THE PETITION Of divers of His MAJESTIES faithful Subjects, of the true Protestant Religion, in the County Palatine of Lancaster: Presented to His majesty at York the last of May, by the high sheriff of that County, and divers other Gentlemen of quality: And subscribed by 64 Knights and Esquires, 55 Divines, 740 Gentlemen, and of Freeholders and others above 7000.  
With His Majesties Answer, June 6. 1642.  
LONDON: Printed by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of JOHN BILL.  
MDCXLII.   

¶ To the Sacred majesty, of our most Gracious sovereign LORD, CHARLES By the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c.  
The humble Gratulation and Petition of divers His Majesties faithful Subjects of the true Protestant Religion, within the County Palatine of Lancaster.  
Most Gracious sovereign,  
THe most real and convincing Testimonies of Your Princely care, for the advancement of Gods true Religion in Your Majesties Realms, and the common good of all Your Subjects, could no less then draw from us( who have hitherto in these stirring times sat still) this humble acknowledgement of our due and necessary Thanks.  
We, with the inmost and choicest thoughts of our souls, do esteem and prise Your Majesties most righteous intentions of governing Your liege People according to the wholesome Laws of this Kingdom, a thing so often, and with such earnestness avowed by Your Sacred majesty, whereunto we yield that hearty credence, which is due to so Religious and Righteous a Prince; We do also with all humility and thankfulness, aclowledge Your manifold and evident Manifestations to the world, that You affect not an Arbitrary Government, but the common prosperity and happiness of all Your loyal Subjects, by Your readiness to join with Your Parliament, in a speedy raising of Forces, for a timely suppression of that odious Rebellion in Ireland; by Your late Proclamation, for the putting in due execution the Laws against Papists; by Your most gracious condescending to the desires of Your great council, in signing the Bills for the triennial Parliament; for relinquishing Your Title of Imposing upon merchandise, and Power of pressing Souldiers; for the taking away of the Star-Chamber and High Commission Courts; for the Regulating of the council Table; as also the Bills for the Forrests, and Stannarie Courts, with other most necessary Acts: Moreover, we are confident, and well assured of Your Majesties zeal, for the advancement of the true Protestant Religion, and with inexpressible joy do understand Your most Christian and Pious Resolution, for the preservation of those powerful encouragements of industry, Learning and piety, the Means and Honour of the ministery, for the maintenance and continuance of our Church Government, and solemn liturgy of the Church, of long continued and general Approbation of the most Pious and Learned of this Nation, and of other Countries, composed according to the Primitive pattern, by our blessed Martyrs, and other Religious and Learned men: As also Your gracious pleasure, that all abuses of Church and State shall be reformed, according to the model of Queen Elizabeths dayes, of ever blessed and famous memory; By the one, You have weakened the hopes of the sacrilegious Devourers of the Churches patrimony;( if there be any such) And by the other, at once provided against all Popish Impieties and Idolatries, and also against the growing danger of Anabaptists, Brownists, and other novelists; all which piety, Love, and Justice, we beseech God to return into Your royal bosom. But yet( most Gracious sovereign) there is one thing that Sads our hearts, and hinders the perfection of our happiness, which is, the distance and misunderstanding between Your majesty and Your Parliament, whereby the hearts of Your Subjects are filled with fears and Jealousies, Justice neglected, Sacred Ordinances profaned, and Trading impaired, to the impoverishing of many of Your Liege people: For the removal whereof we cannot find out any lawful means without Your Majesties Assistance and Direction.  

Wherefore we humbly beseech Your most Excellent majesty to continue Your most Christian and Pious resolution of ruling Your People according to the Laws of the Land, and maintaining of the same, of being a Zealous Defender of the established Doctrine, liturgy, and Government of our Church, from heresy, libertinism, and profaneness, an Advancer of Learning, piety and Religion, an Encourager of painful Orthodox Preachers; And whatsoever Your Parliament shall offer to Your royal view, conducing to this Blessed end, the Common good, and tranquillitie of Your Subjects, to be pleased to condescend unto, and graciously to confirm: And withall to declare unto us some expedient way, how we ●ay make a dutiful address unto Your Parliament, for the taking away of those Differences and Impediments, which stay the happy proceedings of that most Honourable Assembly, whereof Your majesty is the Head,( which once removed, we doubt not but You will speedily be as near Your Parliament in Person, as in affection, that there may be a Blessed harmony between Your Highnesse and that great council) And we shall with all alacrity observe the same, humbly tendering our Lives and Fortunes for the preservation of Your royal Person, Crown, and dignity, according to our bound duty and allegiance; And hearty praying for Your Majesties long and prosperous Reign over us.    

At the Court at York, 6. June. 1642. His majesty hath commanded me to give you this His Answer to your Petition.  
THat He is very glad to find such real acknowledgements of those great Graces which He hath bountifully bestowed upon this His Kingdom of England, in the time of this Parliament, & likewise it is a great contentment to Him to find so many true Sons of the Church of England, as by your expressions in the said Petition doth plainly appear to Him; Assuring you that He shall not yield in His Zeal and constancy for the maintenance of the true Protestant Profession, neither to Queen Elizabeth, nor to His Father of ever blessed Memory, both against Popish Superstition on the one side, and schismatical Innovation and Confusion on the other. In the last place, as He doth take in very good part your desire of a good understanding between His majesty and His two Houses of Parliament; so likewise, He cannot but much commend the way that you take therein. And as for your Directions, if you will but seriously consider His Majesties just and necessary desires, expressed in His Answers and Declarations since His coming to York, your zeal and knowledge will not need more particular Instructions to make such Addresses to both Houses of Parliament as the times require, and befiting such loyal and true affencted Subjects to your King and country, as this Petition expresseth you to be.  
FINIS.