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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-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

should teach conformity to established Lawes but in contempt thereof in many places wholly neglected All these dayly practised with confidence without punishment To the great dejection of many sound Protestants and occasioning so great insultation and rejoycing in some Separatists as they not onely seeme to portend but menace some great alteration And not containing themselves within the bounds of Civill Government doe commit many tumultuous if not Sacrilegious violences both by day and night upon divers Churches Therefore your Petitioners being all very apprehensive of the dangerous consequences of Innovation and much scandalized at the present disorders Doe all unanimously pray That there bee admitted no Innovation of Doctrine or Liturgy that holy publike Service being so fast rooted by a long setled continuance in this Church that in our Opinion and Judgements it cannot bee altered unlesse by the advice and consent of some Nationall Synode without an universall discontent And that some speedy course bee taken to suppresse such Schismatiques and Separatists whose factious Spirits doe evidently endanger the peace both of Church and State And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. The Petition signed by Lords Knights Iustices of the Peace and Esquires 94. By Gentlemen of quality 440. By Divines 86. By Freeholders and others in all 8936. To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty And to the High Court of Parliament The humble Petition of Colledges and Halls and others well-willers to Piety and Learning throughout the Kingdome of England Sheweth THat whereas many Persons dis-affected to the present forme of Government of the Church of England established not onely by the Ecclesiasticall but also by the Common Law of this Realme and diverse Acts of Parliament have of late in great multitudes petitioned this Honourable Court against the Orders Honour Iurisdiction and meanes of the Clergy And have published such their desires in print and Pulpit and dayly seeke to advance and propagate the same To the great disheartning of all Learning if such designes find favour the grievous scandall of the Reformed Religion as unstable and the unspeakeable advantage of our Enemies of Rome WEe therefore well weighing that the Seminaries must decay when the Garden shall bee wasted in all humility most heartely pray Your Majesty and this Honourable Court that all the Orders of Holy Church of Bishops Priests and Decons which from the Apostles times till these have withstood so many Practices may have yet hopes to flourish under Your gracious Protection And that by your assistance under our most Religious Soveraigne the ancient Catholique Faith and Discipline as also the devout and decent service of God in our Church Liturgy may bee defended from all Innovations and Novelties The meanes and liberties of the Churches as well Cathedrall and Collegeat as Parochiall to them hitherto of right belonging according to the pious Wills of their blessed Founders may bee continued and preserved Many thousand Families which on them depend secured from ruine And that our Nation whose Lawes already favour as much as any in the World the right of the First borne may retaine Ecclesiasticall promotions as the Patrimony of younger Children the prize of labour and study an incitement of learning and a reward of those that can intitle themselves thereto by honest desert And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. This Petition is subscribed generally by all the Doctors Masters and Batchelours of all Degrees and Faculties in the Vniversity of Oxford And by very many other persons of quality Baronets Knights Esquires Ministers and Gentlemen within the Counties of Oxford Berks Wilts South-hampton Dorset Kent Surrey Westmerland Cumberland and other Shires Devonshire Petition To the Right Honourable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall now assembled in the House of PARLIAMENT The humble Information and Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and others of ability within the Diocesse of Exeter WEe whose Names are underwritten have for these many yeares found the benefit and comfort of Episcopall Government under which wee have lived hitherto peacebly and happily with great freedome and frequency of the Preaching of the Gospell and incouragement of the conscionable and painefull Preachers thereof As wee blesse God for his favour to us in the behalfe So wee doe humbly and earnestly professe our desire that the same Government may bee still continued both to us and our posterity submitting all personall offences and redresse of abuses to your Honourable Wisdomes In witnesse whereof wee have hereunto subscribed Signed by Knights Esquires Gentlemen and other Inhabitants neere upon Eight thousand The Staffordshire Petition To the Right Honourable the LORDS and COMMONS assembled in the High Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of the Knights Gentlemen Ministers Freeholders and other Inhabitants within the County of STAFFORD hereunto subscribed Who Most humbly pray THat the present publique forme of Gods Worship and administration of the blessed Sacrament with other Rites agreeable to Gods holy Word and purest antiquity which hath beene formerly sundry times established by godly Acts of Parliament may now againe in these broken and troubled times bee to Gods glory and the Churches Peace re-established and confirmed That Episcopacy being the ancientest and Primitive Government of the Church renowned for successes victorious against Schismes and Heresies and especially of late yeares against that Hydra of Heresies the Roman Papacy glorious for ancient and late Martyrdomes happy before the corruption of Popery and since the Reformation in the Plantation and Preservation of Truth and Peace eminently serviceable to this Common-wealth most compliable with the Civill Government into the Fabrick and body of which it is riveted and incorporate most apt easie a● all times by the State to be reduced into Order may for the future as formerly by your Great Authority bee continued and maintained for the glory of God preservation of Order Peace and Vnity the Reformation and suppression of wickednesse and vice and the mature prevention of Schismes Factions and Seditions The which wee your humble Petitioners the more earnestly beseech your Honours to grant For that strong feare doe possesse our hearts that the sudden mutation of a Government so long setled so well knowne and approved cannot recompence with any proportionable utility the disturbances and disorders which it may worke by novelty being most confident in your Honours Wisdome and Iustice That all excessive exorbitances and incroachments which shall bee found issuing not from any poison in the nature of the Discipline but rather from the infirmity or corruption of the person unto which the very best Government is subject shall bee duely regulated and corrected And your Petitioners shall duly pray for your Honours happiest proceedings Subscribed by 3000. of the best quality of the County To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty And to the Right Honourable the LORDS and the Honourable the House of COMMONS assembled in PARLIAMENT The most humble Petition of divers Baronets Knights Iustices Gentry Ministers and Freeholders Inhabitants

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

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 faithfull Lover of the Church for the comfort of the dejected Clergy and all moderatly affected Protestants Published by his Majesties speciall Command Ezek. 34.18 20 21 22 23 24. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture but you must tread downe with your feet the residue also Therefore thus saith the Lord God Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder and pusht all the diseased with your hornes till you have scattered them abroad therefore will I save my flock and they shall be no more a prey and I will judge betweene Cattell and Cattell And I will set up one Shepheard ouer them and he shall feede them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepheard J the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince among them J the Lord have spoken it Printed for William Sheares 1642. The Collector to the Reader READER LET mee put thee in mind as these times doe mee of a speciall Law in that singular Patterne of a well composed State Sparta So sensible were they of the ill effects of Innovations in Government that who ever proposed a new Law presented himselfe with a Halter about his neck his Head paid the trespasse of a new invented Prejudice But oh Quantum mutantur Tempora quantum nos So rare a gift have the illuminated fancies of this all-knowing age That old women without Spectacles can discover Popish plots young men and prentizes assume to regulate the Rebellion in Jreland Sea-men and Marriners Reforme the House of Peers Poore men Porters and Labourers spy out a malignant party and discipline them The countrey clouted-shoe renew the decayed trade of the Citie The Cobler patch up a Religion all these petition for a translation both of Church and State with so little feare of the Halter that they would thinke themselves neglected if they had not thanks for their care of the Re-publicke only he that desires the ratification of an old Law or of a long setled Ecclesiastick Government lookes as if the Halter were his share And though there be thirty thousand hands subscribed to it 'T is ods not one of all those dares preferre a Petition to that purpose Oh! Quis pudor quod non praestet fides quod praestitit infidelitas Oh! what a shame is it that an ignorant Seperatist shall covertly draw Subscribers out of blind zeale to loose papers and those to be annext to some Embryon yet unhatcht and delivered in the name of a County with confidence when a Knight of a shire shall perhaps smother the true child and dares not owne it That a few Innovators shall be able to summon to Black-heath South-warke and Saint-george his fields thousands of credulous people with implicite faiths to goe along with Petitions shall be shewed them when they come there for the alteration of Lawes and Government and the Resolutions of an assizes or Sessions of Iustices published in all Parishes signed by all the Free-holders of a County for the supportation of Lawes and Government shall not produce one Patriot to present the unanimous desires of a County yet it fals out often so when single hearted men are encounter'd by a faction each man thinkes he stands alone unassured of a second when ten of the other confederated make more noyse then 10000. silent men Episcopacy and Lyturgie are both legally planted at this time both violently assaulted The question is whether the battery or the defence be the stronger the one side charges furiously the other suffers silently patiently and a reserved strength oft masters a violent But each orthodox sonne of the Church thinkes himselfe in Eliahs case that hee alone is left of all the Prophets and alas what can hee doe And perhaps thou my Reader art one of those Courage man the same God that taught him to know he had reserved seven thousand that had never bowed their knees to Baall when he opens thy eyes can shew thee not seven but seventy times seven thousand true Protestants that will lend their hands and hearts to uphold that Apostolicke order this blessed forme of divine service The busines is 't is a hard time every man's afraid to breake his shins by being foremost But the Ice is broke already This Collection of these many sleeping Petitions wil shew every County that the way is open And since noise and number are taken into consideration the forwardnesse of the Assaylants will I beleeve put shame upon the Defendants to be so farre behind The Iudges being honourable and impartially receiving the arguments on both sides I presume none will discover a distrust of a faire acceptance or betray a Trust out of a personall respect by detayning such Petitions as the Counties have committed into their hands If all such as are already signed see the light I am sure this volume will be a large one and the Number and quality of the Defendants as much over-sway the Opponents as their arguments drawne from the Lawes of God and man will out-weigh the Motives of those who only will because they will As if it were cause enough to overthrow established Lawes that they have desired it though they shew no reason for it But if all other Counties all true Protestants with like liberty expresse their affections the distractions of the Church will be quickly setled To that good worke I have lent my hand by lending thee and the world this light Farewell A PETITION DELIVERED In to the Lords SPIRITUALL and TEMPORALL By Sir THOMAS ASTON Baronet from the County Palatine of Chester concerning EPISCOPACY To the High and Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT The Nobility Knights Gentry Ministers Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are subscribed in the severall Schedules hereunto annexed Humbly shew THat whereas divers Petitions have lately beene carried about this County against the present forme of Church-governement and the hands of many persons of ordinary quality solicited to the same with pretence to bee presented to this Honourable Assembly which wee conceiving not so much to aime at Reformation as absolute Innovation of Government and such as must give a great advantage to the Adversaries of our Religion wee held it our duty to disavow them all And humbly pray that wee incurre no miscensure if any such clamours have without our privity assum'd the name of the County Wee as others are sensible of the common grievances of the Kingdome and have just cause to rejoyce at and acknowledge with thankefulnesse the pious care which is already taken for the suppressing of the growth of Popery the

from us who have hitherto in these stirring Times sate still this humble acknowledgement of our due and necessary thankes Wee with the inmost and choicest thoughts of our soules doe esteeme and prize your Majesties most righteous intentions of governing your liege people according to the wholsome Lawes of this Kingdome A thing so often and with such earnestnesse avowed by your sacred Majesty whereunto we yeeld that hearty credence which is due to so religious a Prince Wee doe also with all humility and thankfulnesse acknowledge your manifold and evident manifestations to the world that you affect not an Arbitrary Government But the common prosperity and happinesse of all your loyall subjects by your readines to joyn with your Parliament in speedy raysing of forces for a timely suppression of that odious Rebellion in Ireland by your late Proclamation for the putting in due execution the Lawes against Papists By your most gracious condiscending to the desires of your Great Councell in signing the Bill for the trienniall Parliament for the relinquishing your Title of imposing upon Merchandize and power of pressing souldiers For the taking away the Star-chamber and High Commission Courts for regulating of the Councell Table As also for the Bils for the Forrests and Stannerie Courts with other most necessary acts Moreover wee are confident and well assured of your Majesties zeale for the advancement of the true Protestant Religion And with inexpressible joy doe understand your most Christian and pious resolution for the preservation of those powerfull encouragements of Industry Learning and Piety the meanes and honour of the Ministry for the maintenance and continuance of our Church Government and solemne Liturgy of the Church of long continuance and generall approbation of the most pious and learned of this Nation and of other countries Composed according to the Primitive Patterne by our blessed Martyrs and other religious and learned men As also your gracious pleasure that all abuses of Church and State shall bee reformed according to the modell of Queene Elizabeths dayes of ever blessed and famous memory By the one you have weakned the hopes of the sacrilegious devourers of the Churches Patrimony if there be any such And by the other provided against all Popish Impieties and Idolatries and also against the growing danger of Anabaptists Brownists and other Novelists All which Piety Love and Iustice wee beseech God to returne into your Royall bosome But yet most gracious Soveraigne there is one thing that sads our hearts and hinders the perfection of our happinesse which is the distance and mis-understanding between your Majesty and your Parliament whereby the hearts of your subjects are filled with feares and jealousies Iustice neglected sacred ordinances prophaned and Trading impaired to the impoverishing of many of your liege people For the Removall whereof wee cannot find out any lawfull meanes without your Majesties assistance and direction Wherefore we humbly beseech your most excellent Majesty to continue your most Christian and pious Resolution of ruling your people according to the Lawes of the Land and maintaining of the same of being a zealous Defender of the estabilshed Doctrine Liturgie and Government of our Church from heresies Libertinisme and prophannesse an advancer of Learning Piety and Religion an Encourager of Learned Painefull Orthodox Preachers And whatsoever your Parliament shall offer to your Royall view conducing to this blessed end the common good and tranquillity of your subjects to be pleased to condiscend unto and graciously to confirme and withall to declare unto us some expedient way how we may make a dutifull addresse unto your Parliament for the taking away of these differences and impediments which stay the happy proceedings of that most honourable Assembly whereof your Majesty is the Head which once removed wee doubt not but you will bee as neare your Parliament in Person as in affection That there may be a blessed harmony betwixt your Highnesse and that great Councell wee shall with all alacrity oserve the same Humbly rendring our lives and fortunes for the preservation of your Royall Person Crowne and Dignity according to our bounden duty and allegiance And heartily praying for your Majesties long and prosperous Raigne over us Wee the Subscribers of this Petition doe hereby give authority unto the Bearers hereof to put our names to such Transcript hereof as shall be presented to His Majesty Attested by Knights and Esquires 64. Divines 55. Gentlemen 740. Free-holders neare 7000. To the Kings most Excellent MAIESTIE The humble Petition of the County of Cornewall WEe your Majesties loyall subjects In all duty render unto your Majesty all thankfulnesse for your Majesties unexampled favour and grace in granting unto your Subjects in concurrence with your Parliament such Lawes and Freedomes which have most fully expressed your Majesties Gracious Goodnesse unto your people And wee most thankfully receive your Majesties free offer of a generall pardon whereof wee most humbly desire to be made Partakers And wee most humbly beseech your Majesty never to suffer your Subjects to be governed by an arbitrary Government nor admit an alteration in Religion And your Petitioners being most feelingly grieved for your Majesties discontents partly occasioned by divers scandalous Pamphlets and no way lessened by seditious Sermons Doe wish a confluence of all comforts honour and happinesse unto your Majesty and doe heartily pray for the reconcilement betwixt your Majesty and your Parliament And in all thankfulnesse for your Majesties said Grace and Goodnesse your Petitioners doe offer themselves most ready to maintaine and defend with their lives and fortunes your Maiesties sacred Person Honour and Estate And lawfull Prerogative against all persons whatsoever according to the oaths of allegeance and Supremacy May 22. 1642. Jndorsed Wee the Petitioners to this Petition doe constitute and appoint Peter Courtney Walter Langdon Benatus Bellot and Nevill Bligh Esquires to deliver this Petition in the name of the county of Cornwall to His sacred Majesty To the Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition of the Gentry Ministers and Commonalty of the County of Kent agreed upon at the generall Assizes of the County Most Humbly sheweth THat wee cannot but take notice how welcome to this Honourable House many Petitions have beene which yet came not from an assembled body of any county as this doth wee doe therefore hope to find as gentle and favourable a reception of this as any other have found of their Petitions our hearts witnessing unto us as good peaceable and pious purposes as the best These are therefore the true and Ardent desires of this County 1 That you will be pleased to accept our due and hearty thankes for those excellent Lawes which by his Majesties grace and goodnesse you have obtained for us 2. That all Lawes against Papists be put in due execution and an account taken of their disarming and that all children of the Papists may be brought up in the reformed Religion 3. That the soelmn Liturgy

of the Church of England Celebrious by the piety of the Bishops and Martyrs who composed it establisht by the supreame Lawes of this Land attested and approved by the best of all Forraigne Divines confirmed by the subscription of all the Ministry of this Land a Clergy as able and Learned as any in the Christian world ere injoyed and with a holy Love embraced by the most and best of all the Laity that this holy exercise of Religion may by your authority be injoyed quiet and free from interruptions scornes prophanenesse threats and force of such men who daily doe deprave it and neglect the use of it in divers Churches in despight of the Lawes established 4. That Episcopall Government as ancient in this Iland as Christianity it selfe deduced and dispersed throughout the Christian world even from the Apostlicall times may bee preserved as the most pious most prudent and most safe Government for the peace of the Church 5. That all differences concerning Religion and Ceremonies may be referred to a lawfull free and Nationall Synod as your Remonstrance promiseth to a generall Synod of most grave learned pious and Iudicious Divines the proper agents whose interests gifts and callings may quicken them in that great Worke whose choyce to be by all the Clergy of the Land because all the Clergy are to bee bound by their Resolutions and the determination of this Synod to bind us all when you have first formed them into a Law and this we take to be according to the ancient and fundamentall Law of this Land confirmed by Magna Charta 6. That some speedy and good provision may be made as by his Majesty hath beene and is by all good men desired against the odious and abominable scandall of schismaticall and seditious Sermons and Pamphlets and some severe Law made against Lay-men for daring to arrogate to themselves and to execute the holy function of the Ministry who some of them doe sow their impious and discontented Doctrine even in sacred places by abuse of sacred Ordinances to the advancing of Heresie Schisme Prophanenesse Libertinisme Anabaptisme and Atheisme 7. That if the coertive power of Ecclesiasticall Courts by way of Excommunication be already abrogated or shall be thought fit so to be that there be some other power authority speedily established for suppressing the heynous and now so much abounding sins of Incest Adultery and Fornication and other crimes and for recovering Tythes repayring of Churches Probate of Wils Church assesses providing Bread and Wine for the Communion and choyce of Church-Wardens and other Officers in the Church and especially for Ministers who neglect the Celebrating of the Holy Communion and the Parishioners for not Receiving 8. That the Professors of that Learned faculty of the Civill Law and without which this Kingdome cannot but suffer manifold Inconveniences may not find discouragements and so divert their studies and Professions 9. That honour and profits the powerfull encouragements of Industry Learning and Piety may be preserved without further dimination to the Clergy 10. That you please sadly to consider the bleeding wounds of our Brethren in Ireland and with speedy succours endeavour to preserve them whereunto his Majesty hath promised a gracious concurrence 11. That you will please to frame an especiall Law for the Regulating of the Militia of this Kingdome so that the Subject may know how at once to obey both his Majesty and both Houses of Parliament a Law whereby may bee left to the discretion of Governours as little as may bee but that the number of Armes and what measure of punishment shall bee inflicted upon the offendours may bee expresly set downe in the Act and not left to any Arbitrary power and that according to the president of former Lawes the offendours may not bee tried out of the County 12. That the precious liberty of the Subject the Common birth-right of every English man may bee as in all these points preserved entire so in this also that no order of either of both Houses not grounded on the Lawes of this Land may be enforced on the Subject till it bee fully enacted by Parliament 13. That his Majesties gracious Message of the 20. of Jan. last for the present and future establishment of the Priviledges of Parliament the free enjoying of our estates and Fortunes the Liberty of our persons the security of the true Religion professed the maintaining of his Majesties just and Regall Authority the establishing his Revenue may bee taken into speedy consideration the effecting whereof will satisfie the desires of all us his faithfull and loving Subjects 14. That all possible care may bee taken that the Native Commodities of this Kingdome may have a quick Vent and that Cloathing and other Manufactures may bee improved wherein the livelihood of many thousands doe consist and that Trade may bee ballanced that the importation doe not exceed the exportation otherwise it will prove a consumption of the Land 15. That you please to frame some Lawes concerning Depopulations Purveyances Cart-taking delayes in Iustice Traffick Fishing in the Coasts Fulling earth that our Sea Forts may bee repaired and our Magazines renewed 16. That you please to consider the generall poverty that seemes to overgrow this Kingdome 17. Lastly Wee humbly beseech you to consider the sad condition that wee and the whole Land are in if a good understanding bee not speedily renewed betweene his Majesty and both Houses of Parliament Our hopes are yet above our feares secure them wee beseech you God direct and guide your consultations for the removing of all distrusts and Iealousies for the renuing that tye of confidence and trust which is the highest happinesse betweene our gracious Prince and his loving Subjects And you shall have the dayly prayers of your humble Oratours of the Commonalty of Kent To the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of the Baronets Knights Esquires Gentlemen Clergy-men Free-holders Subsidy-men and others of good Rank and Quality in the County of OXFORD Agreed upon and subscribed at the times of their meetings to take the Protestation sent unto them Humbly shewing THat whereas some Petitions have beene exposed in print the common view under the names of the Knights Gentlemen Freeholders Subsidy-men of the best Ranke and Quality of the County of Oxford as preferred to the Honourable House of Parliament Wee doe hereby crave leave to shew to this Honourable House that such Petitions have not received Publique Examination among us at any Generall meeting directed by Authority for the service of the County ANd wee your now Petitioners knowing our selves to bee to Major part of those degrees within this County and as desirous to expresse our Gratitude in this Honourable House for your unwearied labours and the happy effects thereof for the good of this Land and State doe hereby offer up in all Humility the greatest expression of our Thankefulnesse And in like manner