THat your Lordships happy concurrence with the House of Commons, in the pasing many bills for the generall good of this Kingdome, especially in your late joyning with them in your votes, for the setling the Militia and Forts in such hands as the Common-wealth may confide in, and the Kingdome in such a posture as may be for it's defence and safeguard, hath beene long the earnest desire, and is the present joy of your petitioners, yet we cannot but very much condole the miserable condition of the poore distressed Protestants in Ireland, who through the great delay which hath beene found amongst your Lordships, notwithstanding the pressing endeavours of the House of Com­mons, together with many of your Lordships in sending timely reliefe unto them, have beene exposed to the inhumane cruelties of their mercylesse and Barbarous enemies, to the great dishonour of this Nation, the losse well neere of that part of his Majesties dominions, and apparent danger of the rest.

With the like griefe we apprehend the fearefull distractions of this Nation, the composer of which is altogether hopelesse, so long as the Sacred Throne of his Gracious Maiesty is surrounded with evill Councellors of state producing (besides other dange­rous effects, the high and unheard of breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament, your Lordships and our common birth-rights, and so long as the votes of Popish Lords and Bishops are continued in your House, to the animating of the Papists in th [...]se Kingdomes in their pernitious practices, and the retarding of our generally desired reformation, and so long as our Churches doe abound with superstitious Clergy-men, many of whom lying under the censure of Parliament, for their owne securety breed and toment dev [...]sions and factions, thereby to threat and overthrow the proceedings of this Parliament.

Wherefore your Petitioners doe humbly pray and beseech this Honorable House, that you would goe on in a constant Vnion wit [...] the House of Commons, in providing for the Kingdomes safety, by putting the Melitia and Forts into such hands as shall be recommended by both Houses, that you would expedite a continuall supply according to the emergent necessities of almost ruined Ireland, that all evill councellors (the immediate causes of our present distractions may bee found out and brought to con­digne punishment.

That the Votes of Popish Lords and the Bishops the maine obstructors of passing many good Bills, may be speedily remo­ved; that the Church may be purged of all corrupt and scandalous Ministers, That the Popish Recusants may be more then superfi­cially disarmed, and some way found out by your wisedomes, for the detecting of Church Papists, as most dangerous to this State, that so the peace of the Kingdome may be established, the priviledges of Parliament vindicated and secured to posterity, the puri­ty of Religion setled and preserved.

And the Petitioners shall ever in duty be obliged to defend and maintaine with their lives and estates, his Maiesties Roy­all Person Crowne and Dignitie and your Lordships, so farre as you shall be united with the Honorable House of Commons in all their iust and pious proceedings.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

Presented with the consent and approbation of the Honourable House of Commons. Feb. 5. 1641.