THE PETITION AND solemn Engagement OF THE CITIZENS OF LONDON, Commanders, Officers, and Souldiers, &c.  
Together with THE KING'S MAJESTIE'S MESSAGE of May the 12th, from HOLDENBY.  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1647.   

To the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, The Right Worshipful the Aldermen and commons of the City of LONDON, in the Common or Guild-Hall of the City of London assembled.  
The humble Petition of the Citizens, Commanders, Officers and Souldiers of the Trained Bands and Auxiliari●●, the Young-men and Apprentices of the Cities of London and Westminster, Sea-Commanders, Sea-men and watermen, together with divers other Commanders, Officers and Souldiers within the Line of Communication and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality:  
SHEWETH.  
THat your Petitioners( taking into serious consideration, how Religion, His Majesties Honour and Safety the privileges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject are at present greatly endangered, & like to be destroyed; and also sadly weighing with ourselves what means might likely prove the most effectual to procure a firm and listing Peace without a further ●ff●sion 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 Majesties 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 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 Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled, 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, &c.   

A Solemn ENGAGEMENT of the 〈◇〉 Commanders, Officers and Souldiers of the Trained 〈◇〉 and Auxiliaries, the Young-men and Apprentices of the Cities of London and Westminster, Sea-Commanders, Seamen and watermen, together with divers other Commanders, Officers and Souldiers within the Line of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bill of Mortality.  
WHereas we have entered into a Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defe●ce of Religion, the Honour and happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland; all which we 〈◇〉 e 〈…〉 en●ly perceive not onely to be endangered, but ready to be destroyed: Well therefore in pursuance of our said Covenant, Oath of All●g●ant●, Oath of every Free-man of the Cities of London and Westminster, and Protestations, solemnly engage ourselves, and vow unto Almighty God, That we will to the utmost of our power cordially endeavour that His Majesty may speedly come to His two Houses of Parliament, with Honour, Safety, and Freedom,( a●● that without the nearer approach of the Army●) there to confirm such thing ▪ as He hath granted in His Message of the 12 of May last, in answer to t●● Propositions of both Kingdoms; and that by a Personal Treaty 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 two Houses of Parliament and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of 〈◇〉 land, such things as are yet in difference may be speedily settled, and a 〈◇〉 and lasting Peace established. For effecting whereof, we do protest, and ●● oblige 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 de●●●● His Majesties Royal Person and Authority, the privileges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject, in their full and constant freedom; the Cit●●● of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Paris●●s 〈◇〉 tioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality, and all others that shall 〈◇〉 with us to the said Covenant, Oath of Alleg●●nce, Oath of every Free-man of London and Westminster, and Protestation: Nor shall we by any 〈◇〉 admit, suffer or endure any kind of Neutrality in this Common Cause of God, the King and Kingdoms, as we d● expect the blessing of Almighty God, whose help we crave, and wholly devolve ourselves upon, in this 〈◇〉 Undertaking.   

His MAJESTIES most gracious Message from HOLDEN BY, May 12, 1647.  
C. R.  
As the daily expectation of the coming of the Propositions hath made his Majesty this long time to forbear giving his Answer unto them; so the appearance of their sending being no more( for any thing he can hear) then it was at his first coming hither, notwithstanding that the earl of Louderdale hath been at London above these ten dayes,( whose not coming was said to be the onely stop) hath caused his majesty thus to anticipate their coming to him; and yet considering his condition, that his Servants are denied access to him, all but very few, and those by appointment, not his own Election: and that it is declared a crime for any but the Commissioners, or such who are particularly permitted by them, to converse with his Majesty; or that any Letters should be given to, or received from him: may he not truly say, that he is not in case fit to make Concessions or give Answers, since he is not master of those ordinary Actions which are the undoubted Rights of any free-born man, how mean soever his birth be? And certainly he would still be silent as to this subject, until his Condition were much mended, did he not prefer such a right understanding betwixt Him and his Parliaments of both Kingdoms, which may make a firm and lasting Peace in all his Dominions, before any particular of his own, or any earthly blessing: and therefore His Majesty hath diligently employed his utmost endeavours for divers months past, so to inform His Understanding, and to satisfy His Conscience, that he might be able to give such Answers to the Propositions, as would be most agreeable to his Parliaments; but he ingenuously professes, that notwithstanding all the pains that he hath taken therein ▪ the nature of some of them appears such unto him, that without disclaiming that Reason which God hath given him to judge by for the good of Him and his People, and without putting the greatest violence upon his own Conscience, he cannot give his consent to all of them. Yet His majesty( that it may appear to all the World how desirous he is to give full satisfaction) hath thought fit hereby to express his readiness to grant what he may, and his willingness to receive from them, and that personally( if his two Houses at Westminster shall approve thereof) 〈◇〉 further information in the rest as may best conv●nce 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 satis●ie those doubts which are not yet clear unto Him, desiring them also to consider, that if His majesty intended to wind himself out of these troubles by indirect means were it not easy for him now 〈◇〉 to consent to what hath or shall be proposed unto him, and afterwards choose his time to break all, alleging, that forced concessions are not to be kept? surely he might, and not incur a hard censure from some indifferent men. But Ma●imes in this kind are not the guides of His Maj●sties actions, for and freely and clearly avows; that he holds it unlawful for any man, & most base in a King to recede from his promises for having been obt●●●ed by force, or under restraint: wherefore His majesty not onely rejecting those acts which he esteems unworthy of Him, but even passing by that which he might well insist upon, a point of honour in respect of his present condition, thus answers the first Proposition: That upon his Ma●sties coming to London, he will hearty join in all that shall concern ●●e honor of his two Kingdoms, or the Assembly of the States of Scotland, o● of the Commissioners or Deputies of either kingdom, particularly in those things which are desired in that Proposition, upon confidence that all of them respectively with the same tenderness will look upon those things which concern His Majesties honour.  
In answer to all the Propositions concerning Religion, His majesty proposeth that he will confirm the Presbyterial Government, the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and the Directory, for three yeers, being the time set down by the two Houses, so that His Majesty and his household be not hindered from that form of Gods Service which they formerly have; And also that a free consultation and debate be had with the Divines at Westminster( twenty of His Majesties nomination being added unto them) whereby it may be determined by His majesty and the two Houses, how the Church shall be governed after the said three yeers, or sooner, if differences ●ay be agreed. Touching the Covenant, His Majesty is not yet therein satisfied, and desires to respite h●s particular Answer thereunto until his coming to London, because it being a matter of conscience, and cannot give a res●lution therein till he may be assisted with the advice of some of his own Chaplains( which hath hitherto been den●ed him, & such other Divines as shal be most proper to inform him therein and then he will make clearly appear both his zeal to the Protestant Profession, and the Union of these two Kingdoms, which he conceives to be the main d●ift of this Covenant. To the 7th & 8th Propositions. His Majesty will consent. To the 9th His Majesty doubts not but to give good satisfaction, when he shall be particularly informed how the said penal●●● shall bele●ied & disposed of. To the tenth His Majesties Answer is, That he hath been always ready to prevent the practices of Papists, and therefore ●● content to pass an Act of Parliament for that purpose; and also, that the Laws against them be duly executed. His Majesty will give his consent to the Act for the due observation of the Lords day, for the suppressing of Innovations, & those concerning the preaching of Gods word, and touching Non-residence & Pluralities: and His Majesty will yield to such Act or Acts as shall be requisite to raise moneys for the payment & satisfying all public Debts, expecting also that his will be therein included. As to the Proposition touching the Militia, though his Majesty cannot consent unto it in terminis as it is proposed, because thereby he conceives he wholly parts with the power of the Sword entrusted to him by God and the Laws of the Land, for the protection and government of his people, thereby at once divesting himself, & dis-inheriting his Posterity of that right & Prerogative of the Crown which is absolutely necessary to the Kingly Office, and so weaken Monarchy in this Kingdom, that little more then the name and shadow of it will remain: yet if it be onely security for the preservation of the peace of this Kingdom, after the unhappy troubles, and the due performance of all the agreements which are now to be concluded, which is desired,( which His Majesty always understood to be the case, and hopes that herein he is not mistaken) His majesty will give abundant satisfaction; to which end he is willing by Act of Parliament, That the whole power of the Militia both by Sea & Land for the space of ten yeers be in the hands of such persons at the two Houses shall nominate, giving them power during the said term to change the said persons, and substitute others in their places at pleasure; and afterwards to return to the proper channel again, as it was in the times of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed memory. And now His majesty conjures his two Houses of Parliament, as they are Englishmen, and lovers of Peace, by the duty they owe to His Majesty their King, and by the bowels of compassion they have to their fellow Subjects, that they will accept of this His Majesties offer, whereby the joyful news of Peace may be restored to this languishing Kingdom. His majesty will grant the like to the Kingdom of Scotland, if it be desired; and agree to all things that are propounded touching the conserving of peace betwixt the two Kingdoms.  
Touching Ireland( other things being agreed) His majesty will give satisfaction therein. As to the mutual Declarations proposed to be established in both Kingdoms by Act of Parliament, and the Modifications, Qualifications and Branches which follow in the Propositions, His majesty onely professes that He doth not sufficiently understand, nor is able to reconcile many things contained in them: but this 〈◇〉 well●…eth, that a general Act of Oblivion is the best bond of Peace and 〈…〉 Intestine Troubles, the wisdom of this and other Kingdoms hath 〈◇〉 and happily in all ages granted General Pardons, whereby the 〈…〉 discontentments of many Persons and Families otherwise exposed to●…ine, might not become sewel to new Disorders, or seeds to future Tro●bles. His majesty therefore desires that His two Houses of Parliament would seriously descend into these Considerations, and likewise ten●●● look upon his condition herein, and the perpetual dishonour that 〈◇〉 cl●ave to him, if He shal thus abandon so many persons of Condition and Fortune that have engaged themselves with and for Him, out of a sense of Duty; and propounds as a very acceptable testimony of their affection to him, That a general Act of Oblivion and free Pardon be forth with passed by Act of Parliament ▪ Touching the new Great Seal, His 〈◇〉 very willing to confirm both it and all the Acts done by virtue thereof until this present time, so that it be not thereby pressed to make voided th●●● Acts of His done by virtue of His Great Seal, which in Honour and Justice He is obliged to maintain; And that the future government thereof may be in His majesty, according to the due course of Law. Concerning the Officers mentioned in the 19 Article, His majesty when he shal come to Westminster will gratify his Parliament all that possible 〈◇〉 may, without destroying the alterations which are necessaray for the Crown. His majesty will willingly consent to the Act for the confirmation of the privileges and Customs of the City of London, and ●● that is mentioned in the Propositions for their particular advantage.  
And now that His majesty hath thus far endeavoured to comply with the desires of His two Houses of Parliament; to the end that this Agreement may be firm and lasting, without the least face or question of restraint to blemish the same, His majesty earnestly desires presently to be admitted to His Parliament at Westminster, with that Honour which is due to their sovereign, there solemnly to confirm the same, and legally to pass the Acts before mentioned, and to give and receive as well satisfaction in all the remaining particulars, as likewise such other 〈◇〉 of mutual love, trust and confidence, as shall most concern the good of Him and his People; Upon which happy Agreement, His majesty will dispatch His Directions to the Prince His Son to return immediately to Him, and will undertake for his ready obedience thereunto.  
For the Speaker of the Lords House( pro tempore) to be ●redgeted to the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland.  
FINIS.