Reasons humbly offered to the Parliament for the Abatement of the Proportion of the Assessment upon the City of London

This document is an appeal by the City of London to Parliament, requesting a reduction in the taxes it had to pay. A list of reasons is given, all of which relate to the Great Fire of London. Reasons include: the huge loss of goods, merchandise and houses; the amount of money required to rebuild; the number of people leaving the City to live elsewhere; and that many people had lost their source of income due to the fire but were still liable to pay the same amount of tax as before.

For many years the City's finances were in a precarious state, as were those of many Londoners. It was unable to pay the Royal Aid to the King for three years. Charles II proclaimed Londoners in the burnt area did not have to pay hearth tax. He restored the tax seven years after the fire and agreed to release the City from its Royal Aid debt.