Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 14
The Effect of the Author's Petition.
IT ſhewed, That after ſeveral Accompts upon Oath examined, ſtated and reported by the Commiſſioners of the Navy, an Ordinance was paſſed the 22d of March 1647, for payment of 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d, out of the Exciſe in Courſe, without Intereſt, which was to that day wholly unpaid, though 60 l. had been ſpent in ſoliciting for it, and Intereſt had alſo been paid by him for 700 l. thereof, which was by him borrowed for the Parliaments Uſe, upon credit of the Warrant from the Committee of Safety, in May 1643, for immediate payment of 1327 l. wholly unpaid to that day. That he had alſo no recompence for 57 l. reſpited upon the Publick Faith by the Committee of Accompts; nor for that money (though allowed to others) which was deducted of his Pay, for Trophies. That whereas 1800 l. was upon another Accompt granted by an Order of both Houſes, March 15, 1647, out of Delinquents Eſtates to be diſcovered at Haberdaſhers-Hall, that Order brought on him coſt and trouble, without benefit; and that what he was poſſeſſed of by orderly ſeizures, was taken away again by Compoſitions at Goldſmiths-Hall, and by other Committees, to his damage and diſgrace, inſtead of benefit. That it being proved alſo upon Oath, how he was damnified (about ſix years then paſt) by the loſs of his Stock, his Leaſe, and an Employment which might probably (for ſixteen years to come) have produced 400 l. per an. That though recompence was promiſed by the Parliament, his repair was nevertheleſs neglected, till he had ſpent all ſuperfluous things in his poſſeſſion, and was impriſoned for what he had borrowed, as aforeſaid, for the States Service, till he was compelled for diſcharge of that Debt, to fell 40 l. per an. in Reverſion, and 100 l. per an. in Poſſeſſion, for certain time to come; which, with a little Houſhold-ſtuff, was all the Eſtate he had then left. More might be alledged of this Petitioner's Loſſes; but he hath had patience to ſuffer, more then you have leiſure to hear.
In conſideration of the premiſſes, he humbly prays, That the ſaid 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d. may be paid with Intereſt, as allowed to others. That the 700 l. borrowed for the State, and for which he hath paid Intereſt five years, may be made payable accordingly, with the 57 l. reſpited, and the 300 l. by him already disburſed; as alſo the ſaid 1800 l. made payable by the ſaid Ordinance of both Houſes, the 22… of March 1647, out of the Exciſe, or out of Compoſitions at Goldſmiths-Hall, with Intereſt, until all ſhall be paid, to relieve his Wants, to proceed with his Contracts, and to diſoblige him from his Creditors,
To this effect was the annexed Petition; but all this was neglected, ev'n when the Petitioner was thereby conſtrained to live upon Charity, (as appear'd by his Poem, called Weſtrow revived.) until GOD providentially beyond his hope, almoſt in a miraculous way, enabled him to purchaſe a conſiderable Eſtate, by means of their acting againſt him, who thereby intended their own benefit and his ruine. And that Eſtate was alſo loſt again by their ſelf-ſeeking and Injuſtice, who thereby loſt likewiſe their Power, as that Petitioner often predicted it would come to paſs. For, after preferring the foregoing Petition, the ſaid Parliament ſold unto him a Mannor worth about 300 l. per an. in conſideration of a part of his Debt, and of about 1600 l. more by him paid. The Deeds were ſealed, Poſſeſſion delivered, and he enjoyed it a while; nevertheleſs they ſold it again to a Member of their own, who pretended to a concealed Mortgage thereof, (probably forged) whereupon by a ſuit in Law, this Petitioner was ejected without any ſatisfaction, having loſt, beſides his Purchaſe-money, about a Thouſand Marks in charge of Suit, with other inavoidable Expences, and the loſs of the whole Purchaſe, without likelihood of one penny toward ſatisfaction for ever. Moreover upon further conſideration, the Parliament allowed Intereſt for the aforeſaid 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d. charged upon the Exciſe, with 300 l. formerly due for Intereſt; which 300 l. with much difficulty was procured by Oliver Cromwel's Order; but all payments out of the Exciſe Office being retrenched for the Publick Service, the Petitioner having forborn that great ſum almoſt twenty years, never received more of the Intereſt or Principle-money, and the ſaid Parliament being quite diſſolved, gave over that Debt as quite loſt for ever; yet he loſt not all, for he had thereby a true feeling of that whereof he had experience formerly by ſight and report onelyonly; as alſo both of GOD's Juſtice and Mercy.