No. 77.

Letter from the Council of State to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for defacing statues of James I and Charles I. Dated Whitehall, 31 July, 1650.

Repertory 60, fo. 213.

My Lord and Gentlemen.

In pursuance of an Order of Parliament wee desire you forthwith to give order that y^e two Statues that Stand at y^e west end of Paules above y^e worke borne up by y^e Columnes sett upp to represent King James and the late King may forthwith bee throwne downe. Alsoe y^t y^e head of that Statue at y^e Exchainge sett there to represent y^e late King be broaken off, and y^e Septer broaken out of his hand And this inscripcon put upp by it Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliæ restitutæ primo Annoque Domini 1648 Januarij 30º And yow are alsoe to take care that y^e inscripcon under those Statues at Paules be cutt out of y^e stones and that this be doune before Saturday the tenth of August next and y^t y^e Councell bee then certified of your proceedings therein.

Signed in y^e name and by order
of y^e Councell of State appointed
by Authority of Parliament
Jo: Bradshawe P'sid^t.
Whitehall
31 July 1650.