SHewing that in all Ages past , since the happy subjection of this Kingdome , to the imperiall Crowne of England ; it was and is a principall study , and Princely care of his Majestie , and his most Noble Progenitors , Kings and Queenes of England and Ireland , to the vast expence of Treasure and blood , that their loyall and dutifull people of this Land of Ireland , being now for the most part derived from the Brittish Ancestor , should be governed according to the municipiall and fundamentall Lawes of England , that the Statute of Magna Charta , or the great Charter for the liberties of England , and other laudable Lawes and statutes , were in severall Parliaments , here enacted and declared , that by the meanes thereof , and of the most prudent and benigne government of his Majestie , and his Royall Progenitors , this kingdome was ( untill of late ) in its growth to a flourishing estate , whereby the said people were hearetofore enabled to answer their humble and naturall desires , to comply with his Majesties Royall & Princely occasions , by the free gift of 150000. l. ster . and like wise by another gift of 120000. l. ster . more during the governement of the Lord Viscount Faulk-land , & after by the gift of 40000. l. & their free & cheareful gift of 6. entire subsidies , in the 10. yeare of his Majesties Reign , which to comply with his Majesties then occasions signified to the then house of Commons , they did allow should amount in the collections unto 250000. l. although as they confidently beleeve , if the said subsidies had not beene levied in a moderate parliamentary way , they would not have amounted to much more then halfe the said sum , besides the foure entire subsidies , granted in this present Parliament . So it is , may it please your Lordship , that by the occasion of the ensuing and other grievances and innovations , though to his Majesties no considerable profit , this kingdome is reduced to that extreme & universall poverty , that the same is now lesse able to pay a Subsidies , then it was heretofore to satisfie all the before recited great payments , & his Majesties most faithfull people of the same , doe conceive great feares that the grievances and the consequences thereof may hereafter be drawn into precedents to be perpetuated upon their posterity , which in their great hopes and strong beliefe , they are perswaded is contrary to his Majesties Royall and Princely intention towards his said people , some of which said grievances , are as followeth .

I. First , the generall and apparent decay of Trades , occasioned by the new & illegall raysing of the booke of Rates and Impositions ; as xij . d. a piece , custome for Hides bought for 3. 4. or 5. s. and many other heavie Impositions upon native & other commodities exported and imported , by reason thereof & of the extreame usage , and sensures , Marchants are beggred , and both dis●nable , and discouraged to trade ; and some of the honorable persons who gaine therby are often Iudges and parties , and that in Conclusion his Majesties profit thereby is not considerably advanced .

II. Secondly , the arbitrary decision of all civill causes and controversies , by paper petitions before the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Deputy , & infinite other judicators upon references from them derived in the nature of all actions , determinable at the common law , not limited unto certaine times , seasons , causes , and things , whatsoever , and the consequence of such proceedings , by receiving immoderate & unlawful fees by Secretaries , Clerkes , Pursivants , Serjeants at Armes , & otherwise , by which kind of proceedings , his Majesty loseth a considerable part of his Revenue , upon originall writs , & otherwise , and the subject loseth the benefit of his writ of errour , Bill of reversall , vouchers , and other legall and just advantages , and the ordinarie course & Courts of justice declined

III. Thirdly , the proceedings in civill causes at the Councell boord , contrary to the law and great Charter , and not limitted to any certaine time , or season .

IV. Fourthly , that the Subject is in all the materiall parts therof denied the benefit of the princely graces , and more especially of the statute of Limitations , of the 21. Ian. granted by his Majestie in the 4. yeare of this Reigne , upon great advice of the Counsell of England and Ireland , and for great consideration ; & then published in all the Courts of Dublin , and in all the Courts of this Kingdome in open Assizes , whereby all persons doe take notice , that contrary to his Majesties pious intention , his Subjects of this Land have not enjoyed the benefit of his Majesties Princely promise therby made .

V. Fiftly , the extrajudiciall avoyding of Letters Patents of estates of a very great part of his Majesties subjects under the great Seale ( the publique faith of the Kingdome ) by private opinions delivered at Counsell Board , without legall Evictions of their estates , contrary to the Law and without precedent or example of any former age .

VI. Sixtly , the Proclamation for the sole exemption and uttering of Tobacco , which is bought at very low Rates , and uttered at high and excessive rates , by meanes whereof thousands of Families within this Kingdome and of his Majesties subjects in severall Islands , & other parts of the West Indies ( as your Petitioners are informed ) are destroyed , and the most part of the Coyne of this Kingdome is ingrossed into particular hands : Insomuch that your Petitioners doe conceive that the profit arising & ingrossed therby , doth surmount his Majesties revenues Certaine and casuall within this Kingdome , and yet his Mastjestie receiveth but very little profit by the same .

VII . Seventhly , the unusuall and unlawfull increasing of Monopolies to the advantage of few , to the disprofit of his Majestie and the impoverishment of his people .

VIII . Eightly , the extreame and cruell usage of certaine late Commissioners and other , towards the British Farmers and Inhabitants of the City and County of London-derry , by meanes whereof the worthy plantation of that Country is almost destroyed , and the Inhabitants are reduced to great poverty , and many of them forced to forsake the Country , the same being the first and most usefull Plantation in the large Province of Vlster , to the great weakening of the Kingdome , in this time of danger , the said Plantation being the principall strength of those parts .

IX . Ninthly , the late erection of the Court of high Commission for causes Ecclesiasticall in these necessitous times , the proceedings of the said Court in many causes without legall warrant , and yet so supported as prohibitions have not been obtained , though legally sought for , and the excessive fees exacted by the ministers thereof , and the incroaching of the same upon the jurisdiction of other Ecclesiasticall Courts of this Kingdome .

X. Tenthly , the exorbitant and barbarous Fees and pretended Customes exacted by the Clergie against the Law , some of which have been formerly represented to your Lordship .

XI . Eleventhly , the Petitioners doe most heartily bemone that his Majesties services and profits are much more impaired then advanced by the grievances aforesaid . And the Subsidies granted in the last Parliament having much encreased his Majesties Revenue by the buying in of Grants and otherwise , and that all his Majesties debts then due in this Kingdome were satisfied out of the said Subsidies , and yet his Majestie is of late ( as your Petitioners have been informed ) in the house of Commons become indebted in this Kingdome in great summes , and they doe therefore humbly beseech that an exact account may be sent to his Majestie , how and in what manner his treasure issued .

XII . Twelfthly , the Petitioners doe humbly conceive great and just feares at a Proclamation published in this Kingdome in Anno Dom. 1635. prohibiting men of quality or estate for to depart this Kingdome into England , without the Lord Deputies License , whereby the Subjects of this Kingdome are hindered and interrupted from free accesse and addresse to his sacred Majestie and Privie Counsell of England , to declare their just grievances , or to obtaine remedy for them , in such sort as their Ancestors have done in all ages , since the Reigne of King Henry the second , and great fees exacted for , every of the said Licenses .

XIII . Thirteenthly , that of late his Majesties late Atturney generall hath exhibited informations against many ancient Burroughs of this Kingdome into his Majesties Court of Exchequer , to shew by what warrant the said Burroughes , who heretofore sent Burgesses to the Parliament , should send the said Burgesses to the Parliament . And thereupon for want of an answer , the said Priviledge of sending Burgesses was seized by the said Court , which proceedings were altogether Coram non Judice , and contrary to the Lawes and Priviledges of the house of Parliament ( and if way should be given thereunto ) might tend to the subversion of Parliaments , and by consequence to the ruine & destruction of the Common-wealth , and that the house of Commons hath hitherto in this present Parliament bin deprived of the advice and Counsell of many profitable and good members by meanes thereof .

XIV . Fourteenthly , that by the powerfulnesse of some Ministers of State in this Kingdome , the Parliament in its members and actions hath not his naturall freedome .

XV. Fifteenthly , that the fees taken in all the Courts of Justice in this Kingdome , both Ecclesiasticall and Civill , and by other inferior Officers and Ministers , are so immoderately high , that it is an unspeakeable burthen to all his Majesties Subjects of this , who are not able to subsist , except the same be speedily remedied & reduced to such a moderation as may stand with the condition of this Realme .