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.

To the Most Honourable and High Court of PARLIAMENT: The humble Petition of the Gentlemen, and other of the Inhabi∣tants of the County of Cornwall.

HAving seene and heard the many (though scarce divers) Peti∣tions to this Honourable Assembly, by the Inhabitants of divers Counties and Cities of this Land, as also Corporations, Companies, and Trades, some against Bishops, some against the Common Prayer, and all against such Iudiciall, and things Super-elementary to the re∣gion

of their capacity of judging, and matters onely belonging to the Iudicature of this grave Synod, which seemes either to distrust, or direct, or both, your great Wisdomes; Wee therefore the Gentle∣men, and other the Inhabitants of Cornwall, with as many hearts, though not hands, with as many good willes, though not persons, not in imitation, but rather by provocation, and necessity, in these times, to shew our good minded affections, doe humbly prostrate the utmost of our service to your feet. In which (or rather after which) wee take leave humbly to begge.

THat you will bee pleased to bend your auxiliary and good affe∣ctions to the redresse of the distresse of the miserable Protestants in Ireland. To gaine whose good, prosperity, peace, and tranquility, to preserve the Soveraignty of that Land to our Royall King, and to maintaine His, and this Kingdomes Honour, We shall willingly lay downe our lives and fortunes.

That you will bee pleased to continue your great respect, dutifull love, and true obedience, to our Royall Soveraigne, by maintaining his just, and no way Antilegall Prerogative.

That you will bee pleased to put the Lawes in due execution against all Iesuites, Seminaries, Papists, and Recusants.

That you will bee pleased to looke upon the other side, and duly weighing the actions (or rather factions) of some, (whom most men call Citizens) to scourge their irregular and disorderly Schisme, and Hereticall Sects, into right paths of serving God, to frequent his House, and to Pray as well as Heare, to allow Order, and obey Con∣formity, to reverence Learning, and bow to Authority, to bee under a Discipline, and live in order.

That you will bee pleased to maintaine and establish the Ancient, Fundamentall, and most venerable Lawes, Order, and Discipline, both of our Church and Common-wealth, to continue the reverenced Office, and punish the offending persons of Bishops, to have in high account, and eternize (as farre as in you lies) the Divine and excellent forme of Common-prayer, to correct braine-forg'd doctrine, by your examplary precepts strike a Reverence of Gods House into eve∣ry mans breast.

That you will bee pleased to intimate to the people, your Honou∣rable and wise intentions concerning Divine Service, lest while you hold your peace, some rejecting it in part, others altogether, they vainly conceive you countenance them.

Lastly, (not to trouble your great affaires any longer) That you will bee pleased to take into your Sage consideration, those Scanda∣lous and ill-affected Pamphlets, which fly abroad in such swarmes, as are able to cloud the pure aire of Truth, and present a darke igno∣rance to those who have not the two wings of Iustice and Know∣ledge to fly above them.

Now to polish this our worke with a smooth demonstration of our modest intents, that the tinctures which in Introduction fell on the fore-mentioned presents, may slide without a staine from this; Wee doe in all humility declare, that neither distrust of your intentions, nor opinion of any of our Counsels worthy your eares, ever tainted our thoughts, but that wee have still beene, and are confident, that this most wise Synod hath ever thought fit, resolv'd, and will confirme into action, what wee now humbly request; therefore this our present, not so much a Petition, as a Prayer of willing and thankefull hearts for the hoped sequell, is onely to shew our true intentions and good will towards his gracious Majesty, and this High Court, as Instruments of the peace of our soules and bodies, for which wee are unanimously, and immu∣tably resolv'd to spend our dearest bloud.

Published by I.B. Gent.