TO THE King's MOST EXCELLENT majesty,  
The humble Petition of many thousand Citizens of great rank and quality in the City of Westminster: presented to his majesty at York, May 25. 1642.  
Most Humbly showeth,  
THat whereas your Petitioners weigh with mature consideration, the diurnal labours, and indefatigable pains of the Parliament for the security of this kingdom, notwithstanding your majesty's long absence from them, do conceive it to be no less heart-bleeding grief unto all your loving Subjects, than a great discouragement unto your Parliament. For while they are wrestling with the great disturbances, and distractions of this Kingdom, they are opposed by new, & strange suspicions: while they are breaking the Cockatrice egg, Wherein the envy of a malignant party is hatching, in the mean time a prodigious Serpent of growing jealousy doth arise: while they are curing the corrupted wounds of the body with the medicable balsam of the laws, the Head seems to be distempered. And whereas your Petitioners understanding, that your majesty's continuance at York, will be both disadvantageous to your own royal person and prejudicial to the epidemical welfare of this whole kingdom, and that your majesty's intention to take Hull, would not have been more secure, then to have taken Whit hall, and that your majesty's supposed resolution to take arms against the Parliament (which struck amazement itself amazed) was so derogatory from the heart of a Prince, and so opposite to the laws of the Land, that (your Petitioners must impartially confess) that they could scarce entertain any such suspicion in their minds, having greater confidence in you their sovereign, and in your Majesties more solicitous care for the public peace and welfare of your kingdoms, which by the Law of God, and man you are to maintain; In the revolution of all which premises your Petitioners hearts have been deeply wounded with pationate grief, and the ambiguous fear of imminent danger; Wherefore your Petitioners seriously considering the manifold dangers inpendent to this kingdom, and all flowing from one general fountain in your majesty's absence, do with all submission of heart, and ardency of affection, humbly beseech your Sacred Majesty graciously to vouchsafe to return to your Parliament, to the accomplishment of the future peace, and safety of the kingdom, wherein your Petitioners do acknowledge themselves, and their posterity to be involved. And withal your Petitioners do obsequiously implore your majesty to concur, and comply with your Parliament, and correspond with them in all their consultations by the blessed connection of love, that so both all fears, and suspicions, all griefs, and molestation, which hath long poisoned their hearts in your absence, may be forthwith expelled with the happy Antidote of you royal presence.  
In humble supplication to your majesty, we likewise desire that you would graciously condescend to the disposal of the Militia of the kingdom, as the Parliament have already judiciously ordered and appointed: That so we may be Armed in preparation to mitigate any domestic Insurrection or mutiny, and able to withstand the oppositions of any foreign enemy whatsoever: That your majesty would not altogether forget the bloody continuance of the Rebellion in Ireland, and their still persecution of the British Nation, but that greater aid and assistance may be speedily sent; And that the fountain of Religion may flow in a more sanctified, and purer current, to the absolute extirpation of Popery and Superstition, heretical faction, and schism, and to the pious reformation of the Church of England: But most especially, what the Alpha, and Omega of our Prayers intimates, is, That your majesty would be graciously pleased to return suddenly to the Parliament, and be conjoined to them in a reciprocal, and coherent unity, and then the perfection of our wishes shall be consummated, while your Petitioners will maintain and secure your sacred majesty from any unjust injury to the utmost of their lives, fortunes, estates, and liberties.  
And for your majesty's happy return, your Petitioners as in all loyalty and Obedience bound, shall for ever pray, &c.   

London, printed for T. B.