TO THE RIGHT honourable THE LORDS AND COMMONS NOW ASSEMBLED IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants in the County of ESSEX,  
Showeth:  
THat We your Petitioners, true members of this Church and State, being sensible of the present Distractions and bloody Miseries wherein this Nation is most unhappily involved, whereby the ruin of our Religion, Estates, Lives and Liberties, is inevitably threatened, in a most unnatural and unchristian manner; the nearest and dearest relations Plotting and Acting Destruction each to other: Neither is this our so great Misery bounded within ourselves, but it extendeth itself to our poor Brethren of bleeding-Ireland, not only to the ruin of their Persons and Estates, but even to the utter extirpation of the Protestant Religion itself in that miserable kingdom, by disabling us to afford them that timely aid and assistance which in truth was due unto them. The tender consideration of the Premises doth enforce us humbly to address ourselves to the favour and wisdom of this Honourable Court for relief; not doubting, but that the blessing of GOD meeting with your grave and timely endeavours, may yet put a Period to these our miserable Distractions. And to that end, we have addressed ourselves by Petition to His sacred majesty.  
And therefore do in all humility beg, you would be pleased seriously to consider of our present approaching Calamities; and before any more blood be shed, to tender (with all possible convenient speed) unto our gracious sovereign, such Propositions for Accommodation, as may be for the Preservation of the true Protestant Religion, his majesty's safety and Honour, the peace and prosperity of all his Subjects.  
And we shall pray, &c.