To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons, now assembled in Parliament,  
The humble Petition of many of the Gentry, Ministers, freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the County of Kent; the Cities of Canterbury and Rochester, and the County of Canterbury, the Cinque ports and their Members, and other Corporations within the said County,  
Most humbly showeth,  
THat your Petitioners, or many of them, have heretofore exhibited to both Houses of Parliament, a Petition concurring with those of the renowned City of London, and other several Counties of this kingdom, expressing their zeal to true Religion, and the pure Worship of God, and their loyal affection to the Kings most excellent majesty, both Houses, and the kingdoms: That your Petitioners do with all humility return their utmost thanks unto this Honourable Assembly, for your favourable and gentle acceptance of their Petitions, your great care, vigilancy, and incessant labours for the advancement of the true reformed Religion, the Honour and Welfare of His majesty and His kingdoms; for your continued endeavours, for a right understanding between His majesty and Parliament; for your instant addresses to His majesty, to dissuade his personal expedition into Ireland; and especially for that to us so welcome, a Declaration of the Lords and Commons April 9 1642. concerning your pious intentions for a necessary Reformation: And that your Petitioners do most heartily rejoice to behold the happy union of both Houses of Parliament, and mutual concurrence of them and the whole kingdom, wherein under his Majesty the safety of all the three kingdoms doth consist.  
Yet your Petitioners cannot but plainly express with what sad hearts they think on the many evil occurrents, which interrupt your unparalleled pains, and interecept the fruit of your faithful Counsels from us; amongst which this is not the least, (viz.) a Petition (as we humbly conceive) of dangerous consequence, contrived by some few, and published the last Assizes holden for this County at Maidstone; and then, yea, yet advanced for Subscribers, and intended to be exhibited to this Honourable House, as the Petition of the whole body of this County, to cause the whole kingdom to believe that Petition to be the Act of the whole County of Kent, or the major part thereof; whereby a great scandal is brought upon this loyal and peaceable County, the same Petition being styled The Kentish Petition, which we know is not the Act of the body of the County, as it seems to speak, for as much as it was disavowed by many of the than Grand-Jury, and Justices of the Bench, and by all us your Petitioners, whose names are underwritten.  
Wherefore our humble and earnest prayer is, That your Honours would be pleased to accept this our Vindication of ourselves, and the county, who utterly disclaim the said Petition; humbly leaving it to the wisdom, Justice, and Clemency of this Honourable assembly, to d●fference between the active Contrivers and Promoters, and unadvised Subscribers of it.  
To lift up your hearts above all discouragements in the ways of the Lord, according to that your so Religious Resolution, for Reformation in the Church, for a Consultation with Godly and Learned Divines; and for the establishing of a Preaching ministry throughout the whole kingdom.  
And we your humble Petitioners (being sensible that to oppose, or slight His majesty's Parliament, or the Orders thereof, were to hazard the safety of His royal Person, and all His kingdoms, and to further the designs of our Enemies, who hope by causing our Division to triumph in our Confusion) are unanimously resolved to maintain and defend, as far as Lawfully we may, with our lives, power, and estates, His majesty's royal Person, Honour, and Estate; As also the Power and privileges of the Parliament, according to the late Protestation, and the duty of your Petitioners, and all other His majesty's loving People, and faithful Subjects:  
And shall daily pray, &c.   

London printed for Edward Blackmore at the Angel in Paul's churchyard.