AN ACT For the Settling the MILITIA For the City of LONDON, and Liberties thereof.  

Monday, March 12. 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act be forthwith Printed and Published.  
THOMAS St. NICHOLAS, Clerk of the Parliament.    seal of the Commonwealth 
LONDON, Printed by John Streater, and John Macock, Printers to the Parliament. 1659.   

AN ACT For the Settling the MILITIA For the City of LONDON, and Liberties thereof.  
THe Parliament taking into Serious Consideration the present State and Condition of this Commonwealth, and particularly of the City of London, Do Enact and Ordain, And be it Enacted and Ordained by Authority of the same, That Thomas Aleyn Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the said City for the time being, Thomas Atkin, Thomas Foot, John Fowke, Thomas Viner, Major General Alderman Richard Browne, William Thompson, John Robinson, Anthony Bateman, John Laurence, Richard King, William Bolton and William Wale Aldermen, Col. Laurence Bromfield, Richard Ford, Major Thomas Chamberlain, William Bateman Esquire, William Vincent, John Jolly Esquires, Major John Taylor, William Antrobus Esquire, Thomas Steane, John Winne, Theophilus Biddulph Esquires, Captain Edward Storey, Deputy Abraham Johnson, John Saunders, Thomas Bludworth Esq Maximilian Beard Esq Major Thomas Cox, Major William Early, Major John Alsopp, Deputy Thomas Lenthall, Cownel Thomas Gower, Peter Mills, Master Nicholas Penninge, Captain Edward Cleggat, Sir Thomas Soame, Jsaac Pennington Esq Samuel Vassal Esq, Major General Philip Skippon, Henry Ashurst, Christopher Pack, John Dethick, Richard Chiverton, John Frederick, Tempest Milner, William Love, and Edward Backwell, Aldermen of the said City, Laurence Blomley, James noel, Deputy Richard cliff, William Lluelling, John 〈◊〉, Richard Rives, Leiutenant Colonel Ja●kson, Thomas Morris, John Bathurst, John Cock, William Allet, Tobell Aylmer, Deputy Thomas Myms, and James Medlicot, or any nine or more of them, and no other Person or ●●rsons whatsoever, be and are hereby E●●●●●● t and Appointed Commissioners for ●he 〈◊〉 of the City of London, and Liberties 〈…〉 shall have power, and are hereby 〈◊〉 to Assemble and Call together all 〈…〉 person and Persons, within the 〈◊〉 City of London, and Liberties thereof, that 〈…〉 and Convenient for the Wars, and them to Train, Exercise, and put in Readiness: And them (both Horse and Foot) after their A●ilties and Faculties, well and sufficiently from t●me to time to cause to be Arrayed and Weaponed and to take the Musters of them in Places m●st fit for that purpose; And to Led, Conduct, and Employ the Persons aforesaid, Arrayed and Weaponed, for the Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that may happen within the said City and Liberties thereof, and to fight with, kill & stay such Enemies and Rebels as they shall find in Arms against this Commonwealth, and to disarm all known Papists, and dangerous and seditious persons, and all such as shall raise or endeavour to raise any Tumults or Insurrections, & to put the Arms of all such persons, into the hands of such well-affected persons as they, or any nine or more of them shall think fit to serve with the same, under such Officers to be appointed by the said Commissioners as is hereafter mentioned, or otherwise to secure the same for the use of the Commonwealth.  
And Be it further Enacted, That the said Officers may likewise lead, conduct, and employ the persons aforesaid, Arrayed and Weaponed, as well within the said City, as within any other parts of this Commonwealth, for the suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions that may happen, according as they shall from time to time receive Directions from the Parliament, or Council of State by Authority of Parliament.  
Provided, That no Citizen of the City of London, or any of the Forces of the said City and Liberties thereof, shall be drawn forth, or compelled to go out of the said City or Liberties thereof, for Military service, without his or their free Consent. And that the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them as aforesaid, shall have power, and are hereby authorized to Constitute, make and Commissionate Colonels, Captains, and other Officers both of Horse and Foot; and shall have power to remove and displace Colonels, Captains, and other Officers from time to time, as they, or any nine or more of them as aforesaid, see cause and think fit. And for furnishing Drums, Colours, Trophies, Ammunition, and other Emergencies, the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, shall and have hereby power to lay sitting and reasonable Rates upon the said City and Liberties thereof, not exceeding in one whole year the proportion of two Month's Assessment upon the said City and Liberties, after the rate of 35000 l. per Mensem, upon England, charged for maintenance of the Armies and Navies of this Commonwealth. Which Moneys are to be Assessed, Collected and paid as the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, shall from time to time direct and appoint, under the penalties, and by the ways and means prescribed in the Act for the present six Month's Assessment, from the 25th of December last.  
And Be it further Enacted, That if any Soldier of the Militia-Forces of the said City shall at any time hereafter refuse or neglect to appear to his Colours, upon Summons given by sound of Trumpet, beat of Drum, or otherwise by Order from the said Commissioners of the Militia, or shall departed from his Colours without leave of his Captain or other Chief Officer; it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, or any nine of them, to Impose a penalty upon every defaulter as they shall see fit, not exceeding xx s. for a Horseman, and x s. for a Footman for every offence, to be levied by such person and persons as the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, shall appoint, by distress and sale of the Goods of such persons making default as aforesaid: The said penalties to be Employed for carrying on of the said Service.  
And, Be it further Enacted, That the said Commissioners, or any nine, or more of them, shall, and may summon all and every Treasurer and Treasurers of any former Committee, or Commissioners for the Militia, within the City and Liberties aforesaid, or any other person or persons, who, by virtue of any Authority of Parliament, or otherwise, are possessed of any sum or sums of Money, or Arms, in relation to the said Militia; and also the late Officers of the Militia-Forces of the said City, who received Drums and Trophies for that service, and to require them, and every of them, forthwith to pay every such sum and sums of Money, and deliver such Arms, Drums, and Trophies, remaining in their hands as aforesaid, to such person and persons as the said Commissioners, appointed by this Act, or any nine or more of them, shall appoint to be employed for carrying on of the said Service. And in Case of nonpayment and delivery of such money, Arms, Drums, and Trophies, to Levy the same money, or value of the said Arms, Drums, and Trophies, by Imprisonment of the person, or by distress and sale of his goods, rendering the overplus to the party distrained.  
And also it is Enacted, That no person or persons, other than the persons aforenamed, do or shall from henceforth Act, or exercise any power or Authority, as Members of the Militia for the City of London, by force, or colour of any former Order, Ordinance, Act, or Authority of Parliament: and that all, and every person, and persons, who shall act, or do any act or thing whatsoever, by virtue of this Act, concerning the said Militia, shall be saved harmless, and Indemnified for and concerning the same, by Authority of Parliament.  
And lastly, It is hereby Declared and Enacted, That this present Act, or any thing therein, or thereby Declared or Enacted, shall not in any wise diminish or prejudice the just and ancient Rights of the City of London, touching the Militia of the said City.  
Provided, That no person shall be charged with Horse and Arms, unless such person have the yearly Revenue of 500 l. per annum, or have an Estate of 6000 l. in Goods, or Money, or other Estate equivalent thereunto; And so proportionably as the Commissioners in their Discretions shall think reasonable. And the said Commissioners are not to charge any person with finding a Foot-Souldier in Arms, that hath not a yearly Revenue of 40 l. or a personal Estate of 500 l. in goods or money, and after the said rate proportionably for a greater or lesser Estate. It shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, or any nine, or more of them, to impose the finding of a Horse and Arms, as aforesaid, by joining two or three or more persons together in the Charge, as in their judgements shall seem most conducible to the public Safety. And the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, are hereby authorised to hear and examine Complaints upon Oath, which they have hereby power to administer and redress as they shall see cause.  
And be it further Enacted, That the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, shall Require and Direct all Persons so charged as aforesaid with Horse and Arms, to allow two Shillings per diem to the Troopers that Serve with their Horse and Arms, for maintenance of the Man and Horse, and twelve pence a day to the Foot Soldiers, for so many days as they shall be absent from their Dwellings or Callings, by occasion of Muster or Exercise.  
And be it further Enacted, That if any Person or Persons so to be Assessed or Charged by the said Commissioners, shall refuse or neglect, by the time to be Appointed by the said Commissioners, to provide and funish such sufficient Horse or Horses, Arms, and other Furniture, or to pay such Sum or Sums of Money towards the Providing and Furnishing as aforesaid, That then it shall and may be Lawful to and for the said Commissioners, or any nine or more of them, to inflict a penalty upon such Person or Persons, not exceeding twenty pounds; and also by Warrant under their Hands and Seals, to Commit such person or persons so refusing or neglecting to Prison, there to remain without Bail or Mainprise till he or they shall Conform thereunto, and pay such penalty so inflicted as aforesaid: Or else by like Warrant to Levy such Sum or Sums of Money to the value of such Horse, Arms and Furniture, and such penalty inflicted, by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the person or persons so neglecting or refusing, rendering the overplus to the Party so Distrained; all necessary Charges in Levying thereof being first deducted.  
Provided also, That if any person or persons shall be Assessed to find Horse and Arms in the County, City or place where his chief Mansion house is for his wheel Estate, That then upon a Certificate or Certificates that such person or persons is & are so Assessed for his whole Estate in the said County, City or place, such person or persons shall be discharged of any Assessment for the same in any other County, City or place where any other part of his Estate shall lie.  
Provided always, That no person shall be permitted to Ride a Horse, or Carry Arms in this Service, who hath been in Arms against the Parliament, or voluntarily aiding or assisting therein, and hath not since manifested his good affection to the Parliament.  
Provided also, That no person shall be Employed in this Service within this Commonwealth as a Commission-Officer of the Militia Raised or intended to be Raised, but such or the Sons of such who have Assisted and Adhered to the Parliament and their Cause, unless such Sons have showed their Disaffection to the Parliaments Cause. Provided also, That this Act shall continue for one year, unless the Parliament take other Order.   

Monday, March 12. 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act be forthwith Printed and Published.  
THOMAS St NICHOLAS, Clerk of the Parliament.   

LONDON, Printed by John Streater, and John Macock, Printers to the Parliament, 1659.