YOur Majesties most humble and faith­full subjects the Commoners in this present Parliament assembled, doe with much thankfulnesse and joy, ac­knowledge the great mercy and fa­vour of God, in giving your Majesty a safe and peaceable returne out of Scotland into your Kingdome of Eng­land, where the pressing dangers and distempers of the State, have caused us with much earnestnesse to desire the comfort of your gracious Presence, and likewise the U­nitie and Justice of your Royall authority to give more life and power to the dutifull and loyall Counsels, and endevours of your Parliament, for the prevention of that eminent ruine and destruction wherein your Kingdomes of England and Scotland are threatned. The duty which we owe to your Majesty and our Countrey, cannot but make us very sensible and apprehensive, that the multiplicity, sharpenesse, and malignity of those evils under which we have now many yeares suffered, are fomented and che­rished by a corrupt and ill affected party, who amongst other their mischievous devices for the alteration of Religion and government, have sought by many [Page 2] false scandals and imputations cunningly insinuated, and dispersed amongst the people, to blemish and disgrace our proceedings in this Parliament, and to get themselves a party and faction amongst your Subjects, for the better strengthening of themselves in their wicked courses, and hindering those provisions, and remedies which might by the wisdome of your Majesty, and Counsell of your Parliament be opposed against them.

For preventing whereof, and the better information of your Majesty, your Peeres, and all other your loyall Subjects, we have beene necessitated to make a declarati­on of the state of the Kingdome, both before and since the assembly of this Parliament unto this time, which we doe humbly present to your Majesty without the least intention to lay any blemish upon your Royall Person, but only to represent how your Royall Authority and trust have beene abused, to the great prejudice and dan­ger of your Majesty, and of all your good Subjects.

And because wee have reason to beleeve that those malignant partyes whose proceedings evidently appeare to be, mainly for the advantage and encrease of Popery, is composed, set up, and acted by the subtile practise of the Jesuits, and other Engineers and Factors for Rome, and to the great danger of this Kingdome, and most grievous affliction of your loyall Subjects, have so farre prevailed, as to corrupt divers of your Bishops, and others in prime places of the Church, and also to bring divers of these Instruments to bee of your Privy Counsell▪, and other employments of trust and neerenesse about your Maje­stie, the Prince, and the rest of your Royall Children.

And by this meanes hath had such an operation in your Counsell, and the most important affaires and pro­ceedings [Page 3] of your government, that a most dangerous divi­sion, and chargeable preparation for warre betwixt your Kingdomes of England and Scotland, the increase of jea­lousies betwixt your Majesty, and your most obedient Sub­jects, the violent distraction and interruption of this Par­liament, the insurrection of the Papists in your Kingdome of Ireland, and bloudy massacre of your people have beene not only endevoured and attempted, but in a great measure compassed and effected.

For preventing the finall accomplishment whereof your poore Subjects are enforced to engage their persons and estates to the mayntaining of a very expencefull and dange­rous Warre, notwithstanding they have already since the beginning of this Parliament undergone the charge of 150000. pounds sterling or thereabouts, For the necessary support and supply of your Majesty in these present and pe­rillous Designes. And because all our most faithfull ende­vours, and engagements will be ineffectuall for the peace, safety, and preservation of your Maiesty and your people, if some present, reall and effectuall course be not taken for suppressing this wicked and malignant party,

We your most humble and obedient Subjects doe with all faithfulnesse and humility beseech your Majesty,

1 That you will be gratiously pleased to concurre with the hum­ble desires of your people in a parliamentary way, for the preser­ving the peace and safetie of the Kingdome from the malicious designes of the Popish party.

For depriving the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament, and abridging their immoderate power usurped over the Clergy, and other your good Subjects which they have most pernitiously abused to [Page 4] the hazard of Religion, and great prejudice and oppression of the Laws of the Kingdome, and just liberty of your people.

For the taking away such oppressions in Religion, Church-government, and Discipline, as have been brought in and fomen­ted by them.

For uniting all such your loyall Subjects together, as joyne in the same fundamentall truths against the Papists, by removing some oppressions and unnecessary Ceremonies, by which divers weak Consciences have been scrupled, and seeme to be divided from the rest, for the due execution of those good Laws which have been made for securing the liberty of your Subjects.

2 That your Majesty will likewise be pleased to remove from your Counsell all such as persist to favour, and promote any of those pressures and corruptions wherewith your people have beene grieved, and that for the future your Majesty will vouchsafe to employ such persons in your great and publike affaires, and to take such to be neer you in places of trust, as your parliament may have cause to confide in, that in your Princely goodnesse to your people, you will reject and refuse all mediation and sollicitation to the contrary, how powerfull and neere soever.

3 That you will be pleased to forbeare to alienate any of the forfeited and escheated Lands in Ireland, which shall accrue to your Crowne, by reason of this Rebellion, that out of them the Crowne may be the better supported, and some satisfaction made to your Subjects of this Kingdome, for the great expences they are like to undergoe in this warre.

Which humble desires of ours being graciously ful­filled [Page 5] by your Majesty, we will by the blessing and fa­vour of God most cheerfully undergoe the hazard and expences of this warre, and apply our selves to such other courses and counsels as may support your Royall estate with honour and plenty at home, with power and repu­tation abroad, and by our loyall affections, obedience, and service, lay a sure and lasting foundation of the great­nesse and prosperity of your Majesty, and your Royall posteritie in future times.