THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London in Common-councell assembled: TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS IN Parliament Assembled. Together with their ANSWERS to the said Petition.
Printed by RICHARD COTES Printer to the Honorable City of LONDON, 1648.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in Common-councell assembled.
THat they had lately presented unto them an information from one John Everard, a true Copie whereof is hereunto annexed, whereby he doth give intimation of some Speeches that passed from certain persons [Page 4] at Windsor, of an intention to disarm the City, and then to Plunder the same: And that divers reports to that effect have been brought unto us by Letters and otherwise from divers parts of this Kingdom, and from Forain parts: Which Reports, together with the present Drawing and Continuing of the Army so near the City; and the encrease of the number of Souldiers in the Tower, hath been, now is, and will be occasion of great fears, and a great decay of Trade, and an enhauncing of the Prizes of Victuals within this City: The which fears are much encreased by the taking and keeping down of the Chaines within the same. And the Petitioners doe humbly conceive, That their danger is encreased, and their strength much abated by the disuniting of the command of the Forces of the City, and the Parts within the late Lines of Communication, and the weekly Bills of Mortality. For the removing of which Feares, and obtaining of those things which may conduce to the safety of the Parliament and of [Page 5] this City; The Petitioners doe humbly pray,
That consideration may bee taken of the information given by the said John Everard; and that upon a further examination thereof, such course may be taken therein as your Honors shall think fit.
That the Chaines within the City of London, which were lately pulled down, may forthwith bee repaired and set up again: And that the Army may be speedily removed to a further distance from the City.
That by an Ordinance of Parliament, Major Generall Skippon (who was long since chosen, and still by Act of Common-councell is continued Major Generall over the Forces of the City) may be appointed to be Major Generall within the late Lines of Communication, and the weekly Bils of Mortality; By which meanes he may the better be enabled to reunite the Forces within the City, and the said late Lines of Communication, and weekly [Page 6] Bills of Mortality, for the better defence of the City, and the Places adjacent: And likewise for the preservation of the Parliament, to whom the City do resolve to adhere according to their Solemn League and Covenant.
And your Petitioners shall pray, &c.
The Information of John Everard, Concerning some Speeches that passed from certain persons at Windsor, of an intention to Disarm the City of London, and then to Plunder the same.
IOhn Everard maketh Oath, That he having some occasion of businesse at Windsor upon Thursday the 20 of April, 1648. as he did lye in Bed, did heare some Gentlemen discourse in the next Chamber, the number of whom he cannot tel, but by their discourse they could not be lesse then three or four; And that he doth beleeve they were all Officers of the Army under the command of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax; one of them was Quartermaster-generall Gravener as he supposeth; another, one Colonell Ewer, or some such name: And after some merry discourse, they began to be serious, and propounded what they thought fit to bee done in reference to the present exigencies of the Kingdome, upon which subject they discoursed an houre or more: They made no doubt of the comming in of the Scots; and with the same confidence beleeved that the City of London would joyne with the Scots; For the preventing [Page 8] of which, they could find no way but to Disarm the City both Friend and Foe: And afterwards, they said, they would intimate that those who were the Friends of the Army, should come forth into the Fields, and there they should be armed: And that they should have the power of the City of London put into their hands, to keep the rest of the Citizens in awe: And that they should be maintained at the Charge of the City, so long as it should bee thought fit to continue them. And because that Money is the sinews of Warre, having which, they doubted not but to procure Men enow, if there were occasion to use them: And therefore for the present advancement of the same, if need were, (this City being Disarmed) they would make them advance a Million of Money, or else plunder them: And the Party that spake this, said, Hee had acquainted Commissary-generall Ireton with it. All which, or to the like effect, was spoken in this Deponents hearing.
Copia vera.
Die Jovis, 27. April. 1648.
MAster Sheriffs, and Gentlemen of the Common-councell of the City of London; The Lords have commanded me to return Thanks to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-councell of the City of London, for the good affections that they have expressed in this their Petition, asserting the resolutions of the City to adhere to the Parliament according to their solemn League and Covenant.
They likewise have commanded me to assure you, That it hath ever been a principall part of their care to prevent any danger or inconveniency that might threaten the disturbance of the quiet of the city of London, or tend to the decay of the Trade thereof, though to their great grief these late troubles have much hindred the successe of their endevors therein; which care they are fully resolved still to continue to the utmost of their power. And they assure you, That it never entred into their thoughts to have the City of London to be disarmed: And they hope there can be no such intentions in any others who wish well to the safety of the Parliament.
As to the report which hath been brought unto you by one Iohn Everard, they will put it into a further examination, that they may be satisfied of the truth or falshood of it: and except there be further proof of it, they hope such a report shall not render the Army to be suspected [Page 10] of any such design, considering the many former and late experiences that the Parliament and City have had of the fidelity and good services of the Army.
As to the particular of setting up the Chaines within the City, they doe fully leave it to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common-councell, to doe therein as they shall think fit.
To the last particular concerning Major Generall Skippon, he being a member of the House of Commons, the Lords can resolve nothing therein, without a joynt concurrence of that House; but they will take it further into their consideration.
Die Jovis, 27 Aprilis, 1648.
THe House being informed that divers Aldermen and Citizens were at the doore, they were called in, and Alderman Bide one of-the Sheriffes of the City of London, after some short preamble, acquainted the House that he was commanded by the Lord Major, Aldermen and Commons in Common-councel assembled, the representative Body of the City of London, to present a Petition to the House: The Petitioners being withdrawn, the Petition was read, and an information annexed of one John Everard taken upon oath before the Lord Major, 23. of Aprill, 1648. The Petition was intituled, The Humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen and Commons in Common-Councell assembled.
Ordered upon the question by the Commons in Parliament assembled, That this House doth approve of the desires of the City, concerning Major Generall Skippon.
Resolved, &c.
That the desire of the Petitioners concerning the Chaines be granted, and that the Committee of the Militia do see it done.
- Sir Harbottle Grimston
- Major Generall Skippon
- Mr. Knightley
- Sir John Evelyn
- Mr. Bond
- Mr. Doddridge
- Sir Henry Mildmay
- Mr. John Corbet
- Colonell Harvey
- Sir Robert Harley
- Mr. Prideaux
- Mr. Miles Corbet
- Mr. John Ashe
- Colonell Ven
- Mr. Swynfon
- Mr. Boyse
- Alderm. Pennington
- Mr. Blakiston
- Mr. Vassall
- Sir Tho. Soame
- Alderm. Atkin
- Sir Greg. Norton
- Mr. Erle
- Mr. Reynalds
- Mr. Long.
- Sir Martin Lumley
- Mr. Grove
- Mr. Scuwen
- Mr. Dove
- Sir Rob. Pye.
- Mr. Bulkley
- Major Gen. Browne
- Commissary Ireton
- Colonel Purie
- Mr. Say.
This Committee or any five of them are appointed to examine the information given in by Mr. John Everard, mentioned in this City Petition, The information given in by Mr. Walker a Member of this House, and that he doe name unto the Committee the Reporter of it to him; and all other informations, Forrain or other, that concern the same businesse; and have power to send for parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, and they are to meete upon it to morrow at two p t. merid. in the Court of Wards, and the care of this businesse is more particularly referred to Alderman Pennington and Mr. Doddridge.
Resolved, &c.
That the thankes of this House be returned to the Citizens for their good affections exprest in their Petition.
Mr. Speaker is appointed to acquaint the Citizens, That the drawing of part of the Army so neere the City was occasioned by Orders given out in the time of the late Tumult; That the House will take that businesse into serious consideration, and doe that therein which may be for the good and safety of the Parliament and City so farre as thereby they may receive satisfaction.
The Sheriffes, Aldermen and other Citizens were again called in, and Mr. Speaker by the command of the House, acquainted them with the Resolutions and Proceedings upon the Petition, and did give them the thanks of this House for their very good affections exprest in the Petition to the Parliament.