A MESSAGE From His Excellency SIR THOMAS FAIREFAX and the Council of War TO THE Parliament and Common Council of LONDON.  
AND The Copy of a Petition of Citizens, Officers and Soldiers, Seamen, Watermens, and others, gathering hands to be presented to the Lord Mayor, aldermans, and Commons of London, at a Common-Hall.  
With their Engagement and Covenant.  
And a Declaration by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, proclaiming those that shall promote or sign the same, to be Traitors.  

Die Sabbathi. 24 July 1647.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled. That the said Declaration, be published forthwith (by order of the Lord Major, Sheriff, and Committee of the Militia) by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet in the Cities of London, Westminster, and within the Line of Communication  
H. Elsing Cler. Par. Dom. Com.   
Printed at London by Robert Ibbitson. 1647.   

TO THE Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worsh. the Aldermen & Com. of the City of London, in the Common or Guildhall of the City of London, Assembled.  

The humble Petition of the Citizens, Commanders, Officers, and Soldiers, of the Trained Bands, and Auxiliaries, the young men and Apprentices of the City of London, and Westminster, Sea-commanders, Seamen, and Watermens, together with divers other Commanders, Officers and Soldiers, within the Line of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality.  
Shows,  
THat your Petitioners taking into serious consideration, how Religion, his Majesty's honour and safety, the privileges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject, are at present greatly endangered, and likely to be destroyed; And also sadly weighing with ourselves what means might likely prove the most effectual to procure a firm and lasting peace, without further effusion of Christian, English blood) have therefore entered into a solemn Engagement, which is hereunto annexed, and do humbly and earnestly desire, that this whole City may join together by all lawful possible means, as one man in hearty endeavours, for his Majesty's 〈◊〉 ●●●●ing up to his two Houses of Parliament, 〈…〉 safety, and freedom, and that without the near approach of the Army, there to confirm such things, as he hath granted in his Message of the 12 of May last, in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdoms: And that by a personal Treaty with his two Houses of Parliament, and the Commissioners of the kingdom of Scotland, such things as yet are in difference, may be speedily settled, and a firm and lasting peace established: all which we desire may be presented to both Houses of Parliament from this Honourable Assembly.  
And we shall pray, etc.   

A Solemn Engagement of the Citizens, Commanders, Officers and Soldiers, of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries, the young men, and Apprentices of the Cities of London, and Westminster, Sea commanders, Seamen, and Watermen, together with divers other Commanders, Officers and Soldiers within the Line of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality.  
WHereas we have entered into a Solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation, and defence of Religion, the Honour and happiness of the King, and the peace and safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, All which we do evidently perceive, not only to be endangered, but ready to be destroyed.  
We do therefore in pursuance of our the said Covenants, both of Allegiance, Oath of every Freeman of the Cities of London, and Westminster, and Protestations, Solemnly Engage ourselves, and vow unto Almighty God, that we will to the utmost of our power, cordially endeavour that his Majesty may speedily come to his two Houses of Parliament, with honour safety and freedom, (and that without the nearer approach of the Army) there to confirm such things, as he hath granted in his Message of the 12 of May last, in Answer to the propositions of both Kingdoms, and that by a personal Treaty, with his two Houses of Parliament, and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled, and a firm and lasting peace established. For effecting hereof we do protest and re-oblege ourselves as in the presence of God, the searcher of all hearts, with our lives and fortures, to endeavour what in us lies, to preserve and defend, his Majesty's Royal person, and authority, the Privileges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject, in their full and constant freedom: The Cities of London and Westminster lines of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of mortally, and all others that shall adhere with us to the said Covenant, Oath of allegians, Oath of every freeman of London, and Westminster and Protestation. Nor shall we by any means admit, suffer, or endure any kind of neutrality in this Common Cause of God. The King and Kingdom, as we do expect the blessing of Almighty God, whose help we crave, and wholly devolve ourselves upon, in this our undertaking.   

A Copy of a Paper delivered to the Commissioners of Parliament, from the General and Council of War.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
WE received this enclosed paper the last night from the hands of a very well affected Citizen: It was delivered him by an Officer of the City Militia, who being invited to meet some Citizens at Skinner's Hall, upon Wednesday last, with divers others, to sign the same; and offering to dispute the matter of it to them how dangerous and illegal it was; was silenced, and told that it was not to be disputed, but to be signed and joined in, there being divers Citizens and others at the same place for that purpose, which when he understood he took this printed Copy away with him.  
By the contents of which, when you read it, you will easily perceive what it tends to, and how desperate and dangerous it is, to the hazard of the whole Kingdom, and to frustrate all those endeavours of the Parliament, the Army, and Kingdom, for an happy settlement. And likewise to precipitate all into a new and bloody war. We cannot therefore but acquaint you, that we look at this, as a business set on foot by the malice of some desperate minded men, this being their last engine for the putting all into confusion, when they could not accomplish their wicked ends by other means.  
To this have all secret listings tended, and we wish that needless and superfluous listing of Auxiliaries, and connivance at the continuance of the Reformadoes about the Cities of London and Westminster, have not had the same aim. And by this we hope it will appear, that our jealousies and fears of some such desperate design to be hatched in and about the City, considering the sense of men there, have not been groundless, nor our desires to draw near the City of London with the Army, to disappoint and break all such plots, and to free the Parliament from violence of them, have not been without just cause; and we desire all indifferent men to judge, whether our withdrawing from the City in obedience to the Parliaments commands, was for theirs and the Kingdom's security, or not. We wonder that divers men did calumniate at our marching so near the City, and put so bad representations upon it, as that it tended to force the Parliament, or to plunder the City, seeing our doing so, was to break the black design which now gins to show itself in its colours: whereas indeed our consciences witness with us that our Armies were clear and honest, tending to restore the Parliament unto its just liberty, which was much abated in the eyes of all the kingdom, and no doubt by the authors and contrivers of this new covenant and engagement, some whereof have been so fare from assisting to put the Reformadoes, and other dangerous persons out of the lines, that now they are called in to join in this conspiracy.  
We entreat you to give the Parliament a full representation, of these things, which that you may do we have sent you the Papers, together with such informations as may give them an opportunity to discover the bottom of this business. We were marching from London (when we received this information) in obedience to the Parliament, to give the City content, and to stop the mouths of slanderers. But if such designs so destructive to the Parliament, and the work in hand be suffered to go on, or that the Parliament be interrupted in the freedom of their debates, and proceed, as we hear within these few days they were, by those that are invited to partake of this confederacy.  
We beg it of the Parliament, as they tender their own safety the peace of the Kingdom, and preventing of a second War, as they would not have the Kingdom, lose the fruit and benefit of all the blood and treasure that hath been spent in this Cause, that they would not suffer their freedom and Liberty to be endangered by such designs as these, they having an Army, which by the blessing of God in spite of all that theirs, and the Kingdom's enemies can do, will stand and fall with them, and be firm, faithful, and obedient to them in all things, and as ready to relieve Ireland when the peace and Rights of the Kingdom are settled.  
We writ not this to desire the Parliament to invite us to march up to them, we care not how great a distance we are from London, if it be the Parliaments pleasure, and consists with their security, and the breaking off those combinations which are hatched in the bowels of that City.  
We are hastening out Proposals which are for the general settlement, and which we are confident will satisfy all that love truth and peace.  
But we see plainly, we need more to intent security, then have cause to expect to bring things to a happy issue by treaty, while such designs are on foot We pray you therefore that the Parliament would speedily & throughly inquire into, and break these designs, wherein as in all things else we shall be ready to serve them, as they shall judge it needful; and when they shall command us.  
Ailesbury July 23. 1647. By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairfax, and the Counell of War, Signed Jo. Rushworth, Secretary   

Die Sabbathi 24 Julii, 1647.  
THe Lords and Commons having seen a printed Paper entitled, A Petition to the right Honourable the Lord Major, the right worshipful the Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in the Common or Guild hall of the City of London assembled, under the name of divers Citizens, Commanders, Officers, and Soldiers of the Trained Bands, Auxiliaries, and others, young men and Apprentices, Sea-Commanders, Seamen, and Watermens, together with a dangerous engagement of the same persons by Oath and Vow concerning the King's present coming to the Parliament upon terms far different from those which both Houses after mature deliberation, have declared to be necessary for the good and safety of this Kingdom, casting reflections upon the proceed both of the Parliament and Army, and tending to the imbroiling the Kingdom in a new War: And the said Lords and Commons taking notice of great endeavours used by divers illaffected persons to procure Subscriptions thereunto, whereby well-meaning people may be misled, do therefore declare, That whosoever after publication or notice hereof shall proceed in, or promote or set his name to, or give consent that his name be set unto, or any way join in the said Engagement shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of high Treason, and shall forfeit life and estate as in cases of high Treason, accustomed.  
H. Elsying Cler. Par. Dom. Com.