To the HONOURABLE, The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament Assembled.  
The Humble Petition of James Percy, of the Family of the Earls of Northumberland.  
Humbly showeth,  
THat the Petitioner having in all humility Addressed himself to the Right Honourable the House Of Lords, that he might have Liberty to make appear to their Lordships, That he was the next and immediate Heir-Male to Josceline, the late Earl of Northumberland, their Lordships were pleased by their Order, to appoint a time for a Hearing of the same, and the Petitioner expecting a full Hearing, accordingly got ready many Depositions of Credible Persons, and had many living Witnesses and Records, and Registers there present, whereby the Petitioner doubted not, but as plainly to have satisfied their Lordships of the Truth of his Descent and Pedigree, as it is possible for any such Matter to admit of; And this Petitioner, after so many Thousand pounds expended by himself and his Relations, in searching for, and obtaining the Records and Proofs aforesaid, and in pursuing his said Right and Title, desiring only one full and final Hearing of his said Proofs and Evidences, and to be Concluded by it for ever after, and then desire, and was contented to suffer, if he did not plainly prove his being the next of Blood, as aforesaid; yet it was their Lordship's Pleasure, not only to deny the Hearing of the Proofs, but also to send the Petitioner to the several Courts of Justice in Westminster-Hall, with a Mark that he was a false Pretender; that thereby, as your Petitioner conceives he might be deprived from all hopes from thence also: That the Petitioner is informed, That some persons are since endeavouring to obtain an Act to pass this Honourable House, for settling irrevocably, great part of the Earl of Northumberlands Estate, which was given to the Late Duke of Monmouth for want of Issue-Male of the said Earl, as was then believed, whereby the Petitioner will be utterly deprived of all Remedy for Recovery thereof, though he hopes by publication of divers of his plain and undeniable Proofs, yet to obtain the favour of one fair Hearing, and to satisfy the World of the Truth and Justice of his Right and Claim.  
The Petitioner therefore humbly prays, That this Honourable House will be pleased to defer for a time, the Passing of the said intended Act, the Petitioners Right being a Matter of no small Concern;  
And Your petitioner shall ever pray, etc. James Percy.