WE, Your Majesties most Loy­al and Obedient Subjects, considering; That it hath pleased Almighty God by a wonderful Providence to bring to light the Devi­lish Attempts and Plots of our Adver­saries, the Papists, against Your Majesties Sacred Person, Your Government, the True Protestant Religion, the Lives, Liberties, and Properties of Your Pro­testant Subjects; And, That by the Letters and Papers of the Conspirators themselves it doth appear, that one of the most effectual Means they proposed to accomplish their Designs, was by the procuring the frequent Adjourning, Proroguing, or Dissolving of Your Parli­aments; Were surprized with Astonish­ment at the untimely Dissolution of Your late Parliaments, before Your Ma­jesty and They could fully pursue the Discovery and Suppression of the said Designs and Conspiracies, or provide Remedies necessary for the Preservation of Your Sacred Person and Govern­ment, and the Protestant Religion at Home and Abroad. But we stand more amazed at the Unpresidented Boldness of some Private Persons, who (by Printed Papers, and otherwise) take upon them to Arraign and Condemn the Proceed­ings of Your Two last Parliaments, which (as Your Petitioners humbly con­ceive) plainly tends to bring that part of the Constitution into Contempt, and in the Consequence of it to Dissolve the Ancient Government and its Funda­mentals, the Preservation whereof is absolutely necessary for Your Majesties Honour, Power and Greatness. But We relying upon Your most Gracious Disposition, to receive the Dutiful Addresses of Your Loyal People, think Our selves obliged, by our Allegiance, to represent to Your Majesty, That by these Means, contrary to your Royal Intention, Occasion is taken by the Con­spirators, and their Complices, to ha­sten and accomplish that Ruine of Your Majesty, Your Kingdoms, and the whole Protestant Interest, which hath been so long Projected and Prosecuted by the Councels of Rome and its Adhe­rents.

In the pursuit of which They are chiefly animated by the continuing Hopes of a Popish Successor, and shar­pened by the Justice done upon the late Viscount Stafford, and other Con­spirators. And the continued and great Confidence of the Party, is daily visible in the open Numerous resorts of Papists about Your Royal Palace and this City.

Also we should be deficient in Our Duty, should we not Represent to Your Majesty the Necessity of maintaining Your Dominion and Sovereignty of the Seas, and the full Exercising Your Royal Naval Power; the want whereof hath been the Occasion, that not only very many of Your Subjects Ships, and great Estates therein, have been taken, but also Multitudes of Your good Subjects and Able Sea-men, have of late been carried into and held in Miserable Sla­very by the Algerines; which will in time (if not redressed) not only be an Encouragement to Others to commit further Outrages and Depredations up­on Your Subjects and their Ships, but will also inevitably be the Occasion of the decay of Trade, and of Impairing the Strength so Necessary for the De­fence of your Kingdoms.

And as our Duty, from the Apprehen­sions we have of the Imminent Dangers that Your Majesties Royal Person and Government, our Religion, and all that is near and dear unto Us lies Exposed to, obliges us humbly to offer the same to Your Princely Consideration; so we do with all Fidelity and Humility assure Your Majesty, That we are very far from being moved by any Common­wealth Principles, in Opposition to the English Monarchy, which we esteem the best of Governments; or by any Ambi­tious or Factious Designs; nor are we further concerned for our selves therein, than is natural for Men under Common Danger to look out for Common Safe­ty.

And seeing our Danger is so Apparent and Visible, we do in all Humility apply our selves to your Sacred Majesty, be­seeching Your Majesty to have regard to the Valuable, Industrious, and great Part of Your People, by whom Your Government, Your Revenue, and Your Kingdom is supported, and assure Your Majesty we will Expose our Selves, our Lives and Fortunes, and all things dear to Us, for the Preservation of Your Ma­jesties Royal Person, Your Government and the Protestant Religion.

And inasmuch as the same can be no way effectually secured but by the joynt Endeavours of Your Majesty and Your Great Councel the Parlia­ment, Your Petitioners confidently hoping that no Misinformations or Aspersions created or raised by ill Men, for the Accomplishment of their wicked Designs, can have any such Impression on Your Royal Mind as to lessen Your due Esteem of Your great Councel the Parliament, Do most humbly pray, That Your Ma­jesty will cause a Parliament to As­semble and Sit, till they have so far proceeded, that due Provision may be made, and full Security had and obtained, for Your Majesties Royal Person and Your People in all the said Matters.

And Your Petitioners (as in Duty bound) shall ever Pray, &c.