blazon or coat of arms  
By the Major.  
WHereas by several Orders of the House of Commons in Parliament assembled, and by a Letter to the Speaker of that House, from the Committee of the county of York, this day delivered to the common-council by a Committee of the said House of Commons, it is declared, That the Parliaments Army in the Northern parts are in a sad and distressed condition for want of Food and other necessaries; And that a present supply must of necessity be made: and to that purpose it is desired that Twenty thousand pounds should be forthwith advanced by the City, out of the Arrears of the several assessments made within this City and Liberties thereof, for the Army under the Command of the Lord Fairfax. And for the better getting in of the said Arrears, it is required by the said Orders, that the common-council do forthwith send and certify to the said Committee, the Names of such persons that hav● not paid their said assessments, and the sums they are in Arrear, to be by the said Committee reported to the said House of Commons. Upon the reading of which Orders, Letter, and several other relations made by the said Committee concerning the great necessity of the said Army and Northern parts; the Common council have declared their sensibleness of the Premises, and their desire to answer the expectation of the said Committee, in effecting to their power what is desired, as a thing of great consequence to the City and Kingdom; And in pursuance of an Order of the common-council thereupon made; And for the prevention of further inconveniencies that may ensue; These are to will and require you, that presently upon sight hereof, you call the several Collectors within your Ward before you; And that the said Collectors, with some of yourselves, do on Thursday and Friday next use your best diligence and endeavours for the Collecting and getting in of the said Arrears; and acquaint the several persons that are to pay the same, that the Names of all that do not now pay their Arrears are to be certified as aforesaid; And that they may expect that further trouble and dangers will fall upon them for their neglect therein. And further, that you or some of you do examine the said Collectors accounts, and take notice what moneys every of them have in their hands; and require them on Saturday next at the furthest, to pay the same unto the Treasurers at war, in the Guild-Hall London: and that you on Monday next in the afternoon make return unto the grand Committee for the Arrears, sitting at the Guild-Hall London, in the orphan's Court, of your doings and proceedings therein; and also a List of the names of all such persons within your Ward, as shall be found to be in Arrears for the said assessments, and the sums by them owing, and the reasons by them given, why they refuse to pay the same, under the hands of the respective Collectors, with your opinions therein: And if you find any of the Collectors or others, remiss or careless in the performance of their duties, in any thing herein required, or that might conduce to the furtherance of the work, that then you also certify to the said grand Committee at the time aforesaid, the names of him or them so neglecting or refusing to perform their duties concerning the same, that they may be also certified to the said Committee of Parliament, and otherwise proceeded against, as the neglect of such a weighty business shall deserve. And herein I require you to use all diligence for the effecting what is desired, as you will answer the contrary at your peril,  
this 29. day of August, 1648. Michael  
To the Deputy and common-council-men of the Ward of_____   

Printed by Richard Cotes Printer to the honourable City of London, 1648.