Certain Quaeres, which are desired may bee speedily Answered by the Common-Councell, and Militia of London; for the satisfaction of the Citizens and other Jnhabitants of the said City, concerning their own, and the Cities safety, against all Opposers of the Publique Peace and Happinesse of the King and Kingdome.
1. TO What end so many Souldiers have been privatly Lifted by Major-Generall Skippon, before he had Authority for it? And why the City should not have a Major-Generall who hath a visible estate within the City, that will be cordially faithfull in defence thereof upon all of occasions? And act nothing in Military-matters, without approbation of the Common-Councell and Militia.
2. In case an enemy without or within the Citie should Act in a hostile way, against it: what Armes or Amunition are in readinesse, to make resistance?
3. Whether the Citie bee in a sufficient posture of defence to withstand any such Enemie; and whether there bee faithfull and valiant Commanders, and Officers, elected in all the Regiments of the, Train'd Bands, and Auxiliaries, whom the Soldiers will willingly adhere to, upon all occasions.
4. How the Citie is furnished with victualls, to hold out, if it should bee Besieged: And what Provision is made to quench suddaine Fires, if any attempt should bee made in that kinde?
5. Why those Aldermen, and Common-Councell men, should not bee made uncapable of Communicating with any Councell of the City; and that such Commanders should not bee displaced, who either hold Intelligence with the Army; or have beene in the Leaguer before Colchester, not being sent by the Common Councell, or Militia, or that have beene Actors in, or abettors of the last petition; which was not sent from the Common Councell; seeing there was an Order of both Houses of Parliament, That no Petition should bee presented unto them, without consent of the Common-Councell; or any such as either have beene, are, or shall bee known to frequent either or both houses of Parliament, or Darby House to discover the secrets of the Common Councell, or the Militia of London?
6. Why the Personall Treaty with his Majesty in London, should not be pressed speedily to goe on seeing the Committee of the City have given satisfactory Answers to the objections made by the Committee of Parliament against their last Petition, concerning the said Treaty; which are confirmed by the Common-Councell, and approved of by the subscriptions of so many thousands? Or whether the Tenet of Darby house shall bee verified, viz. That the Citie and Common-Councell of London, are hot in their propositions at first: but if they bee let alone they will coole by degrees. Which if they doe in this case of the Treaty; another Quaere will necessarily follow.
7. Whether the Citie will not bee the object of scorne to the whole Kingdome, and the Nations round about, and incurre the farther just displeasure of his Majesty, and his Posterity, and consequently bee the Cause of their owne ruine and destruction, without the Aid or Pitty of any?
8. Why those Common-Councell-men and Commanders should not be questioned and displaced; who have not either called the Inhabitants within their respective Precincts and Commands, or have not gone from house to house, to receive their Concurrence to the late engagement, by subscription of their names, according to the Order of Common-Councell: Dated Iuly 12. 1648.
It is desired, againe and againe, That these Quaeres bee taken into speedie and serious consideration: For, it is to bee feared that if our Saviour Christ were conversant on earth; at this time, he would weepe and say to this City, as once hee did to Hierusalem.