THAT your Petitioners being sensible of the miserable effects of Warre, and the Ruine and Desolation that will unavoidably over­whelme this miserable Kingdome, now distracted and much divi­ded, and ingaged in an unnaturall intestine and bloudie Warre, and in their owne particulars having alreadie tasted of some part of those Miseries, by the death of some of their neerest and dearest Friends, and great Losses in their Callings: And also taking into consideration the lamentable and miserable effects that the late unhappie Civile Warres have produced in Germanie, and by the present Rebellion in Ireland; And that if this Warre and Dissention still continue in England, the same will not onely greatly prejudice, but also hazard the Religion, Estates, Lives, and Liberties of their poore distressed Brethren in that Kingdome, they cannot but seeke Peace (the onely Cure of their Miseries) both by their Prayers to God, and in their humble Petitions to this Honorable Assembly, desiring your concurrence with the House of Peeres, to whom they are bold to make their humble Addresses.

Wherefore the Petitioners most humbly and heartily beseech you to take into your most Honorable consideration the miserable estate of this Kingdome, in which your Petitioners Calamities are involved, and thereby (if it be possible) to prevent the further Miseries thereof, and the effusion of more Christian Bloud, by a speedy, seasonable, and happy Accommodation betweene his gracious Majestie and both Houses of Parliament; wherein they doubt not but you will, to the glory of God, settle the true Protestant Religion in the puritie thereof, as in the best times since the Reformation, against all Papists, Sectaries, and Schismaticks, that shal dare to oppose it, to restraine all prophanesse of the Lords Day, and establish the orderly Worship of God in his House, and to provide for the preservation of the Person and Honor of his sacred Majestie, the upholding the just Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, and the present and seasonable setling of the Peace of the Kingdome, whereby they may enjoy the benefit of the Lawes (the great Protector) of their Lives, Liber­ties, and Properties.

And they shall pray, that the God of Peace will blesse you in this worke of Peace.