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To the Honourable, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Common by Gods goodnesse assembled, and by his gratious good providence hitherto preserved in Parliament: The humble Petition of divers Barronets, Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Mini∣sters, Freeholders, and others of the County of Darby, to the number of 7077.
THat when we have seriously considered that unexpressible danger this Kingdome was in at the time of your election, to that great and honourable burthen, which for the glory of God, and good of this Church and Common-wealth you have now a long time with patience undergone, together with the manifold grievances, which then did, and some whereof still doe disquiet the peace and happinesse of the Kings Majesty, and this Kingdome, and the great opposition the blessed work of Reformation hath met with by those who are ill affected to the State; And when we call to minde (notwithstanding all this enmity) the many and great workes which God hath been pleased already to effect by the wisdome, paines and unwearyed diligence of this Honourable Parliament, God sometimes turning even the plots and practises of the adverse party to the furtherance of his own work, we cannot but give God the glory of his free Grace in Christ to this Kingdome, and with all due thankfulnesse commemorate your industrious labours to perfect the great designe of this Kingdomes happinesse, so ju∣diciously begun, and accordingly prosecuted, and which we hope by the continued mercy of God, your accustomed co-operations, and the willing agreement of our gratious Soveraign, will in Gods due time arise to a sweet perfection, to the joy of us, and your posterities: And yet although we live far off, wee cannot but heare of those many late obstructions, and malevolent hinderances with which this good work hath been opposed by meanes of the malignant party, who by evill councels and other strange, and formerly unheard of courses, have endeavoured to infringe the lawfull power and liberties of Par∣liament, to continue Popish Innovations, to oppresse our consciences with unnecessary Ceremonies, and to destroy the lawfull rights of the Subject; All which we conceive are contrary to that happy Prote∣station so providently commended unto us by this Honourable House: Besides, the cursed plots that have been invented against our beloved friends of Scotland, and our poore distressed brethren in Ire∣land, whose most lamentable condition our soules bleed within us to remember, and other sensible grie∣vances at large declared in your late faithfull Remonstrance of the State of this Kingdome.
IN tender consideration whereof, and for that many thousand of poore people amongst us doe alrea∣dy feele the heavy pressures of those long delayes in setling the State of this Kingdome, As we doe give humble thankes to Almighty, the Kings most excellent, and this this high and ever to be honour∣ed Parliament, both the House of Peeres and Commons, for that happy agreement in those good and wholsome Lawes already voted by you both, and enacted for the welfare of Church and Common∣wealth, and especially the late Acts for freeing the Bishops and Clergy from their distractions by tem∣porall affaires, And that hopefull beginning of provision for reliefe of Ireland, So we doe willingly joyn with the many thousands of our faithfull brethren and fellow Petitioners in and about the Ho∣nourable City of London, and other severall Counties of this Kingdom, humbly to supplicate this Ho∣nourable Assembly of Parliament, still earnestly to mediate with his Majesty, and the House of Peeres, for their concurrence with you (and by the power of Christ) to goe on cheerefully with what speed you may, to the perfecting of those good endeavours so worthily begun, and to finde out, prosecute, and pu∣nish all notorious offendors in Church and Common-wealth: That the popish Lords may also be re∣moved from having Votes in Parliament, Papists fully disarmed and confined, Church papists disco∣vered, and the evill Councels of the popish and malignant party disappointed, and for the time to come wisely prevented, speedily and fully according to your good beginning to succour poore Ireland, and that by a quiet execution of your late agreeing Votes England may be armed with a present care of defence by a posture of war: That all power and places of strength may by your happy proceedings be established in persons of trust, and such as this Honourable Parliament and Kingdome may under God confide in, that the power and priviledges of Parliament may be confirmed, and for future time predefended, that all Congregations may by your religious wisdome be prov••ded of fit and able Mini∣sters, and that the Doctrine and Discipline of Christ may be vindicated from all corruptions, and by Gods blessing we shall make good our aforesaid protestation to the uttermost, that England may still continue one of Christs golden Candlesticks, the Ministers Stars in his right hand, the whole Kingdom a people in covenant with God, and in the blessed peace of the Gospell, we may sit every man under his own Vine and Figtree, and enjoy a happy peace to us and our posterity to the worlds end.
This Petition was presented the fourteenth day of March, by Sir John Curzon Knight and Baronet; who serves for that County, and after it was read, was thankfully accepted by the House, and speciall order given for the Recording of it, with the Petitions of severall other Counties.