TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS AND COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT, The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of LONDON in Common-council Assembled.  
As it was presented by the Sheriffs, Common-council, and other Citizens of the City of LONDON, May the 9th. 1648.  
With the Parliaments ANSWER thereunto, and VOTES upon the same.  
Likewise the Petition of the Grand Jury at the Assizes holden at Chelmsford for the County of Essex. And the Answer thereunto.  
Imprimatur  
Gilbert Mabbot. May 9 1648.  
London, Printed for Joseph Hunscot. 1648.   

To the right Honourable the Lords assembled in Parliament, The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of LONDON in Common-council assembled.  
Shows,  
THat your Petitioners do thankfully acknowledge the great favour of this honourable House in the speedy greeting their desires expressed in their late petition. And upon consideration of a Letter from the Lord General to the Speaker of the honourable house of Commons, and by them communicated to the Petitioners, They do humbly conceive that there is an expectation that the Parliament should be guarded by the forces of the City and places adjacent. The which with all willingness your Petitioners are ready to do (according to their late undertaking) being put into a capacity to perform the same, by settling the Militia of London, and being authorized so to do.  
That they have received intimation by a petition from divers worthy and well affected Citizens', that the bringing in of Bullion is much impeded, and merchantdizing greatly diverted (of which your petitioners are very sensible) by reason that your former favour afforded to the City in the nominating of the Lieutenant of the Tower hath been of late suspended, and many soldiers therein placed unknown to the City, whereby trading is much decayed, and poor people for want of employment in extreat misery, & the City greatly endangered by their important necessity's.  
That your petitioners (being encouraged by many former favours received from this honourable House) are bold to make these their addresses, and humbly pray,  
That the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Comm●ns in Common-council assembled may by Ordinance of Parliament be authorized to nominate and present to both houses o Parliament a Committee for the Militia of the said City, as by several Ordinances hath been formerly granted, whereby Commanders and Soldiers may be the better united and encouraged to perform their duties for the safety and preservation of the Parliament, City and places adjacent; and that the command of the Tower of London may be put into the bands of ●uch a person as shall be nominated and presented to both houses of Parliament by the Lord Major, Aldermen and Common-council of the said city; and that the Soldiers now there remaining may be removed: which will give good satisfaction to the City, and remove many fears and doubts, and be an invitation and encouragement unto Merchants (both English and strangers) to bring in Bullion, and an occasion to increase Merchandizing, and quicken trade, and consequently a comfort to poor people in having employment, for their subsistence.  
And your petitioners shall humbly pray etc.  
THis Petition being presented to the House of Peers, the Speaker in the name of the house returned this Answer, That the Lords gave them mu●h thanks for their constant good affection to the Parliament and Kingdom, and returned answer, That they would take the particulars in the Petition into speedy consideration.   

To the Right Honourable the Commons in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council Assembled.  
Shows,  
That your Petitioners do thankfully acknowledge the great favour of this honourable house in their speedy granting their desires expressed in their late Petition, and in communicating unto them the letter of his Excellency the Lord General, upon consideration whereof your Petitioners do humbly conceive that there is an expectation that the Parliament should be guarded by the forces of the City and places adjacent, The which with all willingness your Petitioners are ready to do (according to their la●e undertaking) being put into a capacity to perform the same by settling the Militia of London, and being authorized so to do.  
That they have received intimation by a Petition from divers worthy a●d well affected Citizens that the bringing in of Bullion i● much impeded, and M●rchandizing greatly diverted (of which your Petitioners are very sensible) by reason that your former favours afforded to the City in the nominating of the Lieutenant of the Tower hath been of late suspended, And many soldiers therein placed unknown to the City, whereby trading is much decayed, and poor people (for wart of employment) in extreme misery, and the City greatly endangered by their important necessities.  
That your petitioners being encouraged by many former favours received from this honourable house are bold to make these their addresses, and humbly pray:  
That the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons in Common Council assembled may by Ordinance of Parliament be authorized to nominate and present to both houses of Parliament a Committee of the Militia of the said City as by several Ordinances hath been formerly granted whereby commanders and soldiers may be the better united and encouraged to perform their duties for the safety and preservation of the Parliament, City and places adjacent; And that the command of the ●ower of London, may be put into the hands of such a person as shall be nominated and presented to both Houses of Parliament by the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City; and that the Soldiers now there remaining may be removed, which will give good satisfaction to the City, remove many fears and doubts be an invitation and encouragement to Merchants (both English and Strangers) to bring in Bullion, an occasion to increase Merchandizing and quicken trade, And consequently a comfort to poor people in having employment for their subsistence.   

Die Martis 9 May, 1648.  
THe house being informed, That the Sheriffs, Common-counsel, and other Citizens, and Freemen of the City of London were at the door, They were called in, and Sheriff Bide after some short preamble did present an humble Petition from the Lord Major, Aldermen and Common Council, the representative Body of the City of London, in all humility to this house.  
The Petition was read, and was entitled, The humble Petition of the L. Major Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common counsel assembled, The which, the Petitioners being withdrawn, was read.  
Resolved, etc. 
 That the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in Common-counsel assembled of the City of London, be by Ordinance of Parliament authorized to nominate, and present to both houses of Parliament, a Committee for the Militia of London, and the Liberties thereof.  
Resolved, etc. 
 That the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in Common-council assembled be authorized to nominate and present to both houses for their approbation an able and sufficient person for the command of the Tower of London.  
Resolved, etc. 
 That the Soldiers now remaining in the Tower of London shall be removed.  
Ordered, That the Citizens that serve for the City of London do prepare, and bring in an Ordinance according to these Votes.  
The Sheriffs and Citizens were again called in, and Master Speaker by the command of the House acquainted them, That the House had read their Petition, and taken it into serious consideration, and That by the Votes passed, the affection of this House to the City, and the trust they reposed in them will appear, and they doubt not but are confident that it will be answered with Love, Trust, and Obedience; and then acquainted them with the substance of the Votes passed.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

To the Right honourable both Houses of the Parliament of England assembled at Westminster.  
The humble Petition of the Grand Jury at the Assizes holden at Chelmsford for the county of Essex, the 22 of March 1647 as it was presented to both the honourable Houses of Parliament the 4 of May 1648. by divers thousands of Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders' of the same County.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat your Petitioners taking into their serious (yet sad) considerations the great distractions and calamities of this whole Kingdom, and being also very sensible by woeful experience of the great and many pressures and grievances of their own particular county, and taking notice also with all thankfulness of the honourable resolutions of this house, in giving encovaagement to the just desires of the oppressed in a petitionary way (the undoubted right of the Subject) and the very life of their liberty itself, out of a tender fellow feeling of others, and the deep sense of their own miseries, have made this humble (yet necessary address to this honourable House) conceiving both the present and future happiness of themselves and the whole kingdom, to be con … ed in these their ensuing desires.  
And first, considering that it is impossible the sad and direful effects of this late war should cease without the principal causes be first taken away and removed. And considering likewise his Majesty's absence from his two houses of Parliament hath been one main cause of increasing jealousies, and continuing a misunderstanding betwixt him and his great counsel (the original and source of our unhappiness,) And humbly conceiving that a timely and ready concession to his Majesty for a personal Treaty with his high court of Parliament may prove the most effectual and speedy means for the removing of all such misapprehensions and fears, which are yet the unhappy obstacles of the peace and quiet of this our Kingdom.  
Secondly, considering the excessive charges, and a most intolerable burden this county with the rest of the Kingdom do at this present gro●n under, which although for a time they may possibly bear with patience, yet if continued, will certainly and inevitably ruin themselves, their families, and posterities. And withal considering that the most hopeful means of settling a well grounded peace and the surest way of preventing ●uture troubles, consists in the due satisfaction of all just complaints and interests. And that this army who have faithfully discharged their trust to yourselves and Kingdom, do much complain for want of their Arrears.  
We therefore your humble Petitioners d●e most earnestly desire that you would be pleased to take these premises into your grave and serious considerations, and to condescend to the Royal intimations of his Majesty for a personal Treaty; to expedite such a course which in your wisdoms you shall think most meet for the satisfaction of the arrears of the Army with a disbanding of the same.  
And your petitioners shall pray, etc.   

Die Jovis, 4 May. 1648.  
The Lords have commanded me to return thanks to the County of Essex for the good affection's which they have expressed to the Parliament and Kingdom; they have likewise commanded me to let you know, That they will take your Petition into their serious and speedy consideration, and do assure you that they will not be wanting to contribute their utmost endeavours for the removing of the present pressures and burdens, and for the composing of these unhappy differences, so as the Kingdom may enjoy a safe and well grounded peace.  
J. Brown, Cler. Parliamentoru●.   

Die Jovis, 4 May. 1648.  
The House being informed that divers Gentlemen of the County of Essex were at the door; desiring to prefer a Petition to the house, they were called in, and Major Stephen Smith did present a Petition, the which (the Petitioners being with draw●) was read.  
The Petitioners were again called it, and M. Speaker by command of the House, upon Vote upon the Question gave then this answer, That this house doth take notice of the great service, and good affections of that County to the Parliament, and are very confident they will so continue. As to their Petition, the house is now in debate concerning the speedy settlement of the Kingdom, and do not doubt but what they shall conclude thereupon, will give satisfaction to the said County, and to all the well affected people of the Kingdom.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
FINIS.