SHEWING ,

THat in the Parliament held in the years 1627 and 1628. it was Voted and declared by the Honourable House of Commons , that whosoever shall counsell or advise the taking or leyving of the Subsidie of Tonnage and Poundage , not granted by Parliament , or shall be any actor or instrument therein , shall be reputed an Innovator in the Government , and a capitall enemy to the Kingdome and Common-wealth ; And if any Merchant or person whatsoever shall voluntarily yeeld or pay the said Subsidie of Tonnage and Poundage , not being granted by Parliament , they shall likewise be reputed betrayers of the liberties of England , and enemies to the same , as may appear by the said Order upon Record .

In submission and obedience whereunto , the Petitioner first opposed and withstood the payment of Tonnage and Poundage ( untill they were setled by Parliament ) and all other illegall Taxes ; for which submission and obedience , in the years 1628 , & 1629. the Petitioner had 7060. pounds of his Goods wrongfully taken and detained from him by the late Kings Officers and Farmers of the Custome-house of London for pretended duties , and a heavie sentence and fine in the Star-Chamber which was imposed upon him in the year 1629. besides which losses the Petitioner further suffered in his person by six whole years imprisonment in the Fleet , for not submitting to that Sentence and Fine : and in the year 1637. nine moneths imprisonment in Newgate for withstanding Ship-money ; by which losses and imprisonments , the Petitioner was put by the exercise of his calling , and was wounded in his credit and reputation .

Which sufferings the Honourable House of Commons ( upon the Petitioners complaint in the year , 1640. ) taking into their grave considerations ) were pleased to refer the examination thereof to a Committee of 50. Members , wherein were included the Committee for the Navie and Customes , who being well satisfied of the truth thereof , by oath and other good sufficient proofs upon Record , drew up their Report , that the Petitioner ought then to have 13680. pounds in part of Reparation , leaving the rest of those reparations to the further judgement of the honourable House , as by the annexed copy of that report may further appear .

In pursuit of which report , the Parliament then levied and received from the old Farmers and Officers of the Customes , 50. thousand pounds for wrongs and abuses done to the Petitioner ( chiefly ) and other Merchants , intending first to give to the Petitioner satisfaction out of the same , because he was the first man that opposed the pretended duties , and the greatest sufferer .

Whereupon , in the year 1642. the Petitioner was chosen Alderman , and in the year 1644. Sheriffe of the City of London ; which places the Petitioner earnestly endevoured to shun , but such were the earnest importunities , and perswasive incouragements , of divers Members of the honourable House , ( who then desired to have the Petitioner in place of Trust , for his former service to the Common-wealth ) that the Petitioner was constrained to accept not only the place of Alderman , but further underwent the office and charge of Sheriffe of London , which stood the Petitioner in 4000. pounds that year .

But notwithstanding the aforesaid promises and intents of the Parliament to give the Petitioner satisfaction , such were the great compulsive exigents , and urgent necessities , of those times , caused by the publick distractions , that the said moneys were converted to the publick use ; therefore the Parliament desired the Petitioner to have a little patience , promising him speedy satisfaction as well for the forbearance as for the principal debt ; but the distractions continuing , and Petitioner had neither interest nor any part of his principal : the Parliament in the year 1648. in part of satisfaction ; setled the Petitioner in the office of Surveyor and Check in the Custome-house of London , then worth at least 600. pounds per annum , but the Petitioner having enjoyed that place only 8. moneths , was causlesly outed by sinister information of intruders , who have enjoyed that office and divided the profit thereof between them ever since that intrusion .

Moreover , the late King by Privy Seal , owes to the Petitioners wife , ( who is the Relict of Mr. Thomas Ferrer ) for Linnen Cloth , 5000. pounds , and for money lent , 1200. pounds , for which she was assigned satisfaction out of the Customes of Tobacco ; besides she was further assigned out of Sir Thomas Dawes Office 100 marks per annum , all which debts likewise lie wholly unsatisfied , to the Petitioners great prejudice .

Besides theaforesaid losses , hinderances , expences , sufferings , and forbearances of the profit of the said Office , the Petitioner , from time to time hath laid out himself for the common good , in acting , lending , spending , ( and serving ) when others refused ; exposed himself to that eminent danger at Brandford , by leading out a Troop of Horse for the Priviledges , Liberties , and Rights of the City of London and Common-wealth , insomuch , that thereby and for want of his satisfaction aforesaid , the Petitioner having consumed his estate , hath been constrained to sell and morgage some part of his Lands to pay Creditors and to maintain his Family , having a Wife and nine Children , and is likely to be undone for obeying the Parliaments Commands , unlesse by the justice and commiseration of this honourable Assembly he be speedily relieved and righted , for that ever since the said reported summe , the Petitioner from time to time hath made his humble addresses to the Supreme powers for the time being , for satisfaction thereof ; and to be restored to the said Office , but could not prevail .

The Petitioner therefore humbly prayes , that he may not perish for acting for the publick good according to the declaration of Parliament , but that now after 26. years suffering , whereof 12. years in fruitlesse and wearisome waitings ; this honourable Assembly would now be pleased to take the unparallel'd sufferings of the Petitioner into their grave considerations , for some speedy course for the Petitioners satisfaction , to pay his Debts and redeem his Lands , by ordering him the one moity of his Debt in ready money out of the daily Customes of London , ( from whence his first losses and sufferings sprang ) and the other moity to be discompted upon such Goods as the Petitioner shall make entries off by Exportation and Importation in the Custome-house London , untill his debt with the interest be fully satisfied and paid , or any other speedy way , as in your grave wisdomes shall seem meet ; and in like manner for his wives Debt , which is to pay Debts and Legacies , and that the Petitioner may forthwith be restored to , and setled in the said Office , and have Reparations from the Intruders .