HIS majesties LATE COMMISSION OF ARRAY For the County of Middlesex; more especially for the Cities of LONDON and WESTMINSTER.  
Published to the world for the satisfaction of all good people against the falsehood of the Rebels, who impudently call this Commission a horrid Plot, and horrible Treason.  
Printed in the year M.DC.XLIII.   

His Majesties late Commission of Array for the County of Middlesex; more especially for the Cities of London and Westminster.  
CHARLES By the Grace of God, &c. To Our Trusty and well-beloved A. B. &c. and to all such other person and persons, as according to the true intent and purpose of these presents, shall be nominated and appointed to be general, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Sergeants Majors, and other Officers of Our council of war, Greeting.  
Whereas in Our city of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, our burrow of South work, and County of Middlesex, there are raised and continued great numbers of Military Forces, both Horse and Foot, who under the command of Robert earl of Essex as their general, and under the conduct of divers others, pretending to derive their Authority from the two Houses of Parliament, have traitorously levied war and rebelled against us their natural liege Lord; and many of Our Subjects have been seduced by false informations, by the practise of a few, who have been the Contrivers of these mischievous plots, and have joined with them, either in person, or by aiding them with Men, Money, Horses, or other things, and many of Our good and loyal Subjects over-awed by the power of the Rebels, have been enforced to contribute to them for the maintenance of this unnatural war, and others refusing have been plundered and robbed of their estates, and some committed to several Prisons, and there barbarously used, contrary to the liberty of freeborn men, the laws of the Land, and contrary to all humanity; of all which injuries and calamities falling upon Our good Subjects We are very sensible, and are desirous to give relief to Our good Subjects by all the best means we can, and to resist the violence and insolency of these Rebels and their adherents; We having no other end therein, but to preserve the true Protestant Religion in the purity and integrity thereof, to maintain the laws of the Land, and the liberty of their persons, and property of the estates of Our Subjects, and the just privileges of Parliament. We have thought it fit for Our better service to settle a council of War in or about Our said city of London, which may take these things into their sad considerations, which may conduce best to this end, and to have such Commanders and Officers settled in the place afore-said, which may both raise, govern, and led such Forces as may be raised there. Know ye therefore, that We reposing special trust and confidence in your fidelities, industries, and good discretions, have made choice of, nominated and appointed you to be Our council of war for the said city of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, Our said County of Middlesex, and burrow of southwark; and do hereby give and grant Power and Authority to you, or any four of you, to make choice of such other able and discreet persons as you shall think fit, and nominate under the hands and seals of the greater number of you, which with yourselves shall make up in all the number of 21. and no more: and We do give and grant unto you, or any four of you, Power and Authority, at such times and such places as you shall think convenient, to assemble and meet together, and there to consult, advice, and resolve of all such things, and of such ways and means, as you, or any four of you shall think fittest, for the raising of Forces, both Horse and Foot, either of the Inhabitants of the said Cities, County, and burrow, or of any the adjacent Counties or other place, who will voluntarily associate themselves to that purpose; and those Forces to arm, muster, conduct, order, lead, and govern in the places afore-said, or in any other County adjacent, of elsewhere, in such manner as ye by yourselves, or by such other able and fit persons as you or any four of you shall to that purpose appoint, according to these presents. And the better to effect this Our service, We do further give and grant unto you, or any four of you, Power and Authority under your hands and seals, to make choice of, and appoint such a fit person as you shall think meet, to be captain general of all those Forces thus to be raised, and such other persons as you or any four of you shall in like manner make choice of, and appoint to be Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and Sergeant Majors over those Forces in such manner, and in such places as ye shall so appoint; who by virtue thereof, and by virtue of these presents, shall have Power and Authority to do, execute, and perform all those things, which to these several Offices and employments according to the Law Marshall do belong. And We do further promise and grant, that with all convenient speed after we shall have notice from you, or any four of you, under your hands or seals, of your nomination of any persons to those several places, We shall grant and confirm unto them and every of them respectively those several places to which you have so nominated them as afore-said, under Our Great seal of England, or otherwise as shall be reasonably advised and required of Vs. And Wee do further by these presents give and grant unto you full Power and Authority by all such good ways and means as you or any four of you shall under your hands agree upon, to raise money for the clothing, arming, furnishing, and paying of all such Souldiers, as shall be thus raised, and for the providing of all Ammunition and other necessaries for the war; all which money upon a just account We do for us, Our Heires and Successors, promise, grant, and agree well and truly to repay, so soon as we shall be enabled thereunto: and in the mean time to secure the same to those who for our service, and by your mediation and industry shall lend or disburse the same. And We do further by these presents grant, that such general, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, and other Officers so by you nominated as afore-said, shall have full Power and Authority by virtue of these presents, to lead and order the Souldiers severally under their charge, and with them to fight against Our Enemies and Rebels, and them to slay and destroy; or them to save according to the Law Martiall, or course of war: for the doing of all which this shall be to you and them and every of them a sufficient Warrant. Willing and requiring, &c.  
 
This is a true copy of the Commission itself, which His majesty sent up to London, whereby all good people may perceive what bottomless slanders the Authors of this Rebellion raise to seduce His Majesties Subjects into perjury, by taking this new Oath and Covenant, which is expressly against the Law of God, and their Oath of Allegiance.  fear God, obey the King.  
FINIS.