A COMMON COUNCIL, HELD At GUILDHALL, In the City of LONDON, the 31. of December. 1641.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. MDCXLI.   

Common Concilium tent. in Camera Guildhall Civit. London tricesimo primo die Decemb. 1641. post meridiem, An. Reg. Dom. nostri Caroli nunc Regis Angliae, etc. decimo septimo, coram Richardo Gurney Milite & Baronetto, Majore Civit. Lond. Tho. Gardiner Milite, ejusdem Civit. Record. Ed: Brumfield Milit. & Ed. Wright Mil. & Alderm. dictae Civit. joh. Cordell Mil. joh. Gayer Mil. jacobo Garrad Mil. ac Alderm. Tho Atkin Alderm joh. Wallaston Mil. & Alderm. Thom. adam's. joh. Warner. joh. Towse. Abrah. Reynardson, & Thom. Austin praedict. Civit. Alderm. ac Georgio Garret, & Georgio Clarke Mil. & Alderm, ac Vicecam. Civ. praedict. necnon majore parte Conciliariorum de Com. Concilio ejusdem Civitat. tune & ibidem assemblat.  
AT this Common Council Master Recorder declared, That by the direction of the right Honourable the Lord Major, he was to signify to them the cause of their now Assembly, how that his Lordship had yesterday received a Letter from Sir Edward Nicholas Knight, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries, intimating that it was His Majesty's pleasure, his Lordship would call a Common Council against this time, and then his Lordship should be advertised of His Majesties further pleasure: And that there was now at this present in the Council Chamber an honourable person, being the Lord Newburgh, Chancellor of His Majesty's Court of the Duchy, and one of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, come hither to deliver His Majesty's Message or Request to this Court: And thereupon the right honourable the Lord Newburgh was desired to come into this Court, who being here, declared and said in this manner; Gentlemen, His Majesty out of His good affection towards the City, and acknowledging of your great loves lately showed unto His Highness, hath sent me in a Message unto you, assuring it to be the same contained in a Paper, which he presented and desired to be read to this Common Council, which was accordingly done, the tenor whereof followeth in these words, viz.  

THere having been of late many tumultuary and riotous Assemblies of people about Our Palaces of Whitehall and Westminster, to the great disturbance of Us and Our Parliament: and We having received information, that some illaffected persons do still endeavour to incite the like tumults again, We have thought fit to recommend to your especial care the preventing them, as far as in you lies, especially the ensuing Holidays, at which the idleness of many may make them apt to such disorders. We have thought fit likewise to let you know, that We are so well assured of the good affections of Our City of London, by the great expressions which it hath made unto Us of them of late, that We can in no wise understand it to have any share in the fault of these tumults and distempers, but that they proceed merely from the mean and unruly people of the Suburbs. And as We are most confident of the hearts and good affections of Our City of London towards Us and Our Government, and will not entertain any other opinion; so We do desire them not to be disturbed by any jealousies that illaffected persons may endeavour to sow, but to rest most confident and assured, that the safety, the protection, and the prosperity of the City shall ever be with Us a principal care.   
After the reading of which most gracious Message, whereby is fully manifested and expressed His Majesty's gracious goodness and great care for the safety and prosperity of this City (The Lord Newburgh having withdrawn himself) this Common-council took the same into their serious consideration, and how for the present to return by this Honourable person unto His Majesty an answer with all humility and thankfulness; And after much debate, it was fully agreed and resolved of by this Common-council, That in the first place should be returned and rendered unto His Majesty from this Common council as the representative body of the whole City, their humble duty in the thankful manner, for His goodness and gracious love and care manifested to this City.  
Secondly, that it should be signified unto His Majesty, This Court, nor any particular member thereof, hath had any hand in these Tumultuous and Riotous proceed, and that they, and every of them do disavow and disclaim the same.  
Thirdly, that it may be likewise signified, That this Court (as the representative Body of the whole City) doth promise from henceforth their best endeavours to prevent and suppress in time to come (as far as in them lieth) all such, or the like Tumultuous Assemblies, and all Mutinous and Rebellious persons.  
And lastly, That the humble desire of this Court may be presented unto His Majesty, to be gradually pleased, that all the delinquents and causers of these Tumults, Whatsoever they be, being apprehended, may be brought into examination, and receive condign punishment according to the Law.  
And these four things thus agreed upon, were by direction of this Common Council here openly declared and delivered by the mouth of Master Recorder, unto that Honourable person the Lord Newburgh here present, with desire that the same should be by his Lordship accordingly presented unto his Majesty, the which he promised to perform with trust.  
And afterwards this Court entered into further consultation and debate, touching the tumultuous and riotous Assemblies lately spread night and day in several parts of the City, to the great trouble and affrightment of his Majesty's good Subjects, and also touching the great neglect of that due respect which ought to be given by the Inhabitants of this City, to the several Precepts lately issued out by my Lord Major, for a continual Watch and Ward day and night for prevention and suppression of such tumults and distempers;  
And likewise touching the great neglect in appearance of the tranced Bands of this City to their Colours at the beat of the Drum, especially in these times of danger, in contempt of Authority, being a matter of exceeding great consequence and not fit to be suffered. And thereupon this Common Council taking much to heart, that such disobedience should grow and be found in the Inhabitants of this City, to the great disrespect of Magistracy and contempt of Government; And that such disorders and tumultuary Assemblies should be permitted in such a City as this, formerly famous for the good and quiet Government thereof, hath thought it very expedient and behooveful, for redress and remedy to be had in these abuses, being not fit to be any longer induced, That every Member of this Common Council now assembled, shall in their several Precincts, spread it abroad, and make it known, That if any person, or persons, shall from henceforth neglect his duty and service to be performed, as aforesaid, and shall not do his best endeavour to suppress, or prevent any Tumults, or riotous Assemblies, that shall hereafter be attempted within this City, or Liberties thereof, that then he or they offending, shall receive condign punishment, according to his or their demerits.  
And it is further thought fit, and so agreed by this Common Council, that my Lord Major may send out his Precepts in such manner, and to such purpose, as his Lordship, and his Brethren the Aldermen, shall think fit, for Watch and Ward, raising of Arms, or otherwise, for the safety and preservation of this City; to which this Court, and all the Members thereof, promise all due and cheerful obedience.  
FINIS.