To the honourable the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses Of the House of Commons in PARLIAMENT assembled. The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parishes, of Stepney, Shorditch, VVhitchappell and Algate, the Chappelgy of Wapping, the Precinct of St. Katherins, and the Parish of St. Peter Advincula, adjacent to the TOWER, and without the liberties of LONDON.
THAT a great part of the Inhabitants of the Places abovesaid, are Mariners, and other Persons belonging to Navigation, who are often at Sea, or abord their Ships and Vessells, and so their Houses and Families left destitute of defence, and exposed to danger in time of any Uproare; Another part of the same Inhabitants, are Trained Souldiers (bearing their own charges) under the command of the Lieutenant of the Tower, at whose pleasure they are called, either in their whole number, or severall smaller divisions of them, both night and day into the Tower, to doe service there, or unto other places remot from their own dwellings, wherby also their Houses and Families are destitute of defence, and open to like danger in time of any commotion; And the residue of the said Inhabitants, are moft Handy-crafts-men, undisciplined in Militarie affaires, not set in any order for defence, and thereby as lyable to danger, as any others.
That the apprehensions of these and greater dangers, are increased in the Petitioners, from the grounds and reasons here under mentioned, which they humbly offer to your grave consideration: (viꝪt.) because
1. The Tower of London (which the Petitioners formerly accompted a defence and safeguard to them) is taken out of the Custody of Persons of honour and trust; a number of Cannoneirs with their Labourers drawne into the same, many pretending attendance upon the Bishops, reside there, the new Warders lately put into the same, are many of them Alehouse-keepers, and most of them, of loose Conversations, yet have great trust in the Tower; and the Trained Souldiers of the Hamlets, who watch in the Tower, are confined unto strait places, where, for want of power and number, they can neither prevent any desperate designe, which may possibly be attempted, nor be any way serviceable, for the defence of the Place.
2. Divers words (some whereof are particularized in the Schedule annexed) have been spoken, by sundry Persons dwelling in the places above said, tending to the disuniting of the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, to the defamation of divers Members of this honourable House, and intimating some bloody designe in hand, against the well affected of the Kingdome, under the names of Puritans and Brownists.
3. One Richard Cray, a new Warder in the Tower, and a Constable of a large Precinct neere Wapping, hath (besides his dangerous speeches) endeavoured to raise men in Armes, to keepe those whom he calls Puritans and Brownists, from coming to Church, and hath with many others, his partakers, greatly opposed, the two worthy Preachers at Stepney, Mr. Burroughs, and Mr. Greenhill.
4. On Thursday night last, when the Citizens of London were up in Armes, for their defence, upon the rumor of approaching danger, divers of the Petitioners having Armed themselves also, for their own defence, and being peaceably in their Watch, to prevent further inconvenience, the said Cray in a violent manner tooke the Armes from some of the Petitioners, threatned the rest, and said, if he had known, he would have been better provided for them, meaning (as they conceive) either to hurt, unarme, or oppose them.
The Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that they may have Authority from this honourable Assembly, freely to put themselves into a Posture of defence, for the better enabling of them, to maintaine his Matesties Person and Authority, the power and Privileges of Parliament, and their own lives, liberties and estates, according to their late Protestation: And that they may have liberty to that end, to choose Officers for their better guidance and instruction, to exercise themselves in Militarie Discipline, and to provide Armes and Amunition, that some speedy course may be taken for the better ordering of the said Tower, and to prevent the dangers by fireworks and otherwise, which may arise from that place: And that the said Cray and others, who have threatned, or opposed the Petitioners, may answer the matters layd to their charge, and receive such condigne punishment as this honourable Assembly in your great wisdomes shall thinke fit.
And the Petitioners shall daily pray, &c.
The CHEDULE.
5. RIchard Cray a Constable of the Parish of Stepney, and one of the new Warders in the Tower of London, hath lately since the last Pacification with the Scots, and the happy union betweene these two Kingdomes, affirmed that the Scots, are all Rogues and Rebells; That he hopes all Puritans and Brownists shall be worse hampered, tortured and torne, then ever the Papists were, and that he himselfe would helpe to do it, and this he delivered with a great deale of vehemency, smiting his hand upon the Table
Mathew Owen on the 5th of January instant, affirmed, that Mr. Pym, and the other foure, did carry two faces under one hood, that the Papists would be quiet enough, if they might be let alone, and that it was long of the Puritans that all this stir is.
John Walter of Lime-house, on the 27th of December last, being asked why the Drum did beat, did enter into many rayling speeches, calling divers people of honest report, a company of damned Puritan-whores and rogues, and said he hoped ere long, to see all their throates cut, or they hang'd, as those are in Ireland.
Thomas Bungie affirmed, that he would joyne with the Papists against the Puritans and Brownists, if the Papists should rise.