No. 74.
Minutes of Common Council touching a recent disturbance of soldiers in the City; 11 April, 1648.
Journal 40, fo. 267.
Att this common Councell Mr. Ald̄ran Fowkes and Mr. Ald̄ran Gibbs (by direccons of the comitte of the milicia for London) did make a large relacõn of the greate tumult insurreccõn and mutinie which happened in this Citty on the last Lords day and on Monday last by many evill disposed persons wch first began on the Lords day in the afternoone in the Countie of Middlesex. Where they seazed the colours of one of the trayned bands of the said countie who were there imployed for the suppressing of such persons as did prophane the Lords day And being dispersed by some of the genãlls forces did gather togeather within the citty of London and Lib̃ties thereof And in a riotous manner did breake open divers houses and magazens of armes and amunicõn and tooke away armes plate money and other things And did seaze vpon the drums of the trayned bands of this Citty which were beating to raise their companies and armed themselves and beate vp drums and putt themselves in a warlike posture And seazed vpon the gates chaynes and watches of the Citty and then marched to the Lord Maiors house and there assaulted the Lord maior sheriffs comitte of the milicia of London and other magestrates of the same And did shoote into the Lord maiors house beat backe his guard killed one of them wounded divers others and seazed and tooke away a peece of ordinance from thence with which they did afterwards slay and wound divers persons and comitted many other outrages All which matters being largely debated and many particulars insisted vpon both for the discovery and punishment of the said outrages and misdemeanours and alsoe for the preventing of the Like for tyme to come It was at the last concluded and agreed by this common Councell as followeth, ffirst this common Councell do generally conceive that this Citty was in great danger by Reason of the said outrages and misdemeanours And that if the same had not bine soe tymely prevented and stayed the whole citty would have benn exposed to the fury and rage of the said malefactors And this comon Councell doth declare that the same misdemeanor and outrage was an horrid and detestable Acte tending to the destruccõn of the Citty and that they do disavow the same and with an vtter detestacõn doe declare their dislike therof And this common Councell doe appoint the comitte of the milicia of London to make the same knowne to the honãble houses of Parliament And alsoe to make an humble request vnto them that an order may be issued forth from them to the sevãll ministers of this citty and the places adiacent that they may be directed to give publique thankes to Almighty God the author of this greate and wonderfull delivãnce from that eminent danger wherein this Citty and parts adiacent were involved And further the said comittee was appointed by this court to apply themselves to the honãble houses of Parliament for the obteyning of a speciall Comission of Oyer and Terminer for the trying and punishing of all the malefactors that had a hand in this detestable accõn according to the knowne Lawes of this land And this court with thankfull harts doe acknowledge the instruments (vnder God) by wch they obteyned this delivãnce to be by the forces raised and continewed by the Parliament vnder the command of his excellency the Lord Genãll Fairefax And to manifest the same this common Councell doe alsoe order that the said comitte of the millitia in the name of the Citty as a thing agreed vpon by an vnamious Consent shall returne their harty thankes to his excellency for his speedy and seasonable aide afforded the Citty in this their greate straight and danger And this court with a genãll consent doe well approve of the endeavours of the said comitte of the milicia for London for the raising of the forces of the Citty And in their procuring of the said Ayde and helpe from his excellency in this extreamity and what els they have doun for the appeasing and suppressing of the said tumults And this courte doe give thankes to the said comitte of the millicia for their care and paines taken by them taken vpon this sadd occasion And they doe appointe Mr. Ad̄ran Fowkes to declare the same their thankes to such of the said comitte as are not of this Court And this Court doth alsoe with all thankfulnes acknowledge the paines and care of the right honãble the Lord Maior and the right Worshiplull the Sheriffs of the Citty therin And this court doe genãlly declare that it is the duty of every Citizen of this Citty by himselfe & all that doe belong vnto him or is vnder his comand to be ready vpon all occasions to be ayding and assisting vnto the Lord Maior and the rest of the magistrates of this Citty for the suppressing of all tumults and disorders within the same And the sevãll persons now present att this comon councell by the holding vp of their hands have promised that for the tyme to come they will vse their vtmost endeavours and be ready vpon all occasions to doe the same.
Vpon the late sadd occasion which happened by reason of the tumult and insurreccõn that was within this Citty and places adjacent this courte entred into consideracõn of some meanes to be vsed and prepared to prevent and suppres the Like for the future And to that purpose it was propounded that the number of 100 horses might be in readinesse within this Citty furnished with all things fitting for service to be drawe forth vpon any occasion by the Comand of ... for the tyme being for the suppressing of any tumult or other disorder as occasion should require And after some debate had thervpon it was genãlly conceived that the proposicõn was fitt to be entertained And to that purpose itt was thought fitt and soe ordered by the courte that the Comitte of the milicia for London shall consider how the said horses shalbe raised and the charge therof And how they shalbe kepte maintained and disposed of for the service of the Citty And of all other matters and circumstances concerning the same And to report to the next common councell in writing their opinions therin That soe this courte vpon their report may doe thervpon what they they shall think fitt and may be best for the good and saftie of this Citty.
No. 75.
Letter from Fairfax to Skippon upon his re-appointment to the command of the City's forces. Dated Windsor, 10 May, 1648.
Journal 40, fo. 275.
I received yours and understand by severall gentlemen of the millitia of London how much you are desired and importuned to accepte of the comand of the forces in and aboute the cittie of London. I must needs say I cannot but be sorrey to parte with one who hath upon all occasions doun such good service for the Parliament and Kingdome. But my private respects ought to give place unto the publique And since it is so generally desired by the cittie and severall millitia, I cannot but be glad they have made soe good a choice and hope it will tend to the furtherance of union and good agreamt for the advantage of the Parliament, Cittie and Kingdome. The consequences whereof I apprehend to be such that I cannot but denie my selfe and frely leave you to your selfe and doe disingage you from any tye to my selfe or the army under my comand in case you accepte of the aforesaid comand in the cittie Wishing you much hapiness in your undertakings I remayne &c.
Windsor 10th May,
1648.