TO THE HIGH AND honourable covert OF PARLIAMENT.  
The Nobility, Knights, Gentry, Ministers, Freeholders, and Inhabitants, of the County of SURREY, whose names are subscribed in the several Schedules hereunto annexed.  
show,  
THat the strong confidence, which we have justly conceived of the great wisdom, and impartial judgement of this most high and supreme Court, together with that solid and stable foundation, upon which we understand episcopacy to be built, hath caused us hitherto to esteem it, either so sacred, that it should not be attempted, or so strong and impregnable, that it could not bee overthrown by any Christian force, But the continual and loud cries, and the violent assaults that are made against it, especially by those of our own vicinity and neighbourhood, hath awakened our Care and jealousy, for the quiet and safety of this Church and Common-wealth, wherein ourselves have share and interest, And we reckon it our duty, by our humble Petition unto this grave and honourable Senate, to withstand( if it may be) their inconsiderate and dangerous endeavours, Or at least to testify before God and the whole Christian world, how far we are, either by approbation or silence, from giving the least connivance or assent unto the abolishing of that so well established and long approved Government.  
We therefore become most humble and earnest Petitioners unto this Honourable Court, that you would be pleased to take into your most deep and religious considerations, those inconveniences and mischiefs, which, besides many other, we do greatly fear would ensue, if that this ecclesiastical Government should be overthrown.  
First, what apparent cause of insultation and triumph would be given unto our Adversaries of the Roman party, against whom we have hitherto had just cause of glorying in this Religious boasting, that both our Doctrine and Government, have been first and principally authorized by the divine and heavenly Sentence of the holy Scripture, and have had the full approbation and testimony of the most pure and incorrupt times of the Primitive Church. With what face or countenance shall we now look upon them, if we shall at once cast off, as altogether polluted and Antichristian, that hierarchy, that Sacred and apostolical Government, which not onely ourselves have avouched and maintained unto the whole world, but hath been held in so much veneration and honor, by so many councils ecumenical and national, so many holy and learned Fathers, so many glorious & constant Martyrs and Confessors, and in a manner by the whole Assembly of Christian people, for the space of 1500. yeares.  
Secondly, what hurt and heart-breaking discouragement it may prove unto those, that have carefully deported themselves, as the dutiful and quiet children of the Church, if they shall receive, as a reward of their peaceable and discreet behaviour, bitter reproach and scorn, of which they have already tasted in too great a measure, and do still expect a greater burden to be laid on their shoulders, especially by those who do now plainly manifest, that they have formerly entertained a secret hatred and grudge against that Government, unto which by their outward semblance, and by the subscription of their hands, they have for their present advantage fraudulently yielded attestation and consent.  
Thirdly, what amazement and distraction it will cause amongst quiet, religious and well-affected people, when they shall hear that Discipline & Government, which now for the space of about an hundred yeares, since our first happy deliverance from Popish Idolatry and Superstition, hath been by the most religious and learned Clergy, by Preaching and Writing and ikewise by the laws and Authority of this kingdom, both Civill and Ecclesiastical, publicly and constantly approved, taught and enjoined, as most sovereign and apostolical; now by the same voice and authority to be cried down, rejected and trodden under foot, as pestilent, Antichristian, and intolerable, what dangerous conclusions weak mindes may draw out of such premises, we refer it unto the religious care of this Honourable Court to ponder and advice.  
Fourthly, what a pile of fuel will be hereby administered, and cast into the flamme of their intemperate zeal, that stand Schismatically, and Anabaptistically affencted( of which sort we fear there are in this kingdom too great a number) And whether their fary may not, with the like confidence, presume to oppose whatsoever new form of Government may be introduced, hoping with much facility to prevail against a green unsettled wall, by the same Engines, wherewith they shall give the overthrow unto so ancient and firm a Structure, whole Foundation hath been laid by the skilful hands of the greatest Architects, and Master-builders of the Christian World; And whether their unexpected success against the ecclesiastical, may not embolden them to give the like furious onset, and assault, against the Secular and Civill Power.  
Lastly, how open and large a Field will be ready, and prepared to be sown with the seed of implacable hatred and discord, when among so many dark, and intricate disputes about Gods eternal Decrees, and Purposes, and other profound mysteries of our Christian Religion( that have been esteemed by the Ancient, as the bones of the paschal lamb, that might not be broken) it shall be free for every man( for want of ecclesiastical Authority to restrain, or judgement to discern of those inscrutable secrets) guided by no other rule then the crooked line of his own discretion, in the open and public Assembly, to cast forth such doubts and questions, as may prove a snare and torture unto the weak, and a bone of perpetual contention unto the proud, and obstinate, When now the episcopal authority being removed, there shall remain no other ecclesiastical power to restrain, and determine, these and such like questions, but by Suffrage, and mayor part of voices: We humbly propound it unto the calmest and deepest wisdom of this noble Senat to judge, whether or no, it may not only be possible, but very probable too, that the more vehement, and Popular part, overswaying the more temperate, and soberly learned, the matter may arise unto that height, that either the truth may bee deserted, and the Consciences of men left upon the rack, or the contention and tumult wax so great, as may cause the whole Church and kingdom, not onely to sigh and groan, but to bee put into great hazard of sinking under so great a burden.  
We therefore most humbly crave, and importunately beg, of this Honourable Senate, that you would bee pleased, so to take off that Rust, which by long course of time hath cleaved unto the Brazen Pillars of our Temple, as that you entertain not within your blessed and Christian hearts, the least thought, or imagination of taking away this ancient and necessary Supporters of this Sacred Building, by giving way to the overthrow of that Government, which the holy Spirit of God hath approved, and his almighty arm hath hitherto protected, and wee trust, at this time hath advanced you, of this noble Senate, unto these honourable Seats, to make you his most happy Instruments, after the Example of your blessed Ancestors, in the time of queen ELIZABETH, of happy memory, to shield and defend it against unreasonable Admonitions, Petitions, Supplications, and all Incursions whatsoever of Innovation, and schism, that may assault it.  
And as bound we shall forever pray, &c.   

To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in his Majesties high Court of PARLIAMENT. ALSO To the honourable House of Commons, there likewise Assembled.  
The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the burrow of southwark, and other places near adjacent, being all true Protestants.  
Humbly Sheweth  
THat whereas we have of late received a Protestation from this most Honourable House, to maintain the Protestant Religion established, and in all godly submission have taken the same Protestation, to maintain the the same Religion, which we understand to be the same, that was by King Edw. 6. of famous memory, refined and reformed from Popery, and established by him, and the Parliament in his time. Then afterwards persecuted by the Papists in the reign of Queen Mary, and again by the great mercy and goodness of God re-established by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory, and by the Parliaments in her time, as appeareth by the Acts and Monuments of the Church, and the Acts and Statutes of the realm, and since continued by King james of most worthy memory for his great Learning and Piety, as also by our now most gracious sovereign Lord King Charles, and the whole state for ought we know to the contrary.  
nevertheless are we grievously offended by the insolent carriage of many Preachers and Lay-people in their Prayers, Sermons, discourses and actions, some calling the Doctrine and discipline of our Church cursed, others refusing to read the book of Common prayer, enjoined by Statute, others calling it. Popish, others behaving themselves most unreverently at those prayers, or standing without the Church till they be done, refusing to join with the Congregation, in those prayers. Besides some will not bring their Children to Church to be baptized, others will not kneel at receiving the holy Communion, but some will stand, some sit, others refuse to have their dead butted in the common way of our christian burial; Women refuse to give God thankes for delivery in Childbed as is appointed. Some Preachers will not use the Lords Prayer at all & yet will call fasts publicly without authority. And our Ministers who by the Statute are bound to use the form of the book of Common prayer, and no other, together with those Rites there enjoined, are for making conscience to obey the Statutes, mocked and abused by base terms in the Church, and in the Streets, nay some have been threatened so that they dare not wear their ministerial garments, nor use the forms of Service by Law prescribed. And our ancient Vestry men, who were wont to keep their Parishes in good order, are contemned any abused by a rude company of young, poor, and unworthy fellowes; Which disorders have bread great scandal and distractions among all true hearted Subjects and Protestants, and much grief( we verily believe) to every one save Papists and schismatics, who make a sport at Gods dishonour, and this our Church of Englands troubles.  
In consideration whereof we most humbly desire that till things be otherwise established by Act of this most high and honourable Court, we may have some peculiar order, for redress of these tumults and distractions among us from both Houses, combustions may bee prevented( which else may justly be feared.) And all of us may quietly and comfortably meet together in the Churches to serve God unanimously and uniformly as Gods word doth teach us, and the Statutes of the kingdom enjoin us,  
And we shall be ever bound, and will daily pray for the happy success of your honourable proceedings, as becometh all good men, and us your Honours humble Petitioners.  
Subscribed by all the Knights, Iustices of the Peace, and Gentlemen, and Freeholders at the quarter Sessions, for the County of Surrey, and after by the chief Inhabitants of the Borough of southwark, and the parts adjacent, in which Borough, and adjacent parts, besides other parts of the whole County did Subscribe, Knights, 13. Esquires, 15. Divines, 18. Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others of good account. 382.