The Substance of the PETITION  
Of Henry Farmer, Ralph Sheldon, Thomas Stoner, John Weedon, Esqrs; and Winfird Brooke Widow, Papists, praying to be heard by their Council against the BILL, for the Discovery of all Lands and Revenues given to Popish Superstitious Uses; and for applying the same to Greenwich Hospital.  
THAT the pretended Discovery made upon the Petition of Lewis Girard and others, is an Inquisition taken at Wheately in Oxfordshire the 16th of October last, before John la Pradel, and other Strangers and Foreigners, on the Oath of one Nevil, and other obscure means Persons, whereby without producing any Deed, or a Copy of any Deed, their Estates (which they hold under Marriage Settlements) are found to be given to Superstitious Uses.  
That the Commissioners never returned the said Inquisition into the Petty-Bag-Office or Exchequer, as by Law they ought, so they were deprived of their Traverse, and such Just Mean● as the Law allowed, to defend their Possessions and Titles; and that they doubt not, but to make it fully appear, that the said Inquisition was found by undue Means, and contrary to all Truth; and that Girard and his Accomplices (under pretence of Discovery) are seeking to mend their Broken Fortunes out of their Estates.   

Reasons and Answers offered to the Matters Objected in this PETITION.  
1st. IT's admitted such an Inquisition was taken before Pradel and Three English Gentlemen Commissioners, all Strangers in the County, and that the Estates of the Petitioners, with others, were fully proved by several Credible Witnesses (to the great Satisfaction of the Jury) to be given to Popish Superstitious Uses, as well by Abstract, and Copies of Deeds, as otherwise by Execution of Conveyances and Deeds of Trust at the Synod, when the Pope's Nuntio was in London, in the late King James' Time: And the Commissioners being all Strangers, is a great Evidence, and a strong Presumption, that the Inquisition was fairly taken, and without any pretence of any ill Practies; and that the Petitioners, or some Friends for them appeared, and made great Interest to stop the finding of the said Inquisition.  
2dly, Mr. Girard being advised, that the further Proceedings upon the said Inquisition was very Hazardous and Expensive, and in all probability he could expect little or no Benefit thereby upon any Trial, (as the present Laws now stand, in relation to Popish Superstitious Uses) was the reason the same was not Filled, nor are the Commissioners enjoined by the Commission, or obliged to return the same. And sure the not Filing thereof, was rather in favour of the Petitioners than a prejudice, and saved them the Charge of Traversing the said Inquisition; and that three or four Gentlemen concerned with Mr. Girard in this Prosecution, are Persons of undoubted Characters, and lovers of the Protestant Religion, and their Country and of plentiful Fortunes.  
3dly, The Inquisition is barely an Inquest of Office, to give the King a Title, so as to ground an Information upon for a Trial, or to grant the same Petitioners not being in any sort thereby divested of their Freehold; the Estates thereby found in Oxfordshire, being of great Value.  
4thly, By the Report of the Committee, it appeared that Mr. Girard not only produced several Witnesses to prove the Allegation of his Petition, besides the said Inquisition and Report; but also then, and now offers (for the greater Solemnity of the Matter) to try the same at the Bar.  
5thly, This Act, as it is now settled, is a General Law, and does not in the least relate either to Girard, or to the Petitioners, or to any particular Persons whatsoever, nor does it divest the Petitioners or any other Person of their Estates, without a legal Trial, (where they will be fully heard as to their Titles.) And a provision is made for the Prosecutors to give Security, to answer Costs. So the Labouring Oar and Difficulty is upon them: And to avoid all pretences of disquieting the Subject in his Possession, Mr. Girard before the said Committee, proposed to go no further back than the late King James' Time. So it is plain, this Petition is only put in to obstruct the Passing of the Bill, upon the Close of the Session: And by the Bill the Estates and Interest; of all Protestants are saved.  
6thly, As the present Laws now stand, the Papists may be disquieted, and put to Charge and Expense of Suits, and no Provision or Satisfaction for Costs, which this Act has fully provided for, and puts them in a better Condition as to that Matter, than they were in before, and is the fairest offer that ever was made in this Nature, and will be of great Advantage, in strengthening the Protestant Religion in this Kingdom.