THousands of judicious well minded men being throughly sensible of the miserable condition of the Common-wealth, see­ing their most faithfull Friends Com­manders, and Souldiers destroyed in small parties against strong and treache­rous Enemies; and finding by long and sad experience, that all endeavours of Parliament whe­ther by gentle or forcible meanes, availed not to prevent or subdue their implacable malice, but as they increased in numbers, so they continued to spoile and murther ho­nest religious people in all places where they came. And being throughly sensible of the distressed estate of our bre­thren in Ireland, and the wants and necessities of the poore through decay of Trade, and want of Fuel, and foreseeing that famine and destruction, were even seizing upon the [Page 4]whole Nation, if not speedily, and by extraordinarie meanes prevented, did propose unto themselves the gene­rall raising of the whole people (as one Man) as the onely meanes to give a speedie end to this destructive warre. To effect which, they presented a Petition to the Com­mons of ENGLAND in Parliament assembled the 20 ^th. day of Iuly [...]643. wherein they manifested, that they rightly understood the condition of their Enemies, and were no whit blinded by their delusions: and in most ear­nest, and humble manner desired, that that Honorable House would be pleased to appoint a Committee to ma­nage that great affaire of Raising the whole people. The Petition was received with great expressions of affection; and a Committee of worthie Members of the House ap­pointed for advance of that Service.

This Honorable Committee with great resolution and confidence undertooke this burthensome and great em­ployment, as conceiving the same to be the last refuge of the people: in pursuance whereof they proceeded with great caution, to lay a sound Foundation and good me­thod: which being agreed upon both for the City of London, and all other Counties; they then su [...]moned all sorts of well-affected persons of London, Westminster, Southwark, and parts adjacent, to appeare at Marchant-Taylers Hall on Thursday the 27 ^th of Iuly, there to sub­scribe for Moneys, Ammunition, Armes, Horse, &c. and to list their persons.

The people appeared in great numbers, the Right Ho­norable the Lord Major, and many worthie Aldermen and Gentlemen were there to countenance the Work, which went on with great alacritie and cheerfulnesse; Amidst [Page 5]these proceedings, the people were very desirous that Sir William Waller might be appointed Commander in Chief. The peoples desire therein was presented to the Com­mittee by Mr. Sheriffe Langham; which was immediately taken into debate, and upon mature deliberation agreed upon to be presented to the Honorable House of Com­mons for approbation, which succeeded according to the peoples earnest desire and expectation. Sir Will. Waller, upon motion of the Committee, being voted Comman­der in Chief of the Forces to be Raised by this Com­mittee, and was also made a Member of this Committee: all which was effected in few houres, and the Order of the House sent unto the people to cheare their hearts, and gra­tifie their willingnesse to preserve the Kingdome; The Committee in short time returned to the Hall, and after them Sir William Waller, and sate with the Committee; and after some discourse, they all with him went out unto the people, where he entertained their loves with a brief, but most pertinent Speech, which they requited with loud, acclamations of joy and thankfulnesse, so as they seemed to be mutually engaged one unto the other, with the greatest solemnitie that affection could expresse, to the great contentment and joy of all good men; especially the Commitee, who returned to their consultations full of confidence, that nothing would be too difficult to a Com­mander, and a people so united.

They found by that dayes proceedings, that it would be most convenient that subscriptions should be taken, and men listed, by chosen men, and none escape from be­ing demanded to subscribe according to ability: Or if any [Page 6]should, that their answers might be knowne, being deter­mined to proceed in the same method in all Counties. There came unto them divers Citizens, manifesting de­fires to further the work of the generall raising of the people, as the onely means to preserve the Kingdome; but differed in their opinions from the judgement of the Committee, about the method intended for the advance of Men and Monies, utterly disliking all endeavours for voluntary subscriptions and listings, and earnestly pres­sing, that without a compulsive power, by which all men should be compelled to goe in person, or to contribute Monies, the work would be retarded, and nothing done; and desired that my Lord Maior might be moved to call a Common-Hall for the furthering of the worke. The Committee remained firm in their judgements, that the voluntary way was first to be proved, as not doubting, but that the people being now sensible of their approach­ing miseries, and upon the generall raising for a speedy end of all their feares and troubles, they would not be backward, but liberally disburse their monies, and ad­venture their persons; which if contrary to their expecta­tions should prove defective, would soone appeare, and did not doubt, but in such a case to be supplied by a co­ercive power from the House.

Neverthelesse they agreed that my Lord Maior should be desired to call a Common-Hall, where the promo­ting of the work of this Committee should be commen­ded to the generality of the Citizens; which was done accordingly by Colonell Martin, and exceeding joy­fully approved of, to the great encouragement of the [Page 7]Committee to proceed in their endeavours and inten­tions, and thereupon have issued forth their Warrants, and particular instructions to the Alderman and his De­puty of every Ward, to call unto them the Ministers, the Common-Councell men, and other fit persons to pro­mote the said work, according to the method and instru­ctions sent unto them.

The like course is taken in Westminster, Southwarke, and the places adjacent, whereof it is most necessary, that every good man should take notice, lay to heart, and endeavour to promote the same, as the greatnesse and ne­cessity of the worke doth require; there having been no other way proposed by them for listing of men, or ta­king subscriptions. And therefore what ever other good workes or designes are on foot, let none be wanting unto this, the greatest of all, and last refuge of the people. Care will be taken that your Monies shall be faithfully and frugally disbursed, and that no bad Officer be ad­mitted, and the common Souldier carefully provided for: And experience will prove, that this is no vain bait or allurement; may the people be but as faithfull to themselves, as these Gentlemen will be unto them, and as liberall to the work as they are ready to spend them­selves in behalfe of the plainest and poorest people in the Common-wealth. And then our enemies will soon feel the smart, and our friends the comfort of their endevours. Therefore let no man stand to see what others will do; let no mans evill suggestions upon faire pretences prevaile: who ever endevours to disturb or divert this work by ne­ver so faire a shew, will be found no friend to the Com­mon-wealth: [Page 8]What you do, do with all your might: the work is Gods, to deliver the captive, and set the oppressed free. Let none therefore incurre that curse, which is due unto those that doe the work of the Lord negligently; nor that bitter curse that will suddenly fall upon those that come not forth to help the Lord against the mighty.