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An Ordinance and Declaration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament.
WHereas the King seduced by wicked Counsell hath raised an Army, and levyed warre against the Parliament, and great number of Forces are dayly raised under the commands of Papists and other ill affected persons, by Commissi∣ons from his Majesty; And whereas divers Delinquents are protected from publike Justice by his Majesties Army, and sundry outrages and rapines are daily committed by the Souldiers of the said Army, who have no respect to the Lawes of God or the Land; but burne amd plunder the houses and seize and destroy the persons of divers his Majesties good Subjects: And whereas for the maintenance of the said Army divers Assessements are made upon severall Counties, and His Majesties Subjects are com∣pelled by the Souldiers to pay the same; which said Army if it should continue would soone ruine and wast the whole Kingdome, and overthrow Religion, Law, and Liberty. For suppressing of which said Army and ill-affected persons, there is no probable way, un∣der God, but by the Army raised by authority of the Parliament; which said Army so raised cannot be maintained without great summes of Money, yet for raising such sums by reason of his Majesties withdrawing himselfe from the advice of the Parliament, there can be no Act of Parliament passed with his Majesties assent, albeit there is great Justice that the said Monyes should be raised; The Lords and Commons in Parliament having taken the same into their serious consideration, and knowing that the said Army so raysed by them, hath beene hitherto for the most part maintained by the voluntary contributions of divers well affected persons, who have freely contributed according to their abilities.
But considering there are divers others within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs of the same, and also within the Borough of Southwarke, that have not con∣tributed at all towards the maintenance of the said Army, or if they have, yet not answe∣rable to their Estates, who notwithstanding receive benefit and protection by the same Army as well as any others, and therefore it is most just, that they should as well as others be charged to contribute to the maintenance thereof.
Be it therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by Authority thereof; That Isaac Pennington Lord Major of the City of London, Sir John Wollaston, Knight and Alderman, Alderman Towes, Alderman Warner, Alderman Andrews, Alderman Chambers, Alderman Fow••e, Sir Thomas S••ame Knight and Alderman, Samuel Vassell, John Venne, Morris Thompson, and Richard Warring, Citizens; or any foure of them, shall hereby have power and authority to nominate, land appoint in every Ward, within the City of London, six such persons as they, or any foure of them, shall thinke fit, which said six so nominated, or any foure of them, shal hereby have power to enquire of any that shall remaine, or be within the said several Wards, that have not contributed upon the Pro∣positions of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the raising of mony, plate, horse, hors∣men, & armes, for defence of the King & both Houses of Parliament, and also of such as are able men, that have contributed, yet not according to their Estates and Abilities. And the