Whereas in the Cities of London and VVestminster and Su­burbs thereof, our Borough of Southwarke and County of Middlesex there are raised and continued great number of Militarie forces both [Page 2]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 Authoritie from the two Houses of Parliament, have trecherously levied Warre, and rebelled against their Liege-Lord, and many of our Subjects have beene seduced by false infor­mation, by the practice of a few, who have been the contrivers of those mischievous plots, and have joyned with them, either in person, or by ayding of them with men, money, horses, or o­ther things, and many of our good loyall sub­jects, over-awed by the power of the Rebels, have been forced to contribute to them for the main­tenance of this unnaturall War, and others refu­sing have been Plundered, and robbed of their estates, and some committed to severall Prisons, and others barbarously used contrary the liberty of free-borne men, contrary to the Law of the Land, and all humanity, of which injury and calamity falling upon our good Subjects, wee are very sensible, and are desirous to give reliefe to Our good Subjects by all the best meanes Wee can, and to resist the violence and insolencie of those Rebels, and their adherents, We having no [Page 3]other end, but to preserve the true Protestant Re­ligion, the integrity and puritie thereof, to main­taine the Lawes of the Land, the liberty of per­sons, and the propriety of the estates of our Sub­jects, and just priviledges of Parliament. Wee have thought fit for our better service, to settle a Councell of warre in and about our City of London, who may take those things into their sad consideration which may conduce best to this end, and have such Commanders and Offi­cers setled in the places aforesaid, which may both raise, governe, and lead such forces as may be raised: We therefore imposing speciall trust and confidence in your fidelitie, industry, and good disposition, have made choyce to nomi­nate and appoint you to be our Councell of war of the said Cities of London and VVestminster, and Suburbs thereof, and of our said County of Mid­dlesex and the Borough of Southwarke and here­by give authoritie to you, or any foure of you to make choyce of any other, to nominate un­der the hands and Seale of any foure of you which with your selves shall make up in all the number of 21 and no more, and wee doe give and grant to you, or any foure of you power [Page 4]and authority at such a time, and in such place as you shall thinke convenient, to assemble and meete together, and there to consult, advise, and resolve, of all such things, and such wayes and meanes, as you or any foure of you shall think fittest for raising of forces, both of horse & foot, either of the inhabitants of the said Cities, County, or borough, or any of the adiacent coun­ties & places, who wil voluntarily associate them­selves to that purpose, those forces to arm, muster, conduct, order, lead, and governe in the place to that purpose appoynted, according to these pre­sents, or any of the Counties adjacent in such manner as you your selves or such other able and fitt persons, as you or any foure of you, shall to that purpose appoynt according to these presents thinke fitt, and the better to effect this our Ser­vice we give and grant to you or any foure of you power and authority under your hands and seale, to make choyce of and appoint of such fitt per­sons, as you shall thinke meete to be Captaines Generalls of those forces thus to be raised, and such other persons as you or any foure of you shall in like manner make choyse of or appoynt to be Collonels Lievtenant Collonells, Sergant Ma­jors, [Page 5]over those forces in such manner and such places as you shall so apoynt, who by vertue thereof and by verue of these presents shall have power and authority to doe execution and per­forme all such things, which to these severall offi­ces of Imployments, according to the law marti­all doe belong, and wee doe hereby promise and grant, that withall covenient speed after we shall have notice from you or any 4 of you, under your hands and seale of your nomination doe hereby promise and grant to raise mony for the clothing arming, furnishing and paying of all such Soul­diers as shall be thus Raised, & for the providing of all ammunition and other necessaries for the war, all which mony upon iust account wee doe for us, Our Heirs, and sucessors, promise grant and agree, well and truly to pay as soone as wee shall be inabled thereunto, and in the meane time to se­cure the same to those who for our Service, and by your mediation and industry shall lend and disburse the same, and wee further by these pre­sents doe grant that such Generalls, Collonels, Leivetenant Collonells and other officers so by you nominated as aforesaid, shall have full power and authority by vertue of these presents to [Page 6]lead & govern the souldiers under their charge, and with them to fight against our enemies and Rebels, and them to slay and destroy, or them to save according to the law Martiall, or course of war; For the doing of all which this shall bee to you, them, and all of them, a sufficient warrant, willing and commanding all other officers and souldiers, which by vertue hereof you shal retain, to obey, readily to receive and accomplish your direction & command, and summons in all things hereunto appertaining or necessary to be done; as also all Majors, Sheriffs, iustices of peace, Com­missioners of Array, and all other officers Our lo­ving subjects, to to be aiding and assisting to you and all other persons, that you shall appoint un­der any foure of your hands and seale for the ad­vancing of our speciall service, for which this shall be to you, and to every one of you a suffici­ent warrant. In witnesse whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents.

Dated at Oxford the 16 of March, in the eighteenth yeare of Our Raigne.