TO THE honourable THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS, and Burgesses of the Commons House of PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Petition of the Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the County of Stafford, Delivered May 14 1642.  
Showeth,  
THat in their own names, and in the names of many thousands of the Inhabitants of the County of Stafford, your Petitioners with hearts fuller of thankfulness, than their tongues can be of Expression, humbly acknowledge their sensibleness of the unparalleled Travel, and indefatigable endeavour of this honourable House already spent in the discharge of that Trust deservedly by the Commons of all the Land vested in You; whereby an ample Testimony is given, as of your faithfulness and courage in the exposure of yourselves and Fortunes in these desperate times: so likewise of the good hand and providence of God carrying you through many difficult straits, and dangerous conspiracies of the Popish and malignant party, who have hitherto waylaid your proceedings. All which your Petitioners take as very promising beginnings, and fair pledges of the healing of the unsupportable Grievances both ecclesiastical and civil, which the Church and State groan under. And do concurrently and freely confess their Contributions to the work under your hands, not only by their prayers, but also by the devotement of their lives, power, and estates, according to that wise and religious Protestation set forth by you, conceiving their own lives and safeties to be shipped in one bottom with Yours.  
And your Petitioners further show, That it is not the least part of their comfort, That you have continued the Militia of this County unto so honourable a Lord, in whom they may safely (under God) confide.  
And your Petitioners do humbly pray, That the unexampled miseries, and almost expiring estate of our brethren in Ireland, may be considered by an expedite dispatch of seasonable succour, and that they may from time to time during their miseries, be looked upon by you, not only as English and fellow-Subjects, but as Protestants, and professors of God's truth, under which notion they suffer these Extremities. And that the Insurrection of the Papists there may be reckoned of, not only as a Rebellion; but a horrid persecution of Christ in his truth and members, that so the Interest of God and his Cause may quicken your Sympathy with, and endeavours for them.  
That the Papists (who are in great number in this small County) may be throughly and speedily disarmed and so disposed of, that they be not formidable to your Petitioners, by being able either to keep us in Jealousies by their practices at home, or to foment that fire kindled by their party in Ireland.  
That the Church in her Government, Officers and worship may be ordered according to the rule of God's holy Word, The particular Accommodation of which we humbly leave to the wisdom of this honourable House to determine, by the assistance of an Assembly of godly and learned Divines.  
That the present state and condition of the Church may be thought upon for ministry, maintenance and supply of an able preaching ministry, pluralities suppressed, the Fountains of Learning cleared, all insufficient for the work of the ministry, all grossly scandalous and negligent in their functions, removed, that they may no longer remain a burden to keep out others.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, &c.   

London, Printed for Thomas Banks. 1642.