THE PETITION OF THE Six Counties of South- Wales, and the County of Monmouth, Presented to the PARLIAMENT Of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND.  
For a supply of Ministers, in lieu of those that have been Ejected.  
Printed in the Year, 1652.   

To the Supreme Authority, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of South-Wales and County of Monmouth.  
Sheweth  
1 THat your Petitioners cannot but with all humbleness acknowledge your Honours constant care in providing for the supply of their spiritual necessities, & the advancement of the Gospel of Christ, and particularly in passing the Act of the 22th. of Feb. 1649. entitled an: Act for the propagation of the Gospel in Wales, so much really intended by your Honours, which filled the hearts of your Petitioners, and all the Inhabitants of Wales with joy & gladness, in hopes to find the fruits thereof accordingly: Nevertheless your Petitioners humbly show, that since the passing of the said Act, all or most of the Ministers of South-Wales, together with the County of Munmouth, have been (and stand) ejected from their Benefices: and but few or none of the said respective Counties have been supplied with any competent number of Godly able Teachers to officiate in the rooms of the outed Ministers: Neither hath there been provided any convenient number of godly Schools for the education of Children, and advancement of learning, as was intended by your Honours, and the true purport of the said Act, as they humbly conceive, there being not above four or five Itine rary Teachers in some of the said Counties appointed, and approved of to teach the Gospel; whereas some of the said Counties do consist of above six score Parishes, and the least of fifty or threescore, many whereof have at least two thousand Souls.  
2 That some persons deriving Authority from the said Act, have for these two years last passed, received and disposed of all the profits of the Tithes of Church-livings, and all other Benefices and Impropriations sequestered within the said six Counties of South-Wales, and County of Monmouth, which are annually worth twenty thousand pound or thereabouts; Out of which, little hath been converted towards the propagation of the Gospel, or accounted for to the State.  
3 That for want of the due execution of the said Act, your Petitioners, together with the said Inhabitants, endure a Famine of the Word of God; Children are not bred up in the instruction and information of the Lord; The vast Revenue of the outed Ministers are set out at extraordinary undervalues; the Churches are in most places shut up, and the Fabric thereof ready to fall to the ground for want of repair: Neither can the Inhabitants take notice of your Honour's Acts, Edicts, and Proclamations, (wherein the public welfare, the liberty and safety of their Persons and Estates are concerned) for want of a fitting number of Teachers in each County to publish the same.  
Your Petitioners therefore, out of their duty to God, the preservation of the Souls of the Inhabitants of their Country, the Commonwealth's Interest, and the earnest desire they have that your Honour's most pious intentions expressed in the said Act may be accordingly observed, do hold themselves bound in conscience, out of Christian and Soulsaving necessity to present the Premises to your Honour's consideration; earnestly beseeching your Honours in pursuance of your wont Zeal and unfeigned affection to God's Glory, and the increase of true Religion, Learning, and Piety, to take such a course for the future supply of their respective Counties with such convenient number of Godly able Teachers, and for provisions of Schools and Nurseries of Learning and Religion there; As also to call to account such persons as have received the profits of the said Tithes, Church-living and prebend's, and the sequestered Impropriations, as to your Honour's grave wisdom shall seem meet.  
And your Petitioners shall (as in duty bound) most humbly and hearty pray etc.   

A Letter of Mr. Valvasor powel against the said Petition: with a sober Reply thereunto.  
Dear and Honoured Sir,  
HAving intelligence by your Letter, and more particularly by a printed Petition from South-Wales, that the condition of our Country, and the faithfullest Instruments therein, are misrepresented with you, insomuch that I hear from good hands, that credit some of our best friends begin to give to false Reports, and thereby, countenance profane and faithless men, to raise Reports, and print abominable Lies, falsities and scandals against Godly persons and their honest proceed, I have for the satisfaction of myself and many friends that question the same, endeavoured to know the Truth in the manifest particulars objected, especially in that South-Wales Petition, and that I might be certain of the Truth, got Copies of all the Commissioners proceed upon the Act for Propagation of the Gospel, I also conversed with several both of North-Wales and South-Wales, and I know most of the Commissioners, and have objected against some of their proceed myself, and upon the whole I must say this as in the presence of God, before whom I do not, and dare not lie, That,  
1 I do believe that since the granting of the aforesaid Act for Propagation of the Gospel, God hath been much glorified, many hundreds (if not thousands) have been converted in Wales, much of the power and practice of Godliness set up, and much impiety and wickedness suppressed.  
2 For the Commissioners they are most of them really Godly, and all of them faithful to the Parliament from the beginning.  
3 That they have acted judiciously and conscientiously according to the Act as far as they discerned, and that they have not taken into their own hands any of the Revenue, as I believe they will be able not only to show, but sufficiently to swear, for I cannot hear that ever any part of the money came to their hands.  
4 Of all the men which they put out, I know not any in these six Counties of North-wales that have the power of Godliness, and very few the form thereof, or that have been firm and faithful to the Parliament, but most of them un-preaching Curates, or scandalous in their lives, or having given that cursed Oath called chapels Oath, and I believe this will be made appear, as Mr. White did, to the satisfaction of all.  
5 Concerning Ministers and Schoolmasters, not to mention or meddle with South-Wales, who are now returning an exact account which will satisfy all honest men and shame their Adversaries, this is a true account for North-wales, that there 51 or thereabouts, old Ministers ejected, there are of approved Ministers now sent out and settled about thirty two, whereof twenty four at least are University men (and some of the rest good scholars) for Schoolmasters there are twenty nine under present pay; nay whereas some report that all the Ministers are cast out, take this for a truth, for I heard it from a godly able Minister of Flintshire this day, that there are not two Ministers cast out by virtue of this Act in all Flintshire.  
Lastly, For the Tithes, they were and are tendered unto the Parishioners, but some are either so Malignant or fearful of their priest, that they would not, nor dare not to take them in several parishes, they are set to the owners at a reasonable rate, but the value of them, because things are so cheap and the people much disaffected thereto, much fallen; these things will be affirmed to be true, and I will engage myself upon the word of a Christian and a Gospel's Minister to maintain the same.  
Yours in the Lord Valuesor Powel   

The Answer to the preceding Letter.  
Sir,  
IN the front of one of the Diurnals lately come to my hands, I found a frontless Letter or invective of yours against that much-talked of Petition of South-Wales, that had been long since presented to the Parliament, wherein you charge the said Petition and Petitioners with abominable lies, falsities and scandals against godly men and their proceed.  
1 This is boisterous and bold language, and these words are not like those of St. Paul, the words of Truth and Soberness. 
Act. 26.15.  If the Petitioners had been so pusillanimous and so poor-spirited as to have deserted their Petition, as you did (by your menaces) endeavour to make them; or if they had failed to justify and make good the Charge therein contained, you might have had some cause to be thus violent, and to spend your usual Artillery, even bitter words: but since (maugre all opposition and discouragements) they stand to what they have done, and like worthy conscientious Gentlemen do prosecute their pious desires and intentions declared in the said Petition, I hope all sober heads will suspend their judgements touching that Pet: while you spend yours so freely, and rather incline to believe, that a Pet: proceeding from 7 whole Counties, and subscribed by above 15000 hands of persons engaged and well affected to the present State and government, was not framed and prosecuted without very good grounds and reasons.  
But for the honest proceed, you speak of, we have but your word, and single testimony for their honesty as yet; the general exclamations, and great thoughts of heart, among the Inhabitants of those respective Counties, seem to me, to argue the Contrary. And some of your own Commissioners that went along with you a good while in the simplicity of their hearts, and who were not so sharp sighted as to see into the bottom of your designs at first, have now deserted you, and joined with the Petitioners, in presenting the said Petition, to the Parliament: and others of their Colleagues, that did not go along with it to the House, went along with it in their hearts, and wished it good luck in the name of the Lord.  
2 But to justify these proceed further, you tell us of the great pains you have taken to converse with the Commissioners both of North-wales, and South-wales, and to examine their proceed: we can bear you witness that you took no small pains in travelling those Countries like a Spiritual post, or a Knight errand, to encounter this terrible Petition, persuading some by fair words, to call back their hands from that lying Petition (that was your style) and like another Saul, breathing out threaten against others, menacing them with sequestration & ruin. This petition tossed you much in the saddle, and made you sit very uneasy, ever since it came to light; which shows that all is not well and sound in your proceed, nor so honest as you seem to make them: all is not gold that glisters, nor are all Saints that arrogate that name and Title.  
3 In the next period, you present your friends with the fruits of your labours & Apostolical excursions in to those Countries: some hundreds and thousands of people have been Converted in Wales, since that new Engine for the propagation of the gospel was brought in thither. Converted? these were your suggestions of old to the Parliament that your Country men were no better than Pagans and Infidels, and stood in need of being converted to the Faith: But let me tell you Sir, that the Inhabitants of those parts, were neither Jews, Turks, nor Pagans, before your Holiness came thither, but were as good Christians (every whit) as they are now, and I may say better: For they had Sermons far more frequently, and used to observe the Lordsday with more piety and reverence than now they do: 
Sabbatum aurei vituli.  for now they make it but a Brutish Sabbath, and distinguish it from other days but by mere abstaining from their daily labours, which is not a Holy & sanctified rest, but a Sabbath of Beasts and not of men: There be strangers enough that have travailed those Countries, that can bear witness to this sad Truth and seriously lament it: But perhaps you mean another sort of conversion, to wit, to Popery, and herein we can bear you witness that many hundreds have been converted since you came to Reign and since the Ministers have been cast out, who did carefully guard their Flocks from Romish Wolves, and Foxes: For these have made as great a Harvest in those parts (of late) as you have; and do seduce as fast as you: we hear of whole Parishes fallen off that way: For the people of Wales (in the general) have so much averseness to your lose and fanatic ways, that they choose rather to go to Rome then to Bedlam; And for this reason I know none that are greater Enemies to the said Petition and restitution of the able Ministers, than the Papists and yourself.  
4 For your Character of the Commissioners that most of them are really Godly, we will not gainsay you, but wish they may approve themselves so, when their Actions shall be scanned; yet that many of them had their judgements captivated by fair pretences, and been seduced to go along with you, appears by their serious remorse and retractations, which we have touched before: Praestat recurrere quàm malè currere; and I wish the rest would be so godly as to follow so good a precedent.  
But that none of them have taken any of the Church Revenue into their hands, I think you will not be a Compurgator for any of them, we can tell you of one Commissioner that resolved not to Act or concur with you in the extirpation of the Ministry, if he might not have some Tithes into his hands: he would not be evil for nought, or sell his conscience for nothing; and accordingly he hath been a parson of two good Benefices ever since: we can name others, that have bought lands and built houses, since they had the handling of these Revenues, who (before times) were so low, that they never had such immodest hopes as to amend themselves so well, and so fast as they have done.  
5 Having used your Target, to defend your Commissioners, you now draw your sword, against your formidable Enemies, (those Things in black, the Ministers) whom you have routed and rooted out. They were (say you) most of them either Un-preaching Curates, or scandalous men in their lives, or had administered some accursed oath to the people.  
But in sober sadness Sir, did you eject none else? we could name you hundreds, that you have deprived the Church of God of the benefit and comfort of their labours, that had neither administered any oaths, neither were Un preaching Curates, nor were any way scandalous in their lives. But their lives and labours did express as much power of godliness (quietly in their proper spheres) as any of your tinkling cymbals or wand'ring and foolish fires. If the Parliament were pleased to go down (that is in their power and authority, to those Countries) and see whether you have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come up unto them; 
Gen. 19.21.  If they were pleased to grant Commissions to examine who and what persons you have cast out of god's vineyard, and upon what score; your actions would appear as odious to all the world, as now they do to them that know you. It seems you had not room, and scope enough to rule, except like the great Ottoman, you killed all your Brothers, that you might rule and reign alone.  
6 But for to satisfy all honest men, and to shame your Adversaries, you promise an exact account from South-Wales. If you desire to satisfy the one, or to shame the other, let me advise you as a friend not to smother your Accounts, but let men see them, and see how you have disposed of near 20000 l. per annum for two years and a half. For if your Accounts must be received only in gross, without the particulars, received by an implicit faith without farther examination, (as we hear they must) you and your friends may pass for Godly men still.  
Howsoever, the Petitioners do humbly conceive that they have performed the office of honest and faithful men to the State, in presenting to their notice and cognizance, what a vast Revenue they have been defrauded of, & are like to be still defeated, and they seem to all indifferent, and disinteressed persons, to deserve thanks from the State, and countenance and encouragement, against all affronts: For if they miscarry in this petition, and their hopes be blasted therein, they resolve to make no such attempts any more; but will study to serve the Parliament, in some more acceptable way.  
7 But in the next Paragraph you tell us of the Ministers, and Schoolmasters of North Wales, with their number and quality, as though you had been at a late muster of them; indeed the Scene of your discourse lies most in that country; this is lapwing-like to cry far from the nest: you give an account of North-Wales, to confute a Petition from South-Wales. Here you are out of the reach of my pen, because the places are out of the road of my acquaintance. But for your School masters in North-Wales if they be like those you have placed in South-Wales, they are fit to go to School, then to keep any, as the countries are most deeply sensible thereof.  
8 But here is some good news from Flintshire, Here are but two Ministers ejected in all; truly they had better luck than their fellows, we can tell you of some other Counties (in lieu of this) where you have not left above two to stand in all; and of others, where you have not allowed of above, 3 or 4 Itinerants to instruct near three score and ten parishes, some whereof are very large and populous and were supplied (lately) with very able godly Ministers, that had been trained up in the Schools of the Prophets, and were skilful in dividing the word of god aright, and were instruments of conveying goodness and grace to many a poor soul in their respective charges: for by my vicinity to those countries and my often sallies upon occasion to those parts, I have reason to know them well.  
But the Itinerants that are come in their room, are such men, that though they presume to be Teachers, yet have need to be taught themselves, which are the first principles of the oracles of God: and if men had a design to bring preaching into contempt and derision, they could not have thought of a more effectual course, then by setting up such men to preach: for they have set up such mock-teachers that will be glad of 10 l. per annum, though their Masters may set upon their score large reckon to be accounted to the State, as they will do for their Schoolmasters likewise.  
But how well contented men are with your Propagation in North-Wales may appear by this ensuing presentment made by the Grand-Jury of Montgomery-shire at the last great Sessions held for that County.  
The presentment of Montgomery-shire was as following. April, 1. 1652.  
WE the Grand Jury of the County of Montgomery being upon our oaths, do discover and represent to your Lordships, the complaints and aggrevances thereof. In the first place out of our duty to Almighty God, and in obedience to the present Government, we make bold to signify to your Lordships, that the most General and almost universal complaint amongst us is the want of able Ministers to supply our parish Churches being 47, which are left vacant upon the Lord's day, without any known preacher to officiat in them; But in lieu of the said 47 (and most of the rest lately questioned) there are a few illiterate poor Tradesmen, set up and countenanced, (without any just pretence, or fitting qualifications) to instruct the Congregations, so that by means hereof the gospel (as we conceive) is so far from being Visibly propagated among us, according to the meaning of the late Act, that it is much feared, (if a remedy be not timely applied) it is rather in a way of declining; which we crave your Lordship's assistance, seasonably to prevent.  

Two foremen of the Grand-Jury  
Ga. Winifrid,  
Will. Kyffin, etc.   
We could produce the like (if need were) from Denbighshire, put up at the Great Sessions held for that County at the same time.  
You conclude with Tithes (that delicate morsel which is fit for the mouths of your creatures only) which you tell us were and still are tendered to the Parishioners; But they have a kind of an odd squeamish conscience, that few of them will meddle with them as you complain: You made an Order of late (as I am told) since this Petition was set on foot, to make offer of the Tithes to the Parishioners to avoid envy and exclamations; Before that, none but your Favourites must eat of the holy things and live of the altar. The poor ejected Parsons must have no share nor portion in them, though they offered more rend than any others paid for them, and offered good security for the payment. But we need not marvel that they could not have their Tithes, when they could not have their Glebes upon rent, nay their very fifts denied them, though allowed by the Act for Propagation, which being accounted according to the undervaluations made by the Sequestrators and their Agents, will appear to be so small an allowance, to maintain a family, that it will not find them bread and water; and yet this pitiful pittance cannot be received or obtained, without many a tedious wearisome journey, and much expense, and hazard of men's lives: As some have perished in the waters, by going to Petition and seek relief for their perishing families; And others being wearied out with fruitless journeys, and dilatory answers, have given over all Addresses to these Unmerciful Sequestrators and other Officers, to pour out their Complaints before the Allseeing God; who graciously heard the groans of his people in Egypt, Exod. 2.13. and the voice of the poor lad, weeping under the tree, Gen. 21.17.  
To gain belief to what you have affirmed in your Epistle, you close it up, and seal it with a deep Asseveration and engagement. Truly Protests and Asseverations weigh but little with me, since you have applied them to untruths heretofore, and that in the pulpit; you may remember where and when you protested to the congregation, that you never received any recompense for your pains in preaching. But there was one present, that helped your memory to remember what a round sum you received at Brecon, for one worm wood-Lecture which you made against all the Ministers of that county. There are some also that can remember you, how much of the Fee-farm Rents of the late king you have purchased in Radnor-shire and elsewhere, and they are sure that it was not your father's inheritance, but some other ways (of gainful goodliness) that have enabled you to make these purchases. Therefore Sir, be more cautious hereafter, how you make the like protestations, but let them be according to the rule, in justice, judgement and truth, Jer. 4.2.  
God give you grace to see, and a heart to feel and grieve for the ruin that you have brought upon the Church of God in those parts, and the contempt that you have brought upon his Ministers and Ordinances: For though we stand in an indifferent good posture as yet, in this County, yet the fire being in our neighbour's house we may justly fear our own, and suspect the like Propagation of the Gospel here, as we have seen there; For though you have begun with the out-skirts and Suburbs (as it were) of this Nation, yet we find now that the Design is general, as appears by a Letter from Herefordshire inserted, some weeks since, in the weekly Diurnal, and subscribed M. H. the Penman whereof was not a Mile from a Hill; And also by the Proposals sent in by some of your Party to the Committee for the propagation of the Gospel, and printed in one of the late diurnals; whereby any man that hath but half an eye may see, that this Mystery that goes under the specious name and title of the Propagation of the Gospel, gins to work strongly in other parts of this Nation, and to creep from the Circumference to the Centre of the Commonwealth; but let men look well about them, and learn to be wise at other men's cost: Let the present deplorable condition of Wales, move men both to resent their neighbour's miseries, and to prevent their own.  
Dated from my house near Hereford, the 26 of May: in the Third year of the Abrogation of the Gospel in Wales.   

For Mr. Valvasor Powel one of the Itineraries of Wales.  
Sir,  
YOU were soon induced upon other men's Relations, to misinform yourself, of some Challenge tendered by me against you and your preachers; But as your informers were Cretians in their suggestion, so it is dangerous Cretizare cum Cretensibus; you should rather have been Cautelous in your Credulity, Observing Paul's Command, 
Tit. 1.13.  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to Rebuke them sharply, for they deserved it, accusing me unjustly, of what I was not then Guilty. If you would deign to be remembered in the Character of Christianity, and the true Cognizance of Christ's soldier, The Apostle tells you, 
2. Tim. 2.24.  The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be Gentle to all men, apt to Teach, patiented. Being a servant he should imitate his Master, and the Master is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace. Qui litigat verbis, pugnat, a barking tongue is a striking hand. How Cruelly the Ministers of Wales are and have been used, their good names murdered, their very Calling accounted a Crime, and Mission their Ruin, exposed like those disguised Primitive Christians in Bears and Lions skins, for the baiting and tearing of Dogs; I am sure your unsavoury Invectives against us (being rather Satyrs than Sermons) are sufficient Testimonies thereof. And now I find that Aspis à viperâ sumit venenum, The minor Preachers (if they may be called preachers) borrow their language & virulency from you, As the minor greek Poets are said to lick up the vomit of blind Homer. In respect of myself, I shall pass by such Reproaches, remembering therein the Result of the Schoolmen, That Abuses are to be Remitted, that are injurious towards men's Persons not only quoad Rancorem, in respect of the Malice, but also quod Satisfactionem, in respect of the Redress. But Abuses which Concern our Offices, touch both the Author entrusting, and the trust Committed to our Charge: And we have our Saviour's direction, in the eighth of John, to maintain, (as there he did) the Truth of our Profession. Neglecting then, That you fell upon my Person in my absence, both at Glasebury and the Hay, which was neither Candidelie nor christianly performed; I shall (as I promised you, (upon your own Challenge and wont manner of Vanity and bragging) together with one or two of my brethren, be Ready (with God's assistance) to meet you and the like number of yours any time, after the end of Trinity term next, either in the University of Oxford, or in any place within ten Miles of my abode: Sooner I cannot, because of many journeys, and Occasions which I am necessitated to perform. And will then endeavour to Maintain these ensuing Positions.  

1. The Necessity of Baptism, Necessitate praecepti, and the lawfulness of Paedobaptism.  
2. That the Ministry of England is according to Divine institution.  
3. That our Doctrine is Orthodox; being willing to Hear, what Errors we have broached, Or what Truths have been Revealed by you, or unto you, which we have not formerly taught and known.  
4. That your Separation was Causeless, and unwarrantable.   
Which as far as I can remember were the sum of those Questions proposed, that I would maintain. And though your defiance was (as I partly heard, and more fully understood by others) very high against all the Ministers of this Nation, the Fathers of Jsrael, judging them as Zuinglius did Carolstadius, (Non satis humerorum habere) too weak to undertake the defence of Truth; yet I doubt not but having gathered our stones from the brook of God's word, we shall be Able with the sling of his Spirit to encounter the fierceness of your haughtiness, And resist all your shafts, draw them forth from what Quiver you please, though you accounted yourself a Triformed Geryon in the Languages. Commend not in yourself, what you use to condemn in others, to wit learning.  — Proprio Laus sordet in Ore. 
Thus having for a long time patiently born your several reproaches, and revile, still expecting the Lords good will and pleasure; We are at last persuaded in our souls by his blessed spirit, That his name must be glorified by us in earnestly Contending with you for the Faith once delivered to the saints: And so resolved with God's help and blessing, to vindicate our innocency and Calling, with the spirit of Meekness, and of Mildness, as it becometh true Christians, and the temper of Christ's Gospel, for we cannot put up your affronts, and slanders any longer. Nihil veritas crubescit, nisi solummodò abscondi, Truth never blusheth, but when it is silenced; We have in Modesty spared you too long, Couching like Issachars' Ass under our burdens; Now expect us like the jawrell, bearing up the more, the more weight you lay upon us. And assure yourself, we shall (God willing) display you in livelier Colours, than ever you have misshaped others. Therefore trample no longer on those whom you have ruined, as Diogenes did upon Plato's , with greater Pride, than ever Plato wore them.  
Truly the Zeal of God's Cause, the Cause of Christ's Gospel, doth even Ravish and inflame me.  
— Nam quis iniquae,  
Tam patiens turbae, tam ferreus ut teneat se?  
Who can be silent, to see a whole Nation (a Nation Converted to Christianity, assoon almost as our Saviour suffered) so notoriously branded by their own Natives? for Ignorance, Heathenism, and Profaneness, as you have done for your own ambition & self-ends, which the World hath now sufficiently discovered: As though Wales were still a land of Darkness, the poor inhabitants as yet Continuing in the Region and shadow of Death.  — Pudet patriae te, patriamque tui 
You have had a prime hand in this Aspersion, being not only injurious to the Nation, to the Apostolical Martyrs, and first Planters of Religion here among us, but to divers most painful and Reverend Ministers therein, of later times; And now do Arrogate to yourself the Propagation of the Gospel therein, with the utter Ruin and Abrogation thereof: witness what Superstition and Popery is all ready Crept in among us, since our Ejectment, as is sensibly discovered by three parishes in Brecknockshire; Such are the effects of this your Apostolical Propagation. And How can it be otherwise? My heart bleeds to see so many hundred souls within this Parish (I pass by greater parishes) whereof I was late Vicar fainting and scattered abroad like sheep without a shepherd; 
Math. 9.36.  having neither the comfort of Preaching, nor Praying, nor Sacraments, nor visiting of the sick, nor of any Decency of Burial; your Preachers being so divided in their Opinions, that the good people are at a stand, being wholly dejected, and as much as in you lieth, Anathematised from the Communion of Saints, and all Church-fellowships, as men unchurched, and unchristend, and (in your Repute) mere Pagan's and Heathens; For you Account all fixed parochial Congregations to be such, uncalled, and without the Pale of Christ's Church: but I must tell you they have learned Christ far better, being Constantly taught to my knowledge these twelve years twice every Lord's day: for many of us have laboured more abundantly than you all, yet not we. 
1 Cor. 15.16.  And now you superstruct Hay and stubble upon our labours: we praise not our selves, but these precious souls are our Epistles written in our hearts, for whose spiritual Condition (at this present) we most hearty grieve and lament.  
What doth not your Conscience accuse you? Is it seared up with a hot iron? do not you hear the groans of many thousand Souls testifying against you?  
Doth not the truth of that most Christian, Charitable, and Pious Petition of South-Wales, startle you in your sleep, and affrighten you in the Pulpit? which in all your meetings you so much rail against, because it discovers your Hypocrisy, Covetousness, and Self-ends to the World.  
With what impudency dare you Revile the same, being so Graciously received by the Honourable House of Parliament? And there, upon solemn Debate, Ordered and Committed to further examination?  
Is this your Obedience? to discountenance their Actions, and to deter so many thousands from Petitioning those Wise and Grave Patriots of this Nation who are assembled for the hearing and redressing of the several Abuses and Greivances of this Common wealth?  
Nay with what Divinity or Moral honesty durst you, with your Fanatic Raptures in your Sermon before the Judges the last Assizes for this County of Radnor, revile and Curse that most valiant and worthy Commander Colonel Freeman in his person and in his place, for preferring the said Petition? Doth this become the Minister of Christ, the Propagator of the Gospel in Wales? You forget our Saviour's Rule, Bless them that persecute you, bless I say and curse not. Surely this your storming, and Indignation, and great Industry, in travailing from County to County, and from Parish to Parish, to threaten the Petitioners and Subscribers (in your Sermons) with Sequestration and Ruin, and Stigmatising them as profane persons, Malignants, a Cavalliering party, and mere Incendiaries of the State, Is like Sanballat's the Horonite's deal with good Nehemiah to terrify him from Re-edifying Jerusalem, and of the Inhabitants of Samaria in discouraging Zorobabel from Re-edifying the Temple: Read Ezra 4.11. and Nehemiah the sixth, where you have your Parallels. This plainly argueth that you are not Parliament proof, and that your Actions will not abide the Test, and Examination of Public light. For if the Petition be false, the blame and shame will recoil upon the Contrivers and Presenters of the same: But if it be true, they have done the Parliament good service in giving them intelligence of your practices and proceed in these Remoter parts of the Commonwealth, far from their sight and cognizance, and in giving them warning how far to trust such men as you again; who under colour of Religion and Sanctity do drive on Politic and Worldly Interests: For such Light Heads as you are (unless timely discovered and prevented) will become not only the Brand of the Church, but also the Bane of this Commonwealth. But I leave you to your circuits, wishing you to search your heart, which is not right in the sight of God, for you are in the very Gall of bitterness, of which Repent, and Pray God if perhaps the Thoughts of your Heart, and Words of your Mouth m y be forgiven you; And I beseech God that he would be pleased in his mercy to unite all Differences, and compose all Divisions within this Nation, That we may all with one Heart, and one Mind, endeavour to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Expecting your Answer for the place of meeting, I must in Charity commend you to God's Grace, who (in mine own opinion) being the unworthyest Ejected Minister of Christ Jesus, in South-Wales,  
Am in all humility most ready not only to be bound, but to die for the name of Christ, the lawfulness, and Necessity of Baptism, the Right of our calling, and the Truth of our Doctrine. ALEX: GRIFFITH. Glasbury 9th. May 1652.   

The Petition (before mentioned) was presented to the Honourable House of Parliament the 16th. day of March 1651. by the hands of Colonel Ed. Freeman, the State's Atorney-Generall for South-Wales, being accompanied by some select Gentlemen out of the several Counties.  
The House being informed that divers Petitioners of South-Wales were at the door, they were called in, and Coll. Freeman being come to the Bar, delivered a short Speech to this effect.  
Mr. Speaker,  
IT was the desire of many of the well-affected Gentry, and other Inhabitants of South-Wales, that I should present to your grave Consideration, this Petition, and withal humbly to beg, you will be pleased to believe they desire not to bring in any Scandalous ejected Ministers, (as some out of prejudice to the Petition do suggest) But such as this honourable House shall approve of, and only such, shall be most gratefully entertained by them.  
A Soulsaving necessity hath constrained them to this humble Address, who for above two year's last passed have lived in darkness, the Light of the Gospel being almost exstinguished, shining only in some few corners of the Country, and engrossed into particular distinct Congregations, which are not above four or five in most Counties in South-Wales, and how four or five Itineraries can supply a whole County, most of the Counties consisting of eighty or a hundred Parishes, is humbly left to your Honour's grave consideration. The Inhabitants of South-Wales are not only destitute of a convenient number of Ministers, but also of able Schoolmasters, to the decay of Religion and Learning. And nevertheless, the vast Revenue of the outed Clergy, and all sequestered Tithes, Impropriations, Glebes, and other Ecclesiastical Live (amounting to a great value is) received by particular persons deriving Authority from the Act of the two and twentieth of February 1649. which was really intended by this Honourable House for the true Propagation of the Gospel, who do Let and Sett out the same, to Friends, Creatures and Alliance of their own, at extraordinary undervalues to the prejudice of the State, and the gain of private persons.  
Mr. Speaker,  
This innocent Petition hath no design in it against the Commonwealth, or any particular persons; All that the Petitioners crave from this Honourable House, is a convenient number of able Godly Teachers and Schoolmasters, such as you shall approve of: And an Account for the Profits and Revenues of the Churches received for these two last years.  
As we aim herein at the Glory of God and the Public good, so let God bless us and give a Gracious issue to our humble Desires.   

The Petitioners being withdrawn, the Petition was read, and Entitled The humble Petition of several of the Inhabitants of the six Counties of South-Wales and County of Munmouth, well-affected to the Parliament and present Government, on the behalf of themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants there, Subscribed by many thousands.   

Whereupon the house ordered it should be referred to a Committee.  
Resolved by the Parliament, That it be referred to the Committee of plunderd Ministers, to examine this business, and to State the matter of fact, and report their opinions therein to the House, with power to the same Committee to send for persons, papers, and witness.  
Resolved by the Parliament, That the same Committee have power to examine upon oath, and to authorise such Commissioners in the Country, as they shall think fit, to Examine witnesses upon oath touching any the matters contained in the Petition, and to return these examinations to the said Committee.  
FINIS.