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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 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

profit and advantage to those Cities where they are scituate not onely by relieving their poore and keeping convenient Hospitality but by occasioning a frequent resort of Strangers from other parts to the great benefit of all Tradesmen and Inhabitants in those places As the goodly Monuments of our Predecessours Piety and present Honour of this Kingdome in the eye of Forraigne Nations As the chiefe support of many thousand Familes of the Laity who enjoy faire estates from them in a free way As yeelding a constant and ample revenue to the Crowne And as by which many of the learned Professours in our Vniversity are maintained The subversion or alienation whereof must as wee conceive not onely bee attended with such consequences as will redound to the scandall of many well affected to our Religion but open the mouthes of our adversaries and of Posterity against us and is likely in time to draw after it harder conditions upon a considerable part of the Laity an universall cheapnesse and contempt upon the Clergy a lamentable drooping and defection of industry and knowledge in the Vniversities which is easie to foresee but will bee hard to remedy May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly upon these and such other Considerations as your great Wisdomes shall suggest to take such pious care for the continuance of these Religious Houses and their Revenewes according to the best intentions of their Founders as may be to the most furtherance of Gods glory and service the Honour of this Church and Nation the advancement of Religion and Learning the encouragement of the modest hopes and honest endeavours of many hundred Students in the Vniversities Who doe and shall ever pray c. Dat. Anno Dom. Millesimo sexcent ' quad ' primo è Domo Convocationis in celebri Conventu Doctorum ac Magistrorum omnibus singulis assentientibus Honoratissimis viris Equitibus Civibus Burgensibus Supremae Curiae Parliamentariae SENATORIBUS Consultissimis Summa cum demissione Senatores Honoratissimi NOn veremur ne voluentibus tanta negotia molesti simus Accademia Cantabrigiensis cum nihil sit aut ad Religionem certius aut ad splendorem nominis excelsius quàm suscipere Litterarum clientelam In quo studio cùm singu●aris animi vestri propensio semper eluxerit tum nulla in re magis possit eminere quàm si Ecclesiae honestamenta ea quae sub optimis Regibus tam diu optinuerunt indelibata tucamini Non enim agitur unius Accademiae non unius aetatis causa nam nec industria poterit non relanguescere nec bona indoles ali atque augeri nec vota parentum non in irritum cadere nisi spe non vana suffulciantur Quàm praematurum putemus bonis artibus oc●asum imminere si stipendium idem Militi sit quòd Imperatori Sun● qui exp●diendis Scholasticorum ambagibus evoluendis antiquorum Patrum monumentis expurgandae feci Romanae velut Augiae stabulo se totus impenderunt nec aliam mercedem prensant quam in Ecclesia Cathedrali tandem aliquando quasi in portu conquiescere it a fit ut quod ignavis Asylum incitiae est id candidioribus ingeniis pro stimulo sit ad optima persequend● nec aequitas juditiorum vestrorum ferret improbitatem nonnullorum in publicam calamitatem redundare Impetigo Romana quam amplam tum sibi nacta videbitur se diffundendi materiam cùm non sit nisi imbelles adversarios habitura neque enim certamini vacare possunt qui id unicè agunt ut in rostris Concionibus sudent etiam num percentiscere nobis videmur undam atque inanem Accademiam antiquam paupertatem quasi p●aeludio perhorrescimus nec vestra progenies non aliquando ventura est in tantarum miseriarum partes Quin itaque Senatores Amplissimi per spes Parentum per illecebras industriae per subsidia simul ornamenta pietatis per vincula nervos firmamenta Literarum velitis splendorem Ecclesiae qui longissimis ab usque temporibus ad nostra tempora deductus est authoritate vestra communire Sed quia Lingua nativa dolores desideria sua faelicius exprimit annexam Literis Peti●ionem benevolis auribus excipietis Honori vestro Deditissimi Procancellarius reliquusque caetus Accademiae CANTABRIGIENSIS Datae è frequenti Conventu nostro Cantabr tertio Idus Aprilis 1641. Lecta 12. Maii 1641. To the Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of the Vniversity of CAMBRIDGE Sheweth THat your Petitioners having heard of divers suggestions offered to this Honourable Court by way of Remonstrance tending to the subver●●on of Cathea all Churches and alienation of those Lands by which they are supported being the ancient Inheritance of the Church Founded and bestowed by the Religious bounty of many Famous and Renowned Kings and ●rinces of this Land and other Benefactours both of the Clergy and Laity and established and confirmed unto them by the Lawes of this Kingdome and so accordingly have beene employed to the advancement of Learning the encouragement of Students and preferrement of Learned men besides many other pious and charitable Vses May it please this Honourable Court out of their great wisdome and tender care for the cheerishing of Learning and furtherance of the Studies and paines of those who have and doe devote themselves to the service of the Church gratiously to Protect and secure those Religious Foundations from ruine and Alienation and withall to take order that they may bee reduc'd to the due observation of their Statutes and that all Innovations and Abuses which have by some mens miscarriages crept in may bee reformed that so the Students of our Vniversity which by the present feares both are and will bee much sadded and dejected may bee the better invited to pursue their Studies with alacrity and the places themselves disposed to the most serviceable and deserving men according to their first Institution And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray c. To the Honourable House of Commons now assembled in the high Court of Parliament The most humble Petition of the Nobility Gentry Clergy and Commons within the County of Nottingham Humbly shewing THat whereas wee are informed that a Petition together with a Remonstrance hath in the Name of this County beene heretofore presented to this Honourable House for the alterations in Church-Government Wee doe humbly crave leave to certifie your Honours that the same was done without our knowledge or consent and that wee doe hereby dis-avow the same And with the like humility doe desire That the long established Government of the Church may still continue and that the abuses and errours of some particular persons may not cause the alteration of the ancient Government but rather that such persons should suffer according to their Demerits And wee likewise humbly crave the Booke of Common Prayer by Law

all others what high presumption is it and how great a tyranny may it prove over the minds and consciences of men The great increase of late of Schismaticks and Sectaries and of persons not onely separating and sequestring themselves from the publike Assembly at Common Prayers and Divine Service but also opposing and tumultuously interrupting others in the performance thereof in the publike Congregation the frequent and many Conventicles held amongst them and their often meetings at all publike conventions of Assizes Sessions Faires Markets and other publike Assemblies their earnest labouring to sollicit and draw the people to them and the generall correspondence held amongst them to advance their ends herein Of these things wee cannot but take notice and must needs expresse our just feares that their desires and endeavours are to worke some great change and mutation in the present state of the Church Government and in the Forme of the publique Worship of God and Divine Service and Common Prayers Of the Common grievances of the Kingdome wee as others have beene and are sensible and doe professe that wee have just cause with joy and comfort to remember and with thankefulnesse to acknowledge the pious care which is already taken for the suppressing of the grouth of Popery the better supply of able and painefull Ministers and the removing of all Innovation and wee doubt not but in your great Wisdomes you will regulate the rigour and exorbitancy of the Ecclesiasticall Courts to suit with the temper of our Common Lawes and the nature and condition of Freemen And wee hope and humbly pray that the present Forme of Church Government and of Church Service and Common Prayers now established by the Statutes of this Kingdome shall bee setled and that all such as shall oppose themselves against the same or shall doe or speake any thing in derogation or depraving of the said Divine Service or Booke of Common Prayer may without any further tolleration or connivence undergoe the paines punishment and forfeitures due therefore and that such care shall bee taken for placing of Orthodox and peaceable men Lecturers in all places whose Doctrine may tend rather to sound instruction and edification then lead to Schisme and Faction All which wee humbly submit to your great judgements and shall pray to God to assist and direct you from above with his heavenly wisdome to guide and bring all your consultations to happy conclusions To the High and Honourable Court of Parliament now sitting The humble Petition and Remonstrance of the Knights Gentry Clergy Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Somerset Delivered to the House of Peers by the Lord Marquesse Hartford the 10. of December 1641. Wee humbly shew THat having with griefe of mind heard of sundry Petitions which have beene exhibited to this Right Honourable Assembly by some of the Clergy and Laity about London and some Counties tending to the subversion of the Church-government established in this Kingdome Wee therefore tendring the Peace and Welfare of Both Doe in all humblenesse presume to make knowne our Opinions and Desires concerning the same Nothing doubting of the like good acceptance of our humble Petition and Remonstrance in this behalfe being tendred with no lesse good Affection to the Peace and Happinesse of the Church the prosperity of His Sacred Majesty and this whole Kingdome For the present government of the Church we are most thankefull to God believing it in our hearts to be the most pious and the wisest that any People or Kingdome upon earth hath beene blest withall since the Apostles dayes though wee may not deny but through the frailty of Men and corruption of Times some things of ill consequence and other needlesse are stollen or thrust into it which wee heartily wish may be reformed and the Church restored to its former Purity And to the end it may be the better preserved from present and future Innovation We wish the wittingly and maliciously guilty of what condition soever they be whether Bishops or inferior Clergy may receive condigne punishment But for the miscarriage of Governours to destroy the Government we trust it shall never enter into the hearts of this wise and Honourable assembly Wee will not presume to dispute the Right of Episcopacy whether it be Divine or not It sufficeth us to know that the Church-government by Bishops is ancient even neere to the Apostles dayes and that it hath pleased God from time to time to make them most glorious instruments for the propagation and preservation of Christian Religion which with their blood they have frequently sealed to Posterity And how much this Kingdome in particular is indebted to them for their Piety their Wisedomes and Sufferings wee trust shall never be forgotten Our hearts desire therefore is That the Precious may be separated from the Vile that the bad may be rejected and the good retayned Furthermore having credibly heard that our Common Prayer hath beene interrupted and despised of some mis-understanding or mis-led people to the great scandall of the Religion professed in our Church Wee humbly beseech you to take into your care the Redresse therof as of an Impiety not to be endured as also to take order for the severe punishment of those men if they may be discovered who frequently publish Pamphlets under a veile of Religion yet conducing to confusion and Rebellion All which wee humbly offer to your Wisedomes as the thoughts and desires of this County And as wee are perswaded of multitudes of the sound Members of the Church of England and his Sacred Majesties most loyall Subjects Beseeching God to direct and prosper your Counsels and yee to pardon our Errors Wee rest At your Commands Knights Esquires Divines Gentlemen Free-holders Inhabitants of the County of Somerset none of them Papists but all Protestants of the Church of England and his Majesties loyall Subjects 14350 Whereof Knights Esquires and Gentlemen 200 Divines 221 Io BROVVNE Cler. Parliament To the high and honourable Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Housholders in the County of RVTLAND in behalfe of our selves and our Families And of the Parsons Vicars and Curats for the Clergy in behalfe of themselves and their Families Humbly shewing THat whereas there have beene divers Petitions exhibited to this Honourable Court by persons disaffected to the present Government for the utter extirpation of the apostolicall Government of the Church by Bishops They by sedulity and zeale supplying the want of faire pretences for the abolition of that which wee hope no just reason can condemne and on the otherside many pious persons true sonnes of the Church of England have represented their just desires of the continuance of it upon great and weighty causes both in Divinity and true Policy wee also lest we might seem unconcerned and for feare lest our silence should be exacted as a crime at our hands if wee be deficient to what wee are perswaded is the cause of God In

pursuance of their pious intendments and in allowance of their Reasons doe also presse to your great Tribunal and begge of you that which is the honour of Kings to be Nutricij of the Church and her most ancient and successive Government Wee therefore humbly beg of you to leave us in that state the Apostles left the Church in That the three Ages of Martyrs were governed by That the thirteene Ages since them have alwayes gloried in by their Succession of Bishops from the Apostles proving themselves members of the Catholike and Apostolike Church that our Lawes have established so many Kings and Parliaments have protected into which we were baptized as certainely Apostolicall as the observation of the Lords Day as the distinction of Books Apocryphall from Canonicall as that such Bookes were written by such Evangelists and Apostles as the consecration of the Eucharist by Presbyters as any thing which you will doe by upholding the Government of the Church by Bishops which we againe and againe begge of you to doe having pitty on our Consciences and not forcing of us to seeke Communion as yet we know not where So shall we be bound to pray with a multiplyed Devotion for the increase of publike and personall blessings to your Honourably assembly to your Noble Persons Wee also doe with all Humility begge leave to represent these our Considerations subjoyned which wee hope you will favourably expound to be a well-meant zeale and at least a confidence of duty and charity to those our Fathers from whom wee have received and daily hope to receive many issues of spirituall Benison 1 WEe consider that Christ either left his Church without a lasting Government or else Bishops and Presbyters under them are that Government the former wee feare to say lest wee might seeme to accuse the Wisdome of the Father of Improvidence in the not providing for his Family the Feeder and the Ruler in Scripture being all one in Office ●n expression in person So that if hee left no Rulers hee left no Feeders The latter wee are more confident of for that Christ did clearely institute a disparity in the Clergy which is the maine Stone of offence appeares in the Apostles and seventy two Disciples to whom according to the voyce of Christendome and traditive Interpretation of the Church Bishops and Presbyters respectively doe succeed and also many actually did succeed the Apostles in their Chaires being ordained Bishops by the Apostles themselves that did survive and also beyond all exception that Christ did institute a Government appeares in those Evangelicall words who then is that Faithfull and wise Steward whom his Lord shal make Ruler over his houshold c. which Rulers are Bishops and Priests under them or else the Church hath beene Apostate from her Lord shee having clearely for fifteene hundred yeares had no other Rulers then such 2. Wee consider that whether it can be a Church or no without Bishops is at least a question of great consideration and the Negative is maintained by Apostolicall and Primitive men and Martyrs and by the greatest part of Christendome and those few in respect of the whole that dissent being most certainely not infallible to bee sure with Episcopacy it may be a Church eatenus therefore it is the surest course to retaine it for feare we separate from the Church the Pillar and ground of Truth 3 No Ordination never was without a Bishop and if any Presbyter did impose hands unlesse in conjunction with a Bishop hee was accounted an Usurper and anathematized by publike and unquestioned authority and so without Bishops no Presbyter then no absolution no consecration of the Sacraments of the Lords Supper and for these wants no man can make a recompence or satisfaction 4 No Presbyter did ever impose hands on a Bishop which if so famous a resolve or publike voice of Christendome may have an estimate shewes their disparity and that a Bishop hath a Character which cannot be imprinted without at least an equall hand 5 VVithout Bishops no Confirmation of Children and yet confirmation called in Scripture Imposition of hands Saint Paul in his famous Catechisme accounts a Fundamentall point and the Church hath alwayes used it and it was appropriate to Bishops by the laudable custome of Christendome and by the example of the Apostles in the case of the Samaritane Christians whom Phillip the Evangelist had converted and is charged upon the Parents of Children that they bring their children to Bishops to be confirmed and it was never otherwise but just as in the case of Ordination videlicet by singularity and usurpation till of late that the Iesuits to enlarge their Philacteries have striven to make Bishops not necessary by communicating Confirmation to the Priests of their Order 6 To take away Bishops is against the Wisdome of the State of England ever since the Reformation and having beene attempted by clancular practises was checked by the Princes respectively and their Councell and confidently by the wisdome of preceeding Parliaments and this although the Bishops then were lesse learned and as much infamed 7 We are sure that Episcopall Government hath consisted with Monarchy ever since the English Monarchy was Christian we are to try whether any innovated Government can or will 8 Wee consider that if it could consist with Monarchy when it was byassed by the Popes prevalent incroachment much more since the Reformation when the King hath the raines in his owne hand and can give them Lawes and ascertaines them by their immediate dependance both for their Baronies and Election and personall Iurisdiction on the Crowne and by the Statute of Submission 9 Wee consider that Saint Hierome pretented as the maine Authenticke enemy against Episcopacy yet sayes That Bishops were constituted as an antidote and deletory to dis-improve the issues of Schisme and that by the Apostles who best knew the remedies And now that Schismes multiply there is more need of Bishops so that they cannot be taken away upon pretence their Regiment is not necessary for the taking them away makes them more necessary by the multiplication of Schismes 10 All Learning will be discountenanced if not extinguished upon the demolition of Episcopacy the Bishops being parties for the advancement of Learning and on the other side if the Government should be in the hands of Presbitery or lay Elders we know no reason sufficient to stifle our feares lest preferment be given to people unlearned and unfit to have the mannaging of Soules especially since a learned Clergy will be suspected by their Lay-Elders as too knowing to be ruled by their Dictates which will not have so much artifice and finenesse as to command by strength of reason which our feares are also increased by considering that by the multiplication of Lay-Elders or other Governours their personall interest being increased partiality must be more frequent and all this is besides their incompetency of judging the abilities of Schollers 11 The remove all

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