THe Committee of Safety, which are at present intrusted with the Preservation of the Peace of this Commonwealth, are informed of several mat­ters, that relate particularly to the peace of this Ci­ty and Commonwealth. Some passages whereof were lately delivered particularly to the Court of Aldermen: But other matters since coming to their knowledge, they thought it requisite to communicate it to the Representative of this Honorable and Worthy City for their advice, and to shew the Affections they particularly have thereunto, which I shall impart with plainness. I shall say nothing in commendation of that Blessing, Peace, which you all know, being sensible of the calamities and troubles of a Civil War: You were once pleased to make use of the Army, and with thankfulness ac­knowledge the good and benefit received by them, and this Honorable City contributed to that Work, for rescuing of their Liberties, as Men and Christians. It pleased God to give us Peace; but the old Enemy, when he could not appear in his own strength, sought then by disguise and underhand means to interrupt it. The Insurrection of Sir George Booth pretended specious matters, which are since made plain, and their intentions discovered, which were onely to reduce us to slavery under Tyranny; but they were lately de­feated: Now others are sprung up of the like nature. The Rancour of the old Enemy is such, that he u­seth all means imaginable to interrupt our Peace, and particularly in the City, knowing the Greatness, Popu­lousness, and Wealth of it; all of you may be sensible of the great Calamities that will follow, if your peace be distur­bed, which hitherto hath been preserved, and you have been free from acts of hostility. I shall propound somewhat for prevention. What man of sober Principles, or fearing God, will hazard his Peace upon specious groundless preten­ces? in Sir George Booths business there was a design to cause [Page 2]a Rising in the City, that upon a division among your selves, men of desperate fortunes, joyning with your Enemies might have the rifling of your City; as it was their cheife design to raise division, so the same is now on foot The Committee of Safety have Intelligence to that purpose; (but alas! those hap­py dayes, and blessings we have received have not been so im­proved by us, that we should have any hope of the continu­ance of that blessing, Peace!) It is evident by letters taken from private messengers, that General Monk did send to se­veral Parties to rise at this time, and that in this City he should have a Party to declare for him; but if it should please God, that such a thing should be, the dreadful consequences thereof are unexpressible. The Committee desires you would take care of the preservation of the peace and safety of the City, wherein the safety of the Commonwealth is greatly concerned; you have been sufficiently informed of the misery that follows such disturbances; there is nothing that concerns the Committee shall be omitted, but that they will contribute the utmost of their endeavours to prevent such disturbances; and are resolved not willingly to be deficient in what they may do for the preservation of your Peace and Safety; for they have a particular respect and affection to this worthy City, and desire, where any ground or occasion is given of dissention, it may be laid aside: And what ever people may censure of what is past, let us look forward, and it will be made appear, that their aim is, That Magistracy, and a God­ly Ministry may be encouraged and supported. The Com­mittee therefore desires, That you would take special care to forbid any Meetings that tend to the setting on foot the De­sign of the Enemy. There are several Letters from the North read yesterday, which certifie, That those which are coming in hostile manner thought to have taken Newcastle, but were prevented. A diligent care is taken about these things in other places. I wil onely instance that of a Divine, That where a great City is divided, great miseries may be expected: Therefore hazard not your safety, whatever specious preten­ces may be offered to you. I desire that these things may be taken into consideration, and that you would not be wanting to the Cause, and your own safety, which you have so long owned.

WE are once more to wait upon you; truly with desire and sincere Intentions, that there may be a right understanding between those in Authority in this City, and the Armies of these Nations, as hath formerly been, and that they may still remain an united Body: For the Common Enemy labours all he can to ruine and de­stroy both; and their only means to accomplish their de­sign is Division, and there is nothing so much as that can disunite Old Friends. The City and Army had once the happiness to esteem one another as Friends; but now if any thing give occasion of distrust it will prejudice the Cause. You know this poor Army the Lord hath been pleased to make use of as an Instrument to preserve our Peace, so often attempted against: And we should render our selves to be unworthy of the name of Friends if we should seek our selves, and not the good of this poor Nation, and to get Rule and Dominion to our selves, and stand not to our Principles; these things are frequent discourses: but if we had that Guilt which is cast upon us, we would not appear in so Honorable an Assembly. I dare say, Our design is Gods Glory: we have gone in untrodden paths, but God hath led us into wayes, which, if we know our own hearts, we have no base or unworthy design in. Turnings and Changes are not pleasing to us; we have a Love to this Cause, and God hath blest us in it. It may appear that we have no design to Rule over others; we have been raised and preserved to this day upon Common account, and that your and our Liberty may not be Vi­olated, although we have been censured, it hath been the design of our hearts (if we appear designing) to be no other then for the good of this Nation. We shall not want Enemies, but God will fight with us; let our Friends bear with us, and observe the event. Nothing hath been more dear to us, then when God hath appeared to us, to continue Friendship and Peace, that so we may [Page 4]be helpful one to another. Our Enemies know the City hath more love to this Cause, then to comply with their specious pretences. And whereas 'tis laid to our charge, That we are Enemies to parliaments; God he knows our design is to preserve the Ends of all Parliaments and Au­thority; and, we hope, shall never appear to take away the Rights we have so long contended for. The great end of the Common Enemy, is to ruine the City, yet, by the help of God, we shall study your preservation. We hope that there may be a right understanding betwixt the Forces in the Northern Expedition; it shall not be want­ing in us that the same may so be. Although it is our portion, that we cannot be more odious to our Friends then we are rendred, concerning the Nations Peace, yet there shall be nothing wanting in us for the settlement thereof; I would not have you to believe us so unworthy persons, for we have no design but that Peace, Holiness and Justice may prosper in this City and Nation.

I Was unwilling to speak any thing; so much having been spoken by those Honourable Persons; but somewhat I must speak in Relation to what was hinted, and touching the Commands of the Committee of Safety: A great sense there is upon the Committee of the difficulties this Nati­on struggles under; which are the greater, because the common Enemy is in forwardness to a Birth, and bringing forth. It is the duty of all men as Christians, and as Eng­lishmen, to value Peace the greatest of outward enjoy­ments; what I said may be lookt upon as strange, from one brought up for several years in martial Affairs; it being conceived of us, as of some in the beginning of these Troubles, that they feared nothing more, then that the Warrs would end too soon; it was the wickedness of those men that had such Principles, rather to gratifie filthy lusts in their hearts, then for any good to the Commonwealth. [Page 5]I hope I may say of the generality of the Officers intru­sted in this Nation, that there is no outward thing more desired by them, then to live to see those blessed foundati­ons laid, so as to secure the Civil and Spiritual Rights of this Nation; nor is there any greater dread in them thereof (notwithstanding that Bloodshed and expence they have undergone) then that they shall not see a settlement; yet we hope to God, (in despight of the Cunning of men) we shall see such a blessed Peace, as the Inhabitants of this Nation may bless his name. There is none ignorant, but that men (not wanting upon various accounts) make it their business to hinder this so good a work; and their de­sign is to oppose or interrupt a work the Providence of God is carrying on, to accomplish their own designs. It is a mercy, whatever others judg, God hath born us wit­ness, that we have not falsifyed that Trust which hath been reposed in our hands. Our difficulties have been such, that the wealth of the City, should not hire us to under goe them a year longer; but we may say, we are not without a misrepresentation. Some say we are setting up Sectaries, this party and that party; but if we have guile in our hearts, and have not a love to the Godly Peo­ple of this Nation, yea, to all the People, God will find us out: God hath blessed some of us with a Spirit of In­tegrity, and there is nothing upon our hearts, but the good of the whole. There is a twofold party in this Com­mon wealth, whom God hath again and again made bow down before his People, yet are still labouring to heighten their spirits: ‘We have not made them slaves, (which in some places is practis'd in the like case) nor is it upon our spirits so to do; yet I think it our duty not to suffer them to give Laws to us, if God gives us leave to prevent it, and though we have it not in our hearts to do any thing to distinguish, yet we are resolved never to put our hands under the feet of those we have vanqusht: Some say we shall not have settlement, till the Old Family comes in, which if it should enter into any of our hearts, we should be like the Dog returning to his Vomit, and the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire.’ Many, by the [Page 6]actings of the Army, by a forcible Providence they have been put upon, may think we go about to do something unworthy to this Nation: This Army hath been blessed 17. years wonderfully, we have not gone about to make our selves great, or masters of what is our Neighbours, but that which the Power in being hath allowed us. Some give out as if we were returning to a single Person, and inten­ded to debase Magistracy, and trample down Ministry; but God will bear us witness to the contrary; The Truth of it is, we are so far from undervaluing of a Government, that we alwayes thought a bad one with Peace, better then none at all. If Peace be a great and choice blessing to be valued by all, we desire that you (with us) will take care to preserve it; we come not to Court you, but only to let you know, we have no design in it: Twas no prepared busi­ness, that of Dissolving the Parliament, We hope that God stood by us in it, notwithstanding there hath been many gloomy dayes since. The strength of an Army is the Uni­ty of it; and it will be your safety and advantage to keep Unity; a City divided cannot stand: You will not want assistance from the Army, if interruptions come in this place; whatever calamities may be elsewhere, they will not be so great here. Your Interest as Christians, your Re­ligion, your Estates, are great engagements to preserve the Peace: If you go about, or others Countenanced by you, to disturb it, an Inconvenience may fall upon you; but our desire is you would not fling dirt on the Army, but as you see the issue of their actions, so to judge of them. Many O­pinions may run, touching our dark Actions in the late alte­ration and disturbance: As to the first it is evident, they had no design of their own; and in the last, if they would have complyed with a few men to set them up, they needed not to have wanted Respect. It is said, it was only to keep eight or nine in their places; it is very well known, some of us have laboured an opportunity to be quit of our Com­mands. Now it is my desire, that you would follow after Peace, and meddle not with Affairs beyond your Spheres, fol­low Peace and Holiness, and the God of Peace wil bless you.