A copy OF THE Commission sent from His majesty TO The Conspirators of the city of London, for the raising an Army of Horse and Foot, and levying of Money, Plate, Ammunition, &c.  
WHEREBY Also power is given to these Commissioners, or any four of them to execute Martiall law, to kill and slay all those that shall oppose them or all such as are under the Command of his excellency the earl of Essex.  
 royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
LONDON, Printed for Richard Best, 1643.   

CHARLES REX, CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of England, Seotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and well-beloved Sir Nicholas crisp, Sir George Stroude, Sir Tho. Gardener, Knight; Recorder of London, Sir George Binion, Knight; 〈◇〉 Esquire, Marmaduke Royden, Esquire; Tho. broom, Esquire, Peter Paggin, Charles Ginnings, Robert Abbot, Will. White, Steven Boulton, Robert Alden, Edward Foster, Tho. Blinkhorne, of London, Gentlemen; and to all such other person or persons, as according to the true intent and purport of these presents, shall bee nominated, and appointed to be Generalls, colonels lieutenant colonels, sergeant Majors, or other Officers, or of Our council of-Warre greeting;  
Whereas in the Cities of London and Westminster and Suburbs thereof, our Borough of southwark and County of Middlesex there are raised and continued great number of military forces both Horse and Foot, who under the command of Robert earl of Essex as their general, and under the conduct of divers others, pretending to derive their authority from the two Houses of Parliament, have treacherously levied war, and rebelled against their Liege-Lord, and many of our Subjects have been seduced by false information, by the practise of a few, who have been the contrivers of those mischievous plots, and have joined with them, either in person, or by aiding of them with men, money, horses, or other things, and many of our good loyal subjects, over-awed by the power of the Rebels, have been forced to contribute to them for the maintenance of this unnatural War, and others refusing have been Plundered, and robbed of their estates, and some committed to several Prisons, and others barbarously used contrary the liberty of freeborn men, contrary to the Law of the Land, and all humanity, of which injury and calamity falling upon our good Subjects, wee are very sensible, and are desirous to give relief to Our good Subjects by all the best means Wee can, and to resist the violence and insolency of those Rebels, and their adherents, We having no other end, but to preserve the true Protestant Religion, the integrity and purity thereof, to maintain the laws of the Land, the liberty of persons, and the propriety of the estates of our Subjects, and just privileges of Parliament. Wee have thought fit for our better service, to settle a council of war in and about our City of London, who may take those things into their sad consideration which may conduce best to this end, and have such Commanders and Officers settled in the places aforesaid, which may both raise, govern, and led such forces as may be raised: We therefore imposing special trust and confidence in your fidelity, industry, and good disposition, have made choice to nominate and appoint you to be our council of war of the said Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, and of our said County of Middlesex and the Borough of southwark and hereby give authority to you, or any four of you to make choice of any other, to nominate under the hands and seal of any four of you which with yourselves shall make up in all the number of 21 and no more, and wee do give and grant to you, or any four of you power and authority at such a time, and in such place as you shall think convenient, to assemble and meet together, and there to consult, advice, and resolve, of all such things, and such ways and means, as you or any four of you shall think fittest for raising of forces, both of horse& foot, either of the inhabitants of the said Cities, County, or borough, or any of the adjacent counties& places, who will voluntarily associate themselves to that purpose, those forces to arm, muster, conduct, order, led, and govern in the place to that purpose appoynted, according to these presents, or any of the Counties adjacent in such manner as you yourselves or such other able and fitt persons, as you or any four of you, shall to that purpose appoint according to these presents think fitt, and the better to effect this our Service we give and grant to you or any four of you power and authority under your hands and seal, to make choice of and appoint of such fitt persons, as you shall think meet to be Captaines Generalls of those forces thus to be raised, and such other persons as you or any four of you shall in like manner make choice of or appoint to be colonels lieutenant Collonells, Sergant Majors, over those forces in such manner and such places as you shall so appoint, who by virtue thereof and by verve of these presents shall have power and authority to do execution and perform all such things, which to these several offices of employments, according to the law martiall do belong, and wee do hereby promise and grant, that withall convenient speed after we shall have notice from you or any 4 of you, under your hands and seal of your nomination do hereby promise and grant to raise money for the clothing arming, furnishing and paying of all such Souldiers as shall be thus Raised,& for the providing of all ammunition and other necessaries for the war, all which money upon just account wee do for us, Our Heirs, and sucessors, promise grant and agree, well and truly to pay as soon as wee shall be enabled thereunto, and in the mean time to secure the same to those who for our Service, and by your mediation and industry shall lend and disburse the same, and wee further by these presents do grant that such Generalls, colonels, lieutenant Collonells and other officers so by you nominated as aforesaid, shall have full power and authority by virtue of these presents to led& govern the souldiers under their charge, and with them to fight against our enemies and Rebels, and them to slay and destroy, or them to save according to the law Martiall, or course of war; For the doing of all which this shall bee to you, them, and all of them, a sufficient warrant, willing and commanding all other officers and souldiers, which by virtue hereof you shal retain, to obey, readily to receive and accomplish your direction& command, and summons in all things hereunto appertaining or necessary to be done; as also all Majors, Sheriffs, iustices of peace, Commissioners of Array, and all other officers Our loving subjects, to to be aiding and assisting to you and all other persons, that you shall appoint under any four of your hands and seal for the advancing of our special service, for which this shall be to you, and to every one of you a sufficient warrant. In witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents.  
Dated at Oxford the 16 of March, in the eighteen year of Our reign.  
FINIS.