TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE commonwealth OF ENGLAND.  
The humble Petition of divers afflicted WOMEN, in behalf of M: John Lilburn Prisoner in Newgate.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat seeing nothing is more manifest than that God is pleased often times to raise up the weakest means to work the mightiest effects, and inasmuch as the holy Prophet David himself was prevented, by the timely addresses of weak woman, from a most resolved purpose of shedding of Blood: Although we have heard, to our no small grief, that no word of comfort hath been drawn from you by all the many Petitions presented unto you, in behalf of Mr. Lilburn, yea our hearts melting in tenderness towards so great and causeless a sufferer, and▪ being astonished with fear of the heaviest wrath of God, if your new Authority should lay its foundation in his innocent blood, whose life hath escaped, and innocency been manifested in the worst of times, we could not forbear to make this our humble application unto you, beseeching you to consider. Whether the sparing of blood be not more suitable to the work before you, It being denied unto David, because his hands had been dipped in blood, to build a Temple for the Lord: and we humbly offer it unto you, Whether the ready proneness to the spilling of blood in the last Parliament all along, although the Cause were just, being seldom without some hardness of heart, too often with delight, and many times with revenge, were not the main cause that God forsook them, and gave them up to strong delusions, placing their security in worldly policy and outward strength, and upon confidence thereof▪ doing all kind of injustice, even as they did to Mr. Lilburne in their barbarous proceedings towards him, rather than in the ways of Christ, who came not to destroy, but save men's lives, neither did it profit them at all either with God or man. Then their Voice was Jacobs', their tongues and Declarations filled ever with the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, or their frequent seeking of God, and holding days of Prayer, whilst their hands were the hands of Esau, & their feet were swift to shed blood, whilst their ears were deaf to Petitioners and Prisoners, the widow and the Fatherless were neglected by them, making no conscience of trampling all the known ancient Liberties of the Nation under their feet, and putting their Wills into laws, as the Act for banishing Mr▪ Lilburn, in a higher measure than all the tyrants that ever were before them, and for which they are now cast out as unsavoury Salt.  
All that you have to say, as yet, for yourselves, is, That they were broken oss, that you might be grafted in Well: because of walking in the ways of unbelief (such are worldly policies) they were broken off: and you stand by faith and a good conscience both towards God and Man: Be not high minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them that fell, severity: but towards you goodness, if you continue in his goodness, otherwise you also shall be cut off: For he is yesterday, today, and the same for ever.  
All which we crave leave to allude unto in your case, that, if it be possible, we may prevail with▪ you to propose unto yourselves to be unlike unto them in all things, not to walk in any way of their evil ways, as in pride, in keeping at distance with other People, or in Apparel, Diet, housing, and fantastic Fashions, compliments, couches and congees, clothing in Scarlet, and Faring deliciously every day, or in covetousness, advancing their estates, Families, and Relations, upon the ruins of the People, taxing them without measure, laying also of heavy burdens upon them, whilst Pharisee-like, they felt not the weight with one of their fingers: scorned information, and despised Petitions: yea, were come to that height, that none durst epproach their door with any word concerning the liberoys of the Nation. These things manifestly abounded in them; but, os any thing, we, beseech you to watch over yourselves against the spilling of Blood, especially of the blood of the Innocent, which cryeth aloud for vengeance in the ears of God.  
And truly we cannot possibly conceive, but in your permitting M. Lilburn to be imprisoned, and to be put upon his trial for his life upon that sordid and groundless ins●aring Act of theirs, you are so far guilty of the exposing his innocent blood to an unjust hazard: and if the Jury should be so far misled in their judgements, as to find him guilty thereupon, as surely none that have any spark of conscience will do, you cannot be acquitted in the sight of God: For you ought to repeal that bloody Act, and deliver him out of that snare; it being the most unheard of cruelty that ever was, that that Parliament shall be justified by you, voting a man's estate from him, his person to banishment, and enacting him to be a Felon, for what in itself was at the most but a Trespass, and a Jury to be countenanced, encouraged, yea terrified with a party of horse to find him guilty of Felony thereupon.  
You see the thing is so gross, that even Women perceive the evil of it: We beg you therefore, as upon our knees, not to persist in your resolution of making good a● Act so notoriously evil: and that you will not do the less▪ because petitioned, another mortal disease of your Predecessors, nor abhor to change your purpose once taken, though never so pernicious, an evil spirit which led the ●ate King. Bishops, Lords, and Prelatical Clergy and will as many as use it, to unavoidable ruin: but that you would be pleased to put a stop to M. Lillburns trial, and to make full inquiry into the whole matter ●pon which the late Parliament grounded their unj●st Sentence and Act.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, &c.