THE PETITION OF THE LORD MAYOR, Aldermen & Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled; UNTO The right Honourable the Commons of ENGLAND in PARLIAMENT Assembed, With the Answer of the Parliament thereunto: And also, The Petition of divers well-affected Citizens of the City of London, Presented unto the Common Council, humbly desiring their concurrence therein.  Published according to Order. 
LONDON, Printed by Matth. Simmons, june 6. 1645   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS, AND BURGESSES of the Commons House of PARLIAMENT, The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of LONDON in Common Council assembled.  
Shows,  
THAT the Inhabitants of this City, and parts adjacent, are generally most deeply sensible of these pressing miseries, under which they and the whole Kingdom now groan: And that imminent ruin which is coming upon both through the relieving of Chester, the unexpressible loss of Leicester, the barbarous cruelty executed there, the danger of the rest of our Garrisons, and well-affected thereabouts, and the increasing and prevailing of the enemy by Sea and Land, like a mighty Torrent; That (among other causes which have had a deep influence upon this most sad posture of our condition) the said Inhabitants apprehend, that the not completing of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Army (according to an Ordinance of Parliament in that behalf,) the want of such a Committee in that Army, as may give our Commanders in chief, power and encouragement to improve all present advantages without attending commands and directions from remote Counsels. The calling back of Lieutenant General Cromwell, and Major General Browne, when they were pursuing the enemy; The not advancing of our brethren of Scotland into these Southern parts; The great decay of Trade, and discouragements of Merchants for want of a constant convoy, His M aties publishing his sense of the proceed at the late Treaty, and the Parliament not publishing their sense thereof. And their resolutions against free trade by Sea to such Ports as are or shall be in the power of the enemy, have been the chief; That great numbers of those Inhabitants have lately expressed their earnest desires (by Petition & otherwise, to the representative body of the City, in common Council assembled,) That this their deep sense and apprehensions might be forthwith made known to both Houses of Parliament, Their humble suit that the remedies may be speedily considered of, and effectually executed; and their resolutions, according to all former expressions, that they will not think their lives, nor any thing they possess, too dear to hazard for your encouragement and preservation.  
Thereupon the Petitioners (for prevention of further miseries, inconveniences, and the utter ruin of the Parliament, of this City and Kingdom, make it their humble request to this hovourable House, That care may be taken for the speedy recruiting of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, and for his encouragement, That such a Committee may be sent with that Army, as may give our Commanders in chief (of whose faithfulness the Kingdom hath had so large testimony) power and encouragement to improve all present advantages aforesaid: That the said Army (or such part thereof as in your wisdom shall seem meet) may be ordered forthwith to march towards our enemies in the field, as well for the regaining of Leicester (if it be possible) before it be made impregnable by fortifications; as also for prevention of the enemies further surprising of other places of strength, and destroying the rest who have appeared in defence of the Parliament, & for preservation of the kingdom. That our brethren of Scotland may be more earnestly pressed to march Southward; That Lieutenant General Cromwell may presently have power to raise and command the Association, until such other course be taken, as may tend to the safety of those Counties, and of this City and Kingdom. That the Navy may be so ordered, as may encourage Merchants, and advance Trade, by having constant Convoys. That the proceed at the late Treaty may be forthwith published by the Parliament, and their resolution against free Trade, as aforesaid.  
And the Petitioners, as in duty, shall pray, etc. Vera Copia. H. Elsing, Cler. Parl D. Com.   

Die Mercurii Junii 4. 1645.  
Resolved, etc.  
THAT the answer to the Petitioners shall be, That the House will take the particulars of the Petition into serious consideration. And do return them thanks for their good affections. And as to their desire of leave to present the like to the House of Peers, this House leaves it to themselves, and to their own discretion.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

TO THE HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OE Commons assembled In PARLIAMENT. The humble Petition of divers wil-affected Citizens of the City of London.  
Most humbly showeth,  
THat your Petitioners being full of a deep Sense of these pressing miseries, under which this City and Kingdom now groans, & that imminent ruin which is coming upon both, through the unexpressible loss of Leicester, The danger of the rest of our Garrisons thereabouts, and the increasing and prevailing of the King's forces like a mighty torrent,: And withal humbly conceiving, that amongst other Causes and Reasons, which have had a deep influence upon this most sad posture of our condition, The not completing of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, according to an Ordinance of Parliament in that behalf; The not advancing of our Brethren of Scotland into these Southern parts have been the chief.  
Most humbly pray, That Sr. Thomas Fairfax be ordered with all speed, to march with his Army towards the King: And that due care be taken for his recruite and encouragement; And that Leicester (if possible) may be regained, before it be made impregnable by fortifications: That our Brethren of Scotland may be more earnestly pressed to march Southward: That Lieutenant General Cromwell may presently have power to raise and to command the Association; and that our Commanders in chief, who have given large testimony to the Kingdom of their faithfulness & valour, may have power to improve all present advantages, without attending commands and directions from remote Counsels.  
The Premises considered, they humbly pray may be speedily debated, and effectually executed, and your Petitioners (according to all former expressions of themselves to you) shall for the future, think neither their lives nor any thing they possess too dear to them to hazard for the encouragement and preservation of you.  
And (as in duty bound) shall daily pray.  
FINIS.