The humble petition of knights, esquires, gentlemen, some of the committee, with divines, freeholders, and inhabitants of the county of Warwick and the city of Coventry to both Houses of Parliament humbly laying open the present grievances of that county, to which petition was annexed betweene three and four thousand hands, presented on Wednesday the 21 of August, 1644. Also the humble petition of most of the committee, commanders and others of the county of Stafford : setting forth the present dangers threatned to that county, expressing their humble desires that the Right Honorable the Earl of Denbigh, their Lord Generall, may with sutable conveniences be speedily accommodated and sent down to their relief, to this petition was annexed many hands.

To the Right Honorable , The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament ; The humble Petition of the Gentry , Freeholders and Jnhabitants of the County of Warwick , and the City and County of Coventrey : Humbly sheweth ,

THat withall thankfulnesse we acknowledge the great favor vouchsafed unto us , in sending downe the right Honourable the Earl of Denbigh , to be our Lord Lieutenant Generall of all our forces , whose integrity , faithfulnesse and valour being sufficiently manifested to us and the whole kingdom , we humbly desire all possible encouragement may be added for his noble proceedings herein .

And whereas it hath pleased this Honorable assembly to Ordaine a Grand Committee for taking of the accompts of the great disbursments of the whole kingdom , with power to nominate a Sub-Committee in each particular County , which hath not yet been set●led in ours .

And whereas by diverse Ordinances of other Associated Counties , your petitioners finde the weekly sums to be raised upon the said Counties , Limited , and not to exceed a certayn sum , But in the Ordinance of Association of these our Counties , and of the County of Stafford , there is power given unto the Committees of the said Counties , to Tax , Assesse and raise what sum they should thinke fit , for the making of Fortifications , payment of Garrisons , Officers and souldier , without reducing the same to any such certain sum , by reason of which unlimited power ( different from other Ordinances ) This County hath been extreamly burthened with divers great weekly Taxations , double if not treble ( at the least ) to other Neighbouring Countyes , of far larger extent and better values , contrary ( as wee humbly conceive ) to the intention of this honorable assembly , besides the losses suffered by free quarter , frequent plundering , almost throughout the whole County , and diverse other insupportable burthens , hard taxes & other grievances of our county , have drawn a generall discontent vpon the whole people , and thereby most are disabled , others discouraged , to doe that service for the Parliament , which otherwise they might .

Doe therefore humbly pray , that this Honourable assembly would bee pleased that the weekly tax for payment of the said Garrisons , Officers and souldiers , may be reduced , not to exceed a certain sum , and to give order to the said Grand Committee for taking of accompts , that at such time as they shall thinke fit to nominate Sub-Committees for our County ( which we humbly desire may be effected with all possible speed ) that our Lord-Lieutenant may be moved by the said Committee to be then and there present to give his assent and approbation of such as shal be by them nominated , and that all just complaints and grievances whatsoever within these counties by vertue of sequestrations and Parliament , propositions may be assigned unto the said Earl , for the better encouragement of the said Earl , and towards the payment of his souldiers , if it may stand with the wisdom of this Honourable assembly , and that speciall care of the Government of the Town of Warwick , and the Garison of Compton may be recommended to the Earl of Denbigh , and to such Gentlemen of the Countie as the said Earl shall nominate , and shall be approoved by this Honorable assembly , and that some of the members of the Committee may be ordered to sit constantly in the said Borough of Warwick , which will tend to the ease of the greatest part of the said County , who are now forced to travell many miles , to their great trouble and expence ; for which end your Petitioners further humbly pray , that such Gentlemen of quality , known estate in the said county , and approved integrity , may be added the Committee , as shall be recommended by our Lord-Lieutenant , and approoved of by this Honourable assembly , and likewise that this Honourable assembly would be pleased to appoint such Deputy Lieutenants as our Lord-Lieutenant shall commend unto them .

And shall ever pray , &c.

This petition was first presented to the Honourable House of Commons , on wednesday the 21 of August , it being the grievance of the County , but by reason of the much businesse then in the House , the petitioners there present ( which 〈◇〉 about 20 Gentlemen ) were that ●●y dismissed , being appointed Friday morning to make their addresse for the delivery of their petition , who after their departure finding opportunity , made their addresse to the House of Lords , where they had acceptance ; their petition was read in the House , and also their grievances thereto annexed ; after which they withdrew , and in a quarter of an hours space were called in again , to whom was returned a gratious and favourable answer to this effect ; viz. That the Lords did well approove of their petition , and thought it fit that their just desires therein should be granted , expressing thankes to the Gentlemen for their good affections , and expressions to the Parliament and Kingdom , assuring them that nothing should be wanting in that house , of their best endeavours to ease them of the burthen of their grievances , and that with all carefulnesse and expedition .

On Fryday they came againe to the Commons House , and while they were wayting to be called in , the petitions which they had presented to the Lords on wednesday was transferred from the Lords House to the Commons , and by them received , and after three votes , it was committed to a Committee of Lords and Commons to be heard .

To the Right Honorable , The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament ; The humble Petition of many of the Committee , Commanders , and others well affected in the County of Stafford . Humbly sheweth ,

THat this our country being very much perplexed and infested by severall strong Garrisons , and parties of the enemy now of late increased by Addition of many Northern Renegadoes , our forces being not able to defend themselves or the Country from the grievous and daily Plunders , imprisonments , and insupportable Taxations and ransomes , cruelly exercised and charged upon them ; having also very credible intelligence that Prince Rupert is now recruting his Army about Chester , Salop , and North-wales , where a weeke since he has 5000 Horse and above 2000 Foot , and upon daily increase , raising great sums of money in those parts , Salop now busie in Collecting 9000 pounds more for him ; And that many matters of great concernment for the Publique lie unsettled , and our forces without addition unserviceable , to the great distraction and prejudice of our Country and the affaires in hand .

Humbly pray , that our Lord Generall the Earl●● Denbigh , by whose fidelity , valor and wisdom , 〈◇〉 are experimentally confident under God , 〈◇〉 miseries may be prevented , and grievances redressed , may not as heretofore to the enemies great advantage and our long suffrings by particular indeavors , without generall Concurrences be retarded , but with all necessaries and sutable conveniences , speedily accommodated and dispatched away to our relief , before our Countrey be quite over-run , and drained of the wealth and strength thereof by the enemy ; and we shall with his Lordship willingly adventure our lives and fortunes in this great cause .

And shall ever pray , &c.

This Petition was likewise well accepted , and is committed to the same Committee of Lords and Commons .