This was early in March, some days after a proclamation "commanding all Papists and other persons who have been of the late King's party or his son's to depart out of the cities of London and Westminster," and another proclamation forbidding such persons living in the country to stir more than five miles from their fixed places of abode.

On the 12th of that month the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London met his Highness and the Army-officers by appointment at Whitehall, where his Highness explained to them at length the nature of the crisis, informed them particularly of the strength of the Flanders army of invasion, Ormond's visit, &c., and solemnly committed to them the safety of the City.

The response of the City authorities was extremely loyal.[1] [Footnote 1: Godwin, IV.

507-508; Carlyle, III.

353-354; _Merc.
Pol._, of March 11-18, 1657-8, quoted in _Cromwelliana_, pp.