The free-mens' Petition: To the Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of LONDON, in Common-Council Assembled, The Humble Representation of many Thousands of the freeborn People of England, inhabiting in London, and Freemen of the same City.  
Most humbly shows,  
THat we cannot without horror and Amazement reflect and look back upon those Haltion days of Peace and Prosperity many of us have enjoyed in these our Three Nations, and this once Famous City (the Renown and Glory of them) in civils and Spirituals, under their lawful governors and Free Parliaments. And that now it hath pleased the only good and wise God, for Our and the Nations crying Sins, to manifest his Displeasure against us, in giving the Rod of his Anger into the hands of such Persons, whose Principles and Actings tend to the overturning of those Two great Pillars of the Land (God's Ordinances) Magistracy and Ministry, and of Parliaments Themselves; Wherefore we can no longer hold our peace, but represent to your Honour and Worships (as the now visible Authority over us in this Nation) the Deplorable Condition of this Once Renowned Nation and City, whose Conservation you ought to tender as ourselves, seeing God hath placed you in those Emenencies you now are in, and put a present Opportunity into your hands; That you would  
1. Consider the total decay of Trade, chiefly by the frequent Revolutions of Government and intolerable Taxes & Excizes incessantly continued upon us, through the Ambition & Avarice of self-seeking men, which in all probability must bring sudden & unavoidable misery and confusion to this once far-famed Nation and City, if not timely remedied.  
2. That you would therefore endeavour by all means possible, for the healing of these distracted and divided Nations and City (the probable means under God as we humbly conceive) that a free English Parliament be speedily summoned, according to the Laws of this Nation, and 16o. Cap. 1.  
3. That your Honour would be pleased to put the Militia of London into the Hands of such persons as are known Assertors of Magistracy and Ministry, and Liberties of Parliament, And the City Guarded by its own Militia, That so we and our Servants maybe free from such insolences and Disturbances of the soldiery as have been lately committed.  
4. That such Officers and soldiers of the Army as shall comply with your Honour and Worships, for settling the peace of the Nation, and asserting the Liberties and privileges of Parliament, maybe assured theirs Arrears of Pay.  
And for the accomplishment of these our Just Desires, we will with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes stand by and assist your Honour and Worships, And ever pray for you.   

This Representation was Delivered to the Lord Mayor, in Common-Council Assembled, on Wednesday last, Dec. 14. with many thousand Hands, and twenty times as many Hearts.