The humble desires of the Knights , Gentlemen , Ministers , Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County and Burrough of LEICESTER . Delivered to His EXCELLENCY , The Lord Generall MONCK , At St ALBANS the Thirtieth day of Ianuary , 1659. by George Fawnt Esquire , High Sheriffe of the said County , William Boothby , Richard Orton , and Richard Halford Esquires , entrusted for that purpose by the Body of the whole County .

WE the Knights , Gentlemen , Ministers , Free-holders , and Inhabitants , of the County of Leicester , humbly conceiving , that the first Force put upon the Parliament , hath been an encouragement and occasion to all the rest : And finding that your Excellency ( under God ) hath been the principall means , for repairing the last interruption ; are the more encouraged to desire your assistance , in the promoting of these our just desires , as a visible means of an happy Peace and Settlement of these Nations . And whereas every free-born person of England is supposed to be present in Parliament , by the Knights and Burgesses of the place where he liveth , and thereby is presumed to give his consent in all things that asse in Parliament . There is not ( as we are credibly informed ) one Knight for all the Counties in Wales , nor for divers Counties in England , and some of them the greatest in England , as that of Yorksire . We therefore desire , that all vacant places be supplied , whether they became vacant by death , judgment of Parliament : And that those that were secluded by force in the year 1648 , may sit again . And that no previous Oath or Engagement be put upon any , that is chosen by his Country to sit and vote freely in Parliament .

That the fundamentall Laws of England , the Priviledges of Parliament , the Liberties of the People , and the Property of Goods , may be asserted and defended , according to the first Declaration of Parliament , when they undertook the War ; and no Taxes or Free-quarter imposed upon any , without Authority of Parliament .

That the true Protestant Religion may be professed and defended , all Heresies , Sects , and Schisms , is countenanced and suppressed ; a lawfull Succession of godly and able Ministers continued and encouraged ; and the two Universities , and all Colledges in both of them , preserved and countenanced .

That a fitting and speedy course be taken , for paying and discharging the Arrears of such Officers and Souldiers , as submit to Authority of Parliament , and that they may be speedily reduced to a lesser number , for easing of the great Taxes and Burthens of these Nations .