A true Copy of the PETITION of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common-council of LONDON, presented to both Houses of PARLIAMENT, March 18. 1641.  
To vindicate the Honour of the City against a False, Scandalous, and Seditious Petition, printed, and pretended to be exhibited to the Parliament in February last, as  
The Petition of the Citizens of London, against the present disposal of the Militia of that City, made by the Parliament.  
And to assure the Parliament, and the whole Kingdom; that the said City is very glad of, and thankful for the present Ordinance touching that matter, and will readily obey it.  
Together with the several Answers of both Houses of Parliament to the aforesaid Petition.  
Ordered to be Printed and published.   blazon of the City of London 
LONDON, Printed for john Frank. 1642.   

To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament.  
The humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen and the rest of the Common council of the City of London:  
SHOWETHS,  
THAT the Petitioners do much rejoice in the happy Concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, as in other things, so especially, in that most necessary Ordinance touching the Militia of this Kingdom, and Dominion of Wales; Whereunto the Petitioners do most humbly and cheerfully submit, for the safety of His Majesty, the Parliament, and Kingdom: For the ordering whereof, many pressing Petitions from most parts of the Kingdom have been exhibited, in this time of imminent dangers, proceeding from the bloody Counsels of Papists and others, ill affected to the honour, peace and prosperity of our most gracious King, and his Kingdoms.  
And the Petitioners do likewise humbly return all possible thanks to this Honourable House, for the great honour, and high favour vouchsafed, in giving them leave to nominate the persons to whom the Militia of this City should be committed; And for accepting and approving of the Nomination and return made to this Honourable House, by the Petitioners on that behalf.  
But this their joy is much disturbed and interrupted by an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition, Entitled, The Petition of the Citizens of London, whose names are under written, directed and delivered in February last, To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; And since published in print, with this title, The humble Petition of the Citizens of London: Thereby to publish it thorough the Kingdom, as the Petition of all the Citizens: Wherein is set forth (as appeareth by one of those printed copies annexed) that the ordering of the Arms of London hath, time out of mind, been annexed to the majoralty of the said City; That the conferring thereof upon others would reflect upon the government and customs of this City, granted by the great Charter of England, and confirmed by, divers Acts and Charters since that tim●; and wh●ch every Freeman of the said City is by the oath of his freedom bound to maintain to the utmost of his power; And that such alteration in the ancient government might breed great distractions and inconveniences: or to this effect.  
Nor this alone, but the Petitioners are yet more deeply wounded and grieved, by the presumptuous boldness of the publishers of the said Petition in print, by joining therewith his Majesty's Answer and denial, entitled his Majesty's Message to both Houses of Parliament, February 28. 1641. Which Answer (as the Petitioners humbly conceive was grounded upon the said Petition, and misinformation of some persons, ill affected to His Majesty and to the City, who have thereby, and otherwise, often endeavoured to make divisions betwixt the King and the Parliament; betwixt the Parliament and the City; and betwixt the Citizens themselves, to the intolerable abuse of his sacred Majesty, and of all his loyal Subjects.  
And they verily believe that this bold publishing in print, of the said Petition, and in his Majesty's message (which shortly after followed the exhibiting of the said Petition) together in one printed paper, was purposely done, wickedly and seditiously, to make divisions as aforesaid to beget an opinion throughout the Kingdom, that the City of London doth not intent to conform unto, but complain of, and oppose the aforesaid Ordinance, and to make the said petition a desperate precedent to the rest of the Kingdom, to do the like; Thereby to hinder the cheerful, needful, lawful, and unanimous Concurrence of the Kingdom, in yielding due, full, and timely obedience to the said Ordinance.  
They do therefore humbly pray, that this Honourable House will vouchsafe. 

1. To believe, that neither this nor any other Petition of the like kind ever came from the Petitioners, nor was framed, contrived or approved of by them. And that they do wholly and with detestation disavow and disclaim the same as an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition.  
2. To put a difference between the Authors, Contrivers, Promoters, Advisers, Publishers and Printers of it, and such as it shall appear to this Honourable House, were by subtlety drawn in unawares to subscribe the same, without any malignant intention, and shall clearly acknowledge their error, and rashness therein; And that this latter sort may have such lawful favour as may stand with the Honour and justice of the high Court of Parliament.  
Lastly, they do humbly pray, that this Honourable House will still increase their joy, by endeavouring to uphold and continue, by all good means that blessed concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, in all your great affairs, and effectually to proceed against all disturbers and undermyners thereof, and that shall endeavour to beget or cherish any misunderstanding, or to make division betwixt the King and Parliament whom God and the Laws of this Land have united in so near a Relation.    
And they shall ever be ready to assist and stand by this H●nourabbe House therein, with their lives and Estates to the utmost of their power, according to their late protestation.  
And shall incessantly pray, etc.  
Another of the same Petitions, (with change only of the title) was likewise presented to the most Honourable House of Peers, the same day (March 18.) by divers Aldermen, and other worthy Members of the Court of Common Counsel aforesaid.   

The Answer to the aforesaid Petition.  
Die Veneris 18. Martij. 1641.  
THe Aldermen and Citizens that delivered the Petition this day to the Lords in Parliament were called in, and the Lord Keeper told them by the direction of the House, That their Lordships did give them thanks for their readiness and forwardness in their Obedience to the ordnance of Parliament made by both Houses concerning the Militia, and further care of preventing any disorders that might have happened by preferring or exhibiting a false and scandalous Petition in the name of the City, whereas it was not so, That their Lordships have ordered, that this Petition now presented shall be printed and published, And for the scandalous Petition, the Lords have ordered the same shall be burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman: And that their Lordships do resolve to make a difference between those that were the Authors and Contrivers of that scandalous Petition and those that were seduced and ignorantly drawn in to subscribe to that Petition.   

The Answer of the House of Commons to the aforesaid Petition.  
Die Veneris 18. Mertij 1641.  
THe humble Petition of the Major, Aldermen, and the rest of the Common Counsel of the City of London was this day read in the House of Commons, and ordered to be entered in the journals of the said House, and to be printed. The Petitioners were called in, and Master Speaker told them that the House had read their Petition, and received it with a great deal of contentment and approbation, and it being of that great consequence, and so full of expression of zeal and affection to his Majesty, and the Kingdom; and in particular, that he was of respect to this House, commanded to return them hearty thanks in the name of the whole House: And wished, that he had words sufficient to express it.  
And for those of the City of London, that subscribed that dangerous Petition complained of by the Petitioners, and are desirous to acknowledge their error. (Provided they were none of the contrivers of that Petition: nor had a malignant spirit in the advancing and exhibiting thereof) This House according to the desires of the Petitioners, is willing to show favour unto them. And as the Petitioners do express their care of the King and Kingdom, and of this House in particular; so this House will be always ready to give their best endeavours to further those things that may concern the honour and safety of the King and Kingdom, and in particular of the good and safety of the City of London.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
FINIS.