A PETITION OF The Major, Aldermen, and Common Councell of the City of LONDON, To His Maiestie.
Together with His Majesties gracious Answer thereunto.
Anno Domini. 1641.
TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE. The humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen, and Common-Councell, of the City of LONDON,
MAy it please Your most excellent Majestie; the often expressions of your most gracious acceptance of the manifestation of the Petitioners duty and loyalty, and the frequent declarations of your Majesties great care of the good and welfare of this City, and of the true Protestant Religion, and of the protecting and preserving the Persons and Privileges of your great Councell assembled in the Court of Parliament: each encouraged the Petitioners to represent the great Dangers, Feares, and Distractions wherein the City now is, by reason of the prevailing progresse of the bloody Rebells in Ireland, fomented, and acted by the Papists and their adherents, and want of Aid to suppresse them, and the severall intimations they have had both Forraign and at Home, of the driving on of their Designes, tending to the utter ruin of the Protestant Religion, and of the Lives & Liberties of your Majesties loyall Subjects, the putting out of Persons of Honour and trust from being Constable and Lievtenant of the Tower, especially in these times, and the preparations there lately made, the fortifying of Whitehall with men and Munition in an unusuall manner, Some of which men with provoking language and violence, abused divers Citizens passing by, and the drawing divers swords, and therwith wounding sundry other Citizens in Westminster-Hall, that were unarmed: the [Page 2] late endevours used to the Innes of Court, the calling in divers Canoniers, and other assistance into the Tower, the late discovery of divers fire-works in the hands of a Papist, and the misunderstanding betwixt Your Majestie and Parliament, by reason of misinformation, as they humbly conceive.
Besides all which, the Petitioners feares are exceedingly encreased by your Majesties late going into the House of Commons attended with a great multitude of armed men besides your ordinary Guard, for the apprehending of divers members of that House, to the endangering of Your Sacred Person, and of the Persons and Priviledges of that Honourable Assembly.
The effects of all which Feares tend, not only to the overthrow of the whole Trade of this City and Kingdome, which the Petitioners already feel in a deepe measure; but also threatens the utter ruine of the Protestant Religion, and the lives and Liberties of all Your Loyall Subjects.
The Petitioners therefore most Humbly pray Your Sacred Majestie, That by the advice of Your great Councell in Parliament, the Protestants in Ireland may be speedily relieved, The Tower put into the hands of Persons of trust: That by removall of doubtfull and unknowne Persons from about White-Hall and Westminster, a knowne and approved Guard may be appointed for the safety of Your Majestie and Parliament, and that the Lord Mandevill and the five Members of the House of Commons, lately accused, may not be restrained of libertie, or proceeded against, otherwise then according to the priviledges of Parliament.
And the Petitioners (as in all duty bound) shall pray for Your Majesties most long and happy Reign, &c.
HIS MAIESTIES ANSWER To the Petition of the Major, Aldermen, and Common Councell of the City of LONDON.
HIS Majestie having fully considered the matter of this Petition, Is graciously pleased to declare, that being unalterably resolved to make good all His expressions and declarations of His care of this City, Of the true Protestant Religion, and of the Priviledges of Parliament; His Majestie takes in good part, the intimation given by the Petitioners of the feares and distractions wherein the City now seemes to be. And though He conceives He did on Wednesday at Guild Hall satisfie most of those particulars, is pleased to adde this further Answer.
1 That for the sad businesse of Ireland, His Majestie cannot possibly expresse a greater sence then Hee hath done, there being nothing left on His Majesties part unoffered or undone. And He hoped by the speedy advice and assistance of His Parliament, that great and necessary Work would be put in a just forwardnesse, to which His Majestie will contribute all his power: And how zealous He is and hath beene therein, will appeare in a Declaration speedily to be set forth by His Majestie.
2 For the Tower: His Majestie wonders, that having [Page 4] removed a Servant of good Trust and Reputation, from that Charge, onely to satisfie the feares of the City, and put in another of unquestionable Reputation, and knowne ability, the Petitioners should still entertain those feares; and whatever preparation of strength is there made, is with as great an Eye of safety and advantage to the City, as to his Majesties own Person, and shall bee equally imployed to both.
3 For the fortifying of White-Hall with Men and Munition in an unusuall way: His Majesty doubts not, but the Petitioners have observed the strange provocation He hath received to entertaine that Guard: That by the disorderly and tumultuous conflux of people at Westminster and White-Hall, his Majesties great Councell was not only disquieted, but his owne Royall Person in danger, most seditious language being uttered even under his own windowes, whilest the examination and punishing such Tumults by the course of Law were interrupted and stopped. And if any Citizens were wounded or ill intreated, his Majesty is confidently assured, that it hapned by their owne evill and corrupt demeanours.
4 His Majestie knowes no other endeavours to the Innes of Court, then a gracious Intimation, That he received the tender of their loyall and dutifull Affections with very good Approbation and Acceptance, and an incouragement given them to continue the same upon all occasions. Neither doth His Majesty know, what discovery hath beene lately made of fire-workes in the hands of any Papist.
5 For His going to the House of Commons (when His attendants were no otherwise armed then as Gentlemen with Swords) His Majesty is verily perswaded, That if the Petitioners knew the clear grounds upon which those persons stand accused of high Treason, and what will be proved [Page 5] against them (which in due time they shall be acquainted with) and considered the gentle way his Majestie tooke for their apprehension (which Hee preferd before any course of violence, though that way had beene very justifiable; for His Majestie is very well assured that it is notoriously knowne, That no priviledge of Parliament can extend to Treason, Felony, or breach of the Peace) the Petitioners would believe his Majesties going thither was an Act of grace and favour to that House, and the most peaceable way of having that necessary service for the apprehension of those persons performed; specially, if such Orders have beene made (which his Majestie is not willing to believe) for the resistance of all lawfull Authority, as are discoursed of.
6 And for the proceedings against those persons mentioned in the Petition; his Majestie ever intended the same should be with all justice and favour according to the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme; to the which all innocent men would cheerefully submit.
And this extraordinary way of satisfying a Petition of so unusuall a nature, his Majestie is confidently perswaded, will be thought the greatest instance can be given of his Majesties clear intention to his Subjects, and of the singular estimation He hath of the good affections of this City, which He believes in gratitude will never be wanting to His just Commands and Service.