TO THE King's MOST EXCELLENT majesty.  
The humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen; and Common council of the City of London.  
MAY it please your most Excellent Majesty, the often expressions of your majesty's gracious acceptance, of the manifestation of the Petitioners duty, and Loyalty, and the frequent declarations, of your majesty's great care, of the good and welfare of this City, and of the Protestant Religion, and of protecting and preserving the persons and privileges of your great council, Assembled in the High Court of Parliament. Hath encouraged the Petitioners, to represent the great dangers, fears, and distractions, wherein the City now is, by reason of the prevailing progress, of the bloody Rebels in Ireland, fomented, and acted, by the Papists and their adherents; and want of aid to suppress them; and the several intimations they have had, both foreign and at home, of the driving on of their designs, tending to the utter ruin of the Protestant Religion; And of the lives and Liberties of your majesty's loyal Subjects, the putting out of Persons of honour and trust from being Constable and Lieutenant of the Tower, especially in these times, and the preparations there lately made, the fortefying of White-Hall with men and munition in an unusual manner, some of which men, with provoking language, and violence, abused divers Citizens passing by, and the drawing divers swords, and therewith wounding sundry other Citizens in Westminster-Hall, that were unarmed: The late endeavours used to the inns of Court; the calling in divers Canoneeres, and other Assistants into the Tower, the late discovery of divers fireworks in the hands of a Papist, and the misunderstanding betwixt your Majesty and Parliament, by reason of misinformations, as they humbly conceive.  
Besides all which, the Petitioners fears are exceedingly increased by Your majesty's late going into the House of Commons, attended with a great multitude of armed men, besides Your ordinary Guard, for the apprehending of divers Members of that House, to the endangering of Your Sacred Person, and of the Persons and privileges of that honourable Assembly.  
The effects of all which fears tend not only to the overthrow of the whole Trade of this City and kingdom, which the Petitioners already feel in a deep measure, but also threatens the utter ruin of the true Protestant Religion, and the lives and Liberties of all Your loyal Subjects.  
The Petitioners therefore most humbly pray Your Saecred Majesty, that by the advice of your great council in Parliament, the Protestants in Ireland may be speedily releived; the Tower put into the hands of Persons of trust, that by removal of doubtful and unknown persons from about White Hall, and Westminster, a known and approved Guard may be appointed for the safety of Your Majesty and Parliament, and that the Lord Mandevile, and the five Members of the House of Commons lately accused, may not be restrained of Liberty, or proceeded against, otherwise then according to the privileges of Parliament,  
And the Petitioners, as in all duty bound, shall pray for Your majesty's most long and happy reign.   

Printed at London by R. C. for Joh. Bellamy, and Ralph Smith. 1642.