A PETITION OF THE House of Commons, Presented to his Majesty, with the Remonstrance of the State of the kingdom ▪  
Printed, 1641.   

To the Kings most excellent majesty.  
Most Gracious sovereign,  
YOur Majesties most humble and faithful subjects the Commoners in this present Parliament assembled, do with much thankfulness and joy, acknowle●ge the great mercy and favour of God, in giving your Majesty a safe and peaceable return out of Scotland into your kingdom of England, where the pressing dangers and distempers of the State, have caused us with much earnestness to desire the comfort of your gracious Presence, and likewise the unity and Justice of your royal authority to give more life and power to the dutiful and loyal Counsels, and endeavours of your Parliament, for the prevention of that eminent ruin and destruction wherein your kingdoms of England and Scotland are threatened. The duty which we owe to your Majesty and our country, cannot but make us very sensible and apprehensive, that the multiplicity, sharpness, and malignity of those evils under which we have now many yeares suffered, are fomented and cherished by a corrupt and ill affencted party, who amongst other their mischievous devices for the alteration of Religion and government, have sought by many false scandals and imputations cunningly insinuated, and dispersed amongst the people, to blemish and disgrace our proceedings in this Parliament, and to get themselves a party and faction amongst your Subjects, for the better strengthening of themselves in their wicked courses, and hindering those provisions, and remedies which might by the wisdom of your Majesty, and counsel of your Parliament be opposed against them.  
For preventing whereof, and the better information of your Majesty, your peers, and all other your loyal Subjects, we have been necessitated to make a declaration of the state of the kingdom, both before and since the assembly of this Parliament unto this time, which we do humbly present to your Majesty without the least intention to lay any blemish upon your royal Person, but only to represent how your royal Authority and trust have been abused, to the great prejudice and danger of your Majesty, and of all your good subjects.  
And because wee have reason to believe that those malignant parties whose proceedings evidently appear to be, mainly for the advantage and increase of Popery, is composed, set up, and acted by the subtle practise of the Jesuits, and other Engineers and Factors for Rome, and to the great danger of this kingdom, and most grievous affliction of your loyal Subjects, have so far prevailed, as to corrupt divers of your Bishops, and others in prime places of the Church, and also to bring divers of these Instruments to be of your Privy counsel, and other employments of trust and nearness about your majesty, the Prince, and the rest of your royal Children.  
And by this means hath had such an operation in your counsel, and the most important affairs and proceedings of your government, that a most dangerous division, and chargeable preparation for war betwixt your kingdoms of England and Scotland, the increase of jealousies betwixt your Majesty, and your most obedient Subjects, the violent distraction and interruption of this Parliament, the insurrection of the Papists in this kingdom, and bloody massacre of your people have been not only endeavoured and attempted, but in a great measure compassed and effected.  
For preventing the final accomplishment whereof, your poor Subjects are enforced to engage their persons and estates to the maintaining of a very expenseful and dangerous war, notwithstanding they have already since the beginning of this Parliament undergone the charge of 150000. pounds sterling or thereabouts, for the necessary support and supply of your Majesty in these present and perilous designs. And because all our most faithful endeavours, and engagements will be ineffectual for the peace, safety, and preservation of your Majesty and your people, if some present, real and effectual course be not taken for suppressing this wicked and malignant party.  
Wee your most humble and obedient Subjects do with all faithfulness and humility beseech your Majesty,  
1 That you will be graciously pleased to concur with the humble desires of your people in a Parliamentary way, for the preserving the peace and safety of the kingdom from the malicious designs of the Popish party.  
For depriving the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament, and abridging their immoderate power usurped over the Clergy, and other your good Subjects which they have most perniciously abused to the hazard of Religion, and great prejudice and oppression of the Laws of the kingdom, and just liberty of your people.  
For the taking away such oppressions in Religion, Church-government, and Discipline, as have been brought in and fomented by them.  
For uniting all such your loyal Subjects together, as join in the same fundamental truths against the Papists, by removing some oppressions and unnecessary Ceremonies, by which divers weak Consciences have been scrupled, and seem to be divided from the rest, for the due execution of those good Laws which have been made for securing the liberty of your Subjects.  
2 That your Majesty will likewise be pleased to remove from your counsel all such as persist to favour, and promote any of those pressures and corruptions wherewith your people have been grieved, and that for the future your Majesty will vouchsafe to employ such persons in your great and public affairs, and to take such to be near you in places of trust, as your Parliament may have cause to confided in, that in your Princely goodness to your people, you will reject and refuse all mediation and solicitation to the contrary, how powerful and near soever.  
3 That you will be pleased to forbear to alienate any of the forfeited and escheated Lands in Ireland, which shall accrue to your crown, by reason of this Rebellion, that out of them the crown may be the better supported, and some satisfaction made to your Subjects of this kingdoms, for the great expenses they are like to undergo in this war.  
Which humble desires of ours being graciously fulfilled by your Majesty, we will by the blessing and favour of God most cheerfully undergo the hazard and expenses of this war, and apply ourselves to such other courses and counsels as may support your royal estate with honour and plenty at home, with power and reputation abroad, and by our loyal affections, obedience, and service, lay a sure and lasting foundation of the greatness and prosperity of your Majesty, and your royal posterity in future times.  
FINIS.