Whereas in Our Citie of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, our Burrough of South warke, and County of Middlesex, there are raised and con­tinued great numbers of Military Forces, both Horse and Foot, who under the command of Robert Earle of Essex as their Generall, and under the conduct of divers others, pretending to derive their Authority from the two Houses of Parliament, have trayte­rously [Page 2]levied Warre and rebelled against Vs their naturall Leige Lord; and many of Our Subjects have beene seduced by false informations, by the practice of a few, who have been the Contrivers of these mischievous plots, and have joyned with them, either in person, or by aiding them with Men, Money, Horses, or other things, and many of Our good and loyall Subjects over-awed by the power of the Rebels, have beene inforced to contribute to them for the maintenance of this unnaturall Warre, and others refusing have beene plundered and rob­bed of their estates, and some committed to severall Prisons, and there barbarously used, contrary to the liberty of free-borne men, the Lawes of the Land, and contrary to all humanity; of all which injuries and calamities falling upon Our good Subjects We are very sensible, and are desirous to give reliefe to Our good Subjects by all the best meanes we can, and to resist the violence and insolency of these Re­bels and their adherents; We having no other end therein, but to preserve the true Protestant Religion in the purity and integrity thereof, to maintaine the Lawes of the Land, and the liberty of their persons, and property of the estates of Our Subjects, and the just Priviledges of Parliament. We have thought it fit for Our better service to settle a Councell of War in or about Our said Citie of London, which may [Page 3]take these things into their sad considerations, which may conduce best to this end, and to have such Commanders and Officers settled in the place a­fore-said, which may both raise, governe, and lead such Forces as may be raised there. Know yee therefore, that We reposing speciall trust and confi­dence in your fidelities, industries, and good discre­tions, have made choice of, nominated and appoin­ted you to be Our Councell of Warre for the said Citie of London and VVestminster, and Suburbs there­of, Our said County of Middlesex, and Burrough of Southwarke; and doe hereby give and grant Power and Authority to you, or any foure of you, to make choice of such other able and discreet persons as you shall thinke fit, and nominate under the hands and Seales of the greater number of you, which with your selves shall make up in all the number of 21. and no more: and We doe give and grant unto you, or any foure of you, Power and Authority, at such times and such places as you shall thinke con­venient, to assemble and meet together, and there to consult, advise, and resolve of all such things, and of such wayes and meanes, as you, or any foure of you shall thinke fittest, for the raising of Forces, both Horse and Foot, either of the Inhabitants of the said Cities, County, and Burrough, or of any the adja­cent [Page 4]Counties or other place, who will voluntarily associate themselves to that purpose; and those For­ces to arme, muster, conduct, order, leade, and go­vern in the places afore-said, or in any other County adjacent, of elsewhere, in such manner as yee by your selves, or by such other able and fit persons as you or any foure of you shall to that purpose ap­point, according to these presents. And the better to effect this Our service, We doe further give and grant unto you, or any foure of you, Power and Authority under your hands and Seales, to make choyce of, and appoint such a fit person as you shall thinke meet, to be Captaine Generall of all those Forces thus to be raised, and such other persons as you or any foure of you shall in like manner make choice of, and appoint to be Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and Sergeant Majors over those Forces in such manner, and in such places as yee shall so ap­point; who by vertue thereof, and by vertue of these presents, shall have Power and Authority to doe, execute, and performe all those things, which to these severall Offices and Imployments according to the Law Marshall doe belong. And We doe fur­ther promise and grant, that with all convenient speed after we shall have notice from you, or any foure of you, under your hands or Seales, of your [Page 5]nomination of any persons to those severall places, We shall grant and confirme unto them and every of them respectively those severall places to which you have so nominated them as afore-said, under Our Great Seale of England, or otherwise as shall be reasonably advised and required of Vs. And Wee do further by these presents give and grant unto you full Power and Authority by all such good wayes and meanes as you or any foure of you shall under your hands agree upon, to raise money for the clo­thing, arming, furnishing, and paying of all such Souldiers, as shall be thus raised, and for the provi­ding of all Ammunition and other necessaries for the Warre; all which money upon a just account We do for Vs, Our Heires and Successors, promise, grant, and agree well and truly to repay, so soone as we shall be enabled thereunto: and in the meane time to secure the same to those who for our service, and by your mediation and industry shall lend or disburse the same. And We do further by these pre­sents grant, that such Generall, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and other Officers so by you nominated as afore-said, shall have full Power and Authority by virtue of these presents, to leade and order the Soul­diers severally under their charge, and with them to fight against Our Enemies and Rebels, and them [Page 6]to slay and destroy; or them to save according to the Law Martiall, or course of Warre: for the do­ing of all which this shall be to you and them and every of them a sufficient Warrant. Willing and requiring, &c.

This is a true Copie of the Commission it selfe, which His Majestie sent up to London, whereby all good peo­ple may perceive what bottomlesse slanders the Authors of this Rebellion raise to seduce His Majesties Subjects into perjury, by taking this new Oath and Covenant, which is expresly against the Law of God, and their Oath of Allegiance.