THE PETITION Of his Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax, Lord General AND HIS Council of Officers, FOR THE Recalling of all Penal Laws made against private Meetings, the punishing of Profaneness, as Swearing, etc. the releasing of persons under Restraint, and the taking away unnecessary Laws with their Intricacies and Delays.  
Presented to the PARLIAMENT on Thursday, August 16. 1649.  
With their Answer thereunto.  
Aug▪ 18 London, Printed for John Playford, and are to be sold at his shop in the Inner Temple. 1649.   

TO THE Supreme Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of ENGLAND; The humble Petition of his Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax, General, and his Council of Officers;  
Shows,  
THat being very sensible of that power and presence of God, which hath lately appeared in Jreland, as the fruit of that Spirit of Faith and supplication, which God hath poured forth on the hearts of his people, to the bringing down the common Enemy, and exalting his own Name, that doth great things, by small and contemptible means, That no flesh may boast, but he who glories, may glory in the Lord, We are much pressed in mind (we trust by the same power and presence that hath made bare his Arm in the late Victory) to tender to this Honourable House, the annexed Proposals, that yourselves being set in high Place and power of doing good in this Nation, may in the sense of this late Mercy, so shine forth in ways of truth and Righteousness, That God's People, and this Commonwealth, may have cause to rejoice in You, and bless his Name for You.  
1. That all such Penal Statutes made under the several Kings of England, and likewise any Ordinance made this present Parliament, whereby many conscientious people are much molested, a●d the propagation of the Gospel hindered may be removed, and some course taken, that the Spirit of Christ, flowing forth in his servants for the declaring his Name in the Nation, may not be suppressed, but receive all due encouragement, they living peaceably under the present Government, without disturbing the public Worship.  
2. And because we are sensible, that through the subtlety of s●t●n the most lawful & Christian Liberty may be abused to licentiousness and profaneness, which from our hearts, We therefore do humbly declare, That it is not our meaning, that the liberty before desired by us, should extend to the Toleration of Popery, Prelacy, the Book of Common-Prayer, public scorn or contempt of God and his Word; and do further desire, That through your care and zeal, all open acts of profaneness, as drunkenness, swearing, uncleanness, & the like, be vigorously proceeded against, and punished in all persons whatsoever.  
3. That upon the sense of this great Mercy lately received from God, your hearts would be moved to extend your favour so far as may stand with the safety of this present Government to those who have formerly served you, and the Interest of this Nation against the Common Enemies thereof, but of late for their miscarriages have fallen under your displeasure, and are now under Restraint, and for the future all disturbers of the public Peace be vigorously proceeded against.  
4. That speedy consideration may be had of those great Oppressions which the People of this Nation groan under by Reason of the Multiplicity of unnecessary Laws with their intricacies and delays, which tends to the profit of some particular men, but much to the expense and damage of the whole.  
June 15. 1649. By the appointment of his Excellency the Lord FAIRFAX, Lord General, and his Council of Officers. Signed, Richard Hatter, Secretary.   

THis Petition being presented to the Parliament on Thursday. Aug. 16. by Coll. Pride, Lieut. Coll. Goffe., and other Officers.  
The Officers (after reading the same) were called in, and Master SPEAKER in the name of the House gave them thanks for their constant good affections, and in particular, for the Petition, acquainting them that they had the things therein, already under consideration, but that this should hasten the Granting of the same with all possible speed and convenience.   
FINIS.