A PETITION FROM THE CITY of LONDON WITH A COVENANT IN THE Name of divers colonels, and other Officers, and Apprentices, and Sea-men; For the raising of Forces against the Army, and bringing the KING to LONDON.  
With the Votes of the House of Commons concerning the said Petition.  
And the Parliaments Message to the Lord Mayor about the same.  
Printed in the year 1647.   

Heads of a PETITION From the City of LONDON: WITH A Covenant, in the name of divers colonels, and other Officers, and Apprentices and Sea-men, for the raising of Forces against the Army, and bringing the KING to London.  
FIRST.  
THat the Kings Majesty may pass the propositions which himself offered in his message from Holmeby, in answer to the Parliaments propositions, which were sent to his Majesty to Newcastle( both concerning the settling of the Presbyterian Government, disposing of the Militia, passing Acts done by the great seals on both sides, and other particulars,) as they are expressed in the said message  
2 That upon the passing of the said propositions made into Acts, his majesty may bee re-invested in his honours and rights.  
3 That his Majesty may be brought to London to reside with his Parliament and sit and continue with them.  
4 That the Army may be kept at a distance, at his Majesties coming to London.  
5 That all neuter, may be turned out of the City.  
6 By oath,( and by a covenant expressed in the said petition) they engage themselves by all the oaths and covenants that they have taken to manage this design against all opposers.  
7 To oppose the Army.  
8 To suppress all Independents,  
9 That it be red at a Common-hall.  
The said Petition is dispersed into several parts of London, and entrusted in the hands of Agitators in the several Wards, to get hands to it, and some solicit apprentices for hands, and others Agitate with Watermen, and Seamen.  
Those who agitated with the Seamen, made so plausible a Narrative of the business, that many Seamen gave them a meeting, and after they had heard it red, began to subscribe.  
But some of them prying into it, found some faults, and said, it was of dangerous consequence, and that they would never engage against Sir Thomas Fairfax, and his Army.  
Then the rest cried out to have their hands again, which they forced from the agitators, and then all cried, home, home.  
Some Petitions were left with some of the chiefest Officers in the City of London, to agitate in getting hands, who refused, though some others have been very active in it.  
Some who are eminent, excuse it thus: That their other employments will not permit them to do any thing in it ▪  
But others,( and those not the least in the City) said that they will to their power labour to defend the City, whilst they have one drop of blood in their bodies, but that in this case to engage against an Army in the field, where there are no other grounds or causes, then now visible: They will not be guilty of spilling one drop of blood. But labour all they can for a sure and lasting peace.  


The Votes of the House of Commons concerning the foresaid Petition,  
And the Parliaments Message to the Lord Mayor about the same.   
Die Jovis 22 July, 1647.  
A Member of the House of Commons, declared to the House a paper in the name of a Petition from divers colonels, &c. in the City; And the House taking the same into consideration, and the dangerous consequence thereof, proceeded to a way for suppressing it.  
I. It was Resolved by the Commons in Parliament Assembled,  
That  
Members of the House of Commons, examine the said Petition, and who were the contrivers, and promoters therof, and report the same to the House.  
II. It was Resolved by the Commons Assembled in Parliament  
That Alderman Pennington, Alderman Atkin, and colonel Venn, Members of the House of Commons, go to the Lord Mayor of the City of London, to desire his Lordship( from this House) to take care to suppress all tumults, and prevent Mutinies, and insurrections in the City of London.   
FINIS.