Commune Concilium tent. ſexto die Julii, Anno Dom. 1648. Annoqueregni Regis Caroli Angliae, &c. Viceſimo quarto.

TO this Common-councell came divers Members of the honorable Houſe of Commons, as a Committee appointed by that Houſe; And after ſome ſhort preamble made by Sir Robert Harley Knight, and Giles Green Eſquire, they preſented an Order of the ſaid Houſe, made the Fifth day of this inſtant July; whereby the ſaid Com­mittee are authorized to conferr with this Common-councell, and ſuch as they ſhall appoint, and with the Commanders of the Souldiers in London, concerning their Engagement for the ſafety of the King and Parliament during the intended Treatie, and touching the manner of their ſecurity; The which Order was here openly read, and the ſame Committee having withdrawn themſelves, this Court took this buſineſs, being of great concernment, into debate and conſideration; and do declare, That if His Majeſty ſhall come up to the City of London, there to Treat with His Parliament for the ſetling of a ſafe and wel-grounded Peace, this Court (as much as in them lyeth) will (by the bleſsing of God; defend His Majeſties Royall perſon, and the Parliament, in honour and ſafety, againſt all violence whatſoever, with their lives and eſtates during this Treaty according to the Covenant. And further in purſuance of the ſaid Order, it is ordered by this Court, That Mr. Alderman Langham, Mr. Alderman Bunce, Mr. Alderman Avery, Mr. Alderman Bide, Mr. Alder­man Packe, and Mr. Alderman Brown, or any three of them; Mr. Vincent, Mr. Edwin Brown, Mr. Archer, Mr. Nathaniel Hall, Mr. Dep. Chamberlain, Mr. William Bateman, Major Chamberlain, Mr. Peter Jones, Mr. Dep. Clowes, Mr. Dep. Glyd, Mr. Chetwin, and Mr. Milles, or any Six of them, ſhall be, and they are by this Court appointed a Committee to confer with the ſaid Committee of Parliament: As namely, with Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Swinfen, &c. touching the manner of the ſecurity for the ſafety of the King and Parliament, du­ring the Treatie; And to conſider what things are fit to be propounded for the better enabling of this Court to perform their ſaid engagement, and all things conducing there­unto; and to this purpoſe, they are alſo to conferr with the Commanders of the Souldiers in the city touching the ſame: And the ſaid Committee appointed by this Common­councell, re to acquaint this Court from time to time of their proceedings and opinions therein.

Michel.

Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guildhald’ Civit’ London’ undecimo die Iulii, 1648. Annoque regni Domini noſtri Caroli nunc Regis Angliae, &c. Viceſimo quarto.

AT this Common-councell the Committee appointed by the Order of this Court made the Sixt day of this inſtant July, to conferr with the Committee aſſigned by Order of the honorable Houſe of Commons, concerning the Engagement of this Citie for the ſafetie of the King and Parliament during the intended Treatie, and touching the manner of their ſecurity; did now preſent unto this Court a Paper expreſſing their progreſſe and proceedings therein; The which was here openly read, and every particular therein conſidered of, and ſome alteration was made in the Anſwers given to the Propoſitions made by the ſaid honorable Committee: The tenor whereof is as followeth; Viz.

The ſaid honorable Committee did deſire that the Military Forces, and the Court of Common-councell, would ſatisfie them what they intend and mean by thoſe words in the Petition of the Military-Officers wherein the Petition of the Common-councell to the Parliament doe concurre; Viz. [That the King and Parliament may meet and Treat with Freedome, Honor, and Safety, according to the ancient Fundamentall Conſtitutions of this Kingdom.

To this the Committee of Common-councell made anſwer as followeth; Viz. By theſe words [The King and Parliament may meet and Treat with Honor, Freedome, and Safety, according to the ancient Fundamentall conſtitutions of this Kingdom] wee mean, That the King and Parliament may meet and Treat free from force or violence, which wee conceive to be according to the ancient Fundamentall conſtitutions of this Kingdom.

The ſaid honorable Committee did further deſire, that the Committee of Common-councell would ſatisfie them, what is meant by theſe words; viz. [That they will defend His Majeſties royall Perſon, and the Parliament, during the Treatie, according to their Covenant.]

The Committee of Common-councell did give anſwer thereunto as followeth; Viz. By thoſe words [To defend the King and Parliament according to the Covenant] we mean, That during the Treatie, wee will defend the King and Parliament (as much as in us lyeth) free from all force and violence.

The ſaid honorable Committee did further deſire, that the Committee of Common-councell ſhould ſatisfie them, what they intend and meane in the Petition of the Military Officers, wherein the Petition of the Common-councell concur) by the word [Freedome] in the laſt clauſe; and likewiſe what they mean by theſe words [otherwiſe interrupt.]

To this the Committee of the Common-councell gave the ſeverall anſwers following, Viz. By the word [Freedome] we underſtand free from force and violence; and by the words [otherwiſe interrupt] we mean all hoſtile forces whatſoever; the which anſwers were approved of by this Court.

The ſaid honorable Committee did further propound, that in caſe the Parliament ſhall make choice of this Citie to bee the place of the Treaty, and that the Common-councell on the behalf of the Citie, doe ingage themſelves to defend both King and Parliament from violence during the Treaty, [whether the City will maintain their guards at their own charge.]

To which the Committee of Common-councell did anſwer, That the ſame being a matter of charge, muſt be reſolved by Common-councell, and that they would acquaint the Common-councell therewith; Concerning this queſtion, this Court did take the ſame into their ſerious conſideration, and after ſome debate had thereupon, this Court declared, That if the ſaid intended Treaty be in London, that then the City will for the preſent defray the charge for the maintaining of the Military Guards, for the purpoſe aforeſaid, during the Treatie, and afterwards referre themſelves to the King and Parliament for ſatisfaction thereof.

The ſaid honorable Committee did further propoſe, that in caſe the King ſhall not conſent and agree to ſuch things as ſhall be propounded and inſiſted on by both Houſes of Parliament, in this Treatie for a ſafe and well-grounded Peace, [whether they will undertake and engage that the Perſon of the King ſhall be diſpoſed of as both Houſes of Parliament ſhall thinke fit.]

To which the ſaid Committee of Common-councell did anſwer as followeth, viz. Under the favour of this honorable Committee, we cannot underſtand by the Order of the honorable Houſe of Commons, which was delivered unto us for this Treatie, That there is any thing therein mentioned, tending to that which is by this honorable Committee propounded, concerning the delivery up of the King in caſe the King and Parliament did not agree.

And the ſaid honorable Committee did further declare, [that they were not ſatisfied with this anſwer, concerning the diſpoſing of the Kings Perſon, in caſe the King and Parliament did not agree; and did ex­pect a further anſwer.

To which the Committee of Common-councell did anſwer and ſay, That they would acquaint the Common-councell therewith; Concerning which propoſition this Court did take the ſame in­to their ſerious conſideration, and upon a full and large debate thereupon, did declare, That in caſe the ſaid intended Treaty ſhal be in London, and that His Majeſty and His Parliament ſhould not agree (which God forbid) then they conceive themſelves bound to ſubmit to the wiſdome of both Houſes of Parliament.

The ſaid Honorable Committee did likewiſe deſire [that the Committee of Common-councell, and the Military Officers, ſhould ſatisfie them in what manner, and by what meanes, they will make good their engagement, by defending the King and Parliament againſt all violence.]

To which the Committee of Common-councell made anſwer and propounded as followeth, viz. We do declare, and we are ready according to our engagement, (as much as in us lyeth) by the Trained-Bands of the City, and the late Lines of Communication, to guard and defend the King and Parliament from all force and violence. And to the end that we may be inabled to per­form the ſame, we doe humbly offer, That the Ordinance for the uniting of the Military Forces within the late Lines of Communication, and the Pariſhes of the weekly Bills of Mortality, to the Forces of the City, to be one intire Militia, may be ſpeedily paſſed.

That the Militia may be enabled to raiſe ſuch other Forces as they ſhall find needfull, to carry them through this ſervice; And that no other Forces may be raiſed, or made uſe of within this City and late Lines of Communication, but by authority of the ſaid Militia by conſent of Common-councell.

To conſider that our dangers are either from without or from within, and therefore propounded, Viz. For thoſe without, that for our better ſecurity in garding the King and Parliament, wee deſire that ſome courſe may bee taken as ſhall be thought fit by Wiſedome of Parliament, that no Forces, in Armes may come within 30. miles of London during the time of the Treaty; And for thoſe within, that what perſon or perſons ſoever ſhall make any Tumult, Inſurrection or diſturbance, during the time of this Treaty, after Proclamation made, it ſhall be death.

That if the Wiſedome of Parliament ſhall think fit, that none that have born Armes againſt the Parliament, or have or ſhall contribute thereunto ſhall bee permitted during the ſaid Treaty to come within 30. miles of London, without leave of the Parliament had or to be had.

Concerning this deſire or propoſition of the ſaid honorable Committee, this Court doth approve of the Anſwers thereunto and Propoſitions made touching the ſame. And this Court doth order that the ſaid Committee of Common-councell ſhall communicate unto the ſaid Honorable Committee, the aforeſaid Anſwers and Propoſitions of this Court to bee by them preſented unto both Houſes of Parliament. And alſo to declare unto them, that it is the humble deſire of this Court, that the ſaid Treaty may bee with all expedition, for the preventing of further inconveni­ences. And likewiſe that this Court will doe their endeavours (if the ſaid Treaty bee in London) for the finding out of ſome convenient place within the Citie for that purpoſe, and ſuch other accommodations as ſhall be fitting.

It is Ordered by this Common-councell, That the Common-councell-men and Commanders, or ſuch as they ſhall appoint, ſhall within their ſeverall Precincts, either by calling all the Inhabi­tants before them, or by their going from houſe to houſe receive their concurrence to the ſaid Engagement by ſubſcription of their names.

Michel.

Commune Concilium tent’ in camera Guilhald’ civit’ London, duo decimo die Iulii, 1648. Annoqueregni Domini noſtri Caroli nunc Regis Angliae, &c. Viceſimo quarto.

IT is Ordered by this Court, that the Committee appointed by the Common-councell the ſixthday of this inſtant Iuly, to conferr with the Committee aſſigned by Order of the Honorable Houſe of Commons, concerning the ingagement of this City for the ſafety of the King and Parliament, during the intended Treaty, ſhall forthwith take care to diſperſe unto the Aldermen, Deputies, Common-councell-men, and Commanders in the reſpective Wards within this City, the Acts and reſolutions of this Court, touching the ſame Engagement paſſed the 11. day of this moneth, and that under the ſame, theſe words be written, viz.

Wee whoſe names are hereunto ſubſcribed, do Engage with the Common-councell, Commanders and Commiſſion Officers of the City of London in their Engagement above mentioned, and pro­miſe with our lives and fortunes by the bleſſing of God to performe the ſame.

It is Ordered that all Maſters of Families bee deſired to ſubſcribe in one column, and their ſons, and men-ſervants and Inhabitants above ſixteen yeers of age to ſubſcribe in another column.

It is Ordered that the ſaid Committee ſhall take an account of the Common-councell-men and Commanders of their proccedings herein, in writing, and return the ſame unto this Court with all expedition.

Michel.