AN ACT For Setling the MILITIA FOR The City of LONDON, and Liberties thereof.

BE it Enacted by this preſent Parliament, and the Autho­rity thereof, That Alder­man Ireton Lord Mayor, and the Lord Mayor and She­riffs of the City of London for the time being, Major Richard Salwey, Major General Philip Skippon, Iſaac Penington Eſq Alderman Atkin, Alderman Andrews, Alder­man Foot, Alderman Fowke, Alderman De­thick, Alderman Titchburne, Alderman Tho­mas Allen, Alderman Thompſon, Alderman Milner, Alderman Love, Alderman Vincent, Alderman Laurence, Alderman Anthony Bate­man, Mr. Nicholas Gold, Mr. Samuel Moyer, Colonel John Okey, Mr. Theophilus Biddulph, Colonel Owen Roe, Colonel Matthew Sheppard, Lieutenant Colonel John Fenton, Mr. Praiſe-God Barebone, Mr. Henry Brandrith, Mr. John Jackſon, Captain Kiffin, Captain Henry Par, Mr. Humphry Cliffe, Captain John Marriot,2 Mr. William Jelly, Captain Oſtler, Captain Robert Mallory, Mr. Nicholas Skinner, Stephen Iles, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doiley, Ma­jor Thomas Randall, Major Blunt Sadler, Mr. Joſeph Sibley, Mr. James Rand; Colonel John Owen, Colonel William Webb, Mr. Robert Offley, Mr. Thomas Benſon, Mr. Hugh Maſon, Mr. Edward Raddon, Mr. Slingsby Be­thell, Mr. Leppington, Captain Blenner Haſſel, Richard Downes, Captain William Meade, Captain Nicholas Roberts, Mr. Nicholas Juxon, Mr. Edward Buſhel, Mr. William Daſhwood, Mr. George Coney, Major John Childe, Methuſa Tur­ner, William Smith, Richard Eccleſton, William Zanckey, Major Robert Ruſſel, George Goſpright, Samuel Southen, Deputy Campfield, William Al­lin, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Price, Lieute­nant Colonel Foach, Lieutenant Colonel John Mew, Captain Thomas Bourn, Captain Stephen Hemberey, Captain Oram, Major William Cle­ment, Thomas Arnold, Eſq Henry Barton, Mr. Joſeph Holden, Captain John Owen, Major Jervaſe Blackwell, Captain Edward Storey, Mr. Abraham Babbington, Mr. James Hughes, Ri­chard Arnold, Mr. Clement Ireton, Mr. John Lawſon, Mr. William Harrington, Lieutenant Colonel William Puckle, Richard Waring, Eſq William Pennoyer, Eſq Robert Barret, Natha­niel Manton, Mr. _____Roſs, Colonel Gow­er, Captain John Hinde, Mr. Richard Baker, Colonel George Langham, Mr. John Langley, Mr. Alexander Lawſon, Captain Mark Coe, and Mr. Thomas Lenthall, Be, and are hereby conſtituted and appointed Commiſſioners for the Militia of the City of London, and the Liberties thereof: And that they, or any3 Seven, or more of them, ſhall have power, and are hereby Authoriſed to aſſemble and call together, all and every ſuch well affected perſon and perſons, within the ſaid City and Liberties thereof, as are meet and fit to bear Arms, and them well and ſufficiently from time to time to cauſe to be Armed, Arrayed and Weaponed, and to form into Companies, Troops and Regiments, and to Lead Conduct and Imploy, or cauſe to be Led, Conducted and Imployed, as well within the ſaid City and Liberties thereof, as within and into any other Places of this Commonwealth, for ſuppreſſing of all In­ſurrections, Rebellions and Invaſions that may happen to be, and to fight with, Kill and Slay ſuch Enemies and Rebels, as they ſhall finde in Arms againſt this Commonwealth, and further to act and do according as they ſhall from time to time receive directions from the Parliament, or the Council of State, by the Parliament appointed or to be appointed; and that the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any Se­ven or more of them, ſhall have Power and Authority to preſent to the Parliament, or Council of State, the names of ſuch perſon and perſons (having reſpect to the Qualifica­tions declared by the Parliament) as they ſhall think fit, to be Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains and other Com­miſſion Officers of the ſaid Perſons ſo to be Armed, Arrayed and Weaponed, which Per­ſons ſo preſented and Approved of by the Parliament or Council of State, ſhall have Commiſſions ſigned by the Speaker of the Parliament as the Officers of the Army have;4 And, being ſo Commiſſionated, ſhall have Power to Train, Exerciſe, and put in rea­dineſs, and alſo to Lead and Conduct the Perſons ſo to be Armed, Arrayed and Wea­poned, by the Directions, and to the intents and purpoſes aforeſaid. And for the Provi­ding of Horſe and Arms and the Furniture thereunto belonging, for the Arming and Weaponing the perſons aforeſaid; And alſo for the defraying and paying the neceſſary Charges thereunto belonging,

Be it further Enacted, That the ſaid Com­miſſioners, or any Seven or more of them, have hereby Power and Authority to Aſ­ſeſs and Charge all and every ſuch Perſon and Perſons, inhabiting, and reſiding with­in the ſaid City and Liberties thereof, or who have any Eſtate within the ſaid City or Li­berties thereof, proportionably, according to ſuch Eſtates there, as are and ſhall be fit and meet to be Aſſeſt and Charged, for the pur­poſes aforeſaid, for and towards the Find­ing, Furniſhing, and Providing, Maintain­ing, and having in readineſs, one or more Horſe or Horſes, Arms, or other Furniture, according to the ſeveral Eſtates and Abilities of the Perſons to be Aſſeſſed and Charged: Provided that no one Perſon, not having an Eſtate of the clear value of Three thou­ſand pounds, (of which the ſaid Commiſſi­oners are to be Iudges) be Charged or Chargeable with an Horſe and Arms, and the Furniture thereunto belonging; and that no one Perſon, not having an Eſtate of the clear value of four hundred pounds, (of which alſo the ſaid Commiſſioners are to be5 Iudges) be charged or chargeable with a whole foot Arms and the furniture thereun­to belonging.

Provided nevertheleſs, and be it Enacted, That all and every perſon or perſons having an eſtate of the clear value of One hundred pounds, and under the ſaid value of four hundred pounds, be chargeable by the ſaid Commiſſioners, for and towards the finding and providing of Drums, Colours, Powder, Match and Bullet, ſo that ſuch charge upon any one perſon exceed not the Sum of twenty ſhillings.

And be it further Enacted, That if any perſon or perſons ſo to be Aſſeſſed or Charged by the ſaid Commiſſioners ſhall refuſe or neg­lect by the time to be appointed by the ſaid Commiſſioners, to provide and furniſh ſuch ſufficient Horſe, Horſes, Arms, and other Furniture, or to pay ſuch Sum or Sums of Money towards the providing and furniſh­ing as aforeſaid, that then it ſhall and may be Lawful to and for the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any Seven or more of them, to inflict a Penalty upon ſuch perſon and perſons, not exceeding Twenty pounds: And alſo by War­rant under their hands and Seals, to com­mit ſuch perſon and perſons, ſo refuſing or neglecting, to priſon, there to remain with­out Bail or Mainprize, till he or they ſhall conform thereunto; and pay ſuch Penalty ſo inflicted as aforeſaid, or elſe by like warrant to Levy ſuch Sum or Sums of Money, or the value of ſuch Horſe, Horſes, Arms and Furniture, and ſuch penalty inflicted, by di­ſtreſſe and ſale of the Goods of the perſon or6 perſons, ſo neglecting, or refuſing, rendring the overplus to the party ſo diſtrained, all neceſſary charges in Levying thereof, being firſt deducted.

And be it further Enacted, That if any Perſon or Perſons, ſo to be Armed, Arrayed, and Weaponed, ſhall detain or imbezle his Horſe, Arms, or other Furniture wherewith he ſhall be Intruſted, that it ſhall and may be Lawfull to and for the ſaid Commiſſi­oners, or any Seven or more of them, to Im­priſon ſuch Perſon and Perſons, till he or they have made ſatisfaction, for the Horſe, Armes, or other Furniture, ſo by him detain­ed, or imbezled: And alſo, that if any perſon, ſo to be Armed, Horſed, or Weaponed as aforeſaid, ſhall not appear and ſerve, Com­pleatly Furniſhed with the Horſe, Arms, and other Furniture, wherewith he is intruſted, at the beat of Drum, Sound of Trumpet, or other Summons, That then, and ſo often, it ſhall and may be Lawful, to and for the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any five of them, if the default be in the Perſon or Perſons ſo intruſted, to impriſon ſuch Perſon or Per­ſons, for the ſpace of five days without Bail or Mainprize, or inflict a penalty, if a Horſe­man, not exceeding twenty ſhillings, and if a Footman not exceeding ten ſhillings, to be paid down without delay, or forbearance. And if any Perſon or Perſons, ſo Aſſeſſed, or Charged as aforeſaid, ſhall refuſe, or neglect to deliver his Horſe, Arms, or other Furni­ture, upon ſuch Summons or other notice as aforeſaid, That then, and ſo often, it ſhall and may be Lawful to and for the ſaid Com­miſſioners,7 and any five or more of them, to inflict a penalty, not exceeding five pounds, to be Levyed by Diſtreſs and Sale of the Goods of ſuch perſon and perſons ſo refuſing as aforeſaid, Rendring the overplus to the party diſtrained, neceſſary Charges for Levying being firſt Deducted. And for the better diſ­covery of the Ability of the perſons to be Aſ­ſeſſed and Charged, and of all Miſdemea­nors tending to the hinderance of the ſervice, the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any three or more of them, are hereby enabled to examine upon Oath ſuch perſon and perſons as they ſhall judge neceſſary and convenient. And for the better and more ſpeedy execution of the pre­miſſes,

Be it further Enacted, And the ſaid Com­miſſioners are hereby required, to appoint ſuch and ſo often General meetings of them­ſelves as they think fit: And at ſuch Gene­ral meetings, to appoint one or more Treaſu­rer or Treaſurers, for Receiving ſuch money as ſhall be Levied by vertue hereof; of all which Receipts and Diſburſements thereof, the ſaid Treaſurers and Receivers are every Six moneths to give their Accompt in wri­ting to the Parliament or Council of State.

And be it further Enacted, That the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any ſeven or more of them, ſhall and may ſummon all and every Treaſu­rer and Treaſurers, of any former Commit­tee, or Commiſſioners for the Militia, within the City and Liberties aforeſaid, or any other per­ſon or perſons, who by vertue of any authority of Parliament or otherwiſe, are poſſeſt of any ſum or ſums of money, or Arms, in re­lation8 to the ſaid Militia, and to require them and every of them forthwith to pay every ſuch ſum and ſums of money, and deliver ſuch Arms remaining in their hands aforeſaid, to ſuch perſon or perſons, as the ſaid Commiſſi­oners appointed by this Act, or any Seven or more of them, ſhall appoint. And in caſe of non-payment and delivery of ſuch Arms, to Levy the ſame money or value of the ſaid Arms by impriſonment of the perſon, or by Diſtreſs and Sale, rendring the overplus to the party Diſtrained. All which moneys ſo Levied and Received, and all ſuch Arms as aforeſaid to be delivered, are to be•mploy­ed for carrying on the ſaid Service. And at ſuch General meeting the ſaid Commiſſioners are to divide themſelves in ſuch proportions and numbers as they ſhall judge convenient, and into ſuch Precincts and Diviſions, as may moſt tend to the ſpeedy and effectual ad­vancement of the Service.

And for the better ſecuring the Peace of this Commonwealth, Be it further Enacted and Ordained, and the ſaid Commiſſioners, or any Seven or more of them, are hereby en­abled and Authorized, from time to time by Warrant under their hands and Seals, to imploy ſuch well affected perſon or perſons as they ſhall think fit, of which a Conſtable within the reſpective Ward to be one, in the day time, to ſearch for and ſeize all Arms and Horſes, in the cuſtody or poſſeſſion of any Popiſh Recuſant, or other Perſon that hath been in Arms againſt the Parliament, or that hath adhered to the Enemies thereof, or any other perſon whom the ſaid Commiſſioners9 ſhall judge dangerous to the Peace of this Commonwealth. And with ſuch Arms to Arm ſuch well affected perſons as they ſhall think fit, or otherwiſe to ſecure ſuch Arms for the uſe of the Commonwealth; to which purpoſe the perſons ſo to be imployed, are hereby Authorized and Required to enter into the Houſe, or Lodging of any ſuch Perſon as aforeſaid, and there to ſearch for, ſeize and take away ſuch Arms as they ſhall find: and thereof from time to time to give accompt to the ſaid Commiſſioners.

And be it Enacted, That all Con­ſtables and other Officers and Miniſters within the ſaid City and Liberties thereof, be and are hereby required to be aiding and aſſiſting to the ſaid Commiſſioners in Execu­tion of the Premiſes: And that all and every Perſon and Perſons, who ſhall act or do any thing in execution thereof, ſhall be ſaved harmleſſe and Indempnified by Authority of Parliament.

And be it further Enacted, That it ſhall and may be Lawful, to and for the ſaid Com­miſſioners, or any Seven or more of them, to impoſe the finding and providing of Horſe and Arms as aforeſaid, by joyning two, three or more perſons together in the Charge, as to their judgements ſhall appear moſt conduci­ble to the ſervice of the Commonwealth.

Provided, that this Act ſhall continue in force until the firſt day of March One Thou­ſand ſix hundred fifty nine, and no longer.