The Petition of severall Officers, who formerly have been employed in the Parliament Service, Presented to both Houses,
June the Third, 1648.
Together with their severall Answers.
WE whose Judgments and Consciences invited us to annex our Lives and Estates to your preservation and assistance, upon your first and continued Declarations, Protestations, solemn League and Covenant, Do appeal to God and your Honors, That we have faithfully and unmoveably prosecuted those ends: And when under the conduct and authority of Parliament, We had shared in sustaining the difficulties of the late Warre, in obedience to the same Power we humbly submitted to Reducement; since we have not been wanting to supplicate your Honors to improve your success in the happy consummation of a safe and wel-grounded Peace; And upon confidence that your Wisdomes and undoubted fidelity to your undertakings would opportunely compleat the same, We ceased to trouble your Honors, till the continued and increasing distractions of this languishing City and Kingdomes, our Interests and Duties commands us, notwithstanding many discouragements, to express our Resolutions, and humbly second our Desires;
That your Honors would be pleased to prevent the great calamities impending, by timely answering the Expectations of the Kingdoms, by setling (in a Parliamentary way) Religion, the Kings Majesty, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, (to prevent the further effusion of Blood) together with the preservation and security of all those that have and do adhere to those principles. Towards the accomplishing whereof, We shall faithfully contribute our utmost abilities, with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes.
And we shall ever pray, &c.
THat the Lords doe take notice of their former services done to the Parliament and Kingdome, and return thanks for the same, and doe likewise give them thanks for their good affections expressed at this time, whereby they declare the continuance of their faithfullnesse to the Parliament; They assure you that they will use their utmost indeavour for the answering the expectations of the Kingdome, in the setling of a safe and well grounded Peace, according to the Solemn League and Covenant; and for the preservation and security of all those that doe adhere and have adhered to those principles, and they will omit no opportunity for the preventing the further effusion of blood.
THe Petitioners were called in, and Mr. Speaker by the Command of the House, acquainted them that the House had read their Petition, and for their good services, their modest desires and expressions in their Petition, suitable to men of Honor and good Affections to the Parliament: He was commanded to give them the Thanks of this House, which he accordingly did.