The humble Petition of us the Parliaments poor soldiers in the Army of Ireland, whereof many are starved already, and many dead for want of chirurgeons.  
 portrait of destitute soldier  
Showeth,  
THat we the poor distressed soldiery under the Parliaments Service in Ireland, having heretofore served the Parliament under the Lord general Essex, valiant Massey, and noble Sir William Waller, and the rest, &c. did in all faithfulness, hardship and desperate service as ever any, hazard our lives and fortunes, and did according to order obey and disband than not so much as doubting of all our arrears, and now have almost served you two years in all integrity and faithfulness both Winter and Summer, wet and dry, frost and snow, having no other bedding then the bare ground for our beds, and the skies for our covering, and when dry in the day and night, no other sign to drink at but the Sun and moon, and nothing but water, having no plenty, but cold backs, hungry bellies, and puddle water, and when sore wounded, not a Surgeon to dress us, or if a Surgeon, no chest, nor salve, nor ointments; and for bread many times not a loaf of two pence under six pence, and rotten cheese sent not fit for a dog, and for butter it went from London to Dover, and mistook Dublin and went to Dunkirk, and for our new clothes all made of the French fashion, and being too little for any of us, were carried for France to clothe them, hardly hats to our heads but what our hair grows through, and neither hose or shoes, doublet or breeches, tearing our Snapsacks to patch a hole to hide our naked and starved flesh, and our swords naked for want of scabbards: Thus with our backs without clothes, and our bellies without food, and not a penny to buy any thing, and the kerns having burnt the corn and destroyed all fit for succour, we forced to march bare legged and bare footed, having neither fire nor food, we perish in misery, and our Commanders being in a manner in the same case, having nothing but good words to pay us with, showing us often your Orders upon Orders for our pay, plentifully promising but not performing; and thus we dropping down dead daily in our marching, and so feeble and so weak, being not able to fight or do any more service without some supply, but all like to starve and die in misery, when all means is anticipated, and the Tax of 60000 l. wholly engrossed by your Army from us, and your soldiery quartered in King's houses, and clad Gentile like, and fed in freequarter to the full, and lie in good beds, and take their pleasure and ease in rest and peace.  
We humbly desire our hungry bellies may once be filled, and our naked backs be clothed, and our legs and feet be hosed and shooed, and our Surgeons once more fitted, and all recruited with food to supply us once more, that we may go out again to finish that work we have begun, and not to lie like Drones to eat up others meat, and we do not doubt, but with God's blessing, to give you a happy account of the Conquest of the whole Land, and shall ever pray for a happy Parliament.   

DUBLIN: Printed by W. B. 1648.