TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens and Burgesses now assembled in Parliament.  
The humble Petition of LEWIS DE GAND, a French Nobleman, Lord of Brachey and Romecour.  
Humbly showing,  
THat whereas since some certain months, I your petitioner did for some certain business of mine, come over from France into England, in a ship bearing the royal English arms, and for greater security, having the King's Letters patents, it is happened I know not by what mischance, that the Spanish Dunkirk not a whit respecting or God, or the King, or England, contrary to the right of Nations, did set upon us in the very English haven, and have Robbed me your Petitioner, of all the money I had, to the value of two hundred pound English. And that you may the better be certified of the truth of what I say, I can call to witness divers Englishmen, which came over with me your petitioner in the same ship, and namely Master George Thomason, and Master Josuah Kirton, and Master Robert Martin, all three merchant booksellers, the two first in Paul's churchyard, the one at the sign of the Rose, the other at the sign of the white-horse▪ the third in old Bayly at the sign of Venice, who will without doubt, relate unto you how ignominiously the said Dunkirk have behaved themselves even against you in this their wicked robbery.  
For first, they have been so audacious, as if they were Lords of the Seas, yea of England itself, to discharge their artillery against our ship, and to constrain us to yield unto them; After that, we having let them see the King's letters Patents, yet never the less disdaining them, they have furiously set upon me your Petitioner with naked swords, and forced me to deliver them all my money, the English that were present, not a little wondering at their audacity.  
Thirdly, they were so greedy of prey, that they letted not to use the King's natural subjects, namely some Irishmen, as if they had been Frenchmen.  
Finally if I add unto what is said, that all this hath been committed even in the English haven, yourselves may judge how great an injury, is it redounding unto yourselves.  
And if the Spanish ambassador here in England; or the governors of Dunkirk (to whom often hath been written of this matter by the said ambassador, would by some way or other, have covered this their most manifest shame, and not pretend Justice in this their most unjust account, in saying that they should do against their conscience, if they should press to restore unto an enemy (against the law of nature) a prize taken upon him, I your petitioner a stranger would not have troubled you with this my particular business, you having employment enough, in so many weighty affairs of your own: But yet I your petitioner being not so a stranger, but that I have of late composed a book in Latin, of the praises of the King and kingdom, dedicated unto the King's Majesty entitled Sol Britannicus, would not (I say) have troubled your ears with this my particular cause, except it touched the honour of all England.  
For if you suffer the Spanish to commit such things, why may it not be permitted unto the French, the Portingals, the Hollanders as many as are living in this kingdom peaceably with the Spaniards, to have the like power upon the Spaniards. And what hindereth us to use them here as enemies, but the Friendship that is between our Princes and you likewise; but the honour and reverence due unto you by us strangers living in this your kingdom. All which respects seeing the Spaniards have notoriously slighted, and not regard but injuriously violated:  
Therefore I humbly crave at your hands, that you would be pleased either to cause the said money, which hath been taken from me perforce in your own ship and haven, and the said ship having the King's arms, which should to me have been a most sure asyle, to be restored unto me with all the damages which I have sustained thereby, or else to give me leave, to recover it as I can upon the next Spaniard I shall meet withal. And until you have taken such an order, concerning this matter, as may well become England, I your petitioner most humbly beseech you to cause the Spaniards to provide me some means, whereby in the mean while I your petitioner may live.  
And the petitioner shall ever pray for your honours &c.