THE PETITION Of the Inhabitants of the City of Westminster with the liberty of the duchy of Lancanster.  
TOGETHER With the answer of the House of Peers to the said Petition, delivered by the Lord Kimbolton, earl of Manchester, the 20 of December, 1642.  
LONDON, Printed for humphrey Tuckey, 1642.   

To the Right honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament.  
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster and duchy of Lancaster.  
SHEWETH,  
THat your Petitioners being sensible of the miserable effects of war, and the ruin and Desolation that will unavoidably overwhelm this miserable Kingdom, now distracted and much divided, and engaged in an unnatural intestine and bloody war, and in their own particulars having already tasted of some part of those Miseries, by the death of some of their nearest and dearest Friends, and great Losses in their Callings: And also taking into consideration the lamentable and miserable effects that the late unhappy Civile Warres have produced in Germany, and by the present Rebellion in Ireland; And that if this War and dissension shall still continue in England, the same will not only greatly prejudice, but also hazard the Religion, Estates, Lives, and Liberties of their poor distressed Brethren in that kingdom, that they cannot but seek Peace( the onely Cure of their Miseries both by their Prayers to God, and in their humble Petitions to this Honourable Assembly,( desiring your concurrence with the House of Commons) to whom they are bold to make their humble addresses.  
Wherefore the Petitioners most humbly and hearty beseech you to take into your most Honourable consideration the miserable ▪ estate of this kingdom, in which your Petitioners Calamities are involved, and thereby( if it be possible) to prevent the further Miseries thereof, and the effusion of more Christian Blood, by a speedy, seasonable, and happy Accommodation between H●● gracious Majesty and both Houses of Parliament; wherein they doubt not but you will, to the glory of God, settle the true Protestant Religion in the puri●ie thereof, as in the best times since the Reformation, against all Papists, Sectaries, and schismatics, that shall endeavour to opp 〈…〉 it, to restrain all profaneness of the Lords Day, and establish the orderly Worship of God in his House, and to provide for the preservation of the Person and Honour of his sacred Majesty, the upholding of the just Rights and privileges of Parliament, and the present and seasonable settling of the Peace of the kingdom, whereby they may enjoy the benefit of the laws( the great Protector) of their Lives, Liberties, and Properties.  
And they shall pray, that the God of Peace will bless you in this work of Peace.   

An answer of the house of peers to the Petition of Westminster, and the Duchy of Lancaster, delivered by the Lord Kimbolton, earl of Manchester, the 20 of December, 1642.  
Gentlemen,  
I Am commanded by the Lords to let you know that they have ▪ considered your Petition, and that they do very well accept of it, and as for the subject and matter of it, I am bid to tell you, that all along this Parliament, it hath been one of their main endeavours to preserve a peace through the whole kingdom, by all the best means they could, and for an accommodation with his Majesty, they have long endeavoured by all good ways to obtain it, and at this present they are preparing Propositions to His Majesty for the very same purpose, which they hope will be agreeable to His Majesty, and satisfy the kingdom, and for your desire to communicate your Petition with the House of Commons, they bid me tell you they will do it, and thereunto you shall receive an answer in due convenient time.  
FINIS.