The humble Petition of the Citizens, Commanders, Officers, and Souldiers, of the Trained Bands, and Aux­iliaries, the young men and Apprentises of the City of London, and Westminster, Sea-commanders, Sea-men, and Water-men, together with divers other Commanders, Officers and Souldiers, within the Line of Communica­tion, and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mor­tality.

THat your Petitioners taking into serious considera­tion, how Religion, his Majesties honour and safe­ty, the priviledges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject, are at present greatly indangered, and likely to be destroyed; And also fadly weighing with our selves what meanes might likely prove the most effectu­all to procure a firme and lasting peace, without further effusion of Christian, English blood) have therefore en­tred into a solemne Engagement, which is hereunto an­nexed, and doe humbly and earnestly desire, that this [Page 2]whole City may joyne together by all lawfull possible meanes, as one man in hearty indevors, for his Majesties [...] [...]ing up to his two Houses of Parliament, [...] sa [...]ety, and freedome, and that without the neer approach of the Army, there to confirm such things, as he hath granted in his Message of the 12 of May last, in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdomes: And that by a personall Treaty with his two Houses of Par­liament, and the Commissioner [...] of the kingdom of Scot­land, such things as yet are in difference, may be speedily setled, and a firm and lasting peace established: all which we desire may be presented to both Houses of Parlia­ment from this Honourable Assembly.

And we shall pray, &c.

A Copy of a Paper delivered to the Commissioners of Parliament, from the Generall and Councell of Warre.

WE received this inclosed paper the last night from the hands of a very well affected Citizen: It was delivered him by an Officer of the Citie Militia, who being invited to meet some Citizens at Skinners Hall, upon Wednesday last, with divers others, to signe the same; and offering to dispute the matter of it to them how dangerous and illegall it was; was silenced, and told that it was not to be disputed, but to be signed and joyned in, there being divers Citizens and others at the same place for that purpose, which when he understood he took this printed Copie away with him.

By the contents of which, when you read it, you will easily perceive what it tends to, and how desperate and dangerous it is, to the hazard of the whole Kingdome, and to frustrat all those endevours of the Parliament, the Army, and Kingdom, for an happy settlement. And like­wise to precipitate all into a new and bloody warre. We cannot therefore but acquaint you, that we look at this, [Page 4]as a businesse set on foot by the malice of some desperate minded men, this being their last engine for the putting all into confusion, when they could not accomplish their wicked ends by other meanes.

To this have all secret listings tended, and we wish that needlesse and superfluous listing of Auxiliaries, and connivance at the continuance of the Reformados about the Cities of London and Westminster, have not had the same aime. And by this we hope it will appeare, that our jealousies and feares of some such desperate designe to be hatched in and about the Citie, considering the sense of men there, have not been groundlesse, nor our desires to draw neere the Citie of London with the Army, to disap­point and break all such plots, and to free the Parliament from violence of them, have not been without just cause; and we desire all indifferent men to judge, whether our withdrawing from the Citie in obedience to the Parlia­ments commands, was for theirs and the Kingdomes se­curity, or not. We wonder that divers men did calum­niate at our marching so neer the Citie, and put so bad representations upon it, as that it tended to force the Par­liament, or to plunder the Citie, seeing our doing so, was to break the black designe which now begins to shew it selfe in its colours: whereas indeed our consciences wit­nesse with us that our Armies were cleare and honest, tending to restore the Parliament unto its just liberty, which was much abated in the eyes of all the kingdome, and no doubt by the authors and contrivers of this new covenant and engagement, some whereof have been so farre from assisting to put the Reformados, and other dangerous persons out of the lines, that now they are cal­led in to joyne in this conspiracy.

We entreate you to give the Parliament a full repre­sentation, of these things, which that you may do we [Page 5]have sent you the Papers, together with such informa­tions as may give them an opportunity to discover the bottome of this businesse. We were marching from London (when we received this information) in obedi­ence to the Parliament, to give the City content, and to stop the mouthes of slanderers. But if such designes so destructive to the Parliament, and the worke in hand be suffered to goe on, or that the Parliament be inter­rupted in the freedome of their debates, and proceed­ings, as we heare within these few days they were, by those that are invited to partake of this confederacy.

Wee beg it of the Parliament, as they tender their owne safety the peace of the Kingdome, and preventing of a second Warre, as they would not have the King­dome, lose the fruite and benifit of all the blood and treasure that hath beene spent in this Cause, that they would not suffer their freedome and Liberty to be in­dangered by such designes as these, they having an Army, which by the blessing of God in spight of all that theirs, and the Kingdomes enemies can doe, will stand and fall with them, and be firme, faithfull, and obedient to them in all things, and as ready to releive Ireland when the peace and Rights of the Kingdom are setled.

Wee write not this to desire the Parliament to invite us to march up to them, wee care not how great a distance wee are from London, if it bee the Parlia­ments pleasure, and consists with their security, and the breaking off those combinations which are hatched in the bowels of that Citie.

We are hastening out Proposals which are for the ge­nerall settlement, and which we are consident will satis­fie all that love truth and peace.

But we see plainly, we need more to intend security, then have cause to expect to bring things to a happy issue [Page 6]by treaty, while such designes are on foot We pray you therefore that the Parliament would speedily & through­ly enquire into, and break these designes, wherein as in all things else we shall be ready to serve them, as they shall judge it needfull; and when they shall command us.

THe Lords and Commons having seene a printed Paper intituled, A Petition to the right Honour­able the Lord Major, the right worshipfull the Alder­men and Commons of the City of London in the Com­mon or Guild hall of the City of London assembled, un­der the name of divers Citizens, Commanders, Of­ficers, and Souldiers of the Trained Bands, Auxilia­ries, and others, young men and Apprentices, Sea-Commanders, Sea-men, and Water-men, together with a dangerous engagement of the same persons by Oath and Vow concerning the Kings present comming to the Parliament upon tearmes far different from those which both Houses after mature deliberation, have de­clared to bee necessary for the good and safety of this Kingdome, casting reflections upon the proceedings both of the Parliament and Army, and tending to the im­broiling the Kingdome in a new Warre: And the said Lords and Commons taking notice of great endeavours used by divers ill-affected persons to procure Subscrip­tions thereunto, whereby well-meaning people may be mis-lead, doe therefore declare, That whosoever after publication or notice hereof shall proceed in, or pro­mote or set his name to, or give consent that his name be set unto, or any way joyne in the said Engagement shall bee deemed and adjudged guilty of high Treason, and shall forfit life and estate as in cases of high Trea­son, accustomed.