408 The HISTORY of the PvRTrANS._ Chap, KingjamesI. own vindication, though by the archbilhop's vigilance (fays Mr. Strype) 160 not a petition or pamphlet efcaped without a fpeedy and effeEtual anfwer. Millenary While the king was in his progrefs to London, the puritans prefented : ntee Ápril, their millenarypetition, fo called, becaufe it was faid to be fubfcribed by 1603. a thoufand hands, though there were not more than eight hundred out Clark's life of twenty-five counties. It is entitled, the humble petitionof the miners of I-lilder- o England l dee/ring reformation of certain ceremonies and (ham 126. 0 e the church f g ' P abufes of the church; the preamble fets forth,` " that neither as faftious " men affefting a popular parity in the church, nor as fchifmaticks aim- " ing at the difiolution of the (late ecclefiaftical, but as the faithful mi- " nifters of Chrift, and loyal fubjeéts to his majefty, they humbly defired " the redrefs of fome abufes. And though divers of them had formerly " fubfcribed to the fervice-book, fome upon prote/iation ; fome upon, an expofation given; and fome with condition; yet now trey, to the num. ber of more than a thoufand minifters, groaned under the burden " of human rites and ceremonies, and with one content threw them- . felves down at his royal feet for relief in the following particulars:. i. in the church fervice, "- That the crofs in baptifm, the interroga- tories to infants, baptifm by women, and confirmation, may be taken " away ; that the cap and furplice may notbe urged ; that examination. may go before the communion ; that the ring in marriage may be dif- " penfed with; that the fervice may be abridged ; church fongs, and " mufick, moderated to better edification; that the Lord's day may not be profaned, nor the obfervation of other holy days ftriétly enjoined ; " that minifters may. not be charged to teach their people to bow at the " name of yfos; and' that none but canonical fcriptures be read in the " church." 2. Concerning mütérs, " That none may be admitted but able men; " that they be obliged to preach on the. Lord's day ; that Inch as are " not capable of preaching may be removed or obliged to maintain " preachers ; that non - refidency be not permitted ;. that king Edward's " ftatute for the lawfulnefs of the marriageof the clergy be revived ; and " that minifters be not obliged to fubfcribe but according to law, to the " articles of religion, and the king's fupremacyonly. 3. For church livings. " That bithops leave their commendams; that " impropriations annexed to bifhopricks andcolleges be given to preaching " incumbents only, and that lay-impropriations be charged with a fixth " or feventh part for the maintenance of a preacher. q. For church diftipline. " That excommunication, and church cen- " fures be not in the name of lay- chancellors, &c. that men be not " excommunicated for twelve-penny matters, nor without content of their
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