LONDONS DECLARATION, IN THE DEFENCE OF THE citizens now in Arms.  
CONCERNING, CERTAIN ASPERSIONS cast upon them; some calling them Traitors and Rebels to the King.  
OF WHICH, They here nobly clear themselves, proving of themselves to the whole kingdom, in stead of Traytors and Rebels, careful, true, and Loy●ll Subjects both to King and kingdom.  
LONDON, Printed for John GREENSMITH, 1642.   

London's DECLARATION, IN THE DEFENCE OF THE Citizens now in Arms; concerning certain aspersions cast upon them: Some calling them Traitors and Rebels to the King, &c.  
WHereas reports neither honest nor just have blown up and down the kingdom, that we the Citizens of London, have done little less then risen up in arms against King Charles, sole and lawful heir apparent to the crown of England, our most loyal sovereign: We to clear ourselves of so unjust aspersions, here to declare to the whole kingdom our loyal intents, howsoever disloyally taken.  
To take up arms against our sovereign we aclowledge and confess i● to be no otherwise then capital Treason, which should we go about to do, we were worthy to be procl●imed Rebels and Traitors to both King and Country, but such were not our thoughts; for why, it stands unto no sense, that we, who by peaceable trading maintain both ourselves and families, should go about to disturb that peace, to the utter un●oing of ourselves and families. Were it nor a madness for a Merchant, having a ship well fraughted with rich merchandises, and a fair wind to bring it to land, then wilfully to burn his own ship; even so would it be with us, should we go about to destroy ourselves and estates, when we may live peaceably and quiet; no, our intents are not for rebellion, but for supporting of true Religion, which for, a time hath as it were slept in oblivion, and now is the onely time to awaken it or never.  
If it be rebellion for the hand to give sustenance to the mouth, and consequently to the whole body, then may it bee said that we are rebels for going about to aid and assist those which are as the mouth of the Commonalty( religious Knights and Burgesses we mean) who are bound by their places to demonstrate our grievances.  
Put a Quere may be made, whither those which wee t●ke be our friend, are not the Kings soes, and co●sequently the whole kingdoms. To such( if ●ny such) Que●e be, wee thus answer.  
If any of our Knig●ts or Burgesses can bee proved so to be( traytors to his Majesty wee say) and we should go about to uphold them in any such mischievous attempts, we should again prove ourselves guilty of Rebellion, which far be from us: if any Knights or Burgesses whatsoever be known, nay, but suspected to be guilty of treason, either toward his majesty, or Majesties kingdom, we would so far be from joining with them, that with all our power and strength, we would endeavour( being commanded) to deliver them up; with this proviso, they coming to a trial, malice or envy may not be their accuser.  
We further also declare, that whereas it hath been reported that the mayor part of the city, being encouraged thereunto by the governors thereof, are intended to alter our Protestant Religion, and bring it to a Sect called Brownists, which we utterly abhor and deny, desiring nothing more but a settled government nailed in the Church, all popish Ceremonies being abolished, and the founders of them made exemplary well-affected Ministers, being chosen in their places, for so long as lazy drones are suffered to feed in the hives of laborious Ministers, there is no hope that either the gospel will flourish or Peace continue without borders.  
We also the Citiz●ns of London do further declare, really and truly without the least intent of hypocrisy, that our intents are still good towards his Majesty, and have the rather published this Declaration, to the intent that no city or village whatsoever should take animation from us to arise up in arms: it is our prayer that our meaning be not misconstrued by any, thinking that we are in arms to offend the King; whereas God is our witness, wee will choose rather to defend him, and do not fear but by the help and assistance of God, but that very briefly the whole kingdom will confess, that those men which were in Arms to defend the House of Commons, are as ready to be opened in the defence of the King.  
FINIS.