To His Highness my Lord Protector.  
The humble Petition and Information of Godfree Goodman Bishop late of Gloucester.  
Showeth,  
THat your Petitioner doth give your Highness most humble thanks, for your gracious Reference to his former Petition, though such was his unhappiness that it took no effect, which occasioneth him once again to be troublesome, and to inform your Highness, That he was sequestered by the Committee of Plundered Ministers, for his Tithes of the Parsonage of West-Ildesley in the County of Berks; That for these seven years together he hath suits in Chancery, and in several Committees to recover his possession and arrears, wherein he hath spent much time, found much trouble and expense, and now was upon the point of hearing, but in regard of your highness' Proclamation, which came forth the third of this instant July 1655, that suits of such nature should cease; he therefore desists, in his obedience to your highness' command, only he doth humbly crave leave, to appeal unto God, and under God to your Highness, for Justice, this being his last and only refuge, and to that end I will make a true relation of my Cause.  
My private losses were such, as I think no man suffered more proportionably; and when nothing was left but West-Ildesley, in my absence, having no summons to appear, nor ever admitted to speak in mine own defence, I was sequestered, as it may be supposed, by the false suggestions of Mr. Humphrey Newberry, who was appointed to officiate the Cure. This Sequestration for a time he kept secret, suffered me to pay all Contributions for billetting of soldiers, and for discharge of the Cure, which in effect did amount to the full value of the Parsonage; and when the profits came in, than came Mr. Newberry with soldiers, and took the possession.  
Now for acquitting myself, and to show my own innocency, I procured the testimonials of the high Sheriff, most of the Justices, together with the governors of Castles and Towns, and from all the parts where I was known, and had lived, (who send up Members to the Parliament, being six several places at least) they did all testify my peaceable carriage, and that I had not offended in these Wars; and the Committee for Sequestrations in the Country where I lived did testify the same, and that I had paid all Contributions, which in effect those Counties paid in lieu of Sequestrations.  
Then it appears under the hand of Mr. Scobel Clerk of the Parliament, that I was freed from Sequestrations by order of Parliament, and more particularly it appears under the hand of Mr. William Lenthal Speaker of the Parliament, that I was freed from the Sequestration of the Tithes of West-Ildsley. Upon the Certificate of Major General Mitton, the Committee for Plundered Ministers, who did formerly sequester me, were desirous to restore me, as may appear by their several Orders; and in the interim they did allow me a fift part, which Mr. Newberry paid for two years, but ever after refused. All these Certificates and Testimonials. I have the originals, and am ready to produce them and (God knows) I cannot conceive, how it is possible that a man can have fairer proofs.  
My humble suit is, That I may be put in possession by soldiers, as I was outed by soldiers; and that I may recover the arrears unjustly detained; and that I may enter upon the profits as Mr. Newberry did: And whereas it is said that some of those Ministers who hold other men's Benefices by Sequestration, have Petitioned your Highness to refer the Cause to some of your honourable council, to hear and determine according to Justice and equity; I do likewise join with them in their Petition, that seeing there is much difference in the several causes of Sequestration, and indeed a great difference between the sequestering and sequestered Ministers, that men may not be left without remedy, but that your Honourable council, according to their own wisdom, and as God shall direct, them, may determine the controversies.  
I shall yet be bold to make one further motion in behalf of the Universities: When Bishops did give holy Orders or Institutions into Benefices, they did ever require the testimonials for their learning and behaviour, from the University or College where they were bred; and now that there is no further use of Bishops, I desire that the Universities may not lose their right of giving their testimonials, and do wish that none might receive holy orders, or be admitted into Benefices, but such as should be recommended by the Universities or College. But if your Highness should appoint some of the chief and most eminent men who reside in the University, there publicly to admit Ministers, and to give institutions (as by Law and their own privileges they do yearly licence some Preachers and present to the Benefices of convict Recusants, each of the Universities having several Counties allotted them by Statute) it would prevent divisions and Sects; it would make much for the honour of Ministers, and procure much peace in the Church, when the persons so promoted shall be less subject to exception.  
July 9 1655. And your Petitioner shall daily pray &c. GODFREE GOODMAN.