The Humble Petition, OR Representation Of M. William Harrison, Gentleman and soldier. To His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, Captain general of the Forces raised for the KING and PARLIAMENT. Together with a further Relation of the said Mr. William Harrison, with a true discovery of abundance of Treasure sent down into the West, and divers Persons there employed to raise Forces (under pretence of the Service for Ireland) to make war against the Army commanded by his Excellency. As also the desire of the soldiery to the Committee of NORTHAMPTON. By William Harrison Gent. soldier under his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIREFAX.  
Printed in the year ●●●●   

The Humble Petition, or Representation of Mr. William Harrison, Gentleman, and soldier, To his Excellency Sir THO. FAIRFAX, Captain general of the Forces raised for the King and Parliament.  
MAy it please Your Excellency to understand, that the true cause which made me for a while to discontinue my Service in your Regiment, was upon notice given me that one Mr. Marriot had got an Execution forth against me, Who about four years since did violently draw his Sword upon me, and I gave back a little, and drew mine to defend myself. It was my fortune to wound him, and I could have killed him, but I closed with him to disarm him, at what time one Gadson a Keeper ran in, and laid hold of my hair, whereupon I was enforced to defend myself and to draw my knife, and did cut one in the face, and the others fingers, and had got them both down, and disarmed them; for which the Committee of Northampton kept me in prison seven months and thirteen days without Bail; but having got my liberty by the means of Sir Rowland St. John, and other Gentlemen that were my friends, I presently bought a brace of Geldings, and came to your excellency's Regiment, to Capt. Laurence his troop, where I and my man did Service above a twelvemonth, until I heard that my Enemy Mr. Marriot, a man of an implacable spirit, who sued me in the time of my service under your Excellency (I not knowing it) had gotten an Execution forth against me, Gadson and he being the one witness for the other. This was about three days before the surrender of Oxford, at what time I lost out of my Quarters a Gelding worth (as times are now) at least 16 pound. Being very loath to become a prisoner again, I acquainted my captain with my sad condition, and desired him that he would grant me a pass to go into Holland; he denied me, but at the last did grant it. The man whom I did hurt had bad seven Articles of a most high Nature proved against him; and the whole Country wondered that he was not sequeflred. It will be proved that he bribed a Gentleman who gave false information to the committee. His goods were then worth two thousand pound to be proved, but he is since broke, and now lieth in gaol. All his goods are made away. Your Petitioner hath two friends that have paid 500 pound for him. And three or four honest men were enforced to fly their country for his Debts. Many have paid 100 l. and 40. l. a Man for him; in the mean time he lieth in jaole, drinketh Sack and is merry. His sureties curse that Gentleman and their Wives and Children who misinformed the Committee; And say that if the Committee had done right, they should have sequestered his estate, which might have helped to have paid the soldier.  
This business and these sufferings being out of your Petitioners way above one hundred and forty pound as he will prove, and the only occasion that your Petitioner to his great grief was enforced to leave for a while the Regime it as Captain Laurence & Lieutenant Merrice can bear him witness, your Petitioner most humbly prayeth that your Excellence will be pleased to take him & his Petition into your consideration.   

A further Relation of the Grievances of the said M. William Harrison, with a true discovery of abundance of Treasure sent down into the West, and divers persons there employed to raise Forces (under pretence of the Service for Ireland) to make war against the Army commanded by his Excellency.  
HAving received a pass for the Low-Countries, and intending to take shipping at Yarmouth, I was dissuaded from it by one Master Duke, who liveth within ten miles of Yarmouth, it was at that time thought that the Scots and we should have differed; whereupon I marched northward, but God be thanked, it was not so; whereupon I turned my course and marched westwards to some of my wife's friends, knowing it not safe to return to my own country, my Enemy Marriot having such power with great Men in it. There I understood that Major general Skippon should be field-marshal for Ireland; whereupon I came to London, and got a friend, one Master vicars a Wine-Merchant, to go along with me to the field-marshal, and 40 men whom I had listed to go with me into Ireland, in case that things were so settled, that the Army might disband and I receive my arrears, but when I came to Westminster, I found that the field-marshal was gone to the headquarters at Saffron-Wallden, I made haste after him, and having inquired out his Quarters, I made bold to go into his Parlour where I found him sitting alone; and having presented my service to him, he very nobly showed me kind respects, and asked me to whom I formerly did belong; I told him, and showed him my pass; whereupon he assured me, that on the next day my captain and Major would be in town, and moreover assured me, that if the Service went on, I should not want Command: I was not willing to stay there long, moneys being short, and having had no pay in eleven months. But the next day my Major and captain came, and they did me the favour, readily to consent and go along with me unto Major general Skippon, whom we found very busy upon the treaty, where Lieutenant general Cromwell, seeing my captain, employed him upon a Message to some Gentlemen in the town: But I stayed and heard the Grievances related in the Church, having taken a resolution with myself, not to adventure for Ireland without the Army was satisfied and disbanded. It was my fortune presently after to observe Major general Skippon in the street, I ran after him, and once more made bold to demand of his honour how the business stood for Ireland? He told me, That for aught he knew, I might have as much Command there as himself. Whereupon I matched again into the West, where staying for a season, I could hear but little Truth in any thing; I resolved therefore to return to London, to understand how the affairs stood, hoping that in so much time I should find things settled. My misfortune was such, that my Horse miscarried in the way, but a friend lent me another, which when I came to London, I sent down by the Carrier. Being come unto the city, I found a general melancholy and Distraction of Spirit, which made me fear a new war, insomuch that I could not sleep all night; In the morning I took Post for the West again, but had no warrant, and in this dispatch I continued until I came to Marleborough, where I desired Post-Horse to ride all night, which the postmaster granted, but the Committee denied, partly because I had no warrant, and partly because they understood that I belonged to Sir Tho. Fairfax; I told them that I was very sorry that any who belonged to his Excellency should be so undervalued as not to be allowed Post-Horses for money to follow their necessary employments. The Post told me, that the Committee was informed, that Sir Thomas Fairfax was falling off from what he was. I answered him in the heat of blood, That he was the son of a Whore that told him so. And so having satisfied the charges of the house, I walked forth into the street, no man regarding me, where an honest youngman, one who had been a soldier, Thomas Slatter by name, proffered to go along with me, and to do me any courtesy he could for Sir Thomas Fairfax, which accordingly he did, and carrying my cloak for me, I all that night travailed in my boots, and by the next night we came into Glocestershire, and had marched on foot full fifty miles. There I found a friend who lent me a Horse that carried me unto other friends; being with whom, I did send for divers Gentlemen from the Counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, who loved me well: And having communicated myself unto them, and showed that the intent of Sir Thomas Fairfax was to restore the King to his Parliament to God's glory and our comfort, he enjoying his crown and dignity, and the Subjects their Liberties and Privileges, I found the Gentlemen so propense unto that Cause, that for so good an end I should not want for men, money, horse, or arms, but I readily should have them.  
Finding such a general inclination, I suddenly prepared for London again, and took my way by Tewksbury, and sent two messengers on foot to Stow-in-the-Old, to lodge there at the sign of the crown, at the house of one Dickson. They came thither on Saturday night was three weeks, and found there ten guests, seven of them seeming to be Gentlemen, and the other three to be their servants, who were directed by a special friend in private to that house. I came there on the Lord's Day in the morning, and brought with me a Gentleman that was my friend: These ten being merry, and frolic with the Host of the house, he told them, That the King and Parliament would agree. Immediately they declared themselves to be utterly against Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Army, railing against his Excellency in a nature too high to report, and withal affirming, That if they had came through his Army they had been all made slaves. Thereupon they confessed, they were going to Worcester to raise Forces for Ireland. They had in their portmantle as much gold and silver as two men could easily lay upon a Horse, they could not put their hands into their pockets to pay for a quart of Wine, but they pulled forth handfuls of gold. I perceiving that this pretence of them for Ireland was only a design to raise Forces against his excellency's Army, for I knew it could not be for Ireland, I called unto me the man of the house who was my friend, and told him that they were base fellows, for I was confident, that what they had said was false: I therefore desired him that he would be pleased to depart his house; and when they were set at dinner, I and the three men with me would kill three or four of them, and give quarter to the rest, and bring up their money, horse and arms unto Sir Thomas Fairfax. The inn-keeper was daunted at it, and said, that they were sent thither by a special friend, however if he thought they were against the King and Sir Thomas Fairfax, he would willingly on the highway be one of my side, and withal importuned me to be patient, and to forbear them in his own house. I was much vexed at it, and the rather, because they would have had away my two footmen with them: Upon my soul, had the man of the house been right, we should have both Mastered and disarmed them.  
Seeing I could not prevail, I made haste from thence unto the Army, and shortly after lay at Teddington in Bedfordshire at the sign of the Griffin extremely weary. On the next morning, I heard that the headquarters would be at Hatfield, and going thence to Mr. Parrots at Shidlington, I understood that the headquarters were at Uxbridge, which made me and my friend to ride our Horses very hard, insomuch that I tired mine, and left it with the Constable of Barton, and came on foot to Uxbridge on the last Sunday morning▪ I there spoke with divers Gentlemen of my acquaintance, to whom I made known the progress of my Journey, and my many sufferings, and what was that which I came about.  
The Commanders being then busy at council, I met with young Mr. Cromwell, son to the Lieutenant general, by whose means I found out Lieutenant Merris, and divers other Gentlemen, by whom I understood that his Excellency was not raising of forces, but only standing on his own Guard, hoping that all would be well. I intended indeed to present my service to his Excellency with about threescore or fourscore foot, and to give him in a true relation of the state of the Countries where I had been, knowing where to arm five hundred men. And if his Excellency would be pleased to send down a colonel or two, I would have showed him in a little compass he could be provided with one Regiment of Horse, and 2000 Foot; but God be praised I found things in a better posture, howsoever I was extremely discontented, considering how I had lost myself in the business.  
Relating my mind to the soldiers, they kindly embraced me, I imparted to them in order all my grievances; and out of the true reality of their affections, and sense and fellow feeling of my sufferings, It is the desire of the soldiers, with the advice of many of my betters in the Army, that this should be committed to the press, and the first Book to be delivered to the Committee of North-ampton, to have a sight thereof, by which they may perceive how much misinformation hath abused them, And the soldier doth not doubt but that the Committee (seeing how faithful I have been ever unto the service, and at what expense of money, and how I had both tired myself and Horse to advance the welfare of the kingdom) would of themselves be pleased either to give or lend me a horse with all furniture fitting for a Gentleman, that so I may the better be accommodated to present myself unto his Excellency, and personally, and by word of mouth declare myself unto him. And withal, whereas in the Articles which I Articled against Mr. Marriot of Hartwell Parke, they were not put in a way, or any mention of sequestration to be made for 2000 pounds worth of goods then to be proved which was occasioned by a Gentleman who gave false Information, and deluded the Committee, of whose honour I am and always have been very tender, for I daily pray for Mr. Ousley, Mr. Farme● the High sheriff, and the rest: And whereas in assisting Mr. Marriot heretofore with the hazard of my life at Hartwell park, I so far ventured to save his goods, that I killed a Horse, and wounded four men: The Honourable and most virtuous Lady Crane (to whom they did belong) did forgive me all, when Master Marriot was to save me harmless, although it should cost him five hundred pound, for which fact some of the Committee suffered me to be fined, which Fine I paid, in the proceeding of which troubles both my wife and children wanted. It is the soldier's desire, that the Saddle should be laid upon the right Horse, Mr. Marriot having had the benefit of the crop, and that the Fine that was paid should be restored to my wife and children. And if the Gentleman who misinformed the Committee, shall be found out in Northampton town or thereabouts, it is the soldiers desire that he shall be sent up unto the general, or kept in safe custody until he shall make good the 2000 pound for which I shall produce my witnesses; And the business to be heard in the Army. And if that any man shall deny the party I shall demand, the soldiers will fetch him with 2000 Horse. It is also desired that all Executions, Writs, and Warrants, and Actions of Battery, concerning Mr. Marriot's business be made void. And if a new war shall happen in this kingdom (which God forbid) I do here fully declare myself to be for King and Parliament, and willingly to adventure my life in the service, and that I will give in unto the general a list of those gentlemen's names in the Counties of Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, and Salope, that are able and ready to raise one thousand Horse, and two thousand Foot and willingly and altogether venture both lives, limbs, and fortunes for the King and Parliament, for the safety, the reconcilement, and the happiness whereof I do daily and devoutly pray.  
The said Mr. Harrison says that the Committee is much railed on in this kingdom, but he believes it is long of false intelligence; It is our desire in the whole Army, that if the said Marriot shall deny to pay back this Fine, that you Gentlemen of the Committee do pay it to his Wife and Children, and that you will be pleased to keep the said Marriot with Bread and Water, till he restore the money to you again: for it is nothing but right, and in Conscience you ought to see justice done. We hear that many Knaves brought Letters to Sir Richard Samuel, and did say any thing to do Mr. Harrison wrong; they had best give him satisfaction, for we know Sir Richard Samuel well enough.  
It is our whole Armies desire, That if in case Mr. Harrison shall find out the Gentleman who kept Marriot from being sequestered, that then he challenging the man to you, he be kept safe till we fetch him, and Mr. Harrison produce his witness, and then the business to be heard before Sir Tho. Fairefax, and the two thousand pound before spoken of to be returned to the Parliaments use.   
FINIS.