To the Right Honourable Sir PATIENCE WARD Knight, Lord Mayor of the City of London.  
The humble PETITION of the Commons of the City of London, in Common-hall assembled, June 27. 1681.  
Shows,  
THat We do with all thankfulness acknowledge the great and wonderful mercy of Almighty God, in that notwithstanding the daily Plots and wicked Contrivances of the Papists and their Accomplices, We do still enjoy our ancient and undoubted right and freedom of assembling ourselves together for the Choice of some principal Officers of this City for the year ensuing.  
And whilst we attend upon this duty, We cannot but with all gratitude remember the great care, and faithful endeavours of your Lordship, the Aldermen, and Commons in Common-council lately assembled in ordering an humble Address to be presented to his Majesty; wherein was expressed your Lordships and their due sense of the continued danger of his Majesty's Life, (which God long preserve) and of the Protestant Religion, and of all our Lives, Liberties, and Estates, by the Designs and Conspiracies, so long projected and prosecuted by the Councils of Rome and its Adherents; in the pursuit whereof, they are chiefly animated by the continuing hopes of a Popish Successor. And also your and their just apprehensions that no effectual means can be provided against the impending evils therein mentioned, but by the wisdom and advice of his Majesty's great Council the Parliament.  
And whereas it hath come to our knowledge, that Reports, by mistake or prejudice, have been raised, that the said Address did contain only the sense and desires of a few persons, and not of the generality of this great City.  
We do therefore most humbly pray your Lordship, that you will in such manner (as shall seem best to your Lordship's discretion) humbly represent to his Majesty, that the Subject-matter of the said Address is also the true sense, and doth contain the humble Desires and Resolutions of his true and Loyal Subjects the Citizens of his City of London, in this their Common-Hall now assembled. And that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to esteem it as such.  
And We having likewise taken notice that the same Common Council did at the time of their voting the said Address, render their thanks to our late worthy Members of the last Parliament, for their faithful endeavours to serve this City, according to the Desires and Instructions to them given and made by Us at the time of their Election. We do think it our duty at this time to testify our full concurrence therein, and do return unto them our hearty thanks for the same.  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, etc.   

This Petition was delivered to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor immediately after the declaring Thomas Pilkington Esq Alderman, and Samuel Shute Esq to be Sheriffs of London for the year ensuing; and being read by the command of the Lord Mayor to the Common-Hall, had their general Consent and Approbation of the same, which consisted of some Thousands of Citizens.   

To the Honoured Slingsby Bethel and Henry Cornish Esquires, Sheriffs of this City of London and Middlesex.  
WE the Citizens of the said City in Common-hall assembled, being sensible of, and greatly satisfied with your faithful Endeavours to discharge those Offices of Trust which we (not long since) called you to; and considering your wise and prudent conduct and management of our Affairs within this City, especially in maintaining and asserting of our undoubted Rights and Privileges as Citizens, and continual provision of faithful and able Juries; especially in such a time as this, when Innocency itself is not inrouded from the imputation of the blackest Crimes; and the best and most loyal Protestants are exposed to the utmost hazards by the Perjuries, Subornations, and Villainies of the Popish Party and their Adherents. And we cannot at this time omit the mentioning your fair Proceedings in our present Election of Sheriffs for the Year ensuing, and dispatch of an unnecessary Poll, without putting us off by Adjournments to a troublesome and weary attendance. Do offer and return to you our most hearty Thanks, as the only Compensation we can at present make you; being confidently assured that you will steadfastly persist in those your most faithful Endeavours, as long as you shall continue Officers in this Honourable City.   

This Address was presented to the Sheriffs at the same time; and being read to the Common-hall, had the like Approbation.   

LONDON: Printed for R. Baldwyn, in the Old-baily. 1681.