To the right honourable both Houses of the Parliament of England, assembled at Westminster. The humble petition of the Grand Jury at the assizes holden at Chelmford, for the county of Essex, the 22 of March, 1647. as it was presented to both the Honourable Houses of Parliament the 4. of May, 1648. by divers thousands of knights, gentlemen, and free-holders of the same county.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A94592 of text R210760 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.12[20]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A94592
         Wing T1606
         Thomason 669.f.12[20]
         ESTC R210760
         99869517
         99869517
         162813
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A94592)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162813)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f12[20])
      
       
         
           
             To the right honourable both Houses of the Parliament of England, assembled at Westminster. The humble petition of the Grand Jury at the assizes holden at Chelmford, for the county of Essex, the 22 of March, 1647. as it was presented to both the Honourable Houses of Parliament the 4. of May, 1648. by divers thousands of knights, gentlemen, and free-holders of the same county.
             England and Wales. Parliament.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             for Joseph Hunscot,
             Printed at London :
             1648.
          
           
             The petitioners suggest a personal treaty between King and Parliament, and that they should take course to disband the Army and pay their arrears.
             Includes 2 notes on the petition, both dated: Die Jovis, 4 May, 1648. The first is signed: Joh. Brown, Cler. Parliamentorum; the second: Hen. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A94592  R210760  (Thomason 669.f.12[20]).  civilwar no To the right honourable both Houses of the Parliament of England, assembled at Westminster. The humble petition of the Grand Jury at the ass England and Wales. Parliament.  1648    1012 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text  has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription.  
        2007-06 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
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        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2007-08 Jonathan Blaney
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        2007-08 Jonathan Blaney
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        2008-02 pfs
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           To
           the
           Right
           Honourable
           both
           Houses
           of
           the
           Parliament
           of
           England
           ;
           assembled
           at
           Westminster
           .
        
         
           The
           humble
           Petition
           of
           the
           Grand
           Jury
           at
           the
           Assizes
           holden
           at
           Chelmsford
           ,
           for
           the
           County
           of
           Essex
           ,
           the
           
             22
             of
             March
             ,
             1647.
             
          
           as
           it
           was
           presented
           to
           both
           the
           Honourable
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           the
           4.
           of
           May
           ,
           1648.
           by
           divers
           thousands
           of
           Knights
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           Free-Holders
           of
           the
           same
           County
           .
        
         
           Humbly
           Sheweth
           :
        
         
           THat
           your
           Petitioners
           taking
           into
           their
           serious
           (
           yet
           sad
           )
           considerations
           the
           great
           distractions
           and
           calamities
           of
           this
           whole
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           being
           also
           very
           sensible
           by
           wofull
           experience
           of
           the
           great
           and
           many
           pressures
           and
           grievances
           of
           their
           own
           particular
           County
           ,
           and
           taking
           notice
           also
           with
           all
           thankfulnesse
           of
           the
           honourable
           resolutions
           of
           this
           House
           ,
           in
           giving
           encouragement
           to
           the
           just
           desires
           of
           the
           oppressed
           in
           a
           Petitionary
           way
           (
           the
           undoubted
           right
           of
           the
           Subject
           )
           and
           the
           very
           life
           of
           their
           liberty
           it selfe
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           tender
           fellow
           feeling
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           the
           deepe
           sense
           of
           their
           own
           miseries
           ,
           have
           made
           this
           humble
           (
           yet
           necessary
           addresse
           to
           this
           Honourable
           House
           )
           conceiving
           both
           the
           present
           and
           future
           happinesse
           of
           themselves
           and
           the
           whole
           Kingdome
           to
           bee
           concentred
           in
           these
           their
           ensuing
           desires
           .
        
         
           And
           first
           ,
           considering
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           the
           sad
           and
           direfull
           effects
           of
           this
           late
           War
           should
           cease
           without
           the
           principall
           causes
           be
           first
           taken
           away
           and
           removed
           .
           And
           considering
           likewise
           his
           Majesties
           absence
           from
           his
           two
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           hath
           been
           one
           maine
           cause
           of
           encreasing
           jealousies
           ,
           and
           continuing
           a
           misunderstanding
           betwixt
           Him
           and
           his
           great
           Councell
           (
           the
           originall
           and
           source
           of
           our
           unhappinesse
           )
           And
           humbly
           conceiving
           ,
           that
           a
           timely
           and
           ready
           concession
           to
           his
           Majesty
           for
           a
           personall
           Treatie
           with
           his
           high
           Court
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           may
           prove
           the
           most
           effectuall
           and
           speedy
           meanes
           for
           the
           removeall
           of
           all
           such
           misapprehensions
           and
           feares
           ,
           which
           are
           yet
           the
           unhappy
           obstacles
           of
           the
           peace
           and
           quiet
           of
           this
           our
           Kingdome
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           considering
           the
           excessive
           charges
           and
           almost
           intollerable
           burthen
           this
           County
           ,
           with
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Kingdome
           doe
           at
           this
           present
           groane
           under
           ,
           which
           although
           for
           a
           time
           they
           may
           possibly
           beare
           with
           patience
           ,
           yet
           if
           continued
           ,
           will
           certainely
           and
           inevitably
           ruine
           themselves
           ,
           their
           families
           and
           posterities
           .
           And
           withall
           considering
           that
           the
           most
           hopefull
           meanes
           of
           setling
           a
           well
           grounded
           peace
           ,
           and
           the
           surest
           way
           of
           preventing
           future
           troubles
           ,
           consists
           in
           the
           due
           satisfaction
           of
           all
           just
           complaints
           and
           interests
           .
           And
           that
           this
           Army
           who
           have
           faithfully
           discharged
           their
           trust
           to
           your selves
           and
           Kingdome
           ,
           doe
           much
           complaine
           for
           the
           want
           of
           their
           Arrears
           .
        
         
           We
           therefore
           your
           humble
           Petitioners
           doe
           most
           earnestly
           desire
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           be
           pleased
           to
           take
           these
           Premises
           into
           your
           grave
           and
           serious
           considerations
           ,
           and
           to
           condescend
           to
           the
           royall
           intimations
           of
           his
           Majesty
           for
           a
           Personall
           Treaty
           ,
           to
           expedite
           such
           a
           course
           which
           in
           your
           wisdomes
           you
           shall
           think
           most
           meet
           for
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           the
           arreares
           of
           the
           Army
           ,
           with
           a
           disbanding
           of
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           And
           your
           Petitioners
           shall
           ever
           pray
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             The
             twelfth
             of
             Aprill
             it
             was
             resolved
             at
             Chelmsford
             ,
             upon
             the
             meeting
             of
             the
             Petitioners
             there
             ,
             as
             followeth
             :
          
           
             
               I
               That
               five
               hundred
               Copies
               of
               the
               Petition
               should
               be
               forthwith
               printed
               and
               sent
               to
               the
               Gentlemen
               and
               Petitioners
               of
               the
               County
               .
            
             
               II
               That
               Fryday
               the
               twenty
               eight
               of
               
                 April
                 ,
              
               at
               the
               Talbot
               in
               
                 Chelmsford
              
               all
               the
               subscriptions
               of
               the
               said
               Copies
               should
               be
               sent
               unto
               
                 Stephen
                 Smith
              
               Esquire
               .
            
             
               III
               Thursday
               the
               fourth
               of
               
                 May
                 ,
              
               the
               Petitioners
               have
               appointed
               to
               meet
               at
               the
               Crowne
               at
               
                 Stratford
                 Lancton
                 ,
              
               about
               eight
               of
               the
               clock
               in
               the
               morning
               .
            
             
               IIII
               It
               s
               desired
               that
               those
               who
               shall
               subscribe
               the
               Petition
               ,
               would
               shew
               themselves
               in
               person
               in
               the
               presenting
               of
               it
               ,
               if
               it
               may
               stand
               with
               their
               convenience
               .
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             Die
             Jovis
             ,
             4
             May
             ,
             1648.
             
          
        
         
           THe
           Lords
           have
           commanded
           me
           to
           returne
           thankes
           to
           the
           County
           of
           
             Essex
             ,
          
           for
           the
           good
           affections
           which
           they
           have
           expressed
           to
           the
           Parliament
           and
           Kingdome
           ;
           they
           have
           likewise
           commanded
           me
           to
           let
           you
           know
           :
           That
           they
           will
           take
           your
           Petition
           into
           their
           serious
           and
           speedy
           consideration
           ,
           and
           doe
           assure
           you
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           not
           be
           wanting
           to
           contribute
           their
           utmost
           endeavours
           for
           the
           recovering
           of
           the
           present
           pressures
           and
           burthens
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           composing
           of
           these
           unhappy
           differences
           ,
           so
           as
           the
           Kingdome
           may
           enjoy
           a
           safe
           and
           well
           grounded
           peace
           .
        
         
           
             Joh.
             Brown
             ,
             Cler.
             Parliamentorum
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           
             Die
             Iovis
             ,
             4
             May
             ,
             1648.
             
          
        
         
           THe
           House
           being
           informed
           that
           divers
           Gentlemen
           of
           the
           County
           of
           
             Essex
          
           were
           at
           the
           Doore
           ,
           desiring
           to
           preferre
           a
           Petition
           to
           the
           House
           ,
           they
           were
           called
           in
           ,
           and
           Major
           
             Stephen
             Smith
          
           did
           present
           a
           Petition
           ,
           the
           which
           (
           the
           Petitioners
           being
           with-drawne
           )
           was
           read
           ,
           and
           was
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             humble
             Petition
             of
             the
             Grand
             Jury
             at
             the
             Assizes
             holden
             at
          
           Chelmesford
           
             for
             the
             County
             of
          
           Essex
           ,
           
             the
             22
             of
          
           March
           ,
           1647.
           
             with
             the
             Free-holders
             and
             Inhabitants
             of
             the
             same
             County
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Petitioners
           were
           againe
           called
           in
           ,
           and
           Mr.
           
           
             Speaker
          
           by
           Command
           of
           the
           House
           ,
           upon
           Vote
           upon
           the
           Question
           gave
           them
           this
           Answer
           ;
           That
           this
           House
           doth
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           great
           Service
           ,
           and
           good
           affections
           of
           that
           County
           to
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           are
           very
           confident
           they
           will
           so
           continue
           .
           As
           to
           their
           Petition
           ,
           the
           House
           is
           now
           in
           Debate
           concerning
           the
           speedy
           settlement
           of
           the
           Kingdome
           ,
           and
           doe
           not
           doubt
           ,
           but
           what
           they
           shall
           conclude
           thereupon
           will
           give
           satisfaction
           to
           the
           said
           County
           ,
           and
           to
           all
           the
           well-affected
           people
           of
           the
           Kingdome
           .
        
         
           
             Hen.
             Elsynge
             ,
             Cler.
             Parl.
             D.
             Com.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           Printed
           at
           
             London
          
           for
           
             Joseph
             Hunscot
             .
          
           1648.