THE PETITION AND DESIRES of all the loyal and true-hearted Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, and Free-holders within the County of Essex, To the Honounable the House of Commons assembled at Westminster, concerning a personal Treaty with the KING: ALSO, Their Propositions touching the Army and kingdom, together with their Desires therein.  
AGreed upon by the Grand-Jury at the last general Assizes holden at Chelmsford, March 22. 1647. And since presented to the Right honourable the Earl of Warwick, together with His Lordships Answer thereunto.  
LONDON: Printed for N. V. Anno Dom. 1648.   

The Humble PETITION AND DESIRES OF The Grand-Jury at the last Assizes holden at Chelmsford for the County of Essex, the 22. of March, 1647.  
To the Right Honourable the House of Commons in the Parliament of England assembled at Westminster.  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat your Petitioners taking into their serious( yet sad) considerations, the present distractions and calamities of this whole Kingdom. And being also very sensible( by woeful experience) of the great and many pressures and grievances of their own particular county, and taking notice also, with all thankfulness of the Honourable Resolutions of this House, in giving encouragement to the just desires of the oppressed in a Petitionary way, the undoubted right of the Subject, and the very life of their liberty itself, out of a tender fellow-feeling of others, and the deep sense of their own miseries, have made this humble, yet necessary address to this Honourable Court, concerning both the present and future happiness of themselves and the whole Kingdom to be concerned in this their ensuing desires.  
And first, considering that it is impossible the sad & direful effects of this late War should cease, without the principal causes be first taken away and removed.  
And considering likewise his Majesties absence from his two Houses of Parliament hath been one main cause of increasing of jealousies, and continuing a mis-understanding betwixt him and his great council( the original and source of our unhappiness) And humbly conce●ving that a timely and ready concession to his Majesty for a personal Treaty with his High Court of Parliament, may prove the most effectual and speedy means for the removal of all such mal-administrations and fears which are yet the unhappy obstacles of the peace and quiet of this our Kingdom.  
Secondly, considering the excessive charges and almost intolerable burden of Free-quarter, which besides other taxes and contributions, this County with the rest of the kingdom do at this present groan under, which although for a time they may possibly bear with patience, yet if continued, will certainly and inevitably ruin themselves their Families, and their posterities.  
And withall, considering that the most hopeful means of settling a well-grounded peace, and the surest way of praventing future troubles, consists in the due satisfaction of all just complaints and interests. And that this Army who have faithfully discharged their trusts to yourselves and whole Kingdom, do much complain for want of their Arrears.  
We therefore your humble Petitioners do most earnestly desire, that you would be pleased to take their premises into your grave and serious consideration, and to condescend to the royal intimations of his Majesty for a personal Treaty, to expedite such a course, which in your wisdoms you shall think most meet for the satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army, with a disbanding of the same.  
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.   

The Answer of the Right Honourable the Earl of Warwick to the said Petition.  
THe Earl of Warwick having received the Copy of a Petition from divers of the Inhabitants of the County of Essex, the said Inhabitants making choice of his Lordship for the presenting of it to the Honourable Court of Parliament; his Lordship were pleased to return this Answer.  
That he desired the Petitioners to desist for ten days, assuring them, that before the said time were expired, he h●●ed there would be an accommodation betwixt the King and Parliament, which would prevent their trouble. And if it should fall out otherwise, he would assist the Petitioners to the utmost of his power, to present the said Petition.  
At the same time his Lordship was pleased to affirm the Petitionary way the most unquestionable for the Subject to proceed.  
The Petitioners having received this satisfactory Answer from his Lordship, resolved to desist, and to proceed no further during the time before limited, according to his Lordships desire.   

The Copy of a Letter from a Gentlemen resident in the Town of Chelmsford, touching the resolution and proceedings of the Grand-Jury at the last Assizes at the said Town.  
Right Honourable,  
OUr last general Assessions continued very ●ed●ous, by reason of the great distractions of the County, occasioned by their great oppressures & heavy burdens, in respect of the great taxes and free quarter which they have a long time groaned under; insomuch, that the Grand Jury, in the name of the Knights, Gentry, and Free-holders of the County of Essex, resolved to draw up a Petition to be presented to the Honourable House of Commons, wherein they declare, that it is impossible the sad & direful effects of the late war should cease without the principal causes be first taken away and removed, and likewise considering his Majesties absence from his two Houses of Parliament, hath been one main cause of increasing of jealousies, and continuing a mis-understanding betwixt Him and his great council.  
And that they conceive a timely and ready cuncession to his Majesty for a personal treaty with his high Court of Parliament, may prove the most speedy and effectual means for the removal of all such mal-administrations and fears, which is all for the present from  
Your most humble and devoted Servant. N. V. Ch●lmsford 1. April, 1647.  
FINIS.