A TRUE COPY Of the Petition of the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common-council, of London, presented to both Houses of Parliament, March 18. 1641.  
With the Answer of Both Houses of Parliament to the said Petition.  
Together with, Mr. SPEAKERS Letter, Ordered By the Honourable House of Commons, to the High Sheriff, and Gentry of YORKSHIRE.  
Showing their dislike of such as have endeavoured to persuade the Country, that their petition to the Parliament was ill relished.  
Secondly, their dislike of such as have endeavoured to persuade godly Ministers, that their exercises are not acceptable to the Houses.  
Thirdly, their dislike of such as have endeavoured to persuade the Trained Band from going into Hull, upon the Parliaments Order.  
London Printed for john Wright. 1641.   

A True Copy of the Petition of the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common-council of London, presented to both Houses of Parliament, March 18. 1641.  
The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common-council of the City of London.  
Sheweth.  
THat the Petitioners do much rejoice in the happy and joyful Concurrence of both the Houses of Parliament, as in other things, so especially, in that most necessary Ordinance touching the Militia of this Kingdom, and dominion of Wales; Whereunto the Petitioners do most humbly and cheerfully submit, for the safety of His Majesty, the Parliament and Kingdom: for the ordering whereof many pressing Petitions from most parts of the Kingdom have been exhibited, in this time of imminent Danger, proceeding from the bloody Counsels of Papists and others, ill affected to the honour, peace and prosperity of our most gracious King, and his Kingdoms.  
And the Petitioners do likewise humbly return all possible thanks unto this Honourable House, for the great honour and high favour vouchsafed in giving them leave to nominate the Persons to whom the Militia of this City should be committed; And for accepting and approving of the Nomination and return made to this Honourable House, by the Petitioners on that behalf.  
But this their joy is much disturbed and interrupted by an untrue, and dangerous Petition, entitled The Petition of the Citizens of London, whose names are under written, directed and delivered, in February last, to the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; and since published in Print, with this Title, The humble Petition of the Citizens of London: thereby to publish it through the Kingdom, as the Petition of all the Citizens: wherein is set forth (as appears by one of those Printed Copies annexed) that the ordering of the Arms of London hath time out of mind, been annexed to the Mayoralty of the said City; that the conferring thereof upon others would reflect upon the government and Cu●●ines of this City, granted by the great Charter of Englan● ●nd confirmed by divers Acts and Charters since that time: and which every Freeman of the said City is by the Oath of his freedom bound to maintain to the utmost of his power; and that such alteration in the ancient Government might breed great distractions and inconveniencies: or to this effect.  
Nor this alone, but the Petitioners are yet more deeply wounded and grieved, by the presumptuous boldness of the Publishers of the said Petition in Print, by joining therewith His Majesty's Answer and denial, Entitled, His Majesty's Message to both Houses of Parliament, February 28. 1641. Which Answer (as the Petitioners humbly conceive) was grounded upon the said Petition, and misinformation of some persons, ill affected to His Majesty and to the City, who have thereby, and otherwise, often endeavoured to make divisions betwixt the King and the Parliament, betwixt the Parliament and the City, and betwixt the Citizens among themselves, to the intolerable abuse of his sacred Majesty, and of all his loyal Subjects.  
And they verily believe, that this bold publishing in Print, of the said Petition, and his Majesty's Message (which shortly after followed the exhibiting of the said Petition) together in one Printed paper, was purposely done, wickedly and seditiously, to make divisions as aforesaid, to beget an opinion throughout the Kingdom, that the City of London doth not intent to conform unto, but complain of, and oppose the aforesaid Ordinance, and to make the said Petition a desperate precedent to the rest of the Kingdom, to do the like; thereby to hinder the cheerful, needful, lawful, and unanimous Concurrence of the Kingdom, in yielding due, and full timely obedience to the said Ordinance.  
They do therefore humbly pray, This Honourable House will vouchsafe,  
1. To believe, that neither this nor any other Petition of the like kind ever came from the Petitioners, nor was framed, contrived or approved of by them. And that they do wholly and with detestation disavow and disclaim the same as untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition.  
2. To put a difference between the Authors, Contrivers, Promoters, Advisers, Publishers and Printers of it, and such, as it shall appear to this Honourable House, were by subtlety drawn in unawares to subscribe the same, without any malignant intention, and shall clearly and fully acknowledge their error, and rashness therein; and that the latter sort may have such lawful favour as may stand with the honour and justice of the high Court of Parliament.  
Lastly, they do humbly pray, this Honourable House will still increase their joy, by endeavouring to uphold and continue, by all good means that blessed concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, in all your great affairs, and effectually to proceed against all disturbers and undermyners thereof, and that shall endeavour to cherish any misunderstanding betwixt the King and Parliament, whom God and the Laws of this Land have united in so near a Relation.  
And they shall ever be ready to assist and stand by this Honourable House theroin, with their lives and Estates, to the utmost of their power, according to their late Protestation.  
Another of the same Petitions (with change only of the Title) was likewise presented to the most Honourable House of Peers, the same day (March 18) by divers Aldermen, and other worthy Members of the Court of Common Council aforesaid.  
And shall uncessantly pray, etc.   

The Answer to the aforesaid Petition by the Upper House.  
Die Veneris 18. Martii. 1641.  
THe Aldermen and Citizens that delivered the Petition this day to the Lords in Parliament were called in, and the Lord Keeper told them by the direction of the House, that their Lordships did give them thanks for their readiness and forwardness in their Obedience to the Ordinance of Parliament, made by both Houses, concerning the Militia, and further car● of preventing any disorders that might have happened by preferring or exhibiting a falls and scandalous Petition in the name of the C●ty, whereas it was not so. That their Lordships have ordered that this Petition now presented shall be printed and Published, anchor the scandalous Petition, the Lords have ordered the same shall be burnt by the hand of the Commons, Hangman: and that their Lordship's do resolve to make a difference between those that were the A●●hor● and Contrivers of that scandalous Petition and those that were seduced and ignorantly drawn in to subscribe to that Petition.   

The Answer of the House of Commons to the aforesaid Petition.  
Die Veneris 18. Martii 1641.  
THe humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common Council of this City was this day read in the house of Commons, & ordered to be entered in the Journals of the said House, and to be Printed. The Petitioners were called in, and Master Speaker told them that the House had read their Petition, and received it with a great deal of contentment and approbation, and it being of that great consequence, and so full of expression of zeal and affection to his Majesty, and the Kingdom: and in particular, that he was of respect to this House, commanded to return them hearty thanks in the name of the whole House: and wished, that he had words sufficiently to express it.  
And for those of the City of London, that subscribed that dangerous Petition complained of by the Petitioners, and are desirous to acknowledge their error (Provided they were none of the contrivers of that Petition: nor had a malignant spirit in the advancing and exhibiting thereof.) This House, according to the desires of the Petitioners, is willing to show favour unto them. And as the Petioners do express their care of the King and Kingdom, and of this House in particular; so this House will be always ready to give their best endeavours to further those things that may concern the honour and safety of the King and Kingdom, and in particular of the good and safety of the City of London.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

Mr. Speakers Letter.  
SIR,  
THe House hath received information by Letters from yourself, that the malice of some hath proceeded so fare of late, as to endeavour first, to persuade your Country, that their Petitions to the Parliament were ill relished by this House. And that your free offers therein of putting yourselves into a Posture of Defence, hath given such testimony of your abilities, that it hath utterly taken away the hopes of paying your Billet money, till the Parliament knows not how else to dispose of it. Secondly, to cry down Exercises (which have already done much good) and to draw off some Ministers by persuading them that they are not acceptable to this House. Thirdly, that some in holderness have dissuaded the Trained Bands from going into Hull upon the Parliaments Order.  
Which information of yours, the House takes for a an especial service, and for so full a testimony of your fidelity to the Parliament, and of love to your Country, as they hold it an evident character of your worth, and for this commands me to give you very hearty thanks. And to desire you in the name of the House to declare to the Country, how false and malicious these reports are: since the House was so fare from disrelishing their Petitions, or turning their free offer to their disadvantage, as that they returned their public thanks when the Petition was received, Passed a vote to approve of their offer, and since by another Vote justified them in the same Act upon his Majesty's taking notice thereof. And have since ordered that the same Counties which paid their Pole money heretofore at York, shall now pay all their proportions of the Bill of four hundred thousand pounds shortly to be raised to the discharge of the Billet money in your County and those other Counties where it is owing, which if it shall not fully satisfy, they will discharge as soon as the great necessities of the Kingdom can possibly permit. And likewise they command me to let you know that they do very much wonder at the impiety and impudence of those men who dare to hinder the advancement of the glory of God and of his worship. And also to scandalise the piety of this House in so high a measure, as to say those good Ministers endeavours are not acceptable to it, they accounting it their greatest honour to patronise painful Preachers in the performance of their duties. And being resolved to cherish and advance with their utmost power, whatsoever may tend to the propagating of Religion, of which they hold those exercises to be an especial means. This House therefore being very sensible of the great inconveniences which may happen by their misreports in these distracted times, and from the malice of these men, if it should proceed uncountrolled, desires, and enjoins you to return the names as well of those who have vented these untruths, as likewise of those who have dissuaded the Trained Bands in holderness, from entering into Hull upon the Parliaments Order persuading themselves that you who have already given such proof of your affection to the Kingdom, will still continue it by your endeavours, to prevent the practices of any ill affected persons upon any of that County, to the disturbance of the peace.  
Die Mercurii 16 Martii, 1641.  
It is this day ordered by the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament, that this be forthwith Printed.  
H. Elsyng● Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
FINIS.