HAving certain Intelligence of great Preparations against us from Abroad; together with the dayly and woful experience, of a more barba­rous, and Ignorable Enemy at Home: we have bethought our selves of an expedient, which may at once, both secure, and deliver the Nation from the danger of the One, and from the Tyranny of the Other. In order to this effect; The City of London hath constituted 4. Commissioners, to treat Respectively with the rest of the People of England, in the behalf of their invaded Rights, in such manner to proceed, as to the said Commissioners shall appear most convenient.

In persuance of this Appointment; we Four, (whose Names, and Authority you shall find in a Schedule, to this annexed) do, in the Name, and by the Commission of the City of London, earnestly and unanimously desire a general Assistance, toward a work of a Publique and Ʋniversal Benefit; The transaction of this Affair, we have committed to Persons, eminent both for honesty and fortune: and to gain dispatch, as well as privacy, we have at the same Instant, and by safe hands, dispersed True and Exact Copies of these to you, throughout England and Wales. Our Application should have been more Regular, but for three or four false Brethren in our Counsels, whom we dare not confide in. We find few the Honester for the Quarrel, that are the Richer for it; and no other Enemies to the Peace of the Nation, but the Gayners by Ruin of it. Upon a due scanning of the whole matter, we have concluded, that nothing can restore us but a Free Parliament: Nor can any thing compose that, but a Free Vote, without either Force, or Factien. The most likely, means to procure this, will be a general Engagement to endeavor it. We ask no more, than that you will follow our example. That paper, which we commend to you, is already subcribed by many thousands of this City. If you approve it, do as much; and if you think fit; chuse out of every County Two Persons of a Known Integrity, that may be still among us, and at hand, to preserve a fair Intelligence betwixt us. No longer since, than yesterday, the Conservators of our Liberties; Hewson and his Mirmidons, put an affront upon us, and with some mischief too, upon this very Point: The very mention of a free Parliament enrages them, and there is Reason for it. Their Heads are forfeited, and if the Law Lives, they must perish. But all this while, we're in a good condition, when the Transgressors of the Laws must be the Iudges of it. The very Boyes, and Women had destroyed the Party to a man, but that with much ado, we hindred them. The truth is, in such a Confusion, more honest bloud might have been spilt, than that Rabble was worth. Upon this, the City is grown so impatient of the Souldiers, that 'tis to be feared they will sodainly break out into an open violence upon them. They have already entred into a solemn Engagement to that purpose. But we shall do our best to quiet them, till we receive your Answer. In Fine; the End is honourable, and we desire, the means that lead to it may be so too. Let nothing be omitted, that may save bloud; The Army is necessitous, and without pay, they must or steal, or perish. Let us consider, they are our Country men, and many of them, (the necessity apart) our friends. Let such a course be taken, that so many of them as shall contribute to the Advantage of a free Election, may without either fraud, or delay receive their Arrears: We shall do our part in the Contribution, and in all offices of Relation to a Religious and Lawful Settlement, as freely engage our Lives and Fortunes with you, as we do our Penns in this Profession, that we are

HAving already satisfied you by what Authority we Act, it concerns us next, to acquaint you, to what purpose we are sent, and what it is which we have in Charge to deliver unto you.

Your Proposals for the Settlement of the Nation; (and That, by the means of a Free Parliament) have been as faithfully, and generally communicated, as you intended they should, as kindly received as you could wish, and the whole matter brought to as speedy an issue as was possible for an Affair of that Weight, and Quality, to admit. In Testimony hereof, We are to give you the Thanks of the People of England; and to assure you, that they are not lesse pleased with your Methode of promoting the Publique Good, than they are Obliged by those Affections which have disposed you to endeavour it. Particularly, they are exeeedingly glad to find, that the City hath entrusted such Persous in the Business, as, beside all other due Qualifications for the Employment, have this also; that they were never Parties in the Quarrel. It hath been our Care likewise, to proceed by the same rule; and for this Reason, If both Parties should be taken in, there might (possibly) be some Animosities started, sufficicient to obstruct the Proceeding: And again, should either of them be left out, the matter would (probably) be carried by Faction.

This we are commanded to represent, rather as a Fair Expedient, than an Absolute Necessity. In the next place, we are to inform you, that the En­gagement you sent us, found so prone a Reception, that we reckon it, with us, a greater difficulty to f [...]nd an Enemy to the Intent of it, than to subdue any whatever, that shall presume to appear against the Promoters of it. We do however hold our Selves bound to assure you, that we are perfectly resolved to joyn in the Charge, and Hazard of the Dispute, with you: and that we are as unanimous in this Cause, as if the Treasure of the Nation had but one Master, and the strength of it, belonging to One Body, were but Directed to the same mind. The List of the Subscribers, we have here in Town; If you desire to see it you may: but if otherwise, we offer to your Prudence to consider, if it may not be of more Advantage, and Security to the Business in hand, rather totally to conceal the Subscribers, if not also the Commissioners themselves. For the thing it self, we are not only wil­ling, but desirous to make That Publique. It is of so Honest, and Reasonable a Nature, that no Man dares oppose it, who dares not be Damn'd; no man will, that deserves to Live upon English ground: and to conclude, no man shall, and escape unpunish'd. Parliaments are the Constitution Fun­damental of the Nation, the Safeguard, and the Honor of it: nor are we more concern'd to Support them, than to be wary lest we mistake them. We are to Distinguish betwixt Names and Things, that we be not govern'd by Delusions; Where have we a greater Cheat, than that which stiles it self the Publique Faith? Greater Subverters of our Liberties, than some that write themselves, the Conservators of them? 'Tis not for 40 people to call them­selves our Representative. Is't not enough that they have Robb'd us, unlesse they Govern us too? They'll say we Chose them, so did we chuse 300. more; and we'll be Ruled by All, or None of them. Without more adoe, having Formally assured you of an Absolute Concurrence from the Nation, as to what they have received in Proposition from you: It remains now, only that we recommend some Additionals to you, which we conceive may be of some Benefit to the Common Interest of the whole.

In the First Place we propose, That no Petition be presented to this pretended Parliament, from the City of London, and we undertake as much for our Selves.

Secondly, That no Levies of Men, or Monies, he suffered, in pursuance of their pretended Acts; and in case of any Force attempted upon the Refusers, that we immediately Arm our Selves, and by Violence repell it.

Thirdly, we judge it very fit, in regard of Dangers Imminent, both Foreign, and Domestique, That a Free Parliament be speedily convened; the Time, and Manner of Summons instantly agreed upon, with a Salvo Jure to all Interests.— (By a Free Parliament, we understand, an Assembly of such Persons as by the Law are Qualified to sit; and elected by Persons Qualified to chuse, without any other Restreint than what the Law imposes.) Not that we claim to our selves the Right of Calling Parliaments; but the Impossi [...]ility of procuring one Regularly; and the Absolute Necessity of having something like one suddenly This is enough to acquit us before God and men. By these means, all Differences may be composed, all Parties recon­ [...]