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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26103	A collection of svndry petitions presented to the Kings Most Excellent Majestie as also to the two most honourable houses, now assembled in Parliament, and others, already signed, by most of the gentry, ministers, and free-holders of severall counties, in behalfe of episcopacie, liturgie, and supportation of church-revenues, and suppression of schismaticks / collected by a faithful lover of the church, for the comfort of the dejected clergy, and all moderately affected Protestants.	Aston, Thomas, Sir, 1600-1645.; Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649.; England and Wales. Parliament.	1642 (1642)	Wing A4073; ESTC R208748	30,703	48

of Bishops would be a scandall not onely to many weake Christians who feare all Innovation as guilty of some ill intendments upon their consciences but also to the strongest which shewes it to be the fault of the giver not the weaknesse of the receiver and if we must not scandalize our weake brethren much lesse our strong since this will intrench upon us in a high measure they not being apt to be scandalized upon umbrages and impertinencies 12 Where Bishops are not there is not an Honourable but Familike Clergy against the Apostolicall rule of double honour 13 By putting downe Episcopacy wee deprive our selves of those solemne benedictions which the Faith of Christendome and the profession of the Church of England enjoyning the Bishop rather to pronounce the blessing at the end of the Communion appropriates to Episcopall preheminence above Priestly authority 14 Two parts of three of the Reformed Churches are governed by Bishops or Superintendents which is properly the Latine word of Bishops and the other part that wants them have often wished them as their owne Doctors doe professe 15 It is against the liberties of the Clergy indulged to them by the Magna Charta granted and confirmed by so many Kings and about thirty Parliaments in expresse act and the violation of any part of it by intrenchment upon the right of the lay Subject justly accounted a great grievance the Charter it selfe being as Fundamentall a Law as we conceive as any other and any of us may feare lest his Liberties may be next in question 16 The foure great Generall Councels in estimation next the foure Evangelists and by the Statutes of the Kingdome made the rules of judging Heresies were held by Bishops the greatest fires and pests of Christendome the old Heresies were by their Industry extinct Church Discipline and pious constitutions by them established many Nations by them converted many Miracles done for the confirmation of Christian Faith one of the Gospels written by a Bishop Saint Marke of Alexandria if wee beleeve as authentike Records as any are extant Three Epistles of Saint Paul written to Bishops Seven Epistles by the Holy Ghost himselfe recorded in the Revelation and sent to seven Asian Bishops as all ancient Fathers accord the names of twelve men beside Apostles mentioned in Holy Scripture which all antiquity reports to have beene Bishops Most of the Fathers whose workes all Posterity embraces with much zeale and admiration were Bishops these also in our apprehensions advance that holy Function to a high and unalterable estimate 17 Very many of the fairest Churches and Colledges and places of Religion were built by Bishops which are faire Caracters to shew their promptnesse to doe publike acts of Piety and that persons so qualified as they were that is Governours and Clergy and fairly endowed is an excellent composition to advance publike designes for the honour of God in the Promotion of publike Piety 18 Since it hath pleased this Honourable Court of late to commend a Protestation to us which we by solemne Vow engaged our selves to attest with our lives and fortunes the established Doctrine of the Church of England wee consider that since the 36. article hath approved and established the booke of Consecration of Bishops the abolition of Episcopacy would nullifie that article and should not we make humble Remonstrance to the contrary we should suddenly recede from our great and solemne Protestation for maintenance of our Church Doctrine But may it please this Honourable Assembly wee consider on the other side 19 The introducing of Lay Elders must needs bring an insupportable burthen to all Parishes by maintaining them at the Parish charge for they must bee maintained or else a transgression is made against an Apostolicall Rule For the principall and indeed the onely colourable pretended place for Lay Elders injoynes their maintenance So that either the people must bee oppressed with so great burthens or else Saint Pauls Rule not obeyed or else there is no authority for Lay Elders as indeed there is not 20 And also there can bee no lesse feare of Vsurpation upon the Temporall power by the Presbitery then is pretended from Episcopacy since that Presbitery challenges cognisance of more causes and persons then the Episcopacy does so making a dangerous entrenchment upon the Supremacy and derives its pretence from Divine Institution with more confidence and more immediate derivation then Episcopacy though indeed most vainely as wee conceive 21 Wee crave leave also to adde this that these two viz. Episcopacy and Presbitery being the onely two in contestation if any new designe should justle Episcopacy wee are confident that as it hitherto wants a name so it will want a face or forme of reason in case of Conscience when it shall appeare Signed by Knights Justices Gentry and Freeholders about 800. By Ministers about the number of 40. The Cheshire Petition for establishing of the common-prayer-Common-Prayer-Booke and Suppression of Schismatiques presented to the Kings Majesty and from him recommended to the House of Peeres by the Lord KEEPER To the Kings most Excellent Majesty and to the Right Honourable the Lords and the Honourable the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of divers of the Nobility Justices Gentry Ministers Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are nominated in the Schedule annexed Your Petitioners with all cheerefulnesse and contentation ●ffying in the happy settlement of the distractions both of Church and State by His Majesties pious care and the prudent and religious endeavours of this Honourable Assembly and with due humility and obedience submitting to the unanimous conclusions thereof yet conceive themselves bound in Duty HVmbly to represent to your mature considerations that the present disorders of many turbulent and ill disposed Spirits are such as give not onely occasion of present discontent to your Petitioners but seeme to import some ill event without early prevention The pure seed of our Faith the Doctrine of the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by so many Acts of Parliament and so harmoniously concurring with the confessions of all other Reformed Churches being tainted with the Tares of divers Sects and Schismes lately sprung up amongst us Our pious laudable and ancient forme of Divine Service composed by the holy Martyrs and worthy Instruments of Reformation established by the prudent Sages of State your religious Predecessours honoured by the approbation of many learned forraigne Divines subscribed by the Ministery of the whole Kingdome and with such generall content received by all the Laity that scarse any Family or person that can read but are furnished with the Bookes of Common Prayer In the conscionable use whereof many Christian hearts have found unspeakable joy and comfort wherein the famous Church of England our deare Mother hath just cause to glory And may shee long flourish in the practise of so blessed a Liturgy yet it is now not onely depraved by many of those who

of the County of KENT within the Diocesse of CANTERBURY Most humbly shewing THat notwithstanding this Kingdome hath by the singular providence of Almighty God for many yeares last past happily flourished above all other Nations in the Christian World under the Religion and Government by Law established Yet hath it beene of late most miserably distracted through the sinister practises of some private persons ill affected to them both By whose meanes the present Government is disgraced and traduced The Houses of God are prophaned and in part defaced The Ministers of Christ are contemned and despised The Ornaments and many Vtensils of the Church are abused The Liturgy and Booke of Common Prayer depraved and neglected That absolute modell of Prayer The Lords Prayer vilified The Sacraments of the Gospell in some places unduly administred in other places omitted Solemne dayes of fasting observed and appointed by private persons Marriages illegally Solemnized Burials uncharitably performed And the very Fundamentall of our Religion subverted by the publication of a new Creed and teaching the abrogation of the Morall Law For which purpose many offensive Sermons are dayly Preached and many impious Pamphlets printed and in contempt of authority Many doe what seemeth good in their owne eyes onely as if there were no King nor Government in this our Israel Whereby Almighty God is highly provoked his sacred Majesty dishonoured The peace of the Kingdome endangered The Consciences of the people disquieted The Ministers of Gods Word disheartned and the Enemies of the Church emboldned in their enterprises For redresse whereof May it please this Great and Honourable Councell speedily to command a due observation of the Religion and Government by Law established in such manner as it may seeme best to the Piety and Wisdome of his Royall Majesty and this Honourable Court Your Petitioners as they shall Confidently expect a blessing from Heaven upon this Church and Kingdome So shall they have this further cause to implore the Divine Assistance upon this Most Honourable Assembly Subscribed by Knight Barronets and Knights 24. Esquires and Gentlemen of note above 300. Divines 108. Freeholders and Subsidie men 800. All within the Diocesse of Canterbury To the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of the Gentry Clergy and other Inhabitants subscribed of the Counties of Flint Denbigh Mountgomery Carnarvan Anglesey Merioneth being the sixe Shires of Northwales As it was presented this present March the 5. 1641. Acccompanied with thirty thousand hands WHereas the present condition of the Church of England in the publike Liturgy thereof in the ancient liberties and forme of Government as they doe now stand established by Law hath beene lately brought in question and manifold Petitions from the severall quarters of this Kingdome and other such like addresses concerning the same have beene presented to this Honourable House Wee his Majesties faithfull Subjects in the Principalities and Counties of North-wales whom it equally concerneth and as strongly tied in duty and conscience doe likewise presume to make our humble Remonstrance and wee doe it after a long silence and expectation joyned with some feares And first for those things which concerne the publique Service of God as they bee of neerest importance and wee nothing doubt but you will take unto your tendrest thoughts so wee doe earnestly propound and prostrate before you that dangerous consequence of Innovation in matters of so high concernment as wee conceive and leave it to your owne great Wisdomes to Iudge what scruples and jealousies are like to arise if wee bee taught a new and different way of serving God after a full perswasion of the lawfulnesse of that which is prescribed according to the Word of God not without the deliberate and concurrent approbation and industry of the most learned of the Protestant Church of this and other Nations and the possession of so many yeares in the practise thereof and all since the blessed time of Reformation The meere report hereof hath already produced no good effect breeding in the minds of ill-disposed persons Insolence and contempt in others perplexity and griefe not knowing how to settle themselves or forme their obedience in such distractions and sometimes repugnancy of commands Then for the outward policy and forme of Government under the Iurisdiction of Bishops bounded by Law and kept within their owne limits It is as wee beleeve that forme which came into this Island with the first Plantation of Religion heere and God so blest this Island that Religion came earely in with the first dawning of the day very neere or in the time of the Apostles themselves And in the succession of all after Ages the same hath beene constantly maintained among us and that without any eminent interruption or gaine-saying even till these our dayes And now from the comfortable experience which wee feele and which our Fathers have told us of the conveniency and moderation of this Government together with the antiquity of the same a strong argument of Gods speciall Protection Wee doe in all humility represent and pray that the same may be still preserved entire in all the parts thereof professing yet withall that wee heartily disclaime all scandalous Innovation and Popish corruption whatsoever And we are the more incouraged in this suit because wee find it to be the unanimous and undevided request and vote of this whole Country who cannot without some trembling entertaine a thought of change In all which we doe not presume to give any rules but as it becomes us humbly declare and open our owne breasts and labour to deliver our owne soules in testimony of our loyalties and discharge of our Consciences who shall ever take comfort to find the same way of honouring God continued in his owne House of Prayer the lawes of the land put to actuall execution the Peace and Government of the Church preserved the rumor'd alterations declined and the distractions already too visible arising thereupon avoyded And as wee doubt not but your great Wisdomes will take care that our Doctrine and Discipline established shall be still in force and observed untill by some absolute law and the opinions of learned Convocations or Synod according to the Customs of our prudent fore-Fathers in best times it be otherwise ordained So shall wee never cease to pray for a permanent blessing upon your Counsels and Resolutions to the generall happinesse of Church and Kingdome To the sacred MAIESTIE of our most Gracious Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland KING Defender of the Faith The humble Gratulation and Petition of divers His Majesties faithfull Subjects of the true Protestant Religion within the County Palatine of Lancaster Most gracious Soveraigne THe most Reall and convincing'st testimonies of your Princely care for the advancement of Gods true Religion in your Majesties Realmes And the common good of all your Subjects Could no lesse then draw

established may continue in force with such alteration if there bee cause as to your Honours Wisdomes shall seeme meet And as in Duty bound Wee shall dayly pray c. Subscribed by one Viscount five Knights above a hundred Gentlemen of quality all the Clergy of the County and above six thousand Commoners being all of them Communicants The Remonstrance and Petition of the County of Huntington the Knights Gentlemen Clergy Free-holders and Inhabitants To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the continuance of the Church-Government and Divine Service or Booke of Common-prayer Presented to the House of Peeres by the Lord Privy Seale the 8. of December 1641. We humbly shew THat whereas many attempts have beene practised and divers Petitions from severall Counties and other places within this Kingdome framed and penned in a close and subtle manner to import more than is at first discernable by any ordinary eye or that was imparted to those who signed the same have beene carried about to most places against the present forme and frame of Church-Government and Divine-Service or Common Prayers and the hands of many persons of ordinary quality sollicited to the same with pretence to bee presented to this Honourable assembly in Parliament and under colour of removing some Innovations lately crept into the Church and Worship of God and reforming some abuses in the Ecclesiasticall Courts which wee conceiving and fearing not so much to aime at the taking away of the said Innovations and Reformation of abuses as tending to an absolute Innovation of Church-Government and subversion of that Order and Forme of Divine Service which hath happily continued amongst us ever since the Reformation of Religion Out of a tender and zealous regard hereunto wee have thought it our duty not onely to disavow all such Petitions but also to manifest our publike affections and desires to continue the Forme of Divine Service and Common-prayers and the present Government of the Church as the same have beene continued since the first Reformation and stand so established by the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome For when wee consider that the Forme of Divine Service expressed and contained in the Booke of Common prayer was with great care piety and sincerity revised and reduced from all former corruptions and Romish Superstitions by those holy and selected Instruments of the Reformation of Religion within this Church and was by them restored to its first purity according as it was instituted and practised in the Primitive times standeth confirmed established and enjoyned by Act of Parliament and Royall Injunctions and hath ever since had the generall approbation of the godly and a publike use and continuance within this Church And that Bishops were instituted and have had their being and continuance ever since the first planting of Christian Religion amongst us and the rest of the Christian World that they were the lights and glorious Lamps of Gods Church that so many of them sowed the seeds of Christian Religion in their blouds which they willingly powred out therefore that by them Christianity was rescued and preserved from utter extirpation in the fierce and most cruell Persecutions of Pagan Emperous that to them wee owe the redemption of the purity of the Gospell and the Reformation of the Religion wee now professe from Romish corruption that many of them for the propagation of that Truth became glorious Martyrs leaving unto us an holy example and an honourable remembrance of their faith and Christian fortitude that divers of them lately and yet living with us have beene so great Assertours and Champions of our Religion against the Common enemy of Rome and that their Government hath beene so ancient so long approved and so often established by the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome and as yet nothing in their Doctrine generally taught dissonant from the Word of God or the Articles established by Law and that most of them are of singular learning and piety In this case to call the forme of Divine Service and Common-prayers Erronious Popish Superstitious Idolatrous and Blasphemous and to call the Government by Bishops a perpetuall vassallage and intollerable bondage and at the first step and before the parties concerned bee heard to pray the present removall of them or the utter dissolution and extirpation of them their Courts and their Officers as Antichristian and Diabolicall wee cannot conceive to savour or relish of piety justice or charity nor can wee joyne with them herein but rather humbly pray a Reformation of the abuses and punishment of the Offenders but not the ruine or abolition of the Innocent Now on the contrary when wee consider the tenour of such writings as in the name of Petitions are spread amongst the Common people the contents of many printed Pamphlets swarming at London and over all Countries the Sermons preached publikely in Pulpits and other private places and the bitter invectives divulged and commonly spoken by many disaffected persons all of them shewing an extreme aversenesse and dislike of the present Government of the Church and Divine Service or Common Prayers dangerously exciting a disobedience to the established forme of Government and Church Service their severall intimations of the desire of the power of the keyes and that their congregations may bee independent and may execute Ecclesiasticall censures within themselves whereby many Sects and severall and contrary opinions will soone grow and arise whereby great divisions and horrible factions will soone ensue thereupon to the breach of that union which is the sacred band and preservation of the Common peace of Church and State their peremptory desires and bold assuming to themselves the liberty of conscience to introduce into the Church whatsoever they affect and to refuse and oppose all things which themselves shall dislike and what they dislike must not onely to themselves but also to all others bee scandalous and burdensome and must bee cried out upon as great and unsupportable grievances yea though the things in themselves bee never so indifferent of never so long continuance in use and practise and never so much desired and affected of others so that where three or foure of them bee in a Parish though five hundred others desire the use and continuance of things long used all must bee altered or taken away as scandals and grievances for these three or foure though to the offence of many others and whatsoever they will have introduced must bee imposed upon all others and must by all bee admitted without scandall or offence whereby multitudes of godly and wel-affected people are in some things deprived or abridged of what they desire and take comfort in and have had a long and lawfull use and practise of and other things imposed upon them against their wils and liking as if no accompt were to bee made of them or no liberty of conscience were left unto them which bold attempts of some few to arrogate to themselves and to exercise over

worke by Novelty with any proportionable utility being most confident in your Honours Wisdomes and Iustice that all Excesses Exorbitances and Encroachments that shall bee found issuing not from any poyson in the nature of the Discipline but rather from the infirmity and corruption of the Persons unto which the very best Government is subject shall bee duely regulated and corrected And your Petitioners shall pray c. Subscribed by Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of Quality 68 Doctours 8 Ministers of good repute as will appeare by the Originall Petitions 150 Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Hereford 3600 To the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Honourable House of Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen Ministers Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County of Cornwall Humbly shewing THat wee are no lesse thankefull for the many excellent Lawes which by his Majesties grace and favour and your care and assiduousnesse you have obtained for us then those who have beene more forward to present you with Petitions doubting not but you will welcome this with as hearty acceptance as you have done any other it proceeding from loyall hearts to our Soveraigne a tender care of our Protestation and aboundance of affection to the Common-wealth And whereas wee understand that there is a purpose if not a presentment already to this honourable House of a Petition heretofore by some Iustices of the Peace tendred to the grand Enquest at our last Assises to be by them considered whether fit to be presented to this Honourable House which on deliberate debate was much disliked as it was laid but since as we are informed indirectly obtruded on diverse persons without reading or peru●all many of them since retracting their opinions and wishing back their hands and we having resolved to rest upon the abilities and care of our Knights and Burgesses our hands and mouths for matter of our particular concernments yet since their absence from us and attendance in Parliament finding and feeling our owne grievances giving us just grounds and feare of sudden misery by disobedience and contempt of Lawes thus provoked with bleeding hearts wee beg the helpe of your Wisedomes to advise and apply some speedy remedy for these felt and feared evils And for as much as there are lately risen amongst us some few of the Clergy and many of the Laity publike contemners and depravers of the Ceremonies and the Service of the Booke of Common Prayer by Law established irreverent vilifiers of Gods House and Church Assemblies in Prayer times and generally disobedient to Ecclesiasticall Government of whom many have subscribed or subsigned to the recited Petition Although the said Ceremonies and Booke of Common Prayer are by far the greater and discreeter part of our Congregations inoffensively and reverently received and approved 1 WE pray no way presuming to prescribe rules but submitting to your graver Judgements that a Nationall Synod of our learned and approved Clergy by the rest to be chosen may be convened and some Parliamentary course speeded for the ordaining confirming establishing of the said Service Booke and Ceremonies or some of them or others not repugnant to Gods Word tending most to the peace and purity of our Religion and Church before which settlement our humble desires are that a Parliamentary Declaration may speedily issue forth for requiring of obedience to the Lawes established 2 We likewise humbly pray the continuance of that ancient and ever reverenced Episcopall Government in our Church and that the Delinquences of any particular person may not cause that high and holy Office or Calling to suffer 3 We pray likewise that in every Parish unprovided there may bee a Preaching Minister and a competent maintenance raised for him and where Impropriations are and Preaching Ministers not sufficiently cared for allowance may be had or bettered 4 We pray likewise that such of our Clergy as upon enquiry shall be found either Scandalous or not Orthodox may bee admonished and bound for the better supply and discharge of their Cures or removed 5 Wee pray likewise that some positive Law may bee Inacted for Parsons and Vicars recovery of their Tithes and that such course may bee taken for the obtaining of them as may bee most speedy and least chargeable That so those that Minister at the Altar may live by the Altar 6 We pray likewise that for the restraining and preventing of inordinate licenciousnesse there may be some penall Law Inacted for the punishment of Adulteries and diverse other offences not punishable by the Common Law 7 As likewise that there may be some Coersive power or Law ordained for compelling of refactory men to the payment of their rates and for the reparations of their Parish Churches in which of late some are growne very remisse and backward 8 Wee pray likewise that great care may bee taken not onely for disarming of Recusants but for the Education of their children in the Protestant Religion 9 Wee likewise pray that some speedy course may bee taken for the Redemption of those wofull Christian Captives in Barbarie the want of whom hath occasioned an extraordinary decay and poverty in our Maritine Townes and Parishes and that our Coasts may bee sufficiently gaurded and secured 10 Wee likewise pray that whereas this County hath beene and is surcharged double at least with Armes and very high in Subsidies much above our abilities and the respective charge of diverse parts of this Kingdome we may in consideration hereof bee relieved in future 11 Wee likewise pray that the Sheriffes Turne now growne an unnecessary Court and onely used to the grievous oppression of the meaner sort of people may bee suppressed and taken away it being more burdensome then the Office of the Clerke of the Market formerly hath beene 12 Wee likewise pray that such Dutchcy Tenants as within our County pay over their rightfull Rents and Duties unto the Dutchy Officers may not bee doubly charged by Proces out of the Exchequer as now they are by extreame and continuall Amercements 13 Wee likewise pray that there may bee a reparation of the decay of the Castle of Saint Mawes and that there may bee a supply of the wants of Ordnances Carriages Powder and Ammunition in all which it is extreamely defective And thus with all humblenes Craving pardon for with-holding you from your other Weighty Affaires but perswaded that the cause is considerable and may well challenge a part of your thoughts and be put in action for the effecting of which as of all things standing to the Purity and Peace of our Church and Religion as for the safe Defence and Honour of his Majestie his Royall Posterity and Kingdomes And in these your and our happinesse as for uniting of his Gratious Majestie and this Honourable Assembly in a mutuall consent and compliancy as for the unanimous and prosperous proceedings of this Parliament wee doe and ever shall with humble hearts implore Gods gracious assistance and blessing The Index of the Petitions CHeshire Pag. 1 Oxford University Pag. 4 Cambridge Universitie Pag. 6 Nottingham Pag. 8 Huntington Pag. 9 Somerset Pag. 13 Rutland Pag. 15 Cheshire Pag. 21 Colledges Halls c. Pag. 23 Exeter Diocesse Pag. 24 Stafforashire Pag. 25 Diocesse of Canterbury Pag. 26 Six Counties of North-Walles Pag. 27 Lancashire Pag. 29 Cornwall Pag. 32 Kent Pag. 33 Oxford County Pag. 36 Cornwall Pag. 37 Hereford Pag. 39 Cornwall Pag. 40 Viz. De jure non eidem de facto till 555 years after Christ and then but once in the case of Pope Pelagius and that irregularly never since unlesse by Papall usurpation Comment in Epist. ad Titum Timotheus Titus Clements Linus Marcus Dyonysius Onesimus Caius Epaphroditus Iacobus Hierosolimit Evodias Simeon