TO THE HIGH AND HONOURABLE COURT OF PARLIAMENT, The humble PETITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, In behalf of EPISCOPACY AND CATHEDRALS.  
Printed in the year, 1641.   

TO THE HIGH AND HONOURABLE COURT OF PARLIAMENT, The humble Petition of the University of OXFORD  
SHOWETH,  
THAT whereas the University hath been informed of several Petitions concerning the present Government of this Church, & maintenance of the Clergy, which have of late been exhibited to this Honourable Assembly; We could not but think ourselves bound in duty to God, and this whole Nation, in charity to ourselves and Successors, who have and are like to have more than ordinary interest in any resolution that shall be taken concerning Church-affaires, in all humility, to desire the continuance of that form of Government, which is now established here, and hath been preserved in some of the Eastern and Western Churches, in a continued Succession of Bishops, down from the very Apostles to this present time; the like whereof cannot be affirmed of any other form of Government in any Church. Upon which consideration, and such other motives as have been already represented to this Honourable Parliament from other Persons & places (with whom We concur) in behalf of Episcopacy, We earnestly desire, that you would protect that ancient and Apostolical Order from ruin or diminution.  
And become farther Suitors for the continuance of those pious Foundations of Cathedral Churches, with their Lands and Revenues,  
As dedicate to the service and honour of God, soon after the plantation of Christianity in the English Nation:  
As thought fit and useful to be preserved for that end, when the Nurseries of superstition were demolished, and so continued in the last and best times since the blessed Reformation, under King Edw. 6. Q. Elizab. & K. James. Prince's renowned through the would for their piety and wisdom:  
As approved and confirmed by the Laws of this Land, ancient and modern:  
As the principal outward motive and encouragement of all Students, especially in Divinity, and the fittest reward of some deep and eminent Scholars:  
As producing or nourishing in all Ages many godly and Learned men, who have most strongly asserted the truth of that Religion We profess, against the many fierce oppositions of our Adversaries of Rome:  
As affording a competent portion in an ingenuous way to many younger Brothers of good Parentage, who devote themselves to the Ministry of the Gospel:  
As the only means of subsistence to a multitude of Officers and other Ministers, who with their Families depend upon them and are wholly maintained by them:  
As the main Authors or upholders of divers Schools, Hospitals, highways, bridges, and other public and pious works:  
As special causes of much profit and advantage to those Cities where they are situate, not only by relieving their poor & keeping convenient hospitality, but by occasioning a frequent resort of Strangers from other parts, to the great benefit of all Tradesmen, and most Inhabitants in those places:  
As the goodly Monuments of our Predecessors Peity, and present Honour of this Kingdom in the eye of foreign Nations:  
As the chief support of many thousand Families of the Laity, who enjoy fair estates from them in a free way:  
As yielding a constant and ample revenue to the Crown:  
And as by which many of the learned Professors in our University are maintained.  
The subversion or alienation whereof must (as we conceive) not only be attended with such consequences as will redound to the scandal of many well affected to our Religion, but open the mouths of our Adversaries, and of Posterity against us, and is likely in time to draw after it harder conditions upon a considerable part of the Laity, an universal cheapness and contempt upon the Clergy, a lamentable drooping and defection of industry and knowledge in the Universities; which is easy to foresee, but will be hard to remedy.  
May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly, upon these and such other Considerations as your great Wisdoms shall suggest, to take such pious care for the continuance of these Religious Houses, and their Revenues, according to the best intentions of their Founders, as may be to the most furtherance of God's glory and service, the Honour of this Church and Nation, the advancement of Religion and Learning, the encouragement of the modest hopes and honest endeavours of many hundred Students in the Universities  
Who do and shall ever pray etc. Dat XXIV. Apr. An. Dom. M.DC.XLI. è Domo Convocationis, in celebri Conventu Doctorum ac Magistrorum, omnibus & singulis assentientibus.