WEE your Majesties most dutifull and obedient Subjects, before we were encouraged by the influence of your Majesties presence, knew not what to doe, being amazed with feares and jealousies rumored and spread abroad; whereby divers of your Majesties good Subjects were distracted; and the more, because we neither knew nor could imagine any cause or feare of jealousie: SIR, I cannot more properly compare our case then to a man in perfect health, yet doth fancie himselfe sicke of a Consumption; who (if his fortune be to light of a skilfull and honest Physitian) is in no danger; but, if upon an Empricke, it is like his body shall be brought into that condition, which before he did but fancy himselfe to be in. I am doubtfull, if those persons who have bin the cause of raising and fomenting these feares and jealousies might chuse their owne Physitian, and apply their owne medicine, it would hazard the ruine of the Common-wealth, by abolishing the anci­ent and fundamentall Lawes therof. But the Subjects of this Nation (God be thanked) are in a better case: It is not in the power of those evill spirits, either to make choice of a Physitian, or to apply the Medicine; your sacred Majesty being our great Physiti­an, and without your Majesties consent and command no medicine can be applied. And to the unspeakable joy and comfort of all your Majesties faithfull Subjects it is sufficiently signified to the world, by your Majesties most Kingly Declarations, expressing your resolution to maintaine and governe by the knowne Lawes of this Realme; to defend the true Protestant Religion esta­blished by Law: By which meanes your loyall Subjects shall be preserved and protected from Arbitrary Government. Let the most evill affected person then deny (if he can) but that we have from our King what is to be wished, and that without asking or petitioning for. There is onely one Question to be asked, and a short Answer thereunto, What is now to be done? To which every ingenious soule must acknowledge the want is on our parts; we owe all we have to be disposed of by your Majesty for the maintenance and preservation of your just rights and prerogative, which cannot be maintained, but thereby the priviledges of your Subjects will be likewise defended; the same Law defending both; and under which Law the people of this Nation have bin most happily governed under your Majesty and your most noble Progenitours many hundred yeeres. For the continuance of which Government, for my owne particular (prostrating my selfe at your Majesties feet) I humbly offer and render unto your Majesty my selfe, estate and fortune. And SIR, I have warrant from the Major of this Citie and the whole body of this Cor­poration, to beseech your Majesty to accept of the like offer from them. So with this short ejaculation I shall conclude; beseech­ing God to blesse and preserve your sacred person, and this our most noble and hopeful Prince Charles, with all your royall issue; and that this Nation and people, and all your Dominions may be governed by your Majesty and your posterity to the worlds end.

Whereas both the Houses of Parliament have Voted a necessity of putting the Kingdome into a posture of Warre, for the suppressing of any Insurrection within, or Forces from without; and have (by their example and acceptance of o­thers offers to maintaine Horse and Foot armed for that purpose) given us, whose names are here underwritten, occasion (considering the present distractions amongst us) to undertake to maintaine and have in readinesse such number of Horse furnished fit for warre, as we doe here subscribe to, for the maintenance and defence of his Majesties just Preroga­tive, the Protestant Religion, as it is now established; the Lawes of the Realme, the just priviledges of Parliament, and the publique Peace, against all opposition whatsoever: And the said Horse to be disposed of within the County for three moneths after the 20. of this instant July; at such time, and in such way as his Majesty shall by his Commission direct.