SEVERAL PAPERS From His Excellency Sr. Thomas Fairfax, AND The ARMY under his Command, delivered to the Commissioners of Parliament and City at Alisbury, July 23. 1647.  
OCCASIONED By a late Petition and Engagement of some Citizens, Commanders, Officers, and Soldiers of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries etc.  
Being the last and most desperate Design against the Kingdom and Army. With a Copy of the Engagement.  
ALSO, A Proclamation from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, against the entertaining of Cavaliers in the ARMY.  
By the appointment of his Excellency Sr. THOMAS FAIRFAX and his Council of War.  
Signed IO. RUSHWORTH Secretary  
London, Printed for George Whittington, at the Blue Anchor in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1647.   

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 against the matter of it, to show 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 Parl. 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 on 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 the needless and superfluous Listing of Auxilaries 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 designs to be harched in and about the City, (considering the temper 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 the 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 command was for their and the Kingdom's security or not: we wonder that divers men did calumniate that 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 that black design which now gins to show itself in its colours, whereas indeed our consciences witness with us, that our aims were clear & ●●nest tending to restore the Parliament into its just liberty, which was much abated in the eyes of all the Kingdom, and no doubt by the Authors and ●●●ntrivers of this new Covenant and engagement; some whereof have been so fare from assisting to put the Reformadoes & other dangerous persons out of the Lines that now they are called to join in this conspiracy: we entreat you to give the Parl. 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, and to give the City more content, & 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 in this Consideracy: 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 found faithful and obedient to them in all things, and as ready to relieve Ireland, when the Peace and rights of this Kingdom are seried: 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 of those combinations which are hatched in the Bowels of the City, we are hastening our 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 an happy issue by Treaty while such designs are on foot: We pray you therefore that the Parliament would speedily and 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.  
By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, and his Council of War. Signed, john Rushworth, Secretary Alesbury July 23. 1647.   

BY a Printed Paper come to our hands this day (a Copy whereof you receive herewith) we still find, and clearly and evidently perceive that some evil Spirits within the City of London, maliciously disaffected to the Peace of this Kingdom, do secretly and wickedly endeavour, to bring about that mischief upon the Kingdom, which we have so much feared, and by all our several addresses unto you sought to prevent; which indeed are of that dangerous consequence as we can expect no other issue from, than the unavoidable engaging the Kingdom in a second War, if not timely and effectually prevented by your wisdom and diligence. We must further observe unto you, that whatoever design is intended in the forssad Paper, is contrary to the Authority of Parliament, and indirect opposition to the proceed of the Army (which the 2. Houses have owned as theirs, and approved of their fidelity by committing the forces of the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Islands of Garnesey and jersey, under the General's care and Command) and therefore cannot be effected, but by force of Arms against the Parliament and their Armies, which in probability may involve the whole Kingdom in blood; but must necessarily begin within your own Bowels, and draw the Seat and misery of War upon you and your City.  
Also we desire you would consider, whether we have not just cause to suspect that an evil party lurks within the City ready to distemper it, and the whole Kingdom upon every occasion, and whether it be probable such persons desire a happy Close between the King and the Parliament, (at least such as will be for the Kingdom's good) when they take upon them the boldness to make new offers to His Maj. with solemn engagements to make good the same during the time that the Parliament had given us leave to make tender of, and treat with their Commissioners about those things which tend to a general settlement. And therefore we cannot but desire, that you would take a speedy course timely to suppress this great evil, and to prevent all of this nature for the future, and by making some of those examples who have been active to carry on this business: We have not had time to inquire into particulars, out shall give you only one instance of a meeting at Skinners-Hall, concerning this business, where some persons have been very active, (the names of some of whom we have given to your Commissioners) and also the names of other Citizens who will testify their carriage there.  
Lastly, we cannot but desire you to concurs with us in our desires to the Parliament, to put the Militia into the hands of those that had it before; without which we can have no assurance that the City will be free from designs of this nature, nor can we expect to see a happy Close.  
By the appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Council 〈…〉 Alisbury July 23. .   

To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the right worshipful the Aldermen and Commons 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 Auxilaries, 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 Bill 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 Subjects, are at present greatly endangered, and like 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 a 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 and possible means, as one man, in hearty endeavours for his Majesty's present coming up 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 12th. of May last, in answer to the Propositions of both Kingdoms, and that by a personal Treaty with his two houses of parliament, & the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, such things as yet are in difference may be speedily iettled, 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.   

A Solemn engagement, of the Citizens, Commanders Officers, and soldiers of the Trainbands, & Auxiliaries, the young men, and apprentices of the Cities of London and Westminster Sea Commanders, Seamen, and Watermen, together with divers others the Commanders, Officers and soldiers, within the lines of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality.  
WHereas we have entered into a solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation and defence of Religion, the honour and hapynesse of the King, and the peace and safety of the the 3 Kingdoms, of England, Scotland, and Ireland; All which we do eminently perceive not only to be endangered, but ready to be destroyed, we do therefore in pursuance of our said Covenant, Oath of Allegiance, oath of every freeman of the Cities of London, and Westminster, and protestation 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 Com. of the Kingdom of Soctland, such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled, & a firm and lasting peace established, for the effecting hereof we do protest and reobleige ourselves as in the presence of God the searcher of all hearts, with our lives and fortunes, to endeavour what in us lies to preserve and defend his Majesty's Royal Person, and authority, the privileges of parliament, and liberty of the Subject in their full & constant freedom, the Cities of London and Westminster Lines of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality, and all others that shall adhere with us, to the said Covenant, and oath of Allegiance, oath of every freeman of London, and Westminster, and Protestation, Nor shall We by any means admit suffer or endure any neutrality in this Common cause of God, the King, and Kingdom as we do expect the Blessing of Almighty God, whole help we crave, & wholly devolve ourselves upon in this our undertaking.   

I Do hereby require the chief Officer present with every Troop and Company, to make strict inquiry what Cavaliers have been listed and entertained in their Troops or Companies, since the Muster preceding the last Muster; And that all such chief Officers shall presently upon such enquiry as before, put forth of their Troops or Companies of such Cavaliers as they shall find in their troops or Companies from such Musters (as before) And before they receive any pay upon this last Muster, they shall expunge the Names of all such Cavaliers out of their Muster Rolls, as they shall have put out of their Troops or Companies. And if it shall hereafter appear (that any chief Officer present with their Troop or Company) shall neglect to put forth, or cashier such Cavaliers in manner as before, or receive any for the time to come upon proof thereof made, he shall be liable to a Council of War, and be accordingly proceeded against.  
Given under my hand the 21. of July, 1647. Thomas Fairefax,   
FJNJS.