No. 65.

The City's petition to King Charles I in reply to His Majesty's letter of the 19^th May 1646.

Id., fo. 187.

Most humbly acknowledging the speciall grace and favour of yo^r ma^tie in condescending soe particulerly to communicate unto this city yo^r royall and pious resolucons to comply w^th your Houses of Parliament for setling of truth and peace in this distracted kingdome signified by yo^r late gratious lettre of the 19^th of May last to the representative body thereof. In w^ch as the pet^rs cannot but see the speciall hand of Almighty God soe they must and doe from the bottome of their hearts blesse his holy name that at length he hath opened such a dore of hope by enclyning your ma^ties heart to looke downe upon the affliccõns of yo^r people and from thence take comfort to themselves that he will confirme and increase those good resolucons in yo^r ma^tie.

As for this city the pet^rs esteeme it their duty now againe as they have formerly done to declare unto yo^r royall mat^ie and the whole world, that, according to their Protestacõn and Covenant they have alwayes, and doe still reteyne the same loyall thoughts towards yo^r ma^tie as ever and as becometh subiects to doe from which they shall never recede.

And as next unto the good guidance of Almighty God they doe humbly comitt and submitt the meanes and maner of their future peace and happines unto yo^r ma^ts great and faithfull Councell the two Houses of Parliament.

So they shall contynue their instant prayers to the Throne of all Grace to dispose yo^r ma^ties royall heart to comply with such proposicõns as from them shalbe represented unto yo^r ma^ty for the settlement of true religion and peace in all yo^r kingdomes and the mainteynance of the union betweene the two nations. And then the pet^rs shall not doubt but yo^r ma^tie (w^ch is their earnest prayer) will with honor and joy returne unto this yo^r antient city, and that yo^r throne shall in yo^r royall selfe and your posterity be established in all yo^r kingdomes to the great honour of yo^r mat^ie and to the comfort of all yo^r good subiects amongst whome the peticõn^rs shall alwayes strive to approve themselves inferiour to none in loyalty and obedience.

And as in dutie bound shall pray &c.