Petition of divers eminent citizens of London, presented to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen the 28th of April, 1681

(next to the Advice of his great Couhcillin 'Parliament, which he would very
oiicii copfulr wiib) to be advifed by that Privy Council; but that!Parliamenn
was prorogued the 17. Miy 1679. and afterwards many of that ^Privy Coun¬
cil Were changed, and thenfollowed a DifTojution of the ^Parliament. A new
^Pa>haimnt was called to meet m OElober 1679. ^ut ^ePt 0^t>y niany ^Pro-
rc ga 10ns till Offcber 1680.
And before any thing could be perfected for the fecurity of Religion, the
fame was dillblved,and another fummoned to meet at Oat/o^,which wasalfo
diflblved, and nothing done ; thereby the Proteflant Religion^and the Lives
and Liberties of HisMajefties Proteftant Subje&s expofed to the uttermofl ha¬
zard, in cafe His Majefly, w^hom'God long preferve,lhould depart this Life be¬
fore a due provifion by Law could be made.
And Your Petitioners having heard that fome perfons of this City as well
in the Karnes of many ether Citizens and Inhabitants of this City,as in their
own Names, have gone about to procure hands to a Petition to Your Lord-
flup, and this Honourable Court, infinuatingfas Your Petioners are informed)
That His Mujohes exprefiion in His Late Declaration touching the two Laft
Parliamcntsof Hts Refolution to have frequent Parliaments,^, was a full
S- curity againlt all the fears of Popery, and theDefigns and Confpiracies of
Papiils (which there is caufeto believe} are yet carrying on as much as ever
a^ainft His Majellies Royal Perfon, the ProrcOant Religion, and the Govern¬
ment of this Kingdom.
Your Petitioners, though they hope their fellow Citizens who have figned
the hid Petition, may be good Proteftant?, and mean well to their Religion
and City, yet knowing how cunning and fubtle the Papifts and Jefuitical
Part) are by falfe Afperfions and Suggeftions, and Secret Inftnuations, to raife
and foment Divifions amongft Proteltants, to fet them one againft another,
and make them Inftruments of their own Ruineand fearing left: fomethingof
this kind may have given Rife to the faid Petition, They have thought them-
fei ves bound by their Allegiance to His Majefty,and the Duty that lies upon
them in reference to the Religion they profefs, which they defire may be
tranfmirred to their Poftcrity, To make this Addrefs to Your Lordfhip and
this Honourable Court, and humbly to declare,
That as matters ftand at prefent, confidering the Bloody and WickedDe-
fignsof Papifts, their indefatigable and unwearied Endeavours animated (as
is humbly conceived) by their hopes that the Succeflbr to the Crown will
be of their Religion, and juftifie whatever they fliall do to introduce it; They
humbly conceive that it is not a Declaration to have frequent Parliaments,
that can contribute any thing to the Safety and Prefervation of His Majefties
Royal Perfon (whom God long preferve) the Security of the Proteftant Reli¬
gion, and the I ives and Liberties, and compofing the minds of thofe that
profefs it; But it muft be the Sitting of a Parliament, fo as fully To examine
the Plot, to prosecute the Confpirators, and to provide fuitable Laws
againft the feared Evils; And without which nothing can be efFe<ftual; His
Majefty in Parliament giving Life to, thofe Laws by His Royal Aflent; And
therefore
Tour Tetitioners humbly fray, That a Common Council may he calledy
and that ufon Confideration of tlx whole mattery\uch humble Addrefs
may be m ide to Hts moft Gracious Majefty, as the necejjity of the Cafe
Jhall be found to require,
Prefenred T1mr{day And Your Petitioners as in duty bound
Afrtl 18. 1681. dial I ever pray,
London, Printed for B. A, And Publifhed by Richard Janaway f\n Queens-
Head Alley in Pater-Nofter-Row. 1681.