To the honourable Assembly of the Commons House of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of Robert Harrison of Marleborough, in the County of Wilts Innkeeper.  
Most humbly showing,  
THat five years since the Petitioner bargained with one Stephen Barber alias Laurence, for the Inn called the White-hart in Marleboroogh and certain goods therein for 350. li. whereof 50. li. was for the Lease, and 300. li. for the goods. The Petitioner at diverse times agreed upon, paid all the said 300. li. except only 100 li. for security whereof, john Booth and john Goldsmith, became bound in a Bond of two hundred pound to Barber, and for their indemnpitie, the Petitioner assigned over to them all the goods which he had bought of Barber, being worth 300. li. the goods nevertheless to remain in the Petitioners possession till the Sureties were damnified. Afterwards Barber being displeased with the Petitioner (for not permitting him to build a Barn on the back side of the Inn, threatened to root him out, and ever afterwards sought means to undo him, & the better to compass his malicious purpose, he combining with the said Booth, and Goldsmith, procured them (although they were never damnified) privately to confess a judgement unto him upon the said Bond of two hundred pound, and thereupon sued out a Fieri facias, which being delivered to the under Sheriff, he entered into the Inn, and summoning a jury there: inquired what goods were there of the said Booth and Goldsmith towards satisfaction of the Execution, and there not only extended the goods which the Petitioner bought of Barber, being worth as aforesaid 300. li. but also (contrary to Law,) extended upon all the rest of the Petitioners proper householdstuff and bedding, worth at the least 200. li. more, all which the under Sheriff caused to be undervalved but at two hundred and eight pound, for which, with the Lease the Petitioner was by one Master Wydley then lately offered eight hundred pounds, which their indirect practices to undo the Petitioner being perceived, he showed unto them a Protection from his Master Mr. john St. Awbin a member of this House, hoping upon the sight thereof (in reverence to this honourable Assembly,) they would forbear to do him wrong. But they made a scorn thereof, Booth saying he cared not a fart for the same, and Cocks the Bailiff said in despite of the Protection, he would carry the Petitioner to Prison for ten Groats recompencene, all the rest laughing and jesting at the same. Then the said Master Wydley pretending great friendship to the Petitioner satisfied the Execution and took the goods from the under Sheriff into his hands, and then Master Andrew Holdipp a friend to the Petitioner offering to pay unto him 140. li. for the Redemption of the goods (which was as much as he was to pay for the same) he utterly refused to deliver the same, saying, That his throat should be cut rather than the Petitioner should keep that Inn again, and thereupon carried the goods out of the House.  
The Petitioner further showeth, That making declaration unto Sir Thomas Richardson the Speaker of this honourable Assembly, of the contemptuous behaviour of the said parties, and of the wrongful taking away the Petitioners goods without lawful authority as aforesaid, Master Speaker (commiserating the Petitioners distressed estate,) did write to the High Sheriff, and the rest that were Actors in the business, wishing them to deliver to the Petitioner his goods so wrongfully taken from him. But the High Sheriff said that he was sufficiently secured by his Under Sheriff, and the rest regarded not the message nor would deliver the goods. By which means not only the Privileges and Liberties of this honourable House are violated and contemned, and the Petitioner his Wife and nine Children are utterly undone. But also his Majesty's Subjects travailing into those parts are destitute of lodging and entertainment, it being one of the chiefest Inns of Receipt betwixt London and Bristol.  
The Petitioner, therefore most humbly prayeth that the contemners of the Privileges of this honourable H●use may answer their contempt, and that by order of this House the Petitioner may be restored to his goods wrongfully taken from him. And he shall daily pray, etc.