The Petition and Narrative, Dedication
To the Right Honourable, the Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes in Parliament Aſſembled.
The humble Petition of George Wither, Eſq;
THe ſaid Petitioner hath ſuffered ſo much and ſo long, by truſting to the Publick faith of this Nation, and their Securities given by Act of Parliament, that it hath much impaired his Eſtate and Credit, and ſo multiplied his troubles and grievances pertinent to your Cognizance in order to his Relief, that, he dares not offer them in this Petition, leſt it prove ſo large, that at firſt view it may infringe your patience. Therefore, he is conſtrained to make way by this Previous Addreſs, adjoyning thereto an humble Narrative of ſome part of his ſad ſufferings, with a Series of his Cauſe, as briefly Epitomized as above 16 years Oppreſſions would permit; which Narrative he prays your Honours (as you deſire GOD ſhould be propitious to you, and thoſe whom you repreſent) to take into ſpeedy conſideration, leſt Redreſs either come too late, or may coſt twice ſo much as will relieve him at this preſent: For, it will be no Injuſtice to take Cognizance of thoſe Cauſes out of Courſe, that will elſe become remedileſſe, or ſo hazardous by delay, as this Petitioners will be if deferred, whom perhaps, GOD hath permitted to be ſo incumbred and inſnared, as well for ſome ends relating to the Publick, or to his own Glory, as for the ſaid Petitioners correction
Juſtice and Mercy are the chief ſupports and Ornaments of Kingdoms and Republicks; and the great Body, which your Honours repreſent, conſiſts of Individuals, whoſe preſervation being neglected One by One, the Whole will be at laſt conſumed. Otherwhiles alſo Juſtice neglected, or Injuſtice done to private men, occaſions Plagues to be inflicted on States and Publick perſons; and it may be it hath ſo ſucceeded within our knowledge: For the five laſt Parliaments did ſhut private Complaints ſo long out of this Houſe, to the remedileſſe deſtruction of many, that thoſe Parliaments were at laſt ſhut out of it, and deſtroyed. Peradventure likewiſe, that GOD, who alone can make men to be of One minde in a Houſe, will not repair our breaches, untill failings be expiated by more acceptable oblations then ſuch cheap and eaſie Sacrifices, as formal faſtings: Even by ſome ſignal Acts of Justice and Mercy, ſeaſonably, and impartially performed for relief of perſons extreamly and notoriouſly oppreſſed; among whom, if there be any whoſe preſent condition deſerves more compaſſion then this Petitioners, he is contented they ſhould be firſt relieved.
Your Honours will not wholly looſe your time, or labour, in hearing the annexed Narrative, or the proofs of the Petitioners Allegations which he ſhall produce: For, his ſufferings being well weighed with the advantages which he hath had in ſeveral reſpects, more then many other oppreſſed men to vindicate his Cauſe, and that he hath notwithſtanding been hitherto without relief; your Wiſdoms may thereby obſerve, the ſad conſtitution of theſe times, and conjecture the miſerable condition whereto many thouſands of the faithfull ſervants of this Commonwealth have been expoſed, who had leſſe means to make known their Oppreſſions; and thence alſo may collect what is likely to be the ſequel.
Therefore, he again beſeecheth your Honours (notwithſtanding the length thereof) to take the ſaid Narrative into ſpeedy conſideration, and to grant the ſeveral Requeſts thereto ſubjoyned, as in Juſtice, Equity, or Compaſſion you ſhall finde cauſe; that GOD, who ſheweth MercieMercy to the Mercifull, may free you from your Incumbrances, and ſo proſper your conſultations, that all future Generations may call you BLESSED; to which end this Petitioner will continue his prayers.
Geo. Wither.