THE DECLARATION AND SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord general Monck, To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and common-council of the City of LONDON.  
On Saturday Night last at Guild-Hall.  
With His excellency's Letter to the parliament, And the Resolves and Answer of the house.  
London, Printed for G. HORTON.   

A Remonstrance of the Citizens of LONDON, touching Liberty and Freedom.  
AT a Common-Council held at Guild-Hall London, the 8th of this instant, a Petitionary Remonstrance was presented to the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Commons of the Citizens of London, in Common Council assembled; Wherein they thankfully acknowledged the just and prudent Resolution of that honourable council, expressed in their Declaration of the 20 of December last past; and withal humbly Remonstrating, That no Power or Persons whatsoever, might impose any Law or Tax upon any of those Citizens, with whose general Concernment that Court was entrusted, until the Authority thereof be derived from their Representatives in Parliament. By which means, they doubted not, next under God, to have their languishing Trades revived, and their Hearts and Purses together enlarged to a cheerful and liberal Contribution towards their lawful Government and Protection, according to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right.  
Upon the presenting whereof, It was put to the Vote, Whether they should prosecute those lawful means that may lead to the attainment of a Free Parliament, &c. But the Lord Maior dissenting, the Resolve and Sense of the Court, was transmitted to the Council of State: Whereupon the Lord General Monck was ordered to march into the City with his Army, for reducing of the Citizens to the Obedience of the Parliament; in order whereunto, the several Regiments both of Horse and Foot took their respective stations throughout this great Metropolis, strong guards being placed at all the Gates and Posterns; and the streets planted with soldiers, continuing in their Arms, and sometimes upon motion, for many hours together: At which time, divers Aldermen and Common-Council were seized and committed to custody, their Names being as followeth: 

Alderman Vincent,  
Alderman Bludworth,  
Col. Bromfield,  
Lieut. Col. Jackson,  
Major Cox,  
Major Chamberlain,  
M●. Ern 〈…〉,  
Mr. Ford,  
Mr. Spencer,  
Mr. Penning.    
This being done, His Excellency sent a Letter to the Parliament, dated from Guild-Hall London; Which being read, The Resolve of the House was,  
Resolved,  
That the Answer to this Lett●● is to send unto general MONCK the Resolves of the Parliament, that the Gates of the City of LONDON, and the Perculisses be destroyed▪ and that he be ordered to put the said Vote in Execution accordingly.  
Resolved, That the present Common-Council of the City of London elected for this year be discontinued and be and are hereby declared to be null and void, and that the Lord Mayor have notice thereof.  
Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Bill for the choice of another Common-Council with such qualifications as the Parliament shall think fit, with Order to meet at 8 of the Clock in the Speakers Chamber on Friday morning.  
The House having received a Report from the Council of State of some Resolutions taken by the Council in the City of London,  
Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State hath done in Ordering that the Commissioners for Government of the Army, do appoint Forces to be and continue in the City of London, for preserving the peace thereof and of the Commonwealth and for reducing of the City to the Obedience of the Parliament.  
Resolved,  
That the Parliament doth approve of what the council of State have done, in Ordering that the Commissioners for the Army do take Order that the Posts and Chains of the City of London be taken away.  
Resolved,  
That the Gates of the City of London, and the Percullisses thereof be forthwith destroyed.  
Resolved,  
That the Commissioners for Government of the Army be and are hereby empowered to apprehend and seize any of the Nine late Officers, who were Ordered by the Parliament to leave the Town, who have not obeyed the former O●der in going to the places appointed for them; or any other dangerous Persons who have been in Arms against the Parliament and Commonwealth.  
Resolved,  
That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State and Commissioners of the Army have done in seizing and apprehending of Mr. Vincent Merchant, in Bishopsgate street, and Mr. Thomas Brown Grocer in Wood-stréet. D●niel Spencer in Friday-stréet Lawrenc● Bromfield in Towerstreet, Major Chamberlain, and Richard Ford in Séething-Lane, Major Cox at the Swan in Dowgate, Mr. Bludworth Mr Fenning in Fan-Church street, and Lieutenant colonel Jackson.  
The Commissioners of the Army being to continue the Government thereof, care is taken to preserve the peace of the City, in these sad and deplorable Times: And the House have read the Bill for settling the Militia of the City of London, and the Liberties thereof the first time, and referred it to the Council of State to present Names of Commissioners for the Militia of London.  
In pursuance of the aforenamed Resolves and Orders, most of the Posts and Chains about London were pulled down, the City Gates broke and cut a pieces, and the Percullisses taken down and destroyed: Which being done effectually at cripplegate, Bishop's Gate, and Aldgate, where many Thousands sad Objects with no small terror beheld these unexpected ruins, the soldiers afterwards went to Aldersgat●, Newgate, and some other places; but the Work did not prove so feasible, for they being both of an extraordinary and impregnable strength, proved the more difficult; so that a longer time was required: However, they dismounted the Gates from off the Hinges, and with Iron Wedges and great Hammers, rent and tore a pieces part of the Percullisses.  
An Account whereof being given to his Excellency the Lord General at Guild-Hall, about four of the clock in the afternoon he marched from thence to White-Hall; and, in the Evening, the council being sat, his Excellency ascended the stairs, representing to their Lordships, an account of his Transactions amongst the Citizens, in Obedience to the Resolves and Authority of that Honourable Council, for the pulling up of the Posts & Chains, and destroying of the Gates and Percullisses. Which by Them was well resented, and hearty Thanks from the Members returned.  
After all which, the Guards of Horse and Foot being placed, and the City Constables with their several Watches set, betwixt eleven and twelve of the Clock on Friday Night, a considerable Company of Foot (commanded by the Captain of the Round-Guard) came to Newgate, where the said Captain would have dismissed the Constable and his Watch; but they refused it, saying, They must obey the ancient Orders and Customs of the City, and could not depart their duty without Orders from the Lord Mayor.  
The Captain replied, That since they were to make a Garrison of the City, there ought to be no other Watch or Guards kept, but what should consist of their own Military Force; and that they had not been nine years out of their Native country, but they had sufficient Experience, how to manage the public Affairs of a Nation, in defence of Civil and Christian Liberty against all restless Spirits whatsoever: But upon the importance of Constable, the Captain wheeled off with his men, and peaceably marched them through the Gate, towards the Gate, without any further dispute or Opposition.  
FINIS.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
The Lord General Monck having on Saturday last communicated a Letter to the Parliament; wherein He was pleased to remind Them the time of their fitting and the people's expectation (according to the prefixed time) of their Dissolution: as also, of the unsafe and pernicious proceedings of certain Members, reflecting upon Col. Lambert, and Sir Henry Vane, as well as upon the continuance of some Members in the House impeached for Treason; his Excellency was pleased to retire into the City, accompanied by ●●●ers Officers and Gentlemen, and two Troops of Horse, the rest of the Army being drawn up in moorfield's, where they continued during his Conference with the Lord Mayor, which continued for some hours; but about 6 in the Evening, his Excellency, with his Lordship, went to Guild-Hall, where divers Alderman and Common-Council were assembled; and ascending the stairs, the Voice of the people was for a Free Parliament; The General declared, That he doubted not but to do them all good desiring them to be patient. And being accompanied into the Court by Alderman Robinson, and some other persons of quality, his Excellency declared his further Resolutions, That He was resolved to live and die with them; and that He would stand by them in the defence and preservation of their just Rights and privileges with the hazard of Life and Fortunes, and that to the last drop of blood He would ●id and assist Them in all lawful ways for Recovery of their ancient and Fundamental Proprieties, Liberties and Freedoms, and that there should be a lawful Constitution and free Election, only with this Qualification (without any Oath or Engagement) None to be excepted, but such as have been in actual Arms for the late King against the Parliament, and that Writs should issue forth against May next. Upon which, great was the acclamations of the people, who cried out, Godbless our Deliverer, God bless our Deliverer; proclaiming A Free Parliament by the ringing of Bells and the multitude of fires, the like hath not been seen the●e many years. This being done, his Excellency went to the bullhead in Cheapside; and on the Lord's Day in the Forenoon, went to Paul's to hear a Sermon, where he was mutually embraced, with praise and triumph, by a numerous Concourse of many Thousands.  
FINIS.