to put this City forthwith in a Posture of Defence.

3. And in order thereunto, That the Maior, Aldermen, and Common Council, settle Six Regiments of Trained Bands, with their respective Commanders and Officers.

4. That the naming of those Commanders, and Officers, be left to the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Common Council.

That the said Commanders and Officers Commissions, shall be under the common Seal of the City, to be Sealed in open Court, before the Maior, Aldermen, and Common Council.

Touching the Letters received from Portsmouth, and the Fleet, the Opinion of the Committee is,

That several Commissioners be forthwith appointed to confer with the Lord Fleetwood, with Sir Arthur Haslerig, Colonel Morley, and Colonel Walton, and with Vice-Admiral Lawson, and other Officers of the Fleet, in order to the Safety of the City, and the Peace and Settlement of the Nation, and in due Time to give an Answer to General Monk's Letter.

That in order to the obtaining of that Peace and Safety, the Common Council do impower those Commissioners to propound the convening of a Free Parliament, according to a late Declaration of this Court.

Voted, That these Votes be Reported to the Common Council by Alderman Fowke.

Which Report being Read, and every Part thereof severally Debated, was by this Court confirmed and approved of, saving the Right of the Court of Aldermen.

      Appointed Commissioners to confer with Vice-Admiral Lawson.
Alderman Fowke,
Mr. Richard Ford,
Will. Bateman, Esq;
      Appointed Commissioners to confer with Sir Arthur Haslerig, &c.
Alderman Tompson,
Colonel Bromfield,
Maximil. Beard,
      Appointed Commissioners to confer with the Lord Fleetwood, and the Speaker.
Alderman Bateman,
Will. Vincent, Esq;
and
John Jolly, Esq;

To acquaint them that this Court hath received their Letters, and do return Thanks for their good Expressions, touching the Peace and Welfare of the Nation.

To acquaint them what the Court hath resolved for the Peace and Safety of the City.

And in Pursuance of the Declaration of December the 20th, to confer of the best way to settle the Nation in a way of Free Parliament, and to offer what they conceive conducing thereto, and to mediate Agreement and Peace between all Parties, in order to a Free Parliament.

And the Commissioners impowered to confer with the respective Parties in any Place or Places they shall see fit, and to report to this Court.

December the 24th, 1659, Ordered that the Chains and Posts be set up.

      Chosen the Colonels of the Six Regiments of Trained-Bands to be raised by this City.
Ald. Robinson,
Ald. Bateman,
Ald. Laurence,
Ald. King,
Ald. Bolton,
Ald. Wale,
      Green.
Lieutenant-Col. Tasker,
Major Kilby,
Captain Winstanley,
Captain William Keane,
Captain Hussey,
Captain Bluncken,
      Red.
Lieutenant-Col. Claggat,
Major Stanyon,
Captain Locke,
Captain Lee,
Captain Cheese,
Captain Thomas Swale,
      White.
Lieutenant-Col. Taylor,
Major Greenhill.
Captain Cooke,
Captain Massey,
Captain Hudson,
Captain Smart, Jun.
      Orange.
Lieutenant-Col. Alsoppe,
Major Pinkney,
Captain Thomas Bostocke,
Captain Andrews,
Captain Day,
      Blue.
Lieutenant-Col. Cox,
Major Earely
Captain Richard Ford,
Captain Peter Houblon,
Captain Thomas Bonsoy,
Captain Robert Fisher,
      Yellow.
Lieutenant-Col. Hind,
Major Neale.
Captain Fawne,
Captain Bolt,
Captain Walton,
Captain Colchester,

Setting up the Posts and Chains to be forborn.

December the 27th, 1659, Alderman Fowke, and Commissioners to Vice-Admiral Lawson, made a Report of their Conference. A Committee appointed to attend the Parliament.

The Council of State, (as the Governing Party, then called themselves) find the City of London thus generally inclined to bring in the King, and in order to that, standing for a Free Parliament, and perceiving how illy they stood affected to the present Power, made some Resolutions: And these Votes past February the 9th, 1659.

That the Commissioners for Government of the Army do appoint Forces to be in London, for preserving the Peace thereof, and of the Commonwealth; and for reducing of the City to the Obedience of the Parliament. And that the Commissioners take Care, that the Posts and Chains in the said City be taken away, and the Gates of the City forthwith destroyed. And these Resolves of the House were sent to General Monk, and that he should put the same in Execution. Who, however dissatisfied with the ingrateful Work, executed their Orders. And in the Sight of the Citizens, (to be punished for their Loyalty,) took down their Port-cullices and Gates, and took away their Posts and Chains. And Monk and his Forces quartered in the City. Where notwithstanding, he had many Visitants of the Chief Citizens, and of the Secluded Members.