The humble Petition and resolution of the County of ESSEX.  
(Presented to the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, and read in both Houses the 17. of this present JUNE, 1642. With the Answer thereunto annexed, and commanded by the Lords to be forthwith Printed and Published)  
Humbly showeth;  
THat we having with joy and admiration, observed the wife and gracious Passages and Proceedings of this Parliament: and the pious, tender, and affectionate care of your Honours, for the preservation of the Peace and Honour of his most Excellent Majesty, and these three thrice happily united kingdoms; represented to the World in your several Ordinances, Declarations, Votes and Remonstrances, sufficient to stop the mouth (if it were possibly) of envy and malignity itself, cannot but with grief and indignation wonder to hear, that there should yet be found and that even about the regal Throne, such unnatural and evil affected spirits, and malignant counsellors, who, desirous to swim to the haven of their ambitious hopes, in the blood of their dearest Friends and Countrymen, do continually instill into his majesty's royal breast, a sinister conceit, and misinterpretation of your most Humble and loyal Affections, and noble Actions, and Undertakings.  
Wherefore we understanding (not by misinformation of flying reports, but) by the late Votes and Declarations of both your Honourable Houses,  
That his majesty seduccd by wicked council, intends to make war against the Parliament: that so to do is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People, contrary to his Oath: And that whosoever shall serve, or assist him in such wars, are traitors by the fundamental Law●s of this kingdom.  
And withal perceiving your most Christian & heroical Resolutions to persist in your Honourable Endeavours: for the public safety, though you should (which God avert) perish in the work,  
We thought it our duties humbly to represent to your Honours, the faithful affections and invoyable resolutions of our souls to Stand or Fall, Live or Die, together with you: According to our Protestation.  
Thus with our hands upon our Swords, we stand ready at your command, to perform our vows to God and oaths of fidelity of his Majesty, In taking up Arms against those false Flatterers, and traitors: who abuse his royal Favour, intending under the glorious Title of his Name and Standard, to fight against the Peace and Honour of their sovereign, against Religion, and the laws: and to make a prey and spoil, of three flourishing kingdoms at once: And to spend our dearest blood in the defence of the lives, & liberties of our Country men; the laws which are the life of our Liberty, and Peace; Religion more precious then both; and the King and Parliament: In whose libes lie bound up the life of all the rest. Whosoever is otherwise affected, we hold him not worthy the name of a soldier but a Proditor of his King and country to all Posterity.  
Lastly finding a multitude of well affected People, whose hearts are good to join with us, but want Arms, we most humbly crave, That Restitution may be made of those arms, which were taken out of their County, either out of the store lately arrived from Hull, or otherwise as to your most excellent wisdom shall seem best.  

The Lord's Answer to the ESSEX Petition.  
MY Lords have taken your Petition into consideration, and receive much contentment in the good affections you have expressed, and do give you hearty and extraordinary thanks, thus seasonably and necessarily for the good of the King and kingdom, and of their lordship's encouragement in the performance of their duty; and my Lords do assure you, that God willing, they resolve to insist in their former declared Resolutions, for the upholding the true Religion, the King's Authority in the highest Court, which by sundry late Declarations and practices to abuse the people, they find so much vilified and invaded, the privileges of Parliament, free Course of Justice, the laws and Peace of this Kingdom, notwitkstanding any dangers and hazards that for that cause can befall them. That for the manifestation of their good affections, and their lordship's kind acceptations thereof, they have commanded your Petition and the Answer, to be forthwith Printed and published.  
John Browne, Cleric. Parliament.  
This Resolution was presented to the trained Bands, and Companies of Voluntieres, who appeared at Dunmow: Jun. 10. 1642. And was received with universal Approbation by holding up of Hands, throwing up of hats, and Acclamations: professing, That they held them unworthy to live, that should dislike it. And it was within three days after subscribed with ten Thousand Hands.    

London Printed June the 18 For Joseph Hunscott. and John Wright 1642