3. Your Officers of Iustice in perfor∣mance of their duties have been resisted and endangered.
4. The Rents and Revenues of your Gen∣try greatly and generally diminished; far∣mers to secure themselves from the Souldi∣ers insolence being by the Clamor and Solici∣tation of their fearful and injured Wives and Children, enforced to give up their w••nted dwellings, and to retire themselves into places of more secure habitation.
5. Husbandmen, that are as it were the hands of the Country corrupted, by ill exam∣ple of the Souldiers, and encouraged to idle life, give over work, and rather seek to live idlely at another mans charges, than by their own labours.
6. Trades-men and Artificers almost dis∣couraged, and being inforced to leave their Trades, and to imploy their time in preserv∣ing themselves and their families from cruelty.
7. Markets unfrequented, and our waies grown so dangerous, that the people dare not pass to and fro upon their usual occasi∣ons.
8. Frequent Robberies, Assaults, Bat∣teries, Burglaries, Rapes, Rapines, Mur∣vers, Barbarous Cruelties, and other most abominable vices and outrages are generally complained of themfrom all parts where these Companies have been and had their abode, few of which insolencies have been so much as questioned, and fewer according to their de∣merit punished.
These and many other lamentable effects (most Dread and Dear Sovereign) have by the Billeting of Souldiers already fallen up∣on us your loyal Subjects, tending no less to the disservice of your Majesty, than to their impoverishing and destruction, so that there∣by they are exceedingly disabled to yield your Majesty those Supplies for your urgent occa∣sions, which they heartily desire; and yet they are further perplexed with apprehension of more approaching danger, one in regard of your Subjects at home, the other of ene∣mies from abroad; in both which respects it seems to threaten no small Calamity to the meaner sort of your People, being exceeding poor whereof in many places are great Mul∣titudes, and therefore in times of more settled and more constant administration of Justice, not easily ruled, are most apt upon this occa∣sion to cast off the Reins of Government, and by joyning themselves with those disordered Souldiers are very like to fall into Mutiny and Rebellion; which in faithful discharge of our duties we cannot forbear most humbly to present to your high and excellent Wisdom, being pressed with probable fears that some such mischief will shortly ensue, if an effectu∣al and speedy course be not taken to remove out of the Land, or otherwise to disband those unruly Companies.
For the second, we do most humbly beseech your Majesty to take into your Princely con∣siveration, that many of those Companies, besides their dissolute dispositions and car∣riages, are such as do openly profess them∣selves Papists, and therefore to be suspected, that if occasion serve, they will rather adhere to a foreign Enemy of that Religion, than to your Majesty, their Liege Lord and Sove∣reign, especially some of their Captains and Commanders, being as Popishly affected as themselves, and having served in the Mars on the part of the King of Spain, and Arch-Dutchess against your Majesties Allies; which of what pernicious consequence it may prove, and how prejudicial to the safety of your Kingdom, we leave to your Majesties high and Princely wisdom.
And now upon these, and many more which might be alledged, most weighty and impor∣tant Reasons grounded on the maintenance of the Worship and Service of Almighty God, the continuance and advancement of your Majesties high honor and profit, the preser∣vation of the antient and undoubted Liber∣ties of your People, and therein of Iustice, Industry, Dalour, which nearly concern the glory and happiness of your Majesty, and all your Subjects, and the preventing of ca∣lamity and ruin both of Church and Com∣mon-wealth:
We your Majesties most humble and loyal Subjects, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of your House of Commons, in the name of the Commonalty of your King∣dom, who are upon this occasion most mi∣serably disconsolate and affsiated, prostrate at the Throne of your Grace and Iustice do most ardently beg a present remove of this insupportable Burden, and that your Majesty would be graciously pleased to se∣cure us from the like pressure in the time to come.