THat the manifold pressures, under which we have groaned these many yeares, have beene by you endeavou­red to be reformed, and amended by your unwearied labors, and uncessant consultations. Yet notwithstanding your sedulous vigilances hath wrastled with those extreme disturbances, and distempers in the King­dome: We still finde out many inconveniences ari­sing afresh, to the great am [...]zement and discourage­ment of his Majesties loyall Subjects. Wherefore our humble motion is, that your Honours would se­riously [Page 2]revolve the still growing miseries, under which we have beene, and are now subjected: that you would be graciously pleased to adde a period to the calamities which are pressed upon us. The dif­fusive current of these grievances distill from one originall spring, and that we conceive to be a ma­lignant party, and faction, who build obstructions against your deliberate and judicious determinati­ons; who cast scandalous aspersions upon what hath beene by you enacted; and labour to nullifie, or at least to extenuate in a repugnant opposition, what you are in agitation to institute. The boldnesse of these malevolent adversaries hath too audaciously outdared the very fundamentall lawes, and hath trea­cherously studied to subvert the foundation, upon which the Justice and Religion of this Nation is firmely built and establisht. We earnestly there­fore entreat your Honours maturely to consider their malicious intents, and daily practises against the State; which if they be not seasonably castigated in time, before their infant conspiracies grow to the prime height of their ripe perfection, they will then become incorrigible. Yet withall wee impartially acknowledge your sedulity in correcting and seque­string them, but your endeavours have still beene frustrate and retarded, by reason of their abounding malignitie. And whereas divers high taxations have beene oftentimes imposed on us, wee did alwayes upon the consideration of the same, expect a refor­mation; but as yet wee have found little or no re­dresse: the cause of which we neither conceive, or [Page 3]suspect to be produced by you, but principally by the calumnious suggestions of that factious party; which we desire may be excluded and expelled the House of Peeres: Thus the liberty of the Subject is trampled downe, the Trades decay in the whole Kingdom, and for our parts, our Estates are so mi­serably wasted by heavy impositions, that without your propitious relief we shall perish with our Wives and Families; and Cattell which is the chiefest mine of our Countrey, have been bought, and driven from us by whole flockes and heards at once, some transported into Ireland, and others into most parts of England, so that unlesse some suddain redresse be speedily occasioned by you, we shall be impoverished: our serious motion is therefore, that your Honours would be pleased to vindicate the abu­sive wrongs done unto our Countrey, and that you would speedily ease us of this burden of misery, which we are no longer able to support. And whereas we especially have alwayes shewn our loyalty to his Majesty, our awfull obedience unto you, obsequi­ously subscribing to what you have been pleased to impose upon us; yet notwithstanding we are disre­spected, and shamefully derided with ludibrious contempt more than any other Countrey what so­ever; wherefore we beseech you that the authours; ur­gers, or suggesters of the same may be found out, and known, yea and suffer exemplary and condigne pu­nishment for their reproaching us, according to their just demerits; for otherwise we can conceive this Epidemicall derision of us to be nothing else, but a [Page 4]scorning detestation to our known fidelity (which as we have hitherto kept, so shall still continue invio­lable) this grievance especially, unlesse it be amend­ed, will become a great discouragement to all our Countreymen.

We desire likewise that Learning be not too much discountenanced and contemned, but rather that it may be advanced to its former dignity: for it is a most ignominious, shamefull, blasphemous, and unknowne thing; yea, most incongruous both to the Word of God, and common reason too, that Cob­lers, and Doctors of Divinity should be equall com­petitors. Thus if Scholarship be defaced, England (the glory of all Nations lately) is suddenly like to degenerate, and decline from its former splendor, and so consequently become barbarous. Yet we speak not this in behalfe of any, for we call God to witnesse, and our own actions can testifie as much, that whom­soever your Honours shall finde culpable, and delin­quent, we desire may be prosecuted according to the due processe of Law, and (if the atrocity of the crime require it) be fully executed according to the justice of the Realme. But amidst all our own cala­ties especially, we cannot omit that of Ireland, to hear of the condoleable misery of the Protestant party, and the inhumane tyranny of those hellish Rebels: they have been in wofull distresse a long time, and yet almost destitute of relief, till of late your Honours have been moved to commiserate their distressed estates; and as you have begun, so we be­seech you proceed, and continue in the same progres­sion [Page 5]of mercy and charity; that the first beginning of Resormation do not initiate in cruell opposition, and that the foundation whereon that Reformation should be establisht, be not written with the chara­cters, and inscription of blood. For our parts, we will to the uttermost of our powers labour to repell, and divert the furious rage of those tyrants, and wil to the end of our lives stand in the defence, and mainte­nance of Protestant Religion. What we now crave more, is your mutuall concordance with his Maje­sty, that you may both concurre in a co-unite cor­respondency of opinions, that the weighty affaires of the Kingdom may be deliberated with more facili­ty, and that whatsoever you consult of, may tend to the honour of God, the peace, safety, and tranquil­lity of the Land: that the malignant insolency of the Recusant party may be more easily curbed; that delinquents may be called to their trials, be pu­nished, and suffer just execution: according as they have promerited, with expedition, least they should break out, and hatch new conspiracies, and so con­taminate the more sincere body: that the manifold abuses to our Countrey be respectively vindicated; that the confusions, divisions, distractions, and di­sturbances may be allayed in a peacefull mitigation; that the Divine Worship of God be no longer pro­phaned, but that it may rather be setled speedily in a purer way; that a clearer way may be opened for Trading and Merchandise; that especially this be­ing duly considered, that we may be better fortified, and provided with Ammunition of Armes, and [Page 6]other military Hostility, that so we may be more able to encounter with any forraigne Enemy, that shall presume to oppose, or invade the British Na­tion; That thus being armed against any oppositi­on, we may more freely enjoy the peace and liberty of our Consciences, and estates; to the great com­fort of his Majesty, the immortall fame of your Honour, with the safety and prosperity of the whole Kingdom.

Thus your Petitioners shall be bound to pray for the happy successe of your con­sultations, that the Divine Providence of Almighty God may direct and prosper all your deliberations, &c.