WHereas the said printed Paper (which, verbatim, follows in the last part of this sheet) was soon after Midsummer last published, under the Title of, An Account of the Proceedings of the Common-Hall, on Midsummer-day last; thereby pretending it to be done to prevent Misrepresentation; and asserting a Petition therein set forth, to be unanimously approved of, and agreed upon, by that pub­lick Assembly of the Livery, representing the whole City of London,) to be presented to the High Court of Parliament: To which, this Answer was then immediately printed, with Allowance, and some thousands put in­to the Hawkers Hands, which were so in­dustriously bought up, or stifled, that very few Copyes came to light: But now the same Paper having been (as we are informed) se­cretly spread abroad amongst their Majesties Subjects, as well in the City as also into most Corporations, and other parts of the King­dom, (for what design let sober and thinking Men judge,) to the great reproach of this City, and dissatisfaction of many honest and well-meaning Persons; who from thence, and from the restless Endeavours of some Men, who by the same unusual Methods, which they condemned as Crimes in others, do now create and set up instruments to serve their own Turns, though to the disturbance and hazard of the Publick. We are under a necessity, by this Answer, again to counter­mine such dangerous and pernicious Engi­neers. We cannot imagine it was so Printed and Published with any colour of Authority, but must rather conclude it was done by some ill minded Persons, to cast an Odium on this great City, and to create Misunderstandings between their Majesties Subjects, under a disguise of Opposition to Popery, though principally designed to serve their own Turn.

'Tis true, and cannot be denyed, than a small number of Citizens (when so duly assem­bled) make a Common-Hall, and the Petition in that sense, may not improperly be so styled: But it doth not from thence follow, that the Matters contained therein were assented unto, so as to be approved of, and desired by more Persons than were so assem­bled together, and personally present ap­proving of the same, when it was read and proposed to them.

And therefore we do judge it a duty high­ly incumbent on us, (as we are Members of that great Body, and were the same Day present in Common Hall, but heard not one Word of that Petition) to publish this Apo­logy on behalf of our selves and the whole City, as a Vindication (of that great Body) humbly offered to their Sacred Majesties, and both Houses of Parliament, as also to the whole Kingdom; for which we have this to say, That the Authors and Managers of that Imposture, are either affraid or ashamed to own it; and this we do also to prevent (as much as in us lies) the evil Influence that Pa­per may have on the Minds of easie and cre­dulous Persons: To the end Truth it self (which needs no little arts or tricks to sup­port it) may, by its own sinews, at last pre­vail to undeceive such as have been already mis-informed thereby.

We pass by the Matter of the Petition, and what entertainment it met withal from the House of Commons, as more fit for con­sideration of our Superiours.

And only take notice, how vehement and earnest some Men were, in that great Assem­bly, to put the Commoners in Nomination before the sitting Aldermen, which greatly surprized many of the Electors; and it was manifest, scarce one in twenty understood the [Page 2] Question when it was put, in regard of the Noise and Opposition, which was made by those that did apprehend it: And it could not but be matter of trouble (to such as so­berly desire and consult the publick Peace and Tranquillity of this City) to observe what earnest endeavours were used to invert Or­der and Decency therein, (as it were, shifting Feet and Face,) by postponing such as are already advanced to the Dignity of Senators, to their Inferiours in Nomination.

And to behold such a zeal for particular Persons, as if they had combin'd and deter­min'd before they came there (as one Man) to carry on a D [...]sign, rather for a particular Interest, than the whole, and with so much Heat and Passion, as if they would proclaim a prejudice towards all that opposed.

These things we briefly touch upon, as matters deeply to be resented by every good Citizen, so as to endeavour they may be laid aside for the future, to promote that peace­able Temper and publick Spirit, that should govern in every Breast, in order to prevent caballing, and private Clubs, to serve a Turn, to the hazard of our Publick Weal.

And we shall now plainly declare what followed the publick Election; for Truth whereof we appeal to those many Hundreds then present, who are all ready to attest the same.

When the choice of the Sheriffs, Chamber­lain, Bridge Masters, and Ale-Conners, were made, we concluded the Work of that Day was over, not dreaming, in the least, of this Petition, or any other to be set up: But the Livery (as in a Congregation, when Sermon is ended) made all towards the door, crow­ding to get out, as we our selves did when many hundreds were gone before before, and others pressing after; but never heard one Word of this Petition, till from the Votes of the House of Commons, which puts us upon enquiry of our Brethren concerning it.

And at length we were informed by those that happened to be in the reer, that when most part of the Members were gone, or going away, this Petition was proposed to be read; and that they, with the rest remai­ning, (out of curiosity to know the Contents,) held up their Hand for the reading of it; but solemnly affirmed, That most (of those so remaining) who so held up their Hands for reading it, did not hold up their Hands for presenting it.

We shall close with our hearty Prayer to Almighty God, to make us every one sensible, how far we have all (even the best of us) come short of our Duty, that we may search our Hearts, and try our Ways, and see what cause we have all to humble our selves under the mighty hand of God, both for our Hypo­crisie and Profaneness. And that we may all of us endeavour to lay aside Pride, Passion, and Self-love, on the one hand, and Debauche­ry and Immorality on the other; and labour more sincerely to discharge our Duty to God, our Neighbour, and our Selves, as the only Means to make us good Christians; and then we shall be sure to be good Subjects, and good Citizens; so as no longer to envy, despise, and rail at, or prosecute each other; but to love as Brethren, and to make Truth the badge of our Christian Profession.

This is the only way to promote the Ho­nour and Reputation of our National Church, and the Religion established by Law among us; whose Foundation is not laid in Hypocrisie, and aspiring Dominion, under a Disguise of Re­ligion, to delude and ensnare the Honest and Well meaning to side with us, after the example of our Adversaries; whose Designs as they have been, so they still are, to un­dermine and subvert the Government. There­fore let us countermine them, in amendment of our lives, to cr [...]dit this our Holy Reli­gion; which needs no other Reformation, but that of Manners in its Members; accor­ding to its pure and wholesome Doctrine and Discipline.

And as the Honourable House of Commons have, by their Impartial Votes, declared those who invaded Charters, &c. and those who endeavoured to take off the Penal Laws, and the Test, &c. to be equal Transgressors; though we are satisfied the Major part, on either side, might have had no such corrupt intention, as may render them Criminals, but rather acted by awe, influence, or misgui­dance of others: So let us consider each other as Christians, and learn the Discipline of Self-Denial, (after our Redeemer's example,) to be more ready to forget and forgive, than (Devil like) to recriminate and revenge, and rake into each others Follies and Faults, tor­menting only to be tormented, thereby pro­voking one another, and God's vengeance on us all, when it is the duty of every one (For who hath so acted as not to need it?) ra­ther to labour after, and press for an Healing Act of Indempnity, (and Woe be to them that have hitherto hindred it, as the only means to unite our Divisions in these our greatest dangers; and to support our Religion, Law, and Liberties, as the surest Bulworks against our Common Enemies.

Here follows the said printed Paper, and pretended Petition, so published in the Name of the Common-Hall.