THE HUMBLE PETITION OF DIVERS BARRONETS, KNIGHTS, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Freeholders, and others of the County of Derbie, to the number of seven thousand seventy and seven. PRESENTED, TO THE HONOURABLE, THE Knights, Citisens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons, by God's goodness assembled, and his gracious good providence hitherto preserved in PARLIAMENT.  
As it was presented by Sir John Curzon, Knight, and baronet, who serves for that County.  
March 14, 1642.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
LONDON, Printed by Barnard Alsop, 1642.   

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF Divers Barronets, Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Freeholders, and others of the County of Derby, to the number of seven thousand seventy and seven.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat when we have seriously considered that unexpressible danger, this kingdom was in, at the time of your election, to that great and honourable burden, which for the Glory of God, and good of this Church and Commonwealth, you have now a long time with patience undergone, together with the manifold Grievances, which then did, and some whereof still do disquiet the peace and happiness of the King's Majesty, and this kingdom, and the great opposition, the blessed work of Reformation hath met with, by those who are illaffected to the State, and when we call to mind not withstanding all this enmity the many and great works, which God hath been pleased already to effect, by the wisdom, pains, and unwearied diligence of this Honourable Parliament, God sometimes turning even the plots and practices of the adverse party to the furtherance of his own work; we cannot but give God the glory of his free grace in Christ to this kingdom, and withal due thankfulness commemorate your industrious labours to perfect the great design of this Kingdoms happinessé, so judiciously begun, and accordingly prosecuted: and which we hope by the continued mercy of God, your accustomed cooperations, and the willing agreement of your gracious Sovereign, will in God's due time arise to a sweet perfection, to the joy of us and our prosperities; and yet although we live far off, we cannot but hear of those many late obstructions, and malevolent hindrances, with which this good work hath been opposed, by means of the malignant party, who by evil counsels, and other strange and formerly unheard of courses, have endeavoured to infringe the lawful power and liberties of Parliament, to continue Popish Innovations to oppress our Consciences with, unnecessary Ceremonies, and to destroy the lawful Rights of the Subject: All which we conceive are contrary to that happy PROTESTATION, so providently commended unto us by this Honourable House; Besides the cursed Plots that have been invented, against our beloved Friends of SCOTLAND, and our poor distressed Brethren in Ireland.  
Whose lamentable Condition, our souls bleed within us to remember, and other sensible Grievances at large declared in your late and faithful Remonstrance of the State of this kingdom.  
In tender consideration whereof, and for that many thousand, of poor people amongst us do already feel the heavy pressures of those long delais, in settling the State of this Kingdom, and we do give humble thanks to Almighty God, the Kings most excellent Majesty, and this high and ever to be honoured Parliament, both the House of Peers & Commons, for that happy agreement in those good and wholesome laws, already Voted by you both, and Enacted, for the welfare of Church and Commonwealth, and especially the late Acts for freeing the Bishops and Clergy from their distractions, by temporal affairs, & that hopeful beginning of provision for relief of Ireland; so we do willingly join with the many thousands of our Brethren, and fellow petitioners in and about the Honourable city of London, and other several Counties of this kingdom, humbly to supplicate this honourable Assembly, still earnestly to mediate with his Majesty, and the House of Peers for their concurrence with you (and by the power of Christ) go on cheerfully with what speed you may, to the perfecting of those good endeavours so worthily begun, and to find out, prosecute, and punish all notorious offenders in Church and Commonwealth, That the Popish Lords may all be removed from having votes in Parliament, Papists fully disarmed and confined, Church-papists discovered, and the evil counsels of the Popish and malignant party disappointed, and for the time to come wisely prevented, speedily and fully according to your good beginning to succour poor Ireland; and that by a quiet execution of your late agreeing. Votes, England may be armed with a present care of defence, by a posture of War, That all power and places of strength may under God confide in, that the power and privileges of Parliament may be confirmed, and for future time predefended, that all Congregations may by your Religious wisdom be provided of fit and able Ministers, and that the Doctrine and Discipline of Christ may be vindicated from all corruptions and by God's blessing we shall make good our aforesaid Protestation to the uttermost, That England may still continue one of Christ's golden Candlesticks, the Ministers stars in his right hand, the whole kingdom and people in Covenant with God, and in the blessed peace of the gospel, we may sit every man under his own Vine and Figtree, and enjoy a happy peace to us, and prosperity to the world's end,  
Thus shall your Petitioners be bound daily to pray.   

This Petition was presented by Sir John Curzon, Knight and baronet who serves for that County, and after it was read, was thankfully accepted by the house, and special Order given for the recording of it, with the Petitions of several other Counties.  
Hen. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
FINIS.