London and the Kingdom - Volume 3 / A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.

by Reginald R. Sharpe

Journal 40, fo. 224b.

Yo^r answere of the 14^th and lettre dated the 15^th of this instant June, w^th copies of the papers given into the Parliam^t we the maior aldermen and commons in common councell assembled have received and perused, and by our committee we have ben further informed of them, and of yo^r many seasonable expressions of the reallity of yo^r intencõns to promote the peace and welfare of the Parliam^t and kingdome, and in particuler of this city, w^ch how acceptable it is to us will best appeare by our proceedings thereupon.

We take it very kindely that though you were informed divers souldiers were daily listed under offic^rs in and about the Cities of London and Westm^r and parts thereto adiacent, besides the trayned bands and usuall auxiliaries, yet you conceived (and that most truly) it was w^thout the privity or consent of this Court, and did not suspect the sincerity of our heartes in what by o^r last was represented unto you, wherein for yo^r further satisfaccõn be pleased to take notice that since the returne of our comittee from St. Albans, yo^r said answere and lettre and a narrative of the severall passages twixt you and our committee, and yo^r desire that the citie should use their indeavo^r to prevent all such listings and therein deale soe effectually, as that nothing be for the future done towards such listings or raising any forces, and that those already raised might be forthw^th discharged: and the resolucõn of this court, and the Committee of the Militia of this city and parts adiacent upon the whole being all by our direccõn made knowne to both Houses of Parliam^t they were pleased to make severall votes thereupon; whereunto (as to those thinges) we desire to be referred.

By all which we hope the great desire of this court and citie to cherish a right understanding and keep a good correspondence twixt yo^r Excellencie yo^r Councell of Warr, Armie and this Citie will evidently appeare, and shortly draw from you a more full answere satisfaccõn and assurance, that your army shall noe way preiudice the Parliament (whose power and priviledges are the principall meanes to preserve the liberties of the subiects of this kingdom) nor this Citie (who have lost soe much blood and spent soe much treasure in defence thereof) and in order thereunto that it shalbe forthwith removed to, and contynued at a further distance from London.

London 18 of June 1647.

No. 69.

Letter from Fairfax to the City acknowledging receipt of letter of the 18^th June. Dated St. Albans, 21 and 22 June, 1647.

Journal 40, fo. 225b.

Wee received yo^rs of the eighteenth of this instant, whereof though all passages were not soe answearable to our expectacõn as wee hoped yet we apprehend the same good affeccõn in you towards this armie as was expressed in yo^r former letter. And that not onelie from the assureance of the worthy gentlemen, (yo^r comissioners) againe sent to us, But alsoe from that informacõn we have received of yo^r extraordinarie indeavo^rs, to procure monie for the armie; To prevent further raysinge or listinge of souldiers and to procure those alreadie listed to be disbanded, (some persons of yo^r militia onelie, haveinge bin active for the raysinge of them without yo^r privitie). As likewise from that letter (fild with respecte) which you prepared and intended to us, And beinge sent to the Parliament was obstructed by some persons, who (labouringe to imbroyle the kingdome in a new warre) would not have the fforces alreadie raised to be disbanded who excepted against yo^r discoverie to the House, That some persons onelie of the militia had ioyned in the raysinge of the new forces, who alsoe would prevent a right understandinge betweene yo^r cittie, and this armie, knowinge a firme corrospondence betweene them would make the designes of all such men hopeles, And though our takinge notice of these thinges seemes not regular, yet beinge soe publiquelie done, we thought fitt to mind you of them.

Now although wee have confidence of the reall and cleare intentions of yo^r lor^pp and ald̃ren, and the commons of yo^r cittie to promote the peace of this kingdome, and the iust desires of this armie, alsoe to prevent all tendencies to a new warre, or anie further blood, and therefore hold our selves obliged to yeeld all possible compliance to what you desire of us, yet addinge to the former grounds the manie informacõns which daylie come to us of the continued underhand workings of some persons still to list men, that divers agents are sent into severall parts of the kingdome to leavie forces and Worcester the place appointed for a generall randezvouz, whither the fforces designed for Ireland (that were parte of this armie) are by some of the committee at Darbie House[853] ordered to march: And severall of those companies who went out from us for the service of Ireland, havinge it intimated to them, and by divers carriages perceiveinge they were intended a foundacõn for a new armie and a new warre, they so much abhorred the thoughts of it as both the officers and souldiers of divers companies are of late entirelie returned to us: likewise that noe meanes is lefte unattempted to bringe in fforces from Ireland, France and Scotland against the peace of this poore kingdome.