Die Martis, 26 Maii. 1646. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled, That the Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, this day exhibited to the House of Peers, and their Lordships Answer thereunto, shall be forthwith Printed and Published; And that the care for the true Printing thereof, is hereby specially recommended unto Colonel John Bellamy; who is by this Order authorized and required to Print and publish the same accordingly: And none else are to presume to Print and publish the same, as they will answer the contrary at their perils. Jo. Brown Cleric. Parliamentorum. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS ASSEMBLED IN HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT: The Humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council Assembled. Together with their LORDSHIPS ANSWER thereunto. LONDON, Printed by Richard Goats, for John Bellamy. 1646. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS Assembled in High Court of PARLIAMENT: The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled. OUR duty, In the first place, doth lead us to begin all our Addresses, as we most hearty and humbly do these, with all due and humble acknowledgement of the great Labours and endeavours which Your Lordships have, these many years, employed, in Reformation both of the Church and Commonwealth, and in preservation of both, with the humble tender of our constant devotion to serve the Parliament, according to our Covenant made before Almighty God. In the next place, we most humbly crave pardon, although we do presume to return again unto your Lordships, and humbly, yet plainly, lay open the sorrows and fears of our hearts, even in this season, when as God hath blessed your Armies with the greatest successes, and that Man might persuade himself that the War is almost at an end. For first, Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, pag. 19 when we remember that it hath been long since declared to be fare from any purpose or desire to let lose the golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church, or to leave private persons, or particular Congregations, to take up what form of Divine Service they please, when we look upon what both Houses have resolved against Brownism, and Anabaptism, properly so called, when we meditate on our Protestation and Covenant. And lastly, The Parliaments Declaration, upon his Majesty's Declaration after the Battle at Edghill. p. 659. when we peruse the Directory, and other Ordinances for Presbyterial Government, and yet find private and separate Congregations daily erected in divers parts of the City, and elsewhere, and commonly frequented (and Anabaptism, Brownism, and almost all manner of Heresies, Schisms, and Blasphemies, boldly vented and maintained, by such as, to the point of Church-Government, profess themselves Independent) we cannot but be astonished at the swarms of Sectaries, which discover themselves every where, who, if by their endeavours, they should get into places of Profit and Trust, in Marshal and Civil affairs, it may tend much to the disturbance of the Public Peace both of the Church and Commonwealth. We also cannot but call to mind what Vows we have made to God in the same Covenant, as well as our former Protestations, to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's Person and Authority▪ in the preservation and Defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may bear witness with our Consciences, of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions, to diminish His Majesty's just power and greatness, and do humbly rest in the assurances we have received in the many former Declarations of both Houses, concerning their intentions towards his Majesty, his Royal Posterity, and the Peace of this Kingdom, which we doubt not but your Lordships will pursue with all speedy dispatch of Propositions to His Majesty, now whilst God doth so mercifully and miraculously go along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdom. We may not in the next place forget our Brethren of Scotland, how first they were invited to engage with this Kingdom in God's Cause, when yet they were at Peace at home, in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them, at what time, in relation both to the weak condition of our Forces then, and the season of the year, they adventured upon an Enemy warmly lodged, and well armed, and prepared; what they have since suffered for this Cause in their own Kingdom, how successful ever since God hath made our Forces in suppressing the Common Enemies of both Nations, and what present hopes we have of a well-setled Peace, while we continue in this mutual Amity; And then cannot but lament the many jealousies which the Enemies of our Peace, Union, and good Government, do now strive to beget between both Nations, and tremble at the sad effects thereof, if not timely prevented by the wisdom of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms. We cannot also omit humbly to represent unto your Lordship's consideration, how many Citizens have already suffered, and how many more will be undone, if your Lordships shall still make use of that ancient Privilege, to protect yourselves, the Assistan●● of this Honourable House, and the Servants of both, and others from being proceeded against in any course of Law for Debt, which now because this Parliament hath already sat so long, and is likely by reason of the unsettledness of ●ffaires to sit much longer, would especially require some expedient for relief of so many as otherwise must daily suffer under this Privilege. And now that the Kingdom is almost reduced, by which meane● the Revenues of the Kingdom will be unburthened, and the Customs and Excise increase, and the public charge of the Kingdom decrease, now that Delinquents do daily come in and compound, and now that the Enemy hath but few Holds left, we hope that the great and extraordinary Taxes and burdens on this City and their Trade, shall be in the future abated; that the Debts owing to the City and Citizens of London, either by particular Assurances of the Parliament, or upon the public faith of the Kingdom, be taken care for and discharged, as well as those assigned upon the Excise, and may not be diverted from the uses appointed by former Acts and Ordinances. And we humbly crave leave to present to the consideration of this Honourable House, the Committee of Haberd●shers-hall, as being one of the greatest grievances of this City, and which; so long as it is continued, doth hinder the concourse of people thereunto, and tendeth much to the destruction of the Trade, and Inhabitants thereof. And now also we doubt not but God will give the Parliament some better means and opportunity for the relief of our bleeding Brethren in Ireland, and the suppressing of those horrid Rebels, and reducing of that Kingdom, wherein, besides the public and common interest, we are particularly concerned. Lastly, we should have much to say for this City, if we could imagine that its fidelity & constant services and devotion to the Parliament could either be questioned or forgotten, that little we shall express on the part of the City, is, not to repeat how zealous we have been in the cause of God, and this Parliament, how we have spilt our blood and spent and laid out ourselves and our Estates in maintenance thereof; how many public acknowledgements we have by us of the favourable acceptance of them, and promises to leave Testimonies thereof to all future ages; but only to beseech your Lordships to consider how much our hearts may justly be dejected, now that God hath followed your endeavours, and our prayers, with so many successes, and brought the War to a probable period, as to the sense of Man: That the Enemies of our Peace should strive now to sow jealousies between the Parliament and this City, as hath been too evident of late, and particularly should so far prevail, as to be able to render the chief Magistrate of this City, the Lord Major, suspected; unto whom we cannot but give this just Testimony, that he in his place hath faithfully behaved himself, and carefully discharged his Office. We could add much more of the daily invectives against us from the Pulpit, and other places where the Boutefew's of these Sectaries are admitted, the scurrilous and seditious Pamphlets daily broached in, and against the City: And the great contempt of, and discouragement unto the Ministers of the Gospel, who adhere to the Presbyterial Government: But we shall conclude with this brief and humble representation of our Petitions and desires to your Lordships in the name of the whole City. I. That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all private and separate Congregations. II. That all Anabaptists, Brownists, Heretics, Schismatics, Blasphemers, and all such Sectaries as conform not to the public Discipline established, or to be established by Parliament, may be fully declared against, and some effectual course settled for proceeding against such persons. III. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdom, so all may be equally required to yield obedience unto the Government set forth, or to be set forth by the Parliament. iv That no persons disaffected to the Presbyterial Government set forth, or to be set forth by the Parliament, may be employed in any place of public Trust. V That your Lordships will please to hasten Propositions to his Majesty, for settling of a safe and well grounded Peace amongst us, after so long and unnatural a War. VI That your Lordships, according to the Covenant and Treaties, will please to study all means to preserve the Union between the two Nations of England and Scotland, and to remove all jealousies which may endanger our mutual agreement. VII. That your Lordships will please to consider of some means whereby the privilege which the Members of this Honourable House, and their Assistants, and the Servants of both, and others enjoy by being protected and exempted from being proceeded against for their Debts, may be so qualified, as that the Subject may be able to recover his own in some due time. VIII. That all public Revenues and Receipts may be employed to public uses, that so the Taxes of the City may be abated. IX. That the Estates and Compositions of Delinquents, may, according to the engagements by Ordinances of Parliament, be applied to discharge the great sums owing to this City and Citizens. X. That the Plymouth Duty may be taken off the Trade, especially now that the West is reduced. XI. That the Committee at Haberd●shers-hall may be presently dissolved; or at least so limited and regulated, as that the City may have no cause of complaint. XII. That the reducing of the Kingdom of Ireland may be taken into consideration, before the good party there be too fare wasted and discouraged. XIII. That the Lord Major of this City may be fully vindicated. XIV. And lastly, and above all, That your Lordships will please not to look upon any expressions of this our Remonstrance & Petition, as charging any thing upon your Lordships, or as intended to entrench upon any privilege of this Honourable House, but favourably to accept thereof, and so to interpret the same, as from a single and humble heart it is sincerely, and without any by-ends, or to comply with any Party whatsoever, intended and breathed forth from the sad heart of the Petitioners, who are overwhelmed with many fears on all sides. And who call God, the Searcher of all hearts, to witness, that according to their Covenant and duty, their zeal, devotion and obedience, is as fervent and prostrate as ever to serve the Parliament with their Lives and Estates, against all the Enemies of our Peace, and to conjoin the City more and more to the Parliament, and to maintain the Union of both Nations against all Opposers whatsoever. All which we humbly submit unto the wisdom of this Honourable House. 26 Maii. 1646. THE Answer of the Lords in PARLIAMENT TO THE Remonstrance and Petition of the City of LONDON. THE Lords are very sensible of the great fidelity and constant services of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, to this present Parliament, which they shall never forget; They acknowledge their zeal, expressed upon all occasions in the Cause of God and this Parliament, and how readily they have spilt their blood, and spent and laid out themselves and their Estates in the maintenance thereof. They are well satisfied with your Expressions and Care to settle the true Reformed Protestant Religion, according to the Covenant, and with your desires to have all Heresies, Schisms, and Blasphemies suppressed, as also with your respect to preserve the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preserve and defend his Majesty's Person, and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, his Royal Posterity, and the Peace of the Kingdoms: As also for your desires for the continuance of that union between us and our Brethren of Scotland; Of whose Services and sufferings we shall not only hold a grateful memory, but upon all occasions give a Retaliation. Unto all which we hold ourselves equally with you obliged, by our Solemn League and Covenant. As to the Person of the Lord Major, the Lords hold a high esteem of him, according to his merit, and have commanded me to let you know, that nothing hath passed this House at any time in prejudice of him; And when the particulars wherein he finds himself aggrieved shall be made known unto them, they shall be ready in a Parliamentary way, to do him right. The Lords will take the other particulars of your Petition into serious and speedy consideration; And have commanded me to give you hearty thanks for the Real Testimonies of duty and good affections, which not o●ly by your words, but by your Actions, you have constantly manifested unto them. Jo. Brown Cleric. Parliamentorum. FINIS.