TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE Lords and Commons In Parliament Aſſembled.The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common-Councell aſſembled.
THat laſt night your Petitioners ſitting in Common-councell, there was by divers grave and well-affected Citizens preſented unto them a Petition ſubſcribed by a great number of hands; wherein was repreſented the ſad and dangerous condition2 of the Parliament and City, (which this Court is alſo very ſenſible of) by reaſon that the power, by Ordinance of the 12th. inſtant, granted to Major-Generall Skippon, to liſt Horſe and Foot, is ſtill made uſe of, to put the power of the Sword into the hands of Servants and Sectaries; which, by many teſtimonies of very credible Witneſſes, hath been clearly proved.
All which, your Petitioners doe conceive, will endanger the ſafety and peace of Parliament and City; is contrary to the Ancient laudable Cuſtomes and uſages of the ſame; inconſiſtent with the Power by Ordinance granted to the Militia of London; and is feared, will (if not ſpeedily prevented) put this City into a ſodain diſtemper.
In conſideration whereof, and in diſcharge3 of their Truſt, your Petitioners are again neceſſitated to be humble ſuters unto this honourable Houſe:
And doe pray,
That the ſaid Ordinance granted unto Major-Generall Skippon may be repealed; and the Forces raiſed by authority thereof diſcharged. That there may be no Liſting nor raiſing of Forces in this City or Liberties thereof, but by the power of the Militia, ſetled by Ordinance of Parliament; That ſo the Petitioners may be the better enabled and encouraged to defend the Parliament; unto whom (notwithſtanding the many falſe and ſcandalous aſperſions of diſaffection and malignancy caſt upon them)4 they are reſolved with Lives and Fortunes faithfully and conſtantly to adhere according to their Solemn League and Covenant.
And ſhall pray, &c.
Die Sabbathi, 29. Junii, 1648.
THE Lords gratefully receive the acknowledgements which you have made to them in the name of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-councell of the City, and have commanded me to aſſure you that their care ſhall never be wanting to improve all meanes for the preventing of thoſe inconveniencies that may threaten their danger or diſquiet to the City of LONDON. In this particular mentioned in your Petition, they have already recalled that power given to Major Generall Skippon: they will purſue a further and as effectuall a meanes as they can for the perfecting of what is deſired by you, that the confidence the City of LONDON hath expreſſed of them may be confirmed, and that the City may be ſtill encouraged and enabled to intend the ſecurity of the Parliament according to their engagements.
Die Sabbathi, 29. Julii, 1648.
THe Houſe being informed, that the Sheriffes and Aldermen of London were at the doore, they were called in; And after a ſhort preamble made by Sheriffe Bide, he preſented a Petition which after the Petitioners were withdrawne was read, and was Entituled, The humble Petition of the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common-councell aſſembled.
The Petitioners being againe called in, Mr. Speaker gave them this Anſwer,
Mr. Sheriffe and the reſt of you Gentlemen of the City, The Houſe has read your Petition, and have conſidered thereof, and had a ſad and ſerious debate thereupon, and are ſenſible of the reſpects of the City, and of your expreſſion in the latter end of your Petition, of your good affections and reſolutions; And I am commanded to give you very hearty thanks for the ſame: And to let you know, That the Houſe hath appointed a Committee to goe to the City of LONDON, to acquaint them with the dangers of the City and Parliament; and with the grounds and reaſons of making and continuing the Ordinance. And this Houſe hath put into a way of reforming all irregularities in liſting Souldiers by colour of the ſaid Ordinance.