To
the
HONOURABLE
,
The
Knights
,
Citizens
,
and
Burgesses
,
in
Parliament
Assembled
.
The
Humble
Petition
of
James
Percy
,
of
the
Family
of
the
Earls
of
Northumberland
.
Humbly
Sheweth
,
THat
the
Petitioner
having
in
all
humility
Addressed
himself
to
the
Right
Honourable
the
House
Of
Lords
,
that
he
might
have
Liberty
to
make
appear
to
their
Lordships
,
That
he
was
the
next
and
immediate
Heir-Male
to
Josceline
,
the
late
Earl
of
Northumberland
,
their
Lordships
were
pleas'd
by
their
Order
,
to
appoint
a
time
for
a
Hearing
of
the
same
,
and
the
Petitioner
expecting
a
full
Hearing
,
accordingly
got
ready
many
Depositions
of
Credible
Persons
,
and
had
many
living
Witnesses
and
Records
,
and
Registers
there
present
,
whereby
the
Petitioner
doubted
not
,
but
as
plainly
to
have
satisfied
their
Lordships
of
the
Truth
of
his
Descent
and
Pedigree
,
as
it
is
possible
for
any
such
Matter
to
admit
of
;
And
this
Petitioner
,
after
so
many
Thousand
pounds
expended
by
himself
and
his
Relations
,
in
searching
for
,
and
obtaining
the
Records
and
Proofs
aforesaid
,
and
in
pursuing
his
said
Right
and
Title
,
desiring
onely
one
full
and
final
Hearing
of
his
said
Proofs
and
Evidences
,
and
to
be
Concluded
by
it
for
ever
after
,
and
then
desire
,
and
was
contented
to
suffer
,
if
he
did
not
plainly
prove
his
being
the
next
of
Blood
,
as
aforesaid
;
yet
it
was
their
Lordships
Pleasure
,
not
only
to
deny
the
Hearing
of
the
Proofs
,
but
also
to
send
the
Petitioner
to
the
several
Courts
of
Justice
in
Westminster-Hall
,
with
a
Mark
that
he
was
a
false
Pretender
;
that
thereby
,
as
your
Petitioner
conceives
he
might
be
deprived
from
all
hopes
from
thence
also
:
That
the
Petitioner
is
informed
,
That
some
persons
are
since
endeavouring
to
obtain
an
Act
to
pass
this
Honourable
House
,
for
setling
irrevocably
,
great
part
of
the
Earl
of
Northumberlands
Estate
,
which
was
given
to
the
Late
Duke
of
Monmouth
for
want
of
Issue-Male
of
the
said
Earl
,
as
was
then
believ'd
,
whereby
the
Petitioner
will
be
utterly
deprived
of
all
Remedy
for
Recovery
thereof
,
though
he
hopes
by
publication
of
divers
of
his
plain
and
undeniable
Proofs
,
yet
to
obtain
the
favour
of
one
fair
Hearing
,
and
to
satisfie
the
World
of
the
Truth
and
Justice
of
his
Right
and
Claim
.
The
Petitioner
therefore
humbly
prays
,
That
this
Honourable
House
will
be
pleased
to
deferr
for
a
time
,
the
Passing
of
the
said
intended
Act
,
the
Petitioners
Right
being
a
Matter
of
no
small
Concern
;
And
Your
petitioner
shall
ever
pray
,
&c.
James
Percy
.