A REMONSTRANCE AND DECLARATION OF THE Young men and Apprentices of the City of LONDON.  
TO The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common council of the same City, &c.  
AND As of public concernment to the whole kingdom:  
Quae nocent, docent.  
More Elegantly,  
{αβγδ}.  
London Printed by R.J. 1647.   

A Remonstrance and Declaration of the Young men and Apprentices of the famous City of LONDON:  
TO THE Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common council of the same City, &c.  
THAT wee have desperately adventured in defence of this poor oppressed kingdom; it is sufficiently known: And truly for our own parts, we may too sadly speak it, that we have more sought the public good, then we have our own welfare. Yet that the world may know, that notwithstanding, our long silence that we are still touched with the sense of public calamities, And willing, so far as in us rests, to put a period to the distractions of this Nation, and to prevent whatsoever mischiefs may accrue, and arise from the dangerous designs of many adversaries in this City, glossed over with deluding pretences, we are bold to publish to the world these ensuing lines.  
This kingdom not many years since, it was ( gloria mundi) the beauty and glory of the world: who ever entred its confines, that beholded not matter of great applause? It was once propugnaculum salutis Regnis vicinis) S●●tlands and Irelands fortress, but alas! ( horribile dictu) with astonishment and pity, may we speak it, and too truly say, invidia Gentium, It is now become the scorn of Nations: Et aperto praeliis, and she lies open to all for a prey. It is true, some, like so many Heroes, appeared, in principio calamitatis in the beginning of her travels, and pretended strong friendship each boast ng no less th●n the Mid wives skill. But alas! how r●sts England? doth not she lye still in pain? Are not her pangs now greater then ever? Who sees it not? Who hears not her groans? O England where are now thy deliverers? thy friends are become like passengers, that rather laugh, then in the least kind seem to condole thy misery? And whence ariseth this strangeness? whence comes this dire Alarm, but from hypocritical hearts, and such sycophants, such base and false pretenders, as never before was bread within thy borders?  
'tis high time to appear, since such pretending Friends are become thy greatest Foes; and those who were entrusted for thy welfare, and thy good and happiness, sentence, as it were, thy dismal doom: Surely, he that abhors that tongue that speaks otherwise then the heart thinketh, can no longer contain himself from waving the devouring Sword, were he fure to have it suddenly pierce his own bowels.  
Who is there that is not now thoroughly sensible, how vainly wee have a long time been deluded? How unfortunately wee have been misled in a good opinion and protection of such whom wee find have but studied for these many yeares to enthrall us? who, in stead of effecting a Reformation, have wrought a deformation; in stead of Order, confusion. Men thought it the greatest happiness that could come, that they had obtained a public Auditory, whereby they might have redress both of general and particular grievances; nothing more welcome then a Parliament, and especially such a one as was invested with the regal Power: but alas, Clamat pauper& nullus exaudit, He that was now bettered could hardly be made worse, if we look back upon the frequent Declarations and Protestations published to this Kingdom, truly we shall to our grief and shane, find that both the men and wits come far short of what was expected. O England, England! hadst thou been as fortunate in the choice of thy Nurses, as now thou mayst be happy through sight of thy misery, thy Cities then had needed no sconces, thy towns no bulwarks, thy Countries no guardians, thy Castles no Commanders; thou mightest still have had what now thou wantest, Peace within thyself, and plenty within thy Palaces.  
How great trust didst thou repose in them whom thou didst elect as men m●et for places of honour and trust? as men impartial, uncorrupt, self-denyers, but oh, hard hap, homines mutantur, thy bosom friends are become actors for thy ruin, and truly long thou mayst groan, and sigh, and sob, and besmeare thyself with blood, and wash thyself in tears, before thou find such as may prove real friends; Those that were entrusted for the general good, have brought upon us a general calamity, those that were entrusted for our particular safeties and preservation, have laid the way open for our adversaries: The sword hath not devoured more abroad, than by Votes have been consumed at home, thy adversaries have been succoured, while thy compassionate friends have been ready to perish, the Committees have seized upon thy incomes, and strangers have taken up thy dwellings. All parties pretend well, but none act aright: all would boast of something done, if it bee but that they have undone all. Armies that once encountered for thy peace, now retard thy rest, said pax in fine thou mayst reap some good by thy sufferings, thou mayst find such a friend or friends as may ease, if not fully release thee (& ecce veniunt) and behold they come.   

Right honourable,  
It is impossible wee should recite those great abuses wee have suffered, which wee fear our over silence hath wrought, all parties have not been wanting in this industry, for the augmenting divisions, and setting at variance such as are solemnly united: And we conceive that should we longer rest silent, our ruin were inevitable, such have been the subtle carriages and endeavours of our adversaries for the advancing their own wicked designs, when seemingly they pretend to hold correspondency with us, but that we must drive at, presenting unto us a sad fore-sight of unavoidable desolation and misery, is the detaining of the person of the King by the Army from his personal being with his two Houses of Parliament, whereby jealousies and fears are greatly increased. And our present Government, liberty, and lives endangered: we therefore as lately were emboldened to declare unto this City, do now publish to this kingdom our resolutions, and the means to bee used with possible speed for the effecting our tranquillity and quiet; Resolved as followeth,  
1 That the Person of the King bee speedily brought unto his two Houses of Parliament( as a sure means for our more happy settlement.)  
2 That the King at or after his arrival, or ever afterwards bee not assaulted or disturbed by any party whatsoever.  
3 That his just right and prerogative bee settled upon him, and that as formerly, so now he enjoy his full right, revenues and whatsoever shall accrue as is his proper right.  
4 That he shall not bee compelled or forced to any thing contrary to his own conscience either to advance one party or other.  
5 That whatsoever person either by pen or otherwise shall abuse the King, his queen or any of the royal progeny, shall suffer punishment answerably.  
6 That he shall have what guard his Majesty shall please to make choice of.  
Thus God willing are wee resolved whatsoever opposition is intended either by any or all parties, it is not the report of a magnanimous Army( who will we hope condescend hereunto) neither shall we be affrighted with the noise of a City, and independent conspiracy as some were lately bold to boast of( whom we do now give to understand) we account as enemies, and so shall be esteemed with all such as herein shall not join; giving assurance to this kingdom and desire it may be taken as a truth, that we intend no other then the settlement of the King and kingdom in peace and unity. Yet we must be bold to tell you that as occasion serves, we shall give more testimony of our being awake, than that our eyes are open.  
Now that the World may take notice from whence it is that this our resolution proceeds, we desire no further assistance by Almighty God, then we intend really for the good of the King and kingdom, hoping that all Countries will join with us herein. That so at last this poor, exhausted, and long disquieted kingdom, may find some rest: and once more enjoy a peaceable Government under his majesty, and during his reign. Which God long continue.  
Vivat rex& floreat.   

To the ARMY.  
Gentlemen,  
we hope wee shall find no opposition by you in this our resolution, and intentions, it is our desire, and shall bee our chiefest care to settle this kingdom in some order and quiet●, but without the residence of the person of the King with his two Houses it is impossible to compose differences or effect peace. It is not our purpose to advance any particular design of our own, by these our actions, more than what shall concur with the advice of this our City, all being generally resolved to see some speedy settlement, neither do wee intend else to the King, more than what you have pretended( which is the establishment of him in his Throne his enjoyment of all rights and preservation.  
That which will prove you really to be for this kingdoms good, is your forwardness to join with us,( which we conceive the most surest and sole means for our speedy quiet. Mistake us not now, neither think that you shall in the least kind be injured hereby, as by any thing intended by us to you, after an accomplishment of our desires herein. We do profess, that we shall as much seek your satisfaction( as you are Souldiers, and well-deserving men) as ever we shall seek for our own good, after such a certain testimony of your hearty desire for this kingdoms welfare really evidenced.  
But we must tell you, that if we shall find a backwardness in you, and a resistance in these our desires, that then we shall proceed in the most severest way, and in such a course, as shall gain us honour, bring upon you infamy and disgrace, and utter ruin, for, to tell you truth, were we sure to find thousands for one against us, we should not retard or make any delays in pursuance of our Resolutions, which are, to see the King speedily and safely arrived at London, and the peace of this kingdom settled.  By this our admonition wee hope all will bee ready to clear us as not guilty of any further mischief, or contentions, if any such misery or common calamity shall happen again. 
We shall conclude with a figure in rhetoric called conversio, resolving many questions with one answer, which wee are bold to use. As thus,  
Who acts to the increase of differences? Who cunningly deceives the State? Who retardeth common good and public peace? Who is the enemy of our happiness? Who perverts justice? Who votes for self-ends? Who intends ill to the King? Who contemns a lawful Parliament? Who hates this City? Who would ruin the kingdom? We answer,  
Qui non semper cogitat suarum actionum,& cogitationum in spectatorem esse Deum? he bears neither love to man, nor hath the fear of God before his eyes, neither is touched with a sense of his brethrens miseries that would now wilfully obstruct our proceedings in our great and good undertakings.  
FINIS.