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, Free∣holders, and other Inhabitants, within the County of STAFFORD, hereunto subscribed.

THat the present publique forme of Gods Worship, and admini∣stration 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 a∣gaine 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 Here∣sies, 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 ser∣viceable 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 wicked∣nesse and vice, and the mature prevention of Schismes, Factions, and Seditions. The which wee, your humble Petitioners, the more ear∣nestly beseech your Honours to grant, For that strong feare doe pos∣sesse 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, Page  26 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.