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TO THE HONORABLE THE KNIGHTS CITTIZENS AND BVRGESSES OF THE COMMONS HOVSE ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT. The humble Petition of the High Sheriffe and Divers of the Gentrey, Ministers, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the County of Hereford.
THat withall thankefulnesse we acknowledge those many and great Blessings we have already received through Gods mercy, the favour of our Gratious Soveraigne, the Wisedome, Councell, Sollicitation, and unwearied Paines and Patience of this Ho∣norable Assembly for the preservation of the Priviledges of Parliament, and liber∣ties of the Subiect, the removing of many of these Obstructions which hindred your good en∣devours; your zealous furthering of bleeding Irelands Reliefe, earnest desire of disarming Papists, and securing of their persons; your prudent care in disposing the Militia, Navie, and places of Importance of this Kingdome to such persons of Trust as may (by Gods blessing) give assurance of safetie to the Kings Royall person, and good subiects of all his Maiesties Do∣minions; your Pious Care to settle a Governement in the Church according to the VVord of God, your godly desires to prevent the Prophaning of the Lords day, To take away Plura∣lities & Non Residents, and your zeale to provide Preaching Ministerie throughout the King∣dome, whereof this County stands in great neede, it now abounding with insufficient, Idle, and Scandalous Ministers, whereby the people generally are continued in Ignorance, Super∣stition, and prophanenesse, and are ready to become a prey to popish suducers, which Idola∣trous profession hath of late yeares with much boldnesse appeared in this County: And wher∣as one of our cheife Commodities is the Native Wooll of this County, the price whereof is much fallen thrugh the excessive importation of Spanish woolls to our great impoverishing.
May it therefore please this Honorable House to continue your Prudence and Pious in∣te••••••ons and indeavours in all the Premisses not yet Accomplished, to hasten the speedy releife of •••…•••…stressed and Gasping Ireland, To remove evill Councellors, To take away the Votes of Po∣••••h Lords, Speedily to disarme the Papists, To settle a Godly and Learned Ministery, and to re∣••••••aine the excessive Jmportation of Spanish Wooll.
And wee shall be ready with chearefulnesse to contribute all possible Assistance, our Prayers, lives, and livelyhoods may afford for the defence of his Maiesties Royall person, this Hhnorable House, and the preservation of the priviledges of Parliament.