To the Right Honourable the Commons assembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of Sir Paul Pyndar, Sir John Jacob, Sir Job Harby, Sir Thomas Dawes, Executor to Sir Abraham Dawes, late dcceased, Sir Nicholas Crispe, Sir John Nulls, and Sir John Harrison, Knights; late contracted Farmers of the Customs, together with their Creditors. HUMBLY SHOWING, THAT the said Farmers, having hereunto annexed a short Remonstrance of the state of their present sad condition; with the Course of their proceed with His late Majesty and this Honourable House; and how far, and in what manner, both His Majesty, and the House, have thought fit to discharge and satisfy their disbursements and engagements, formerly assigned upon a Contracted Farm, to be paid out of the Receipt of the Customs, which were otherwise disposed of by the Parliament. And since having other security appointed by His Majesty for their satisfaction, with reference and order (upon their former Petition) that Ordinances should be prepared for their relief, according to the former engagements of the House. YOur Petitioners therefore do humbly pray, That this Honourable House would vouchsafe the reading this short annexed Remonstrance, and seriously consider the heavy pressure and burden your Petitioners have long sustained, by so great a Debt contracted upon them; and that report may be made of the true state and condition of their case, from the Committee of the Navy, long since referred and examined by them; whereby your Petitioners may receive a comfortable relief and satisfaction, for their Debt due unto them, by such ways and means as have been propounded, and that in order thereunto, some Acts may be prepared, according to former directions of this Honourable House: And we your Petitioners, with all ours, shall ever have occasion to acknowledge your Justice. And daily pray, etc. A brief Remonstrance of the state of the business of Sir Paul Pyndar, Sir John Jacob, Sir Job Harby, Sir Thomas Dawes, Executor to Sir Abraham Dawes, deceased, Sir Nicholas Crispe, Sir John Nulls, and Sir John Harrison, Knights; late contracted Farmers of the Customs, for their Debt owing by His late Majesty unto them thereupon. AFTER their security of the Customs was otherwise disposed of by the Parliament, the said contracted Farmers did apply themselves by Petition unto His said Majesty, for their satisfaction by some other branch of His Revenue. Which Petition was by His Majesty referred unto His then Commissioners of the Treasury, to consider some way of satisfaction of the Debt then due unto the Farmers. Whereupon the said Commissioners of the Treasury, did by their Certificate unto His Majesty, dated the 15 th'. of May, 1642. propose and advise His Majesty the best and most advantageous way for the satisfaction of the Farmer's said debt, to be out of the sale of such His Forest's lands, Chases and Parks, as are annual charges unto His Majesty, and serve not for His royal disport, whereby His Majesty should not only pay His Debt, but much advance His Revenue. His Majesty by His Letter, dated the first of june, 1642. from York directed unto His said Commissioners of the Treasury in answer to their Certificate of the 15 th'. of May, 1642 aforesaid, and taking thereby consideration of a Petition then exhibited unto His Majesty at York, with a schedule of the Farmer's Debt, together with interest incurred for the same, which He sends to the Commissioners, signified that for the reasons in the Certificate mentioned, He was very well inclined to discharge the Farmer's said Debt, and resolved by all possible ways and means speedily to satisfy the same; And therefore did thereby require with all convenient speed, a List of all His Parks, Forests, and Chases to be presented unto Him, to the end He might speedily give further order how to dispose of them. And His Majesty's Surveyour general was for the more speedy effecting His pleasure, required thereby to give particulars and constats of the premises unto the said Commissioners: Which was done accordingly by the said Surveyour general. And now the Farmer's business being brought to this mature condition, upon the very point of satisfaction, to be settled for their Debt, in the way aforesaid, the difference with His Majesty and Parliament then arising, and so continuing, did hinder the Farmers from any further applications unto His Majesty then what aforesaid. Yet notwithstanding the Farmer's groaning under so great a burden of Debt, could not but endeavour all means before them offered, and being made more miserable by a great fine paid by them to the Parliament, Anno 1641. (the sum being 165000l.) the House then considering the greatness of the Fine, and the special use and service the Commonwealth did receive at that present, by the speedy payment thereof, for the then disbanding of the English and Scottish Armies; the said Farmers were then promised, that care should be taken for the satisfaction of their Debt in due time. Hereupon the said Farmers in May, 1645. did renew their request unto the House of Commons by Petition, for order and directions, that their Debt and engagements might be discharged and satisfied. The House the 14 th'. of May, 1645. ordered, That the said Petition should be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Navy, who were to prepare Ordinances for the relief of the Petitioners, according to the former engagements of the House, and they had power to receive such propositions as should be tendered unto them by the Petitioners. In prosecution hereof, the Farmers did attend the Committee of the Navy several days, and did by their order, present unto them an Account of His Majesty's Debt then due (being 276146 l. 15s. 11d ΒΌ.) And further did give an account of their proceed and former engagements of His Majesty to be satisfied their Debt out of His Forests, Parks and Chases, as is aforementioned at large: And delivered unto the said Committee a copy of His Majesties said Letter, of the first of june, 1642. together with a particular List of the names of His Majesty's Forests, Parks and Chases, which was formerly delivered by the Surveyour general unto His Majesty's Commissioners of the Treasury. The Committee of the Navy after serious debate of this business, did in fine (as we were informed) come to this resolution, and ordered a report to be made forthwith unto the House, in answer unto the said reference, showing to the House, how the Petitioners might receive relief, according to the justness of their desires. This report the Farmers have often solicited, to be made, but the House being taken up with general and public business, could not admit of an opportunity or season to hear this particular, so that it remains ever since in this condition unreported. And without speedy relief herein, the said Farmers must perish in prison, to the utter ruin of themselves and families, together with many honest men, women, and orphans, for this engagement unhappily become their Creditors. FINIS.