Sheweth
:
THat
forasmuch
as
the
original
ground
of
our
many
yeers
burthensome
Warres
and
Miseries
hath
been
from
the
Incroachments
and
Innovations
which
have
been
frequently
made
,
and
inforced
upon
the
people
,
at
the
pleasures
of
some
men
ruling
meerly
according
to
their
will
,
and
power
:
And
forasmuch
as
those
many
Victories
,
mercifully
vouchsafed
by
Almighty
God
,
in
approbation
of
his
Cause
,
have
not
been
obtained
at
a
lowe
and
easie
rate
,
but
as
through
a
Sea
of
blood
,
and
all
kind
of
miseries
,
whereof
we
have
had
a
large
proportion
,
thereby
rendring
the
Cause
more
precious
to
our
thoughts
:
And
whereas
amongst
the
rest
of
the
grievances
of
this
Common-wealth
,
The
unlawful
,
Antichristian
,
unsupportable
oppression
of
Tithes
,
and
forced
Maintenance
is
not
the
least
,
by
which
our
Consciences
are
insnared
,
our
Estates
destroyed
,
our
persons
imprisoned
daily
,
for
that
which
hath
no
foundation
nor
warrant
from
Christ
,
or
his
Apostles
,
throughout
the
whole
word
of
the
Gospel
.
We
are
therefore
imboldned
in
conscience
towards
God
,
and
You
,
to
present
these
our
just
desires
for
the
welfare
and
preservation
of
this
Common-wealth
,
which
will
be
established
by
righteousness
,
And
therein
implore
your
serious
endevours
,
that
this
unjust
oppression
of
Tithes
and
forced
Maintenance
may
be
abolished
,
as
a
testimony
of
your
resolutions
,
to
instate
this
Common-wealth
in
all
their
just
Rights
and
Liberties
,
and
in
so
doing
,
you
will
engage
the
hearts
of
all
the
honest
and
godly
people
of
this
Nation
,
who
have
been
bowed
down
under
this
Oppression
;
And
all
being
disengaged
,
from
corrupt
and
self Interests
,
will
chearfully
adventure
their
lives
and
Estates
for
Your
preservations
and
the
Nations
Peace
,
being
the
just
end
of
our
Warres
,
the
proper
and
long
hoped
for
fruits
of
righteousness
,
bringing
glory
to
God
,
in
discharge
of
your
trust
to
him
,
and
to
this
wearied
Common-wealth
,
in
loosing
the
bonds
of
wickedness
,
and
setting
us
free
from
Antichristian
Tyranny
.
Thus
will
your
light
break
forth
as
the
morning
,
and
your
uprightness
go
before
you
.
And
your
Petitioners
shall
,
&c.
This
Petition
with
many
thousand
of
hands
was
presented
to
the
Parliament
on
Saturday
the
16.
of
July
,
1653.
and
Thanks
was
returned
from
the
House
by
the
Speaker
:
And
the
Answer
to
the
Petition
from
the
House
was
,
That
the
thing
that
was
petitioned
for
,
they
were
debating
upon
it
.