June 1650: An Act enabling the Militia of the City of London to raise Horse within the said City and Liberties, For defence of the Parliament, City of London, and Liberties thereof, and the parts adjacent.

June, 1650

[4 June, 1650.]

Committee of London Militia may charge citizens and such as have stock-in trade with horse for defence of Parl.

The Parliament of England, doe Enact and Declare, and it is hereby Enacted and Declared, That the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, or any nine or more of them shall have power, and are hereby authorized to charge such Inhabitants who are constantly dwelling within the said City and Liberties thereof and such persons who have Stocks going in trade within the limits aforesaid, and absent themselves, as they or any other Nine of them shal esteem able to find and maintain Horses, with Furniture and Rider, or Horse and furniture without Rider, at their proper charges, for the defence of the Parliament, City of London, Liberties and parts adjacent; so as no person shall be charged for the raising and maintaining of more than two Horses, Furniture and Riders, to be put under such Commanders and Officers as the said Committee shall think fit: And the said Horse being Listed, Trained and Exercised, to bee employed by the said Committee, or by such whom they shall appoint, to suppress all Tumults, Rebellions, and Insurrections that shall happen within the said City, and Liberties, and parts adjacent.

Penalty for default.; Allowances to persons employed in levying fines.; Persons duly finding horse freed from service in trained bands.; Continuance of Act.

And it is further Enacted, That if any person or persons shall be charged to find Horse, Furniture and Riders, or Horse and Furniture without Riders as aforesaid, and shall refuse or neglect to provide the same within eight dayes after notice thereof given to them in person, or left in writing at their dwelling, shall forfeit and pay twenty pounds; and if they or any of them shall neglect or refuse to send forth their horse, with Furniture and Rider, or Horse and Furniture without Rider, provided and furnished as aforesaid, when and as often as he or they shall be summoned thereunto by the said Committee of the Militia, or such Commanders or Officers as they shall appoint, in default thereof shall forfeit and pay Forty shillings upon every such failing, or suffer four days Imprisonment, without Baile or Mainprize, to be inflicted upon every such offender; and the several Penalties aforesaid to be levyed by Distresse, and sale of the Goods of such Offenders, by the said Committee of the Militia, or such as they shall appoint; And the said Committee shall have power, and are hereby authorized to give such satisfaction to such persons as they shall imploy in levying the said Fines as the Committee of the Militia shall think reasonable; and the moneys so raised, to be employed by the said Committee, for the payment of the forces under their command: and that all such persons that shall be charged to find Horse, Furniture and Riders as aforesaid, and shall yeeld obedience thereunto, shal during that time be freed from service in the Trained-bands and Auxiliaries within the said City and Liberties thereof. Provided alwaies, That the number of Horse exceed not six hundred, and the Riders thereof be such as the Committee of the Militia, or such as they shall appoint, shall approve of. And it is further [Enacted], That hereafter Proclamations shall be made, and Summons given by beat of Drum, or otherwise, In the name of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, and for their Safety, and the Safety of the City of London, Liberties thereof, and parts adjacent. Provided, That this Act doe continue in force untill the four and twentieth day of June, One thousand six hundred fifty and one, and no longer.