To the High Court of Parliament of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Jreland.  
The humble Petition of THO: Nevil, Prisoner in the Fleet, in the behalf of himself and many more, in and about London.  
Showeth:  
That many of Your poor enslaved Petitioners suffer miserably (their Imprisonment being most unjust) others of your said Petitioners, by the late sad accidents of war, and their cruel Creditors, are utterly Undone; And although some of your Petitioners have more Owing them by the State, then will satisfy the Debts they lie for; ye● all of Us by spending what we either had or could borrow, upon lawyer's clerks and Solicitors, and in bringing up of our Witnesses several times, Fifty, a hundred, or two hundred miles, some more; by Order of the Judges, and in expectation of Relief by the late Act, are by the several Suspendings of the said Act and Ordinances, brought to a perishing Condition, having spent much and can borrow no more, Friends (and all weary with delays of justice) forsaking Us and many lying upon the bare boards for want of means, and some lately dead with Cold and Hunger.  
That many who lie as Sureties for other men, by the several suspendings of the Act and Ordinances, as aforesaid, their expenses having been so great, are likewise in much Misery; being some of them sued during this their Imprisonment by their cruel Gaolers for iron Fees, whilst the Principals, Executors, and Administrators of those deceased, though able to satisfy, contrive means to obscure and conceal their Estates.  
That your Petitioners, their Wives, Children, and Friends; and likewise many of their conscientious Creditors suffer much, whose cries if Man refuse to harken too, the Lord will Answer to the punishment of all those who obstruct their relief; seeing to relieve the poor, and set the oppressed Free, is a work so acceptable to him.  
Your Petitioners humble Prayer is, That during the vacancy of the Expected Act, the Judges suspended, or some others, may be again empowered to continue Sitting to relieve the poor who are many, and those who are undone by the accident of war; and likewise those, who lie for other men's Debts, who are able to satisfy; and that those may not perish for Bread, to whom the State owes more than will satisfy the Debts they lie for.  
And whereas your Petitioners finds the Charge of bringing up their Witnesses to London to be so great; that they may have Liberty, either upon good Security, to go down and be tried in their own Counties where they reside; or that their said Witnesses may be there Examined by the Judges, or next Justices; and their Examination being sent up, may be accepted of by the judges hear, seeing the Poverty of your Petitioners is so great, that many must lie and perish for want of means to bring their Witnesses up to London.  
And Your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c. Tho: Nevil, &c.