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.

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 assem∣bled in Parliament, for the continuance of the Church-Govern∣ment, 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 im∣port 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-Govern∣ment, and Divine-Service, or Common Prayers, and the hands of ma∣ny 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 Ecclesiasti∣call 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 Re∣formation, and stand so established by the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome.

For when wee consider that the Forme of Divine Service expres∣sed and contained in the Booke of Common prayer, was with great care, piety, and sincerity, revised and reduced from all former cor∣ruptions and Romish Superstitions, by those holy and selected Instru∣ments 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 pub∣like 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 Re∣ligion in their blouds, which they willingly powred out therefore, that by them Christianity was rescued and preserved from utter extir∣pation 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 be∣came glorious Martyrs, leaving unto us an holy example, and an ho∣nourable remembrance of their faith and Christian fortitude, that di∣vers of them lately, and yet living with us, have beene so great Asser∣tours 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, Erro∣nious, 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 Anti∣christian and Diabolicall, wee cannot conceive to savour or relish of piety, justice, or charity, nor can wee joyne with them herein, but ra∣ther 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 wri∣tings, as in the name of Petitions are spread amongst the Common people, the contents of many printed Pamphlets swarming at Lon∣don, and over all Countries, the Sermons preached publikely in Pul∣pits, 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 exci∣ting 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 pra∣ctise, 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 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 sepa∣rating and sequestring themselves from the publike Assembly at Common Prayers and Divine Service, but also opposing, and tumul∣tuously 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 Go∣vernment, 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 acknow∣ledge, the pious care which is already taken for the suppressing of the grouth of Popery, the better supply of able and painefull Mini∣sters, 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 conclu∣sions.