THe Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled , taking into their serious consideration ; That according to divers Ordinances of both Houses , the Committee for the Militia of London , and divers others wel-affected persons , by approbation of the said Committee , have raised great Forces of Horse and Foot ; have made Courts of Guard , Forts , and Lines of Communication from one Fort to another , as well within the said City and liberties , as without , in the Counties of Middlesex and Surry , have caused those Forces to be listed , arrayed , weaponed , trained and exercised , and divers of these Courts of Guard and Forts to be manned and furnished with Ordnance ; and have appointed Colonels , Captaines , and other Officers over them : That the said Committee and wel-affected persons are raising more forces of Horse and Foot , and providing more Armes and other necessaries ; That the said Forces , Courts of Guard , and Forts have been , and are intended to be constantly imployed for the safegard of this present Parliament , and of the said City and parts adjacent ; whereon our Religion , Lawes , Liberties , and publique safety do so much depend ; That the charge of raising and maintaining the said Forces , Courts of Guard and Forts , hath been , and is like to bee very great , and hitherto born chiefly by the said City and wel-affected Citizens thereof ; That it is necessary to continue this charge till our Religion , Laws , and Liberties be by other meanes secured ; That it is most just that all persons inhabiting within the said Forts and lines of Communication , and Parishes adjacent , being in the more safety thereby , should therefore contribute to the said charge , and put their shoulders to the burthen , which will make it be much the more easily undergone : That it wil eminently tend to the safety of all the said Inhabitants , if all the said Forces raised and to be raised within the commands of the said Forts and lines of Communication , and Parishes adjacent , be subordinate to the command of the Committee of the Militia of London , next under both Houses of Parliament . That for the better carrying on the work , it is necessary some persons be added to the said Committee ; That the Lord Major , Aldermen , and Common-councel of the said City have petitioned to that purpose . Hereupon the said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled doe ordaine and declare , and be it ordained and declared , That the said Committee for the Militia of London , shall have full power and authority to cause all and singular his Majesties Subjects , inhabiting within the command of the said Forts , or lines of Communication , and Parishes adjacent , mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality , that are meet and fit for the Warres , from time to time to be assembled and called together , and to be listed , well and sufficiently arrayed , weaponed , trained , exercised , and put in readinesse in places most fit for that purpose , excepting such as are Peeres , or Members of the House of Commons , or Assistants or attendants to the House of Peeres , and all their menuall servants , and the Students of the severall Innes of Courts and Chancery . And for the better execution of this Ordinance , to make as well one or more Sub-committees , consisting of so many persons as they shall think fit ; as also Colonels and Captaines , and other Officers , and to remove them out of their places , and to make others from time to time , as they shall think fit for that purpose ; And to lead , conduct and imploy the said Forces , arrayed and weaponed , as well for the disarming of all such within the command of the said Forts and lines of Communication , as shall refuse to give obedience to this Ordinance , and for the safe guarding of the said Forts and lines of Communication , as also for the suppression of all rebellions , insurrections , and invasions that may happen within the same , and of all Forces raised without authority of Parliament , and to give battail and fight with them and their adherents , and all others that shall approach with any such force towards , or against the Parliament , or Cities of London and Westminster , and places adjacent , or shall cause any insurrection within command of the said Forts or lines of Communication , and them to invade , resist , represse , subdue , pursue , kill , and slay , and by all meanes to destroy as enemies of the Kingdom , and to perform all things else needfull for the preservation of the Parliament and Cities aforesaid , either by water or land : observing from time to time such other directions or commands , as they shall receive from both Houses of Parliament .

And it is further ordained and declared by the said Lords and Commons , That all persons inhabiting within command of the said Forts or lines of Communication and Parishes adjacent , mentioned in the weekly Bill of Mortality , except the persons before excepted , shall contribute towards the said charge in such a reasonable proportion as shall be thought fit by both Houses of Parliament , and that all the Forces raised and to be raised within the said Forts and lines of Communication , and Parishes adjacent , mentioned in the weekly Bill of mortality , except the persons before excepted , shall be ordered and disposed of from time to time , by the said Committee for the Militia of London , any former Order , Ordinance , or Declaration , or other matter to the contrary hereof , in any wise notwithstanding ; And that Isaac Pennington now Lord Major , John Kendrick Alderman , Richard Turner senior , William Hobson , Theophilus Reyley , Richard Bateman , Edward Cocke , Richard Turner junior , Robert Tichbourne , Tempest Milner , William Antrebus , Thomas Player senior , and Samuel Harsnet , Citizens of London , shall be added to the said Committee . And it is further ordained and declared , That as the good endevours of the said Committee for the Militia , and of other wel-affected persons aforesaid , are and shall be taken as real testimonies of their good intentions for the common good and safety , and the execution thereof a good and acceptable service to the Common-wealth , so the said persons shall be by power of Parliament saved harmlesse both for what ( according to the true meaning of the premises ) they have done , and what they or any others shall doe in the execution of this Ordinance from time to come .