to be drawn from their duty hercin."
The Humble DESIRES of the Citizens, young

Men, and Apprentices of the City of
London, presented to both the Honour-
able Houses of Parliament, July 26,
1647.

hem, to endeavour to their utmost, in their hands.-And that you would be pleased (for places and callings, to use all lawful ways the prevention of the many imminent dangers, and means, for the maintenance of the just to which this city may be liable, by reason of Rights and Privileges of parliament,' lately these distractions) to take such effectual and > much violated; the preservation and de- speedy course for the safeguard and defence fence of his majesty's royal person and autho- thereof; that the fear, either of any mutiny rity, together with the true Religion and within, or of any unwarrantable power from Liberties of this kingdom, and for the disco- abroad, may, in some measure, be taken away; very and bringing to condign punishment all whereby trade, the main support of this city, evil instruments whatsoever,' which labour, now mightily impaired, may be again revived; y fomenting groundless fears and jealousies, to and the franchises and liberties of this hovide and make parties amongst the people, nourable city, to which we are the apparent hereby to retard the Settlement of Church heirs, maintained and defended. And as your ad State; so we doubt not but this honoura- petitioners are in duty bound, both by that le court (who have been instrumental to in- relation which they stand in to this honourte us, both by example and persuasion, able city, as also by that solemn Engagement ccording to several Ordinances and Declara- whereinto they have entered; so they will be ons of Parliament, to engage ourselves to, always ready to hazard their lives for the dee prosecution of the said ends, wherein you fence thereof, and not suffer themselves diave already done very much, to your ever-rectly or indirectly, by any terror or persuasion, sting praise and commendation) will still, ith all reality, constancy, and undaunted maganunity, pursue the same; and likewise enDurage all those that shall, according totheir du', labour to promote the same ends: wherefore e humbly pray, That this honourable court ould be pleased to use their utmost endea- 1. "It is our humble Desire, in regard reliours, by their addresses to the parliament, and gion, our lives, liberties, and estates are so much herwise as they in their wisdoms shall think endangered, and the peace and safety of this t, for the furthering of your petitioners desires, city and kingdom, that the pretended Ordiontained in the above-mentioned Petition.-nance for the Change of the Militia of the city le cannot likewise but, with all thankfulness, of London may be presently repealed before ke notice of what this honourable city hath the rising of the houses; and that former one for the putting in execution of several Ordinance that was conferred for a year, by rdinances of parliament, † That none be put a free parliament, upon the lord mayor, alder to any place of trust, either in church or men, and common-council, and by them legally ommonwealth, but such as have taken, and chosen, may be established: In which regard ow stand well-affected to the Covenant, to we do conceive that no justice, though it run hich we are confident that you will still ad- in never so free a channel, can lawfully diserc. And whereas there have been and possess them of it, unless it shall appear to be ill are several factious persons, who stile abused, contrary to the trust reposed in them. emselves the Well-affected of this city, 2. It is likewise desired that the city of Lonhough unworthy of that name) who labour don may immediately be vindicated against a > traduce the actions thereof, thereby to bring late pretended Declaration of both houses, n odium upon it, and to lay it open to their which declares all those Traitors, and so to alice: A fresh instance whereof we have in forfeit kife and estate, who shall, after publicalate Petition presented to the parliament, tion thereof, act thereupon to get subscripretended to be the Petition of the young tions; and that the said Declaration be now len and Apprentices of this city; as like- presently reversed and cancelled. 3. That ise by a Petition pretended to be presented both houses of parliament do presently make › sir Thomas Fairfax, the which we are ready an Order, upon some special penalty, for the produce, and refer the consideration of calling in of all their members of either house hem to this honourable court. And further to discharge the trust the kingdom has reposed ray, that as both the Militia of this city hath in them, especially the 11 late accused memeen legally chosen by this honourable court, bers, against whom there has been nothing ccording to Ordinance of Parliament, and the proved of their accusation to this day; that ommon council legally chosen by the several yet again we may be so happy as to enjoy the vards according to the antient custom of this healing influence of a full and free parliament ity, you would be pleased to retain the same in these distracted times. These particulars ower both civil and military in your own we cannot but insist upon, since the distractions amongst us begin to grow so high; and the honour and privileges of parliament, the peace and safety of the city and kingdom, are so greatly violated."

*"Declaration to the Kingdom, July 15, 1643. An Ordinance for Sir Tho. Fairfax, July 15, 1644." Notes in the original edi

ion.

+"Ordinance, June 27, Nov. 30, Feb. 2, 1643." Notes in the original edition. VOL. III.

Both which the Mob of London Apprentices, &c. force the Parliament to repeal.] Both houses were so terrified at being thus insulted

3 A

and menaced, within their own walls, that they of the house to elect their Speaker, and the einstantly passed an Ordinance for revoking and cessity of making a choice without delay. Two making void their Declaration of July 24, where- ministers were sent for to the Assembly; sari by all persons who should endeavour to get after prayers, Mr. II. Pelham was nominate subscriptions to any Petition were declared Speaker, and called to the chair, by a generi Traitors; and another for annulling the De- approbation. Mr. Pelham first, in his place, claration of the 23d concerning the Militia; excused himself for his inabilities for so greata whereby the Ordinance of the 4th of May last | charge, which would not be admitted. N was restored to its former force and effect. Anthony Irby and Mr. Richard Lee wenth And both these revocations were also ordered the place where Mr. Pelham sat; and, accomto be forthwith printed and published. ing to custom, took him by each arm and conUpon the great and momentous turn of ducted him and placed him in the chair. Here affairs this day, the lords ordered, that all their | again he made his earnest excuses, which me Members should have Notice to attend the being admitted, he submitted to the commands house peremptorily, on Friday the 30th, in the of the house." morning, at ten o'clock; notwithstanding any former leave granted to be absent: But that the Commissioners appointed to attend the King's Person might have leave to follow their own occasions; so as any three of them, one to be a peer, do take their turns in that service, as they shall agree amongst themselves.

Both the Speakers having left the Houses on account of the late Tumults, two others are chosen.] July 27. Both houses met, but did no business, and only adjourned to the 30th. On which day the members assembled, but neither of their Speakers attended. After much time spent in expectation of them, the lords proceeded to chuse the lord Willoughby of Parham in the room of the earl of Manchester. The commons chose Henry Pelham, csq; a counsellor of Lincoln's Inn, to be their speaker; and we find, by the Lords Journals, that he was presented to that house for their approbation; on which he made a short speech to this effect: "That the knights, citizens and burgesses, being in present want of a Speaker, had made choice of so bad a one as himself, and had commanded him to acquaint their Lordships with such their bad choice." which the Speaker of the house of lords returned this Answer. "That their house very well approved the choice which the commons had made; he being a person of such abilities, integrity, and faithfulness to the parliament." After which the commons returned, with their Speaker, to their own house: but their proceedings, in this extraordinary Affair, will best appear by the following extract from their Journals:

To

"Die Veneris, July 30, 1647. "According to the former Order of adjourn ment on Tuesday last, divers members of the house met, the Speaker being absent: after long expectations, that day, about noon, the members present desired sir Waiter Erle, sir Robert Pyc, Mr. Gawen, and Mr. Knightly, to repair to the Speaker's house; to give him notice of the meeting of the house, and of the time of the day, and to desire his attendance, Return was made about an hour after, by these gentlemen, That Mr. Speaker was not to he heard of: that he had not lodged at his own house that night; but was gone out of town yesterday morning. Thereupon a debate fell out, of the continuance of the house, and the power

Gen. Fairfax resolves to march with his Army to London, on account of the late Force put the Members.] This day the following Lette from General Fairfax to the Commissioners z the Parliament was read in the house of lords:

“My lords and gentlemen; Having read ved upon this inclosed Dispatch for the city London, I thought it my part to send you a account of it, and to give you all assuran that my heart is deeply affected with the ber carriages towards the parliament; and bo ever others have neglected their duty townsh them for their security and defence, yet, S God shall enable me, it shall be my businessta improve all the power that is in my hand in the preserving of them; and, in them, the terest of this nation: and what constructin soever some formerly may have put upon the proceedings of this Army, I trust the Lond shall, by his good hand, lead us into such actions as shall witness our end answerable all our professions, to wit, the good of the kingdom; and therein to be an effect saving of the great and just authority of th kingdom in the parliament. Your most sured Friend, T. Fairfax. Bedford, July 2 The General's LETTER to the City of Lo

don, upon his Advance thither, w his Demands.

"My lord and gentlemen; You may please to remember the forward compliance of th Army with your desires to remove to this de tance, and that upon the assurance you gare them of your concurrence with their declared Desires for the settling the liberty and peaced this kingdom, (against which you never offered us one exception, or any ground of dis sent) as also of your great tenderness and reso lution to secure the parliament and ther privileges from any violence or attempt; chief reason given us of your late listing new forces, and wherein we did most quiesce: That, upon this confidence, we bud disposed of the Army into several parts of the kingdom, for the ease of the whole, some them to above 100 miles distance; we bed given up ourselves to the effecting such prop sals as might tend to the comfortable Sette ment of this poor kingdom; and we were ma hopeful way for a speedy relief of IrelandWe cannot then but he deeply sensible of the unparalleled violation neted upon the paris

2

tioners do, in the name of the city, hereby promise that there shall be no endeavour omitted on their part for the timely and safe guarding of the parliament at all times, and for the effectual suppressing of all violences and tumults which shall be raised under any pretence whatsoever. And the Petitioners shall pray, &c. Michell."

Next, the following Order, made by the Committee of the Militia, was read:

66

ment on Monday last, by a multitude from our city; because therein the guard sent from he city did not only neglect their duty for the ecurity of the parliament from such violence, nd the whole city to yield any relief to the ouses in that extremity, but I am assured, om cye and ear witnesses, that divers of the ommon council gave great encouragement to ; which doth not only gainsay your former rofessions, but does violence to those many bligations that, by your charter, protestation, nd sundry other ways, laid upon you to protect e parliament: For my part, 1 cannot but ok on you, who are in authority, as accountble to the kingdom, for your present interrupon of that hopeful way of peace and settle ment things were in for this nation, and for lieving Ireland; occasioned by a late destruc-nication and weekly bills of mortality, except ve engagement, especially by the latter progious and horrid force done upon the parliaent, tending to dissolve all government; upon hich score we and the whole kingdom shall ve cause to put every thing of the like ature, that may happen to the parliament or any who are friends to them and this Army; cept, by your wisdom, care, and industry, e chief actors in the premisses may be tected, secured, and given up; to the prouning of justice for the same, and the best deavours used to prevent the like for the tore. And so I rest, Your most assured riend to serve you, T. Fairfax. Bedford, uly 29.".

Ordered, That the sheritis of the city of London be desired, in case the parliament sit, to acquaint the houses with the care of this committee to defend and preserve the parliament and this city in safety; and that they, seeing danger approaching, intend to stop and secure all horses within the lines of commu

The City of London petition the Parliament Orders to stop his March.] July 30. Anoer Petition from the city of London was this ay presented to the house of lords by the two eriffs, and was read as follows:

To the Right Hon. the Lords assembled in the High Court of Parliament; The Humble PETITION of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled.

the horses of market-folks, carriers, and others that bring trade and provisions to the city; and further to do what shall be necessary for their and the city's safety; and to desire the advice and encouragement of both houses in their proceedings, and to confer such further addition of power upon this committee as they shall think fit."

The lords, after debate, gave the citizens the following Answer: "That they returned them hearty thanks for their continual care of the safety of the parliament, and did very well approve of the Order that the Militia of the city had lately taken; that the lords will take the rest of their particulars into speedy consideration, and nothing shall be wanting, that in them lies, to give all furtherance for the preservation of the parliament and city."

Both Houses send the General a Letter for that purpose.] The Commons having prepared a draught of a Letter to be sent to sir Tho. Fairfax with an Order inclosed, the same were read and agreed to by the lords. runs thus:

The Letter

"Sir; The houses have this day received from their Commissioners a copy of Letyour "After humbly acknowledging the great ter to them, dated at Bedford, July 29, with a our of this honourable house in re-esta- copy of another Letter of the same date, lishing the Militia of the city, according to written to the city of London; in both which, eir late Petition (whereby the petitioners though there be no account at all of the motion re confident the distempers which they then of your Army, yet the houses understand by ared are well allayed, and will be wholly the letter from their commissioners, in which ppeased, if the rumours of the Army's advance the said copies were inclosed, and otherwise, wards the city do not again stir up the peo- that you have given orders for the marching le); the petitioners are not conscious to of the Army towards London, upon pretence hemselves of any thing which hath proceeded of defending the houses from the danger of om them, which may justly provoke the Army; the tumults. Upon consideration hereof the nd therefore will least of all believe that their houses have commanded us to let you know, ate insisting on the Militia of this city can be that as they cannot but have a deep sense ny reason thereof; especially now that the of the undue liberty which some Appren arliament hath declared themselves therein. tices of the city of London, and others, from But whatever the cause be, or whether the whom they might have expected more oberiny march this way or not, yet that the city dience, have taken to themselves to violate may have some assurance, the petitioners huni- the just authority, privileges and freedom of ly pray this honourable house speedily to parliament, in which the safety of the whole Hispatch their pleasure to the army, requiring it kingdom is concerned; so they doubt not but not to advance nearer the city than 30 miles; the sense of so great an offence will, at last, whereby, as many great dangers will be avoid- strike the breasts of those that have been acces d, and all jealousies removed, so the peti-sary thereunto with a detestation of any practices