THE Wiltshire-Petition FOR TITHES EXPLAINED, For the better understanding of the PEOPLE Of this COMMONWEALTH.  
Herein you have first the Petition itself at large inserted, and then the Observations follow, being directed to each material passage in the Petition by a letter of the Alphabet.  
By E. C. and R. E.  
LONDON, Printed for William Larnar, at the Black-moor's head near Fleet-bridge. 1653.   

To the Honourable the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England. (A)  
The humble Petition of us Gentlemen, freeholders', and other (B) Inhabitants in the County of Wilts,  
Shows,  
THat your Petitioners having to their unspeakable grief observed the workings of Satan, transforming himself into an Angel of light, tending to the underminding of holiness and Christian Religion, by a generation of men who cry down Learning, Ministry, Ordinances, and almost whatever belongs to us as Christians or Civil men. (C) And having observed the endeavours of some, by so many ways to disturb and remove the so long settled way for the maintenance of Ministers established by the same Laws by which any property is enjoyed in this Nation (D) without any regard to the settling of a sure and full maintenance in stead of it, (E) Conceive themselves bound in Conscience both of Duty to God and to the Commonwealth, to give in their testimony against them in their practices. We dare not be silent, when in the Language and the workings of many amongst ourselves the Ministry, and Ordinances of Jesus Christ are so manifestly exposed, not only to the insultings of men openly and professedly profane, (F) But (which is more to be lamented) to the scorn and contempt of such as pretend to great lights in Religion, which do so manifestly tend not only to the utter subversion of all Religion, but, as a necessary consequence of it, to the destruction and dissolution of all bonds of Civil Government. (G) To whom under Heaven should we make our-moan, and before whom should we spread our complaints, but before your Honours? to whom we cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge the goodness of God toward this Nation (I) in governing and disposing your Honour's hearts at such a time as this, when there are so many desperate suggestions and attempts against Universities, Ordinances, Ministry, and their necessary maintenance, to declare yourselves, as you have done, real countenancers and supporters of them all; which gives the godly of this Nation ground of hope, the Lord will further honour you to be instruments for establishing and countenancing of all these, for the glory of his great Name, and for the settling of the Gospel in purity and power, to be a blessed inheritance to succeeding generations; and to whom we thought it our duty in our places to declare that your Petitiones, in consent (as we humbly conceive) with the People of God generally in this Land (K) (whatsoever some suggest to the contrary) do greatly rejoice in those your Christian actings, that so your hands may be strengthened in the work of God, and therefore are further encouraged to make their humble addresses to this Honourable assembly, with these (as we conceive) necessary requests.  
1. That by your wisdom and care, the Ordinances of Jesus Christ may be countenanced and preserved from the scorn, contempt, and profane neglect to which they are exposed both by some Ministers themselves, who give too much occasion thereof by their ignorance and scandalous living, old empty formalities still continued, and also by many others both profane and humorous persons. (L)  
2. That Pastors and Teachers (M▪ for the work of the Ministry & edifying of the body of Christ, may with the like wisdom and care be countenanced, your Petitioners being well assured that it will be a very acceptable service to Jesus Christ your Lord & ours, to own & encourage those Ambassadors of his, to whom he hath committed the word of Reconciliation, and with whom he hath promised to be to the end of the world, and in whom we have found (by sweet experience) upon our souls, the power and the sense of Jesus Christ according to his promises.  
3. That as the Lord of old settled the Schools of the Prophets amongst his peculiar people, and hath blessed our Universities and Schools of learning, for the breeding up and sending forth many choice instruments of his glory both in Church and Commonwealth; so you would be pleased to continue our Universities, and other Schools of learning under your special care and protection. (N)  
4. That for preserving the Ministry from contempt, (O) freeing them from the temptation of men-pleasing and humane dependences, from distracting diversions in the work of the Lord, enabling them to works of mercy, and for supplying them with necessary provisions for their studies and families, that so they which preach the Gospel may live of the Gospel, Your Honours would be pleased to continue their maintenance, with necessary inlargment in those places where means are wanting.  
These things we humbly and earnestly request of your Honours; and who knows whether God hath not raised you up for such a time as this is? in the performance whereof, you shall the more engage the Lord Jesus to defend both you and us, who hath so eminently appeared hitherto in our preservation, and will be the surest defence of those that act for him: and you shall also make glad the hearts of the godly in this Land, stop the mouths of those who are so ready to speak evil of you, and also prevent the designs those who are contrary minded, and further oblige us to pray.   

The Observations, or Explanation.  
(A) IF the old Spirit of Malignancy and high Presbytery, had not remained in the contrivers of this Petition, they would have suffered it to have spoken in the Frontispiece, Right Honourable, and in words at length and not in figures, acknowledged them the Supreme Authority of this Commonwealth; but such are the cunning slights and devices of the Clergy, the contrivers and promoters of this petition, though they make the people of the Land, Gentlemen and Freeholders, etc. their slaves and Asses to ride on, to uphold their Lordly dommination, and exorbitant Tyrannot▪ s maintenance by Tithes, yet will not let then go so far as to own this Authority downright, as Supreme, Because they lie at the hope of advancing another Authority; unto which they will speak aloud, and full, and say, To his most Sacred Majesty.  
(B) You should have said, in the room of (other inhabitants) Ostlers, Chamberlains, Tapsters, and all the profane people of Wilts, with the Schoolmaster not many miles from Marlingsborow, who set his name to it, and made all his little Schoolboys set theirs: and he contrived many other names, and caused his Boys to write them, to fill up the number of the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other inhabitants of the County of Wilts; or else they must have been whipped. Is not this a fine way to carry on a Petition, and abuse the Gentlemen and freeholders', to rank them with such companions? but you may see what blind zeal will do. It was the practice of the Caviliers, to carry on their wicked designs by lies and forgeries, and so do these.  
(C) It were to be wished that the Petitioners in these words did speak truth: it is to be feared they do not; for the Tapsters, Ostlers and Chamberlain, and the profane people of Wilts, with the Schoolboys, never troubled their hairs to be so observant; but as they began with a lie, so they go one. But if they all had been so diligent observers, they might have seen Satan's working and carrying on his design in this Petition, who striveth to set up himself, and advance his Kingdom by his instruments, by persecuting all others that are not in their way, though they be such as do live in all godliness and honesty.  
(D) Here is the great business in this petition: you may know the Lion by his paw, the hand of Joab is in all this: the Merchants that are trading here, are discovered: yet may know who they are that make all this dust; they are Demetrius his Apprentices, Silversmiths by occupation: therefore they cry it up in every Pulpit and Press, and preach it in every Town and Village, this their Diana, by which they get their so great gain, riches and honours, else you should never have heard of the Clergy coming to the Parliament with a Petition; for do but observe, when they did join or set forward any good thing for the profit of this Commonwealth, or ease of the people thereof, but have been the obstructers of many, and the causers of many burdens to be as heavy yokes lying on the necks of them; & viperlike have endeavoured to eat out the very Bowels of this Parliament: so that saying in the Prophet is made good: And as thiefs wait for a man, the company of Priest's murder in the way by consent: for they work mischief. See and read history, if there were any Villainy in a Nation, if a Priest had not a hand in it. See Master Pryme's Looking Glass for Lordly Bishops. Was not the Pope and his Lordly papal Authority, with all his Popish Hirerchy, and Lordly Bishops, and their Rabble, with all their maintenance settled by the same law? See the Acts of Parliament: and they are taken away, and yet we enjoyed property still; and surely if Tithes as well as Bishop's Lands, and Colledge-Lands as well as Dean and Chapters Lands, should be sold and taken away, the people of the Commonwealth would enjoy property more than they do now; yea Religion and learning also. Therefore it is hoped that none but the worshippers of the Beast and lovers of the whore will be against the clear rooting up of Tithes root and branch, and need not fear the touching of the Law by which we enjoy property.  
(E) Will said, cunning fellows; they will be of the surest side; they will not part with their fair Dal●lah's, but for a good and better exchange, a more fuller & better maintenance. It's wondered whither the covetousness of these Priests will in the next petition enlarge itself: they have the fifth of every man's estate already; the next surely must be all: so that like hell they will enlarge their desires, and then the poor countryman that now is feign to save it out of his own, his wives and children's bellies, shall have no bread at all to live on. But surely we are not delivered to work all these abominations; but as the former have been found to have been of the Devils setting up, by his eldest son the Beast, and his Queen the great whore and the false prophet, the body of the Clergy spoken of in Revel. 13. & 17. Chapters; so will these Tithes and Colledge-lands: for they stand on the same bottom: and as Hamans' wife said to him, Esth. 6. 13. They have begun to fall, and they shall surely fall; for God will not suffer such wickedness long to continue, as is practised by these Clergymen, on the poor people of this Land, as they do by triple damage on all the people that refuse to pay it them out of a pure conscience: so that saying of the Lord by his Prophet, is made good, Micah 3. 5. Thus saith the Lord, The Prophets that deceive my people, and by't them with their teeth, and cry peace; but if a man put not into their mouths, they prepare war against him.  
(F) From your conscience as your duty; is it one good and sure grounds? had you a Lawyer to your Counsellor? for a Priest it's believed you had: and if both were there, they might show you a couple of reasons for it, but perhaps one Reason of the Sun were worth them both. You that have been sharp sighed to see Satan's working, and transforming himself, its strange you miss it here; but I believe he opened the bottomless pit, that there was so great a smoke with his angels the Priests, that you took falsehoods for truths, and so presently say, you are bound in conscience as your duty so to do: and therefore we will pity you, and the next time desire you to clear your eye-sights, and not so to mistake and be so sottish to be led so by the nose.  
Can there be greater prophaners and contemners of the pure ordinances of Christ, than the Clergy of the world are, nay of this Nation, yea of the County of Wilts? is there not all profane ignorant persons received into their Church? is not the holy things of God, and the children's bread given to dogs? all must pay Tithes, else, No penny, no Paternoster; but pay penny, and have all; he shall pass, if he be a rich man, and pay his Tithes, for a very good and precious Saint, thought he be a profane Devil; as witness Master Vmpheries book pleading for the same, and Master Mastersons practice at Clements Danes London: and is not this a great profaning the ordinances of Christ, and a bringing them in contempt? it is left for the wise to judge.  
(G) O strange! here is a change indeed; the Clergy are zealous for the Civil Government: Surely they are converted, and now have swallowed that hard bit that lay so long on their stomaches, the honest and harmless Engagement to be true and faithful. Dare you believe them? hark, you may smell their secret plots and tamperings now with the Dutch, as in Cambridge-shire and other places; it's pity they have not Sion-Colledge, that they may there sit and hatch more Cockatrice eggs: but now I do remember myself, it is granted them: then look what will follow—  
(H) It is not long since you could go and say, To your Sacred Majesty, next under God Supreme head and governor, full mouthed and at large; witness 1647, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, and it will reach— to 53. Did not you all with Love, Case, Drak●, and Jenkins, with our dear brethren of Sco●land, make your complaints to his Most Sacreed Majesty the Lords anointed, our dear Barn and Covenanted Child? it is well if the wind be changed: but how long will it continue? no body knows; and trust to them you may not.  
(I) Here they come forth in a goodly dress, as if they were true and faithful Commonwealthsmen; and do now fawn one the Parliament with a little acknowledgement of God's blessing them: and truly it is but a little indeed; for if tney had said less, they had said nothing: and that they knew would be a Remora in the establishing their Tithes, and a prospering of this pretty Babe maintenance. They do also put up a faint prayer: but they are to be born with; for they have but new learned to speak the language.  
(K) Do not say so: for the godly both Gentlemen and others the Freeholders' of Wilts do not consent to this Petition; and it's hoped the godly ●n this Commonwealth know better, as you may see in the petitions of Hartford, Bucks, and in a book called The Husbandman's plea against Tithes, sold at the Blackamoor by Fleet-bridge, signed by many of the honest and well-affected Freeholders of the same Counties: therefore you do not speak the mind of the truly godly.  
(L) Is it not to be feared that Adoniram the Scribe, when this was writ, had his head troubled about settling sure of his new flock, almost 400 l. per an. that made you thus mistake? for, as is before said, there is none like them for profaning Ordinances; and therefore it's hoped that seeing the laws of Christ will not prevail with them to keep them from committing the sins of profaning and contemning the purest ordinances of Christ, the Parliament will make a Law to teach them more wit, and better manners; for they are judged to have need of both, as you may see by their good brother Clergyman of Ridlington in Rutland-shire, who preaching on this text, Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's will to give you a Kingdom, he observed this doctrine, That God would make the heads of this Nation a footstool for the King to get up to his Throne. Judge now whether they have not need to be better taught, before they be better fed.  
(M) How came these words in fashion amongst the Clergy? for Priest was all the term. O but we are told by the Petitioners, that Satan hath transformed himself into an Angel of light, and therefore Priest must be buried, and now they will be Pastors and Teachers: of what? of people? Do they preach for the saving of souls? no; for 400 l. a year: and if a Benefice fall of 100 d. a year better than that they are possessed of, away goeth this Pastor, and leaveth his 300. l. a year flock, and embraces his 400. l. as Adroniam the Scribe did Fulham, for one in the County of Wilts; and Isaac, that was sometime the glass-man, did Hammersmith, for Fulham: so that indeed that saying (by them and this Petition) in the Prophet is verified Jer. 5. 31. The Prophets preach lies, and the Priests divine for hire, and my people delight to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?  
(N) To this Article, I will only refer you to Beza his notes on Acts the 6. and 9 verse, beginning at the figure 7. Whose words are these: Schools and Universities were of old time addicted to false Pastors, and were the instruments of Satan to blow abroad and defend false Doctrines of the company and College, as it were. 8. False Teacbers, because they will not be overcome, fly from disputations to manifest and open slandering and false accusations. (9) The first bloody persecution of the Church of Christ began and sprung from a Counsel of Priests, by the suggestion of the Vniversitie-Doctors. Thus saith he. Had we not need to Petition for their standing? why were then the Bishops put down? for popery is there practised still, as all their Popish Offices and Garments, their Scarlet Robes, their Maces, Tip-staves, and their square Tiburne-Caps, and a hundred other trinkets of the Whore.  
(O) Had you but been diligent observers of the doctrine of Christ, you would never have flown to the Civil powers to have defended you from contempt: for it's the portion of his people to be reviled and made contemptible: but it seems you do not like it; and you may believe Christ will not much esteem of you: and be sure, fence yourselves as strong as you will or can, the thing you so much fear, God will bring to pass; as the Lord hath said in Mal. 2. 9 Therefore have I also made you to be despised and vile before all the people, because you kept not my ways, but have been partial in the Law.  
Thus Reader in brief, we have given you a taste of the Clergy of Wilts; by which our Countrymen may judge of the rest of their Petitions from other Counties.  
So we bid thee farewell.   
FINIS.