To the KING'S most Excellent Majesty.  
The Humble Petition of Archibald Marquis of Argyle.  
Humbly Shows,  
THat however your Majesty's most humble Petitioner, during the troubles of your Kingdoms, and sad affliction of the Royal Family, hath often had eminent share in the management of affairs, and may have many times failed, and been involved in divers guilt common to many others. And however it hath been your Petitioners misfortune to have acted in several occasions, in matters and ways, that were very obnoxious to misinterpretations, and hath almost all along never wanted passionate Censurers; yet as for many things committed by him, he hath recourse to your Majesty's Royal Clemency: So in many others he is confident he shall make it appear, that his actions have not always deserved the Censures, that have been put upon them, by some that could not know the intimate Reasons, and true Motives, and carriage of things, and others that were either not studious to be informed, or not unwilling to go along in whatsoever might heap a disrepute upon your Petitioners Person or Actions.  
And however your Petitioner may have been traduced, as guilty of the most horrid and unpardonable crimes, of accession to the execrable murder of your Royal Father, (whereof he hath already purged himself by Oath in your Parliament of Scotland) and hatred of your Majesty's Sacred Person and Government: That your Petitioner wisheth to be no freer from the deepest torments reserved for the most heinous sinners, than he is of the one, and the other: whatsoever may have been the aspersions thrown upon him, and the outward appearance of many inevitable passages, and transactions of late.  
That the nature of your Petitioners concernments, and condition being singular, and as he humbly conceiveth such, as the consideration of them, will most properly fall under your Majesties own cognisance, in almost every particular.  
That the Royal Clemency, by which your Majesty hath made way to your Reestablishment upon your Throne, doth not only most powerfully attract your People's hearts, and cements to you, but will render your Majesty most glorious, and formidable abroad, as being one of the noblest Beams sent down from the Father of lights, by which Kings resemble most the King of Kings, with whom Mercy rejoiceth against Justice, and is over all his works, as that wherein he most deligheth.  
That seeing your Petitioners case is an object of compassion, and his Family hath for many Ages, not only been untainted with the least shadows of disloyalty, but most signally serviceable to your Majesty's most Royal Progenitors in their great difficulties, and times of intestine, and foreign Wars, and troubles.  
That seeing your Majesty hath both seen, and acknowledged the usefulness of some of your Petitioners faithful endeavours, to serve you in matters that concerned you nearly, not many years ago.  
And seeing your Petitioner is perfectly resolved to acquiesce in, and submit to whatsoever your Majesty shall be pleased to determine concerning him, and willingly undergo, or do whatsoever your Majesty shall be pleased to lay upon him.  
Therefore your Majesty's most humble Petitioner, doth most humbly beg your Majesty may be pleased graciously to accept of this your Petitioners humble Submission, and pardon all his guilt, weaknesses, and failings. And if so be your Majesty require any further clearing in any thing concerneth your Petitioner, your Majesty may by spetial Commission appoint such persons as you shall think fit, to let him know in what points it lieth most upon your Petitioner to clear himself, and then your Majesty having weighed all, may yourself speedily pronounce, whatsoever you shall think meet to determine concerning your Petitioner.  
And he shall not fail as long as he liveth to pray, etc.   

LONDON, Printed in the Year. 1661.