A
TRUE
COPIE
OF
THE
PETITION
OF
THE
KNIGHTS
,
IVSTICES
OF
The
peace
,
and
other
Gentlemen
,
Ministers
and
Free-holders
(
in
number
many
thousands
)
of
the
County
of
Monmouth
,
exhibited
May
17.
1642.
To
the
Honourable
the
Knights
,
Citizens
,
and
Burgesses
assembled
in
the
house
of
Commons
.
The
Petition
of
the
Knights
,
Justices
of
the
Peace
,
Esquires
,
Gentlemen
,
Free-holders
,
with
others
the
Inhabitants
of
the
County
of
Monmouth
.
Humbly
Sheweth
,
THat
although
we
have
such
a
dolefull
president
of
misery
and
calamity
so
neere
us
,
on
our
brethren
in
Ireland
,
and
such
dangers
and
distempers
appearing
and
increasing
even
in
our
owne
Kingdome
;
yet
we
in
Wales
of
all
others
,
and
in
Monmouth
Shire
above
the
rest
,
cannot
but
be
most
sensible
and
suspitious
of
our
owne
imminent
destruction
,
as
being
compassed
about
with
Papists
,
more
in
number
,
and
stronger
in
power
,
Armes
,
Horse
,
and
Ammunition
,
than
any
other
County
(
as
we
conceive
)
in
the
Kingdome
besides
,
who
though
they
have
been
alwayes
many
and
strong
,
yet
they
stirred
little
till
these
late
unhappy
opportunities
;
wherein
,
to
the
great
terrour
of
the
Kings
faithfull
Subjects
throughout
the
County
,
they
spare
no
paines
or
cost
to
fit
and
strengthen
themselves
for
their
secret
designes
;
witnesse
their
indeavour
to
take
up
most
of
the
great
houses
neere
them
,
for
Popish
strangers
,
retaining
also
divers
of
great
ranke
in
their
own
houses
;
the
denying
the
removall
of
the
Magazine
,
contrary
to
the
expresse
order
of
this
Honourable
House
;
with
such
like
practises
,
proclaiming
to
all
that
observe
them
,
their
pernitious
intentions
,
and
our
danger
,
the
County
being
the
while
wholly
unprovided
for
defence
.
WEE
doe
therefore
humbly
beseech
this
Honourable
Assembly
to
take
these
our
dangers
into
your
grave
and
wise
considerations
,
and
maturely
to
vouchsafe
some
effectuall
order
for
our
security
;
which
cannot
,
as
we
humbly
conceive
,
be
enjoyed
,
till
the
Magazine
be
removed
to
Newport
,
the
County
set
in
a
posture
of
defence
,
the
Papists
by
some
stronger
force
(
then
our
own
)
disarmed
,
the
long
lookt
for
aid
from
England
and
Scotland
dispatched
,
for
the
relieving
of
distressed
,
and
even
despairing
Ireland
,
otherwise
we
cannot
hope
to
be
in
safety
,
when
our
next
neighbours
houses
are
thus
on
fire
;
And
as
your
humble
Petitioners
doe
most
thankfully
acknowledge
your
great
and
unparalelled
industry
and
integrity
for
the
publique
good
of
Church
and
Common-wealth
:
So
shall
we
,
with
our
dearest
lives
and
fortunes
most
loyally
and
faithfully
ever
defend
his
Majesties
royall
person
,
vindicate
your
Honours
,
and
maintaine
the
rights
and
priviledges
of
Parliament
against
all
opposition
whatsoever
.
And
We
shall
ever
pray
,
&c.