To the Right Honourable the Lords; Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses Assembled in both Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Petition of Richard Chambers Merchant and Alderman of the City of London.  
Shows,  
THat your Petitioner out of a deep sense of your great and weighty affairs in these distracted times, hath with patience waited upon God, and your favours, for a seasonable opportunity to revive his  Petition exhibited to this Honourable House the 22 day of November, 1641. in which were expressed at large your Petitioners sufferings and imprisonments, so generally known to all; and fearing to be tedious, the brief Heads whereof are as followeth:  
I. That your Petitioner for refusing to pay Tonnage and Poundage, as of due right to the King, without authority of Parliament according to Law, and for defending the Parliaments Rights and Liberties therein, and the Petition of Right, suffered as followed:  
II. Your Petitioner thereupon had all his goods from time to time Imported, seized, and detained for pretended duties in the Customhouse, London; although your Petitioner willed the then Farmers and Officers to pay themselves what was due, and give your Petitioner the remainder; which they denying, your Petitioner supplicated the Lords of the Council for his Goods; and upon speeches between them, your Petitioner said he had been in Turkey, and in other parts of the world; but in no parts were Merchants so wrong and screwed, as in England; at which words the Lords took offence, and would not suffer explanation, as was then humbly desired, but committed your Petitioner Prisoner to the Marshalseys in 1628.  
III. After which your Petitioner not getting liberty upon three Petitions exhibited, he brought his Habeas Corpus, and with much struggling and importunity had his liberty upon special Bail in the King's Bench.  
IV After which your Petitioner exhibited his Bill in the Exchequer Chamber, and demanded Writs for delivery of his Goods, but could not obtain any, but some Orders that the Farmers should keep double their demands, and deliver the rest to your Petitioner; which Orders were not obeyed, and the next day made void, contrary to Law and Justice; only through the fears and injustice of the then Barons, altering public Orders of Court upon private Motions, etc.  
V Which your Petitioner perceiving, he brought two Replevins according to Law, and executed the same, and took his Goods ashore our of Lighters, and put them into Carts to carry home, but was stopped and hindered by the said Farmers and Officers; whereupon your Petitioner went to the Sheriffs of London for aid, and delivery of his Goods, upon which they came down; and Sheriff Acton with fair promises of Justice deluded your Petitioner until night, in which time he combined with some of the Farmers, and for his own private gain, being an under Farmer, sent Notes to the King, and Lords; by which practices and falsehood, contrary to Justice, and the duty of his place and oath, he treacherously betrayed your Petitioner and his Goods into the hands of Messengers, who seized his Goods to the King's possession; for which Act, upon your Petitioners complaint to the Parliament, he was committed to the Tower; and after the Parliament broke up he gained his liberty; and for his good service to the King, William Acton Esquite, was made Knight and Baronet.  
VI By which practices your Petitioners Goods were forcibly held from him, and he arrested by a Sergeant at Arms, and presently after, two Bills were filled against him in the S ar-chamber; and upon one of which he was for two words sentenced to pay 2000 l. fine to the King, Imp●sonment at the King's pleasure, and to acknowledge his offence at the Council board, Star-chamber, and the Exchange London, anno 1629.  
VII. That your Petitioner presently after the sentence, and before the Fine was estreted into the Exchequer, did according to Law put in his plea into that Court in bar of the said sentence as unjust, and contrary to Law, and refused to conform thereunto, or to any submissions than sent him.  
VIII. Nevertheless, contrary to Law and Justice, Extents were taken out against your Petitioner for the said Fine, your Petitioner having then of his estate detained in the Customhouse, as by Records in Exchequer appeareth, 7060 l. estate, out of which were taken for the King at one time 2500 l. at another time 1130 l. and at another time in Currans 700 l. which together is 4330 l. for which to this day he never received satisfaction.  
IX. That seven years after, upon many Petitions exhibited, the King gave your Petitioner liberty, redeeming his perishable Goods; but the remainder lay in the Customhouse London fourteen years, until they were delivered him by Order of this blessed Parliament.  
X. By which fourteen years sufferings your Petitioner is damnified in his Estate, Trade, Credit, and by loss of his Factory, and Markets, by fall of price, and long detaining his goods, and with what was taken for the King, with Suits in Law in the Star-chamber and Exchequer, and seven years' Imprisonments, with Fees, and other Charges, above sixteen thousand pounds' E●●ate.  
The Premises considered, and for that your Petitioner was the first Merchant which denied undue pretended Customs aforesaid, as also Ship-money, and all other illegal Exactions contrary to Law, to his great loss and hazard, and his sufferings thereby the more extremely multiplied and pressed upon him being a single man, for his constancy and resolution in defending the Rights of the Parliament, and the Petition of Right, and the Subject's privileges, and no ways yielding to Preferment, Offices and Honours then offered to take him off; and for that the King having a great part of your Petitioners Estate so illegally, and your Petitioner not getting Justice against the King, or any other that defended the King's pretended demands, having in those days to do with Will, and not Law, although your Petitioner then endeavoured; which since by death of some, and time spent to others, is cut off by the Statute of limitation of Actions, except by the Justice and favour of this most Honourable House he may find remedy against Sir Thomas Trevor, Baron of the Exchequer; Sir William Acton Baronet, the Sheriff aforesaid; and Sir John Jacob a then Farmer, all yet living; besides all which, your Petitioner hath in these distracted times spent and laid out himself by Loans, Gifts and Taxes for the public Service of God, and the Common Cause, and Parliament, against the known Enemy, above himself or his Estate.  
Your Petitioners cause so appearing beyond Precedent, he most humbly beseecheth this most Honourable House to consider, and to be Honourably pleased, that whereas your Petitioners first wounds and sufferings were at the Customhouse as a Merchants so he may there now after so many hazards and years past, receive cure and recompense from that fountain and place of Customs, of Tonnage and Poundage; where your Petitioner by Trade for forty years supplied and paid much Money, and yet doth; or otherwise as in your grave Wisdoms you shall think fit. And that your Petitioner may also have such repair against Sir Thomas Trevor, Sir William Acton, and Sir John Jacob, for their several wrongs and injustice, as shall be agreeable to the Justice of this Honourable House: which favours and Justice will support and revive your Petitioner in his lost and decayed Estate, and old age; and much Honour your Honourable House for your care of your faithful Petitioner, and give life and encouragement to all others for future times, and ever oblige your Petitioner in all service, with his Wife, and nine Children to pray for you, and the continuance of this most happy Parliament, etc.  
Richard Chambers.   

Now Right Honourable, see what remarkable Passages God through his Providence hath brought about concerning your Petitioner; which the world taking notice of, he was earnestly pressed not to hid, for example to future ages.  
Viz.  
I. THat your Petitioner being sentenced in Star-chamber 6 Maii, 1629. and kept Prisoner in the Fleet for no sub and just six years after 6 Maii, 1635. he was discharged by the King's command without submission, etc.  
II. That shortly after, your Petitioner being assessed 40 shillings for that illegal Ship-money, he refusing to pay it, was sen for to the then Lord Major Sir Edward Br●mfield, who sent your Petitioner to Newgate forcibly in his Coach at ten a Clockt at night, where he lay, using all humble and legal ways for his freedom, without effect; but had all the injustice and hindrance that could be offered, until speech and hope of a blessed Parliament.  
III. Upon which your Petitioner sued the said Sir Edward in the King's bench for his false Imprisonment, and had a Verdict and Judgement for 1500 l. damage; but for nonpayment, and his fraudulency, your Petitioner was forced to take out a Commission upon the Statute, and proclaim him Bankrupt; and thereupon got possession of his House (where he kept his Majoralty) in part of satisfaction.  
iv After which, the Ward of Walbrooke chose your Petitioner Alderman of the same Ward Sir Edward was Alderman of; and being presented to the Court of Aldermen, they confirmed and swore him Alderman: since which he was chosen Sheriff of London, and kept his Sheriffalty last year, 1644. in that House from whence he was sent to Newgate as aforesaid.  
V That the said Sir Edward for Malignancy, etc. lay Prisoner in the Fleet, and now is in the King's bench, being two of the Prisons to which your Petitioner was committed in his first troubles.  
VI That by the Honourable favour of both Houses of Parliament your Petitioner did sit a Commissioner for the Parliament in the Customhouse London, and received the Customs of England two Years, two Months, where your Petitioners first sufferings did arise.  
VII. That certain Cabinets and Glasses of the Lord Treasurer Weston, your Petitioners mortallenemy in the Exchequer and Star-chamber, were committed to your Petitioner to be sold for the Parliament, (being Bribes presented him.)  
VIII. That the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, your Petitioners mortal Enemy in all places; who, with the rest, sentenced your Petitioner without proof; and at that time further declared, That if their Lordships concurred in a higher Fine and punishment, he would do so too; for that this Chambers would take away the breadfrom the King by his Customs; and if the King had more such Chambers, he would have never a Chamber to put his head in. That by the hand of Providence, your Petitioner in the time of his Sheriffalty did bring this Archbishop to execution ofdeath, after a legal Trial of Parliament, for his illegal Courses and Treasons.  
IX. That the Lord Keeper Coventry, in the Star-chamber, cleared your Petitioner of the Crime laid to his charge, being not proved by any witness, and protested upon his Conscience, that he conceived your Petitioner had no ill meaning in the words he spoke at the Council Board; but yet concluded, that as the Lords had sentenced him, he must do so too; and with Sir Humphrey May, Fined your Petitioner at 1500 l. Imprisonment at the King's pleasure, to acknowledge his offence at the Council Board, Star-chamber, and Exchange London: so with Pilate he washed his hands of him, and with the multitude condemned your Petitioner, to the ruin of him and his.  
X. That your Petitioner being Sheriff of Londen, went to the Tower to acquaint the Archbishop with the time of his execution, according to a Warrant received, and then desiring him to tell your Petitioner who had his Goods, or the proceed of them; he answered, he knew not whereupon your Petitioner told him of his bitter sentence against him without any proof of Crime, as also of the Lord Keeper's sentence, which in charity might have qualified him for the future, and repeating both their sentences to him; and at the expression of the Lord Keepers complying, and washing his hands with Pilate, he turned about and laughed hearty, being the night before he suffered, and never expressed any sorrow for your Petitioner, or desire to pardon him, etc. so your Petitioner departed from him.  
XI. That the Earl of Dorset sent for your Petitioner from the Fleet, who coming to him, used all persuasions for him to submit and pay Customs, offering preferment, etc. and to bring your Petitioner to the King; but he no way yielding, after many passages, his Lordship most fearfully cursed, and swore God damn him, your Petitioner was the archest Rebel of the Kingdom, and deserved better to be hanged then the Gun powder Traitors; and swore God refuse him, if they were living, he would sooner intercede his Majesty for a pardon for them, than your Petitioner, who told him he needed no such pardon; then his Lordship said your Petitioner might imbrue his hands in blood one day; who answered, he hoped God would keep him from that crying sin: then his Lordship called him Prince Chambers, and said, That another Redeemer was come into the world to redeem the Subjects Liberties; and that he had wicked Council, and would know them; for they were Parliament Rascals, and other Long-gowned Rascals, and Puritanical white-robed Rascals, such as preach two hours in a Pulpit, of Conscience, which have no more than a Dog; with much other blasphemous speeches. After which he asked your Petitioner again, if he would submit to the King, who answered, he did in his Laws, which was the greatest obedience; his Lordship told your Petitioner he was his friend in the sentence; but if he were to do it again, he swore God damn him, he would sentence your Petitioner 100000 l. who told his Lordship, the words he spoke he would maintain; whereupon his Lordship willed your Petitioner to give him his hand, which he did, and kissed it, hoping of better proceed; but he swore and cursed, and said God damn him, if he or the Lords had conceived or thought your Petitioner had meant the words spoken at the Council Board, by the King, the Lords, or Government; he, and they would have cut your Petitioner in pieces alive: So he there also directly and freely cleared your Petitioner of the Crime laid against him, both for himself, and the other Lords, etc. whereupon your Petitioner humbly desired of his Lordship to know for what he was so sentenced. Upon which his Lordship fearfully cursed, and willed him to go to the Exchange and tell all the Merchants there, That if all the Gunpowder Traitors were living, your Petitioner deserved better to be hanged then all they; with other curses, etc. and your Petitioner desiring his Lordship to have a better opinion of him, said he, of the Devil first; and that your Petitioner and his Race would be damned for this act: so he departed to the Fleet again.  
XII. That your Petitioner being sentenced 6 May, 1629. to ruin and disgrace, was by the goodness of God in the time of his Sheriffalty of London the 6 May, 1645. again happily Married to a second Wife 16 years after.  
O how righteous art thou O God, and just in all thy judgements, in humbling and exalting, and in mercy, bringing strange things to pass by weak means, according to thy blessed Word, for example of thy children to fear thee, and guide their ways according to thy holy Word: as followeth, 

Ezek. 45.9.  
Deut. 16.20.  
Ecclesiasticus 11.7.8.  
Psal. 56.5.  
E●od 23.6, 7.  
Levit. 19.15.  
Esa. 56.1, 2.  
Prov. 17.15.  
Mich. 2.1, 2.  
Isa. 10.1.  
Isa. 29.21.  
Ezek. 46.18.  
Eccles. 5.7, 8.  
Revel. 2.10.    
Richard Chambers.