To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty. The Most humble address of the Ministers of the word of God in the County of LINCOLN, whose Names, &c. Most Dread sovereign, AMong all the great Calamities which God most justly for our Sins hath brought upon us since the first commencing of our National Distractions; none have made so deep impression of real sorrow upon our hearts as the barbarous inhumanity acted upon your Royal Father of happy memory, by certain wicked and deceitful men; the remembrance whereof, as it doth renew our utmost abhorrency of the Act, so of all those Jesuitical Principles which under any pretence whatsoever, have a tendency to the deposing, and much more the murder of Kings. After the loss of the best deserving King the World could then boast of, which was attended with the voice of Blasphemy uttered by our Enemies against the true Religion, because some who did profess it hath stained her beauty with their bloody hands; Gall was added to our Wormwood by the forced exile of your Majesty; during whose absence abroad, we could hardly think ourselves to be at home. But God who comforteth those who are cast down, gave us hope in the wonderful preservation of your majesty at Worcester, the Supplications made for you by your faithful people, and establishment of your Royal heart, with his grace to resist and overcome a great Crowd of Temptations, both upon the right hand and on the left, by holding fast the True, ancient, Catholic and Apostolical Faith, once delivered to the Saints. These things were to us as the dawning of the day of Salvation, which God after a dark night of Confusion hath now (not by an ordinary working os Providence) caused to shine upon us: And we have cause to believe, that he who hath subdued the power of your Enemies, will also subdue their hearts; that as your majesty's return hath been accompanied with the cordial desire and joy of the most of your Subjects; so your Reign will be with the great Love and full Satisfaction of all: of this our Confidence is the more increased by your majesty's Gracious, Charitable, and Healing Declaration of the first of May; and the early Proclamation issued out against vicious, debauched and profane Persons; for which, as we are always bound to praise God, so we do with all humble thankfulness acknowledge your majesty's Special grace and Princely favour: And whatever our earnests Prayers to God, Exhortations to our hearers, and dutiful subjection may possibly contribute to the happiness of your Sacred Person and Government, we shall with all alacrity and faithfulness perform, beseeching him by whom King's Reign, to increase your graces, preserve your health, prolong your days, and establish the Crown upon your Head. This Address was presented to his Majesty in the privy Chamber at Whitehall on Tuesday the 24 of July 1660. together with a short Speech made by Robert Sanderson, Doctor of Divinity, who was accompanied with the following Ministers, John Naylor Vicar of Boston Jeremiah Vasyn Rector of Skyrbecke Edward Dix Rector of Kirkby la-Thorpe William Lincoln William Dales Rector of Hag-worthingham George Cuthbert Rector of Willoughhy Edward Ayscough Rector of North-Thoresby Charles Woodward Vicar of Alford Robert Alington Rector of Hougham Henry Vaughan Vicar of Grantham Andrew Arnold Rector of Marham Edward Boteler Rector of Wintringham John Merryweather Rector of West Halton Thomas Trott Rector of Barkston. May it please your most Excellent Majesty, THe Clergy of the County of Lincoln desire by me to present to your most Excellent Majesty their most humble Address, In expression of their great joy for your majesty's happy restoring to your Crown and People, and of their loyal affection to your majesty's royal Person and Government: without offering to your Majesty any thing either of Petition or Complaint. London Printed for Henry Seile, over against St. Dunstan's Church.