THis day Maſter Alderman Fowke made report unto this Common-Councell, that himſelfe and the reſt of the Committees appointed by Order of Common-Councell, held the Eighteenth of this inſtant February, did accordingly yeſterday humbly informe both Houſes of Parliament, that their deſire of the Loane of threeſcore thouſand pounds to ſupply the Army ſignified by divers of the Lords and Commons to the ſaid Court was taken forthwith into conſideration. And notwithſtanding the great ſummes formerly lent by the City, they did with much chearefullneſſe and alacrity vote to do their uttermoſt indevour to raiſe the ſaid ſumme with all expedition. And for the better promoting the ſaid Worke, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons then preſent, did each declare what they would lend reſpectively towards the furniſhing therof. And cauſed an Order to be preſently made and Printed, and ſent out to the Miniſters of the ſeverall Pariſhes, to be publiſhed in the Churches, and to ſtirre up the Pariſhioners effectually to advance the remainder of the ſaid threeſcore thouſand pounds. And that the Common Councell men and Church-wardens ſhould repaire to every Inhabitant and Lodger within their ſeverall Pariſhes, and perſwade them unto this good work. And the ſaid Committee did further make report, that they did then alſo humbly preſent to both houſes of Parliament, the ſcope and intent of ſuch and ſo many of the Propoſitions referred unto them to be preſented, being to incourage the Subſcriptions of the ſaid threeſcore thouſand pounds, as in ſo ſhort a time they could conceive fit and needfull. And that the Lords and Commons in Parliament did returne thankes to this Common Councell for their great care and readineſſe in promoting the advancement of the ſaid threeſcore thouſand pounds by them deſired, and that they would take the ſaid Propoſitions into due conſideration, The briefe heads whereof were after taken by the Clerke of the Houſe of Peeres. And a Coppy thereof was here now openly read in this Court, and approved of, and Ordered to be entred, The tenor whereof is as followeth.

1. That both Houſes would vouchſafe to advance the raiſing of threeſcore thouſand pounds by their owne example, and by paying it in to the Treaſurers at Guild-hall, to the end that the ſight may incourage others.

2. That they may be eaſed in the rates of the weekely Aſſeſſements, becauſe it exceeds the proportion of the Counties, if it be not too late.

3. That the three thouſand pounds per moneth granted out of the weekly Aſſeſſements, may be made foure thouſand pounds per moneth.

4. That the Citizens Lands and houſes in the Country, may not be rated for the weekly Aſſeſſements, ſo as they pay in London

5. That in regard they are informed that divers miſ-informations have beene made concerning the City of London, by private perſons, it is humbly deſired that hereafter no ſuch credit may be given thereunto, as to be accompted the ſence of the City, unleſſe it proceed from the Court of Aldermen, or Common Councell, ſignified by ſpeciall Meſſengers of their owne, or by the Burgeſſes directed by one of the ſaid Courts.

6. That it will much promote the ſaid Service if the money Aſſeſſed by vertue of divers Ordinances be collected forthwith in London and other parts of the Kingdome, that the charge may not wholly lie upon the willing part, for that otherwiſe the well-affected will be either deſtroyed with them, or for them; with them if they ſhould refuſe as others doe; or for them, by contributing alone to the publike ſafety, more then their eſtates will beare.

7. That ſearch may be made without the Liberties in the parts adjacent for ſuſpected perſons, and that upon the disbanding thoſe that are called the Kings Army may be enjoyned to go to their ſeverall habitations, and not to come to London, to the diſturbance of the peace, ſafety, and welfare of the ſaid City, and of the good government thereof; and that during the time of the Treaty and Ceſſation, none of the ſaid Army may be permitted to come to the City.

8. That to prevent miſapprehenſions and jealouſies concerning the preſent proceedings of both Houſes of Parliament, about the Treaty and Ceſſation, and disbanding; it is humbly prayed it may be declared that the reſolutions of both Houſes is the ſame, as at the firſt, that nothing ſhall be done but that which tends to the ſecurity of the true reformed Proteſtant Religion, the juſt Liberties of the Subjects, and Priviledges of Parliament.

9. That the Ordinances of the weekly Aſſeſſements may paſſe forthwith for the ſecurities of the re-imburſing of the threeſcore thouſand pounds, which otherwiſe will not be raiſed.

Alſo this Court taking into conſideration the reſidue of the particulars referred unto the ſaid Committee to be preſented to both houſes of Parliament, and the ſaid Committees opinion thereupon; and apprehending that the propoſitions lately ſent to his Majeſty by both Houſes of Parliament, doe eminently tend to the preſervation of our Religion, Lawes, and Liberties, and to a Reformation of what is amiſſe in Church and Common-wealth, doe order the ſaid Committee to render from this City all humble thankfulneſſe to both the ſaid Houſes for their great care therein, and to preſent their farther humble deſires as followeth.

Firſt, that his Excellency, the Earle of Eſſex, be deſired to take order:

1. That the broken Regiments, and Troopes in his Army may be reduced and made 1200. in each Regiment, and 80. in each Troope, to the end that the exceſſive charge of paying more Officers then are neceſſary, may be avoided, and the Counties which want Officers may be ſupplied, and ſuch as are moſt ſcandalous may be caſheerd.

2. That ſpeciall care be taken that the common Souldiers be duly paid from time to time, without which they cannot ſubſiſt, and that for the better affecting thereof (a great part of them being raiſed out of the City) that an honeſt able man be there choſen for each Regiment of horſe & foot reſpectively, to muſter & pay the ſaid Souldiers, and view their Armes, cauſing them to be made good according to the rules of War, and that fit allowance be given to the ſaid Pay maſters for their Service.

3. That in regard this unhappy and unnaturall Warre is lengthned out beyond expectation, and the Officers of the ſaid Army have already received great pay, and are engaged in the publike cauſe as well as others, who have lent great ſummes of mony to pay them, that therefore they will ſo farre expreſſe their good affections to the King and Parliament, as to forbeare one halfe of their areares and future pay upon the publike Faith.

4. That the ſaid Officers and Souldiers may take ſuch an oath as is uſed in times of warre in other countries to be faithfull to thoſe that imploy them, and from whom they receive their pay.

5. That ſuch priſoners as already are or hereafter ſhall be taken by any of the ſaid Army if they cannot bee enterchanged, may be uſed as they are or ſhall be uſed which are or ſhall bee taken by thoſe who are called the Kings Army.

6. That all unneceſſary charges about the traine of Artillery and otherwiſe bee taken away, and that honeſt and able pay-maſters be thereto appointed, who may carefully enquire and repreſent what charges are ſuperfluous.

2. That in the intended treaty ſuch care bee taken for the indemnity of the Citie, and Citizens of London, and of the priviledges thereof as may ſecure them, and be a witneſſe to the preſent and future generations of their fidelity to the King and Parliament.

3. That our dangers being great and our ſinnes greater (whereof we have beene ſeaſonably put in minde by a late Ordinance of both houſes of Parliament) there may be a Religious covenant and firme aſſociation forthwith entred into by the Lords and Commons, Citie, Army, and all well-affected in the Kingdome, according to a promiſe publikely made at a Common Hall, in the name of both the ſaid Houſes; in expectation whereof the Citie then freely lent one hundred thouſand pounds. And that the Rents, Revenues, Goods, Monies and Eſtates of ſuch as ſhall refuſe to enter into that Covenant and Aſſociation be imployed in ſuch manner and proportion as both the ſaid Houſes ſhall thinke fit and their perſons ſecured for the good and ſafety of the Kingdome.