TO THE RIGHT honourable THE LORDS AND peers ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Petition of the Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the County of Stafford.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat the Conjuncture of the benign aspect and influences of this Right Honourable House, upon your Petitioners, with those of the Honourable House of Commons; as in many other great concernments, so especially in your happy correspondency to put the kingdom into a posture of war, for the defence and security thereof, against both domestic and foreign enemies, is resented with exceeding thankfulness by your Petitioners, as that which clearly manifests unto them your honour's zeal, and good affections for the opening of such obstructions as have hither o●rerarded the Cure of their pressing grievances, fears and jealousies, and promiseth the serening of their yet remaining Distractions and Distempers in Church and commonwealth: in all faithfulness engaging themselves to serve his Majesty and this Honourable House of Parliament, as occasion shall require, with lives, power, and estates; as conceiving their lives and safeties, in a subordinate way, to be wrapped up in one with your Honours.  
Praying,  
That the right Honourable house would be pleased to represent unto his most excellent Majesty their loyal duties, humble desires and fears, that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to consent to the Militia agreed upon: and that his Majesty would lean upon the hand, and be gr●ciously pleased to follow the counsels of the Honourable and high Court of Parliament.  
That the bleeding wounds of our brethren in Ireland may be bound up by speedy and effectual applications, and therein reparations made of the honour of this kingdom; which suffers in so long delay of Succours designed, that the guilt of innocent blood cry not in the ears of the Lord of Sabbeth against us.  
That your Lordships would improve your high wisdoms and power to bring to the birth these noble desires and designs of the house of Commons, mentioned by them in their late Remonstrance.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, &c.   

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.  
Shewe●h,  
THat in their own names, and in the names of many thousands of the Inhabitants of the County of Stafford, your Petitioners with heart fuller of thankfulness, than their tongues can be of expression, humbly acknowledge their sensibleness of the unparelled travail, 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 fortwes in these despirate 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 wailed your proceedings. All which your Petitiones 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 profess 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 fountain 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.   

Printed for Nicholas Vavasour, 1642.