THE PETITION Of the Knights, Gentlemen, and Yeomanry of the Country of Devonshire.  
Humbly desiring, That they may have an authorized power sPeedily to raise arms, to suppress the tumultuous meetings of Recusants, Church papists, and other desperate and suspicious persons, which, if not timely prevented may much endanger their peace and safety.  
Also that plymouth may be daily guarded with a Traine-Band; certain priests and jesuits being lately come over in merchants habbit, and royally entertained by the popish faction, Together, With their humble motion Concerning Bishops and Scandalous Ministers: As it was Presented to the Honourable House of Commons January 5. 1641.  
London Printed for J. W. and T. B. 1642.   

The PETITION Of the Knights, Gentlemen, and Yeomanry of the County of Devonshire.  
THat your Petitioners by information do understand that the Parliament hath by divers Orders, Declarations, and Proclamations in his Majesties name, prohibited the resort and meeting of Recusants, and all of the Romish faction, and divers warrants have issued out for the apprehending of Priests and jesuits, lurking here and there in divers places of this kingdom, declaring them thereby to bee the most dangerous persons in this State, to stir up sedition, Rebellion, and insurrections against his majesty, his High Court of Parliament, his Lords and Councellors, to the overthrow and destruction of the Religion and laws established and settled in this Land, by the wisdom of the King, and his great council of State, that they may bee proceeded and prosecuted against according to the laws of this Land in that case provided.  
And further the wisdom of this Parliament hath piously endeavoured by their proceedings, against scandalous and dissolute Ministers, and preachers to purge the corruption that is crept into the clergy and to place in the Ministry able and learned men and of holy lives and conversation, that not onely by the purity of their Doctrine, but intregrity of their lives, by their example might propagate the Kingdom of Christ, and advance his glory.  
Likewise the Parliament have endeavovred to provide for them a liberal maintenance, whereby those aspersions cast upon this Honourable Asthat they take all from the Clergy, and discourage men in bringing up their Children, in that function, these aspersions we find to be false. And not only to draw the minds and affections of his majesties good subiects from the love of the Parliament, but to hinder thereby the redressing of our grievances, by punishing these delinquents, and settling such laws and statutes, that we may say this is ours.  
Not the Bishops or Clergy, to the pampering and enriching there Coffers, norishing them thereby in idleness, Pride, Avarice, Luxury, and all lasciviousness, to the impoverishing ourselves and families ▪ but onely freely to allow the servants and Men of God, or spiritual Pastors and instructors, painful and industrious teachers of the pure Word of God( not their own inventions, or the traditions of men, or of the power and prerogative of the King, that al the Subject hath is his. Or that we may without danger receive into our Church the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome, that it is necessary to have correspondency with the Pope, that the Church of Rome in fundamental points of Religion do not err, and many other tenants of Doctrine devised by man, whose original is from the devil, and not Christ; but to allow willingly and cheerfully, good men a sufficient maintenance, is our desire.  
Now having by way of remonstrance shewed the good Orders, laws, and Edicts of this present Parliament, to our great comfort and contentment, and we persuade ourselves, to the great comfort and contentment of the whole kingdom, that are well affencted in Religion, and to government. We humbly beseech this Honourable House to take into their wise considerations, these propositions following, concerning our particular Counties, which we earnestly desire may be consented unto by this House, and by Authority of the Parliament, joined with his Majesties Assent may be ratified and confirmed.  
1. That the laws enacted against Recusants, may be with severity and all convenient speed, put in execution against the greatest of them, to make them exemplary to the rest, that they being restrained and punished, the meaner sort may with fear dehorted from daring to put in practise any of their evil designs against Protestants, and keep themselves from mutinous Insurrections.  
2. That Priests and Jesuits, either already Apprehended and condemned by the Law, or that shall be Apprehended and condemned, may bee speedily executed without any protraction of time, they being known so dangerous to the State.  
3. That all Officers in our Country, that are Papists or that way inclined, as when commanded we shall give up to the House their names, in any places of command, as Colonels, Captaines, Lieutenants, and other Officers of War. As likewise such Papists to whom great places of trust and strength are committed to their Loyalty, as Ports, towns, &c. may be wirh speed removed, and Protestants placed in their stead.  
4. That those of the Clergy that are either Scandalous in their lives, or disaffected to the true Religion, erroneous in their Doctrine, or any ways inclined to the Romish Religion, or otherwise Superstitious may be deprived of their livings, degraded from the Ministry, onely such competency allowed them for the sustentation of their families during life, may be allowed as by the wisdom of this House shall seem requisite, and this to be expedited with all conveniency as may be.  
5. That this honourable House would set forth an Edict, whereby we( certain of us for that purpose appoynted) may have power to raise Armies, to alloy and suppress the meetings and assembling together of Recusants, Church Papists, and many other desperate and suspicious persons, altogether affencted to Papistry, though outwardly in show profess themselves dissolute and disordered Protestants, ready upon any occasion of advantage to side with that faction, to pu● in practise their wicked plots, in agitation against us,  
6. That plymouth may be guarded daily by a trained-band in arms, ready to repel any treacherous design that may be attempted, by the adverse party resorting much to the Port.  
7. That Delinquents may be without further delay brought to trial, and suffer such punishment as the guiltynesse of their Crimes shall bee found to discern.  
8. That all Papists may be banished the Land that are not native, and that to depart within ● time certain, under pain of death.  
9. That an order may be made, and warrants issued upon the same, to certain trusty Officers appontyted by the House, to m●ke diligent search for the Apprehending such persons as shall come from foreign States, and be examined; there having been lately come other certain in Merchants habit suspected, and stro●●ly presumed to be Priests and Jesuits, and as they shall be found, proceeded against according to Law.  
These particulars your Petitioners humbly prayeth may be taken into consideration of this great and wise council, and such order taken therein, as to your wisedoms shall seem meet,  And your Petitioners shall constantly pray, for the happy continuance of this Parliament, and that such effects may follow your councils and Consultations, as may the happy settling of all things amiss, both in Church and Sate, and the perpetuating of the peace and tranquillity of his Sacred Majesty, and all his faithful and loyal Subjects. 
FINIS.