THat out of the grounded confidence wee have of the readinesse of this Honourable House, to hear and repaire the grievances of all those for whose well-fare you were chosen and betrusted to take care and provide; and being encouraged unto the same, by severall goodA Declarat. May 19. 1642. Remonst may 26. 1642. Ordinances and Declarations of your owne to that purpose.

Wee whose names are hereunto annexed, although the meanest members of this great Common-wealth; yet having by birth a right of subsistance, here conceive our selves (in our proportion) to have as reall an Interest in the Kindomes enjoy­ments, as those who in respect of place or other accidente are above us: As also many of us, having under the direction of your Honourable grave Counsell and Guidance, freely adven­tured our lives, for the preservation of our Native Rights, and [Page 4]the just Priviledges of our deare Country against the publique violaters of the same: upon these and other serious grounds, we are hold at this time to make our humble a [...]resses to this Honorable & supreme Court of Judicature, (the only refuge un­der God we have to fly to) [...]nd in the first place we cannot but with all thankfulnesse take notice of the unwea [...]ed paines toge­ther with many great and almost intolerable di [...]ficulties by you undergone, in the faithfull discharge of your trust, in b [...]nging about the establishment of a well grounded peace. The perfe­ction of which (in relation to the common enemy) seems now by the blessing of God to be brought neare to a wished peri­od: Yet the consummation of this worke being (as it were) the Crowne of all your labours, wee humbly conceive it may deservedly challenge from you a more then ordinary respect, which we doubt not but that your grave wisedomes are very sencible of: yet (noble Senators) let it seem no presumption, if we your poore Petitioners in all humility make knowne the grounds of some feares and jealousies to us apparent in this particular. And those are (amongst other great grievances) chiefly derived from the present sense we have of the too much prevalency of that party who have dealt in the late wars, de­clared themselves disaffected to the peace and well [...]re of the Kingdome; who now seem to be in hopes of obtaining that by policy, which they have not been able to doe by force. Cun­ningly contriving to aggravate and encrease differences be­ [...]ween the well-aff [...]cted party, and striving to bring an Odium upon all good men, under the distinction of severall tearms of obloquie and disgrace, by such subtle endeavours, labouring to avert the edge of Justice from themselves (who come de­servedly under the stroke of it, and to turne it upon those who are most Innocent. Strongly endeavouring (and have already affected it in part, to justle all honest faithfull, well affected men out of places of trust, office and unthority, and to put in New­ters, Ambodexters, or persons apparently disaffected: By all these meanes, together with the advantage of the Kingdomes present ansetlednesse) they seem to be in a more then probable expectation of getting the rein [...]s once more into their owne [Page 5]hands, to the evident endangering of the Common-wealths speedy ruine, and to the great griefe of your poore Petitioners, and all others who cordially desire the peace and safety of this destracted Kingdome. And further we are bold to make known (as more particularly relating to the condition of your Petiti­oners) That whereas, we at our being made free of the City are enjoyn'd by oath, to maintaine the Liberties and Priviledges of the same City; which notwithstanding we are in a great measure disabled to doe, by the intercession of divers illegall and undue Customes, andA clause of 11 of Hen. 6. Monopolies (partly about the ele­ction and removall of our Magistrates) crept into the diminu­tion of the ancient Liberties of this famous City, whose just immunities we are confident your Honours have beene and are very tender of.

Wherfore, your Petitioners humbly pray that this Honourable House, taking into consideration the Premises, would be pleased by your mature Prudence and Care, to endeavour (as much as possibly you can) to take away all occasions of breaches be­tween the well-affected party. And, that such as have in these late times of trouble, (by adve [...]uring their lives or otherwise) approved themselves faithfull to their Countrys common good, may without respect to differences, no way prejudiciall to the Common-wealth, impartially enjoy their Birth right Privi­ledges, and be equally capable with others of the freedome to officiate in place of trust, which they are or shall be chosen un­to. And on the contrary, that all those who have dis-franchised themselves by Trayterously adhering to the enemy, may be dis­abled from bearing office, or voting in the Election of offices in the Common-wealth. And we [...]urther crave, (with submis­sion to your Honours grave Approvements) that in regard of the Kingdomes present unsetlednesse, it may not be left destitute of a trusty and sufficient guard to secure it from intestine Broyles, and forraigne Invasion. And as for your Petitioners more parti­cular grievances, as they are members of this City;especially [...] of King [...] 5. [...] we humbly pray that you would be pleased by you. Author ty so to pr [...]vide, that w [...] (as we are or shall be capable of it) may be e [...]bl [...] t [...] enjoy the benefit of all ancient Charters and G [...]ts, made [...] [Page 4]confirmed by severall Acts of Parliament, for the enlargement of our freedomes and Priviledges; and that whatsoever hath been illegally intended, may be taken away and made void. And last­ly, (as some have already desired) we likewise pray, that (if so small a thing may be worthy the intention of this grave and Honourable Assembly) you would be pleased to appoint some times of lawfull Recreations for servants, as your wisedomes shall thinke fit.

And your Petitioners, as they have many of them already (according to their duty) freely adventured their lives, and whatsoever was deare to them for the common safety of their Country; so they still professe their readinesse, to give their best assistance to the suppressing all Arbitrary and tyranicall power; and to the upholding the fundamentall Rights and Liberties of free-borne English men, and the just Priviledges of this Honou­rable House against all that shall set themselves in opposition of the same.

And be ever bound to pray, &c.

Whatsoever is contained in the Petition, the Sub­scribers will be ready to make good by particular in­stances, when they shall bee lawfully called to the same.