To the right Honourable, Our right worthy and grave Senators, the Lord Mayor, aldermans, and Commonalty of the City of London in Common Council assembled, The most humble Petition and Address of divers young men, on the behalf of themselves and the APPRENTICES in and about this honourable City,  
Most humbly showeth,  
IT hath pleased the good and only wise GOD for our and the Nations crying sins to manifest his displeasure for many years together against these our flourishing, now sadly divided, distracted, and almost ruined Nations: and yet blessed be God, this Honourable City hitherto hath been no proportionable sharer in the calamities which our Brethren in other parts of these now miserable Nations have suffered, which are now aggravated by our divisions, and such a general decay of trading, as doth exceed the worst of former times; all which we look upon, as a most sad presage of some part and dismal judgement very near at hand, if not our sudden ruin● together with the destruction and utter dissolution both of Church and State, which will inevitably ensue as a just reward upon our multiplied provocations, under the most signal manifestations of Gods most gracious presence & the most engaging mercies that ever people did enjoy (unless it please our most gracious GOD whose name hath been exceedingly dishonoured by the violation of many sacred and solemn Oaths) amongst us to work our deliverance out of this contexture of dangerous mischiefs, into which we have already wound ourselves: or which as the inundations of mighty waters may suddenly break in upon us: and being sadly sensible of the calamities, under which the three Nations groan for want of a well ordered and established Government. We being members in the same political body cannot but sympathise with the rest of our Brethren: and forasmuch as your endeavours may contribute very much thereto, and the well or ill management of your Talents, in the discharge of your Trusts may now make these Nations happy or else leave them irrecoverably miserable. We hold ourselves obliged in conscience to GOD and our Country, both by the Laws of GOD and the Land, in the behalf of ourselves, and all good and peaccable people in the Land, and the many thousands that know not their right hand from their left; and in the behalf of the Children unborn who in time to come, may have cause to bless or curse the day of their birth for your sakes, do make this humble Address to you, as the only means under GOD now left us to redress these growing misschiefs which make us and the three Nations in these times of our great trouble cry unto you (as those of Mac●donia did in the Apostles Vision) C●…e and h●lp us. And we beseech you, our most Grave and Worthy Senators, as you tender the welfare of these bleeding Nations to stand in the wide gap of our breaches, with your prayers, improving your Councils, and every Talon (which God hath reposed in you) for the honour of God, and the peace of his Church by a real reformation, and we question not but our most gracious GOD will then break through the thick Clouds of these black and dark providences, and return unto us our judges as at the first, and our Counselors as all the beginning, with the abundance of the blessings of peace that ●udgement may run down our streets, and righteousness as a mighty stream. And we humbly desire the two great Pill●rs of the Land Magistry and M●… may be asserted and encouraged: in order unto which, we humbly present to your Crave and serious Considerations;  
First, the Privileges of the Gospel which we do enjoy at this day in the faithful preaching & dispensing of Gods holy Word and Sacraments, together with the labours of so many of his faithful servants in the Ministry, and the liberty of these sacred Ordinances being the best and choicest of our National blessings; in respect of which, we may well say (with holy David) God hath not dealt so with any Nation: which with thankfulness we desire to acknowledge as a great mercy to the Land: And should the Lord remove his Candlestick out of his place (as we have just cause to fear he will, unless we do repent.) Then may we indeed complain with Phineas his Wife, the glory is departed from our Israel, and a dark and dismal night of black and gloomy Ignorance, Error and Profaneness will invelope our valley of vision. And to th'end that this choice Blessing (which we account more precious th●● our lives) may be conveyed to Posterity. We most humbly desire the Ministry may be countenanced and encouraged, the Universities uphold and maintained, which have nursed many famous Preachers for piety and learning in this and former ages, and your Authourity used for the terror of evil doers, but the praise of them that do well.  
Secondly, we esteem and assert as our undoubted birth right, the freedom and privileges of our Parliaments, as being the great Charter of the people of England, which we account equally dear with our lives, in the enjoyment of which we yet hope under GOD to see a happy and lasting settlement both in Church and State. Therefore we most humbly desire that a new election may be made, or else that those worthy Gentlemen chosen to serve as members in the late free Parliament, may be restored to their privileges, and sit without disturbance or force from the Army. That they may consider in this evil time, what England, Scotland and Ireland ought to do, which (with submission to your Grave judgements) we humbly conceive to be the most probable means under GOD to establish the true Protestant Religion, reform the Laws, secure our Liberties and preserve our lives and outward concernments, to promote Learning, and encourage Virtue, whereby peace with our neighbour Nations may be renewed and established, the Army satisfied, their Arrears paid, and Trading restored. In all which, most Grave and worthy Senators, your own concernments (as well as ours) are so deeply engaged, that we persuade ourselves you will be instrumental to further our desires, by all peaceable and lawful means, and we hope it will put an end to our divisions, which (if GOD in mercy prevent not) may soon break out into another civil War, and render us as a prey to a foreign enemy, For a Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.  
Now we leave it unto you our most grave and worthy Senators, duly to consider if you part with these our great National blessings, whether you will not discover a palpable breach of trust, and leave your names for a reproach to the generations following, who will in the ages to come rise up and call you blessed, if you be careful to preserve them now, and convey them to Posterity: And now We beseech the Lord to strengthen both your hearts and hands; and give you wisdom from on high to direct you in all your Consultations, as may be most for the honour of God, the peace of his Church throughout the World, and the settlement, safety, and happiness of these poor Nations; And by his assistance we resolve to stand by you and with you to the utmost hazard of our lives and all that is dear unto us, to promote the same.  

Monday 5. December.  
This day the Lord Mayor, aldermans and Common Council being assembled, the forerecited Petition was presented by several young men and Apprentices, in the behalf of themselves and several thousands which have subscribed the same; the which being received, was ordered to be read, and thereupon a Committee chosen to consider thereof, and to give their speedy report unto the next Court concerning the same.  
At the same Court it was likewise Ordered, that the Lord General Fleetwood should be desired to draw off the Soldiers unto their several quarters; it being then also Ordered that every Common Council man in his several precinct, should give notice to the Housekeepers within the same, that they should keep their Servants and Apprentices at home, thereby to preserve the peace of the City.