THat your Petitioners have a very great sense of the many afflictions, inflicted upon these poor distressed Nations, and of the many endeavours of the Mad and Fanatick Party, to intrench upon their Liberties, and to involve them still into more and more ruine, to their utter fall and destruction, had not the Almighty God, of his infinite Mercy been pleased to restrain in some measure his afflicting hand, and restore their breaches, by re-calling the Secluded Members, of the late Parliament, and re-estating them in their trusts, to the Confusion we hope of those Malevo­lent Spirits, who for the furtherance [...] own private ends and Interests, have indeavoured the Ruine and Destruction of these three Kingdoms.

That the said Parliament, having devolved their power into the Hands of this Right Honorable Council, during the present interval, we cannot but hope that your Honours will be pleased still to proceed in those good waies which the Parliament be­gun, for the settlement of these Nations in Peace and Quietnesse, and for the depressing the designs of the Anabaptists, Indepen­dents, Fift-Monarchy men, Quakers, and the rest of the Sectarian Rabble, whose Malevolent Spirits can never be content with any Government but their own, and who have so often endeavoured to usurp an unjust, illegal, and Tyrannical power over the Nations, and reduce them to a slavery under them and their Heretical Opinions.

That your honours cannot but be highly sensible of these their many and violent endeavours, fomented by the Envy and Ambition of such men, who though they cannot allow of their Opinions, yet would willingly condescend unto them, so that they do but contribute to the accomplishing of their ends and desires; and who seeing that their Ambition fails them, Extend their Envy to the utmost, resolving, that if they cannot govern themselves, they will endeavour the ruine of any Government, though never so well established either in Church or State.

That though it hath pleased our mercifull God and Father, hitherto to frustrate all the designs and desires of that Factious and Malignant Party, yet we have reason to fear (Considering their late intentions, the many Arms and Ammunition, &c. taken from them) that their hopes of reign are not yet Quell'd, but that they will still seek all possible means and opportunities, to subvert any Government, which may but in probability tend to the Quiet and settlement of these Nations, as being necessarily contrary to the designs and Interests of those turbulent minded men.

That your Petitioners upon serious Consideration of these things, as Lovers of their Countries Peace and Quietnesse, have thought fit humbly to present these things to your Honours, especially weighing the great incouragement which will be given to these Sectaries and Fanaticks, by the Releasement of Major General Lambert their Head and Chief out of the Tower, where­by they will be emboldened to attempt and endeavour more desperate and dangerous things to the Disturbance of our Rest and Peace.

That we likewise humbly conceive, that the said General Lambert may legally stand indicted of High Treason, if the breach of the Privileges of Parliament (upon which pretence Our late Glorious King suffered Martyrdome) may be so deemed, he having by no Law, but only that of Arms, infringed that which sate as a Parliament of their Privileges and Sitting, and by a Mi­litary force driven them out of the House.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, (since the Vote of the late Parliament leaves it wholly to your Honours Pleasure, whether the said Lambert shall be released upon Security, Paroll, or not,) that your Honours would so far regard the Good and Wellfare of these Nations, as not to permit the Releasement of a Person, whose turbulent and ambitious Spirit might so far disquiet our Peace, but to bring him to a speedy tryal to answer for his Rebellions and Treasons.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.