blazon or coat of arms  
TO THE King's MOST EXCELLENT majesty:  
The humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen, and common-council of the City of LONDON.  
May it please your most Excellent majesty, the often expressions of your majesty's 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; Hath 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 of their designs, tending to the utter ruin of the PROTESTANT Religion, and the lives and liberties of your majesty's loyal Subjects, The putting out of persons of honour and truth, from being Constable and lieutenant of the Tower, especially in these times; and the preparation there lately made: The fortifying of White-Hall with men and ammunition 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 untamed. The late endeavours used to the inns of Court; the calling in divers Cannoneers and other Assistants into Tower: The late discovery of divers fireworks in the hands of a Papist, and the misunderstanding betwixt your majesty and Parliament, by reason of misinformations, 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 indagering 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 true PROTESTANT Religion, and the lives and liberties of all your loyal Subjects.  
The Petitioners therefore most humbly pray your majesty, that by the advice of your great counsel 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 MANDIVILE, 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 Petitiones as in all duty bound shall pray for your majesty's most long and happy reign.   

Printed in the year 1642.