A DECLARATION OF 

Sir John Gaire Lord Mayor.  
Alderman Langham  
Alderman Adam's  
Alderman Bunce  
Sheriff Cullam.    
With others Imprisoned by the Authorities of the PARLIAMENT AND ARMY.  Veritas Tactu.  blazon of the City of London, used as a printer's device 
7ber 30 Printed in the Year. 1647.   

A DECLARATION of the LORD MAYOR, etc.  
WEre it as lawful to utter truth, as unlawful to suffer for truth; to compare the nearest of our thoughts with the most notorious of our actions, and present them as in a Mirror to the public eye, we might then Declare; That as we have engaged ourselves in one sacred tye of Covenant, so therein we have in all fidelity persevered, declining neither Law, Religion, King, Parliament, nor Liberty, necessary in professing Christians properly natural to true subjects.  
The Covenant binds all (without exception) within the pale thereof, to an unite defence, and mutual co-assistance of each other; but as in the Divine Law, the breach of one Commandment pleads the Offender guilty of all; so we presume in this humane Law (the Covenant) the forfeiture of one branch brings self-guiltiness on all the rest. We pray for mercy on this National Sin.  
And seeing (with too transparent eyes) both Nature and Religion turned Antipodes, acting themselves into a self-Antipathy (as if Man above all sublunary Creatures was an only compound of contrarities; seeing the foundation (on which next under heaven our hopes depend) of our Laws, our Religion our proper Rights and Privileges (we say not Oaths and Protestations) blown up by the very roots, by such a strong tempestuous violence, which bears down all things before it, making the loftiest Cedar level with the lowest shrubs, until it hath vented itself into an universal destruction; that the fearfully over awed and beguiled Multitude, may in the view of our present condition be sensible of their own ruin; thus unanimously we unbosom ourselves unto the world; showing,  
That in all our enterprises, since these unnatural and domestic Divisions; we have endeavoured to keep a good Conscience towards God and all men; and how unsavoury the fruit of these last six years have relished with us, none, better than our own souls, can attest; what forwardness for the public good; what backwardness in the enbrewing ourselves in unknown alarms, especially of blood; what assistance both in our persons and purses, for the cutting off the neck of this unnatural War, and the closing up of all distractions in the arms of peace and unity, (not done in closerts nor promoved in secret corners) the whole City and Kingdom can bear witness.  
And when we had exhausted ourselves for the General of the Kingdom abroad (the sword being by divine mercy plucked out of the hand of our enemies) hoping than we should receive a sweet and blessed issue of all our travels finding our own sword still drawn, yet no enemy to oppose, and too sad probation of sinister reaches; we could not but reflect upon ourselves, and apply our endeavours to the safety of that wherewith God and the Laws had entrusted us at home. Will any man suffer his estate and and livelihood to be entrenched on by another that hath no right thereto, and be silent? Have not we through many generations, by the gracious influence of many glorious Kings been possessors of an honourable and free CHARTER, the very sinew of the City and Fee simple of our being; wherein, besides other privileges, that of the Militia, which we account as chief, vi et armis to be wrested from us; and yet be accounted enemies to others, whilst we endeavour to preserv our own? If such things pass for Law, who can be master of what he hath? What can the whole Kingdom expect when those out of the very bowels of the City seeks her ruin?  
Neither did we, by a self-defence, ever harbour the least thoughts of of an embroiling War, as by our daily and incessant actings with the Parliament and Army did appear; straining ourselves to our utmost power & the highest key of a pure conscience to qualify all things into a right sense by our Commissioners; but all in vain; the returns of our endeavours with our hopes, being but pills guilded over with specious glozes and pretences; for we are not ignorant, that though the Army came with Olives in their mouths, yet they had swords in their hands, and death and destruction in their hearts; the greatest part of them threatening, at a distance, the Sack and Plunder of the City: and had we not cause then, not only to a Verbal, but a Virgal, a Martial defence? yet (blessed be the Lord) not a sword was drawn, not a blow was given, and yet we suffer as Enemies, that had made a way to our own peace, through a deluge of the Army's blood. But (though a homely, yet) it is a true saying; He that is willing to hang his neighbour's dog, must say he steals sheep.  
But yet that which we value above the richest price of Nature our Religion is made an O … 'em, become a laughingstock unto many; who like tamping Lions (rather then the Lamb of Christ) rend and tear down the pale of his fold, from a Christian Conformity to a Platonical Community, and that uncivilised Liberty, the floodgate to a perpetual Confusion, and yet they and we are brethren: Do they stand up for a Liberty? Why not we? No, we deny our own Liberty, that we may be the the Lords Freemen. We say Religion charactered by the Laws of the Land, and the finger of God's Spirit on our Souls, this indeed was a grand motive to our defence, (the cause arising not from our Superior but fellow-Subjects;) But blame not us, lay the blame on Christ, under whose Command (alone in this) we are; and if for this we suffer, we suffer with him; and suffering with him, we know that we shall also reign with him.  
The next Cause is his Majesty; (oh we bleed within, when we think, how many souls in this Nation (excluding Scotland and Ireland) are shipwrackt on this rock; to whom (though never so tyrannical) we stand bound by Nature, Equity, Religion, by Oath, Covenant, Conscience, in all loyalty and allegiance; and sha● thi● plead us guilty? Well, the Servant is not above his Lord, nor the Disciple his Master; and when the head is sick, it is injustice in the members not to condole.  
So that now we call heaven and earth to witness, that we have not failed in any thing that may plead us innocent; we have been more than servants to the Parliament, more than votaries to the Army; less we were not, more we could not be: we have procured the dislike of our Prince for partaking with his people; we are slighted, for emptying ourselves to make others full, and for others liberty we stand imprisoned.  
Here O heavens, and judge O earth the cause of the distressed! and because with man there is neither truth, nor mercy, may the divine arm of justice carry on these things unto a blessed issue; whilst from the bottom of our hearts we unfeignedly do pray, That God would be pleased to pour Oil and Wine into our Kingdom's wounds, to the everlasting peace and consolation of his People; that his Majesty may with highest honour be enthrowned in his Kingdom, and remain as a fixed star in the firmament of the Church: that the Parliament may judge Righteous Judgement, and settle our Divisions into a peaceful posture: that the Army (as hitherto) so they may still be faithful to their friends, victorious over their enemies: and that the whole Kingdom may enjoy that liberty which by Religion, Law, or Custom, they can claim.   
FINIS.