Chaps V1I. the HISTORYofthe PURITANS. 327 landentered into an affociation, to affemble in arms at what time and place ..tieen their king fhould require, to aflift the queen of England, againfl theSpani- Elizabeth, ads; and their brethren inLondon took the opportunity topetition the queen '5 for the libertyof their preachers, " that the people might be better in- They petition ftruäted in the duties of obedience to their civil governors, and not be the queen " left a prey to priefts and jefuits, who were no better than traitors to her MS. p. 838. " majef y and the kingdom. They affure her majef@y, that the people " will give their minifters a good maintenance ; that they [the people] " will always pray for her majefly's fafety, and be ready to part with their " goods, and pour out their blood like water for her prefervation, if they " may but have the gofpel." But the queen gave them no anfwer ; the whole reformation muffbe hazarded rather than the puritans relieved. After this, they applied to the lord mayor and court of aldermen, befeech- And apply to ing them to addrefs the queen, to make tome better provifion for the city; the court and to enforce their petition, they laid before them a new furvey of the aldermen. miniflry of London, taken this very year, with the names of every parifh M. S. prieft and curate fet down againft his living and curacy, which is now be- p. 482 fore me; and it appears at the foot of the account that there were, Double beneficed men within the city - - r ff Double beneficed men without Simple preachers (as the furveycalls them) - so Dumb, or unpreachingminifters - - - - I Refident preachers, abiding in London only - - 19 With the furvey, they offered divers reafons toprevail with the court to Without appear for them ; as, (i.) Becaufe the laws of the realm have providedJu«cifs. very wellfor a learned and preaching rniniftry, whereas by the account above, it appears that many are pluralifls and non- refidents, others illite- rate, being brought up to trades, and not to learning, and others of no very good character in life, (2.) Becaufe divers of the principal preachers of this land, have of late been put to filence. (3.) Becaufe of the pre- vailing ignorance and impiety that is among the common people for want of better inftrulion. (4.) Becaufe we now pay our money and dues to them M. S. that do little or nothing for it But the aldermen were afraid to inter- p. 839. pole. Such was the fcarcity of preachers, and the thirfl of the people after Cry of the knowledge, that the fufpended minifters of Efex, petitioned the parlia- people for ment,.March 8,13, 1537. for fome remedy, " Such (fay they) is the cry Preaching. " of the people to us day and night for the bread of life, that our bowels " earn within us and remeerubring the folenm denunciation of the apo- !' file,
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