A PETITION OF The Major, Aldermen, and common-council of the city of LONDON, To His majesty. Together with His majesty's gracious ANSWER thereunto.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of JOHN BILL. MDCXLI.   

TO THE King's MOST Excellent majesty.  
The humble Petition of the Maior, Aldermen, and common-council, of the city of LONDON.  
MAy it please Your most Excellent majesty; The often expressions of Your most gracious acceptance of the manifestation of the Petitioners duty and loyalty, and the frequent Declarations of Your majesty's great care of the good and welfare of this City, and of the true Protestant Religion, and of protecting and preserving the Persons and privileges of Your great council assembled in the high Court of Parliament: Each encouraged the Petitioners to represent the great Dangers, Fears, and Distractions wherein the city now is, by reason of the prevailing progress of the bloody Rebels in Ireland, fomented, and acted by the Papists and their adherents, and want of Aid to suppress them, and the several intimations they have had both foreign and at Home, of the driving on of their designs, tending to the utter ruin of the Protestant Religion, and of the Lives and Liberties of Your majesty's loyal Subjects, the putting out of Persons of Honour and trust from being Constable and Lieutenant of the Tower, especially in these times, and the preparations there lately made, the fortifying of Whitehall with men and Munition in an unusual manner: Some of which men with provoking language and violence, abused divers Citizens passing by, and the drawing divers swords, and therewith wounding sundry other Citizens in Westminster-hall, that were unarmed: the late endeavours used to the inns of Court, the calling in divers C●noniers, and other assistance into the Tower, the late discovery of divers fireworks in the hands of a Papist, and the misunderstanding betwixt Your majesty and Parliament, by reason of misinformation, as they humbly conceive.  
Besides all which, the Petitioners fears are exceedingly increased by your majesty's late going into the House of Commons attended with a great multitude of armed men besides Your ordinary Guard, for the apprehending of divers members of that House, to the endangering of Your Sacred Person, and of the Persons and privileges of that Honourable Assembly.  
The effects of all which Fears tend, not only to the overthrow of the whole Trade of this City and Kingdom, which the Petitioners already feel in a deep measure; but also threatens the utter ruin of the Protestant Religion, and the lives and Liberties of all Your loyal Subjects.  
The Petitioners therefore most Humbly pray Your Sacred majesty, That by the advice of Your great council in Parliament, the Protestants in Ireland may be speedily relieved, The Tower put into the hands of Persons of trust: That by removal of doubtful and unknown Persons from about White-hall and Westminster, a known and approved Guard may be appointed for the safety of Your majesty and Parliament, and that the Lord Mandevill and the five Members of the House of Commons, lately accused, may not be restrained of liberty, or proceeded against, otherwise then according to the privileges of Parliament.  
And the Petitioners (as in all duty bound) shall pray for Your majesty's most long and happy Reign, &c.   

HIS majesty's ANSWER  
To the Petition of the Maior, Aldermen, and Common council of the city of LONDON.  
HIS majesty having fully considered the matter of this Petition, Is graciously pleased to declare, that being unalterably resolved to make good all His expressions and declarations of His care of this City; Of the true Protestant Religion, and of the privileges of Parliament; His majesty takes in good part, the intimation given by the Petitioners of the fears and distractions wherein the City now seems to be. And though he conceives he did on Wednesday at the Guild-Hall satisfy most of those particulars, is pleased to add this further Answer.  
1 That for the sad business of Ireland, His majesty cannot possibly express a greater sense than He hath done, there being nothing left on His majesty's part unoffered or undone. And He hoped by the speedy advice and assistance of His Parliament, that great and necessary work would be put in a just forwardness, to which his majesty will contribute all His power: And how zealous he is and hath been therein, will appear in a Declaration speedily to be set forth by His majesty.  
2 For the Tower: His majesty wonders, that having removed a Servant of good Trust and Reputation, from that Charge, only to satisfy the fears of the city, and put in another of unquestionable Reputation, and known ability, the Petitioners should still entertain those fears; and whatever preparation of Strength is there made, is with as great an Eye of safety and advantage to the city, as to his majesty's own Person, and shall be equally employed to both.  
3 For the fortifying of White-Hall with Men and Munition in an unusual way: His majesty doubts not, but the Petitioners have observed the strange provocation He hath received to entertain that Guard: That by the disorderly, and tumultuous conflux of people at Westminster and White-hall, his majesty's great council was not only disquieted, but his own royal Person in danger, most seditious language being uttered even under His own windows, whilst the examination and punishing such Tumults by the course of Law were interrupted and stopped. And if any Citizens were wounded or ill entreated, his majesty is confidently assured, that it happened by their own evil and corrupt demeanours.  
4 His majesty knows no other endeavours to the inns of Court, than a gracious Intimation, That He received the tender of their loyal and dutiful Affections with very good Approbation and Acceptance, and an encouragement given them to continue the same upon all occasions. Neither doth His majesty know, what discovery hath been lately made of fireworks in the hands of any Papist.  
5 For His going to the House of Commons (when His attendants were no otherwise armed then as Gentlemen with swords) His majesty is verily persuaded, That if the Petitioners knew the clear grounds upon which those persons stand accused of high Treason, and what will be proved against them (which in due time they shall be acquainted with) and considered the gentle way His majesty took for their apprehension (which He preferred before any course of violence, though that way had been very justifiable; for His majesty is very well assured that it is notoriously known, That no privilege of Parliament can extend to Treason, felony, or breach of the Peace) the Petitioners would believe his majesty's going thither was an Act of grace and favour to that House, and the most peaceable way of having that necessary service for the apprehension of those persons performed; specially, if such Orders have been made (which his majesty is not willing to believe) for the resistance of all lawful Authority, as are discoursed of.  
6 And for the proceedings against those Persons mentioned in the Petition; his majesty ever intended the same should be with all justice and favour according to the Laws and Statutes of the realm; to the which all innocent men would cheerfully submit.  
And this extraordinary way of satisfying a Petition of so unusual a nature, his Majesty is confidently persuaded, will be thought the greatest instance can be given of his majesty's clear intention to his Subjects, and of the singular estimation He hath of the good affections of this city, which He believes in gratitude will never be wanting to His just Commands and service.  
FINIS