THE PETITION OF THE JEWES For the Repealing of the Act of Parliament for their baniſhment out of ENGLAND.
Preſented to his Excellency and the generall Councell of Officers on Fryday Jan. 5. 1648.
With their favourable acceptance thereof.
Alſo a Petition of divers Commanmanders, priſoners in the Kings Bench, for the releaſing of all priſoners for Debt, according to the Cuſtome of other Countries.
London, Printed for George Roberts, 1649.
THat your Petitioners being converſant in that City, with and amongſt ſome of Izraells race, called2 Jewes, and growing ſenſible of their heavy out-cryes and clamours againſt the intolerable cruelty of this our Engliſh Nation, exerciſed againſt them by that (and other) inhumane exceeding great Maſſacre of them, in the Raign of RICHARD the ſecond, King of this Land, and their baniſhment ever ſince, with the penalty of death to be inflicted upon any of their return into this Land, that by diſcourſe with them, and ſerious peruſall of the Prophets, both they and we find, that the time of hercall draweth nigh; whereby they together with us, ſhall come to know the Emanuell, the Lord of life, light, and glory; even as we are now known of him, And that this Nation of ENGLAND, with the Inhabitants of the Nether-lands, ſhall be the firſt and readieſt to tranſport IZRAELLS Sons & Daughters in their Ships to the Land promiſed to their fore-Fathers, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, and JACOB, for an everlaſting Inheritance.
For the glorious manifeſtation whereof, and pyous meanes thereunto, your Petitioners3 humbly pray that the inhumane cruel Statute of baniſhment made againſt them, may be repealed, and they under the Chriſtian banner of charity, and brotherly love, may again be received and permitted to trade and dwell amongſt you in this Land, as now they do in the Nether-lands.
By which act of mercy, your Petitioners are aſſured of the wrath of God, will be much appeaſed towards you, for their innocent blood ſhed, and they thereby dayly enlightened in the ſaving knowledge of him, for whom they look dayly and expect as their King of eternall glory, and both their and our Lord God of ſalvation (Chriſt Jeſus.) For the glorious accompliſhing whereof, your Petitioners do, and ſhall ever addreſſe themſelves to the true Peace, and pray; &c.
This Petition was preſented to the generall Councell of the Officers of the Army, under the Command of his Excelleney, Thomas Lord Fairfax, at White-Hall on Ian. 5. And favourably received with a promiſe to take it into ſpeedy conſideration, when the preſent more publike affaires are diſpatched.
THat your Petitioners with all ſeriouſneſſe revolving the admirable mercy of God, vouchſafed to this Nation in preſerving and carrying on your Excellency & Pyous Army through the many dangers and difficulties (and according to the deſires of your Petitioners and all good men) in Crowning you with Victory, and putting this long wiſht for opportunity into your hands, of procuring a ſpeedy adminiſtration of Juſtice for the impartiall puniſhment of all offenders, to the relief and comfort of the oppreſſed; your Petitioners are hereby5 imbouldned and by your Propoſalls and late Declarations encouraged to make their humble addreſses to your Excellency, and the Generall Councell of the Army.
That your Petitioners with all humbleneſse and earneſtneſſe beſeech your Excellency, who is the patern and Patron of Souldiers, firſt to conſider their ſad condition (being impriſoned contrary to the Law of God, the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdone, and the practice of all States) and peruſe their Petition hereunto annexed, containing their grievances and deſires, and as ſoone as your weighty affaires will permit to take ſuch order (either by preſenting the ſame, or otherwiſe for your Petioners juſt relief and liberty without priſon Fees, as to your Excellency and the Generall Councells grave wiſdome ſhall ſeeme expedient,6 whereby they may be enabled to attend your Excellencies Command in the Army or elſe where.
And further your Petitioners hmubly pray, that you would pleaſe with all convenience, mature ſome courſe for the releaſing of all Priſoners for debt, eſpetially the well affected, and in the meane times according to your practice of other Countries, cauſe their Creditors to maintaine them according to their qualities, that noe more periſh through want, as very many have done already, whoſe innocent bloud cryes for vengance to the Almighty, and doubtleſſe is not the leaſt cauſe of our preſent colamities, and of Gods judgments upon us.
And as in duty bound, your Petitioners ſhall pray &c.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A80827)
Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 164854)
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