THE PETITION OF Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonells, Majors, and other Officers, that have faithfully served the GREAT CAUSE OF THE kingdom Under the Authority of PARLIAMENT.  
Presented to both HOUSES, with the several Answers of the Lords and Commons in Parliament.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Bostocke.  
March. 27. 1647.   

TO The Right Honourable the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament,  
The humble Petition of Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors and other Officers that have faithfully served the great Cause of the kingdom, under the Authority of Parliament,  
Sheweth,  
THat your Petitioners having faithfully served you in the maintenance and settlement of Religion, the liberty of the Subjects, and the Privileges of Parliament, according to the tenor of the national Covenant taken by them, in the time of the kingdoms greatest exigence( which were the principal ends for which they were at first engaged) and cannot but hold themselves bound in honour and conscience, in concurrence with many others, to tender to your Honours Considerations, such things as they in all submission do conceive exceedingly conducing to the speedy effecting of the said ends, together with their own sad and neglected condition, humbly desiring your Honours favourable construction of their good intentions therein, and opportune and timely answer unto these ensuing particulars, viz as followeth.  
1. That the public worship of God may speedily be settled, according to the word of God, and the example of the best Reformed-Churches.  
2. That the Subject may have the benefit of Magna Charta, and the Petition of Right, so far forth as may comport with the necessity of the kingdom.  
3. That all Committees in the several Counties may be removed, and that they, the Treasurers, and Sequestrators of the said Counties may be called to a speedy and strict account, for the better satisfaction and ease of the kingdom.  
4. That the arrears of such Officers as have served under any general Command, may have their accounts speedily audited in London, and that a special Order may be issued to t●e several Committees of accounts residing in other Counties, forthwith to audit the accounts of such Officers as have been subservient to the Orders of the Committees of the said Counties.  
5. That such pay as shall appear due unto the said Officers under the hands of the Committees of Accounts, according to the establishment, may be forthwith paid unto them with interest, and the Ordinance upon the Bishops Lands, with the security of the Excise may be revived for the discharge thereof; that for such part as is respited upon the public faith, it may be discharged with interest, at the end of six moneths deducting the surcharges of the several Counties, and that an Order may be issued to the said several Counties to bring in their surcharges within the time of three moneths, or otherways they shall not be charged on our Accounts; that so all of us may not be utterly ruined as some of us already are, by long and tedious solicitation, nor your justice blemished through our necessities and sufferings.  
6. That all such Officers and Souldiers as have contracted any Debt since this war began, in order to the carrying on of the public Service, either for the want of the payment of their due salary, or by reason of their own disbursment, may have their persons free from all Processes, Arrests, or Molestations, until their arrears shal be discharged, and that then their Creditors shall be proportionably satisfied, and the said Officers left to the usual course and full power of the Law as formerly.  
7. That an Act of indemnity may be passed for all Officers and Souldiers, for such actions as have been done by them in reference to the public Service since the beginning of this war.  
8. That all such Officers as have lost the benefit o● their Estates, and have disbursed divers sums o● Money for the raising of Men, Horses, arms, o● Ammunition, or in the management of their public trusts, shall be considered for their said losses and allowed for their said disbursements upon just proof thereof made before the Committee of accounts; And that the said Committee shall have special Order given them to audite such disbursements when they shall be brought unto them.  
9. That not forgetting your Honours tender care of the sad condition of bleeding Ireland, and that nothing may be wanting on our parts towards the promoting of so honourable and pious a work, some of us have engaged ourselves already, and the rest are most willing to contribute their best assistance thereunto, when as your Honours shall be pleased to command us.  
And in pursuance of a full Establishment of the particulars aforesaid, as in your great wisdom shall be thought most convenient, Your Petitioners do offer their utmost service and assistance, with their Lives and Fortunes.  
And shall ever pray, &c.   

Die Lunae 22. Martii. 1646.  
THE Right Honourable House of Lords being informed, that divers Officers that have served the Parliament and kingdom were at the door, des●●ing to prefer a Petition to them, they were called in, and colonel Richard Sandys did present the same, styled, The Humble Petition of colonels, Lieutenant colonels, Majors, and other Officers that have faithfully served the great Cause of the kingdom under the Authority of Parliament: which being red, the Petitioners were commanded to withdraw, and after debate they were called in again, and the Speaker gave them the Answer of the House, viz.  
The House gives you thanks for your Affections to thi● House.  
They give you thanks for your good Services done for the Parliament and kingdom.  
They give you thanks for your Constancy and Perseverance in your Affections to the well-f 〈…〉 of the kingdom.  
They give you thanks for your readiness to serve the Parliament in the Irish war, and do promise when they have occasion to employ you.  
For your arrears, they will use their utmost endeavours, that you may be speedily satisfied.  
And for the other particulars, they will take them into speedy Consideration.   

Die Lunae 22 Martii. 1646.  
THe House being informed that divers Officers that ha●e served the Parliament were at the door, desiring to pre●erre a Petition to the House, they were called in, and Sir Thomas Essex did prefer a Petition, styled, The Humble Petition, of colonels, Lieutenant colonels, Majors, and other Officers, that have faithfully served the great Cause of the kingdom under the Authority of Parliament; the which, the Petitioners being withdrawn, was red: And it is Ordered, that Master Hollis, Sir Philip Stapleton, Master Reynolds, and Col. Bossevile, do from this House acquaint the Petitioners, That as to their Arreers, the House hath, and will take them into Consideration with others, in such manner as they shall think fit; and for their desire of employment, they will take them into Consideration, as occasion shall be. The rest of the Petition, which concerns the management of the affairs of the public, it does not concern any to give Instructions to the Houses therein: Yet in consideration the Petitioners are men that have done Service to the Parliament, and in regard of their Professions may have done this merely out of inadvertency, they are, willing to pass by it.  
Hen. elsing clear. Parl. D. come.   
FINIS.