THE CRIES OF ENGLAND to the PARLIAMENT, For the CONTINUANCE of GOOD ENTERTAINMENT To the LORD JESUS his AMBASSADORS: Collected as they came up from the several Counties.  
Wherein you have, 

1. The Calling, Benefit, and Maintenance of the Godly Ministry of England attested.  
2. The endeavours of the wicked one to root it out, (though but by withdrawing its Maintenance) abominated.  
3. And the power of the Magistrate in matters of Religion, owned and encouraged.    
London, Printed for Tho. Vnderhill, at the Sign of the Blue Anchor in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1653.   

To the Honourable, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.  
The humble Petition of us Gentlemen, Free holder's, and other 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 undermining 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. 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, without any regard to the settling of a sure and full maintenance in stead of it, 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; 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. 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, 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 Petitioners, in consent (as we humbly conceive) with the people of God generally in this Land (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 farther 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.  
2. That Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry, and 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 and ours, to own and 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.  
4. That for preserving the Ministry from contempt, freeing them from the temptation of men-pleasing and humane dependencies, 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 enlargement 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 of those who are contrary minded, and further oblige us to pray.  
 
The Gentlemen of the County being called in, had thanks, and a good Answer: but for it's not being affixed verbatim, they may thank themselves, because they did not commit it to the care of a Stationer.   

To the Supreme Authority of the Nation, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.  
The Humble Petition of the County of South-Hampton, Subscribed at the late Assizes held at Winton, by the Grand Jury and near 8000 of the Gentry, Freeholders', and other Inhabitants of the said County.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat your Petitioners (informed by the Word of God) are very sensible, that the enjoyment of the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ (by fit men set apart to that sacred work) is to be esteemed the choicest mercy wherein any people are blessed of God; and the removal thereof after such enjoyment, the greatest judgement threatened or inflicted on any Nation.  
With much thankfulness we acknowledge the goodness of God blessing this Nation of ours, even above others our Neighbours, with this rich Privilege; and which (notwithstanding our own unworthiness, and all the oppositions of Satan and his Instruments) he hath been pleased for many years past, and unto this present, to continue among us.  
What a Blessing this Nation hath enjoyed in a learned and godly Ministry, honoured by the Reformed Churches abroad; what a testimony it hath had from heaven, in the conversion of Multitudes from the power of Satan unto God; what their labours and sufferings have been, contending for the Faith, against Popish, Arminian, and other Adversaries; (wherein we are in these present times more sensible than ever of the need of their labours) are things so clear, that there are very few but will acknowledge.  
That this mercy hath been continued amidst those great oppositions which godly Ministers have met withal, next to the goodness of God, we cannot but thankfully acknowledge and ascribe it unto your many Acts and Declarations, both for a settled Maintenance and continuance thereof, with liberal Augmentations allowed by you, to the great encouragement of those who are employed in that sacred Work.  
Nevertheless we have with much sadness observed the actings of many, in sundry places of the Nation, who by their professed opposition to their Office and Maintenance, have and still do busily endeavour the discouragement and destruction of the godly Ministry of the Nation. And this so boldly attempted, even during the sitting of this Parliament (which hath so eminently declared and appeared to the contrary) fills the hearts of many of the godly with jealousies, fearing lest by such attempts they be at length deprived of this Mercy; and with it, of all the visible profession of Religion. For should such endeavours prosper (which the Lord in mercy prevent, by making your Honour's continued instruments to stand in the gap) we sadly apprehend how great the triumphs would be of Jesuits, and all other professed adversaries of the Truth: The advantage Satan hath already made of the present contempt of the Ministry, sufficiently discovering how sad the consequence would be of their utter removal.  
Therefore out of a due respect to the glory of God, the good of souls, the peace of the Church, the preservation and purity of Religion, the welfare of the Nation, and faithfully to discharge our own duty, for the countenance of Learning, the preservation and encouragement of those that labour in the Lords work; We do earnestly desire, that laying to heart the Interest of Christ, (who will shortly be your Judge and ours) your Honours would seriously consider these our humble Requests and Proposals.  
1. That the Universities, with other Schools and Nurseries of Religion and Learning, may be continued, and enjoy what God hath given them by Benefactors.  
2. That you would continue to speak comfortably to those who teach the knowledge of God; that their hands may be strengthened in the work of the Ministry, the disturbers of them repressed, all due encouragement afforded; particularly, that Tithes, and other their present settled Maintenance may be continued unto them, until some other as full and certain a way thereof may be found out and confirmed upon them.  
3. That unsavoury Salt may be cast out: and such as know not the worth of Souls, and are only skilful to destroy them, may be removed.  
Lastly, That there be a settled Order established according to the Word of God, for admitting of persons Orthodox, and fitly qualified, into that work of the Ministry:  
And your Petitioners shall always pray, etc.   

Friday 8. of April, 1653.  
THE House being informed that divers Hamshire Gentlemen were at the Door, they were called in, and being come to the Bar, Major Hooker informed the Parliament, that he, with Cap. Terrye and Cap. Chase, were desired by the Justices of the Bench, Grand Jury, and Gentlemen of the County of South-hampton, Freeholders', & Inhabitants of the said County, to present their Petition to the Parliament; and did thereupon present a Petition to the House, which after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read, and was Entitled, The Petition of the County of South-hampton, subscribed at the late Assizes by the Grand Jury and near Eight thousand of the Gentry, Freeholders', and other Inhabitants of the said County.  
Resolved,  
That the Petitioners be called in, and that Mr. Speaker do give them the thanks of the Parliament; and let them know, that some of the matters contained in the Petition are already, under consideration, and that the rest shall be taken into consideration in due time.  
The Petitioners were again called in, and Mr. Speaker by command of the House, gave them this answer:  
Gentlemen, The House hath read your Petition, and considered seriously of it, and hath commanded me to give you thanks.  
And in their name I do give you thanks. And I am further to let you know, that the Parliament have many of the matters contained in the Petition under consideration, and that they will take the rest into consideration in due time.  
Hen. Scobell Cleric. Parliament'.  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for Th. Vnderhill, at the Sign of the Blue Anchor in Paul's Churchyard, 1653.