TO this Honorable and High Court that there hath been severall Peti­tions formerly delivered to the Lords of the Councel in this Kingdome; wherein our grievances and oppressions have bin at large ser forth, our great de­sire expressed by the same for the Relief of our sufferings, and our humble demands for tolleration in our Religion and Li­berty in the exercise thereof, and the con­firmation of our ancient Lawes and Pri­viledges, by former Acts of Parliaments Enacted and granted to us, in the Reigns of former Kings and queens of England. [Page] But the same Petitions have bin rejected, and no favour shewed to us, but all secu­rity that possible could, in execution of the Lawes of latter times made against those of the Romane Catholique Religion; which enforced our taking up Armes for the defence of the same. There hath like­wise bin humble Remonstrances and Decla­rations, aswell presented to your Lord­ships, as published publiquely in this Kingdome; but the same hath bin also disregarded, and rejected, not so much as obtainiug any answer therto▪ as may any way give us hopes of the future injoy­ment of our Religion, Laws, and Liber­ties; by which, being brought to despair of any relief of our Grievances, and many Oppressions wherwith we have hitherto bin overburthened; Yet notwithstanding our Requests could not be harkned unto, but in both Kingdoms, and by both Coun­sels repulsed: that we might cleer our selves of obstinate refusall, to use and lay all lawfull and dutifull means, that may be to the King and His Parliaments, for the obtaining our just desires. Even to the [Page] uttermost, we are agai [...] [...]ced in the behalf of our selues, and [...] of the Roman Catholique Religion, to present this humble Declaration, and Petition, to your Lord­ships, and the House of Commons: In which we declare.

1. That whereas they have since the time of their taking up Arms, bin by di­vers false Papers and Pamphlets, declared to have used inhumane and savage Cru­elties, and most bloudy Massacres, against the persons of such whom they have o­vercome in skirmishes, that have oppo­sed and indeavoured to destroy not only our religion, but lives and fortunes, which by the Laws of God, of Reason, and Na­ture, we are bound to maintain and up­hold, by which we have bin make infa­mous to all men, even in forreign nations, for which we are much grieved? Wee therfore to clear our selves of this scan­dall and defamation, say, and protest, that since our taking up arms, we have not u­sed any cruelty to the adverse Party; o­therwise then hath hapned to fall by the sword in the Battell, of which we have [Page] tasted, or if we have taken prisoners, we have preserved and kept them with re­spect, as in war used; till we have seen the usage of our men taken by the other Party, and even as they have bin dealt withall, so have we; which we conceive to be but just and congruent to the Law of Arms: but for dismembring, disjoyn­ting, ripping up women with child, and slaying of Infants, we are innocent, con­cerning the same as to our selves, and if any of the ruder sort of souldiers have bin guilty of the same, when we were ac­quainted therwith, we severely punished them; as for example; one Drahone for ravishing a woman with child, and after ripping her up, was contented to be hanged in chains for his vile fact; which was accordingly performed, and others have bin punished in the like kind.

2. That by Order from the Parliament all Declarations, Papers, Writings, or Pam­phlets, wherby we are called Rebels, and Traitors to our King and Country, may be restrained, and called in; and wherby we are scandalized and disgraced, and ma­litiously and falsly abused.

[Page]3. That our desires are not to with­draw our selves from the subjection of our lawfull King, or to any Lawes by his Majesty and Parliament, made for good Government, that destroyes not our Re­ligion, Lawes, and Liberties, for the ex­ercising of the same, according to the Ordi­nances of the Roman Catholique Church, but only to vindicate the same, to the losse of our lives and fortunes.

4. That we are ready and willing to submit our selves to His Majesty, upon a­ny lawfull, honourable, and reasonable conditions. But no conditions being pro­pounded by his Parliament, that may bee any wayes safe for us to yeeld unto, Aud perceiving the distractions and divisions between the King and His Parliament; wherby they co [...] together not so well as is desired, we are unresolved what to do in any way of submission, till there be a Concurrence and Agreement between King and People in the mean time, we must be enforced to do what we can to preserve our selves and Estates▪

5. And lastly, that the Parliament would [Page] be pleased to admit and appoint a mee­ting between the Lords and Nobility of our Army, and the Lords Commanders on the English Army; wherat Conditions of Truce, and Cessation of Arms between both may be offered and concluded for a certain time, which shall be thought con­venient to setle the present and particu­lar div [...]sions between the King and His Parliament: and in the mean time, to consider of Articles and Propositions wherby a finall and perpetuall pacifica­tion may be made and confirmed by the States of both Kingdomes.

These our desires, and humble Re­quests, we pray may be taken into the consideration of the High Court of Parliament with all expedition, and our answer of the same returned, by which we may know what to trust to,