The humble Supplication of Thomas james Student in Divinity, and keeper of the public Library at Oxford, for reformation of the ancient Father's Works, by Papists sundry ways depraved.  
WHEREAS the Works of the ancient Fathers, and holy Counsels, have of late years been most shamefully and wrongfully, manifestly and manifoldly corrupted and depraved, by authority from the Church of Rome to the maintenance of Popery and superstition, is their sundry judices Expurgatory daily pra●t●●e, and evidence of the fact itself, doth abundantly declare, the falsehood and enormittes of whose noted corruptions, might within a very short time, and for no great charges be discovered unto the sight of the whole world: May it therefore please all such as are unfeigned lovers of the truth of Religion here in England at this day professed and haters of all Romish corruptions, timely to provide that there may not want due encouragement and maintenance for the effecting hereof by those orders following, or any other, which shall in the judgement of the learned be thought necessary and convenient.  
1 First, there may be six discreet and sober students in Divinity electe● chosen for this business; such as are Bachelors of Divinity and have already entered into the ministery.  
2 These six so nominated and appointed, shall take a solemn and corporal oath, before they undertake the work, that they will faithfully and sincerely discharge their duties in this behalf, truly relating and reporting the differences of the written Copies of or from the printed Books.  
3 In this collation or comparing of Copies, they may observe this order precisely, to take for printed Copies the last of the Protestant and Popish Editions: for the Manuscript or written Copies, to procure or get into their hands as many as can conveniently be had; which are very ma●● throughout all England, and especially in both our Universities, which are by confession of the adversaries, very true and correct copies.  
4 Amongst so many written Copies, they shall choose out four of the most ancient and approved Books, which shall be exactly compared with the two before mentioned printed copies of the Fathers: the diverse readings shall be noted in the margin of one of the printed Books. In places of greater moment and consequence in Religion, they shall consult all the ancient Copies, though they be never so many.  
5 Having thus noted the differences, one of them (which shall be appointed for overseer of the whole business, and shall take upon him the charge and burden thereof) shall gather and copy out into an other Book, such places as shall be thought most necessary and convenient to be reform in the judgement of the best learned Divines, whose pains because they are to be greater than the rest, his reward may be accordingly appointed.  
6 To the end that they may ●o●e cheerfully and willingly bestow their pains in this so necessary and profitable a business, they may have such a reward and recompense assigned them, to be paid either quarterly, half year, or yearly at the furthest, as shall befit men that are ingenious studious, and which is chiefly to be regarded, Divines.  
7 By reason of this reward 〈…〉 they shall be bound to bestow at the least four or five hours every day in this collation (Sundays and holy days ●●●●pted. If any one by business, sickness, of otherwise shall be hindered from coming to the rest, he shall be bound at his owned charges to find an other as sufficient as himself, which shall take the same oath that he hath done.  
8 Thus bestowing their pa●● for ●oure or five years together, without interruption or cessation, I make no doubt but that by God's especial grace they ●hall be able to bring the whole work unto a most happy and wished end  
9 To the end that student's D●●initie may neither long be detained from the fruit of their labours, nor be at too great cost and charges in buying the Works of the Fathers again, it may be so ordered, that as soon as the collation of any of the Father's Works shall be finished, & renewed by the best Divines, there shall be presently printed an Index in octavo, or quarto, which shall show the corruptions of the printed copies of either Papists or Protestant Editions, which have been very lamentably abused in this kind by too much trusting of the Papists.  
10 The Manuscript or written copies, which shall be used in this Collation, shall after the collation is ended be preserved, with all possible diligence and care, either in the private Libraries, of Colleges, & Cathedral churches, or else in the public Libraries of both our Universities, as well for a perpetual Monument of this their pains taken: as also and especially for the further manifestation of their truths and honesties in this behalf. So that if any Papist shall question, the readings thereof, he may see the copies whether it be so or no.  
11 Lastly, for the antiquity and verity of the written Copies which are with us at this day extant in England, in great store: though many of them be such as have been many hundred years ago brought over into England from beyond the Seas, and bestowed in our Libraries, and other written as anciently by sundry Monks and Friars here in this land, which were rather partial against us and our Religion men otherwise: yet we do most willingly appeal unto the truth of those Copies, and not only unto them, but unto all other ancient Copies throughout Christendom wheresoever.  
God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by john Windet.