THat in their own names, and in the names of many thousands of the Inhabitants of the County of Stafford, your Petitioners with hearts fuller of Thankfulnesse, then their tongues can be of Expression, humbly acknowledge their sensiblenesse of the unparallel'd Travel, and indefatigable endeavour of this Honorable House already spent in the discharge of that Trust deservedly by the Commons of all the Land vested in You; whereby an ample Testimony is given, as of your faithfulnesse and courage in the exposure of your selves and Fortunes in these desperate times: so likewise of the good hand and providence of God carrying you through many difficult straits, and dangerous conspiracies of the Popish and malignant party, who have hitherto way-laid your proceedings. All which your Petitioners take as very promising beginnings, and faire pledges of the healing of the unsup­portable Grievances both Ecclesiasticall and Civill, which the Church and State groan under. And do concurrently and freely confesse their Contributions to the work under your hands, not onely by their prayers, but also by the devotement of their lives, power, and estates, according to that wise and religious Protestation set forth by you, conceiving their own lives and safeties to be shipt in one bottome with Yours.

And your Petitioners further shew, That it is not the least part of their comfort, That you have continued the Militia of this County unto so Honorable a Lord, in whom they may safe­ly (under God) confide.

And your Petitioners do humbly pray, That the unexampled miseries, and almost expiring estate of our brethren in Ireland, may be considered by an expedite dispatch of seasonable succour, and that they may from time to time during their miseries, be looked upon by you, not onely as English and fellow-Subjects, but as Protestants, and professors of Gods truth, under which notion they suffer these Extremities. And that the Insurrection of the Papists there may be reckoned of, not onely as a Rebellion; but a horrid persecution of Christ in his truth and members, that so the Interest of God and his Cause may quicken your Sympathy with, and endeavours for them.

That the Papists (who are in great number in this small County) may be throughly and speedily dis­arm'd and so disposed of, that they be not formidable to your Petitioners, by being able either to keep us in Jealousies by their practises at home, or to foment that fire kindled by their party in Ireland.

That the Church in her Government, Officers and worship may be ordered according to the rule of Gods holy Word, The particular Accommodation of which we humbly leave to the wisdom of this Honor­able House to determine, by the assistance of an Assembly of godly and learned Divines.

That the present state and condition of the Church may be thought upon for Ministery, maintenance and supply of an able preaching Ministery, pluralities supprest, the Fountains of Learning cleared, all insufficient for the work of the Ministery, all grosly scandalous and negligent in their functions, removed, that they may no longer remain a Burthen to keep out others.