HIs Highness the Lord Protector being informed of the frequent meetings of divers Pa­pists, and other ill-affected persons (who have born arms against this Commonwealth, or otherwise adhered to the Enemy in the late Wars) in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and the places adjacent, and judging it necessary to use all means for preserving the peace of the Nation, and to prevent the mischiefs which may arise by designs against the peace thereof, doth (by and with the advice of His Privy Councel) straightly charge and command all Papists, and all other persons, who have been at any time in arms against the Commonwealth, or have adhered unto, or willingly assisted the enemies thereof in the time of the late War, being within the Cities of London and Westminster, or the late lines of Communication, and not under restraint, within three days after the date hereof (or if under restraint, within three days after their respective enlargement) to depart out of the said Cities of London and West­minster, and late lines of Communication, and all other places within twenty miles of the said late lines, unless it be the places of habitation of themselves and their families, And not to return until the tenth day of June next; And His Highness doth require and command the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and the Aldermen of the said City, and likewise the Iustices of the Peace within the said Cities of London and Westminster, and of the several Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Hertford, Kent and Essex, within their limits and jurisdictions to cause strict Wards and Watches to be kept, and to make frequent and diligent searches for, and to apprehend or cause to be apprehended, all such persons aforesaid, which shall be found within the said Cities, Places, or distance aforesaid, after the time or times herein before limitted for their departure; and them and every of them to commit to prison, and from time to time to cer­tifie their proceedings therein to His Highness Councel under their Hands and Seals; And all Sheriffs, Mayors, Bayliffs, Constables, and all Captains of Guards, Officers and Soldiers, and all other the good people of this Commonwealth, are required to be ayding and assisting to the said Iustices of the Peace, and other Officers aforesaid, in the due execution of the premises, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils. And for the better discovery of all Papists and ill-affected persons, which now are abiding in, or during the time aforesaid shall resort unto the said Cities of London and Westminster, or either of them, or any place or places within the late Lines of Communication; His Highness by and with the Advice of His said Councel, doth expresly charge and require all and every Housholder and Housholders within the Cities and places aforesaid, or any of them, on or before the Second day of May next coming, to deliver in writing under his and their hands unto the Alderman of the Ward, if such Housholder dwell within the City of London, or to the next Iustice of the Peace, a perfect List of the names of all persons now lodging within the House of such Housholder, together with their additions; and if they are Papists, to mention the same in such List, and so from time to time, within Four and twenty hours after the receiving of any person to lodge in his or their house or houses, to deliver in the names of such person or persons to such Alderman or next Iustice of the Peace in maner aforesaid; and the Aldermen of the respective Wards, within the said City of London, and the Iustices of the Peace within the said City of Westminster, and places within the late Lines of Communication, are required to take care that Lists be accordingly sent in unto them from all and every Housholder and Housholders a­foresaid, and to make enquiry of the truth of such Lists; and all Constables and other Officers are enjoyn­ed and required to observe the orders and directions of such Alderman and Iustice of Peace respectively in the premises, and to yield obedience thereunto: And the said Aldermen and Iustices of the Peace respectively, are hereby likewise required to transmit true Copies of such Lists unto the Clerks of His Highness Councel, or one of them. And His Highness doth hereby declare, That all and every such Housholder and Housholders as shall make default of sending in such List as aforesaid, or shall presume to send in a false List, shall be taken and deemed Enemies to the Peace and Security of the Commonwealth.

Given at White-Hall the Three and twentieth day of April in the year of our Lord, 1659.