WHereas they upon the report and sight of great Convocations suddenly endeavoured and unexpectedly brought into this great Counsell day, for the most part by these who have beene esteemed by the Countrey and challenged by the Parlia­ment, as Incendiaries, plotters, and enemies to the peace of this Kingdome, have occasionally conveened at Edenburgh. And having heard of Letters from His Majesty, and Declaration from the Parliament of England anent the present di­stractions of that Kingdome: They have reason from bygon experience, and present presumptions to feare the intentions and endeavours of these evill affected persons and their adherents, least by their convocations and sollicitations they take occasion of these differences to raise jealousies and divisions betwixt these Kingdomes. And considering the com­mon interest of all the Subjects of this Kingdome to preserve the late peace, so happily concluded betwixt these Nations, by the providence of God, his Majesties goodnesse and wisedome, and the moderation of the Parliament of England, and so solemnly established by the late treaty, oath of Parliament, publique faith, and the great Seales of these Kingdomes. As in all other points, so especially in these Articles (whereunto the rest are called but prefaces) for setling and entertaining a solid peace betwixt these Nations in true union; lest upon any pretence they should be dasht one against another. Wherein it is declared the duty of the estates yea o [...] every subject for to conveene and suppresse any evill affected persons who would raise Armes against the Subjects of the other Kingdome without consent of Parliament as traytors to the estate, much more to Petition against it, and wherein there is appointed a Commission of the estates for the conservation of this peace in the inte­rim betwixt Parliaments. All which the Petitioners amongst the rest of the good Subjects of this Kingdome, did hazzard their lives and e­states, to obtaine: And did demand in the Treaty upon their dangerous experience of the Councell of England there medling in the affaires betwixt His Majesty and this Kingdome; to the ingaging of the Nations in Warre, which is so often condemned by the estates of this King­dome in their Remonstrances, pressing that common rule of Equity, To doe as you would be done unto; which now is and may be retorted on this Kingdome. Like as desiring earnestly, that your Lordships in thes [...] publique resolutions of so great consequences to these Kingdomes, may carry along with you the hearts and consciences of the body of this Kingdome, and prevent that the breaches grow not wider by false confidences grounded upon suddaine undertakings of any persons, as also their naturall affection and duty to their gracious Soveraigne ac­cording to their manifold obligations, and brotherly affection to the Kingdome of England, forcing them to pray to God, and to desire all men according to their stations to use all lawfull means, to breed and intertaine a good understanding betwixt His Majesty and His Parlia­ment, the surest foundation of greatnesse to His Majesty, and happinesse to these Kingdomes. Likewise taking to heart the dangerous con­sequences to His Majesty, and to his Dominions if your Lordships answer by tendering the offer of your service to His Majesty against the demands, or upon the differences betwixt His Majesty and His Parliament of England or any other manner of way import (which God forbid) any ingaging of your selves, or these Nations in warre, or any thing that may tend thereunto.

Therefore in their own names, and in the name of the rest of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgesses, and Ministers whose hearts doe, and hands would goe along with this petition for preservation of peace betwixt these Kingdomes, They doe in all humility, and earnestnesse pe­tition your Lordships, in the depth of your wisdomes, seriously to ponder the consequences, of your answer to his Majesty, and the Parlia­ment of England at this time, so that thereby, neither the confidence betwixt his Majesty and good Subjects here, nor amongst themselves, nor betwixt the Kingdomes (these unions tending ever to his Majesties geatnesse, and these disunions to his prejudice) may be any wayes weakened, or their peace endangered. And to that end, that as your Lorships would leave no lawfull meanes, according to your vocation, and interest unassayed for begetting a good unerstanding betwixt his Majesty, and his Parliament, being his greatest and most unparshall Councell representing the body, whereof his Majesty is the Head; and so removing these distractions (the continuance wherof will sure trouble the peace of the Kingdome,) according to your Lordships last answer, so also seeing his Majestie requires not that your Lordships should, neither can your Lordships judge, of the Lawes and proceedings of another independent Kingdome; and the Parliament of England offers to give all satifaction, concerning any messages or papers sent to your Lordships anent their proceedings, that your Lordships would be pleased carefully, to shun all offers of verball or reall engagements, either directly or by way of inference, without consent of the Parliament conforme to the treaty, which either may give any just occasion of offence, to your gracious soveraigne, or of jealously to your brethrē in England, or of discourse unto any, as if your Lordships did not observe that former rule of equity presced by themselves during your troubles. To doe to others as they will be done to themselves. But did fall in the same faults, which your Lordships, and the rest of the estates of this Kingdome, had condemned in the Councell of England; And for this effect they cannot but remember your Lordships that according to an Article of the Treatise, there was appointed a Commission as independent as any other, of so many of every estate representing the whole Kingdome, to prevent all occasion of division betwixt these Kingdomes, in the interim betwixt Parliaments. All which they humbly representing to your Lordships wise considerations, and expect from your Lordships, so gracious an answer, as may satisfy their present feares, and secure from those dangers in the interim betwixt Parliaments, and thereby prevent all necessity of petitions in this kinde.