246 the HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VI. ,Zireen " Iheep therefore going affray, we humbly on our knees, befeech this hon. Eliza8th, " ourable affembly, in the bowels and blood of Jefus Chrift, to become t .) " humble fuitors to her majefly, that wemay have guides ; as hungry men " bound to abide by our empty rack-Raves, we do beg ofyou tobe means, " that the bread of life may be brought home to us ; that the fower may " come into the fallow ground ; that the pipes ofwater may be brought " into our affemblies ; that there may be food and refrefhing for us, our M.S. P. 3O2. " poor wives and forlorn children : So fhall the Lord have his due honour ; " you fhall difcharge good duty to her majefly ; many languifhing fouls " (hall be comforted ; atheiftnand herefybanifhed ; her majeftyhave more " faithful fubje&s ; and you more hearty prayers for your profperity " in this life, and full happinefsin the life to come, through Jefus Chrift our alone Saviour. Amen." lu Cornwal. In the fupplication ofthe people of Cornwal, it is Paid, " We are above M.S. p.300. the number of fourfcore and ten thoufand fouls, which for want of the " word of God, are in extreme mifery, and ready to perifh, and this nei- " ther for want of maintainance norplace; for befidesthe impropriations in " our {hire, we allow yearly above nine thoufand two hundred pounds, " and haveabout 16o churches, the greateft part of which, are.fupplied by " men who are guilty ofthe groffeft fins ; fome fornicators, forne adulte- " rers, fome felons, bearing the marks in their hands for the Paid offence; " fome drunkards, gameflers on the fabbath day, &c. We have many non- " refidents, who preach but once a quarter ; fo that between meal and meal, the filly fheep may ftarve. We have fome .minifters who labour " painfully and faithfully in the Lord's hufbandry ; but thefe men are not " fuffered to attend their callings, becaufe the mouths of papifts, infidels, " and filthy livers, are open againft them, and the ears of thofe who are " called lords over them, are fooner open to their accufations, tho' it be but for ceremonies, than to the others anfwers. Nor is it Cafe for us to go and " hear them ; for tho' our own fountains are dried up, yet if we Peek for " the waters of life elfewhere, we are cited into the fpiritual courts, revil- '" ed, and threatned with excommunication. Therefore from far we come, " befeechingthishonourable houle, to.difpofiefs thefedumb dogs and raven- " ous wolves, and appoint us faithful minifters, who may peaceably preach " the word of God, and not be difquieted by every apparitor,regifter, " official, commifiìoner, chancellor, ßc. upon every light òccafion. " Reaforrs ofm The ground of this fcarcity, was no other than the feverity of the high L.ofAylmer, commißion, and the narrow terms ofconformity. Moft of theold incum- P. 32 bents, fays Dr..Keltridge, are dlfguifed papifts, fitter to fport with the tim- bre] and pipe, than to take into their hands the hook of the Lord ; and yet there was a rifing generation ofvaluable preachers, ready for the mi- niftry,; if they might have been encouraged ; for in a fupplication offome of
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