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A true Coppy of the Petition of the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common Councell of LONDON, presented to both Houses of PARLIAMENT, March 18. 1641.
To vindicate the Honour of the City against a False, Scandalous, and Seditious Petition, Printed, and presented to be exhibited to the Parliament in February last, as The Petition of the Citizens of London, against the present disposall of the Militia of that City, made by the Parliament.
And to assure the Parliament and the whole Kingdome; that the said City is very glad of, and thankfull for the present Ordinance touching that matter, and will readily obey it.
To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament. The humble Petition of the Maior, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common-councell of the City of London.
Sheweth,THAT the Petitioners doe much rejoyce in the happy Concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, as in other things, so especially, in that most necessary Ordinance touching the Militia of this Kingdome, and Dominion of Wales; Whereunto the Petitioners doe most humbly and cheerfully submit, for the safety of His Majesty, the Parliament and Kingdome: For the ordering whereof many pressing Petitions from most parts of the Kingdome have been ex∣hibited, in this time of imminent Dangers, proceeding from the bloody Councells of Papists and others, ill affected to the honour, peace and prosperity of our most gracious King, and his Kingdomes.
And the Petitioners doe likewise humbly returne all possible thanks unto this Honourable House, for the great honour and high favour vouchsafed, in giving them leave to nominate the Persons to whom the Militia of this City should be commit∣ted; And for accepting and approving of the Nomination and return made to this Honourable House, by the Petitioners on that behalfe.
But this their joy is much disturbed and interrupted by an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition, intituled, The Petition of the Citizens of London, whose names are under written, directed and delivered, in February last, To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; And since published in Print, with this Title, The humble Petition of the Citizens of London: Thereby to publish it through the Kingdome, as the Petition of all the Citizens: Wherein is set forth (as appeareth by one of those Printed Copies annexed that the ordering of the Armes of London hath time out of mind, been annexed to the Maioralty of the said City; That the conferring thereof upon others would reflect upon the government and Customes of this City granted by the great Charter of England, and confirmed by divers Acts and Charters since that time; and which every Freeman of the said City is by the Oath of his freedome bound to maintaine to the utmost of his power; And that such Alteration in the ancient Go∣vernment might breed great distractions and inconveniencies: or to this effect.
Nor this alone, but the Petitioners are yet more deeply wounded and grieved, by the presumptuous boldnesse of the Publishers of the said Petition in Print, by joyning therwith His Majesties Answer and denyall, Intituled His Majesties Message to both Houses of Parliament, February 28 1641. Which Answer (as the Petitiones humbly conceive) was grounded upon the said Petition, and misinformation of some persons, ill affected to His Majesty and to the City, Who have thereby, and otherwise, often endeavoured to make divisions betwixt the King and the Parliament; betwixt the Parliament and the City; and betwixt the Citizens among themselves, to the intollerable abuse of his sacred Majesty, and of all his loyall Subjects.
And they verily beleeve, that this bold publishing in Print, of the said Petition, and his Majesties Message (which shortly after followed the exhibiting of the said Petition) together in one printed paper, was purposely done, wickedly and seditiously, to make divisions as aforesaid, to beget an opinion throughout the Kingdome, that the City of London doth not intend to conforme unto but complaine of, and oppose the aforesaid Ordinance, and to make the said Petition a desperate president to the rest of the Kingdome, to doe the like; Thereby to hinder the cheerfull, needfull, lawfull, and unanimous Concurrence of the Kingdome, in yeelding due, full, and timely obe∣dience to the said Ordinance.
They doe therfore humbly pray, That this Honourable House will vouchsafe
- 1. To beleeve, that neither this nor any other Petition of the like kinde ever came from the Petitioners, nor was framed, contrived or approved of by them. And that they doe wholly and with detestation disavow and disclaime the same as an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition.
- 2. To put a difference betweene the Authors, Contrivers, Promoters, Advisers, Publishers and Printers of it, and such, as it shall appeare to this Honourable House, were by subtilty drawne in unawares to subscribe the same, without any malignant intention, and shall clearely and fully acknowledge their error, and rashnes therein; And that this latter sort may have such lawfull favour as may stand with the honour and Iustice of the high Court of Parliament.
- Lastly, they doe humbly pray, that this Honourable House will still encrease their joy, by endeavouring to uphold & continue, by all good meanes that blessed concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, in all your great affaires and effectually to proceed against all disturbers and undermyners ther∣of, and that shall endeavour to beget or cherish any misunderstanding, or to make division betwixt the King and Parliament, whom God and the Lawes of this Land have vnited in so neere a Relation.
And they shall ever be ready to assist and stand by this Honourable House therein, with their Lives and Estates, to the utmost of their Power, according to their late Protestation.
And shall incessantly pray, &c.
Another of the same Petitions, (with change only of the Title) was likewise presented to the most Honourable House of Peeres, the same day (March 18.) by divers Aldermen, and other worthy Members of the Court of Common Councell aforesaid.