit there hath bin some protraccõn, yet we now expect the expression of it in a speedie payment. I am therefore required by the house of Commons to desire yorLopp forthwthto call a Comon Hall, and in that to signifie unto them our desires,Their former ingagement by promise and the expectacõn of the present performance the urgent and instant necessity of the Kingdome admitting of no delay wthout great hazard of insueing danger to us all wchwe desire may be prevented.

We have taken care for the secure payment of this £60000 by the bill of subsidies already passed whereof I thought it fitt to Certifie yorLorpp resting

YorLoving faithfull friend to serve youWmLenthall, Speakerfrom my house at CharingCrosse 19 ffebruarij 1640.

Letter from the Earl of Essex to the City desiring a loan of £100,000 for the maintenance of the Parliamentary army. Dated Northampton, 13 Sept. 1642.

Journal 40, fo. 38.

My lord and gentlemen I receaved so great expressions of affeccõn both to yecause, and to myselfe from yecittye of London at my departure from you, that I cannot dispaire but to obtayne any suite from you that shalbee an advantage to yeComon wealth Upon a true judgment of yecondicõn of our affaires and of that of yeenemye, I am confident that wee may bringe this business to a quick and happy conclusion God doth blesse us wthso good successe dailey & the other parte by their plundring and burninge of townes and houses grow so odious, that they grow weaker wee stronger everywhere. Yet are wee in one great straight, and such a one as if it bee not speedily remedyed, may quash all our hopes, and endanger that peace, and libertie which wee so much strive for. Our treasure wchmust maintayne yearmy grows neere an ende, and youwell know our army consists of such as cannot bee kept one day togeather wthout pay, what a ruine it would bringe uppon us all if a disbandinge should happen I leave to your judgments.My desire unto youis that youwould supply us wththe speedy loane of one hundred thousand pounds which I am confident would wthGods blessinge bringe these unhappy distraccõns to an ende quickly. Vour citty hath hitherto had yehonor (next to God) to bee the chiefest safetye of the Kingdome and Parlyament. This will render youto all posterity the ffinishers of this great worke. If any thinge of particuler love or respect to mee may bee any argument herein I shall take it for yegreatest honor that hath befalne mee and will oblige myselfe to acknowledge it by the utmost and most faithfull indeavors of your ffaithfull ffriend Essex. From the rendezvous att Northampton 13oSept. 1642.

Letter from the Earl of Essex to the City on the appointment of Skippon to the rank of Sergeant-Major-General in the Parliamentary army. Dated Hammersmith, 16 Nov. [1642].

Journal 40, fo. 41b.

My lord and gentlemen. Havinge a due regarde both to the publique trust and to the good and wellfare of the cittye of London I have made choice of Serjeant Major Skippon to bee Serjeant Major Generall of the army under my comaund beinge well assured of his fidellïtye and abillity to discharge that trust. And yet knowinge of what concernement his present imployment in yecitty may be I have thought fitt to give your Lorppand yougentlemen notice hereof wththis assurance that in this choice I have had a speciall regard as to the publique so particulerly to the securetye of the cittye of London. And that in it I do not intende wholy to deprive youof him but so as his service may be rendered usefull both to this armye and to your cittye whose good and wellfare I shall carefully provide for yeuttmost of my power and do rest your ffaithfull ffriend Essex. From my quarter at Hammersmith this 16th day of November 1642.

Resolution of the Common Council for putting the City and Suburbs into a posture of defence, 23 Feb. 1643.

Journal 40, fo. 52.

That a small fort conteyning one bulwark and halfe and a battery in the reare of the flanck be made at Gravell lane end. A horne worke wthtwo flanckers be placed at Whitechapell windmills. One redoubt wthtwo flanckers betwixt Whitechapell church and Shoreditch. Two redoubts with flanckers neere Shoreditch church wtha battery. At the windmill in Islington way, a battery and brestwork round about. A small redoubt neere Islington pound. A battery and brestwork on the hill neere Clarkenwell towards Hampstead way. Two batteries and a brestworke at Southampton house. One redoubt wthtwo flanckers by StGiles in the Feilds, another small work neere the turning. A quadrant forte wthfower halfe bulwarks crosse Tyborne high way at the second turning that goeth towards Westminster. At Hide parke corner a large forte wthflanckers on all sides. At the corner of the lord Gorings brick wall next the fields a redoubt and a battery where the court of Guard now is at the lower end of the lord Gorings wall, the brestwork to be made forwarder. In Tuttle feilds a battery brestworke, and the ditches to be scowred. That at the end of every street wchis left open to enter into the suburbs of this citty defenceable brestworkes be made or there already erected repayred wthturnepikes muskett proof, and that all the passages into the suburbs on the northside the river except five vizt. The way from St. James towards Charing Crosse, the upper end of Saint Giles in Holborne, the further end of St. John Street towards Islington Shoreditch church and Whitechappell be stopped up. That the courtes of guard and the rayles or barrs at the utmost partes of the freedome be made defensible and turnepikes placed there in lieu of the chaynes all muskett proof. And that all the shedds and buildings that joyne to the outside of the wall be taken downe. And that all the bulwarkes be fitted at the gatesand walls soe that the flanckes of the wall and streets before the gates may be cleared and that the gates and bulwarks be furnished with ordnance.

Letter from the Mayor, &c., of Gloucester to the City of London, touching the removal of Colonel Massey. Dated 29 May 1645.

Journal 40, fo. 132.

When we were in suche distresse by a close seige, that our freindes held our condicõn desperate, and our enimies did assure themselves of prevailing over us; by Gods providence we had reasonable releif from your famous and ever renowned citie wchdoth now embolden us to present unto you our present estate, which is in breife. That our heartes wththe heartes of the country in generall are surrounded wthfeare and greife for the removall of Collonell Massey from us, whose endeavors amongst us God hath soe wonderfullie prospered. Wee represented our sadd sense thereof and our reasons in particuler by peticõn to the honoblehouses of parliament, but such meanes was used by some for the accomplishment of their owne ends therein that our peticõn was not read in the howses. So that wee are like to be deprived of him, and thereby much distraccõn, if not confusion sorely threatned to us and this countrey, thereby to the encouragement of the enimy and discouragement of orfriends. Therefore we doe humbly apply ourselves unto you desiring you to interpose for us to the Parliament for his contynuance wthus. Wherein you will not only doe us a singuler favour, but we are confident much further the publique service thereby, and which shalbe most gratefully acknowledged by

Your humble ServantsLuke Nurse Maior[and seven others.]Gloucester 29 of May 1645.

Letter from the Mayor, &c., of Plymouth to the City of London, enclosing copy of petition to Parliament for relief against the depredations of the Royalists. Dated 5 Sept. 1645.

Journal 40, fo. 144b.

The greate zeale you have ever manifested for the good of the kingdome, and the forwardnes you shewed to contribute your assistance to us upon all occacõns doth imbolden us at this tyme of our extremity to beseech you to stretch out yorhelping hand to us you know we have bin long beseiged, and we have often moved the Parliamt, the Committee of the West, and the Generall for releif, and all this summer it hath bin promised, but orhopes are hitherto frustrate. We have therefore sent the peticõn (whereof the enclosed is a copie) to Sir John Young and Mr. Waddon Burgesses for this towne, and indeed this is the last and only visible meanes that unde God is left us. We beseech you that you wilbe pleased to second our peticõn by your owne desires in our behalf. And wee shall not cease to pray for the contynuance of yorpeace and encrease of all other blessings and rest

Yormost humble servantsJustinian Pearde Maior[and four others.]Plymouth at the Committeefor Govermt,5 Sept. 1645.

The City's petition to King Charles I in reply to His Majesty's letter of the 19th May 1646.

Id., fo. 187.

Most humbly acknowledging the speciall grace and favour of yormatiein condescending soe particulerly to communicate unto this city yorroyall and pious resolucons to comply wthyour Houses of Parliament for setling of truth and peace in this distracted kingdome signified by yorlate gratious lettre of the 19thof May last to the representative body thereof. In wchas the petrscannot but see the speciall hand of Almighty God soe they must and doefrom the bottome of their hearts blesse his holy name that at length he hath opened such a dore of hope by enclyning your matiesheart to looke downe upon the affliccõns of yorpeople and from thence take comfort to themselves that he will confirme and increase those good resolucons in yormatie.

As for this city the petrsesteeme it their duty now againe as they have formerly done to declare unto yorroyall matieand the whole world, that, according to their Protestacõn and Covenant they have alwayes, and doe still reteyne the same loyall thoughts towards yormatieas ever and as becometh subiects to doe from which they shall never recede.

And as next unto the good guidance of Almighty God they doe humbly comitt and submitt the meanes and maner of their future peace and happines unto yormatsgreat and faithfull Councell the two Houses of Parliament.

So they shall contynue their instant prayers to the Throne of all Grace to dispose yormatiesroyall heart to comply with such proposicõns as from them shalbe represented unto yormatyfor the settlement of true religion and peace in all yorkingdomes and the mainteynance of the union betweene the two nations. And then the petrsshall not doubt but yormatie(wchis their earnest prayer) will with honor and joy returne unto this yorantient city, and that yorthrone shall in yorroyall selfe and your posterity be established in all yorkingdomes to the great honour of yormatieand to the comfort of all yorgood subiects amongst whome the peticõnrsshall alwayes strive to approve themselves inferiour to none in loyalty and obedience.

And as in dutie bound shall pray &c.

Letter from Fairfax and the Council of War to the Commissioners of the City of London forbidding further enlistments. Dated 14 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 222.

Being informed that divers souldiers are daily listed underofficrs, in and about the cities of London and Westmr, and parts thereto adiacent, besids the trayned bands and usuall auxiliaries. We strongly apprehend that (notwithstanding all your desires and labour of peace) the kingdome is like to be precipitate by some persons into a new warr. Therefore (before we can answere that part of yorcities lettre to remove to 30 miles distance from London) we desire the citie would use their indeavors, to prevent all such listings, and therein deale soe effectually as that nothing be for future done towards such listinge or raising any forces, and those already raised may be forthwith discharged. But if this cannot be done, we shalbe forced by an unwilling necessitie to apply our indeavorsto breake all designes of that kinde. And therein we hope to receive the concurrance of yorcitie, professing, we have nothing else in our eye, but yorsour owne, and this poore kingdomes good and quiett.

Hereof we desire to here speedily from you, but so from time to tyme, as oft as may be, which we shall owne as a seale of that reciprocall love, wchthe cities lettre purports to this army, and shall on our part be most earnestly endeavoured to be maynteyned.

June 14th 1647.

Letter from the same to the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the City, touching the removal of the army and the safety of the King's person. Dated St. Albans, 15 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 222b.

We are very glad our lettre from Royston of the tenth of this instant June had soe good a recepcõn wthyou: whereof you have given us assurance by yorlettre of the twelfth of this instant,[852]and by those worthy aldermen and others the members of yorcitie whome you sent unto us, to whose hands we yesterday returned such answere (to that part of yorlettre for our removal to thirty miles distant from London) as the present exigence of affairescould possibly admitt. To wchwe add this sincere assurance that soe soone as we shall receive the next resolucõn from the Parliament in relacõn to the proceedings upon the papers nowe given in unto them (whereof likewise yorcomissioners have received a coppie from us). We shall then imediately give you such further answere and satisfaccõn to that particuler, as the nature of those results will permitt, wthrespect only had to the necessary prosecution of those pressing concernements of the kingdome, comprized in those papers (whereunto) (for) the iustnes and reasonablenes of our desires, and their consistance wththe true honour, iust power and priviledges of parliament, the liberty of the subiect and safety of yorcitie and kingdome we do referr you.

As to yordesire (expressed in the instruccõns to yorcomissioners) of orcare for the safetie of his matiesperson, while amongst us. We had upon his first comeing into our quarters assigned, and have since contynued in attendance about his maty, a guard of two regimtsof horse, of as faithfull men, and under as trustie a commaund as this army doth affoard, neyther shall our future care be wantinge in any further provision necessary for the safetie of his royall person. And nowe we cannott but take notice, as of the past, most free and forward ingagemts of yorfamous citie in the same cause, wchwe are now desiring to see a period to, and accomplishment of, soe of yorcontynued readines to close wthus in our iust and necessary desires to the same ends: as alsoe of yorpresent professed averssenesse to ingage in any thing that may tend to any further warr or distraccõn in this kingdome. For all wchwe cannott but returne (after our praises to God) thankes to you and yorcitty. And we assure you that the sence thereof hath a deep impression in our spiritts to find (as we doe hitherto) the hand of God working all mens hearts to go cleere, and unanimous concurrence wthour owne, in our desires for the present setling and securing the rights liberties and peace of the kingdome, beyond wchwe have noe aymes or ends of our owne.

St. Albans June 15th 1647.

The City's reply to the two preceding letters. Dated 18 June 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 224b.

Yoranswere of the 14thand lettre dated the 15thof this instant June, wthcopies of the papers given into the Parliamtwe the maior aldermen and commons in common councell assembled have received and perused, and by our committee we have ben further informed of them, and of yormany seasonable expressions of the reallity of yorintencõns to promote the peace and welfare of the Parliamtand kingdome, and in particuler of this city, wchhow acceptable it is to us will best appeare by our proceedings thereupon.

We take it very kindely that though you were informed divers souldiers were daily listed under officrsin and about the Cities of London and Westmrand parts thereto adiacent, besides the trayned bands and usuall auxiliaries, yet you conceived (and that most truly) it was wthout the privity or consent of this Court, and did not suspect the sincerity of our heartes in what by orlast was represented unto you, wherein for yorfurther satisfaccõn be pleased to take notice that since the returne of our comittee from St. Albans, yorsaid answere and lettre and a narrative of the severall passages twixt you and our committee, and yordesire that the citie should use their indeavorto prevent all such listings and therein deale soe effectually, as that nothing be for the future done towards such listings or raising any forces, and that those already raised might be forthwthdischarged: and the resolucõn of this court, and the Committee of the Militia of this city and parts adiacent upon the whole being all by our direccõn made knowne to both Houses of Parliamtthey were pleased to make severall votes thereupon; whereunto (as to those thinges) we desire to be referred.

By all which we hope the great desire of this court and citie to cherish a right understanding and keep a good correspondencetwixt yorExcellencie yorCouncell of Warr, Armie and this Citie will evidently appeare, and shortly draw from you a more full answere satisfaccõn and assurance, that your army shall noe way preiudice the Parliament (whose power and priviledges are the principall meanes to preserve the liberties of the subiects of this kingdom) nor this Citie (who have lost soe much blood and spent soe much treasure in defence thereof) and in order thereunto that it shalbe forthwith removed to, and contynued at a further distance from London.

London 18 of June 1647.

Letter from Fairfax to the City acknowledging receipt of letter of the 18thJune. Dated St. Albans, 21 and 22 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 225b.

Wee received yorsof the eighteenth of this instant, whereof though all passages were not soe answearable to our expectacõn as wee hoped yet we apprehend the same good affeccõn in you towards this armie as was expressed in yorformer letter. And that not onelie from the assureance of the worthy gentlemen, (yorcomissioners) againe sent to us, But alsoe from that informacõn we have received of yorextraordinarie indeavors, to procure monie for the armie; To prevent further raysinge or listinge of souldiers and to procure those alreadie listed to be disbanded, (some persons of yormilitia onelie, haveinge bin active for the raysinge of them without yorprivitie). As likewise from that letter (fild with respecte) which you prepared and intended to us, And beinge sent to the Parliament was obstructed by some persons, who (labouringe to imbroyle the kingdome in a new warre) would not have the fforces alreadie raised to be disbanded who excepted against yordiscoverie to the House, That some persons onelie of the militia had ioyned in the raysinge of the new forces, who alsoe would prevent a right understandinge betweene yorcittie, and this armie, knowinge a firme corrospondence betweene them wouldmake the designes of all such men hopeles, And though our takinge notice of these thinges seemes not regular, yet beinge soe publiquelie done, we thought fitt to mind you of them.

Now although wee have confidence of the reall and cleare intentions of yorlorppand ald̃ren, and the commons of yorcittie to promote the peace of this kingdome, and the iust desires of this armie, alsoe to prevent all tendencies to a new warre, or anie further blood, and therefore hold our selves obliged to yeeld all possible compliance to what you desire of us, yet addinge to the former grounds the manie informacõns which daylie come to us of the continued underhand workings of some persons still to list men, that divers agents are sent into severall parts of the kingdome to leavie forces and Worcester the place appointed for a generall randezvouz, whither the fforces designed for Ireland (that were parte of this armie) are by some of the committee at Darbie House[853]ordered to march: And severall of those companies who went out from us for the service of Ireland, havinge it intimated to them, and by divers carriages perceiveinge they were intended a foundacõn for a new armie and a new warre, they so much abhorred the thoughts of it as both the officers and souldiers of divers companies are of late entirelie returned to us: likewise that noe meanes is lefte unattempted to bringe in fforces from Ireland, France and Scotland against the peace of this poore kingdome.

Wee (upon the whole matter) offer to yours, and all mens consideracõns, whether with yorsours or the publique safetie we can remove further backward, untill upon yorand our ioynt indeavorswith the Parliament, those things of imediate and pressinge necessitie be provided for, which wee desired in our paper last given in to the ParliamtsComissioners in order to the better proceedinge upon the heads of the Representacõn and Charge, with more hopes of safetie, and of a timelie and happie issueto our selves, and the kingdome (vizt.) That the persons impeached by us may not continue in power and capacitie to obstructe due proceedings against themselves; And for their owne escape from justice to threaten ruine to the whole nation.

That all fforces latelie raised or listed in or aboute the cittie may be forthwith discharged except the usuall nomber of trained bands and auxiliaries and that all endeavorspubliquely or privatlie to rayse anie further forces may cease and be supprest.

And that the same measure maybe allowed to this armie in payinge them upp to the same ffoote of accompte as is alreadie given to those who have diserted the same.

And for the things exprest in our Representation though of weightie importance yet because they will require time they shalbe noe occasion to impead our remove, and in the meantime both by Proclamacõn from his Excellencie and all other waves wee shall indeavor, that the accustomed supplies to yorcittie may be freelie sent up.

To conclude, wee say from orhearts that as oure espetiall ends are the glorie of God, and the good of this whole land, soe our indeavorsshalbe to prosecute the same without preiudice to the beinge or welbeinge of Parliaments in generall, (the mayntenance whereof wee value above our owne lives) or (as wee have formerlie said) of this Parliament in particular, but altogeather in order to the good and peace of this nation, and with a most tender regard to yorcittie to which wee professe we shall by all actions make good all ingagements tending to the securitie thereof in what way yorselves shall desire consistinge with the good of the whole kingdome you makeinge good your mutuall correspondencie with us not doeing anie thinge to our preiudice in the prosecucõn of our iust desires, and endeavors.

St. Albans June 21, 1647.

Wee heare (even now) since the writinge of this letter, that (yesterday) divers of the Reformadoes came againe (in a threatninge manner) to Westmrthe house of Commons then sittinge to the greate affrightment and terror of divers faithfull members then present, and to discouragement of others from their attendancethere, soe that we cannot but perceive, that the freedome of this Parliament is noe better then that those members who shall accordinge to their consciences endeavorto prevent a second warre, and acte contrarie to their wayes, who, (for their own preservacõn) intend it they must do it with the hazard of their lives: which indeed is a thinge soe destructive to Parliamentsand freedome that we conceive our selves in dutie bound, to endeavorto the utmost to procure redresse therein.

June 22th1647.

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