❧ To the Kings most excellent Majesty.  
A Petition presented to the King's Majesty at York, the first of April, by the Inhabitants of the County of Nottingham, and the County of the Town of Nottingham, subscribed by 4540 hands of Knights, Esquiers, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and the Maior, Aldermen, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Nottingham.  
We your loyal and peaceful Subjects, Inhabitants of the County of Nottingham, and of the Town of Nottingham, do humbly crave leave to show, and pray, as followeth;  
THat whereas after many straight yokes, and heavy burdens in the late long intermission, or interruptions of Parliamentary Justice, by the predominance of evil counsels imposed on us, and with much patience borne by us (though to the extreme pressure of our persons, consciences, and estates) we were in the midst of many troubles, dangers, and extremities, to which this Kingdom was thereby reduced; at last by Your majesty's grace in calling this Parliament, relieved, and eased, and by so happy a constitution of a Parliament, as this in many blessed effects hath appeared, together with the late mutual correspodence of both Houses, we were revived with fresh and pregnant hopes, that all our former evils, with the cause of them, should by this Parliament (with Your majesty's gracious Assent) be henceforth removed, and greater good wrought and established to us, than we or our forefathers have seen: Yet now by Your majesty's late withdrawing both Your Person and former grace to such a distance from Your Parliament, we feel our hopes fainting, and almost extinct; new fears raised of the old, and greater evils toward us; and foresee all ordinary remedy like to be removed, or the timely application thereof to extreme danger, retarded: Especially, by the advantage which the malignant persons within us, and our enemies abroad (both in Ireland, and elsewhere) may make of such your distance from your Parliament, and distrust of it, to the promovall and accomplishment of their mischievous designs (by your Parliament faithfully represented) and the overwhelming of this Kingdom in the sad effects of intestine discord.  
We your poor Subjects therefore, from deep and bleeding sense of miseries of all sorts, thus growing on yourself, on Yours, on us, on all, do humbly presume to beg, That your Majesty (weighing the premises in your Princely Thoughts) would be pleased to vindicate your Kingdoms from approaching ruin, yourself to security, and restore us to our now-languishing hopes.  
1. By rejection of evil counsels and counsellors, as have fomented Jealousies or differences between your Majesty and Parliament, and therein, or other ways, obscure your Native lustre from your people, making you appear less amiable then (we believe) you are: and next, without which, we can expect no good.  
2. By a timely return to some place near your Parliament, where they may have such ready recourse as the exigencies of the times require, and your royal Ancestors have ever vouchsafed their Parliaments; and also to your good opinion of them, and trust in them, as the best supporters of your Wealth, Honour, and sovereignty.  
And if your Majesty shall be pleased to renew and continue this your wonted gracious regard to, and concurrence, with the best advice of your Parliament, for manage and settlement of your Kingdoms Affairs (which their fidelity may deserve, and your frequent promises have made your people expect) the effects will undoubtedly prove the glory of God, your majesty's truest Honour, the terror of your enemies, safety of your Kingdoms, and joy of your good Subjects, especially of us, who shall so clearly, according to our Protestation, with our Lives and Fortunes maintain and defend your majesty's royal Person, Honour, and Crown, With the Power and privileges of Parliament, The Rights and Liberties of your Subjects, And the Power and Purity of Protestant Religion.  
And we shall ever pray, &c.   

April 13. London, Printed for Joseph Hunscott. 1642.