AT a Common-Council held at Guild-Hall London, the 8th of this instant, a Petitionary Remonstrance was presented to the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Commons of the Citizens of London, in Common Council assembled; Wherein they thankfully acknow­ledged the just and prudent Resolution of that Honorable Coun­cel, expressed in their Declaration of the 20 of December last past; and withall humbly Remonstrating, That no Power or Persons whatsoever, might impose any Law or Tax upon any of those Ci­tizens, with whose general Concernment that Court was intru­sted, untill the Authority thereof be derived from their Repre­sentatives in Parliament. By which means, they doubted not, next under God, to have their languishing Trades revived, and their Hearts and Purses together inlarged to a chearful and liberall Contribution towards their lawful Government and Protection, according to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right.

Upon the presenting whereof, It was put to the Vote, Whether they should prosecute those lawful means that may lead to the attainment of a Free Parliament, &c. But the Lord Maior dissen­ting, the Resolve and Sense of the Court, was transmitted to the Council of State: Whereupon the Lord General Monck was ordered to march into the City with his Army, for reducing of the Citizens to the Obedience of the Parliament; in order where­unto, the several Regiments both of Horse and Foot took their [Page 4] respective stations throughout this great Metropolis, strong guards being placed at all the Gates and Posterns; and the streets plan­ted with Souldiers, continuing in their Arms, and sometimes up­on motion, for many hours together: At which time, divers Aldermen and Common-Council were seised and committed to custody, their Names being as followeth:

• Alderman Vincent,
• Alderman Bludworth,
• Col. Bromfield,
• Lieut. Col. Jackson,
• Major Cox,
• Major Chamberlain,
• M [...]. Ern [...],
• Mr. Foord,
• Mr. Spencer,
• Mr. Penning.

This being done, His Excellency sent a Letter to the Parlia­ment, dated from Guild-Hall London; Which being read, The Resolve of the House was,

Resolved,

That the Answer to this Lett [...] is to send unto Generall MONCK the Resolves of the Parliament, that the Gates of the City of LONDON, and the Perculisses be destroy­ed▪ and that he be ordered to put the said Vote in Execution accordingly.

Resolved, That the present Common-Council of the City of London elected for this year be discontinued and be and are hereby declared to be null and void, and that the Lord Mayor have notice thereof.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee to bring in a Bill for the choice of another Common-Council with such qua­lifications as the Parliament shall think fit, with Order to méet at 8 of the Clock in the Speakers Chamber on Friday morning.

The House having received a Report from the Council of State of some Resolutions taken by the Council in the City of London,

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of what the [Page 5] Council of State hath done in Ordering that the Commissio­ners for Government of the Army, do appoint Forces to be and continue in the City of London, for preserving the peace thereof and of the Commonwealth and for reducing of the Ci­ty to the Obedience of the Parliament.

Resolved,

That the Parliament doth approve of what the Councill of State have done, in Ordering that the Commissioners for the Army do take Order that the Posts and Chains of the City of London be taken away.

Resolved,

That the Gates of the City of London, and the Percullisses thereof be forthwith destroyed.

Resolved,

That the Commissioners for Government of the Army be and are hereby impowred to apprehend and seise any of the Nine late Officers, who were Ordered by the Parliament to leave the Town, who have not obeyed the former O [...]der in going to the places appointed for them; or any other danger­ous Persons who have been in Arms against the Parliament and Commonwealth.

Resolved,

That the Parliament doth approve of what the Council of State and Commissioners of the Army have done in seising and apprehending of Mr. Vincent Merchant, in Bishopsgate stréet, and Mr. Thomas Brown Grocer in Wood-stréet. D [...]niel Spencer in Friday-stréet Lawrenc [...] Bromfield in Tower-stréet, Major Chamberlain, and Richard Ford in Séething-Lane, Major Cox at the Swan in Dowgate, Mr. Bludworth Mr Fen­ning in Fan-Church street, and Lieutenant Collonel Jack­son.

[Page 6]The Commissioners of the Army being to continue the Go­vernment thereof, care is taken to preserve the peace of the City, in these sad and deplorable Times: And the House have read the Bill for setling the Militia of the City of London, and the Li­berties thereof the first time, and referred it to the Council of State to present Names of Commissioners for the Militia of London.

In pursuance of the aforenamed Resolves and Orders, most of the Posts and Chains about London were pulled down, the City Gates broke and cut a pieces, and the Percullisses taken down and destroyed: Which being done effectually at Cripple-Gate, Bishops Gate, and Ald-Gate, where many Thousands sad Objects with no small Terrour beheld these unexpected Ruines, the Soul­diers afterwards went to Aldersgat [...], Newgate, and some other places; but the Work did not prove so feasible, for they being both of an extraordinary and impregnable strength, proved the more difficult; so that a longer time was required: However, they dismounted the Gates from off the Hinges, and with Iron Wedges and great Hammers, rent and tore a pieces part of the Percullisses.

An Account whereof being given to his Excellency the Lord General at Guild-Hall, about four of the clock in the afternoon he marched from thence to White-Hall; and, in the Evening, the Councel being sate, his Excellency ascended the stairs, repre­senting to their Lordships, an account of his Transactions amongst the Citizens, in Obedience to the Resolves and Authority of that Honourable Council, for the pulling up of the Posts & Chains, and destroying of the Gates and Percullisses. Which by Them was well resented, and hearty Thanks from the Members retur­ned.

After all which, the Guards of Horse and Foot being placed, and the City Constables with their several Watches set, betwixt eleven and twelve of the Clock on Friday Night, a considerable Company of Foot (commanded by the Captain of the Round-Guard) came to Newgate, where the said Captain would have dismissed the Constable and his Watch; but they refused it, say­ing, They must obey the ancient Orders and Customs of the City, [Page 7] and could not depart their duty without Orders from the Lord Mayor.

The Captain replyed, That since they were to make a Garrison of the City, there ought to be no other Watch or Guards kept, but what should consist of their own Military Force; and that they had not been nine years out of their Native Countrey, but they had sufficient Experience, how to manage the publique Af­fairs of a Nation, in defence of Civil and Christian Liberty against all restless Spirits whatsoever: But upon the importancy of Constable, the Captain wheeled off with his men, and peaceably marched them through the Gate, towards the Gate, without any further dispute or Opposition.