A true copy of the Petition of the Lord Maior Aldermen, and the rest of the Common council of LONDON, presented to the Honourable House of peers in PARLIAMENT, March 18. 1641.  
To the Right Honourable, the LORDS, in the High Court of Parliament Assembled.  
The humble Petition of the Maior, Aldermen, and the rest of the common-council of the City of London.  
Showeth,  
THAT the Petitioners do much rejoice in the happy Concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, as in other things, so especially, in that most necessary Ordinance touching the Militia of this kingdom, and Dominion of Wales; whereunto the Petitioners do most humbly and cheerfully submit, for the safety of His Majesty, the Parliament and kingdom: For the ordering whereof many pressing Petitions from most parts of the kingdom have been exhibited, in this time of imminent Dangers, proceeding from the bloody counsels of Papists and others, ill affected to the honour, peace and prosperity of our most gracious King, and his kingdoms.  
And the Petitioners do likewise humbly return all possible thanks unto this Honourable House, for the great honour and high favour vouchsafed, in giving them leave to nominate the Persons to whom the Militia of this City should be committed; And for accepting and approving of the Nomination and return made to this Honourable House, by the Petitioners on that behalf.  
But this their joy is much distured and interrupted by an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition, entitled, The humle Petition of the Citizens of London, whose names are under written, directed and delivered in February last, To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; And since published in Print, with this Title, The humble Petition of the Citizens of London: Thereby to publish it through the kingdom, as the Petition of all the Citizens: Wherein is set forth (as appeareth by one of those Printed Copies annexed) that the ordering of the arms of London hath time out of mind, been annexed to the mayoralty of the said City; That the conferring thereof upon others would reflect upon the government and customs of this City, granted by the great Charter of England, and confirmed by divers Acts and Charters since that time; and which every Freeman of the said City is by the Oath of his freedom bound to maintain to the utmost of his power; And that such Alteration in the ancient Government might breed great d●stractions and inconveniencies: or to this effect.  
Nor this alone, but the Petitioners are yet more deeply wounded and grieved, by the presumptuous boldness of the Publishers of the said Petition in Print, by joining therewith His majesty's Answer and denial, entitled His majesty's Message to both Houses of Parliament, February 28 1641. Which Answer (as the Petitiones humbly conceive) was grounded upon the said Petition, and misinformation of some persons, ill affected to His Majesty and to the City, Who have thereby, and otherwise, often endeavoured to make divisions betwixt the King and the Parliament; betwixt the Parliament and the City; and betwixt the Citizens among themselves, to the intolerable abuse of his sacred Majesty, and of all his loyal Subjects.  
And they verily believe, that this bold publishing in Print, of the said Petition, and his majesty's Message (which shortly after followed the exhibiting of the said Petition) together in one printed paper, was purposely done, wickedly and seditiously, to make divisions as aforesaid, to beget an opinion throughout the kingdom, that the City of London doth not intend to conform unto, but complain of, and oppose the aforesaid Ordinance, and to make the said Petition a desperate precedent to the rest of the kingdom, to do the like; Thereby to hinder the cheerful, needful, lawful, and unanimous Concurrence of the kingdom, in yeedling due, full, and timely obedience to the said Ordinance.  
They do therefore humbly pray, That your Lordships will vouchsafe  
1. To believe, that neither this nor any other Petition of the like kind ever came from the Petitioners, nor was framed, contrived or approved of by them. And that they do wholly and with detestation disavow and disclaim the same as an untrue, unadvised, and dangerous Petition.  
2. To put a difference between the Authors, Contrivers, Promoters, Advisers, Publishers and Printers of it, and such, as it shall appear to this Honourable House, were by subtlety drawn in unawares to subscribe the same, without any malignant intention, and shall clearly and fully acknowledge their error, and rashness therein; And that this latter sort may have such lawful favour as may stand with the honour and justice of the high Court of Parliament.  
Lastly, they do humbly pray, that your Lordships will still increase their joy, by endeavouring to uphold & continue, by all good means that blessed concurrence of both Houses of Parliament, in all your great affairs, and effectually to proceed against all disturbers and undermyners thereof, and that shall endeavour to beget or cherish any misunderstanding, or to make division betwixt the King and Parliament, whom God and the laws of this Land have united in so near a Relation.  
And they shall ever be ready to assist and stand by your Lordships therein, with their Lives and Estates, to the utmost of their Power, according to their late Protestation.  
And shall incessantly pray, &c. ROE. Michael. Dep. Communis Conciliis Civit. London.   

Veneris 18. Martii. 1641.  
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament, that this Petition shall be forthwith Printed and published: And that the Scandalous Petition above mentioned, shall be burnt by the Common Hangman. Which was performed the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of March.  
London, Printed for Joseph Hunscott. 1641.