The Petition of Mr. Praise-God bare-bone, and several others, to the PARLIAMENT.  
Presented on Thursday the 9th of February, 1659.  
THE House being informed that divers Petitioners were at the Door, they were called in, and Mr. Praise-God bare-bone in the name of the rest, being come to the Bar, addressing himself to Mr. Speaker, said, we are come to wait upon this Honourable House with a Petition from such as are lovers of the Good Old Cause; the Petitioners are such as have adhered to this Parliament, and such as are lovers of Justice, Righteousness, Freedom, and lovers of a commonwealth, accounting it the best Government: There are many Subscriptions, I may say thousands, and in their names I do humbly present it to you: And thereupon presented the Petition, who being withdrawn, the Petition was read, and is as followeth;  

To the PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of England.  
The Representation and Address of the Well-affected Persons, Inhabitants of the Cities of London and Westminster, and places adjacent, being faithful and constant Adherers to this Parliament, who are resolved (by the assistance of Almighty God) to stand by, assert, and maintain their Authority, against all opposers, notwithstanding the present confidence and bold attempts of the Promoters of Regal Interest, by the declared Enemies of their Cause and Authority.  
WHereas the good Old Cause was for Civil and Christian Liberty, against Oppression and Persecution; The Oppressors and Persecutors, were chiefly the King, his Lords and Clergy, and their Adherents, who to effect their designs, raised War against the Parliament.  
Whereupon the Parliament in defence of Civil and Christian Liberty, call the oppressed and persecuted to their aid, by whose assistance the Oppressors and Persecutors have been subdued, Kingship and Peerage abolished, and persecution checked; by which the number of conscientious Friends to the Parliament, have been so exceedingly increased, that they are now (by God's assistance) in a far more able capacity of keeping down their enemies, than they were in those times when they subdued them.  
Nevertheless, so watchful hath the restless enemy been to make advantage, that what (time after time) he hath lost in the Field, he hath endeavoured to regain, even in the Parliaments Council; where because he had not the Face openly to bring in the King, with the former oppressions and persecutions, they shrouded and vailed themselves, one while under a Personal Treaty, another while, under a Cloak of Zeal, against Blasphemy and heresy, their endeavours being to bring in the King upon any terms; to cherish the persecuting party, and to browbeat their most conscientious Opposers.  
Upon which pretences, nevertheless they have, through tract of time, and the unsettledness of Government, prevailed so far, as under the notion of a moderate Party, to get the subtlest of their Friends into many places of Trust and Command, both Civil and Military, through whose countenance and encouragement, albeit the Parliament upon good Grounds, Voted the Government by King and Lords useless, burdensome and dangerous; and declare very largely for Liberty of Conscience, yet of late a general boldness hath been taken, to plead a necessary of returning to the Government of King and Lords, a taking in of the King's Son, or which is all one, for a return of the justly secluded Members, or a Free Parliament, without due Qualifications, whereby the Good Old Cause of Liberty, and Freedom (so long contended for against Regal Interest▪ with the expense of much Blood and Treasure) and the assertors thereof, will be prostituted to satisfy the lusts of the Enemies of the commonwealth, where in they have prevailed so far, that unless all conscientious persons in Parliament, Army, Navy and commonwealth, do speedily unite, and watchfully look about them, as the Sword will certainly (though secretly and silently) be stolen out of their hands; so also will they find all Civil Authority fall suddenly into the hands of their enraged enemies, and a return of all those violences, oppressions and persecutions which have cost so much Blood and Treasure to extirpate.  
The Serious apprehensions whereof, hath stirred up your cordial friends to desire you to use all possible endeavours to prevent the Commonwealths adversaries in this their most dangerous Stratagem; And as the most effectual means thereunto; We pray,  
I. That you will admit no person or persons to Sit, 
These Petitioners declare themselves disaffected to conscientious men in Civil & Military employment, and also to godly Ministers, as his Excellency the L. Gen. Monck doth take notice in the 9 & 10 pages of his Letter, dated from Whitehall Febr. 11. 1659.  or Vote in this, or any future Parliament, or Council of State, or to be in any Office or Judicatory, or any public Trust in the Commonwealth, or Command in the Army, Navy, or Garrisons, or to be a public Preacher to the people at Sea or Land, or any instructor of youth, except such only as shall ABJURE, or by Solemn Engagement renounce the pretended Title, or Titles of Charles Stewart, and the whole Line of the late King James; and of every other person, as a single person, pretending, or which shall pretend to the Crown or Government of these Nations of England, Scotland and Ireland, or any of them, and the Dominions and Territories belonging to them, or any of them, or any other single person, Kingship, Peerage, or any power coordinate with the people's Representatives in Parliament; And all coercive power in matter of Religion, according to a Vote of a Grand Committee of this Parliament, of the 11 of Sept. 1659.  
II. We further pray, That it may be Enacted, That whosoever shall move, offer, or propound in Parliament, Council, or any other Court, or public meeting, any matter or thing, in order to the introducing of Charles Stewart, or any of that Family as aforesaid, or any other single Person, House of Lords, Coercive power in matters of Religion, or any power coordinate with the people's Representatives in Parliament, may be deemed and adjudged guilty of High Treason, and may suffer the pains and penalties thereof. And that whos'ever shall in Parliament, Council, or any other public Court, or meeting, move for, or propose the revocation of this Law (when by you Enacted) may be deemed and judged guilty of High Treason, and suffer the pains and penalties thereof.  
In the prosecution whereof, we shall stand by You, with our Estates and Lives, to assert and maintain your Authority, against all oppositions whatsoever: Notwithstanding the present Confidence, and bold Attempts of Yours and our Enemies.  
Signed by, &c.  
Resolved, That the Petitioners have the thanks of the House for the expression of their good affections to the Parliament.  
The Petitioners being again called in, Mr. Speaker gave them this answer.  
Gentlemen, The House have read your Petition, and they do find that you have been such as have constantly born them good affections, and that your affections are the same still, and for the expressions of your good affections, the House hath commanded me to give you Thanks, and in their Names I do give you Thanks accordingly.