TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS ASSEMBLED In the High Court of PARLIAMENT: An humble Representation of the pressing grievances, and important desires of the well-affected Freemen, and Covenant-engaged Citizens, of the City of London.  
OUt of our zeal to God's glory, so exceedingly profaned; our love to God's truth, so woefully corrupted; our compassionate affection to our Brethren oppressed; the grievous calamities that lie upon ourselves, and are still more and more growing upon us; together with the sad fears which do daily possess and afflict our hearts, because of Divine vengeance and displeasure so imminently impending over our heads, and even ready to seize upon Church and State, We have been forced yet once again in the discharge of our Consciences, to take the humble boldness to pour forth into your bosoms the sorrows of our hearts, and to present unto your Honours the conceived causes of our Miseries; trusting, that in your grave wisdoms you will both see into them, and in your Justice give remedy against them: For who can see Religion, Laws, Liberties, (things of so great and precious concernment) not only assaulted, but even overwhelmed, and the Unity, Peace, and Prosperity of the Kingdoms violated, and almost destroyed, and by a treacherous and cowardly silence continue to hold his peace? We cannot, we dare not, the oath of God with a curse lies upon us, if we shall so basely yield to a Spirit of indifferency and neutrality, in a Cause which doth so much concern God's glory, and the Kingdom's good, and shall not (especially in such a time as this) zealously and constantly in our places and callings, according to our power, apply our sincerest endeavours, notwithstanding all lets and oppositions, to promote the same.  
1. It cannot but be acknowledged, most worthy Senators, that the Churches of God in times of Reformation, have ever thought it the fittest season of all others, in some extraordinary manner to oblige themselves unto Almighty God, as the Divine goodness hath put it into your hearts (according to the laudable practice, upon all occasions, of the most godly and religious Governors) to strike a solemn Covenant with him, and by your Authority to enjoin the same to the Kingdoms, for the reformation and defence of Religion, Laws, Liberties, as an excellent means to acquire the favour of God, and the uniting and strengthening of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, against the common enemies of the true reformed Religion, peace and prosperity of the Kingdoms, to the apparent manifestation of your most Christian zeal and piety to God and to his truth: Wherefore we cannot hear but make our sad complaint unto your Honours, in the expression of our deepest sense of that great dishonour which is done unto the heavenly Majesty in the most horrible slighting and treacherous infringement of this most sacred Oath, and that bold contempt which is offered at this day to the authority of this renowned Parliament, in this their so religious undertaking and injunction, on the one part by those that altogether refuse to enter into this holy Covenant of God and the Kingdoms, and on the other part by them which declaim against it, and cast disgraceful aspersions upon it; that we can not look at these persons (whatsoever their pretences be) as any other than either malignant Enemies to the Parliament, or the Peace and Union of the Kingdoms, and the reformation of Religion; nor can we promise to ourselves any security, so long as they are suffered undiscovered, or unpunished, to live among us. We therefore make it our humble prayer unto your Honours, that you would be pleased (as in your pious wisdom you shall think most fit) to find out and appoint such ways or means, to discover and bring so great misdoers and offenders against God and your Authority to condign punishment, as may be most agreeable to the merit of their so crying offences; and that as you have long since enjoined by Ordinance of Parliament the taking of this sacred Covenant, (which notwithstanding is not yet done in many places of this Kingdom) so you would countenance and defend it inviolable from neglect, infringement, scorn, and defamation, and by your Civil sanction effectually impose it to be sworn by all without exception, under some certain penalty, as best shall seem unto your Honours, to be duly inflicted by your religious Justice upon the wilful contemners of the same. And here give us leave in all humility to offer what seems to us both just and necessary, That such persons as have not taken, and shall not take the solemn League and Covenant, or having taken it, are manifestly disaffected to the ends therein expressed, especially in point of Religion, may not be countenanced, employed in, or advanced to places of public Trust, as being a discredit to your Government, dangerous to the Kingdoms, and a hindrance to the reformation of Religion. By so doing you shall preserve this great Oath of our God from contempt and violation, a sin, which we humbly conceive is the chiefest cause of most of those miseries and calamities that Gods just hand hath brought upon us.  
II. When you did at first conclude upon that sacred Covenant, (wherein now you have solemnly engaged both yourselves and us) how glad were the hearts of all the faithful in the Land, and what rejoicing was there at the Oath, as in the days of Asa? We hoped then that our Religion (more precious than our lives, which was that the truly godly had chief in their eye) had been so secured, that all the malice, power, and policy both of men and devils should never have been able to overturn the same; But with bleeding hearts we speak it, how is it, that for all this, such an inundation of Errors, Schisms, Heresies is broken in upon us, which if not speedily prevented by your Wisdoms, and opposed by your impartial Justice, we fear will have its dreadful effect to the total subversion of the power of godliness. We are even struck with such astonishment that after such a Covenant, there should such blasphemies be uttered to God's highest dishonour; that such heretical opinions should be broached, to the never so much vilifying of the truth; that such Schisms should be acted and fomented, to the renting and dividing of the Church; that the Government established should be so much defamed, and opposed to the contempt of the Parliament, in words, in books, in practice, by the Sectaries of these times, who yet seem as men under sanctuary, finding nothing done unto them, for the hindering of these mischiefs, or the punishment of these enormities. God hath done great things for us, and hath showed us great Salvation as at this day, than woe be to us if these be our returns for so great blessings. Trusty and Right Worthy Patriots, we know not whither to go in these our sad distempers, but unto you whom God and this Kingdom hath betrusted with what is most precious unto him, and dearest unto us, the protection of Religion, the preserving of it in Doctrine pure, and in discipline from contempt and scorn, is that for which above all things else we besee●● your Honours again and again. Here we would lay the stre●● of our desires, and express the urgency of our affections, 〈◊〉 think we can never say enough for our God, and for his Truth: What are our estates, our liberties, our lives unto us, if the Ark of God be taken? if that be gone, the glory, yea, the life of our lives is departed from England. We tremble to think, if a remedy be not suddenly applied, what will be the issue of these things. Wherefore our humble desires are renewed to your Honours, That you would be pleased to give Authority to suppress all such from public Preaching, as have not duly been Ordained, whereby their gifts for the Ministry, and their soundness in the Faith might be evinced: As also, separate Congregations, the very nurseries of all damnable Heresies: That an Ordinance be made for some exemplary punishment to be inflicted upon Heretics and Schismatics, that your utter dislike of them and their proceed may be manifest to all the world, which had been made long since to appear by a well-setled Reformation, had not his Majesty denied his consent to the Bill for the Assembly, so often presented to him by both Houses, according to your own Declaration in answer to his Majesties of the 23 of October, 1642.  
And that all Godly and Orthodox Ministers who labour in God's husbandry, may have encouragement, some course being thought upon in your wisdoms for their competent maintenance, the Lord having so ordained that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel: so shall Religion flourish, the wrath of God be averted, the lips of the just shall bless you, and a gracious recompense of reward from Gods most bounteous hand shall surely wait upon you.  
And forasmuch as the welfare and safety of this Kingdom doth next under God in the preservation of true Religion, depend upon the fundamental Constitutions of the same, and the maintenance thereof, which fundamental Constitutions do most eminently appear in the calling of that great Council the Parliament, and in electing of Members for the same, wherein most conspicuously doth shine the Liberty and Property of the Subject, here we can do no less, then make it our hearty prayer unto your Honours, that you would be pleased to give strict order, that writs for a free election without delay may be issued to all places, where Knights and Burgesses for Parliament are yet to be chosen; and to provide that the people be not prejudiced in their free choice, either by force, fear, letters, promises, or solicitations of any: that the Subject's liberties being defended and preserved, they may be encouraged and better enabled to serve your Honours and the Public.  
IU. And here we not omit to hint unto your Honours, the exorbitant practices of many Committees and Committee men, who have such an influence by means of their Authority upon the people, they being at their wills, and in their power to do them a displeasure, that they dare not do otherwise then obey their unlawful Commands, without the inevitable hazard of their peace and safety; through which means tyranny is exercised by one fellow subject upon another, and justice and equity cannot enter: The cries of all sorts of people throughout the land are grown so loud against the people of this vocation and profession, by reason of those grievous oppressions that are continually acted by them, that in tenderness of affection towards our brethren, not being ignorant or insensible of our own sufferings in this kind, and the great dishonour accrueing to the Parliament thereby, that we cannot but be earnest suitors to your mercy and justice that such may be dissolved.  
V The God of your salvation through the timous help of his willing people hath now expelled your adversaries, and brought us sat through the Red-sea of our fears and troubles, to the borders of that sweet Canaan of our desired peace; and what now remains, most worthy Patriots, but that in thankfulness to God for his mercy, and in grateful acknowledgement of the loving affections of his people in their so cheerful adventures in the Cause of God and the Kingdom, but that the heavy yokes should be loosed, to which they so readily did submit their necks, nay desired you to put upon them for your security and the Kingdom's weal? Which therefore is our humble request, that the enemies being now subdued, the Armies may be disbanded, that the so much complained of oppressions by their means may be redressed, and taxes for their support may be released, and the Militia of the Kingdom settled: so shall you make it appear to the shame of slanderous tongues, that this war hath not been intended as a trade, but as a means of regaining our lost peace, and that you had no other design in prosecution of the same, than the securing of our Religion, Laws and Liberties, so desperately invaded by tyrannical oppressors; and shall endear the affections of this people to you for your future assistance, when in a time of need their help shall be required, and they will become yours and the Kingdom's servants for ever.  
VI And now since God hath helped us in our distress, in will not be unacceptable service unto him, that we should put forth the bowels of our Compassions to our distressed brethren, as being the most kindly fruits of Gods merciful dealing with ourselves; And what an object is Ireland for this purpose? Most noble Senators, sinoe God hath shown you mercy, in subduing your enemies here, let us be your earnest Petitioners for gasping, dying Ireland, in this their great extremity: for in thoughts of their calamities our bowels are rolled within us; never did their necessities call louder to your mercy then now they do.  
VII. And certainly one singular means to ●●●●ure so great ablessing, must needs be the firm and established union of these Kingdoms according to our Covenant: In which respect we cannot but with sorrowful and perplexed hearts, resent the hellish devices of malignant, factious, and seditious spirits, who make it their daily practice, & surely would rejoice in it as their Masterpiece, if they could once effect to divide these Kingdoms of England and Scotland, so firmly conjoined by a blessed, and we hope, everlasting union. Therefore we return again unto your Justice, that according to our Covenant, condign punishment may be inflicted upon such firebrands, the greatest enemies to Church and State, and that your Honours would readily apply all tenderest care in your most faithful and diligent endeavours for the preservation of that happy union by solemn League of these two Kingdoms, which is so much the envy of our enemies, the strength and glory of Great Britain, and the greatest security of our Religion, peace and prosperity.  
VIII. And whereas the hand of the Almighty hath so eminently appeared on your side, that your enemies are fall'n under you, and hath given the troublers of yours and the Kingdom's peace into your hands: We do beseech that according to the several qualities of their Delinquencies, your justice may go forth against them with speedy execution. And withal, that now you would be so mindful of your great engagements, in the full and effectual discharge of the Kingdom's debts (who have showed themselves such free Contributers, and also have been such extreme sufferers for your assistance in the Kingdom's cause) as to provide that a faithful improvement of the estates of these notorious enemies of the Kingdom may be made by a right conversion of them unto public use. And that those streams of wealth, which daily are flowing in by Compositions of Delinquents, may according to your solemn promises run in the right channel, and return back into that Ocean whence at your desire they did so freely issue forth.  
And whereas in your Wisdoms, your Honours have made so good provision, that men of estates and fortunes in the world, may be repaid their disbursements upon the loan of so much more, as in your Ordinance for the sale of Bishop's Lands doth more fully appear: We do entreat that you would please to take into your further consideration those well-affected persons who have so freely and fully laid out themselves, as that they have not been able to make that addition required in the aforesaid Ordinance, but must now be forced for the relief of their great necessities, to sell at great loss, their very principal lent upon the public Faith, to their great discouragement and discontent, which we fear may prove no small impediment to your future assistance, if need thereof should be, unless remedy herein shall by your Honours be provided.  
IX. And for protections we need say little, so much having been said before in our Remonstrance, that we hope your Honours are so sensible of the sufferings of those Creditors who have great sums of money owing by some of your Members, and of the injustice of those among them, that have Estates to satisfy their engagements, yet will not, but stand upon their privilege, as there needs no other argument to move your Honours to do us justice in this behalf.  
X. And because we are obliged to endeavour the preservation of the Liberties of the Kingdom, therefore that we may perform our engagements as to God and you, so likewise to the Subjects of the Kingdom, whose sufferings in matters that concern their Rights are our own; we hold ourselves bound, in all humility, to signify unto your Honours, that contrary to the Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, on Friday evening the 4. of this instant month, there was an illegal Warrant, signed by Sir William Strickland, served upon three of our fellow Subjects, and fellow Citizens, by name Patrick Bamford, Nicholas Widmerpoole, Valentine Fyge, to be taken into custody and committed to a Sergeant at Arms; which thing was also done contrary to the Order of that Honourable House, as by some of the Committee themselves was acknowledged. Wherefore we do humbly pray, that the aforesaid Warrant with the manner of its issuing forth, may be taken into your serious consideration for the vindication of the Honour of the Parliament, which is herein so much concerned, and maintenance of the Subjects Liberty, and to make such reparations to the persons wronged as may stand with justice, and in your wisdoms shall se● me fit.  
And now renowned Worthies, we trust that in your wont goodness, you will not entertain any misconceptions of us, for that we have endeavoured to be a little more patheticke and pressing in our phrase of speech then heretofore; but that in your wisdoms you will throughly weigh our fears and sorrows with our pressing burdens, which have even forced us as against our wills to these expressions; and that looking upon the sincere affections of your Petitioners you will please to make so benigue an interpretation of what we have here represented in the urgency of our afflicted spirits, as not to think we had the least aim to reflect upon the Honour of this famous Parliament: but that the sense of our miseries in our approaching dangers might stand more conspicuously before your eyes, and as by the most forcible argument we could think upon, effectually to move your Honours (the great Physicians of our Church and State) to apply your most seasonable and speedy help. The Glory of God, the safety of our Religion and Liberties, and the Kingdom's welfare, is that we level at in this our undertaking, If through your favourable acceptation of these our humble addresses we may obtain the security of these, we have our utmost aim; And you shall be called the Repairers of the breaches, the Restorers of paths to dwell in, you shall raise monuments of your eternal praises, the Churches of God shall call you blessed, and you shall for ever engage us not to think our estates or lives too dear to serve your Honours and the Public so long as we have breath and being.  
FINIS.