Die Jovis, 20 die Novembris.
PRAYERS, by Mr. Case.
Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.
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Comes Essex. Comes Sarum. Comes Stamford. Comes Lyncolne. Comes Rutland. Comes Manchester. Comes Denbigh. Comes Warwicke. Comes Midd. L. Viscount Say & Seale. Comes Kent. Comes Bolingbrooke. |
Ds. North. Ds. Mountague. Ds. Wharton. Ds. Maynard. |
Message from the H. C. for Dr. Walker to make his Narrative to the Committee for the Admiralty.
A Message was [ (fn. *) brought from] the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye Knight:
To desire their Lordships, that whereas this House
did send to them, for to desire a Conference to hear
Doctor Walker; they desire it may be referred to the
Commissioners for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports, for
to hear Doctor Walker's Report, and they report the
same to this House.
Answer returned was:
Answer.
That this House will take this Message into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their
own.
Norton to be instituted to Radborne.
It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament, That Sir Nath. Brent Knight, Vicar General, is
hereby authorized and required, either by himself, or
such other whom he shall depute, to give Institution
unto John Norton Clerk, into the Rectory of Radborne,
in the County of Warwicke, forthwith after Sight of
this Order; and this to be a sufficient Authority for
so doing.
Letter from the Governor of Flanders.
Next, the Letter which Doctor Walker brought from
the Governor of Flanders, was read in English.
(Here enter it.)
Message from the H. C. with a Form of a Pardon for Delinquents;
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Mr. Pury, &c.
To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:
1. A Form of a Pardon, which Delinquents may sue
out after they have compounded.
for taking off Col. Lilburne's Fine;
2. A Vote for taking off the Fine in Star Chamber set upon Lieutenant Colonel Lilbourne.
with Names of Committees for Nott. and War.;
3. Additions of Committees to the Committee of
Nottingham.
4. Additions of Committees to the County of Warrwicke.
with an Ordinance;
5. An Ordinance for taxing the several Counties of
Glamorg. Brecon, and Radnor.
with Names of Governors, &c.;
6. That Bushy Mansell may be Commander in Chief
of all the Forces of Glamorganshire.
7. That Edward Prichard Esquire may be Governor of Cardiffe.
8. That Phillip Jones is to be Governor of the Garrison of Swansey.
with Ordinances to clear the following Delinquents;
9. Divers Ordinances for taking Sequestrations from
these Persons:
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Wm. Sandhams.
Tho. Brooker.
Tho. Hanmor.
Jo. Leming.
Tho. Dodd. |
Tho. Gunter.
Christoph. Pickering.
Tho. Strode.
John Greene.
John Anderson. |
and to expedite the Ordinance for selling Delinquents Estates.
10. To desire Expedition to the Ordinance for selling
of Delinquents (fn. *) Estates, because the Well-being of
the Army under Sir Tho. Fairefaix depends upon (fn. *) it;
for there are great Sums of Monies advanced upon the
Credit of that Ordinance.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That this House will take into Consideration these
Particulars, and send an Answer by Messengers of their
own.
Committee for Petitions.
Ordered, That the Committee for Petitions shall
meet and fit every Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber,
with the same Powers as formerly.
Message to the H. C. about the V. C. of Cambridge's Oath.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Doctor Heath, &c.
To desire Concurrence in the Ordinance concerning
the Vice Chancellor of Cambridge.
Answer from thence.
Doctor Heath and Mr. Page return with this Answer:
That they agree to the Ordinance concerning the
Vice Chancellor of Cambridge's Oath.
2. They will give a Meeting to the Committee of
Lords, to consider of the Letters, this Afternoon.
3. Concerning the Earl of Stamford's Petition, they
will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.
Petition from the Court of Aldermen, &c. about Church Government.
This Day a Petition was presented to this House, from
the Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of
London, delivered by Mr. Aldermen Gibbs, accompanied
with divers other Aldermen and Common Council Men:
And in the Seeech by Mr. Alderman Gibbs it was declared, "That this Petition was not intended to prescribe nor anticipate the Proceedings of this House;
but only to submit them to their Lordships Consideration and Resolutions."
The Petition and the other Papers were read.
Committee to prepare an Answer to it.
Ordered, That these Lords following were appointed Committees, to draw up what they think fit to
be returned in Answer to this Petition now received
from the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common Council, and report the same to this House.
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Comes Denbigh. Comes Lyncolne. Comes Sarum. Comes Warwicke. Comes Manchester. |
L. Viscount Say & Seale. Ds. Wharton. Ds. North. |
The Earl of Warwicke reported from the said Committee this Answer following; which being read, this
House Agreed thereunto, upon the Question, without
any Alteration.
The Answer.
Answer to the Court of Aldermen, &c.
"My Lords have read your Petition; and take
special Notice of your Expressions of submitting yourselves to the Resolutions of Parliament, for which
they give you Thanks; and do recommend to your
Care, in all your Actions, the same Respect and Tenderness to the Privilege of this House: And do further declare their Readiness hath been, and shall be,
to engage themselves as far as any, in the Maintenance of the Covenant, the advancing and settling
of God's true Religion, and Discharge of the Trust
reposed in them."
The Aldermen and Common Council that brought the
Petition were called in; and the Speaker, by Direction
of the House, read the said Answer to them.
London Ministers Petition.
A Petition was presented to this House, by Mr.
Walker and others, Ministers of the City of London, in
Behalf of themselves and others of their Brethren;
which Petition was received, and read, as follows.
(Here enter it.)
E. of Stamford's Goods at Bristol.
"Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled,
That the Committee of Bristoll is hereby authorized
and required to call before them Mr. Alderman
Hooke of the said City, his Wife, Sister, and Servants, to give an Account to them of all such Goods
and Provisions as were left in his House at Bristoll,
by the Earl of Stamford, or his Servants; and, after
a full Examination of the Business (if Satisfaction
be not given to the said Earl), to make Certificate
in Writing unto this House, how they find the Business, and where the said Goods and Provisions now
are; and herein the said Committee are required not
to fail."
Letter from the Governor of Flanders, about Trade, and the Restitution of Ships taken.
SIRS,
I have seen the Proposition which Doctor Walker
hath made me in your Name, according to his Credential Letters of the 27th May last, concerning the
Business of the Liberty of Traffic, and other Points
therein contained; and having thereupon heard some
Ministers of the Admiralty, and debated the Affair
in the Councils, both Privy and of State, of the King;
I thought myself obliged to consult His Majesty
about it, and mean while, expecting His Resolution,
to govern myself according to the Treaties of Peace,
conformable to the Right of Nations, and to the
Orders of the Princes in these Parts; and particularly touching the Entry and Reception of Ships of
War in the Havens or Sea Ports, and the Transportation of Arms out of these Provinces in Obedience.;
praying and desiring you to take this Declaration in
good Part, and to find good that accordingly I cause
all Ships of War of Foreign Kingdoms and States
to retire out of these Ports, with Prohibition not to
return thither again, nor to receive any others, except for such Reasons, and in such a Manner, as
are expressed in the 8 and 10th Articles of the
Peace made betwixt the Two Crowns, in the Years
1604 and 1630; and concerning the Prizes, that
I may keep the Way which is observed in the Neighbouring Kingdoms, and particularly in France; and
whereas no Arms may be transported out of these
Countries without any special Permission of His Majesty or of His Governor General, I therefore will
therein proceed with such a Circumspection, that
nobody shall have cause to complain: But as touching the Restitution of Ships and Goods already taken,
seeing this Point is already debating in Justice, and
upon Contestration of some of the Parties interested,
I have taken Order that all their Papers and Writings
be again put together and examined, thereupon to
resolve and acquit myself as reasonably as can be
done.
Thus, praying God to keep you, Sirs, in His constant Custody.
At Brussells, the 28 Octob. 1645.
Your most affectionate Friend,
Petition of the Court of Aldermen, &c. for settling some doubtful Points concerning Church Government.
To the Right Honourable the Lords now assembled in the High Court of Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of
London, in Common Council assembled;
Sheweth,
That the Petitioners do, with all humble Thankfulness, acknowledge the constant and unwearied Care
and Pains taken by this Honourable House, now for
about Five Years past, in the Defence of our Lives,
Laws, and Liberties, against the common Enemies
thereof; and your pious Endeavours, amongst other
Things, for Reformation of Religion in this Kingdom, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, manifested by several Ordinances lately published, after Advice had with the Reyerend Assembly
of Divines concerning the same.
That the Ministers and divers Citizens of this City
have exhibited to this Court of Common Council
their Desires, and Reasons thereof, hereunto annexed, for the Explication of Things doubtful, and
supplying what they humbly conceive is necessary to
enable and encourage such as shall be employed in
exercising that Power which is intended to be conferred upon the Tryers, Ministers, and Elders, mentioned in the said Ordinances.
That the Petitioners do concur with the good Intentions and Desires of the said Ministers and Citizens,
for settling Church Government according to the
Word of God, and Example of the best Reformed
Churches; and do remember the Solemn Covenant
they have taken to endeavour the same.
And therefore your Petitioners do make it their
humble Request, that the concurrent Desires
of this Court, with the Desires and Reasons of
the said Ministers and Citizens, may be forthwith taken into your most serious and religious
Consideration; and thereupon to give such
further Direction, by Ordinance of Parliament, as may encourage all that shall be employed in the said Government to proceed
therein, as may tend most to the Glory of
God, and the Peace and Happiness of this
Church and Kingdom, and of all those that
love Jesus Christ in Sincerity.
"Michell."
The Desires of the Ministers of London, presented to the Common Council.
Desires of the Ministers of London, presented to them about it.
1. That the Presbyterial Government, in Congregational, Classical, Provincial, and National Assemblies,
may be forthwith established amongst us, according to
the Word of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches.
2. That a sufficient Power may be settled upon all
the forenamed Elderships, that they may fully and
faithfully put in Execution the said Prsebyterial Government, according to their several Subordinations
respectively.
3. That (inasmuch as the Court, and those that
are under the Power of it, are, in respect of your
Number and Estates, more concerned in this great
Work of Church Government than we of the Ministry) you would so deeply lay to Heart the ensuing
Reasons, that some expedient Way be found out, by
your Prudence, whereby the Explication of Things
doubtful, and Supply of Things wanting in the Directions of the Lords and Commons of August 19th,
and the Ordinance of October the 20th, 1645, may
be obtained, that so we may proceed to the Election
of Elders, without Hesitancy or Doubtfulness, in our
several Congregations.
And both Ministers and Elders, and Tryers of
Elders, and People, may chearfully embrace, execute,
and submit unto, the said Government, orderly,
peaceably, unanimously, and comfortably; carrying
on this great Work of God, in our several Places
and Callings respectively, so as may best conduce to
the Glory of God, the Peace of our Consciences,
the Perfection of Reformation, the Happiness of this
City and all the Kingdom, and the Intentions of the
Right Honourable Houses of Parliament for the
compleat Establishment of Purity and Unity in the
Church of God.
The Reasons of those Desires:
1. We apprehend that the Directions and Ordinance of Parliament forementioned take no
Notice at all of any intrinsical Power in the
Ministers or Elders derived unto them from
Christ; no, not touching any the Substantials in Government and Discipline; but run
in such a Strain, as if all of it were only of
political Constitutions, and meerly to be derived from the Civil Magistrate.
2. There seems to be some Defect in the Power
given to the Tryers of Elders, and of their
Election, Direct. 4, p. 2; for,
1. There is Liberty granted to exhibit Exceptions touching the Right of Election
to the Tryers; but we doubt whether
the Tryers have Power to reject any that
want that Right of Election.
2. The Tryers have no Power (as we conceive) to convent before them any Witnesses, nor to administer an Oath unto
them touching the Elders to be chosen, or
their Election.
3. The Tryers have no Power to reject any
chosen an Elder, but only for the Points
of Ignorance and Scandal hereafter mentioned in the Ordinance; so that, though
the Person elected want those necessary
Qualifications, Soundness in the Faith,
Prudence, and Discretion, required Direct. 5, p. 3, yet the Tryers cannot reject such a Man, because he comes not
within the said Description of Ignorance
and Scandal; and though the Elected be
guilty of never so many notorious Scandals not named in the Letter of the Ordinance, though he be an Heretic, an
Apostate, a Perjured Person, a Common
Worker on the Sabbath, a Thief, a Liar,
&c. yet, because these and many such
Scandals, are not expressed, such must
be received into the Eldership.
3. The Chapel of The Rolls, the Two Serjeants
Innes, and the Four Innes of Court, seem to be
wholly exempted from the Province of London;
and so (being of no Province) from the National Assembly; compare Direct. 7, 8, p. 3,
with Direct. 9, p. 7; for the Parishes of London and Westm. as distinguished into Twelve
Classis, are there made the Extent and Bounds
of the Province of London; but these Innes
of Court are none of the Twelve Classis, but a
Thirteenth distinct from them all. This, we conceive, had need to be cleared; and The Savoy
is left out of the 11th Classis, Direct. p. 7.
4. As yet there is extant no Ordinance of Parliament (so far as we can discern), plainly
authorizing and commanding the Ministers
and People to elect Elders; whereas such a
weighty Office, and so new to this Kingdom,
had need to be established upon the strongest
Foundation; especially considering, the Statute
1° Eliz. 1. condemning the Exercise of all
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction not established by
Authority under severest Penalties.
5. Divers Scandals, expressed in the Description
of Scandals, in the Ordinance, p. 5, 6, seem
not to be so clearly laid down in the Letter
as they had Need to be; or are so tied up, that
they will seldom or never come under Censure; As for Example, Whoredom and Adultery, being Deeds of Darkness and Secrecy,
seldom or never can be discovered by Oath
of Witnesses. By that ["any Person that
shall profess himself not to be in Charity with
his Neighbour,"] p. 6, seems evidently to be
meant, that, unless in plain Terms and Words,
a Man declare himself not to be in Charity,
though indeed he be never so grossly out of
Charity, and that be proved against him, yet
he must be admitted to the Lord's Supper.
Those Games and Sports counted scandalous
on the Lord's-day, p. 6, seem not to be censurable upon Fast-days, Thanksgiving-days,
and on all other Days, according to that Rule,
Exceptio firmat Regulam in non exceptis, i. e.
An Exception confirms the Rule in Things not
excepted; but divers of these, as Masking,
Plays, Interludes, Morris-dancing, Wakes,
seem to be always scandalous. Barretry,
Extortion, and Bribery, are not made scandalous till they be legally convicted; and then
here's no Order for any Certificate to the
Elderships of such Conviction, p. 6.
6. The Enumeration of (fn. *) Scandals seems to be
very defective, many notorious Scandals being
omitted; as for Instance, Heresy; Common
Contempt or Neglect of God's Public Ordinances and Family Duties; Prophane Scoffing and Jeering at the Profession and Power
of Godliness; Servile Work in Mens Callings
on the Sabbath-day; Stolen and Clandestine Marriages; Theft; Known and Wilful
Defrauding in Bargaining; Common unnecessary Haunting of Taverns, Ale-houses,
and Gaming-houses; Common Lying; Malicious Slandering and Back-biting; Preaching
publicly or privately by such as are neither
Ordained nor Probationers, and Common
Frequenting of such; palpable Hindering or
Opposing the Reformation of Religion, which
we have covenanted with God to promote;
all Injuries (though never so scandalous) about
Payments, Contracts, &c. are expressly exempted from the Cognizance of the Eldership,
Caution 2, p. 8; Mens renouncing their
Baptism or Ministry; Man-slaughter; Perjury;
Common Scolding and Quarrelling; Witchcraft, Sorcery, Fortune-telling, Figure-casting, Charming, Conjuring, and such like
Arts; Bigamy or Polygamy; Sodomy; Confusion of Man or Woman with Beast; with
a Multitude of other Scandals, whereof we
conceive it's impossible to make, or that any
of the Reformed Church (that we know) did
ever make, a perfect Enumeration.
7. We conceive that the Eldership have no
Power granted by this Ordinance to suspend
any Persons from the Lord's Supper for any
Scandals not expressed in the very Letter of
the Ordinance, which in Effect is to allow such
scandalous Persons to communicate, because
of that Clause ["and not otherwise, until it
be otherwise declared by both Houses of Parliament, p. 5;"] so that, till that be done,
the Elderships are necessitated to dash themselves upon One of these Two Rocks; either
to admit such scandalous Persons to the
Sacrament, against their Conscience, to God's
Dishonour, and the Offence of the Godly; or
to incur the severe Penalties of the Statute
1 Eliz. 1. for usurping a Jurisdiction Eccleclesiastical which is not established.
8. There seems to be no special Rule prescribed
for Suspension of Ruling Elders, either from
the Lord's Supper, or from the Execution of
any Part of their Office, in Case they be
scandalous; yet the Parochial Eldership
(though consisting but of Two Elders) seem
to have Power granted, by a special Rule, to
suspend their Minister from giving and receiving the Lord's Supper for any enumerated
Scandals proved against them, Ord. p. 6;
which, we humbly conceive neither to be according to the Word of God, nor the Example of any Reformed Church in the whole
Christian World; nor was ever practised in
any Church, in or since the Apostles Times;
but that this properly belongs to the Classical
Eldership or Synods, who may provide for the
Supply of the Congregation during the Minister's Suspension; as it seems unfit that the
Ruling Elders should be suspended till Advice
had with the Classis, to avoid Mal-administration of Censures.
9. There seems to be a great Defect, touching
the fundamental and first Act of Government; there being no Power granted to the
Eldership to convent or bring before them
either any Persons to give an Account of their
Knowledge before they communicate, or any
scandalous Person, or Witnesses; or for the
Eldership to minister an Oath in such Cases;
but, if they will come of themselves, the
Eldership may proceed; if they please not
to come, they are left to their own Liberty:
Nor do we find any Course prescribed to prevent such as are suspended from Sacrament
in One Parish from going to the Sacrament
in another.
10. There appears to us no Ecclesiastical Remedy
at all for them that are 'grieved by any Censure; for, though they may appeal to the
Classical, Provincial, and National Assemblies,
yet none of them have any Power at all confirmed upon them, that we can find; nor is it
said what they shall do in such Cases of Appeal, nor in any other Cases of Difficulty and
common Concernment. Ord. p. 7.
11. We find no Power at all settled for rooting
out of Schism and Divisions, which is our
great Disease; nor for reducing us to Unity,
so solemnly mentioned in the Preface, p. 1,
which is our vehement Desire; but rather
the Defects of this Power will (as we apprehend) extremely confirm and increase Sects
and Divisions amongst us, and Separation from
us more than ever heretofore.
12. A Standing Committee of Parliament is appointed, to whom all Scandals not expressed
in the Ordinance may be represented by any
Classis, Ord. p. 8; which (we exceedingly
fear) will tire out the Kingdom, will create
endless Work for the Parliament and the said
Committee, will never fully satisfy the
Churches, and will keep the Door open for
scandalous Persons in the mean Time to come
to the Lord's Table, which will be a great
Remora to the Reformation, by reason that
Congregations far remote in the Country cannot or will not (at their great Costs and
Trouble) make their Addresses to the Committee of Parliament, but rather swallow their
Grievances, and lie under them.
These our Desires and Reasons we humbly
present to this Honourable Court; not
that we have the least Intention of investing ourselves and the Ministry with
any arbitrary, unlimited, and exorbitant Power; for the Power is not to be
settled upon the Ministers alone, but
upon the Presbyteries; in all which it is
provided already, that there shall be always Two at least of the People for
One Minister; and we sincerely profess
our Desires and Intentions, to manage
this weighty Government, not according
to our Wills and Wisdoms, but as near
as is possible according to the Will and
Word of God, the most certain Rule
in the World; nor that we would carry
on this Work by Might and Power,
for we have good Hope that God
in due Time will patronize His own
Cause, though Men should be wanting:
But that we may discharge a good Conscience, in our utmost Endeavours to advance the Kingdom of Christ in the
Purity of Reformation; to be faithful
to the Church of Christ wherein we
are Stewards and Watchmen, and to succeeding Posterity; to maintain the Truth
to which we are bound to bear Witness;
to fulfill our Solemn League and Covenant with God, from which we cannot
go back; and, as your Remembrancers,
to put you in Mind to neglect no pious
Endeavours, in your Places and Callings,
for expediting both yourselves and us
out of the former Difficulties, and for
promoting of such a Reformation of
Religion in Discipline and Government,
as may have due Purity in itself; may
bring sweet Unity amongst us, and
most conduce to an happy Union in all
the Three Kingdoms, according to the
Vows of God that are upon you in your
Solemn League and Covenant.
"Michell."
Petition of the Citizens of London about the same.
To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons, in Common Council
assembled.
The humble Petition of divers Citizens of
the City of London;
Sheweth,
That your Petitioners are most deeply apprehensive of those many woeful Divisions touching Matters of Religion, both in regard of Doctrine and
Discipline, which, within these few Years, have so
miserably distracted not only this famous City, but
many Parts of this Kingdom, and have already prevailed, to the unhappy producing such lamentable
Mischiefs as we want Words to express. Truth is
cried down, Error cried up, Brotherly Love abated,
Unbrotherly Variance increased, and that amongst
all Sorts of nearest and dearest Relations; the Power
of Godliness is neglected, for the studying and maintaining of false and frivolous Opinions; a full Reformation not yet established, to the great Grief of
the Godly, the Joy of the Wicked, and insulting of
all our Adversaries.
The Church, the Ordinances of Christ, and the
Glory of our God, do greatly suffer in all; and
we exceedingly tremble to think that all this must
needs be Bitterness in the End, if sufficient Remedy
be not seasonably applied.
And now, after our long Expectations, that which
is already published we cannot conceive to be a sufficient Remedy for our Malady, nor reaching up
fully to our Covenant according to the Word of God;
whence we desire that Government to be drawn (at
least in the Fundamentals of it), which may bear
Sway in our Consciences: Neither can we discern
how Unity among ourselves, or Uniformity with the
Sister Churches, should be fully obtained, until Purity
of Ordinances, and particularly that of the Lord's
Supper (which is the very Centre where, if ever, we
must meet) be compleatly established; those that withdraw from our Church Communion generally objecting against us the Impurity of our Ordinances as
a Cause of their Separation.
Be pleased, therefore, to remember your Covenant, to lay to Heart the Cause of God, to
set your Shoulders close to the Work of Reformation, calling to Mind the vast Expence
of Wealth, Blood, and Lives, especially for
the purchasing of a pure and thorough Reformation; and to make some speedy and earnest Address to the Honourable Houses of
Parliament, for the compleat Establishment of
such Power, upon all the several Elderships,
Congregational, Classical, Provincial, and National, respectively, according to the Word
of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches, as may raise up the Church,
and all Christ's Ordinances therein, to the
due Purity and Unity which the Honourable
Houses so piously expressed in the Preface of
their Ordinance, and which all faithful
Christians so exceedingly desire.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
Concord. cum Originali.
"Michell."
London Ministers Petition to the Parliament, for settling some doubtful Points in Church Government.
To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in the High Court of Parliament of England.
The humble Petition of the Ministers of the
Gospel within the Province of London;
Humbly sheweth,
That your Petitioners and daily Orators at the
Throne of Grace, do unfeignedly bless our God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, the
Head over all Things to the Church, that, in the
Midst of those many insufferable Miseries, overflowing
and almost overwhelming both the Church and Kingdom, He hath graciously opened for us a Door of
Hope, in raising up, continuing together, and assisting, of this Renowned Parliament, above our Expectations, and against all Oppositions, for the rescuing both of Church and State from their deep
Calamities; having, to these Ends, engaged your
Hearts (and with you the Three Kingdoms) unto
Himself in so Religious a Covenant: And we humbly
present our hearty Thanks unto the Right Honourable Houses, for all their indefatigable Endeavours,
these Five Years together, for the Kingdom's Happiness, and the Church's Reformation; and in particular for the Hopes of a speedy Establishment of
Church Government, intimated unto us in your Directions of August 19, 1645, Order of September
23, and Ordinance of October 10, 1645; in which
Directions and Ordinance, notwithstanding divers
Difficulties appear both to us and to our People,
hitherto obstructing our putting the Presbyterial Government (therein mentioned) into actual Execution according to our earnest Desires, by reason of divers Things (as we humbly conceive) partly (fn. *) doubtul, partly
defective therein.
Wherefore your Petitioners, in Pursuance of our Solemn Covenant, in Zeal to the Glory of God, the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and to the complete Establishment of Purity and Unity in the Church
of God, for the Satisfaction both of our own and our People's Consciences in this weighty Matter of
Church Government, and for the general Benefit, not only of the Province of London, but of all
the Provinces in England, both for present and succeeding Ages, do most humbly and earnestly
beseech the Right Honourable Houses,
That the Presbyterial Government, in Congregational, Classical, Provincial, and National Assemblies
(agreed upon already by the Right Honourable Houses), may be speedily established, with such
Fulness and Sufficiency of Power upon all the said Elderships, that they may fully, faithfully,
and chearfully, with well-satisfied Consciences, submit unto, and put in Execution, the said Government; and that there may be, to that End, by your Authority, superadded a clear Explanation of Things doubtful, and full Supply of Things defective, in the said Directions and
Ordinance of the Right Honourable Houses, according to the Schedule annexed, and herewith
humbly presented to your Wisdoms and Piety.
And your Petitioners, &c.
George Walker.
Arthur Jackson.
Henry Roborough.
Paule Russell.
John Downham.
Richard Lee.
Richard Fowler.
Ithiel Smart.
Daniell Cawdry.
James Nalton.
Tho. Froysell.
Daniell Dike.
Tho. Byrdall.
Thomas Ford.
Tym. Dod.
John Carell.
Robert Ladbrook.
Hen. Pierce.
Antho. Hartford.
Elidad Blackwell.
W. Wickins.
Hen. Vertue.
John Garrett.
Vere Hartcourt.
Francis Roberts.
Jo. Browne.
John Crosse.
Antho.Downe.
Samuell Fawcett.
Wm. Thomas.
John Hopkins.
Samuell Willes.
John Storer.
Tho. Gouge.
Jo. Belchamber.
Wm. Barton.
Walter Taylor.
Thomas Marston.
Christopher Love.
Edw. Dunstervile.
Sa. Fisher.
Sa. Clarke.
Wm. Tutty.
Henry Wilkinson.
Stanley Gower.
John Ley.
Tho. Horton.
Tho. Clandon.
Ra. Robinson.
John Conant.
Sa. Bolton.
John Wallis.
Ephraim Pagitt.
John Maydwell.
H. Butler.
Ja'n Crauford.
Tho. Cawton.
John Rawlingson.
John Fathers.
Hen. Hurst.
Imanuell Bourne.
Wm. Jenkyn.
Jo. Pitts.
Tho. Porter.
John Strickland.
Richard Gibson.
Nath. Stanyforth.
Tho. Edwards.
And. Janeway.
Fulke Belleus.
Nath. Hardy.
Tho. Rutton.
Tho. Case.
Leonard Cooke.
Simeon Ash.
Clause added to the V. C. of Cambridge's Oath.
"Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That for the present, till the
Statutes of the University of Cambridge can be surveyed, that the Vice-chancellor of the said University
shall take his Oath with this Clause annexed, Hoc in me recipio in quantum Statutis & Ordinationibus Regni
non repugnat."
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 9a cras.