THE humble PETITION OF the well-affected young MEN, and apprentices OF THE CITY OF LONDON: On the behalf of themselves and many thousands more. To his Excellency sir Thomas Fairfax, Capt. Gen. of the Forces raised for the defence of the Kingdom. Together with a congratulatory Letter from the AGITATORS in the Army to the said Petitioners.  
 printers 'device or ornament of a bird  
LONDON, Printed for William Lernard, at the Black-more in Bishops-gate street. 1647.   


TO HIS EXCELLENCY sir THOMAS FAIRFAX, Capt. Gen. of the Forces raised for the defence of the kingdom.  
The humble Petition of Young men, and apprentices of the City of London, on the behalf of themselves and many thousands more.  
Sheweth,  
THat your Petitioners having many of them, under the conduct of your Excellency, and other worthy Commanders of the Parliaments forces, freely adventured our lives, in endeavouring to restore the Kingdoms safety, together wit thhe Native Immunities of every freeborn subject, out of their hands who were the professed violaters of the same: in the late vanquishment of whom we had hoped all Arbitrary and Tyrannicall proceedings, destructive to the Common good, had been terminated: And we with all well-minded people ready to be instated into the full possession of these our dear-bought Liberties, which wee had with so much hazard and cost, so long contended for: yet( alas) we have found nothing less, but contrarliy, it is too evident, that what those vipers in the formidable shape of foes, could not by force obtain, they have( under the vizard of friends, by fraud) almost effected, having brought us upon the very brink of the most dangersous Gulf of Tyranny and oppression, had it not pleased God to stir up your Excellency together with your worthy Commanders and Souldiers( to your lasting famed) unanimously to interpose your help for preventing the kingdoms ruin; as appears by your late Declaration, Remonstrance, and other Representations to the Parliament and City: and by the whole course of your just and reasonable proceedings. Notwithstanding which, it is a great astonishment to us( and all true lovers of their Countries welfare, to behold the most unjust proceedings of a great number of men, in the City, who have lately wrung cut of the hands of the Parliament, an unlimited power of disposing the Militia here, which they have abused to the great dishonour of the Parliament, and destruction of the Subjects Liberty, by casting out a great many of Officers out of the several Regiments and Companies of the Cities Souldiety, who were all of them men of known fidelity and valour, and without any rightful proceeding against them, either Civil or marshal; most of them likewise being such as have been most forward and active, in the times of greatest need and exigency: which their Arbitrary and unjust proceedings too much confirms us in the fear of, in their evil intentions, to the peace of the Kingdom, whatsoever they pretend to the contrary.  
And now, as your Excellecy and the Army under your Command, have( through the goodness of God) merely out of pitty to a bleeding kingdom, put yourselves upon the hazard of what the contrivance of your malicious and potent enemies are able to effect against you: Wee your Petitioners( together with all well-disposed people) both in City and Country, cannot but own your Army as( under God) our deliverers out of the jaws of inevitable slavery, ready to devour us and our posterity, and do hereby declare ourselves ready to the utmost of our abilities, to contribute our best assistance in helping forward the wished establishment of Freedom and Peace, to facilitate which happy work, we trust God will be pleased to blast the designs of all declared and secret opposers, and that wee may appear not to bee the most backward in the promoting of the kingdoms wished settlement, wee in the name of agreat number more of our fellows are bold to present unto you the following Requ●sts.  
1. That you would be pleased with all possible expedition to go on in effecting what you have so happily begun, tending to the establishment of the peace and tranquillity of this distracted kingdom, and that you will never desist till you have procured a firm and free enjoyment of the indubitable rights of Prince and people, in a lasting and united conjunction of Peace and Freedom, and to the utter overthrow of all Arbitrary and Tyrannicall power, in whomsoever it is: that so it may appear to all the world you have had no selfish design, but cordially and really seek the welfare of the Kingdom.  
2. That you would bee very earnest with the City Commissioners to know the grounds of the late unreasonable proceedings of the new Militia, and to procure the reducement of it to the former or a better way.  
3. That you would bee pleased to look upon us, who bear the name of the well-affected Young men and apprentices of the City of London, as such who vary not from what we have alway declared ourselves to be, which that we may bee able to manifest, wee shall expect, and humbly desire your Excellencies and the Armies protection, in case wee shall by the power of some malevolent Spirits here, be enforced to any thing inconsistent with the principles of freeborn subjects of England.  
And what rests within the sphere of our Capacity wee shall bee most ready to serve your Excellency and the Army in, for the good and benefit of the Kingdom: In the mean time.  
we pray &c.   

For our Honourled Friends, the apprentices of the City of London, these present.  
Worthy and much respected Friends,  
Having received your desires, specified in your Petition to his Excellency, by those Gentlemen sent from you, to be presented to us for our advice and approbation, we have with an unanimous and cheerful consent declared our well liking and joyful recentment of them, and with all speed sent them to his Excellency our general whereby you might receive some answer su●able to the temper of your c●… tion, which wha●… hath been, and also how satisfactory, we desire to be referred to those Gentlemen you have employed to( and now are returned from) us; It is none of the least mercys God hath afforded us, that he hath put it into your hearts so seasonably to give in yourselves to our assistance and encouragement. Wee have formerly been  told of the numbers and forwardness of ours and the kingdoms friends in your City, and were very apt to believe the truth thereof, but now are wee past all doubts herein, for by so large a testimony of your affections under your hands, together with the relation those 〈…〉 made unto 〈◇〉: wee 〈◇〉 both seen and heard that it is so indeed, that any in the f●eest capa●ities that may bee, should in this time of great difficulty and opp●sition stand up and appear for their own and the kingdoms L●… ties ●… very acceptable and a greatt mercy: But 〈…〉 ●… der years that seem to ly under some restrain●, 〈…〉 the eyes o● strict Masters constantly upon you, 〈…〉 should encounter difficulties, find out times and steal opportunities to burden yourselves with thoughts of the kingdoms welfare, and should bee so public spirited as to have the good of the people in your eyes rather the● su●h things( as many of your capacities( to whit) dayes of Recreation and the like, though not unfiting in themselves neither have done) as might more nearly concern yourselves, in such a providence and work of God upon your spirits as we think few times can parallel.  
We would not be tedious, and yet would manifest what can did receptions your endeavours have found amongst us, we shall desire you to persevere in your good Resolutions, and not to be terrified with anything you may meet with, assuring you we shall further your just desires as far as possibly we may; and that your safety shall be equally before us with our own. So we leave you to his protection who hath so extraordinarily raised your spirits to so good a work, and subscribe ourselves,  
Reading 11. July 1647. Yours and the Kingdoms servants, Fra●…. Allen, cap. W. Knowles, cap. F. L. lieut. Edm. Chille●den. leiut. Edw. Orpin, cap. George joice. Joseph Wallington, captain lievetenat. Henry Flower, cap. C. Fox, lieut. R. K. cap. Ed. Sepbe, Samuel Whiteing. William Allin. John barns. Nicholas Lockyer. Tho. Buttery. William Young. Thomas kendal. Barth. Willocke. Richard clerk. Nathaniel Fester. John Wilson. Richard Salter. George Stenson. Nathaniel Foxgil. Henry Hill. W. Wilkinson. Edward Vaughan. Dan. Hineksman. edmond Garne. Robert Mason. John Anderton. Richard Colbrand.   
FINIS.