John Williams 'Petition to Charles I (1640)'

Concerneing the b[isho]ppe of Lincolne, thus, his lo[rdshi]pe being extreamely wearie in his Starchamber cause, useth all his helpes to interceede for him to his Ma[jes]tie: my lords Grace of Canterburye, once more stands his freind and acquaints his Ma[jes]tie with his most humble submission, but his Ma[jes]tie wou{ld} not take his submission from any mans mouth but under his owne hand, wherefore my lord b[isho]ppe petitions in this manner: To the kings most excellent Ma[jes]tie The humble petition of the vnfortunate B[isho]ppe of Lincolne, whoe casteth him selfe at your Ma[jes]t[ie]s feete {gap: illegible} begging withall possible importunity your Ma[jes]t[ie]s grace, and favour towards him, voweing in the presence of God, and his holy Angells to spend the remainder of his life in regaineing of your Ma[jes]t[ie]s grace and 94r favour by his most faithfull service, and devowte prayers to God for your Ma[jes]tie your Queene and royall issue, imploreing your Ma[jes]t[ie]s grace, and goodnes, the livelye representation hereupon earth of those attributes of God aboue, to graunt pitty to your petitioner whoe cannott expect it ordinarye rules of Justices for further tyme to prepare his iust defence to the Information against him, consisting of 10. distinct charges, vnlesse your Ma[jes]tie bee gratiously pleasd to take such other satisfaction from your petitioner, as to change his imprisonment out of the Towre Tower, being dureing pleasure, to a perpetuall imprisonment of all the soule faculties of his soule and body to doe your Ma[jes]t[ie]s commaunds, And hee shall ever praye to God for your Ma[jes]tie your Queene, and happie issue: his Ma[jes]tie accepted of this petition, and haue given him till the next tearme to produce his defennes, but as for his release out of the tower, that his Ma[jes]tie will advise vpon a little, but the common opinion, is, this suite will bee noe longer prosecuted; and that the B[isho]ppe shall have his liberty: