To the Kings most Excellent majesty:  
The humble Petition of the baronets', Esquires, Ministers, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others peaceably affected in the County Palatine of Lancaster.  
Showing to Your Sacred majesty  
Our heart-breaking sense and sorrow for the unhappy Rents and Distractions in Your majesty's Dominions, especially in the session of so grave and godly an Assembly, (most graciously convened by Your majesty) endeavouring the glory of Almighty God in the Reformation of Religion, and the Honour and weal of Your majesty, and Your Realms, in settling and securing Your royal Throne in plenty and peace. But perceiving the long and remote distance of Your majesty from that Honourable Assembly, to have distracted the hearts of Your good Subjects, and animated the Popish and malignant party amongst us, and fearing it may expose us to the danger and fury of a foreign foe, retard the settling of the weighty affairs in our Land, and the subduing of the Rebels in Ireland; and finding Your majesty's late Resolution for that expedition, to threaten danger to Your royal Person, far more worth than ten thousand of us.  
We therefore Your majesty's most loyal Subjects out of our zeal to God's true Religion, Your majesty's Honour and safety, and the Peace and Welfare of Your Dominions; and out of the deep sense and apprehension of our interest in the same, do in all humility present and prostrate ourselves, and supplication at Your royal feet, beseeching Your majesty to return to Your great council (the representative body of Your kingdom) in whom this Nation hath so far confided, that they have entrusted them with their lives, liberties; and in which multitude of counsellors there is health and steadfastness, and whereby the royal Throne may be established in righteousness, and we with the rest of Your faithful Subjects shall continually praise and pray for Your prosperous and happy reign over us.   

At the Court York the 10th. of MAY, 1642. 
 His majesty hath expressly commanded me to give you this His ANSWER to your PETITION.  
THat this Petition as some others of this nature is grounded upon misinformation, and being grieved and highly offended to see how his good People have been and are abused by the false rumours and intelligences, which have procured causeless fears and apprehensions, refers the Petitioners to the Answers he hath given to the Declaration presented to him at Newmarket, and to the Petition presented to him the six and twentieth of March, last at York; wherein his Majesty faith you will clearly perceive that he is not gone but driven from his Parliament: his Majesty likewise for your further information of his proceedings and intentions, recommends to your view and consideration his two Messages, and Declaration concerning Hull, and his Message touching the reasons of his refusal to grant the Militia, all which when they shall be fully represented to the rest of your County, he doubts not, but that you will rest very well satisfied of his consent and resolution for the maintaining of, and governing his People by the Law of the Land, his unmovable resolution for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Profession, and the suppression of the barbarous Irish Rebellion, and his Majesty faith, that he believes you may then find reason to petition the Parliament to comply with his majesty's just desires and gracious offers, which is the only way safely and speedily to cure the present distractions of this Kingdom, and with God's blesssing to put a happy end to the Irish Rebellion: for the effecting whereof, as his Maejsty hath often said, he will neither spare pains, nor decline any hazard of his Person or fortune.  
Edward Nichols.   

London, Printed for N. Alen. May 26. 1642.