way; but for a private man, drawne into ye service, wth an intent onely to doe it in a peaceable, humble manner, for such a purpos onely, relinquish too, beeing  misliked by those men by whom he was represented, to have all hee hath taken away by a forced equitable construction of a penall law, made "post factum," is, I think, without paralel in Europe, though in tymes and by Courts of Justice, the most Tyrannicall. But beecause the world may see what this so heynous petition did conteyn, I shall heere set it down verbatim, as it was agreede upon at Maydstone, ye 25 March, 1642.
   31. To the honble howse of Commons, the humble Petition
          of ye Gentry, Ministers, and Commonalty of the
          County of Kent, agreede upon at the generall Assizes
          of that county.
       Most humbly sheweth,
   That wee can not but take notice how welcome to this honbb howse many Petitions have beene, wch yet came not from an assembled body of any County, as this doth, wee doe hope to find as gentle and as favorable reception of this as any others' have found of their Petitions, our harts witnessing unto us as good, as peaceable, and as pious purposes as the best. These are therefore the true and the ardent desires of the County,
   i.  First, you will pleas to accept our due and harty thanks for those exelent lawes wdl by hys Matics grace and goodnesse you have obteyned for us.
   ii. Secondly, that all lawes against Papists bee put in due execution, and accompt taken of their disarming; and that all children of Papists may bee brought up in the reformed religion. 
   iii. Thirdly, that the solemne Liturgy of the Church of England, celebrious by ye Pyety of holy Bishops and Martyrs who composed it,—established by ye supream law of ye land,—attested and approved by ye best of all forraign divines; confirmed wa subscription of all the Ministry of this land, a Cleargy as learned and as able as any in the Christian world, enjoyed, and wttl an holy love embraced, by ye most and best of all ye Layety;—that this holy exercise of our religion may by your auctoryty bee enjoyed quiet and free from interruptious storms, prophanations, threats, and force of such men who dayly doe