AT this Common-Councell Master Alderman Fowke and Master Al­derman Gibbs, by the direction of the Committee of the Militia of London, did make a large relation of the great tumult, insurrection, and mutiny, which happened in this City on the last Lords day and munday last, by many evill disposed persons, which first began on the Lords day in the afternoone in the County of Middlesex, where they seized the Colours of one of the trayned Bands of the said county, who were there imployed for the suppressing of such persons as did prophane the Lords day, and being dispersed by some of the Generals Forces, did ga­ther [Page 2] together within the city of London and Liber­ties thereof, and in a r [...]otous manner did breake open divers houses and magazines of Armes and Ammunition, and tooke away Armes, Plate, mo­ney, and other things; and did seize upon the drums of the trayned bands of this city, which were beating to raise their compani [...]s, and armed themselves, and beat up drums, and put themselves in a warlike posture, and seized upon the gates, chaines, and watches of this city; and then mar­ched to the Lord Mayors house, and there assaul­ted the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, committee of the militia of London, and other magistrates of the same; and did shoot into the Lord Mayors house, beat back his Guards, killed one of them, woun­ded divers others, and seized and tooke away a peece of Ordnance from thence, with which they did afterwards slay and wound divers persons, and committed many other outrages. All which mat­ters being largely debated, and many particulars insisted upon, both for the discovery and punish­ment of the said misdemeanours and outrages, and also for the preventing of the like for time to come, it was at the last concluded and agreed by this common-councell as followeth: First, This common-councell do generally conceive, that this city was in great danger by reason of the said out­rages and misdemeanours; and that if the same had not so timely been prevented and stayed, the whole city would have been exposed to the fury and rage of the said malefactours: And this com­mon-councell doth declare, That the same mis­demeanour [Page 4] and outrage was a horrid and detestable act, tending to the destruction of the city; And that they do disavow the same, and with an utter detestation do declare their d [...]slike thereof; And this common-councell do appoint the committee of the militia of London to make the same knowne to the Honourable Houses of Parliament; and also to make an humble request unto them, That an Order may be issued forth from them to the se­verall ministers of this city and the places adjacent that they may be directed to give publique thanks' to Almighty God, the Author of this great and wonderfull deliverance, from that eminent danger wherein this city and parts adjacant were involved. And further the said committee are appointed by this court to apply themselves to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, for the obtaining of a spe­ciall commission of Oyer and Terminer, for the trying and punishing of all the malefactors that had a hand in this detestable action, according to the knowne Lawes of this Land; and this court with thankfull hearts doe acknowledge the instruments under God, by which they obtained this delive­rance, to be by the forces raised and continued by the Parliament, under the command of his Excel­lency the Lord Generall Fairfax, and to manifest the same:

This Common-Councell doe also order, that the said Committee of the Militia, in the name of this City, as a thing agreed upon by a unanimous con­sent, shall returne their hearty Thankes to his Ex­cellency for his speedy and seasonable Ayde affor­ded [Page 4] unto the City in this their great straight and danger; And this court with a generall consent do well approve of the endeavours of the said com­mittee of the Militia for London for the raising of the forces of this city, and in their procuring of the said aide and helpe from his Excellency in this extremity, and what else they have done for the appeasing and suppressing of the said tumults; And this court doth give thankes to the said com­mittee of the Militia for their care, and paines by by them taken upon this sad occasion; And they doe appoint Master Alderman Fowke to declare the same their thankes to such of the said committee as are not of this court; And this court doth also with all thankfulnesse acknowledge the paines and care of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and the Right Worshipfull the Sheriffes of this city therein. And this court doe generally declare, That it is the duty of every citizen of this city by himselfe, and all that doe belong unto him, or is under his command, to be ready upon all occasi­ons to be ayding and assisting unto the Lord Mayor and the rest of the Magistrates of this city, for the suppressing of all tumults and disorders within the same; and the severall persons now present at this common-councell (by the holding up of their hands) have promised, that for the time to come they will use their utmost endeavours, and be rea­dy upon all occasions to doe the same.

ORdered, That my Lord Mayor be hereby desired to call a common-councell to mor­row morning at ten of the clocke, and that last nights tumult be reported to the court by Alder­man Fowke, and Alderman Gibbs, and what this committee then did for the safety of this city, and what application they were forced to make to the Generall for his assistance.

WHereas by vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament, dated the second of Septem­ber, 1647. It was ordained and decla­red, That we the persons intrusted with the orde­ring of the Militia within the city of London and the liberties thereof, should have full power and authority to cause all and singular his Majesties Subjects inhabiting within the said city and liber­ties, that are meet and fit for the warres from time to time to be assembled and called together, and to be listed, well and sufficiently arrayed, weapo­ned, trained and exercised, and put in readinesse [Page 6] in places most fit for that purpose; and for the bet­ter execution of the said Ordinance to make Colo­nells, captaines, and other officers, and to lead, conduct, and imploy the said forces arrayed, and weaponed for the safe guarding of the said city and liberties, and for the suppression of all rebellions, insurrections, and invasions that may happen with­in the same; and to give battell, and fight with them and their adherents, and all others that shall approach with any such force towards or against the Parliament, or the city of London and liberties thereof, or cause any insurrection within the same, and them to invade, resist, represse, subdue, pursue, kill and slay, and by all meanes to destroy as ene­mies of the kingdome. We do therefore pray and require you, to observe all particulars above menti­oned unto you belonging, and to proceed therein according to the duty of your place.

YOu are hereby required to raise your Regiment, and to draw them to the place of Rendezvouz, Com­pleatly Armed, and furnished with Pow­der, Match, and Bullet, and to sup­presse all Tumults and Insurrections that may be to the prejudice of the peace of the City, by sending out par­ties and Companies, or otherwise as you shall see cause, and for so doing this shall be your Warrant.

WHereas Tumults doe much increase in the City, and the Drums of the Trained Bands are taken from them, [...] [...]s thought fit and so Ordered by the committe [...] [...] the Militia Lon­don, that the chaines of the severall Wards be forthwith [...] down, and the Deputies and Com­mon-coun [...]men and Constables are required to take notice hereof accordingly.

Dated the ninth of April. 1648.

THese are to will and require you in pur­suance of an Order of the Committee of the Militia for London that for the safety of this City you take care and see that the bookes and stapels which fasten the chaines to the Posts within your Ward be forthwith this night pulled [...] and that they and the chaines be by you ta­ [...] [...] [...]sposed of in some safe and secure place, [...] Deputy and common-counsell shall th [...] [...] [...]venient, untill further Order be given in [...]se, and hereof faile you not as you w [...] [...]wer the contrary at your perill.

THe Lor [...] [...] knowl [...]dge the great and happy providence of Almigh­ty God in the preventing of so horred an outrage which might have endanger­ed the lives of the chiefe Magistrates and also hazarded the spoyl of the whole Ci­ty of London, in Order to making their acknowledgements to God more pub­lique, and in answer to the desires of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Common-Counsell, they will appoint the Mini­sters of the severall Parishes within the late lines of Communication to give thanks unto God the next Lords day sot this preservation and deliverance. They are well satisfied with the generall d [...]s­like and detestation of [...] outrage expressed by you [...] the sense of the Lord Mayor [...]ld [...]rmen, and Common-couns [...]ll of the City of Lon­don, and will speedily Order that a [Page 10] Commission of Oyre and Terminer, sh [...]ll issue forth for the tryall of these Ma [...]e­factors. They fully ap [...]ve of the ca [...]e, endeavours, and Orde [...] of the Lord Mayor and Militia of the City of Lon­don, and of the Orders lately made by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Com­mon-Counsell concerning the same, a [...]d returne their thanks unto the Lord Ma [...] ­or, Aldermen and Common-Counsell, and the Militia of the City of London, and they do earnestly desire them to continue still to use their diligence and utmost endeavours for the preventing tumults and outrages for the future, and to be carefull for the preservation of the safety and quiet of the City of London, wherein this House will alwaies be rea­dy to give them their best assistance and encou [...].