WHereas, O King, there-have of late years happened in this Nation, many ſtrange Changes and Revolutions, to the great Amazement of the Sons of Men, by which moſt men of all Ranks and Qualities have been ſubject to Err; from which we cannot altogether Acquit our Selves; yet this we can boldly ſay, That although ſome of us were in Arms under the former Powers, our End was not the Deſtruction of mens lives, but rarher their Preſervation, and to prevent the rude Multitude of their Deſignes, which were no other then Ruine and Deſolation where they did prevail: This we ſay was our End, whatſoever our Adverſaries do ſay to our Reproach.

And whereas, O King, there have (within theſe few Dayes) been in the City of London, very ſtrange and unheard of Actions, to the wounding of our Souls, we have been ſo far from Deſigning or Acting therein; that Envie it ſelf cannot juſtly Chargeus; Nevertheleſs ſuch is the Portion of many of us, to be taken out of our Houſes, and from our Employments, beaten and abuſed in the Streets by the rude Multitude, haled before the Juſtices & other Officers, and then having nothing to Charge us with, they put to us the Oath, or Oaths, and upon Refuſal (though Chriſt hath Prohibited Swearing at all, eſpecially any Promiſary Oath) are we ſent to Priſon to the impoveriſhing and ruine of us, our Wives and Children; which Oppoſition againſt Swearing now in us, is no more then what the greateſt Part of us were againſt under the former Powers.

But that which wounds us moſt, O King, is the late Proclamation, wherein there is no Difference made, but as though all were alike in the Tranſgreſſion, and had all made an ill uſe of thine Indulgence, and forfeited our Liberty, which doth ſtrengthen the rude Multitude in their Confidence, That we are Guilty of ſome Pernicious Deſign againſt Thee, O King, and the Nation; which falſe Report greatly obſtruct our Liberties to Meet together to Pray and Edifie one another; as alſo to Meet in our own Houſes to Pray one with another, which we humbly conceive is our Right as Men and Chriſtians; which if we do, we are lyable to be deſtroyed by the rude Multitude, though we cannot be Charged with any Fact: Thus the Guiltleſs ſuffer with the Guilty, which is averſe to the Mind of the Holy and Juſt God.

And although our Conſciences do bear us witneſs, that we have not abuſed our Liberty by any ill uſe that we have made of Thine Indulgence, and that Thy Proclamation (Prohibiting our Aſſembling together after our uſual manner) do not properly reach us, but that we ought to have had the benefit of Thy former Declaration aſcertaining our Chriſtian Freedom; Yet for as much as the late Diſturbance might miniſter Cauſe of Jealouſie, being done by ſome that pretended Separation, but not of our Faith or Practice, ſuch of us as have not been Impriſoned, have ſince Thy Proclamation was extant, forborn to Meet, leſt it ſhould be judg'd Contempt of Authority: So willing we are to prevent all Grounds of Fear: And we do Challenge the World, to come forth and ſhew wherein we have offended Thee that we are thus dealt with; for we can truly ſay with the Servant-of God of old, That Innocency is found in us, and againſt Thee, O King, have we done no harm.

Wherefore, O King, our humble Deſire is, That Thou wouldeſt ſeriouſly weigh our Innocency and Sufferings with our humble deſires, as alſo our forbearance to Aſſemble (leaſt it ſhould be deemed Contempt) until we had Cleared our Innocency unto Thee, which here (in the Fear of the All-ſeeing God) we have done: And if notwithſtanding our juſt Complaint, Thine Ears be ſhut againſt our Cry, and will not Releaſe the Innocent out of Priſon, nor Reſtore our Chriſtian Liberty, which of late we have been deprived of without juſt Cauſe; but upon miſ-information, and ſhall ſtill be lyable to be Deſtroyed by the rude Multitude, that then we ſhall caſt all our Care upon our God, and Aſſemble together to Pray, and build up one another in the things of our Holy God, as he hath commanded us, leaving Thee, O King, and all the World to judge, Whether we ought not to obey God rather then Man: And if for ſerving our God Thou ſuffereſt us to be Deſtroyed, we ſhall commit our Righteous Cauſe to him that Judgeth righteouſly, and hath ſaid, Vengeance is mine and I will repay it, Rom. 12. 19. In the mean time we ſhall patiently wait, and mightily Cry unto the Lord, until he Redeem us from the hands of our Oppreſſours: For the Lord hath ſaid, He will Encamp about his Houſe, and no Oppreſſours ſhall paſs through them any more; for now have I ſeen with mine eyes, ſaith the Lord, Zach. 9. 8. All which, O King, we ſhall commit to Thy Conſideration, and ſhall be ſubject to Thee in Civil things for Conſcience ſake; and Subſcribe our Names for our Selves, and the Congregation to which we do belong.