To the Supreme Authority, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND. The humble Petition of divers constant Adherers to this Parliament, and faithful Assertors of the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Commonwealth.  
Humbly showing,  
THat forasmuch as the original ground of our many years contentions, wars, and miseries, was because encroachments, breaches, and innovations had been frequently made and enforced upon the people, in prejudice of, and tending utterly to subvert their fundamental Laws (their Birthright and chief Inheritance) as plentifully appeareth throughout the Declarations and Remonstrances of Parliament, in justification of the war against the King and his Adherents: and of the Army, in justification of their Proceed against the corrupted Members; being all in behalf, and for preservation of those Fundamental Rights, without which there was no hope of enjoying any comforts of life, or so much as life itself, but at the pleasure of some men, ruling merely according to Will and Power; as the Army solemnly and truly urged.  
And forasmuch as those many Victories, mercifully vouchsafed by Almighty God in approbation of this Cause, have not been obtained at a low and easy rate, but as through a Sea of blood, and all kinds of miseries (whereof we have had a large proportion) thereby rendering the cause more prcious to our thoughts, and working our Consciences into sad fears of wrath, for the long deferment of the Restoration of those fundamental Laws to their primitive power in this Nation (as of right is due) clearly from all encroachments and innovations any ways introduced; whether by Kings solely, or jointly with their Instruments, as Clergy, Lawyers, Statesmen, or other corrupt interests in Parliaments; most of the Statute Laws being more or less tainted therewith; fearing also a return of the like woeful wars and miseries upon us, and that this unsettled, distracted, and divided Nation will never be free from discontents and deadly quarrels, until our ancient Native Rights and Fundamental Laws are so cleared and secured, as hath been faithfully promised both by Parliament and Army; and upon which we (with thousands others) were invited and drawn forth to assist both, with all our abilities.  
These considerations lying sadly upon our spirits, and observing as yet a very small propension to this work; though we judge it the proper end of all just endeavours in these late Troubles, the only right Improvement of all Victories and Successes: Lest the same should be utterly omitted, and either New things taken up of a contrary nature, or this great opportunity pass away as a Dream; we deem ourselves bound in Conscience, in pursuance of our faithfulness to Parliament, Army, and Commonwealth, in most earnest manner  
To pray, as our Birthright, and the common right of the Nation;  
1. That henceforward no man be Attached, Fined, Imprisoned, Outlawed, or adjudged of Life, Limb, Liberty, or Estate, but by Juries; according to the old Law of the Land: And that whatsoever practice or proceed have been, or are contrary thereunto, whether by way of standing Committees, Courts Martial, high Courts of Justice, or the like; may be abolished for ever.  
2. That no man be put to his defence at Law, upon the bare saying or accusation of any; but by presentment of faithful men, and lawful witnesses, brought openly face to face.  
3. That no man be compelled by Oath, or otherwise, to answer to questions against himself.  
4. That all controversies between party and party, may be finally decided, past all Appeal, within a prefixed time, by Juries in the Hundreds, or County Courts; that so there may be no more tedious travelling from all parts of the Land to Westminster, nor any further vexation, and consumption of men's estates by the Court of Chancery, or the rest of the Courts there; nor any further attendance or dependence upon the uncertain Appearance and Votes of Committees there, or elsewhere: Also that all Malefactors may have the like speedy Trials, and no longer be destroyed or vitiated by long Imprisonments; That Bail be not denied where it ought to be taken; That food and other necessaries be provided for prisoners (whilst such) at the common charge; and no fees taken by Gaolers of their prisoners; and that all Proceed in Law may be free, without charge or fees from the parties to the Officers.  
5. That punishments be proportioned to offences, according to the true intent of the fundamental Laws; that no man be punished in a mean manner for a great fault, nor highly for a small, and that nothing be deemed Treason, but what manifestly appeareth to tend to the subversion of the Fundamental Liberty of England: and that upon judgements in criminal cases the parties damnified may be satisfied out of the estates of the offenders, and not confiscate to the Commonwealth: And that Witnesses may be sworn in behalf of the accused, as well as for the Prosecutor.  
6. That none be questioned or molested for Matters of Conscience and Religion; the grounds of implacable trouble, and the very spawn of Tyranny and Superstition; and that Tithes (sprung from the same root, and tending to the same end, and to the obstruction of Tillage and Industry) may also cease, and no enforced maintenance imposed in the place thereof.  
7. That all servile Tenors of Copy-holds, and the like (as well as the Court of Wards) together with the unjust descent of Inheritances to the eldest son only, (the prinpall remaining badges of the Norman Conquest, and main support of Regal Tyranny, creating Royalties in every Manor, and in all such Families) may also in some convenient way, and in some reasonable time, be both reduced to the old equal ways, as was before the times of bondage.  
8. That there be no more imprisonment of men's persons for debt, but that all estates may be liable to make satisfaction; that so the poor and unable may not be destroyed for want of ability, nor the rich and able (as they have done) turn prisons into places of protection.  
9 That none be pressed or compelled to serve in wars; the power of Counties (always at the direction of Parliament) being sufficient (joint or separate, as occasion may be) for suppressing of all Insurrections and foreign Invasions, as they may be ordered, with help of Salary Forces, and such Volunteers as out of conscience would be aiding therein; as (blessed be God) hath been seen of late.  
10. That Trade to all p●rts beyond the Seas be equally free to all Englishmen, and here at home exempt from engrossings, Monopolies and Forestallings, and disburdened of Custom, Excize, and all other peculiar charges and per plexities, occasioned by Offices and Officers; the freedom of Trade conducing very much to the enriching and strengthening of the whole Land: and that all public moneys may be raised by an equal rate, upon all real and personal estates, free from charge to the Commonwealth, or trouble to Traders in Collection.  
11. That all public Officers, as Sheriffs, Justices, Coroners, Constables, and the like, be all annually chosen by those of the place where their Jurisdiction is to be exercised, and none imposed.  
11. That all Statute Laws, and all corrupt Customs, Ordinances of Parliaments, or Practices, of what time or continuance soever, contrary to any of these Fundamentals, may be repealed and abolished, that all things tending to their establishment be revived.  
13. That Parliaments or rather (according to the more ancient and rightful denomination) Common Counsels of England, may with all convenient speed (and due care had, against the admission of such as have forfeited their rights) be returned to their due course of being Annually elected, for the more sure conservation of these Fundamentals, and of the public peace and welfare of this Nation: and to provide such necessary Laws (not contrary unto these) as in their wisdoms shall appear most profitable for the Commonwealth; a frequent change of such as are trusted with power and authority, whereby all men come to taste of subjection as well as rule, being essential to the freedom and safety of the Nation.  
And we also humbly entreat that satisfaction may be speedily given to the Nation in point of accounts, of all estates and moneys received: that the public Faith may yet be recovered and made good, by satisfying those that freely lent in times of greatest hazard and necessity. That all just Arrears to Soldiers or others may be duly paid. That all Juries may be impartially returned, and freed from those overawing of Judges, and entanglements of Lawyers accustomed, whereby the most judicious sort of men are discouraged from attending that public service. That Registers may be appointed through out the Commonwealth, to ascertain all sales and mortgages of lands, for prevention of such gross deceits as have been usual by double and triple sales and mortgages of one and the same parcels. That a just care may be had of the poor of the land; that the waste places may be their portion; labour provided for such of them as are able, and necessaries for such as are impotent. And for the advancement and defence of truth and right; that the Printing Press may be set at liberty; that so all things being thus rightly and conscionably disposed, those who have been our adversaries, and all the world may see, that we have not striven for particular advantages, but general good, and common right; and be at length convinced, the happiness of this Nation doth not in the least depend upon a King, or House of Lords, nor upon the wills or arbitrary discretions of men, but upon unalterable Native Laws, unto which all are bound and aught to submit.  
And though in doing hereof you should meet with great oppositions, yet greater will be your strength then ever, in that the whole Army, and all the people (disengaged from corrupt and self-interest) will be wholly at your command; these being the just ends of our just war, the proper and long hoped for fruits of all their labours, and many dangers; bringing great glory to God in the faithful performance of all promises and engagements, true freedom and security to every well minded person in particular, and universal good to the Commonwealth; in restoring of our long detained and almost obliterated Native Rights, with an immediate redress of a multitude of old and new contracted grievances; wherein also you will fulfil the Fast which God hath chosen: In losing the bands of wickedness, unbinding the heavy burdens, setting the oppressed free, and breaking every yoke, and then will your light break forth as the morning, and your health spring forth speedily, your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your exceeding great reward. And therefore we beseech you neither to be discouraged nor to defer the work, but go on without ceasing, until you have perfected the same. And that the Lord our God may bless, honour, and preserve you therein, shall ever be the prayers of  
Your humble Petitioners.   

This Petition (for restoring to the People of this Nation all their ancient and just Rights) was subscribed by thousands of cordial Friends to this Parliament, Inhabitants of London, Westminster, Southwark, and places adjacent; and was by a competent number of them presented to the Parliament upon the 23. of June 1652. And they were called in, and the Petition read, but no answer at all given thereunto.