WHereas for better preservation and safeguard of the City , against the continued desperate practises , and wretched designes of the many Adversaries of the Peace thereof , visible to every eye not wilfully blinded : The Committee for the Cities Militia , mindfull by all good wayes and meanes , of dischargeing the trust in them reposed , have by the labour and indeavour of some trusted Persons , in nature of a Sub-Committee , by them authorized for that purpose , brought neere unto a readinesse of Listing and forming divers Regiments of Horse and Foot , compounded and made up of honest and well-affected Persons , Refiants in the City and Neighbourhood thereof , under command of known and trustie Officers , which new Regiments are to be as Auxiliaries to the Trained Bands , and to be used for defence of Parliament , Citie , and parts adjacent , as occasion shall require : And whereas for provision of Horse and Arms , weekly disciplining of so great listed numbers , and for defraying of other Charges incident to a service of this nature , and necessary for the carrying on and perfitting this great Worke , so much concerning the preservation of this place , and therein the safety and well-being of the Parliament and the whole State , some course must needs be held ; and yet that the same may be with the least trouble and inconveniencie that may bee , and with all possible ease and indifferency ; respect being had to the many burdens incumbent upon this City and disbursements of the same : It is therefore upon due consideration had of the premisses propounded , and as a fit way to effect in some good measure the aforementioned good intendments , by direction and advice of the said Sub-Committee , and divers Reverend Divines , and other worthy Persons knowne well-willers and actors for the publike ; as their joynt suite and hearty request to all well-affected Persons and Families of the Citie , Suburbs ; and parts adjacent , recommended and desired ; That during these times of imminent and evident dangers , all such Persons and Families sensible of the premisses , and willing to promote their own safety , and the meanes thereof , will according to the president begun by those who recommend this , be pleased every of them to abstaine and forbeare some one Meale in the Weeke , and on every Munday ( the first payment beginning on Munday next the eigth of this instant May ) pay and deliver the true value thereof , to the Collectors nominated for their severall Precincts , who are to pay over the same to Treasurers especially entrusted therewith , of whose accounts and disbursements for the ends aforesaid , exact care will be taken , which in all probability will be a good way without burden or difficulty to advance weekly considerable summes for these good uses . And although this be not imposed but desired and expected as a free will offering to helpe on so good a Worke , yet it is hoped that none will oppose it , who are sensible of their owne danger , and love their safeties , especially ●f they consider ( amongst many other weighty Reasons which might be rendred . ) 1. That all of every condition are concerned in the Danger , and by Gods blessing in the Deliverance , and therfore all ought to contribute their proportion towards their just defence , poore aswell as rich being able to allow their shares herein , for that in effect it takes nothing from their purses . 2. This being no Fast properly so called , but a Meales voluntary abstinence once a weeke , is no more then what we do each weeke commonly undergo by reason of our other worldly imployments ; and therefore such an abstinence for so good a purpose , should not be thought too strict a performance . 3. There is nothing more equall , or can lesse be expected , then that reasonable provision should be made for them that under God are likely to be the Authors of so great a good for us , and are to expose their lives to the utmost hazards for defence of us and ours . We adde no other reasons drawn from policie , as the feared Famine , saving of Victualls , or the like ( which with prudent men , and as these times are will bee of no small consideration ) but we conclude with this , that the end of our eating and drinking is but to support and preserve our naturall lives , and the end of this abstinence is not onely to preserve our lives and theirs also who adventure for us , but to preserve to us and them and our posterities , what should be more deare then all our lives , even Religion ( the life of our lives ) and our Laws and Liberties , which no good man will willingly survive , nor wise man doubt , but that they are sufficiently endangered , if not lie a bleeding ; and if the Parliament and this Citie ( the great maintainers of them ) should miscarry ( which God forbid ) to all humane judgement are quite lost . It will be therefore our wisdome before God and man , and our duty too ( as we conceive ) to further this , and all other good suggested wayes , tending to the preservation of them . And so we leave the designe to Gods blessing , and the consideration of all such as hereof are made partakers , and are alike with us concerned in the common safety .

It i● desired of all the Collectors of the respective Parishes and Precincts , That for every their Parish and Precinct , they make a Role or Booke , and therein enter the Parishoners and parties names , who agree to make the weekely contributions before mentioned , desiring such as can write to put down their own names , and the day of the Month wherein their subscriptions are and the summe they will please so to pay ; and for others , to take their marks , and put down their names , which may be done under this or the like generall forme .

We whose names are underwritten , towards the raising , Arming and Disciplining of certaine Regiments of Horse and Foot , raised in London , and the adjacent places , for the defence thereof and of the Parliament , will freely pay in Money each Munday , the value of the best ordinary Meales Meat in our Families weekly ( being as followeth ) during the continuance of the present troubles , and the Kings distance from his Parliament .

TO appointed Collectors for the Parish or Precinct of by them to be imparted to the severall Househoulders , and others of that Parish or Precinct as they shall thinke fit , and receiving the subscription Moneys , thereof to render an account to the Treasurers for Armes at Salters Hall in Breadstreet every Wednesday morning weekely , so as the same may be issued for the ends before mentioned , whereof due care shall be taken by such as are designed by the Sub-Committee for that purpose , and every person interessed , shall at pleasure have account thereof .

It is lastly the earnest request of the Sub-Committee , to all the godly Ministers of those places where this shall be published ; That they taking to their assistance such other willing able persons of their severall Precincts , as will make Conscience to forward this Worke , will be pleased by such Arguments as they shall thinke fit to use , and the matter it selfe prompts , presse on the subscriptions desired , and what may more effectually help to carry on this Worke ; Is hereby recommended to the Judgements and good affections of the said Ministers and Collectors , to prepare and put on the performance of the same , and the reward of their labour will be , that of a good Conscience , and the issue by Gods blessing the Common-wealthes , and therein their owne safeties .