A BRIEF NARRATIVE, OR THE REMONSTRANCE OF JOHN KERSEY, Sometimes Chief Clerk of the Trinity-House of Deptford-Strond in the County of Kent, with his just Right to the said Office truly represented.  
ALSO, The Cause of his Dismission in the Year 1648, by the Usurped Power then Governing.  
WITH HIS Several Addresses to the Corporation, since His Majesty's Happy Restauration, but no Readmission.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1677.   

A Brief Narrative of the CASE of John Kersey sometimes Chief Clerk of the Trinity-House of Deptford-Srond in the County of Kent, etc.  
INprimis, He the said John Kersey was received in the Year 1636, by Mr Josias Best, than Clerk of the Trinity-House aforesaid, as his Servant, or Under-Clerk; and continued in that condition about 5 years.  
At the expiration of which Term, Josias Best voluntarily surrenders his place to the Corporation, recommending John Kersey to their Service to succeed him.  
The Trinity-House, in consideration of John Kersey's good Service, Demeanour, and Ability, elect and choose him their Clerk, without putting any one in competition with him, and so to continue so long as he shall behave himself as becometh an honest man▪ which is generally understood to be during Life.  
John Kersey continueth eight years longer as chief Clerk of the Trinity-House with general approbation, till in the year 1648, for promoting the Personal Treaty with His Late Majesty of Blessed Memory, for that very cause was outed of the said Employment, and the whole Corporation for Eleven years odd Months dissolved by the Usurped Tyrannical Power then Governing.  
John Kersey makes his Address by Petition the 27th of October 1660, to the Trinity-House, to be readmitted, finds but ¼ part of the Elder Brethren surviving, which were left in 1648; but the Corporation new modelled, consisting of 31 persons, according to its pristine condition.  
He receives this general Answer, That they could not do the Clerk they found there, so much wrong to eject him, as to do John Kersey the right to receive him; and particularly the Corporation had power to choose their own Clerk: a Clerk they had chosen, and him they would stand by.  
The Petition  was attended by 

Dr Fuller Bishop of Kerry.  
Col. John Price of Hereford, Esq  
John Needler of Grayes-Inn, Gent.  
Tho. Hulbert of Covent-Garden, Gent.  
Lancelot Burrell of Lond. Gent.  
Humphrey Bean of Lond. Merchant.  
William Clifton of Covent-Garden, Vintner.  
S ● Christopher Guise of Gloucester, Kt & Baront.  
Robert Gardiner of London, Merchant.    
Which Gentlemen, with some others, I entreated that day to go along with me, and humbly besought the Corporation to admit to them the hearing of such things as might be said and offered by me to the Corporation; and also to testify of my Life and Conversation for the Twelve years' last passed, and particularly what, and how I had acted for the King's Friends in order to His Service; all which was absolutely denied me: the want of which Testimony hath, and doth still hinder the publication of my Vindication.  
After the denial of granting the Petition before mentioned, John Kersey published to some Friends and Members of the Corporation, a Remonstrance containing the Heads of the aforesaid Petition, in these words:  

A Brief Remonstrance of JOHN KERSEY, late Clerk of the Trinity-House.  
The Remonstrant showeth,  
THat after the expiration of about five years' Service as an Under-Clerk to his Predecessor Josias Best, the Remonstrant was by the general liking and approbation of the whole Corporation (the said Josias Best, for causes and considerations him thereunto moving, voluntarily resigning his said Office) elected in his room, and continued principal Clerk therein for the space of Eight Years more, and by an Order of the said Corporation, Dated the 22th of May, 1641. Subscribed by all the Corporation then present, enabled so to continue so long as he should behave himself as should become an honest man, which is generally understood during Life.  
That the Remonstrant promoting the Personal Treaty with the Late King of Blessed Memory, by all endeavours and interests, which were not small, by reason of the great influence he had among Seamen of the best quality, and the particular knowledge he had how most of them stood affected as to Loyalty and Allegiance; the said Treaty not happily succeeding, the Petitioner was forced out of his said Employment in 1648, by the Usurped Tyrannical Power then governing, and also the whole Corporation for Eleven Years odd Months dissolved.  
The Remonstrant, when the Personal Treaty was on foot, got an appearance at several times in the space of ten days, of 468 Masters and Commanders of Ships, of the most eminent belonging to the Port of London, who cheerfully subscribed to the Petition for a Personal Treaty; he also took up divers Letters from unknown persons, directed to the Trinity-House, and delivered them to the Corporation in full Court, when no person else would adventure to do it; the Scope and Tenor of which, was to incite and spur the Corporation to be active in that juncture of time, and to follow the example of divers Corporations, who had already appeared by Petition in this weighty Affair: which was accordingly done, though the deplored success answered not the Prayers and Hopes of His Majesty's True and Loyal Subjects.  
The Remonstrant by his own Interest with the Searchers at Gravesend, got passage for the Bishop of Kerry, and Col. John Price, with divers other proscribed Gentlemen that were active for His Majesty and His Affairs, who in safety arrived at divers Ports beyond the Seas, though to the hazard of the Remonstrant's Life and Office.  
That upon the reassumption of the Secluded Members of Parliament, the surviving Wardens and Elder Brethren of the Trinity-House re-assumed their places also, which were but Eight of Thirty & one, and Petitioned the Parliament, that they might new Model their Corporation; which was granted, and an Act passed to empower them so to do.  
The Remonstrant, according to his Duty, petitioned the Trinity-House the 27th of October, 1661.; but being denied to have any Friend accompany him at the Hearing, which in reason ought to have been free, they only put him to the proof of one particular mentioned in the foregoing Petition, viz. So long to continue as he should behave himself as should become an honest man.  
The Remonstrant did it by a Copy of the Original, which by fortune he had preserved; but their Faith was as in many other matters, of no such long extent as to believe it, unless I could prove it out of their own Record. This put me hard to't; for my Successor Edward Keeling, accounting himself as one of the then Elder Brethren, and sitting among them (by what power I know not) after some Hums and screwed countenances, as if he had expected a Revelation, the modern way being not quite out of fashion, affirmed, he had taken more pains than any man in viewing and searching the Records of the Trinity-House, but could never find any to that purpose. Here was my Definitive Sentence, and all my hopes vanished; for I easily perceived that particular interest swayed more for the present Clerk than for me. But Providence gave me yet a thread to hold by; Capt. Brian Harrison, one of the former Elder Brethren, sitting then as Warden, or Deputy-Warden, affirmed in my favour, that such words he well remembered was in the Order whereby I was made Clerk, and wished me to recollect what manner of Book it was in, and he would be at the trouble to seek it out, and did so; I turned readily to it, but with much fear it had been expunged by those that durst do any thing; but they had missed it, and so had Edward Keeling; for I found it and read it, which, in my thoughts, made much for me. The Corporation would not insist much upon Argument, desired me to withdraw, and upon return, received this Answer as before mentioned, from some of them, That they found a Clerk at their new Modelling, and conceive they cannot do him that wrong, as to eject him, and me that right as to receive me; and from the Chairman, in the name and behalf of those present, That they did conceive they had power to choose their own Clerk; a Clerk they had chosen, and him they would stand by.  
The case is therefore clear, that John Kersey was outed for promoting the Personal Treaty, and for no other cause, as by two Certificates, one under the hands of a great number of the best Masters of Ships belonging to this Port of London, and another under the hands of divers of the most eminent Merchants, and other persons dwelling and residing about this City, may appear; the Copies whereof shall hereafter be set forth.  
That the promoting the Personal Treaty, was a Service to the King, and to all Loyal Subjects, though it did not happily succeed, and no crime or misdemeanour, therefore cannot continue outed unless they will own the Power legal that ejected him.  
That the if Will of some few of the Corporation, which sways the rest, joined with a particular Interest, which may be made out, must be a Law:  
It is humbly offered to the whole Corporation, that if it may not be thought fit that the Remonstrant be continued for the future to officiate in the said Office of Clerk of the Trinity-House, with all its usual and former Perquisites and Fees heretofore belonging, or in any wise appertaining to the same:  
That then some other experienced and able person of known Loyalty and Fidelity proper for that employment, may succeed in that place hereafter, that so those that are, and have been True and Loyal to His Majesty in his greatest Exigences, may receive and communicate of those happy Benefits which others, not having the least merited the same, do now most comfortably enjoy: And to the intent that all memory of that horrid Usurper and Tyrant O. Cromwell may be expunged and obliterated, the Remonstrant further implores,  
That the Branches and Remains of him may be expelled, to make room for such a person who may wave all private Interest for the Service of His Majesty, and Advance of the Public, as the Remonstrant hath been accustomed to do, and for which he hath this Twelve years continued a patiented, though extreme Sufferer.   

The aforesaid Remonstrance coming to view (as no question but it did) of some of the Grandees of Trinity-House, was no whit pleasant, insomuch as it is more than probable they might be quit with me at the next turn. It fortuned that Ralph Keeling died in August following; having timely notice thereof, I made a second Address by Petition again, verily believing no Obstacle; but found such success as before. The Copy of that Petition likewise followeth.   

To the Right Worshipful the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, etc.  
The Petition of John Kersey,  
Sheweth,  
THat in October last the Petitioner made his Address by Petition to this Eminent Corporation, setting forth the time of his Admission, his Continuance, and his Exit, and the grounds and causes of either of them.  
That there was one clause in the said Petition, viz. (so to continue so long as he behaved himself as should become an honest man, which was inclusive in the Order when your Petitioner was constituted Clerk, and Signed by the whole Corporation then present) was in hard measure to your Petitioner put to proof, and no acknowledgement of any such Record by the late Clerk, the Petitioners pretended Successor; but upon strict search of the Register, was found to be recorded in the same Terms as the Petitioner set forth.  
That the Petitioner lost the said Employment, not for any Misdemeanour or insufficiency, but for promoting the Personal Treaty with the Late King Charles of Blessed Memory, the unfortunate success whereof, involved not only the Petitioner, but this whole Corporation in a general Dissolution for Twelve Years.  
That your Petitioner had more than hopes of reassuming his said Office at the Restauration of His Sacred Majesty, knowing so many of the Elder Brethren as were then alive, without any let or disturbance reassume theirs: But when your Petitioner, as in duty bound, applied himself by Petition, found this Answer from some of the Corporation, That they could not do a man whom they found in the Employment, so much wrong to eject him, and right as to receive the Petitioner: and upon further result of the Corporation, your Petitioner received a more harsh Answer, which he hath had sad cause to remember.  
Notwithstanding your Petitioner hopes that upon this second Review of the Petitioners long suffering, his present necessities, and the loss of reputation, if not readmitted, this juncture of time also occurring whereby no room is left for pretences of injury for, or to any other person;  
He prays, That putting in caution for his fair Demeanour and Fidelity, he may receive the influence of your Worship's Favour, by his readmission, or some moderate and conscionable Satisfaction for his loss of the prime of his time spent in your Worship's Service, and Disbursement of a considerable Sum of Money (though in his own wrong) to his Predecessor, at the time of his Constitution.  
And your Petitioner shall pray, etc.   

This Second Petition was accompanied with the same persons in the Month of August following, and I was received with very fair words and seeming respect; but all were Chimaeras; my Friends denied as before, to hear any thing I might offer them.  
The Court being sat, I was called in among Four others (Suitors for the place) we were all answered according to custom, That the Corporation would take our desires into considerrtion; that the Design was laid, the Knight must always beat the Giant; William Witherington, who had been a Sub-Clerk there for some years, was chosen to counterbalance the Petitioner, which else had carried it from the rest; but the Squib is not yet at the end of the Rope. Witherington after a formal possession of the place some few days, falls sick, and although there were fair hopes of Death, recovers; yet however the Design for Mr Askew must hold, who (to say truth) was better qualified in other Mysteries than in Clerkship. Here the Remonstrant pleads ignorance by what Device they pulled in Askew by head and shoulders, and laid aside Witherington, who is but a Sub-Clerk to this day.   

The Copies of Two Certificates, one of Commanders of Ships belonging to this Port of London; the other of Merchants, and others of eminent Quality, in the behalf of the Remonstrant, signifying his good Carriage, Behaviour and Conversation.  
WE whose Names are here-under written, being Masters and Owners of Shipping, and related to Marine Affairs, having had long knowledge and experience of the Bearer hereof, John Kersey, formerly Clerk of the Guild-Fraternity or Brotherhood of the Trinity-House of Deptford-Strond in the County of Kent, do hereby Certify and Inform, that the said John Kersey being duly, lawfully and generally elected and chosen Clerk of the said Fraternity, did exercise the said Office for many years, to the general liking and approbation of the said Corporation, and of all such other persons as had occasion to make use of him in his said Office and Employment, being a well ordered person, courteous and affable in his Conversation, of good ability in the performance of the Employment aforesaid; and withal, both ready and willing to give every man Dispatches according to their several and earnest occasions. And that for so much as we know, or have ever heard, there was no dislike against him by any of the said Corporation: And this we are very certain and confident to affirm, that he was never ejected or dismissed by the said Corporation for any cause of disability, dislike or misbehaviour; but only upon the same cause and reason the whole Corporation aforesaid was dissolved; that is to say, for abetting, aiding, assisting and promoting the Personal Treaty with His Late Majesty of Blessed Memory. In prosecution whereof, he (according to his continued Loyalty) was to the utmost of his power and interest, both active, earnest and vigorous.  
July 29, 1660. Subscribed by 40 Commanders, as aforesaid; and Another of the same tenor, Subscribed by 50 Merchants and other persons of eminent quality.  
When Mr Peapes entered, I knew not till above a Twelvemonth after; which saved me the labour of a Third Address, and so there was nothing heard of me: Since Mr Peapes his Death, I made another Address, but had an ambiguous answer from Two Members of the Corporation: One affirmed the Business was done already; that is, there was a new Election; and the other told me, there would be no Election till fourteen days were passed; yet upon Monday following, being an unusual day for Meeting, there was a Court called, and Mr Gibson chosen; which prevented my Fourth Address.  
The Sight of this Paper to Ingenuous  persons of the Corporation aforesaid, that knew me not, Time having worn me out of remembrance, may perhaps give them a sight of my Sufferings, and so consequently may beget both Pity and Charity. I shall make further application to them as Time and Opportunity will direct, not intending willingly to quit my Right in the said Office till the expiration of my Breath.  
JOHN KERSEY.