Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Floating text 18
Die Martis, 26 Maii. 1646.
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Aſſembled, That the Remonſtrance and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London, this day exhibited to the Houſe of Peeres, and their Lordſhips Anſwer thereunto, ſhall be forthwith printed and publiſhed; And the care for the true printing thereof, is hereby ſpecially recommended unto Colonell John Bellamie, who is by this Order authorized and required to print and publiſh the ſame accordingly: And none elſe are to preſume to print and publiſh the ſame, as they will anſwer the contrary at their perils.
Jo. Browne Cleric. Parliamentorum.
To the Right Honourable the LORDS Aſſembled in High Court of Parliament.
The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Councell aſſembled.
OUR duty, in the firſt place, doth lead us to begin all our Addreſſes, as we moſt heartily and humbly do theſe, with all due and humble acknowledgement of the great Labours and endeavours which Your Lordſhips have, theſe many yeers, employed, in Reformation both of the Church and Common-Wealth, and in preſervation of both, with the humble tender of our conſtant devotion to ſerve the Parliament, according to our Covenant made before Almighty God.
In the next place, we moſt humbly crave pardon, although we do preſume to returne againe unto your Lordſhips, and humbly, yet plainly, lay open the ſorrowes and feares of our hearts, even in this ſeaſon, when as God hath bleſſed your Armies with the greateſt ſucceſſes,Remonſtrance of the State of the Kingdome, pag. 19. and that man might perſwade himſelfe that the War is almoſt at an end.
For firſt, when we remember that it hath been long ſince declared to be farre from any purpoſe or deſire to let looſe the golden Reins of Diſcipline and Government in the Church, or to leave private perſons, or particular Congregations, to take up what form of Divine Service they pleaſe; when we looke upon what both Houſes have reſolved againſt Browniſme, and Anabaptiſme, properly ſo called, when we meditate on our Proteſtation and Covenant.
And laſtly,The Parliaments Declaration, upon his Majeſties Declaration after the Battell at Edgehill. pag. 659. when we peruſe the Directory, and other Ordinances for Presbyteriall Government, and yet finde private and ſeparate Congregations daily erected in divers parts of the City, and elſewhere, and commonly frequented, (and Anabaptiſme, Browniſme, and almoſt all manner of Hereſies, Schiſmes, and Blaſphemies, boldly vented and maintained, by ſuch as, to the point of Church-Government, profeſſe themſelves Independent) we cannot but be aſtoniſhed at the ſwarmes of Sectaries, which diſcover themſelves every where, who, if by their indeavours, they ſhould get into places of profit and truſt, in Martiall and Civill affaires, it may tend much to the diſturbance of the Publike Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth.
We alſo cannot but call to minde what Vowes we have made to God in the ſame Covenant, as well as our former Proteſtations, to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdomes, and to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſties perſon and Authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdomes, that the world may beare witneſſe with our Conſciences, of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh his Majeſties juſt Power and Greatneſſe, and do humbly reſt in the aſſurance we have received in the many former Declarations of both Houſes, concerning their intentions towards his Majeſty, his Royall Poſterity, and the Peace of this Kingdome, which we doubt not but your Lordſhips will purſue with all ſpeedy diſpatch of Propoſitions to his Majeſty, now whilſt God doth ſo mercifully and miracuouſly go along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome.
We may not in the next place forget our Brethren of Scotland, how firſt they were invited to engage with this Kingdome in Gods Cauſe, when yet they were at peace at home, in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them, at what time, in relation both to the weak condition of our Forces then, and the ſeaſon of the yeare, they adventured upon an Enemy warmly lodged and well armed and prepared; what they have ſince ſuffered for this Cauſe in their own Kingdome, how ſucceſſefull ever ſince God hath made our Forces in ſuppreſſing the Common Enemies of both Nations, and what preſent hopes we have of a well-ſetled Peace, while we continue in this mutuall amity; And then cannot but lament the many jealouſies which the Enemies of our Peace, Union, and good Government, do now ſtrive to beget between both Nations, and tremble at the ſad effects thereof, if not timely prevented by the wiſdome of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes.
We cannot alſo omit humbly to repreſent unto your Lordſhips conſideration, how many Citizens have already ſuffered, and how many more will be undone, if your Lordſhips ſhall ſtill make uſe of that ancient Priviledge, to protect your ſelves, the Aſſiſtants of this Honourable Houſe, and the Servants of both, and others, from being proceeded againſt in any courſe of Law for Debt, which now, becauſe this Parliament hath already ſate ſo long, and is likely, by reaſon of the unſettledneſſe of affaires to ſit much longer, would eſpecially require ſome expedient for relief of ſo many as otherwiſe muſt daily ſuffer under this Priviledge.
And now that the Kingdom is almoſt reduced, by which means the Revenues of the Kingdome will be unburthened, and the Cuſtomes and Exciſe increaſe, and the publike charge of the Kingdome decreaſe, now that Delinquents do daily come in and compound, and now that the Enemy hath but few Holds left, we hope that the great and extraordinary Taxes and burthens on this City and their Trade, ſhall be in the future abated; that the Debts owing to the City and Citizens of London, either by particular Aſſurances of the Parliament, or upon the Publike Faith of the Kingdome, be taken care for and diſcharged, as well as thoſe aſſigned upon the Exciſe, and may not be diverted from the uſes appointed by former Acts and Ordinances.
And we humbly crave have to preſent to the conſideration of this Honourable Houſe, the Committee of Haberdaſh…rs-hall, as being one of the greateſt grievances of this City, and which, ſo long as it is continued, doth hinder the concourſie of people thereunto, and tendeth much to the deſtruction of the Trade, and Inhabitants thereof.
And now alſo we doubt not but God will give the Parliament ſome better means and opportunity for the relief of our bleeding Brethren in Ireland, and the ſuppreſſing of thoſe horrid Rebels, and reducing of that Kingdome, wherein, beſides the publike and common intereſt, we are particularly concerned.
Laſtly, we ſhould have much to ſay for this City, if we could imagine that its fidelity and conſtant ſervices and devotions to the Parliament could either be queſtioned or forgotten, that little we ſhall expreſſe on the part of the City, is, not to repeat how zealous we have been in the Cauſe of God, and this Parliament, how we have ſpilt our blood, and ſpent and laid out our ſelves and our Eſtates in maintenance thereof; how many publike acknowledgements we have by us of the favourable acceptance of them, and promiſes to leave Teſtimonies thereof to all future ages; but only to beſeech your Lordſhips to conſider how much our hearts may juſtly be dejected, now that God hath followed your endeavours, and our prayers, with ſo many ſucceſſes, and brought the Warre to a probable period, as to the ſenſe of man: That the Enemies of our Peace ſhould ſtrive now to ſow jealouſies between the Parliament and this City, as hath been too evident of late, and particularly ſhould ſo far prevaile, as to be able to render the chiefe Magiſtrate of this City, the Lord Mayor, ſuſpected, unto whom we cannot but give this iuſt Teſtimony, That he in his place hath faithfully behaved himſelf, and carefully diſchaged his Office.
We could adde much more of the daily invectives againſt us from the Pulpit, and other places where the Boutefew's of theſe Sectaries are admitted, the ſcurrilous and ſeditious Pamphlets daily broached in, and againſt the City: And the great contempt of, and diſcouragement unto the Miniſters of the Goſpel, who adhere to the Presbyteriall Government: But we ſhall conclude with this briefe and humble repreſentation of our Petition and deſires to your Lordſhips in the name of the whole City.
I. That ſome ſtrict and ſpeedy courſe may be taken for the ſuppreſſing of all private and ſeparate Congregations.
II. That all Anabaptiſts, Browniſts, Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Blaſphemers, and all ſuch Sectaries as conforme not to the publike Diſcipline eſtabliſhed, or to be eſtabliſhed by Parliament, may be fully declared againſt, and ſome effectuall courſe ſetled for proceeding againſt ſuch perſons.
III. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdome, ſo all may be equally required to yeeld obedience unto the Government ſet forth, or to be ſet forth by the Parliament.
IV. That no*This deſire of the City of London is no more, nor other in effect than the Houſe of Commons in Parliament it ſelf voted (as moſt juſtly) at the taking of the Proteſtation, May 5. 1641. perſon diſaffected to the Presbyteriall Government ſet forth, or to be ſet forth by the Parliament, may be employed in any place of publike Truſt.
V. That your Lordſhips will pleaſe to haſten Propoſitions to His Majeſty, for ſetling of a ſafe and well grounded Peace amongſt us, after ſo long and unnaturall a warre.
VI. That your Lordſhips, according to the Covenant and Treaties, will pleaſe to ſtudy all means to preſerve the Union between the two Nations of England and Scotland, and to remove all jealouſies which may endanger our mutuall agreement.
VII. That your Lordſhips will pleaſe to conſider of ſome meanes whereby the priviledge which the Members of this Honourable Houſe, and their Aſſiſtants, and the Servants of both, and others enjoy, by being protected and exempted from being proceeded againſt for their debts, may be ſo qualified, as that the Subject may be able to recover his own in ſome due time.
VIII. That all publike Revenues and Receipts may be employed to publike uſes, that ſo the Taxes of the City may be abated.
IX. That the Eſtates and Compoſitions of Delinquents may, according to the engagements by Ordinances of Parliament, be applyed to diſcharge the great ſummes owing to this City and Citizens.
X. That the Plymouth Duty may be taken off the Trade, eſpecially now that the Weſt is reduced.
XI. That the Committee at Haberdaſhers-Hall may be preſently diſſolved, or at leaſt ſo limited and regulated, as that the City may have no cauſe of complaint.
XII. That the reducing of the Kingdome of Ireland may be taken into conſideration, before the good party there be too farre waſted and diſcouraged.
XIII. That the Lord Mayor of this City may be fully vindicated.
XIV. And laſtly, and above all, That your Lordſhips will pleaſe not to looke upon any expreſſions of this our Remonſtrance and Petition, as charging any thing upon your Lordſhips, or as intended to intrench upon any priviledges of this Honourable Houſe, but favourably to accept thereof, and ſo to interpret the ſame, as from a ſingle and humble heart it is ſincerely, and without any by-ends, or to comply with any party whatſoever, intended and breathed forth from the ſad heart of the Petitioners, who are overwhelmed with many feares on all ſides. And who call God, the Searcher of all hearts, to witneſſe, that according to their Covenant and duty, their zeale, devotion and obedience, is as ſervant and proſtrate as ever to ſerve the Parliament with their Lives and Eſtates, againſt all the Enemies of our Peace, and to conjoyn the City more and more to the Parliament, and to maintain the Union of both Nations againſt all Oppoſers whatſoever.
All which we humbly ſubmit unto the wiſdome of this Honourable Houſe.
26. Maii. 1646. The Anſwer of the Lords in Parliament to the Remonſtrance and Petition of the City of London.
THe Lords are very ſenſible of the great fidelity and conſtant ſervices of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Councell of the City of London, to this preſent Parliament, which they ſhall never forget; They acknowledge their zeale, expreſſed upon all occaſions in the Cauſe of God and this Parliament, and how readily they have ſpilt their blood, and ſpent and laid out themſelves and their Eſtates in the maintenance thereof.
They are well ſatisfied with your Expreſſions and Care to ſettle the true Reformed Proteſtant Religion, according to the Covenant, and with your deſires to have all Hereſies, Schiſmes, and Blaſphemies ſuppreſſed, as alſo with your reſpect to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, the Liberties of the Kingdomes, and to preſerve and defend his Majeſties Perſon and Authority, in the preſervation of the true Religion, and the Liberties of the Kingdomes, his Royall Poſterity, and the Peace of the Kingdomes: As alſo with your deſires for the continuance of that union between us and our Brethren of Scotland; Of whoſe ſervices and ſufferings we ſhall not only hold a gratefull memory, but upon all occaſions give a Retaliation. Ʋnto all which we hold our ſelves equally with you obliged, by our Solemne League and Covenant.
As to the perſon of the Lord Mayor, the Lords hold a high eſteem of him, according to his Merit, and have commanded me to let you know, that nothing hath paſſed this Houſe at any time in prejudice of him; And when the particulars wherein he findes himſelf agrieved ſhall be made knowne unto them, they ſhall be ready in a Parliamentary way to do him right.
The Lords will take the other particulars of … Petition into ſerious and ſpeedy conſideration; And have commanded me to give you hearty thanks for the Reall Teſtimonies of duty and good affections, which not onelyonly by your words, but by your Actions, you have conſtantly manifeſted unto them.
Jo. Browne Cleric. Parliamentorum.
And the very ſame day and time the ſaid noble Citizens exhibited the like Remonſtrance and Petition to the honourable Houſe of Commons, of which I ſay no more, but leave it to the Lords moſt gracious and righteous wiſdome and mercy, for a happy returne in his own due time.
But that which is yet farther very memorable and remarkable in this buſineſſe (which I only toucht before, and as you ſaw it moſt evidently true before) was, That the very day before the Remonſtrance was exhibited in Parliament, the Kings Majeſtie himſelfe (as it were to honour and encourage them in that their famous and faithfull reſolution) ſent a particular Letter to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Councell … which, they being all at that time aſſembled in their Guild-Hall, was publikely read in the audience of them all; And, which is yet more memorably remarkable, and worthy ſerious and ſacred obſervation, That a day or two at the fartheſt after they had exhibited their Remonſtrance, as aforeſaid, the truly religious, and ſincerely affected Miniſters of two Counties, Suffolk and Eſſex, (as it were to back the Cities brave Remonſtrance) exhibited a moſt excellent Petition to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, atteſted by at leaſt 300 Miniſters hands, ſubſcribed to it, which alſo for the piety and excellency of it, I have thought fit, for the Readers better delight and ſatisfaction here to inſert, which was as followeth: