TO The Supreme Authority of the NATION, The PARLIAMENT of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, &c. THE HUMBLE PETITION And RECANTATION Of many dissatisfied Persons, commonly known by the Name of ANABAPTISTS.  
In all Humility showeth,  
THat your Petitioners cannot but acknowledge themselves a seduced and misled People, who through the Temptations of Satan, and his Grand Instruments Sir Harry Vane and the Lord Lambert, have chose unto themselves new paths to walk in, and have gone astray from the good Old Road of Submission and Obedience, and have racked their Consciences upon the tenterhooks of my Lord Fleetwood's Valour: That the aforesaid Hector's having lost their design, have left us a wretched and confused Multitude, And having not the fear of God before our eyes, we did attempt to disturb the peace of this Commonwealth, and in order thereunto, we do confess we did provide Arms and Ammunition for the private Seizing and Securing the Honourable City of London, and likewise of your Honours, with a Resolved intent (according to our old received Principles) to overturn the Seat of Magistracy, and invade the Ministerial Function with the profundity of our own conceited Doctrine, (invented by John of Leyden) and to lay wast their dwelling places and to level their Churches with the Ground.  
Now forasmuch as we have failed in these our Damned Plots and Contrivances, and that we find no blessing to attend unrighteous Actions; and whereas since our leaving off our Coleman-street Divinity, and praying blindfold for the Prosperity of what we desired, we find that we have no answer either by our Urim and Thummim, or Enthusiasm, which is our wonted way of our receiving answers to what we ask; but Confusion hath overtaken our intents, and we are now left to your honour's Mercy and Indulgence, without which we can neither think ourselves safe, nor reckon our Lives for our own.  
We therefore most humbly implore your Honours, (after your consideration what useful Members We have been to this Nation:)  
1. That the persons taken in this our Defection may be tried for their Censpiracy by a Jury of Twelve men, the Hangman being Foreman; the favour of whose Function we question nos but we shall receive.  
2. That Capt. Kiffin (that sweet PREACHER upon Solomon's Canticles) may have liberty to make his Recantation in his own Synagogue near Tower-street; and that H. Hills may assist him in the Work, out of his elaborate piece of Repentance for Adultery, entitled, The Prodigal son returned to his father's house.  
3. That the steel-Swords and Knives taken from your Petitioners may be converted into ploughshares and Pruning-books, thereby to induce the country to pardon our past-offences; and that such Conversion may be made at your Petitioners proper Costs and Charges.  
4. That We have liberty granted by your Honours to persevere in our Religious dispensations; we being willing to give ample security for our future good behaviour; as likewise to pray for the New Representative, as we have done for you.  
5. That an Act of indemnity may pass for such of us as your Honours think, good to have hanged: And that Patience, our Orthodox preaching tailor, may accompany them to the place of Execution.  
6. That the Trained Bands of London may be discharged their Duty of Watching and Warding, We being now both ready and willing to render Obedience to your Commands, We having now tried all things, desire to hold fast that which is good.  
These our humble Requests being granted, Your Petitioners shall daily Pray, &c.   

LONDON, Printed for James Johnson. 1660.