To
the
Right-Honourable
the
Lord
Mayor
,
the
Aldermen
,
and
Common-Councell
,
in
Common-Councell
assembled
.
My
Lord
,
Knights
,
and
Gentlemen
,
THe
deep
sence
of
our
particular
miseries
,
together
with
a
tender
fellow
feeling
of
the
sad
and
distempered
condition
of
this
famous
City
,
and
also
of
the
whole
Kingdom
,
hath
upon
divers
serious
and
mutuall
debates
so
far
prevailed
with
us
,
a
great
and
considerable
part
of
this
County
of
Essex
,
as
humbly
to
make
our
addresses
in
a
petitionary
way
to
the
honourable
Houses
of
Parliament
the
fourth
of
this
instant
May
;
The
summe
of
our
desire
is
briefly
thus
,
That
the
King
our
gracious
Soveraigne
may
come
with
honour
and
safety
,
to
treat
with
his
two
Houses
of
Parliament
,
the
onely
probable
way
now
left
us
,
whereby
the
true
Protestant
Religion
,
and
all
the
just
rights
and
liberties
of
the
King
,
Parliament
,
and
Subjects
,
and
the
ancient
and
known
Laws
of
this
Realme
and
government
,
may
by
the
blessing
of
God
upon
their
joynt
consents
in
Parliament
,
be
once
more
revived
and
re-established
,
to
the
glory
of
God
,
and
comfort
of
all
honest
men
;
and
though
we
cannot
doubt
of
an
unanimous
compliance
from
the
greatest
part
of
this
City
,
and
of
the
whole
Kingdome
in
this
our
last
refuge
,
yet
for
the
better
satisfaction
,
and
to
clear
our selves
from
the
mis-interpretation
of
such
as
are
of
a
contrary
opinion
,
we
doe
ingeniously
declare
.
First
,
that
our
addresse
shall
be
with
all
civility
and
respect
both
to
the
Parliament
and
City
,
free
from
any
intent
of
disturbing
the
peace
and
quiet
of
either
;
but
on
the
contrary
,
with
an
hearty
desire
to
prevent
the
effusion
of
so
much
bloud
as
will
probably
be
shed
,
if
not
by
a
personall
Treaty
timely
prevented
,
which
all
men
may
discerne
that
looke
not
through
Spectacles
of
particular
interests
.
Secondly
,
we
do
not
carelesly
passe
by
any
Ordinance
of
Parliament
▪
published
unto
the
Kingdome
,
but
do
well
remember
,
and
have
very
seariously
considered
of
that
particular
Vote
against
a
personall
Treaty
,
and
the
reason
upon
which
it
is
grounded
;
And
we
have
further
compared
it
with
three
former
Declarations
,
where
in
the
first
we
were
told
,
That
the
separation
of
his
Royall
Person
from
his
Parliament
was
the
originall
of
our
unhappinesse
;
In
the
second
,
when
we
assisted
in
so
large
a
proportion
both
of
men
and
money
,
That
the
chiefe
intent
of
raising
the
Army
was
,
To
bring
the
King
from
his
evill
Counsell
in
honour
and
safety
to
his
Parliament
;
in
the
third
,
when
we
groaned
under
the
burden
,
That
it
was
impossible
ever
to
have
a
safe
well
grounded
peace
without
his
Majesties
personall
concurrence
in
Parliament
:
When
we
looked
upon
the
weighty
reasons
expressed
in
the
said
Declarations
,
we
are
well
assured
,
that
whosoever
well
considers
what
it
hath
cost
to
procure
a
personall
Treaty
,
cannot
justly
blame
any
man
for
desiring
of
it
;
And
upon
these
considerations
we
are
encouraged
to
proceed
●ith
confidence
that
the
Honourable
Houses
will
grant
our
requests
,
which
we
conceive
reasonable
,
whereas
to
our
understanding
no
apparent
prejudice
can
ensue
thereby
.
Thus
humbly
desiring
the
blessing
of
Almighty
God
to
assist
us
in
these
our
just
desires
,
we
commit
you
to
his
protection
.
Your
Honours
most
humble
servant
.
Stratford
Lancton
.