TO THE HONOVRABLE the HOVSE of COMMONS Assembled in High Court of PARLIAMENT: The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Councell assem∣bled.

OUR duty, in the first place, doth lead us to be∣gin all our Addresses, as wee most heartily and humbly doe these, with all due and humble acknowledgement of the great Labours and endeavours which this Honorable House hath, these many yeers, employed, in Reformation both of the Church and Common-wealth, and in preservation of both, with the humble tender of our constant devotion to serve the Parliament, according to our Covenant made before Almighty God.

Page  2 In the next place, wee doe most humbly crave pardon, al∣though woe doe presume to return again unto this Honoura∣ble House, and humbly, yet plainly, lay open the sorrowe• ••d fears of our hearts, even in this season, when as God hath •••…∣sed your Armies with the greatest successes, and that Man might perswade himself that the Warre is almost at an end.

*For first, when wee remember that this Honourable House hath long since declared it to bee farre from their purpose or desire to let loose the golden Reins of Discipline and Govern∣ment in the Church, or to leave private persons, or particular Congregations, to take up what form of Divine Service they please, when wee look upon what both Houses have resolved against Brownisme, and Anabaptisme, properly so called, when we meditate on our Protestation and Covenant.

*And lastly, when wee peruse the Directory, and other Ordi∣nances for Presbyteriall Government, and yet finde private and separate Congregations daily erected in divers parts of the Ci∣ty, and elsewhere, and commonly frequented (and Anabaptism, Brownism, and almost all manner of Heresies, Schismes, and Blas∣phemies, boldly vented, and maintained, by such as, to the point of Church-Government, professe themselves Independent) wee cannot but bee astonished at the swarmes of Sectaries, which discover themselves every where, who, if by their endeavours, they should get into places of Profit and Trust, in Martiall or Civill affaires, it may tend much to the disturbance of the Pub∣lick Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth. And wee cannot but bee throughly awakened, when wee consider, how the said Sectaries doe encourage themselves, by their miscon∣struction of that expression in the late Declaration concerning tender Consciences, to expect a Toleration (contrary to the Nationall Covenant (as wee humbly conceive) which must needs bee a very great hinderance to that happy agreement of all the differences in matters of Discipline and Government of the Church, endeavoured by the wisdome of both Houses of Parliament, and which hath been so long prayed, and hoped for by us.

And in pursuance of that noble Resolution of this Honoura∣ble House for the due observation of the Covenant, and their expectation of the conformity of the People of England there∣unto, Page  3expressed in the late Declaration, wee doe resolve by the grace of God, not to receive impression of any forced constru∣ction thereof, being already fully satisfyed in our Consciences from the very Letter of the Covenant, of the true meaning and intention thereof, and in this particular of Gods Worship, and the Discipline and Government of the Church, without any further exposition, clearly convinced; That Noblemen, Ba∣rons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospell, and Commons of all sorts, in the Kingdomes of En∣gland, Scotland, and Ireland, are sincerely, really, and constant∣ly, through the grace of God, to endeavour in their severall Places and Callings, the Reformation of Religion in the King∣domes of England, and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worship, Disci∣pline, and Government, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches, and are to endea∣vour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes, to the neerest conjunction and uniformity, in Religion, Con∣fession of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Worship, and Catechising, that wee and our posterity after us, may, as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us; and in like man∣ner without respect of persons, to endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresie, Schisme, Profanenesse, and whatsoever shall bee found to bee contrary to sound Do∣ctrine, and the power of Godlinesse, lest wee partake in other mens sins, and thereby bee in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may bee one, and his Name one, in the three Kingdomes; And therefore from the bottom of our hearts, seriously professe before Almighty God, that wee doe not con∣ceive it in the power of any humane authority to discharge or absolve us from adhering thereunto, and endeavouring in our severall Places and Callings to maintain and defend the same.

Wee also cannot but call to minde what Vowes wee have made to God in the same Covenant, as well as our former Pro∣testations, to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Par∣liament, and the Liberties of the Kingdomes, and to preserve and defend the King a Majesties Person and Authority, in the preservation and Defence of the true Religion, and Liberties Page  4of the Kingdomes, that the world may bear witnesse with •our Consciences, of our Loyalty, and that wee have no though or intentions, to diminish His Majesties just power and …∣nesse, and doe humbly rest in the assistances wee ha•• …∣ved in the many former Declamations of both Houses, …∣ning their intentions towards his Majesty, his Royall Posterity, and the Peace of this Kingdome.

And further wee humbly acknowledge the particular assu∣rance this Honourable House hath again given the whole 〈◊〉, in their late Declaration, to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well grounded Peace in the three King∣domes, which wee doubt not but this Honourable House will pursue with all speedy dispatch of Propositions to His Majesty, now whilst God doth so mercifully and miraculously go along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome.

Wee may not in the next place forget our Brethron of S•••∣land, how first they were invited to engage with this King∣dome in Gods Cause, when yet they were at Peace at home, in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them, at what time, in relation both to the weak c•ndition of our Forces then, and the season of the year, they adven••••• up∣on an Enemy warmly lodged▪ and well 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and; what they have fince suff••ed for 〈…〉 Kingdom, how successefulle 〈…〉 God hath 〈…〉 F••∣ces in suppressing the Common 〈…〉 Natures, and what present hopes wee have of a well 〈…〉 continue in this mutuall Amity; And then ca•• 〈…〉 the many j••lousies which the Enemies of our Peace, 〈◊〉, and good Government, doe now •…lve to beget between both Nations, and tremble at the sad effects thereof, if not …ly prevented by the wisdome of the Parliaments of both King∣domes.

Wee cannot also, but with reverence look upon this Hono∣rable House, as trusted with a great share of the supreme pow∣er of this Kingdom, and as it is the representative of the whole Nation, out of which, and by whom, the Members thereof are chosen, doe fix our hearts the more upon the same, and doe by the mercy of God, so long as this Kingdom doth adhere to our Covenant, promise our selves now and in all future a•••, Page  5great blessings and assurances from the endeavours and labours of this Honourable House; and in regard of this dignity of Trust, we have and doe submit to all Priviledges of Parliament; yet because it may now become a Tenure for life, if this privi∣ledge should bee so made use of by such Members of Parlia∣ment as owe great summes of Money, and protect divers under them as Servants, Attendants, Officers, yea, and their Servants, if all these should be exempted from course of Law, how many Citizens of London, and other Subjects of this Kingdom may be undone? Wee doe therefore with all Duty and Thankful∣nesse put this Honourable House in minde, that in a Remon∣strance to the Kingdome, 15. December, 1642. wee finde this ex∣pression; viz. That for the matter of Protections, the Parliament is so sensible of it, that therein they intend to give whatsoever ease may stand with Honour and Justice, and are in a way of passing a Bill to give satisfaction concerning the same.

And now that the Kingdome is almost reduced, by which meanes the Revenue• of the Kingdome wil be unburthened, and the Customes and Excise increase, and the publike charge of the Kingdome decrease, now that Delinquents doe daily come in and compound, and now that the Enemy hath but few Holds left, we hope that the great and extraordinary Taxes and bur∣thens on this City and their Trade, shall be in the future abated; that the Debts owing to the City and Citizens of London, ei∣ther by particular Assurances of the Parliament, or upon the publike faith of the Kingdome, be taken care for and dischar∣ged, as well as those assigned upon the Excise, and may not be diverted from the uses appointed by former Acts and Ordinan∣ces.

And wee cannot but with all due acknowledgement remem∣ber what this Honourable House hath lately declared concer∣ning the extraordinary wayes the Parliament hath been put up∣on for procuring of Money for their many pressing occasions; and hereupon we presume to present to the consideration of this Honourable House, the Committee at Haberdashers-hall, as being one of the greatest grievance• of this City, and which, so long as it is co…d, doth hinder the concourse of people thereunto, and tendeth much to the destruction of the Trade, and Inhabitants thereof.

Page  6 And now also wee doubt not but God will give the Parli∣ment some better meanes and opportunity for the reliefe of our bleeding Brethren in Ireland, and the suppressing of those hor∣rid Rebels, and reducing of that Kingdom, wherein, besides the publick and common interest, wee are particularly concer∣ned.

Lastly, we should have much to say for this City, if we could imagine that its fidelity & constant services and devotion to the Parliament could either be questioned or forgotten, that little we shall expresse on the part of the City, is, not to repeat how zealous we have been in the cause of God, and this Parlia∣ment, how we have spilt our blood, and laid out our selves and Estates in maintenance thereof; how many publike acknow∣ledgements we have by us of the favourable acceptance of them, and promises to leave Testimonies thereof to all future ages; but onely to beseech this Honourable House to consider how much our hearts may justly bee dejected, now that God hath followed your endeavours, and our prayers, with so many suc∣cesses, and brought the Warre to a probable period, as to the sense of Man, that this City should yet in us receive so great a marke of the displeasure of this Honourable House, as that the Letter sent us from the Parliament of Scotland should still be detained, though Petitioned for, as if this Honourable House were doubtful of our fidelity. That although in the last Proposi∣tions to his Majesty at Vxbridge, the power of the Militia of this City was fully represented; that it should now bee re-assumed and endeavoured to bee altered, to the endangering of this City, and the Parts adjacent, as if wee now deserved lesse Trust from this Honourable House, then a twelve Moneth agoe. That some late Petitions of this City presented to this Ho∣norable House, should yet lye unanswered. That Quarterman a notorious Sectary, one whom the City not long since cast out for his misdemeanors, should presume, in the contempt of the priviledges and Government thereof, to enter the City, and to make Proclamation with Trumpet, without acquainting the Lord Major therwith; the like of which (to our best knowledge) in no age, when the City was most neglected, was ever so much as attempted.

Page  7 And lastly that after the present Lord Major had so faithful∣ly behaved himselfe in his Office, and with the testimony of the City, so carefully discharged the same, that yet hee should bee suspected and questioned upon generall informations, which (it may well bee doubted) might be designed to divide between the Parliament and the City.

We could adde much more of the daily invectives against us from the Pulpit, and other places where the Bowtefew's of these Sectaries are admitted, the scurrilous and seditious Pam∣phlets daily broached against, and in the City: And the great contempt of, and discouragement unto the Ministers of the Gospel, who adhere to the Presbyteriall Government: But we shall conclude with this briefe and humble representation of our Petitions and desires to this Honourable House in the name of the whole City.

• I. That some strict and speedy course may bee taken for the suppressing of all private and separate Congregations.
• II. That all Anabaptists, Brownists, Hereticks, Schisma∣ticks, Blasphemers, and all such Sectaries as conforme not to the publike Discipline established, or to bee established by Parlia∣ment, may be fully declared against, and some effectuall course setled for proceeding against such persons.
• III. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdom, so all may be equally required to yeeld obedience unto the Government se• forth, or to be set forth by the Parliament.
• IV. That no person disaffected to the Presbyteriall Govern∣ment set forth, or to be set forth by the Parliament, may be em∣ployed in any place of publike Trust.
• V. That this Honorable House will please to hasten Prepo∣sitions to his Majesty, for setling of a safe and well grounded Peace amongst us, after so long and unnaturall a Warre.
• VI. That this Honourable House, according to the Cove∣nant and Treaties, will please to study all meanes to preserve the Vnion between the t•o Nation• of England and Scotland, and to remove all 〈◊〉 which may endanger our mutuall agreement.
• Page  8 VII. That this Honourable House will please to consider of some meanes wherby the priviledge which its Members their Servants and others enjoy by being protected and exempted from being proceeded against for their Debts, may be so quali∣fied, as that the Subject may be able to recover his owne in some due time.
• VIII. That all publike Revenues and Receipts may be em∣ployed to publike uses, that so the Taxes of the City may bee abated.
• IX. That the Estates and Compositions of the Delinquents, may, according to the engagements by Ordinances of Parlia∣ment, be applyed to discharge the great summes owing to this City and Citizens.
• X. That the Plymouth Duty may be taken off the Trade, espe∣cially now the West is reduced.
• XI. That the Committee at Haberdashers-hall may be pre∣sently dissolved; or at least so limited and regulated, as that the City may have no cause of complaint.
• XII. That the reducing of the Kingdome of Ireland may be taken into consideration, before the good party there be too farre wasted and discouraged.
• XIII. That the Originall Letter of the Parliament of Scot∣land to this City may be returned.
• XIV. That the City may enjoy the Militia fully, as it was presented at the last Treaty at Ʋxbridge.
• XV. That Quarterman may be brought to some exemplary punishment, for the affront done by him to the Priviledges and Government of this City.
• XVI. That the Lord Major of this City may bee fully vin∣dicated.
• XVII. And lastly, and above all, That this honorable House will please not to looke upon any expressions of this our Re∣monstrance and Petition, as charging any thing upon this Ho∣nourable House, or as intended to intrench upon any priviledge thereof, but favourably to accept thereof, and so to interpret the same, as from a single and humble heart it is sincerely, and without any by-ends, or to comply with any Party whatsoever, intended and breathed forth from the sad heart of the Petitio∣ners, Page  9who are overwhelmed with many feares on all sides. And who call God, the Searcher of all hearts, to witnesse, that ac∣cording to their Covenant and duty, their zeale, devotion and obedience, is as fervent and prostrate as ever to serve the Parli∣ament with their Lives and Estates, against all the Enemies of our Peace, to conjoyne the City more and more to the Parlia∣ment, and to maintaine the Vnion of both Nations against all Opposers whatsoever.