A DECLARATION OF THE PROCEED OF THE HONOURABLE COMMITTEE Of the House of COMMONS, AT Merchant-taylor's Hall, For Raising the People of the Land as one MAN.  
Under the command of Sir William Waller. August 3. 1643.  
Ordered by the Committee to be printed.  
LONDON, Printed by T. Pain and M. Simons. 1643.   

A DECLARATION OF the Honourable Committee of the House of COMMONS at Merchant-taylor's Hall,  
August 3d. 1643.  
THousands of judicious well minded men being throughly sensible of the miserable condition of the Commonwealth, seeing their most faithful Friends Commanders, and Soldiers destroyed in small parties against strong and treacherous Enemies; and finding by long and sad experience, that all endeavours of Parliament whether by gentle or forcible means, availed not to prevent or subdue their implacable malice, but as they increased in numbers, so they continued to spoil and murder honest religious people in all places where they came. And being throughly sensible of the distressed estate of our brethren in Ireland, and the wants and necessities of the poor through decay of Trade, and want of Fuel, and foreseeing that famine and destruction, were even seizing upon the whole Nation, if not speedily, and by extraordinary means prevented, did propose unto themselves the general raising of the whole people (as one Man) as the only means to give a speedy end to this destructive war. To effect which, they presented a Petition to the Commons of ENGLAND in Parliament assembled the 20th. day of july ●643. wherein they manifested, that they rightly understood the condition of their Enemies, and were no whit blinded by their delusions: and in most earnest, and humble manner desired, that that Honourable House would be pleased to appoint a Committee to manage that great affair of Raising the whole people. The Petition was received with great expressions of affection; and a Committee of worthy Members of the House appointed for advance of that Service.  
This Honourable Committee with great resolution and confidence undertook this burdensome and great employment, as conceiving the same to be the last refuge of the people: in pursuance whereof they proceeded with great caution, to lay a sound Foundation and good method: which being agreed upon both for the City of London, and all other Counties; they than summoned all sorts of well-affected persons of London, Westminster, Southwark, and parts adjacent, to appear at Marchant-Taylers Hall on Thursday the 27th of july, there to subscribe for Moneys, Ammunition, Arms, Horse, etc. and to list their persons.  
The people appeared in great numbers, the Right Honourable the Lord Major, and many worthy Aldermen and Gentlemen were there to countenance the Work, which went on with great alacrity and cheerfulness; Amidst these proceed, the people were very desirous that Sir William Waller might be appointed Commander in Chief. The people's desire therein was presented to the Committee by Mr. Sheriff Langham; which was immediately taken into debate, and upon mature deliberation agreed upon to be presented to the Honourable House of Commons for approbation, which succeeded according to the people's earnest desire and expectation. Sir Will. Waller, upon motion of the Committee, being voted Commander in Chief of the Forces to be Raised by this Committee, and was also made a Member of this Committee: all which was effected in few hours, and the Order of the House sent unto the people to cheer their hearts, and gratify their willingness to preserve the Kingdom; The Committee in short time returned to the Hall, and after them Sir William Waller, and sat with the Committee; and after some discourse, they all with him went out unto the people, where he entertained their loves with a brief, but most pertinent Speech, which they requited with loud, acclamations of joy and thankfulness, so as they seemed to be mutually engaged one unto the other, with the greatest solemnity that affection could express, to the great contentment and joy of all good men; especially the Committee, who returned to their consultations full of confidence, that nothing would be too difficult to a Commander, and a people so united.  
They found by that day's proceed, that it would be most convenient that subscriptions should be taken, and men listed, by chosen men, and none escape from being demanded to subscribe according to ability: Or if any should, that their answers might be known, being determined to proceed in the same method in all Counties. There came unto them divers Citizens, manifesting desires to further the work of the general raising of the people, as the only means to preserve the Kingdom; but differed in their opinions from the judgement of the Committee, about the method intended for the advance of Men and Monies, utterly disliking all endeavours for voluntary subscriptions and listings, and earnestly pressing, that without a compulsive power, by which all men should be compelled to go in person, or to contribute moneys, the work would be retarded, and nothing done; and desired that my Lord Mayor might be moved to call a Common-Hall for the furthering of the work. The Committee remained firm in their judgements, that the voluntary way was first to be proved, as not doubting, but that the people being now sensible of their approaching miseries, and upon the general raising for a speedy end of all their fears and troubles, they would not be backward, but liberally disburse their moneys, and adventure their persons; which if contrary to their expectations should prove defective, would soon appear, and did not doubt, but in such a case to be supplied by a coercive power from the House.  
Nevertheless they agreed that my Lord Mayor should be desired to call a Common-Hall, where the promoting of the work of this Committee should be commended to the generality of the Citizens; which was done accordingly by Colonel Martin, and exceeding joyfully approved of, to the great encouragement of the Committee to proceed in their endeavours and intentions, and thereupon have issued forth their Warrants, and particular instructions to the Alderman and his Deputy of every Ward, to call unto them the Ministers, the Common-council men, and other fit persons to promote the said work, according to the method and instructions sent unto them.  
The like course is taken in Westminster, Southwark, and the places adjacent, whereof it is most necessary, that every good man should take notice, lay to heart, and endeavour to promote the same, as the greatness and necessity of the work doth require; there having been no other way proposed by them for listing of men, or taking subscriptions. And therefore what ever other good works or designs are on foot, let none be wanting unto this, the greatest of all, and last refuge of the people. Care will be taken that your moneys shall be faithfully and frugally disbursed, and that no bad Officer be admitted, and the common Soldier carefully provided for: And experience will prove, that this is no vain bait or allurement; may the people be but as faithful to themselves, as these Gentlemen will be unto them, and as liberal to the work as they are ready to spend themselves in behalf of the plainest and poorest people in the Commonwealth. And then our enemies will soon feel the smart, and our friends the comfort of their endeavours. Therefore let no man stand to see what others will do; let no man's evil suggestions upon fair pretences prevail: who ever endeavours to disturb or divert this work by never so fair a show, will be found no friend to the Commonwealth: What you do, do with all your might: the work is Gods, to deliver the captive, and set the oppressed free. Let none therefore incur that curse, which is due unto those that do the work of the Lord negligently; nor that bitter curse that will suddenly fall upon those that come not forth to help the Lord against the mighty.  
FINIS.