AN HUMBLE Representation OF THE SAD CONDITION Of many of the KING'S PARTY, Who since His MAJESTY'S Happy Restauration have no Relief, and but Languishing Hopes.  
TOGETHER, With Proposals how some of them may be speedily relieved, and others assured thereof, within a reasonable time.  
Printed for A. Seile, in the Year, 1661.   

An Humble Representation of the sad Condition of many of the King's Party, etc.  
WHat Miseries and Persecutions we Royalists have suffered, for 19 years past, None, I presume, is a stranger to, that could see, or hear. The War began with the Plunder of our Goods, and Seizure of our Rents, And it ended with the sale of our Estates, or, (at best) a Composition, which engaged us in debts, The Burden whereof, where the Parties were either indebted before, or had Families to provide for, could not but be ruinous to them: Such of us, as had no Lands, but lived by their honest Endeavours, were not only thrust out of their proper Employments, but made uncapable of any other, that could afford them a tolerable subsistence; so as, many (the most deserving of their Country) have been forced to part with their Inheritances to buy them bread, Others (of free and generous minds) have languished in tedious Imprisonments, Few, in Comparison of the rest, by singular Providence, and Frugality, have preserved themselves.  
With what Courage & Constancy of Affection, we have owned our Cause, and Party, even then, when, but to name them civilly, was Treason, and worse, (if worse could be;) With what Faith, and Perseverance we have expected our King's return, With what invisible Comforts, we have supported our feeble hopes, at their lowest Ebbs of outward Possibility, whilst all the Politicians derided us, as fond and credulous Persons, who, with the Purgatory of wise men, purchased only the Paradise of Fools; A kind of Alchemists, or Jews, who looked for a Messiah, that would never come; And this Confidence (grounded chief on our Integrity,) how it engaged us in attempts, which, perhaps were more honest, than prudent, by opposing Plots to Counsels, and Tumults to the best Armies, will not (I trust) be forgotten by English men in our days.  
Let it not be once Objected, That our endeavours were not successful: Rather, let it be Construed to our Advantage, That though our Valour was at first unfortunate, yet (through God's Blessing) our cheerful patience hath at length fulfilled our hopes, by degrees, inclining the hearts of the most obstinate to a relenting; Wherein, as our Trials were so our Triumphs are now the greater; For to prevail by Loyal Sufferings, is the Prerogative of true desert.  
We joyfully, indeed, partake in the Glory of His Majesty's Restitution, the Peace of our Country, the security of Laws, & the Prospect of future Settlement is most pleasant to us: But, alas, we are still exposed to the same necessities, Nay many of us are in worse Condition, as to livelihood, than ever, Partly by exhausting ourselves with unusual: Expenses, That we might appear (like ourselves) concerned in his Majesty's welcome, & Coronation; Partly, by prosecuting honest, but fruitless, Pretences, Chief by the fate of Poverty, which, seldom, continues, without increasing, And (for Accomplishment of our Misery,) Hope, (which, hitherto, alone, Befriended, & Supported,) hath now forsaken us.  
Were our pressures moderate, or common, we should never mention them, but wait yet further upon Providence; for we reckon our Martyrdom so honourable, and our Cause so dear, that none but extreme Exigents would be sensible on that behalf, such poverty being (we are sure) without reproach; Had we complied with any of the late Usurpers, otherwise than as Prisoners must comply with Gaolers, we should not have dared to look backward, not presumed to look forward; But Innocency, and Extremity, together, embolden, or rather compel us to litter our Complaints, where, we think, we may challenge (at least) a favourable Audience.  
For, since the Cause, we so earnestly contended for, was (indeed) lest of all, our own (who might easily have saved our stakes, as many others of the same persuasion did) and but in part the Kings, principally our Countries, whose Liberty, and even its Being was at stake; It may seem a hard piece of Justice, that the price of public Freedom (when restored) should be the Ruin (only) of such, as, with their utmost perils (chief) asserted it; And the Nation will appear (at least equally with his Majesty) concerned in an Expedient, Lest if the Martyrs, and Champions of their Country be, now, by it, forsaken, (they being disabled by their sufferings, and others by their ill success discouraged,) Hereafter, in the like Exigent, (which God prevent,) our Liberties should find neither Champions, nor Martyrs.  
It grieves us, in all serious Companies, to meet with these and the like Reflections; How will it discourage our tender Plants of Loyalty, to be the Spectators of its Ruin! How will it multiply Neuters, to observe noble Families extirpated, and their Estates possessed (as many will be apt enough to collect) by wiser men, (viz) such as took the strongest side! And may not the next Generation, from such Premises, draw this Conclusion, He loves danger too well, that loves it for its own sake?  
Certainly, It were too much ignorance in us to suppose, that his Majesty is able to contribute, in any proportion, to our relief; Rather, we are sensible, that should He impoverish himself, to gratify us, He would soon be in a Condition, neither to support us, not himself; Besides, we are satisfied of his kindness towards us; But our recourse is (properly) to the Parliament, who, (being equally concerned,) can relieve us more powerfully, and with less exception, wherein, we doubt not of his Majesty's gracious Concurrence, and Furtherance.  
Wherefore, not to importune his Majesty (who no doubt, hath a real and tender Sympathy for us) we do, (with much freedom, but with all submission,) declare to our Representatives, (as to good Englishmen.) That, as we, on our part, shall for public good, as cheerfully Subscribe to the general Indemnity, (when by their wisdoms confirmed) as any that have Benefit thereby, so, if they, on their part, shall, (by Confirming it,) intercept those Remedies, which the Law, (our great Birthright,) would afford us; We conceive, they Oblige themselves to study somewhat of Recompense, Lest they give us subject of Complaint, That (in such an Oblivion,) they did, but too well remember our Enemies, and only forget Us.  
And in truth, we hope, that the people in general, whose peace is (thereby) Established, our friends in particular, whose honour is (thereby) asserted, but especially our late Adversaries, whose Interests are (thereby) redeemed at our Expense, will, frankly, approve of such moderate satisfaction to us, as the Parliament, in their wisdoms, shall think reasonable.  
The rather, for that the Arrears of the late Army and Navy (though contracted, (most of them) in times of Usurpation) being, in effect, discharged, Those of his Majesty's party in Ireland, provided for, by special Allotments, in his Majesties late gracious Declaration, concerning that Kingdom; The Purchassers of Crown and Church Lands protected by his Majesty's Commission in their Favours, The Clergy, not only restored to their Improved Possessions, but to fines of twenty years' growth, many private Persons rewarded with great Gifts, Offices, & Honours; We only shall seem abandoned as worthy of nothing but pity from those that will vouchsafe it, unless our Condition may be considered by our Country, in this Parliament.  
Wherein, for their Encouragement, we assure them, Our Pretences are not lofty, we covet not to engross the plenty of the Nation, by purchasing Palaces and Parks with our Debenturs; No; the sum of our misfortune is, That, in this Estate, we are not only burden some to ourselves and friends, but useless to our King and Country; Alas, we have too long conversed with Ruin, to conceive vast hopes; And, if (upon serious scrutiny) greater difficulties should appear, than we imagine, It is our known Fundamental to acquiesce in the Judgement of our Superiors, Only we beg, That our Case may be judged, to deserve some public Consideration; For (however) it will much enliven us, to find ourselves not wholly despised, but that Expedients to relieve us, are, (at least) debated, For which we humbly Offer these our Proposals.  
That the greatest Services may be most rewarded, but the greatest Necessities first relieved.  
That his Majesty would be graciously pleased to take an Account of all his Gifts and Grants, and suspend the conferring of any more, till persons of the highest sufferings and deserts be, in some sort, Accommodated.  
That the sufferings, wants, and merits of Pretenders may be examined by select Committees, and certified to his Majesty, And that his Majesty would accordingly provide for their relief, by giving express Order for their Admittance to such Vacant Employments as they are capable of, without referring them to surbordinate Officers, whereby they may be wearied with attendance, and his Majesty's grace unto them frustrated.  
In case Vacancies be not found competent, that then Reversions may be assured to others.  
That such as have plentiful Estates, Or have, already, Obtained any Considerable grant from the King's bounty, may be postponed, in his Majesties, and the Parliaments Consideration.  
That such as shall appear to have unworthily betrayed, or, any ways, deserted his Majesty's party, may be, from thence, wholly, excluded.  
That deserving Tenants of Bishops, Deans and Chapters, etc. may be, generally, and effectually recommended to the Church's favour, in their great plenty, to accept of moderate Fines from them.  
That the like public recommendation may be to all his Majesty's chief Ministers, Officers and Commanders, for the employing, countenancing, and encouraging, (by all lawful means,) such as have eminently deserved, or suffered for his Majesty.  
That for such Soldiers and Sufferers of his Majesty's party, as are Old, Maimed, without Callings, or Stocks to Exercise them, Provision may be made, according to their Conditions, (viz.) For some of them, good Hospitals, the Founders whereof, doubtless, (could they speak out of their graves,) would so direct; For others, reasonable sums, or small Annuities, but duly paid, That they may no more depend on private Alms, which many cannot find, and some cannot seek; This, we suppose, will prove rather matter of Care, than much Charge.  
That the Parliament would lay some public Assessment, such as they shall think reasonable, (Our Country's poverty being considered, as well as ours,) to be distributed by his Majesty's direction, amongst the surviving Officers and Soldiers of his Majesty's Armies and those of the late King, of blessed memory, who never received any recompense of their Service, Whose number being much contracted by time, and other Accidents, The Bulk will not prove so great, as, perhaps, it seems.  
That the Children of such, as have been sacrificed, Or died in the bed of honour, and in memorable Action, for his Majesty, (whose Catalogue is easily known) may, in due time, reap the fruits of their Father's Martyrdom. And, for the present, receive some Character of signal favour, from their Country, to be transmitted to posterity, for the Encouragement of them and theirs, to follow the footsteps of their noble Progenitors, to stir up, in others an Emulation of such Loyalty, and Virtue, And leave the Justice of his Majesty's Arms, sufficiently Vindicated to future Ages.  
FINIS.