To the parliament of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND.  
The humble Petition of Edward Dendy.  
Showeth,  
THat upon Saturday the 30. of July 1653. the parliament then sitting they were pleased to Order, That your honour's Petitioner should immediately take care of the Prison and Prisoners of the Upper Bench, and have the like charge of, and power over the Prisoners and Officers there, as the Marshal of the said Upper Bench at any time had or aught to have had.  
That in obedience to the said Order of parliament, your honour's Petitioner accordingly repaired thither, and the day following, being Monday, gave the parliament an Account of the Condition of the said Prison, and particularly of the place called the Rules of the Upper Bench Prison, where (for want of Room in the Prison houses) Prisoners are lodged, and where your Petitioner found that nothing was of force to keep the Prisoners there lodged within their bounds, but the securities which they usually gave to the marshal of the said Prison; which securities being refused ro be delivered to your Petitioner, your honour's Petitioner thereupon declared to the parliament, That he had no more power over the Prisoners lying in the Rules, than he had of the Birds in the air; and therefore besought the parliament, that he might not stand charged with that Trust, which your Petitioner never sought, and being imposed upon him, was not able to give an account of.  
That the parliament thereupon (being Monday the first of August) Ordered, That the Prisoners of the Upper Bench should continue in the same places as formerly till further order; by which Order your Petitioner supposed himself indempnified. Nevertheless, since the dissolution of the late parliament, your Petitioner hath been sued from all points of the Compass for the escape of Prisoners lying in the Rules, though your honour's Petitioner was not able to secure them for the reason aforesaid; neither could your Petitioner receive so much as a List of the said Prisoners names, till about a month after your Petitioner had been there.  
That your Petitioner for the better looking to the Prisoners in the Prison houses did (as empowered by the parliament) make choice of several servants to the number of twenty (being fewer than the marshal usually employed) who continually attended, often watching whole nights; and with much faithfulness and diligence discharged the said trust for about the space of eight months, during which time these poor men received not one penny of salary, because your Petitioner received not the benefit of Chamber Rents (the chief profits of the place) which the Prisoners refused to pay till further order of the House, nor any other way so much as your Petitioner expended in that service; although according to the known Maxim, Qui sentit onus, sentire debet commodum.  
Wherefore your honour's Petitioner with all humble earnestness prays, That your honours will be pleased to put on bowels of speedy Compassion for the relief of your Petitioners poor Servants, who, maintaining themselves at their own charge for so long time together, in the service of the parliament, have thereby reduced themselves and families to so great need and misery, as your Petitioner wants words to express the sadness of their condition.  
Lastly, in as much as your honour's Petitioner never sought the said place; and yet hath undergone great charge and trouble in obeying the parliament:  
Your Petitioner most humbly prays, that according to your honour's justice he may be relieved from all further troubles, arrests, and suits at Law, for the escape of Prisoners, which, as your Petitioner hath humbly declared, was impossible for him to secure; and to this end your Petitioner humbly prays that your Honours will be pleased to grant your Petitioner an Act of indemnity, and that your Honours will permit your Petitioner, with the advice of his Council to draw the said Act; which your Petitioner humbly submits to your honour's consideration.  
And your Petitioner (as in duty bound) shall pray. Edward Dendy.