A DECLARATION Of His Excellency the Lord General Fairfax.  
Concerning the Supply of Bedding Required from the City of London For the lodging of the Army in void houses to prevent the Quartering of Soldiers upon any the Inhabitants.  
Together with a Draught of his Warrants to the Aldermen of the several Wards for that purpose.  
LONDON, Printed by John Macock, for JOHN PARTRIDGE. 1648.   

A DECLARATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE Lord General Fairfax, Concerning the supply of Bedding required from the City of LONDON, for the lodging of the Army in void houses, to prevent the Quartering of Soldiers upon any the Inhabitants.  
PROCLAMATION.  
UPon the drawing up of the Army to this place, for the better avoiding the trouble and inconveniencies to the City and Suburbs of LONDON, or the Inhabitants thereof, which might happen by the quartering of Soldiers in private men's houses, it was the desire and Resolution of myself, and my Officers, to lodge the Soldiers in great and void houses; and to the end they might be accommodated for that purpose, (in regard, that at this season Soldiers cannot hold our to lodge continually upon bare floors,) I writ to the Lord Major, Aldermen and Common Council of the City of LONDON, desiring they would take some course for a speedy supply of Bedding for the Soldiery: but instead of any satisfaction therein, after some delay, I have received only an excusatory Answer.  
The Soldiers and most of the Officers having lain now almost a week upon cold floors, and health not permitting them to endure such hardship for continuance, out of the same tender care, to avoid trouble or inconvenience to the inhabitants, or any discontents or differences which might arise between them and the Soldiers by the quartering of them in private houses, I have (with the advice of a Council of War) thought fit to require a necessary supply of Bedding, by Warrants directed immediately to the respective Aldermen of the several Wards, the Copy whereof is herewith printed and published; and (with the same advice) I do hereby further declare, That in case any failer shall be in the bringing in, by the time limited, such proportions of Bedding, as, according to the said Warrants, are charged upon the several Wards, and shall be apportioned upon the several Divisions and Inhabitants of the same, I shall be necessitated to send Soldiers, either to fetch such proportions of Bedding from them that fail, or else to quarter with them; and must take such course against either those Aldermen, and other Officers in the City, who shall neglect to rare and bring in the proportions required from their respective Wards & Divisions, or against those Inhabitants who shall refuse to supply the proportions rated upon them, as shall be fit to use towards such obstinate opposers of that orderly supply, which is so necessary for the ease and quiet of the City, and for the subsistence of the Army.  
Given under my Hand and Seal at my Quarter in Westminster the eighth of December, 1648.   

The Copy of the Warrant.  
WHereas for the avoiding of the inconveniencies of Quartering Soldiers upon private men's houses, it is intended and desired, that the Army shall be lodged in great and void houses, while it shall continue in or about the City of LONDON, to the end therefore the Soldiery may be accommodated to lodge in such houses, which at this season of the year, without convenient Bedding, they cannot bear; These are therefore to will and require you, that upon receipt hereof you do forthwith cause the proportion of hundred and Feather Beds, or Flock Beds, with one Bolster, one pair of corpse Sheets, and two Blankets, or one Blanket and one Coverlet for each Bed, sufficient for the lodging of two men in a Bed, to be equally apportioned upon the several Divisions within your Ward, and upon the several Householders that are of ability to furnish the same within the said several Divisions; and the said Beds, with the appurtenances aforesaid, to be brought to by S●turday next at noon, being the Ninth of this instant December, and there to be delivered unto the hands and custody of for the supply of the Regiment under the Command of Colonel and the said is to give receipt or receipts under his hand for what Bedding he shall receive, thereupon expressing from what Ward or Divisions the same do come in, and upon the removal of the Army, or the said Regiment, from about the City, such Bedding shall be restored to the respective Inhabitants, Divisions or Wards from which it was had; and there shall be care taken to prevent, as much as may be, any spoil or imbezilement thereof; and in case, after such delivery, any part thereof shall be lost or spoiled, so as to be made useless, reasonable satisfaction shall be given or assigned for the same out of the Treasury of the Army. And you are on the same day by eight of the Clock in the morning to return to myself, or my Secretary, in writing under your hand, an Account of your proceeding upon this Warrant, with a list of the proportions charged upon the several Divisions of your Ward, and upon the several Householders in each Division, that if any failer be, it may be known where it rests. Hereof you are not to fail, as you will answer the contrary at your peril: and this shall be your Warrant.  
Given under my Hand and Seal at my Quarter in Westminster the seventh day of December, 1648.  
To the Alderman of the Ward of   
FINIS.