THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in common-council assembled: TO THE RIGHT honourable THE LORDS and COMMONS IN Parliament Assembled. Together with their ANSWERS to the said Petition.  
Printed by RICHARD COTES Printer to the honourable City of LONDON, 1648.   

TO THE RIGHT honourable THE LORDS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED  
The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in common-council assembled.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat they had lately presented unto them an information from one John Everard, a true copy whereof is hereunto annexed, whereby he doth give intimation of some Speeches that passed from certain persons at Windsor, of an intention to disarm the City, and then to Plunder the same: And that divers reports to that effect have been brought unto us by Letters and otherwise from divers parts of this Kingdom, and from foreign parts: Which Reports, together with the present Drawing and Continuing of the Army so near the City; and the increase of the number of soldiers in the Tower, hath been, now is, and will be occasion of great fears, and a great decay of Trade, and an enhancing of the Prizes of Victuals within this City: The which fears are much increased by the taking and keeping down of the chains within the same. And the Petitioners do humbly conceive, That their danger is increased, and their strength much abated by the disuniting of the command of the Forces of the City, and the Parts within the late Lines of Communication, and the weekly Bills of Mortality. For the removing of which fears, and obtaining of those things which may conduce to the safety of the Parliament and of this City; The Petitioners do humbly pray,  
That consideration may be taken of the information given by the said John Everard; and that upon a further examination thereof, such course may be taken therein as your honours shall think fit.  
That the chains within the City of London, which were lately pulled down, may forthwith be repaired and set up again: And that the Army may be speedily removed to a further distance from the City.  
That by an Ordinance of Parliament, Major general Skippon (who was long since chosen, and still by Act of common-council is continued Major general over the Forces of the City) may be appointed to be Major general within the late Lines of Communication, and the weekly bills of Mortality; By which means he may the better be enabled to reunite the Forces within the City, and the said late Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, for the better defence of the City, and the Places adjacent: And likewise for the preservation of the Parliament, to whom the City do resolve to adhere according to their Solemn League and Covenant.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, &c.   

The Information of John Everard, Concerning some Speeches that passed from certain persons at Windsor, of an intention to Disarm the City of London, and then to Plunder the same.  
IOhn Everard maketh Oath, That he having some occasion of business at Windsor upon Thursday the 20 of April, 1648. as he did lie in Bed, did hear some Gentlemen discourse in the next Chamber, the number of whom he cannot tell, but by their discourse they could not be less than three or four; And that he doth believe they were all Officers of the Army under the command of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax; one of them was quartermaster-general Gravener as he supposeth; another, one colonel Ewer, or some such name: And after some merry discourse, they began to be serious, and propounded what they thought fit to be done in reference to the present exigencies of the kingdom, upon which subject they discoursed an hour or more: They made no doubt of the coming in of the Scots; and with the same confidence believed that the City of London would join with the Scots; For the preventing of which, they could find no way but to Disarm the City both Friend and Foe: And afterwards, they said, they would intimate that those who were the Friends of the Army, should come forth into the Fields, and there they should be armed: And that they should have the power of the City of London put into their hands, to keep the rest of the Citizens in awe: And that they should be maintained at the Charge of the City, so long as it should be thought fit to continue them. And because that Money is the sinews of war, having which, they doubted not but to procure Men enough, if there were occasion to use them: And therefore for the present advancement of the same, if need were, (this City being Disarmed) they would make them advance a Million of Money, or else plunder them: And the Party that spoke this, said, he had acquainted commissary-general Ireton with it. All which, or to the like effect, was spoken in this Deponents hearing.  
John Everard.  
Copia vera.  
23. Aprilis, 1648. Jur. coram Jo. Warner Major.   

Die Jovis, 27. April. 1648.  
MAster Sheriffs, and Gentlemen of the common-council of the City of London; The Lords have commanded me to return Thanks to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and common-council of the City of London, for the good affections that they have expressed in this their Petition, asserting the resolutions of the City to adhere to the Parliament according to their solemn League and Covenant.  
They likewise have commanded me to assure you, That it hath ever been a principal part of their care to prevent any danger or inconveniency that might threaten the disturbance of the quiet of the city of London, or tend to the decay of the Trade thereof, though to their great grief these late troubles have much hindered the success of their endeavours therein; which care they are fully resolved still to continue to the utmost of their power. And they assure you, That it never entered into their thoughts to have the City of London to be disarmed: And they hope there can be no such intentions in any others who wish well to the safety of the Parliament.  
As to the report which hath been brought unto you by one John Everard, they will put it into a further examination, that they may be satisfied of the truth or falsehood of it: and except there be further proof of it, they hope such a report shall not render the Army to be suspected of any such design, considering the many former and late experiences that the Parliament and City have had of the fidelity and good services of the Army.  
As to the particular of setting up the chains within the City, they do fully leave it to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and common-council, to do therein as they shall think fit.  
To the last particular concerning Major general Skippon, he being a member of the House of Commons, the Lords can resolve nothing therein, without a joint concurrence of that House; but they will take it further into their consideration.  
Joh. Brown, Cler. Parliamentorum.   

Die Jovis, 27 Aprilis, 1648.  
THe House being informed that divers Aldermen and Citizens were at the door, they were called in, and Alderman Bide one of-the sheriffs of the City of London, after some short preamble, acquainted the House that he was commanded by the Lord Major, Aldermen and Commons in common-council assembled, the representative Body of the City of London, to present a Petition to the House: The Petitioners being withdrawn, the Petition was read, and an information annexed of one John Everard taken upon oath before the Lord Major, 23. of April, 1648. The Petition was entitled, The Humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen and Commons in common-council assembled.  
Ordered upon the question by the Commons in Parliament assembled, That this House doth approve of the desires of the City, concerning Major general Skippon.  
Resolved, &c.  
That the desire of the Petitioners concerning the chains be granted, and that the Committee of the Militia do see it done.  

Sir Harbottle Grimston  
Major general Skippon  
Mr. Knightley  
Sir John Evelyn  
Mr. Bond  
Mr. Doddridge  
Sir Henry Mildmay  
Mr. John Corbet  
Colonel Harvey  
Sir Robert Harley  
Mr. Prideaux  
Mr. Miles Corbet  
Mr. John Ashe  
Colonel Ven  
Mr. Swynfon  
Mr. Boyse  
Alderm. Pennington  
Mr. Blakiston  
Mr. vassal  
Sir Tho. Soame  
Alderm. Atkin  
Sir Greg. Norton  
Mr. earl  
Mr. Reynalds  
Mr. Long.  
Sir Martin Lumley  
Mr. Grove  
Mr. Scuwen  
Mr. Dove  
Sir Rob. Pye.  
Mr. Bulkley  
Major Gen. Browne  
Commissary Ireton  
Colonel Purie  
Mr. Say.   
This Committee or any five of them are appointed to examine the information given in by Mr. John Everard, mentioned in this City Petition, The information given in by Mr. Walker a Member of this House, and that he do name unto the Committee the Reporter of it to him; and all other informations, foreign or other, that concern the same business; and have power to send for parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, and they are to meet upon it to morrow at two pt. merid. in the Court of Wards, and the care of this business is more particularly referred to Alderman Pennington and Mr. Doddridge.  
Resolved, &c.  
That the thanks of this House be returned to the Citizens for their good affections expressed in their Petition.  
Mr. Speaker is appointed to acquaint the Citizens, That the drawing of part of the Army so near the City was occasioned by Orders given out in the time of the late Tumult; That the House will take that business into serious consideration, and do that therein which may be for the good and safety of the Parliament and City so far as thereby they may receive satisfaction.  
The sheriffs, Aldermen and other Citizens were again called in, and Mr. Speaker by the command of the House, acquainted them with the Resolutions and Proceedings upon the Petition, and did give them the thanks of this House for their very good affections expressed in the Petition to the Parliament.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
FINIS.