The humble Desires of the loyal hearted, well-affected freemen of the City of London in their several Parishes, unto their several common-council-men by them entrusted for the Peace and welfare of the City.  
Gentlemen,  
WE have Elected you as Members of the Common council of this City for our several precincts, to preserve our Liberties, not enthrall them; to advance the public, not your private Interests: and therefore may justly challenge from you an Account what (as our Proxies) you have done to these Ends.  
We find the whole kingdom groaning under the burden of an oppressing Army, presenting their grievances to the Parliament, whilst ourselves (as if the Interest of this City were disjoined from the public Concernment) is ready to be engaged against them; or (at least) to stand neutral: and after so late a threatening of Fire and Plunder, to satisfy ourselves with a shadow of security, by a pretended putting the Militia in the hands of the City, which is indeed, into such hands as we, the Commoners of the City, cannot confide in: The Commander in chief being a Member of that Army, which so lately threatened us. And many others so particularly interessed, that we have much reason to doubt, they intend their own, rather than the public profit and Security.  
We therefore require you, in the Names of us, the freemen of this City, by whom you are entrusted; forthwith to present to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and rest of the Common council, these our desires, and to endeavour to effect them:  
1. That they make a speedy humble address by Petition to the two Honourable Houses of Parliament, that all further effusion of blood, and Engagement in a New war be prevented, by a timely concession to the cries and humble desires of the whole kingdom for Peace.  
2. That His Majesty may speedily be brought to Westminster with Honour, freedom, and Safety, to Treat Personally with His two Houses for a safe, well-grounded Peace, and settlement of Religion, according to His majesty's presentation made by the Holland's ambassadors to both Houses, 24 February. 1644. which we conceive to be agreeable to our Covenant, viz. That a national Synod shall be Called, and all other Christian Churches admitted to send their Deputies; and what in our Religion shall be found disconsonant to the Word of God in part, or whole, to be reformed according to the Word of God, and best Reformed Churches.  
3. That the Army under the Lord Fairfax may be forthwith disbanded, their Arrears Audited, all just satisfaction given, and a general Act of Oblivion be sought from HIS MAJESTY.  
4. That the Country may be eased of Taxes, assessments, and freequarter.  
5. That the Excise and assessments of this City be either eased, or for the present, employed only for the security of the City.  
6. That the Militia of this City be put into such hands as this City shall confide in for their security.  
7. That the Colonels and Captains of the Trained Bands, and Auxiliaries, be Chosen by the freemen of the City that are to serve under them.  
8. That none of the Trained Bands or Auxiliaries, of this City, be forced, or suffered to march out of this City, to engage in any New war, but to remain within the City for the defence of it.  
9 That no more engagements may be brought upon us, either to Combinations, war, or other Supplies thereon depending, others then according to the Laws and Statutes of the Land, and ancient customs of this City; and that such transactions as have been contrary to the same in these late times of distractions may be canceled out of the Register, and an Act passed, That they shall never more serve for a Principle to posterity.  
10. That there may be no more Listing of our Children and Servants: for as we detest that late hypocritical fiction of their private Listing, so we utterly dislike the public Listing of them, in regard we conceive thereby our Rights, and present subsistence interessed, and the peace and Safety both of City and County endangered.  
Of these our Desires, we expect a speedy Account from you, or otherwise shall declare, That you have broke the trust reposed in you by us. And therefore we may, and aught to revoke our Election, and protest against whatsoever you shall do or Act by virtue thereof, and conceive the same contrary to our peace and safety, who do find ourselves bound by Christian duty to provide for our Families by the peaceable following of our several vocations, which by lamentable experience we have found woefully obstructed by the late Wars, which a Rebellious generation do now again endeavour to foment amongst us; from whose wicked practices, we hope under God, by your wisdom and provident endeavours to be preserved.  
All honest freemen, into whose hands this Paper shall come, are required to underwrite and send it forwards to their common-council-men, with effect. June 3d 1648  
FINIS.