To the Honourable the House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Answer of Nicholas Loftus Esq to the Petition of Christopher Syms.  
HE saith that there was such a Warrant as is set forth in the Petition directed to Sir Adam Loftus Knight, then and now Treasurer at Wars for Ireland, for the payment of 603 l. 13 s. 0 d. to part of the Train of Artillery, belonging to the Army, of 8000 Irish raised in the year 1640. then intended against the Scots: of which sum there was no part thereof mentioned, or intended to be due to the Petitioner, who was only then appointed a servant and Agent, to receive there moneys for them: Upon which Warrant this Respondent being then Deputy to Sir Adam Loftus, did at several times pay unto the Petitioner, and others for the said Train of Artillery: and by directions of the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland: the sum of 500 l. or , for which the said Sir Adam Loftus hath several Acquittances to produce: unto whom this Respondent hath lately given up a full Account of all matters then committed to his trust and charge: And as for the remain of the said Warrant: neither could the said Sir Adam Loftus, nor the Respondent his Deputy, pay the same to the Train of Artillery, as was intended; as likewise divers other Warrants for great sums: for want then of moneys in the King's Exchequer, the Treasure being so exhausted by the foresaid Irish Army; and that Army being then to be disbanded, there wanted moneys for that purpose: so that Sir Adam Loftus, to prevent the dangerous consequence that might arise, by those rude and barbarous Soldiers, in their disbanding: Did then engage himself, his eldest Son, Sir Arthur Loftus, and divers others of his Friends, with this Respondent: and took up great sums of moneys upon their credits, to help to disband them with quietness: which great sums his Majesty is to make satisfaction for hereafter, and for which the said Sir Adam Loftus his Friends, and this Respondent are still engaged, by reason the Rebellion there, breaking out so suddenly, there came in no part of the King's Revenues of Ireland, to discharge their foresaid engagements, nor many other great sums of moneys, disbursed then, and before for the King. This Respondent further saith, that upon payment of part of the foresaid sum of 603 l. 13 s. 0 d. to the Petitioner, as is abovesaid, he the said Petitioner did at that time deliver up the foresaid warrant to this Respondent, being necessary so to do: that it might be produced before the Commissioners of Accounts, to pass so much as this Respondent had truly paid thereof, and no more, which Warrant doth remain on Record, in the Office of the Auditor-Generall of Ireland, by which the whole truth of this Answer may fully appear: And this Respondent doth believe, that either himself or his Servant, did then give the Petitioner a note in writing, declaring what sums were then paid to the Petitioner, on the foresaid Warrant, and what did then rest unpaid thereof: This Respondent also saith, and is able to make it evidently for to appear, by authentic Records, that he hath not passed any more of the said Warrant on his Accounts, than truly, and Re-vera, he hath paid thereof, and for which he hath Acquittances to produce: Nor hath this Respondent taken poundage for any more of the said Warrant, than he hath truly paid and passed in his Accounts, as of right he ought to do, and which was just and lawful for him to take: neither did this Respondent ever desire, or intent, or if he were willing so to do; was it in his power to make use, advantage, or profit, of the remain of the foresaid Warrant, which rests yet unpaid, as is suggested by the Petitioner: And further, this Respondent saith, that if the Petitioner have any such Certificate from the Clerk of the Bells, (as he allegeth he hath) it is apparently false, or the Clerk is therein very much mistaken; for that the Petitioner allegeth his Certificate to be made about four or five years since, in July 1641. at which time the foresaid Warrant was not passed on any Account, until May last, 1646. Since which time the Petitioner cannot say, that he had any Certificate thereof from the Clerk of the Bells: And therefore this Respondent humbly prayeth, that he may be dismissed with such reparations as this Honourable House shall think fit.  
NICHOLAS LOFTUS.   

Printed at London, by John De●● & Robert Ibbitson. 1646.