Chap. X. The HISTORY of the PURITANS.- 75Z after another from SomerfetJhire, figned with above fourteen thoufand K. Charles I. names. 16qí. On the other hand, the minifters appointed to folicit their remonftrance fern formerly mentioned, addreffed the houle Dec. 20. acknowledging titian of the " their piety and zeal for the true religion, againft popery and fupertli- puritan der- " tion ; in countenancing the facred ordinance of preaching in cocoa- gy fcr refor- g p g mazicn. " raging painful and godly minifters formerly fet afide, but now profit- Nairon, " ably employed in many congregations ; in difcountenancing of bold in- P. 764. " 1 traders, who without a fufficient call, have thruft themfelves into the " facred office ; as allo of all unworthy and fcandalous miniflers; in free- " ing divers godly minifters from prifon and exile, and others from heavy " cenfures; in preventing the utter ruin of thepetitioners, by Letting afide " the late oath and canons, the high commif ion, and other illegal pref.- " lures of ecclefiaflical courts; in making an order to take away all fu- " perflitious rites and ceremonies, images, pic`.tures, and other innovations, " out of churches; in conducting the late peace with Scotland tgan hap- " py conclulion, and in their vigorous endeavours for the relief of Ire- " land, &c.--But whereas there f1ì11 remain a great many grievances " ° to be removed, they are necefliated to renew their former fuit for " redrefs of the aforefaid evils, and for taking away whatever iltall ap- " pear to be the root and cattle of them. And whereas the petitioners "and many others, are defirous in all things to fubmit to the laws, fo " far as poflibly they may, yet merely out of tendernefs and fcruple of " confcience, they dare not continue as formerly they did, the exerci- les of Lome things enjoined; not only becaufe they have more ferioufly " weighed the nature and fcandal of them, and becaufe fundry bifhops " and other grave divines, called to their afliftance by order of the houle "of peers,. have (as they are informed) difcovered divers particulars " which need alteration in the liturgy and becaufe there is not (as they " humbly conceive) at this day, commonly extant, any book of corn " mon prayer without fo many alterations and additions, as render it in " many parts another thing from that which is bylaw eflablilhed, but . chiefly, becaufe the houle from a fenfè of its defects, has taken there- " formation thereof under confideration, which they hoped would be " force fhelter againft the ftrict preffiug the ufe of it, till their pleafure `" was declared in a parliamentary way. But though the petitionershave " been comfortably affuredof force cafe herein, yet now to their great forrow they apprehend that the fame things are anew enforced, which " may occafion much trouble and vexation to fundry peaceable and won- " thy minifters, fcme of whom have been indicted upon the flatute of t Eirz. cap. 2. fine the beginning of this prefect parliament, and. others threatened for omiffions of Tome things complained of t"o high this
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