THat your Petitioners have at severall times furnished great summes and used their best endeavours , for the good of this state , to their exceeding great prejudice ; and that the said Major , and his two sonnes ( waving all other imployments though very Honorable and Lucrative ) have served the Parliament as Commanders in this warre , for the just defence of our Religion and Liberties , from the first undertaking thereof , and according , to the uttermost of their care , skill , and ability , have performed their duties , and observed all just , and reasonable commands , with all possible diligence , fidelity , and alacrity ; Howbeit your Petitioner being in Bristoll at the unhappy surrender thereof ( though he exposed himselfe there , to more paines then his weake condition ( occasioned by hurts receaved at Round-downe ) could beare , and to much more danger then his charge called him unto ; yet many scandalous aspertions , both in print , and otherwise , have beene reysed and cast upon him , not onely by some who detaine most unjustly your Petitioners Lands , and Goods and by such as he hath executed his superiors orders on , but by severall other malevolent , and ill affected persons , who ( to cover their owne demerits , for which they should have beene questioned before a councell of Warre in the West , but were not , by reason of their s●●ita●● d 〈…〉 same , and payment of such monies , as they owe your Petitioner ) have most unworthily combined , and by way of recrimination , endeavoured to staine his reputation , with most egregious calumnies , and by such detractions to bring Him , and His under the odium , obloquy , and disesteeme of the State , the sad consequence whereof hath occasioned in these evill times wherein men are more prone to beleeve evill reports then good , not onely his disgrace though most undeservedly , but also a delaye of pay both for himselfe and whole troope ever since the 14 of March 1642 , the dammage whereof cheisly falleth upon your Petitioner , ( who hath not onely disbursed of what should have paid his debts , supplyed his own occasions , and sustained his family , but borrowed of his freinds ( at the earnest intreaty of his superior officers and upon their promises to repay it in a short time ) mony for the maintenance of himselfe and troope for thirteene weekes compleate of the said time , and furnished , it afterwards , with all such supplies and accommodations , as he could by any faire and honest meanes procure , for the better inabling him , to doe such services as have been imposed on him , by them , wherein your Petitioner hath beene alwa●es most successefull when he was left to his owne wayes , and stratagems , as at ●herborne , Portland , Abbots-bury , Malmesberry &c. But not unto us , to God be the glory of all , yet notwithstanding have they not paid , or caused to be repaid any part thereof . but some of them have rather instigated your Petitioners Creditors ( though more properly theirs , or the States then his ) to use extremity against him , so that he hath beene necessitated to pay some , and is much importuned for the rest , by such a● are indeed necessitous , and is much threatned by others , nay to be cast in prison suddenly for it , all which your Petitioner , hath often and by divers meanes intimated , to the Right Honourable the Earle of Essex , the Committee for the safety , and the Councell of Warre , whom he hath often attended , and petitioned for redresse of these and other greivances ( more fully expressed in the Relation annexed ) of all which , ●n respect sometimes of his Honours more serious affaires , and his Advocats absence , M. Walkers and M. Prinns refusall of a tryall , when it was offered them , in Dec. 1643 , and their not prosecuting since , or by meanes of some other obstructions unknowne to your Petitioner , he hath as yet reaped no benefit thereby , to His and His Families utter ruine , if not spedily prevented , b● the Clemency of this H●nourable Court , for these delayes , non-performances , and procr●stinations , have forced him so to overracke his cre●it , that it can extend no further , either for the dising●gement , and recovery of his lands , and goods here , and in France , or so much as for the present sustenance of himselfe or any of his , who are tenne in number , and must all perish if not speedily supplyed , they being at present deprived , and dispossessed of all meanes of subsistance , by potent enemies , and incenced adversaries , both here , and in France , who menace aloud all their distructions .

Wherefore your Petitioners having suffered much both here , and there a long time in many respects , for service done th●s State , and y●ur Petitioner being desirous to undeceave the world conc●rning the premises , especially ●he mem●ers of this Honorable Court ( by the equity of whose justice he is ambitious to stand or fall ) being , confident that they will be as prone to vindicate the innocent , and releive the op●●●●●●● 〈…〉 Most humbly pray

That some present mony may be allotted your Petitioner , for their and their Families subsistance , and satisfaction of their most necessitous and importunate creditors and that a Committee may be nominated , and appointed , aswell to examine their losses , as the manner of his and their demeanours , in all services since their first undertaking thereof , as also for the examination of the matters in the annexed , and of all such greivances , and articles , as your Petitioners shall exhibite to the said Committee and that likewise and order may be made for the auditing their accounts , that upon report thereof made by the Committee to this Honorable Court , your Petitioners may be in some measure satisfied for all their losses , repaired in point of honour , and receive their Disbursements and Arreares , or otherwise have the publicke Faith for some , and an Ordinance for the rest , to raise it out of notorious Malignants , and Delinquents Estates , as they have or shall discover in , or within sixtie miles of London , being confident to bring in great profit thereby , to the State , or at lest-wise out of one halfe therof , and the other halfe with the remainder of the first , ( if any shall be ) to be disposed , and disbursed on Horse and Armes , for the Defence of Hampshiere , Surrey , and Suss●x , by the direction of the Committees for the Southerne Association , and that the judicature may be referred to one of the Committees for Sequestration , either in London or Westminster , for what is and shall be discovered therein , and for the rest , to the C●mmittees in the respective Counties , as shal seem best to this Honorable Court , that they may goe on cheerefully in the said Service , the which they desire to advance to the utmost of their Lives and Fortunes , and for that end and purpose ( being by all or any of these wayes and overtures satisfied ) and your Petitioner vindicated in his Honour ) will raise a hundred Horse and men , to add to those so raised , and hazard therwithall their Lives and Fortunes freely and faithfully in the Parliaments service , which otherwayes they are utterly disabled to doe , for the present ; however noe sufferings , or discouragements shall ever alienate their affections from so just and pious a Cause , but they shall , and will actuate in Defence and furtherance thereof , in all wayes , and conditions be they never so dangerous , that this Honorable Court shall appoint , and for proofe hereof , the said Captaine is gone as a Voluntiere to his Excellency , Sir Thomas Fairefa●x , under whose Counmand he still remaines , being unwilling to omit any opportunity , whereby he may manifest his devotion to the Cause , and as for the Major and Cornet they shall continually wrestle with God , by their prayers , for blessings on the Parliament , and fight in defence , and for the advancement thereof , when they shall , by their Orders , be designed thereunto .

THat the said Major ( hath ever since the age of twenty yeares ) had such a just and wel-grounded disesteeme of Popery , and the maine pillar thereof ( Prelacy ) that no allurements , or promises ( either of profit or honour ) made unto him h●re or in France , could so farre prevaile with him , as to incite him to concurre with any , for the increase and advancement thereof , but such spirituall comfort , & soule-consolation , did he about that age reape , by his conversation with Presbyterians there , that he at that age resolved ( by Gods blessed assistance ) to live , and dye in defence of the Protestant Religion , as it is established dependent , under the Presbyterian Government , and about the age of three and twentie yeares married ( for his better and more contented establishment therein , ) Olympas du Pl●sseys his now consort , who had beene educated alwayes according to the government and discipline thereof , and was so well instructed therein , and in the worship and doctrines thereof , that no perswasion could divert her from it , and accordingly they have both lived ever since , notwithstanding many very considerable , and earnest temptations , and suggestions to the contrary ; but the glory of God , and the good of his church having ever beene the cheifest directories for their thoughts , and actions , have not onely incited them , to expend much of their fortunes for the advancement thereof in forraigne parts , but the said Major often to hazard his life in defence thereof , yet was still most elaborate and vigilent to lay hold on all opportunities , to serve this his native country , aswell in all civill respects , and relations ; as also for the propagation , and settlement thereof , in this king●ome ; whereby he hath attracted on himselfe , and his , not onely the implacable malice of Papists and their younger brothers the Prelatists , but also of Separatists , and Scismaticks , who have laboured , and combined to ruine him for it , in his repute , by traducing and aspersing him most unjustly , whereas otherwise , Hee might now have beene Master of a faire estate , and in very honourable imployments , either here or in other parts , but the said Major , aswell as his Wife , ayming more at the glory of God , and this countries good , 〈…〉 tending to the dishonour of the first , and prejudice of the latter , and have so freely sacrificed their fortunes in defence of them , that they have not onely diminished their estates thereby eight thousand pounds , but the said Major hath often exposed his person so freely in defence thereof , that he hath almost lost the use of his limmes , with his place at Court of Carver in Ordinary to the Queenes Majesty , and that since the beginning of these warres as the said Major offers to justifie , and to manifest unto all the world , that both Hee , and his Sonnes have ever since the first undertaking thereof , demeaned themselves most obedientially , carefully , and conscienciously in al imployments , and encounters ; nay successefully , and to the Parliaments great profit and advantage in all services , for the execution whereof , they were left to their owne wayes , nay had the Majors advices , and directions beene followed , by his superiour Officers in divers places , many more Townes and Castles had beene taken , and tho●e losses and dishonours which have befallen our forces had beene prevented and avoyded , es●ecially at Wells , the Devises , and the day of the fight ( or rather flight ) at Roun●-downe , where the Major , was left as dead ( and the Cornet unhorsed , and very much bruised yet got off most miraculously ) but afterwards the Major was brought againe to life , by one Fox-crofts meanes , and by him was conduced to Bristoll , where he exposed himselfe , all the time of the Seige to mere paines , and danger , then either his weake , and cripled state of body could beare , or his charge , and orders required him to doe , and allthough hee was noe wayes culpable of the Surrender thereof , or conscious so much as of the smallest crime , or neglect committed there or elsewhere at any time , but did his utmost in Defence thereof then , as at all other times ) till he was by the Counsell of Warre commanded of his post , and sent as hostage with Captaine Ipsly to the Enemy , ) yet many vile aspersions , and loud untruths , both in Print , and otherwise , have been raised , and cast upon the Major , by malignant and ill deserving men , not onely to keep from light their owne demerits , and themselves from condigne punishment for the same , but also to exempt themselves from payment of such monyes as they owe , and are by many wayes indebted to the Major , as also for Plate and other things , put into some of their hands , to satisfie him , and the Forces , that were under his Command in Docester-shiere ; for service there done by them , and all this likewise to bring him , into the ill opinion , and hatred both of the Parliament , as also of all other men ; but especially of the Earle of Essex whom he often most earnestly petitioned , and attended , ever since his comming from Bristoll , as also the Counsell of Warre , and the Committee of safety , for redresse of these greivances , of all which ( in respect sometimes of his Honours more important imployments , his Advocates absence , Master Walkers and Master Prinn refusall of a Triall , when i● was offered in Dec. 1643 , and their not prosecuting since , the Majors extreem 〈◇〉 long sicknesse , and lamenesse occasioned by reason of his hurts received at Round-downe , and the Committee for the safeties not sitting of late , or by some other obstructions unknowne to the Major , he hath as yet received no benefit thereby , the ill effects whereof have occasioned a delay of the pay for himselfe and Troun due ever since the 14. of March 1642 , the dammage whereof chiefly , nay almost totally , falleth upon the Major , ( who hath disbursed at severall times , and for severall services , and borowed of his friends ( at the earnest intreaty of his superior Officers , and of some Committee men , and upon their Vowes , and Protestations , to repay all in a short time ) mony for the payment of his Troupe , for 13 weekes compleat of the time , he and they remain unpayed , and all for the better enabling him and them , to performe such services , as have been imposed on him by some of them , since that time , yet have none of them payed , or caused to be repaied any part thereof , but ( after many discouragements , indignities , and open injuries received from some of them , not to be so long digested were they not Parliament men , or dependent thereon and offered by them , in a time , that all men doe passe as well by evill reports as good ) the Major hath been necessitated , to pay some part thereof , and is much importuned for the rest , nay menaced with imprisonment for some part thereof , by such as neither can or will forbeare it , any longer , and as for those monyes the Major hath disbursed of his owne , and should have received againe in London two yeares since , by bill of exchange , he hath received no part thereo● , though there was an Order made in Parliament , for payment ●hereof to his Assignes , about that time , the detention whereof hath not onely occasioned him , to lie long under a black cloud of infamie and reproach , ( whereunto ●he best men are now most subject ) but also to suffer much in his credit , Person , Estate , and Family , not having had any monies ( since his returne from Bristoll to ●ustaine it , or himselfe in his sicknesse , with his sonne the Cornet ( who hath ●een likewise very sicke and much incommodated in his health ever since his hurts ●eceived at Round Downe ) but what he hath borrowed , and must suddenly repay , ●r suffer for it , so that they have not onely suffered much penurie , infamie and mi●erie thereby , but the Major hath been disabled to prosecute such as doe most un●ustly detaine from him his Lands , and goods , in this Kingdome and Citie , but that which is most prejudiciall , and onerous to the Major , his wife , and all his , 〈◇〉 , that the non payment of five hundred pounds to a French man about a yeare since , ●he having long before that time disbursed thrice as much for the Parliament , all ●he majors wives Lands , and goods in France to the value of six thousand pounds ●t least , are by him , and others ceased on most unjustly , or upon a iust examination it ●ill appear , that there is nothing due unto them , yet his said wife is not only dispo●●●ssed and deprived thereof , but also of one of their daughters , who was taken ●●om her , by violence , and is put into a Nunnerie by force , not being above twelve ●eares of age , and so had been another of their daughters , of thirteen yeares , had ●ot his said wife brought her away , thorough by-wayes , to the great hazard of ●●eir lives , both by Sea , and Land ; and all this , that the Major his wife , and other ●●ildren , may for ever be frustrated of their said Lands , and goods , which otherwise would be unpossible for to effect , and at whose instigation al this hath bin done may ●ot be onely easily coniectured , but evidently manifested —

If it would please this Honourable House to commemorate , what hath beene ●●scovered at severall times by the Major to Master Pim , Master Hamden , and 〈…〉 ●●●municated at Westm●nster on the Fourth of January , 1641 and on the seaventh thereof at Grocers-Hall , all which ( though the obliged effects of his bounden dutie ) yet have so incensed , many now in France , aswell as here against the said Major , that they doe not onely , threaten to murther him , but to ruine : If his , so that no meanes will be left unessayed for the effecting thereof by causing the said lands , and goods , to be sold for little , or by setling them upon the Nunnery , the which will be so , if not speedily prevented by the Clemenccie of this Court , in supplying their wants . protecting still the Majors person , and vouchsafing their Letters of recommendation to the Queene Regent for the releasement of their said daughter .

Now forasmuch as your Petitioners have beene so farre from disserving this state that they have chosen rather then so , to suffer a long time in their persons , credits and estates , and that the Major hath thought it to be more conducing to the advantage thereof , to suffer for a time , in his reputation , being sicke and weake , then to make more breaches therein , by questioning such as had meanes to availe it ; or to make sporte at Oxford , and forasmuch likewise as some of his calumniators , fearing that the truth of the premises ( notwithstanding these there endeavours to the contrary ) would be brought to light : to prevent it , have not onely most ungratefullie and unworthilie traduced the Maior to damnifie him in all the waies and particulars above specified , but set on some of their servants and followers to murther him in the Streets at night and still threaten to effect it .

That your Petitioners , their sonnes , and whole Family , may not be utterly ruined by your longer detention of the moneys due unto them , and that the World may be undeceaved in the Premises and know the faithfullnesse care , and worth , of the Major and his , and his sonnes demeanours in all services , and the demerits of his traducers , and accusers , and what summes are due unto him from them , aswell as from the State , and likewise that they may be brought to condigne punishment for th● same , and to pay the Major , all that is justly oweing unto him by them , and that he may receive againe all those monies he so spontaniously disbursed , and borrowed fo● them , and the State , and so freely imployed for it and them , often to the grea● hazard of his life , as also that his sonnes , may receive such summes as are due unto them and the rather , because they have brought in , for the use of the State considerable sum●● that they have taken from the Enemy , whereof they have had no share , nor the Majo● neither , of the great summes made of Prisoners Estates , taken in Bristoll , Por●land , &c. They most humbly pray ,

That a Committee may be appoynted to examine all the Premises , and the Aud●tors , to take the Majors , and his sonnes accounts , and that he may not only be vind●cated in his Honour but reimbursed such monyes as he hath borrowed , and layed o● of his owne , and his wives for the publicke Service , and that they and their Fami●● may be eased of the extraordinary pressures they now lie under , and the rather becau●● the Major , and the said Cornet sustained great losses at Edge-Hill , whilst th●● were fighting there , and at Bristoll whilst the Major was in Hostage , in all to the ●…ue of eight hundred pounds , and likewise , for that , the said Captaine hath suffered great losses , when he was in the West with the Earle of Essex , and hath no lesse then the said Major disbursed great summes in recruting often , all which , have so impoverished , the Major and his sonnes , that they can doe the State little service for the present , wanting convenient Equipage so to doe , to their extreeme griefe , and therefore that they may goe on with the Service , the which they desire to advance , to the uttermost of their lives , and Fortunes , most earnestly pray againe , that if present money cannot be had suddenly , to satisfie them the whole of their due , at leastwise some considerable summe , may be forthwith given them , to supply their present urgent occasions , and that an Ordinance may be granted , for the raising of the rest out of Papists , Malignants , and Delinquents Estates , already discovered by the Major , or that shall hereafter be discovered by him , or them , in London , or within sixtie miles thereof ; as shall seeme best to this Honourable Court , and that the judicature thereof may be referred as is specified in the annexed Petition , and out of the whole the Major will furnish a hundred Horse , for the States ser●ice , and he , and his sonnes will adventure their Lives therewithall , and live , and die in Defence thereof , and take the publick Faith for the value of the said Horse , or serve the Parliament in any other way , or condition as shall seeme best to this Honourable Court ; And for asmuch as Master Pim of the black-Bull in Bishopgate-streete , hath most illegally , and ( before an account given by him to the Ma●or , of what was due unto him , for billiting him , his Officers and Troupers , ) and ●uring the Maiors great sicknesse and lamenesse ) ceased on his Horses , Clothes , Armes , and whole equipage , and hath since disposed of some , ( at farre underva●ues , ) and detaineth still the rest , notwithstanding the Major hath given him his ●otes , for more mony , then can be due unto him , in all , his humble supplicttion ●herefore is , that some speedy course may be taken to compell the said Pim to bring ●n his accounts , that he may receive what is justly due unto him , and that he may be ●njoyned forthwith to restore to the Major his whole equipage that on all occasi●ns , he may be provided to hazard his Life , the more advantagiously in defence of Gods and his Countries cause ,