Index Expurgatorius Anglicanus / Or, a descriptive catalogue of the principal books printed or published in England, which have been suppressed, or burnt by the common hangman, or censured, or for which the authors, printers, or publishers have been prosecuted

by W. H. Hart

"To the Right Honovrable the
Hovse of Peeres now assembled
in Parliament.

"The humble Petition of Knights, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other inhabitants of the County of Hertford

"Sheweth,

"That the Petitioners having hitherto with much patience waited for, and with great confidence expected the happy progresse of this Parliament, and therein the removall of all those grievances under which they have a long time groaned, and the perfect Reformation of Church and Commonwealth, They are now constrained to represent unto this Honourable House, the manifold feares, troubles, and distractions wherewith they are incompassed, ariseing from that hellish and bloody rebellion in Ireland, acted by the Papists against our Bretheren by Nation and Religion, apparently threatning the losse of that Kingdome, the extirpation of the Protestants Religion there, and extreame prejudice, if not ruine of this Kingdome, From the want of timely and powerful supplies to suppresse those Rebells, the not granting ample Commissions to those who have bin ready to take up Armes against them, the not passing of the Acts for impressing Soldiers to that service, and the delayes in acceptance of the worthy offer of the South Nation to send 10,000 Soldiers thither, From the continuance of the Prelacy, and multitude of erronious and scandalous Ministers in this Kingdome; the Insolency of the Papists their being armed: the want of execution of Justice against Priests and Jesuits already condemned, and other notorious Delinquents; the many desperate plots and designes attempted against the Parliament and Kingdome by the Popish and Prelaticall party; the great and unparrelled breaches lately made upon the Priviledges of Parliament, endangering the overthrow of the very being thereof, and the destruction of divers of its Members, worthy Patriots of their Country; the not disclosing and punishing of those persons who counselled the same; The unpreparednesse of the sea Forts and other strengths of this Kingdome by Sea and Land against any Invasions, and the continuance of divers of them in unsafe hands, wherein the Parliament (and in them the whole Kingdome) cannot confide, the delay of putting the Kingdome into a posture of Warre, for their better defence; the misunderstanding between his Majesty and the Parliament, and the want of Compliance by this Honourable House with the House of Commons, in entertaining those many good Motions and passing those necessary Bils presented to you from that House for the Common good. All which springs and causes of your Petitioners' feares and distractions, having occasioned the totall decay of trade, and great scarcity of money, and thereby impoverishing and unsetlement of the whole Kingdome, and tending so exceedingly to the indangering of his Majestie's honour and dignity, and the peace and safety of this Kingdome:—the Petitioners doe verily beleeve, that as the same received their first being from the Popish and Prelaticall party, so have they hitherto beene continued, and will be (it is to be feared) daily increased by the Voting of the Popish Lords and Bishops in this Honourable House (whose interests in respect of Religion, their owne standings, or otherwise are at this time so contrary to the happinesse of this Kingdome) and by the continuance of wicked Councellors and evill Ministers of State about his Majestie.

"The Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that all the foresaid Causes and springs of their feares and troubles may be speedily removed: And (for the effecting thereof) that the evill Councellors and others hindring the publike good may be taken from his Maiestie, and the voting of the Popish Lords and Bishops removed out of this Honourable House; And that the Petitioners (who shall be ever ready to hazard their lives and Estates for the deffence of the King and Parliament, the Priviledges of the same, and in speciall those noble Lords and Gentlemen in both Houses, whose endeavours are for the publike good) may have liberty to protest against all those as enemies to this Kingdome, who refuse to joyne with those Honourable Lords and the House of Commons for the putting of the Kingdome into a way of safety under the Command of such persons as the Parliament shall appoint.

"And your Petitioners shall daily pray, &c."

93.

The Resolution of the Roundheads to pull downe Cheapside Crosse. Being a zealous Declaration of the Grievances wherewith their little Wits are consumed to destruction. And what things they in their wisedome (yet left them) conceive fit to bee Reformed. Also the Answer to the Rattle-Heads, Concerning their fictionate Resolutions of the Round-Heads. Wherein is explained every particular therein contained against them, with many godly Counsells to Doctor Little-wit: the Composer of their former scurrilous and illiterate Pamphlet. London, printed 1641.

On February 1st, 1641/2, the House of Commons ordered that this pamphlet should be referred to the Committee for printing; and Stephen Buckle, in St. Martin's, London, who was said to be the printer, was ordered to attend the Committee.[68]