AS we conceive it the Freedom of e­very Englishman, to petition the Supream Authority of the King­dom, for redress of grievances, nay for the re­moval of things established by Law; so we must acknowledg it to be our duty to rest sa­tisfied in the Judgment of Parliament, after the final determination thereof, till another Parliament can be called, which may be in a capacity to grant what by the present is de­nyed. The consideration hereof did en­duce us to make an essay, to obtain such things as in our present apprehensions did appear the most conducible to the Peace of the Kingdom; In order whereunto we de­sired in that our Petition, that the King might be restored, never entending in the ge­neral, that he should be brought in without [Page 4]satisfaction and security, first given to the Kingdom: For we know well, (although the stream of many of our Countrymens affections run strongly toward the bringing in of the King upon any terms, nay, without any conditions;) yet should it be so, the Kingdom must of necessity be miserably in­slaved; For the King must, by the ruin of his opposers, advance those that have sided with him, and have suffered by him; and what discontents and commotions that wil pro­duce, we that have faithfully served the Par. are not a little sensible off. We confess many of the Kings party joyned with us in our de­sires, and seemed to concur with us in our ends and intentions, but by their deport­ment then, and since in appears, they only made use of that pretence of petitioning, to discover their opposer [...], and to exasperate as many as they could, thereby to draw them to an engagement one against another, that by such a confusion they might the easilier accomplish their design of restoring the King to an unlimited power, and enslave all the well-affected party in the Kingdom.

We could not but take notice of the threat­ning words which they gave out against the Kingdoms best Friends, and what provoca­tions they put upon the Souldiery, on pur­pose to pick a quarrel with them; and at that time, though our hands were to the Petition, and we present, yet our souls abhorred such their deboist behaviour.

We cannot but testifie our dislike of their abusing the Souldiers, and endeavouring to force the Parliament: and also, that the Souldiers should in such a violent manner assault all men, and so barbarously kill, wound and plunder all men, whether Friends or Foes, without exception.

We cannot but declare unto all our Coun­trymen, who desire the Peace of the King­dom, that for the Future we shall not pre­sume to trouble the Parliament with any more Petitions, we being now convinced of this truth, (viz.) that it is much below the People of England to Petition their Tru­stees.

And therefore in pursuance of Future safe­ty, we shall desire our Countrymen to en­gage with us in these following particulars.

• [Page 6]1. That if it shall be adjudged ne­cessary to bring in the King, that suf­ficient satisfaction and security be first given to the Kingdom, and that his power for the future be limited and de­clared.
• 2. That a period be set to this Par­liament.
• 3. That the charge of the Army be duly computed, and an equal tax layd upon all lands for the payment thereof, we being resolved not to suffer free-quarter any longer; and that so soon as the occasions of the Kingdom will per­mit, the Army be disbanded.
• 4. That no man be continued in power among us but such as shall have appeared faithful to the Kingdom in the late War.
• 5. That we may associate our selves together as one man to stand up for the [Page 7]defence of one another, till these our just desires be accomplished.

And we further declare that we shall not rest satisfied, or cease the prosecu­tion of these ends, neither shall we think our Trustees in Parliament have discharged their duties unless they ap­pear effectually in the prosecution ther­of, that we may be reduced to a certain­ty, either by a settlement of the King­dom with, or without the King, by an ease of our heavy pressures, by an in­crease of trade, and by the due execu­tion of Justice; in the performance whereof the Kingdom may expect a return of peace and plenty. And we further adde; That it is our sence, that those families which are destroyed by the late slaughter of their friends at Westminster ought to be taken care of, for without mercy there is no justice.

And lastly, we are resolved, That in pursuance of the forementioned ends to use our utmost endeavors, and in or­der thereunto shall put our selves into a posture of defence; So that as it is not in our thoughts to offer violence to any that shall continue peaceable, so it shall not be in the power either of the King, Parliament, or Army, to destroy us at pleasure; either by Committees, taxes, free quarter as formerly, neither shall we deny obedience to any just C̄omands of Parliament; only shall act as per­sons necessitated to seek security; the Parliament having declared unto us, that a Kingdom must not be left with­out a means to preserve it self.