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To the Honorable Assembly of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses in the Com∣mons House of Parliament, in the Kingdom of ENGLAND.
The undernamed in the behalf of themselves and their brethren, the poore dispoiled and distressed Ministers of the Gospel in Ireland, with the Widdowes and Orphans of such,
Humbly represent their lamentable Condition,
Shewing,
THat by the instigation of Popih Priests, Friers, and Jesuites, with other fire-brands and Incendiaries of the State; partly such of them as have been resident here in this Kingdom of Ire∣land before, partly flocking in from Forraign parts, of late in multitudes more then ordinary; and chiefly by such of them as resorted hither out of the Kingdom of England: And out of that ancient and known hatred the Church of Rome heareth to the reformed Religion; As also by reason of the surfet of that freedome and indulgence, which through Gods forbearance for our tryall, they of the Popish faction have hitherto enjoyed in this Kingdom: There hath been beyond all paralell of former ages, a most bloudy and Antichristian combination and plot hatched, by well-nigh the whole Romish sect, by way of combination from parts forraign, with those at home, against this our Church and State; thereby intending the utter extirpation of the reformed Religion, and the professors of it: In the room thereof, setting up that idoll of the Masse, with all the abominations of that whore of Babylon: This also ayming at the pulling down and defacing the present state and go∣vernment of this Kingdom under his Sacred Majesty, theirs, and our undoubted Soveraign; and introducing another form of rule ordered and moderated by themselves, without dependance on his Highnesse, or