OVr Reſpects to Peace, and Order, are too notorious to be queſtioned, ſince by the meer Impreſſions of Charity and Obedience, we have thus long ſuſpended the Juſtice we owe to our Selves, together with that Vengeance, which the Blood of our Murthered Companions requires at our hands. Nor hath the Power of theſe Principles of Publique tenderneſſe been leſſe Eminent, upon our Judgements, than upon our Paſſions; For, We have as well Believed, in Contradiction to Evidence of Experiment, as we have Suffered, in Oppoſition to the very Elements, and Dictates of Humanity. Witneſſe that Execrable Munday (ſacred to the Eternal Infamy of this City) even Then; When we had that Enemy at our Mercy, toward whom, by the Rights of Nature, and of Generoſity, we were not bound to exerciſe any; even then, I ſay, in the very Heat, and Courſe of an Honeſt, and Powerfull Indignation, we returned Quietly, to our Houſes, upon the firſt Notice, that the Authority of the City would have it ſo. But it is likewiſe true, that this Aſſurance, was added to the Meſſage, viz. That the Common Council, was Senſible of our Grievances, and would duly Conſider them. Since this, we find nothing done in Purſuance of that Promiſe; but on the Contrary, Iniuries are Multiplyed upon us; and thoſe of that Day, ſerve but as Arguments of Encouragement to Greater. Some of us Killed, Others Wounded, and lead in Triumph Naked through the Strets: Two or Three Hundred Thouſand Perſons Looking on, to Celebrate the Conqueſt, and the Shame. A Citizens Skull, is but a thing to try the Temper of a Souldiers Sword upon; Give us but every man a Red-Coat for a Caſh Keeper, and the work's done. They're come within a Trifle on't already; and all this while, an Order to be Quiet, is all our Patient Maſters would afford us. Give us an Order that may make us Safe (although we need not Ask, what we can give our ſelves) Perſwade theſe people to be Gone, or Bid us Drive them out; What Law made Pauls, and Greſham Colledge, Garriſons? If nothing elſe will do, wee'l do't our ſelves: We have Engaged, and Sworn the Vindication of the City, and nothing can Abſolve us from the Oath we have taken This muſt be done betimes too, 'twill come too late elſe, to prevent, either the Neceſſity of a Tumult, or the greater Miſchief, of a Supine, and Credulous ſecurity. A Parliament in January, will do us no more good, than a Cordial will do him that was Hanged laſt Seſſions. Our Senſe at Large, we delivered to the world, in a Paper, Entinuled, The Final Proteſt, and Senſe of the CITY: Which is Publique enough, notwithſtanding the great Deſign uſed to ſuppreſſe it, and the Inſolences of diverſe Perſons, diſaffected to the good of the City, toward thoſe that ſold them. To that we adhere, That Proteſt of Ours, produced Another from the Common Council, of the 20th. Current, to which ſomething ought to be ſaid, (by the way, let the Reader take Notice of an Error in the Printing, and, for—Not Soon Vote up the City, &e. Read, Soon Vote up, &c.—) The ſum of that Order is, but in effect, the Iuſtification of the Lord Mayor, in the matter of Prudence and Integrity: we do not Deny, but finding our ſelves abandoned to all ſorts of Outrages, by the Cold Proceedings of the Court, in our behalf, We were tranſported to ſome bitter Reflections: Involving the preſent Mayor, with his more Criminal Predeceſſor, Ireton, in the Imputation. We ſhall not more Gladly find it a Miſtake, than Readily Confeſs it one, when we reap the Effects of that Care for the Good of the City; but ſo long as we are tyed up from all Lawful Defence, and the Publique Enemy at liberty to Practiſe all Unlawful Violences upon us, We deſire to be Pardoned, if we ſuſpend in the Caſe. The Cloze indeed is very Noble, and worthy of the Court, where they Declare; For the Fundamental Lawes, and the Proteſtant Religion, &c.—and in fine, to endeavour the Convening of a Free Parliament, in order thereunto. But in Contradiction to this Reſolve, the Committee of Officers have yeſterday publiſhed a Paper, Entituled, The Agreement, &c.——fairly telling us, That we are to be Governed by People of their Chuſing, & by a Model of their framing, without any regard had to the Practice, and Reaſon of the Antient Laws, or to the Intereſt, and Liberty of every Freeborn Engliſhman. This Vſurpation is to be conſidered in its due Place; at preſent it concerns us, to hinder them from making the Slavery of the City, their firſt Step towards the Subjection of the Nation. The ſeaſonable Care of This, we do Humbly, and Earneſtly recommend to the Court of Common Council; Our Hopes are, that we are now fallen into Better hands, and if our Magiſtrates will but Command us, they have an Hundred Thouſand Lives in Readineſs to Engage for them. If wee ſhould be ſo unhappy, as to be ſtill delayed; wee doe however waſh our hands of the Conſequences: And ſo God Direct and Deliver Us.