THat your Petitioners do thankfully acknowledge the favour of this honorable House, in that (before they gave answer to the desires of the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, for laying an imposition upon Coles) they were pleased to communicate the same to the [Page 2] Petitioners, who taking into serious conside­ration the great increase and miserable condi­tion of the Poor of this City, occasioned by the extreme decay of Trade both by Sea and Land, want of employment, scarcity and dearness of provision, cannot but be very sensible of the sad effect (they fear) will follow, if any such Tax should be laid upon Coles, which must of necessity lie most heavie upon the poorer sort; and will also be an occasion of discontent to Seamen, and dis­couragement of Merchants trading that way. And although your Petitioners cannot finde any expedient for the supply of the Garison in Newcastle, as is propounded; yet they doe offer to the Grave consideration of this hono­rable House, That if the Profits of all places and emploiments enjoyed contrary to the Self-denying Ordinance of the Fourth of Aprill, 1645. And the severall Votes of the Tenth of June, 1647. and likewise the profits of the severall places belonging to the Customes, Excise, Postmasters, Committee-men, Offices sequestred, and such like, may be disposed of for the Publique occasions of the [Page 3] Kingdom, and not converted to private uses, (reasonable Salaries for such and so many as shall be necessarily employed therein excep­ted) the same might advance a considerable summ for that or other Publick charge, during the time of the miserable distractions of this Kingdom.

Your Petitioners do therefore humbly pray,

That no Tax or new Imposition be laid upon Coles; And that the aforesaid represen­tations may be effectually taken into the Grave consideration of this honourable House;

THat the Petitioners calling to minde the happy successes and great benefits, which not onely the Parliament and City, but also the Kingdom re­ceived, when the Forces within the late Lines of Commu­nication were united to the City, under the command of one Militia; And the inconveniences that have happened since they were disunited, their strength thereby being much abated, and they made more unserviceable to the Parliament and City.

And your Petitioners being very sensible thereof, and of the great benefit that may be expected (by the blessing of God) by their re-uniting, having received severall Petitions from divers wel-affected persons Inhabitants of the city of Westminster, Hamblets of the Tower, and Bur­rough of Southwark, declaring their desires thereof; And upon conference with them, (and finding them not willing to be a Sub-committee as formerly) in our desire to fur­ther so good a work, tending so much to the enabling of us to be serviceable to the Parliament, City and Kingdom, your Petitioners did condiscend, That the said adjacent parts should have five for every Division, to be joyned to the present Militia of London, and to make one entire Militia: Provided, That they should be nominated by [Page 5] the Common-councell, and presented to the honourable Houses of Parliament for their approbation and allow­ance; And having received severall Votes from the honourable Houses of Parliament for their re-uniting:

They therefore humbly pray,
That an Ordinance of Parliament may be speedily passed, for the adding unto the present Militia of London, the Fifteen persons nominated by the Common-councell, and by them humbly presented and submitted to the honourable Houses of Parlia­ment for their confirmation.