Chapter 23

Letter from the City to Fairfax in reply to recent letters and informing him that Commissioners had been despatched to remain with the army at head-quarters. Dated 25 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 229b.

We the maior aldermen and commons in common councell assembled having received yorsto us of the 21thand 22thand yorexcellencies to our committee of the 23thinstant wtha coppie of a Remonstrance directed to the Parliamt, did send three of that nomber yesterday to acquaint you wthour resolucons thereupon, since wchwe have caused coppies of those lettres to be presented to both Houses, desiring their direccõn concerning the resideing of some of that committee continually wthyou in the head quarter, and that according to yorformer requests the Reformadoes and other officrsand souldiers raised for the service of the Parliamtmight be required forthwith to repaire into their severall counties there to receive such satisfaccõn as is or shalbe appointed by Parliament, and that if any souldiers be listed uppon the votes of the committee of Lords and Commons, and committee of the militia that they may be forthwthdischarged whereupon severall votes were made, unto which we desire to be referred.

We have also taken those lettres wthanother received from those we sent yesterday and copie of a lettre dated the 24thinstant delivered to the Commrsof Parliamt, and yorsof the 25thinstantinto further consideracõn thereby observing the constancie of yorexpressions to doe nothing in preiudice either of the Parliamtor the citie, and of your purpose by proclamacõn and otherwise to indeavour that the accustomed supplies of this citie may be freely sent upp. All which we do with due thankfulnes acknowledge, And to performe a right understanding with you we have appointed the said committee, or six of them at the least continually to reside in yorHead quarter, and do intend to make it our further request to the Parliamtthat whoever have or shall endeavour to raise any forces to ingage this kingdome in a new warr, may be discovered and prevented therein, and that you may receive satisfaccõn equall to those that have left the armie, soe soon as it is possible for the Parliamtto performe the same, believing upon the assurance you have given us that yorspeciall ends are the glory of God the good of this whole land, and the safety of Parliamtand citie. To conclude the neare approach of yorarmie to this citie causeth us once more to desire you to take it into yormost serious consideracõn, for albeit you do not come to offer any violence to us, yet wee have and shall suffer very much in our trade and price of victualls by reason thereof, wchwe hope you wilbe so sencible of as to prevent it in the future by removing further of, and by takeing such a course that we may receive no further preiudice either in thone or thother, wchis our earnest desires, and that in yorindeavorsto save the kingdome from ruine, you doe not overthrow the fundamentall constitucõn of Parliamtwchis essentiall to the well being thereof.

London 25 June 1647.

Letter from Fairfax to the City notifying the removal of the army to Uxbridge. Dated Berkhamstead, 25 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 230.

Wee have in all things dealt cleerly and plainely wthyou, and hope wee shall still continue to doe so. As soone as the worthyalderman and the other two gentsyorcõmrscame the last night to us, we acquainted them wth our purpose to draw the head quarter to Uxbridg That soe we might contract our quarters wch have hitherto lyen scattered. At which place we hope to receive that wch wilbe satisfaccõn to the kingdome and will remove obstruccõns out of the way of justice, wherein if right were done, wee should let you and all the world see that we would be soe farr from pressing neere yorcitie of London, it should be indifferent to us to march not only to the distance already prescribed, but to any part of the kingdome we should be commanded to by the Parliament. Wee have asked nothinge hitherto but right in the things that are knowne, as if they were proved an hundred times before them from whome wee have sought them, wch if graunted would not only be a justice to the armie, but would lett the kingdome see the ffountayne in a way to be cleered without wch nothing of force or power would be a securitie to any man. We wish the name of priviledges may not be in the ballance wth the safetie of a kingdome, and the reality of doing justice, wch as we have said too often, we cannot expect whilest the persons we had accused are the kingdomes and our judges. A little delay will indanger the putting the kingdome into blood, notwithstanding what hath bin said, if it be considered that in Wales (besides underhand workings in yorcitie) and other places men are raised and that in noe small nombres. And are not those men in the Parliamtwho have contynued faithfull to the principles of common interest from the beginning of the Parliamtto this very day still awed by the concourse of Reformadoe officrs and others to their doores. Expence of time will be their advantage only who intend to bring evill purposes to passe. We have written this to you for yorsatisfaccõn that soe nothinge may be done without giving you a perfect account of our intencõns and ends. And still to contynue our assurance to you, that should necessity bring us neerer to the citty our former faith given you shall be observed inviolably, there being nothing more (next the good of the kingdome) in our thoughts and desires than the prosperitie of yorcitty.

Barkhamsteed June 25 1647.

Letter from Fairfax to the City enclosing copy of proposals forwarded to Parliament from the army. Dated Reading, 8 July, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 234.

My Lord and Gentlemen

To the end we may contynue a right understanding betweene you and us all along in the manadgmtof this great busines, wth the Parliamt(the happie proceeding whereof so much concernes the safety and peace of this Kingdome.) We have given yorCommissionrs this day, the copie of a paper wch we presented to the Commissioners of Parliamtresiding wth us. Wherein we take notice of the true reasons of the slowe progresse in the Treaty, and declare where the stoppe remains. And to the end that nothing be wanting in us wch might work towards the speedy settlemtof the quiett of this Kingdome, wee have humbly offered what we conceive will most effectually tend to remove those incombrances and lettes, wch stand betwixt us, and this universall good to the Kingdome; and till that be done, it cannot be expected that we should procure the peace of this nation by a Treatie, but rather give occacõn and opportunity thereby to others to ingage us in a second warr, wch must necessarily hazard the ruine of this Kingdome, as also ascertayne the destruccõn of Ireland, the relief whereof we should most effectually apply unto, were the affaires of England, but once put into a hopefull way. It is a sound and substantiall settlement of the whole we desire, in a generall safe and well grounded peace, and the establishmt of such lawes, as might duly and readily render to every man their iust rights and liberties: And for obteyning of theis, not only our intencõns have lead us, but we thinke that all the blood, treasure, and labour spent in this warr was for the accomplishmtof theis very things, wch are of that concernemtboth to our selfs and posterity, that neither we nor they cane live comfortably without them.And thereof we hope yorselfes will have the same sence, and therefore improve your interest for the obtayning of our iust desires in the proposalls now sent to the Parliamt, wch being graunted, and we secured from the danger of a warr, we shall proceed wth cheerfulness to the Treaty; and doubt not in a short time to see a happy conclusion to the satifaccõn of all honest mens expectacõns: And that in all our undertakeings we shalbe found men of truith, fully and singly answering the things we have held forth to the Kingdome in our severall declaracõns and papers, without bye or base respects to any private ends or interests whatsoever.

July 8th 1647 Readinge.

Letter from the City to Fairfax, deprecating any attempt to intermeddle with the liberties or privileges of the City. Dated 28 July, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 242b.

Our Committee being all returned from the Army contrary to orexpectacõn we are yet well satisfied therewth, because, that it was at your request. They have communicated unto us severall papers from you dated on and betweene the 17th and 23th present, by one whereof, being a lettre to this Court, we take notice of the sence the army hath of a printed paper wch had come to their hands out of the Citie, and have perused the same, but in regard the originall hath not bin yet presented to this Court, it is not thought fitt to declare our sence thereupon, but we esteeme it our duty to rest in that wch both Houses of Parliamthave resolved, upon consideracõn of this paper, wch we conceave also wilbe sufficient to stopp the further proceeding thereof. But truly we cannot conceale from yorExcie that (forasmuch as we can collect) this paper was occasioned from intelligence wch came from the army, that there was some intencõn there, to move the Parliament for the change of the Militia of this Citie, and we doubt not butyou have heard what great distemper the alteracõn wch the Parliamtmade of our Militia upon yordesire did lately produce in this Citie, wch being now againe upon our humble peticõn put into the same hands it was, at the tyme the mocõn came from you, we hope all things are well appeased and setled. And we are confident it cannot be offensive unto the armie, if we desire them not to intermeddle wth any the Liberties or Priviledges of this Citie or interpose in the point of our Militia, but that wee may enioy that trust quietly wch wee shall assure you we shall take care shalbe managed to no other end but for the Parliamts and our owne defence, and shall give no iust provocacõn to any person whatsoever. We shall conclude wth this profession that we shall alwayes detest all occasions of a new warr, and we are not conscious to ourselves, that any thing that hath passed in this business can deserve the expressions of yorlettre, as if it were probable to involve the whole Kingdome in bloud, or that it must necessarily begin within our bowells or draw the seat and misery of warr upon us and our Citie. For all other thinges we referr you to our Committees.

London 28 July 1647.

Minutes of Common Council touching a recent disturbance of soldiers in the City; 11 April, 1648.

Journal 40, fo. 267.

Att this common Councell Mr. Ald̄ran Fowkes and Mr. Ald̄ran Gibbs (by direccons of the comitte of the milicia for London) did make a large relacõn of the greate tumult insurreccõn and mutinie which happened in this Citty on the last Lords day and on Monday last by many evill disposed persons wch first began on the Lords day in the afternoone in the Countie of Middlesex. Where they seazed the colours of one of the trayned bands of the said countie who were there imployed for the suppressing of such persons as did prophane the Lords day And being dispersed by some of the genãlls forces did gather togeather within the citty ofLondon and Lib̃ties thereof And in a riotous manner did breake open divers houses and magazens of armes and amunicõn and tooke away armes plate money and other things And did seaze vpon the drums of the trayned bands of this Citty which were beating to raise their companies and armed themselves and beate vp drums and putt themselves in a warlike posture And seazed vpon the gates chaynes and watches of the Citty and then marched to the Lord Maiors house and there assaulted the Lord maiorsheriffs comitte of the milicia of London and other magestrates of the same And did shoote into the Lord maiors house beat backe his guard killed one of them wounded divers others and seazed and tooke away a peece of ordinance from thence with which they did afterwards slay and wound divers persons and comitted many other outrages All which matters being largely debated and many particulars insisted vpon both for the discovery and punishment of the said outrages and misdemeanours and alsoe for the preventing of the Like for tyme to come It was at the last concluded and agreed by this common Councell as followeth, ffirst this common Councell do generally conceive that this Citty was in great danger by Reason of the said outrages and misdemeanours And that if the same had not bine soe tymely prevented and stayed the whole citty would have benn exposed to the fury and rage of the said malefactors And this comon Councell doth declare that the same misdemeanor and outrage was an horrid and detestable Acte tending to the destruccõn of the Citty and that they do disavow the same and with an vtter detestacõn doe declare their dislike therof And this common Councell doe appoint the comitte of the milicia of London to make the same knowne to the honãble houses of Parliament And alsoe to make an humble request vnto them that an order may be issued forth from them to the sevãll ministers of this citty and the places adiacent that they may be directed to give publique thankes to Almighty God the author of this greate and wonderfull delivãnce from that eminent danger wherein this Citty and parts adiacent were involved And further the said comittee was appointed by this court to apply themselvesto the honãble houses of Parliament for the obteyning of a speciall Comission of Oyer and Terminer for the trying and punishing of all the malefactors that had a hand in this detestable accõn according to the knowne Lawes of this land And this court with thankfull harts doe acknowledge the instruments (vnder God) by wchthey obteyned this delivãnce to be by the forces raised and continewed by the Parliament vnder the command of his excellency the Lord Genãll Fairefax And to manifest the same this common Councell doe alsoe order that the said comitte of the millitia in the name of the Citty as a thing agreed vpon by an vnamious Consent shall returne their harty thankes to his excellency for his speedy and seasonable aide afforded the Citty in this their greate straight and danger And this court with a genãll consent doe well approve of the endeavours of the said comitte of the milicia for London for the raising of the forces of the Citty And in their procuring of the said Ayde and helpe from his excellency in this extreamity and what els they have doun for the appeasing and suppressing of the said tumults And this courte doe give thankes to the said comitte of the millicia for their care and paines taken by them taken vpon this sadd occasion And they doe appointe Mr. Ad̄ran Fowkes to declare the same their thankes to such of the said comitte as are not of this Court And this Court doth alsoe with all thankfulnes acknowledge the paines and care of the right honãble the Lord Maior and the right Worshiplull the Sheriffs of the Citty therin And this court doe genãlly declare that it is the duty of every Citizen of this Citty by himselfe & all that doe belong vnto him or is vnder his comand to be ready vpon all occasions to be ayding and assisting vnto the Lord Maior and the rest of the magistrates of this Citty for the suppressing of all tumults and disorders within the same And the sevãll persons now present att this comon councell by the holding vp of their hands have promised that for the tyme to come they will vse their vtmost endeavours and be ready vpon all occasions to doe the same.

Vpon the late sadd occasion which happened by reason of the tumult and insurreccõn that was within this Citty and placesadjacent this courte entred into consideracõn of some meanes to be vsed and prepared to prevent and suppres the Like for the future And to that purpose it was propounded that the number of 100 horses might be in readinesse within this Citty furnished with all things fitting for service to be drawe forth vpon any occasion by the Comand of ... for the tyme being for the suppressing of any tumult or other disorder as occasion should require And after some debate had thervpon it was genãlly conceived that the proposicõn was fitt to be entertained And to that purpose itt was thought fitt and soe ordered by the courte that the Comitte of the milicia for London shall consider how the said horses shalbe raised and the charge therof And how they shalbe kepte maintained and disposed of for the service of the Citty And of all other matters and circumstances concerning the same And to report to the next common councell in writing their opinions therin That soe this courte vpon their report may doe thervpon what they they shall think fitt and may be best for the good and saftie of this Citty.

Letter from Fairfax to Skippon upon his re-appointment to the command of the City's forces. Dated Windsor, 10 May, 1648.

Journal 40, fo. 275.

I received yours and understand by severall gentlemen of the millitia of London how much you are desired and importuned to accepte of the comand of the forces in and aboute the cittie of London. I must needs say I cannot but be sorrey to parte with one who hath upon all occasions doun such good service for the Parliament and Kingdome. But my private respects ought to give place unto the publique And since it is so generally desired by the cittie and severall millitia, I cannot but be glad they have made soe good a choice and hope it will tend to the furtherance of union and good agreamtfor the advantage of the Parliament, Cittie and Kingdome. The consequences whereof I apprehend to be such that I cannot but denie my selfe and frely leave you toyour selfe and doe disingage you from any tye to my selfe or the army under my comand in case you accepte of the aforesaid comand in the cittie Wishing you much hapiness in your undertakings I remayne &c.

Windsor 10thMay,1648.

A narrative of the proceedings of the Court of Common Council held in Guildhall, London, the 13th of January, 1648-9, presented by order of the Court to the House of Commons.

Journal 40, fo. 314.

A common councell beinge lawfully summoned to meete at eight of the clocke in the morneinge upon the day above written, Wee commoners of the citty of London members of the said courte in obedience to the said summons and for discharge of the trust reposed in us made our appearance att the vsuall place of meetinge for the saide courte about the time appointed. Aboute eleaven of the clocke the Lord Maioraccompanied onely with two of the Aldermen tooke the chayre Wee then desireinge the lord mayorthat the acts of the last courte might be reade accordinge to the vsuall course of the saide courte and for the further confirmacõn of the said acts could not obteyne the same (though earnestly desired) for above an howres space after which some members of the said courte (being parte of a committee formerly chosen by the said courte) tendered a peticõn therevnto to bee reade, and considered of which peticõn (beinge the same now presented to this honobleHouse) was drawne vpp by them in referrence to an order of the said courte and received the approbacõn of the majorparte of the quorum of that comittee and though itt was often and earnestly prest for a long time by the majorparte of the courte that it might be reade to receive the sence of the courte, yett the Lord Maiorwholly refused to suffer the same or that the question should be putt whether it should be reade yea or noe After the fruitelesse expence of many howres another question beinge drawnevpp the majorparte of the courte required itt to be putt, to be putt [sic] to be decided according to the right and custome of the courte and beinge denyed therein declared how vnjust and of what a destructive nature to the beinge of the courte such a denyall would bee yet notwithstandinge the Lord Maiorwith the two Aldermen departed and lefte the courte sittinge to the greate greife and generall dissatisfaccõn of the same Beinge thus deprived of our ordinary assistance for our proceedings, wee did then require and command the Common Serjeant and Towne Clarke officers of the said courte to stay in the courte and putt the question both which they contemptuously refused and lefte the courte sittinge likewise Wherevpon in discharge of our trust and in our tender care of the common good of Citty and Kingdome Wee did stay and remaine a courte wherein was thrice reade debated and voted (nemine contradicente) the peticõn hereunto annexed to be as this day presented to this honobleHowse.

Havinge given this honobleHowse this breife, but true, narrative of parte of our sufferings for eight howres at least In the breadth (as wee conceive) of our vndoubted rights & priviledges and conceiveinge the like obstruccõns would render our meetings in councell altogether fruitlesse for publiq benefitte and service for the future Wee are forced to appeale vnto this honobleHowse for such consideracõns hereof and direccons herein, as may make the commons of London in common councell assembled vsefull to the ends for which they were chosen.

Letter from the Council of State to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for defacing statues of James I and Charles I. Dated Whitehall, 31 July, 1650.

Repertory 60, fo. 213.

My Lord and Gentlemen.

In pursuance of an Order of Parliament wee desire youforthwith to give order that yetwo Statues that Stand at yewest end of Paules above yeworke borne up by yeColumnes sett upp to represent King James and the late King may forthwith bee throwne downe. Alsoe ytyehead of that Statue at yeExchainge sett there to represent yelate King be broaken off, and yeSepter broaken out of his hand And this inscripcon put upp by itExit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliæ restitutæ primo Annoque Domini 1648 Januarij 30ºAnd yow are alsoe to take care that yeinscripcon under those Statues at Paules be cutt out of yestones and that this be doune before Saturday the tenth of August next and ytyeCouncell bee then certified of your proceedings therein.

Signed in yename and by orderof yeCouncell of State appointedby Authority of ParliamentJo: Bradshawe P'sidt.Whitehall31 July 1650.

Another letter from the same ordering the entire removal of the statue of Charles I at the Royal Exchange. Dated Whitehall, 14 Aug., 1650.

Id., fo. 220b.

My Lord and Gentlemen

By a lre from yeCouncell beareing Date ye31thof July last order was given for yethrowing downe of the two Statues at ye west end of Paules & likewise for yetakeing of yehead & Septer out of yehand of ytwchstood at yeExchainge in Lond wchaccording to yedesire of the Councell Wee understand is put into Execucõn. Since which the Councell haveing taken ytmatter into further consideracõn they have thought fit to order that that yewhole of what is remayneing of yeStatue of yelate Kinge at yeExchainge be taken downe and that yeInscripcõn which was ordered to be placed neere unto it be now written in yeplace wher yesaid Statue did stand.

Signed in yename & by ordrofyrCouncell of State appoyntedby Authoritye of ParliamtJo: BradshawePrsidt.Whitehall 14thof August 1650.

Letter from the Council of State to the City for removal of ordnance to the Tower. Dated Whitehall, 19 Nov., 1653.

Journal 41, fo. 90b.

The Councell of State have considered that there are severall great guns belonging to the Citie of London which are now remayning at Leadenhall, and severall other partes of the Cittie, and for the better secureinge thereof have thought fitt that the Ltof the Tower should draw them in thither on Tuesday next, wherein yorLordship is desired to give yorassistance, and to cause the same to be delivered accordingly takeinge a receipt from the officers of the Ordnance by an inventory indented conteyning the numbers and quallities. And the Councell doth hereby declare, and give yorLordship assurance that this is not at all intended as a disrespect to the Citty, or in prejudice to their interest in the said guns, but in order to their safeguard, and to be returned back to the Citty when they shall have occasion for them and desire them.

Whitehall 19thNovember 1653.

The City's humble Petition and Representation to the Lord Protector promising to stand by him against the enemies of the Nation; 16 March, 1657-8.

Id., fo. 170b.

Sheweth

That the peticoners are deepely sensible of the manie mercies & signall providences that these three nations have received fromAlmightie God in subduing his and their Enemyes in the times of our late warres, in which it pleased our wise and Gratious God to vse your highnes as the most speciall & eminent Instrument in his hand as chosen out and fitted by him for those great & subsequent workes by which his name mightbe Glorifyed, the three Nations & in speciall his owne people therein protected and preserved from their enemies att home & abroad. And not only soe, but the Continued goodnes of god hath followed vs in soe much that after a sharpe & bloody warre seuãll yeares together, for some yeares last past those cloudes have bine brooken, and the Sun of peace hath shined vppon vs with a great measure of hope putt into our harts of a happie lasting & well grounded forme of goverment, according to the peticõn and advice of the late Parliamtconsented to by your highnes for which wee doe as in duty bound blesse the Lord and desire a long and happie continuance of the same. But yet your peticoners taking notice from your Hignes late gracious speech to them that the old restles enemy is reviving his almost dead hopes of prevailing to execute his wrath and malice against god your highnes & the good & peacefull people of the three Nations, partly from the discontents of a Brain sicke party at home and especially from the aides of the popish inveterate enemy abroad and have laid designes to themselves hopefull, by insurreccons from within and invasions from without vs to raise newe troubles & kindle the flames of warre againe amongst vs, by which to change our Government & therein ruine the three Nations. The premisses considered the peticoners do professe vnto all both frinds and Enemyes. That we shall vppon our antient principales of love & fidelitie to God your Highnes & the good people in the three nations with all readines oppose this enemy to the vtmost with our lives & fortunes.

And therefore we doe most humbly pray that your highnes will please with all cheerefulnes as supreme Maiestrate to God & in the Goverment of these three Nations for preservacõn of religion the lawes lĩbties peace & safety thereof. And as your peticoners doe blesse God for you soe they shall(as in duty bound) faithfully and constantly in their seuãll places not only yeild obedience to you therein but bee Enemyes to yours & the Nations Enemyes, and freinds to yours & the Nations friends.

And ever pray &c.

Letter from Sir John Langham to the Court of Aldermen, declining to resume the Aldermanry from which he had been deposed by Parliament, on the score of ill-health. Dated Crosby House, 18 Sept., 1660.

Remembrancia ix, 8.

My Lord & Gentlemen,

By a copy of a vote of Common Councill held ye4thof September present (wchwas left at my house) I find my selfe declared to bee an Ald̃ran of London, & invited to yeexecucõn of that place. The knowledge of my vnfitness for ytimploymtby reason of my great age of 77 yeares, & those infirmities ytaccompany it, did soon put me upon yeresolucõn of getting my discharge from it. But yedeath of my eldest sonn's wife & child, did overwhelme me as well as him wththat greife, wchpermitted not my goeing abroad untill the last Thursday, when I hoped to have found at Guildhall a full court of Ald̃ren. But those expectacõns failing me, I forbore yedeclaring my Intencõns & desires then. And being this day upon my retreat into the Country for the necessary refreshmtof my selfe & sonn I thought it my duty to acquaint yorLordp: & this Court wthmy Condicon & most earnest Request. I have now beene laid aside about 12 yeares; The Rump Parliamthaveing first imprisoned me in yeTower (ye24thof 7ber1647), cheifly (as was conceived) to prevent my being chosen Lord Mayor the Michãs following, where I remain'd vntill the 6th of the next June, when I was enlarged wthout so much as Peticõning. But afterwards to satisfye yeAmbicõn of some that had a mind to bee in our seats,SrJohn Gayre, Ald̃ran Adams, my selfe & BrorBunce, by a resolve of that Remain of a House of Commons that presumed to sitt as a Parliamt, were disenabled & discharged from being Ald̃ren, & others chosen in our steds. Notwthstanding wchdispleasure of those who usurped the Government & my being out of their sight, in yeCountry, yeCitty retained those kind remembrances of me & my sufferings as to choose me 2ceone of their Burgesses, in those Convencõns, wchwee called then Parliamtswchas they are argumtsthat I enjoyed their favour, so they are Reasons that I take not ill wtthis Court, or yeCommon Councill complyed in agtmy Right, out of a feare of those who had made themselves Masters of the Three Kingdomes as well as this Citty: And that sense of my duty wchmade me accept of serving this Citty (where God hath blest me) when called to it, & continue in that service whilst permitted, would now alsoe command my returne to the executing of my place, as an Ald̃ran, upon that Invitacõn I have rēcd, did not my finding and dayly discovering my disabilityes perswade me that you in Justice ought not to require, what I out of Conscience ought not to accept, ffor, both my age hath a legall excuse from the troubles of Magistracy, & yoraffaires need that presentness of parts, wcha life so much worne out as mine is, cannot afford. I doubt not but I might have obteyned my discharge elswhere, but because yorLordp& this Court, are those to whome yemembrsof it especially are to betake themselves I thought it unbecoming me so farr to despair of yorJustice & ffavour, as to look for it in any other place. Wherefore, I make it my importunate request to your Lordp& this HonbleCourt, that I may be discharged, for ever, from being an Ald̃ran, & part of that tyme that yet remaines of my life shall be spent in prayrsfor the happiness & flourishing of this Renowned Citty And when I shall have yordismission into ytprivacy, wherein I may vndisturbedly prepare for the other & better world I am hasting into, I shall not cease to be a fervent Lover of that place, wherein I have received so manyfold mercyes from yeDivine goodness, nor to bee my Lord and Gentlemen, yoraffeccõnate ffreind and humble servant.

Crosby House the 18thSeptembr1660.

Letter from the Earl of Manchester to the Court of Aldermen, desiring that the Butchers of the City might continue to supply offal to the King's "Game of Beares" as formerly. Dated Whitehall, 29 Sept., 1664.

Original Letter.

My very good Lord and the rest of my very good ffreinds the Court of Aldermen.

Being informed by the Master of his MatiesGame of Beares and Bulls and of others that very well remember that the Company of Butchers did formerly cause all their Offall in Eastcheape and Newgate Markett to bee conveyed by the Beadle of their Company vnto two Barrow Houses conveniently placed on the Riverside to receave the same for the provision and feeding of his MatiesGame of Beares And that that Custome hath beene interrupted in the late Troubles when the Beares were killed. And that his MatiesGame being now againe by the order of the King and Councill removed to the usuall place on the Bank side at the very great charges of the Master of the Game I shall therefore earnestly recommend it to your LoPPand the rest of my very good freiends the Court of Aldermen and desire you to give such order to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Butchers that their offall may bee duely conveyed to the aforesaid houses as formerly it was for the feeding of his Matiessaid Game which the under officers at present are forced to provide by extraordinary and very chargeable meanes soe not doubting of your Care herein I rest

Your humble Servant(Signed) Manchester.Court at WhitehallSeptemb: 1664Michaelmas day

The City's address to King Charles II congratulating him upon his escape after the Rye House Plot; 2 July, 1683.

Journal 50, fo. 83b.

To the Kings most Excellent Matie

The humble Addresse of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Councell assembled Sheweth.

That wee your most Loyall and dutifull subjects haveing with astonishment received yediscovery of a most traterous and horrid Conspiracy of diverse ill affected and desperate persons to compasse yedeath and destruccõn of your Royall person and of your Dearest Brother James Duke of Yorke, and that to effect yesame theis have held Severall Treasonable Consultacõns to Levy men and to make an Insurreccõn and made great provision of Armes; A designe notoriously tending to yepresent destruccõn not only of your best Subjects but of yeSacred Person of your Matyyebest of Princes and to involve this and yefuture Generacõn in Confusion blood and misery carryd on notwthstanding their Specious pretences by knowne dissenting Conventicles and Atheistical persons.

And haveing in yefirst place Offered up our Solemn thanks to Almighty God for his Watchfull Providence in bringing to Light this impious and Execrable Machination.

We doe in ye next place humbly offer to your Matieyedeepe resentments of our Loyall hearts concerning yesame and begg your Matieto rest fully assured that as no interest in this world is valuable to us in comparison of your Matyesservice and safety so wee are determined readily to Expose our lives and fortunes in defence of your Matyesperson your heires and successors and your government establisht in Church and State and particularly for discovering Defeating and destroying all such Conspiracys assotiations and attempts whatsoever.

All which Resolutions are accompanyd wthour daily and fervent prayres that your Matymay Vanquish and overcome all your enimyes and that the yeares of your happy reigne over us may be many and prosperous.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle to the Lord Mayor informing him of the Pretender having set up his Standard in Scotland. Dated Whitehall, 4 Sept., 1745.

Journal 58, fo. 377.

His Majesty having received an Account, That the Eldest Son of the Pretender after having been some time in Scotland, has traiterously assembled a considerable Number of Persons in Arms, who have Set up a Standard in the Name of the Pretender, resisted and attacked some of His Majesty's Forces, and are now Advancing towards Perth or Edenburgh; And there being the greatest Reason to Apprehend, That these Attempts have been Encouraged, and may be supported by Foreign Powers; The King has commanded Me to Acquaint Your Lordship therewith, And His Majesty being fully persuaded of the Abhorrence and Detestation that must be raised in the Minds of all his faithful Subjects, at this Audacious Attempt, to Subvert Our most excellent Constitution both in Church and State under which Alone the Liberties and Properties of these Protestant Kingdoms can be preserved, And being Particularly convinced of the Zeal and Loyalty of his good City of London His Majesty Orders Me to assure You, That he has the firmest Confidence, that Your Lordship, pursuant to the great Trust reposed in you, will in Conjunction with the other Magistrates of his said good City, exert your Authority with the utmost Care and Vigilance on this important Occasion, for the Preservation of the Publick Peace; The Security of the City of London; and the Disappointment as far as depends upon You, of these wicked and Traiterous Designs. I am &c. Whitehall, September 4th 1745.

Letter from the Duke of Newcastle to the Lord Mayor informing him of the Pretender having entered Derby, and desiring him to put the City into a posture of defence. Dated Whitehall, 6 Dec., 1745.

Repertory 150, fo. 40.

I am commanded by the King to Acquaint Your Lordship; That His Majesty has, this day, received certain Advice, that the Rebels, with the Pretender's Son, Arrived, on Wednesday last, at Derby, in their way, as they give out towards London; That His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland upon this New motion of the Rebels towards Derbyshire, had made the necessary Disposition for getting before them, with the utmost Expedition; And had determin'd for that purpose, to March, the direct way for London. Part of the Cavalry of His Royal Highness's Army will be this Night at Northampton, and the Remainder to Morrow, And the Foot will Encamp to Morrow also near Northampton so that His Royal Highness did not Doubt, but he should be able to reach Northampton so as to be between the Rebels and London; But in order that the Peace and Security of the City of London, may be provided for, in all Events, His Majesty has commanded me to recommend it to Your Lordship, That imediate Directions may be given for augmenting the Guard of the City, in such manner as shall be thought proper; And that a sufficient Number of the Train'd Bands may be constantly out in the day time, as well as at Night, to preserve the peace of the City. Your Lordship will also be pleas'd to take Care, that Orders may be given to the Commanding Officers of the Parties employ'd in that Service, to be very vigilant in preventing, or suppressing any Disorders, or Tumults; And to Seize any Persons that may be assembled together in a riotous manner: And also that a Guard may be constantly posted in the Squares and open Places of the City; And that there may be daily Meetings of the Magistrates appointed in proper places to See, that these Services are perform'd.

Your Lordship will likewise be pleas'd to Cause an Exact Account to be taken of all Horses (as well Coach and Saddle Horses) in the several Stables within the City; where Horses are kept for hire; and transmit an Account of the same, to be laid before His Majesty.

The King thinking, that it may be of great Service, that proper Signals should be made, in case of any Commotion or Alarm, and also that Alarm Posts should be appointed, within the City, and Suburbs; His Majesty has commanded, that the same should be forthwith done, And that Your Lordship should have imediate Notice of it.

His Majesty has also given directions to the Master General of the Ordnance, to appoint forthwith proper Persons, to Inspect the several Entrances into the City, and to Consider, in what manner, in case of an Emergency the same may be obstructed.

I am to desire your Lordpwould be pleased to transmit to me, to be laid before the King an Account of the Number of Men, that are at present, appointed for the several Guards to the City, and of the Places, at which they are posted; As also of what Number of Men you would propose to add, for that Service, And in what parts of this City, they may most usefully be posted.

His Majesty having been inform'd, that a considerable number of his good Subjects, Inhabitants of the City, out of Zeal for His Majesty's Service, and for the preservation of Our Excellent Constitution, are desirous of appearing in Arms, on the present occasion; His Majesty has ordered me to recommend it to your Lordpto give all possible Encouragement to such laudable designs, And if Your Lordpwill transmit to me the Names of any Persons that shall be willing to Engage in the manner above-mentioned, I will imediately procure a proper authority from His Majtyfor that purpose.

The Zeal, which your Lop& the City of London have shew'd for the Defence of His MajtysPerson and Government, and the Abhorrence and Detestation You have express'd, for the present unnatural Rebellion, give His Majesty the strongest Assurance, thatyou will Exert your utmost Endeavours in Opposition to the bold and dangerous Attempts, now making by the Pretender and his Adherents; which threaten the Peace and Tranquility of this great and flourishing City.

I am &c.Whitehall Decmr6{th} 1745.

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