THE Countrey-mans COMPLAINT.  
OR A true Account of the Moneys, given, and lent to the PARLIAMENT, since the year 1640. By William Pryor of Thurning, in the County of Huntingdon, His Means being but 17 l. 10 s. a year.  
Together with his Losses, Crosses, Vexations, and Imprisonments, by means of the Committees, Justices of the County, Lord Montague of Boudon, and Parson Wells of Thurning.  
Who with their Murdering Practices, have endeavoured (as much as in them lies) the destruction of the said Prior.  
Humbly presented to Parliament for Justice; to be relieved from his Oppressors.  Jere. 21.12. 
Execute judgement in the morning, and deliver him that u spoilt out of the hands of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none quench it, because of the evil of your do.  
Printed in the Year, 1649.   

A true account of the moneys given, and lent to the Parliament, since the year 1640. by William Pryor of Thurning, in the County of Huntingdon, together with the losses, crosses, vexations, and imprisonments undergone by the said William Pryor, by the means of the Committees of Huntingdon, by Justices of the County; who with their destructive practices, have endeavoured (as much as in them lie) the destruction of the said Prior, as will appear by this ensuing Catalogue.  
HIs means is worth by estimation, but 17 l. 10 s. per annum.  
1. Lent upon the Propositions, in Horse, Money, and Plate, 6 l. paid towards Horses charged 14 s. 3 d. paid for the Scotch Army 12 s. paid for the British Army in Ireland 1 l. 1 s. 6 d. paid for the English Army 16 l. 1 s. 6 d. paid towards the pressing and setting out of Soldiers; and for maimed Soldiers, Widows, and Orphans, of such as were slain in the Parliament service, 7 s. 4. d. paid towards Volunteers, and Bulworks making 9 s. paid to the Committees for fines and amercements, though he himself appeared with Horse, and Arms 1 l. 6 s. 7 d. paid towards the maintenance of the Eastern Garrisons, for disbanding Foot and Dragoons, and paying them a months pay 12 s. 6 d. for reducing of Newark 2 s. towards paying the Kingdoms debts 1 l. 7 s. Subsidy 1640 & 1641. 1 l. 4 s. Poll money 3 s. Contribution and Loan for Ireland 9 s. Carriages taken and impressed 3 s.  
II. Losses by the Cavaliers, viz Two Horses worth 18 l. and a Gelding with Bridles and Saddles, and himself taken prisoner, to his damage 8 l. and a Mare worth 6 l.  
III. Towards the raising of recrute for the Army at Saint Ives 17 l. given at the said time three Horses for the service, worth 20 l. spent upon five Alarms at Huntingdon, 5 l. spent in the service at the Lord Generals first going out of London, 2 l. spent in setting his son out of prison 3 l.  Sufferings by the Committee of Huntingdon. 
iv Had his Arms seized upon, viz. A sword and Fowling Piece▪ with a Pocket Pistol (which was none of his) and was forced to redeem them out of the Committees Agents hands, and to return the Pistol home again, he borrowing it only to assist Lieutenant General Cromwell against Burley, and afterwards, the Committee under pretence of sending for Cavaliers Arms, sent for his; and because the Pistol was wanting, (being none of his) he going along with them to Huntingdon, was five days imprisoned by the Committee, for not delivering up that (which was not his) to his damage (it being in the midst of Seed time, and he having no body to follow his business) in his Crop at Harvest 10 l. besides his expense in prison, and in promoting a Petition to the Earl of Manchester; notwithstanding at the same time, they left Cavaliers Arms hanging behind the door unseised upon, although they were told of them.  
V After this, he was summoned before Mr. Castle, one of Committee, and Mr. Bernard of Huntingdon, by Warrant, he appearing, it was demanded of him, Why he would not pay what was due to Mr. Wells, Parson; he answered, He owed him nothing; and if the Parson thought that he owed him any thing, the Law, and the ordinary Courts of Justice, were all open, when he should be ready to join issue with him; to which, the Justices replied, That there was an Ordinance of Parliament to enforce the payment of Tithes; but he denied that he owed him any thing. To that Mr. Bernard answered, That Tithes was due by Scripture, instancing that Scripture, That thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn: To which he replied, He was none of his Ox, neither did he tread out any of his Corn. Whereupon, the Justices desist at present, and Parson Wells got a Writ, and arrested the said Prior; upon which, he offered the common bail, which them Bailiff refused, sayjng, They must have two Subsidy men bound, or else he must to prison; and upon the same, carried him away from his business (Cattle getting to his Reek of Grain, by reason of his absence) to his damage 1 l. And being drawn away by Cavaliers Bailiffs, in a most horrid manner, beating, punching, and dragging him through the dirt to prison, where he continued fourteen hours, to his damage 1 l. And procuring two men to be bound, was released, and appeared by his Attorney at the next Term; yet notwithstanding his bail was arrested in a most unjust manner, for not appearing upon which, he was forced to go to London, in Harvest, to search the Records, whether there was any neglect in his Attorney, which be found contrary, to his damage 7 l. After this, the Parson lets the suit fall, and goeth to the Committee for a Warrant to distrain; upon which, the two forementioned Justices grant him a Warrant contrary to their Oaths, contrary to the Liberty of the Subject, contrary to the 29 Chapter of Magna Charta (the English man's Birthright) to break open any Doors, or Gates, to seize upon any Goods (as they that came to distrain, did declare.)  
The Bailiffs that came to distrain, was Masser of Luddington, and Wolman of Oundle, one of Major Butlers Soldiers.  
When they first came into the yard, they asked for him. It was replied, He was gone from home; whereupon they said, He did owe Mr. Wells money, and they came to distrain; and presently fell to driving away Cattle, and they drove away eight Cows, and Bullocks, worth 2●. l. but his wife, with those at home, endeavoured to resist, saying, They came like thiefs (she demanding their Warrant, which they refused to produce) the aforesaid Masser run at her with his sword, swearing he would run her through; upon which, she not stirring, he strikes her, thrusts her into a ditch, calling her whore, and presently drove the Cattle out of the County, which they ought not to have done by the Statute, and setting Malignants to prise them, and sold them unto their (and the Parliaments) utter enemies, within a day or two, when as they should have been unfold fifteen days, which was to his damage (by going to London, and many other places in Harvest time. The want of Milk, Butter, and Cheese, for his Family (besides the worth of the Beasts) 20 l.  Sufferings by the Lord Montague. 
First, He demanded Tithes of the said Prior for three Acres of Land, which he hath in the Lord Mountagues liberties; he pleaded he owed him none, saying, That which he had formerly practised, was a denying Christ to be come in the flesh; in general, denying the three offices of Christ, in particular, against three Articles of the National Covenant, and against the Law of the Land; all which particulars, he made appear, That his Lordship and his Chaplain had little to say. Moreover, He told his Lordship, if he had offended him he should satisfy himself out of his Land; telling his Lordship, That if he would demand the Free-simple of one of his Lands, he would not withstand him; but for Tithes his Conscience bound him to withstand him: Whereupon his Lordship was pleased to cause him to be arrested forcing him to put in Bond of 40 l. to appear in person at London, which according to the Law, he could not demand, keeping him four hours in prison, while he gave in that Bond, by which they forced him to stay all the Term, at London, at great expenses, waiting upon his Lordship's Declaration, which he did not deliver in that time, it being co his damage 10 l. And the said Prior, by reason of the corruption of the Lawyers, in cleaving to those that have biggest purse, and to dance after great men's pipes, by reason of whose influenced together with the Law-Monopolizers, the poor man's cause cannot be heard, nor Lawyers gotten to plead for him, which was his case: his Lawyer he got neglected his business, so that his Lordship got Judgement against him; which he hearing of, went up to London the next Term, and made Affidavit, and so stayed Execution, which was to his loss by time and money the value of 7 l. And afterward, he committed his business to a Lawyer of Lincoln's Inn, one Mr. Foster, he being not able to stay at London to follow his business, which Lawyer neglected his business, and so his Lordship had execution; which he most violently, unreasonably, and unworthily prosecuted against him, taking away for one year's Tithes, more goods than the Free-simple of the Land is worth; taking away three Beasts, worth 15 l. for one year's Tithes of that Land, which is worth but (according to the rate of that Land lying by it, even three Acres and a half) 11 s. 8 d. per annum.  
Neither did his Lordship yet cease his murdering, tyrannical practices, towards the said Prior, but caused his Horse to be pounded off his own ground by his Tenants, locking them to a post up to the Feet-locks in dirt, to destroy them, forcing him to reprieve them several times, not only to the spoiling his Horses, but hindering him in his business, in Tilling his Land, to his damage 40 l. Afterwards, forcing him to try his Title for his own-ground, the which being almost brought to a trial in the Country, his Lordship removed it to London, on purpose to make him to spend money, that if possible, he might destroy him; yet this cruel tyrant doth not rest here, but causeth the said Prior to be arrested the second time; and lest he should find out an honest Lawyer (which is hard to find) he chooseth him one himself, and forceth him to employ him (and many other evils) which if they should be mentioned, it would be much more labour to relate what the said Pryor hath suffered by this Tyrant, alias Lord.  
I shall only mention one thing more, in relation to the Title of the Land, viz. His Lordship having Agents abroad, to persuade men equally concerned with the said Prior, not to join with him, for his Lordship would hot meddle with them, only he was minded to tyre out the said Prior, witness Parson Wells his speaking to Thomas Smith of Warmington, and Masser of Luddington to William Collings of Thurning. His Lordship's tyranny, and injustice▪ towards the said Prior, hath, and doth occasion, and continually encourage Delinquents, and illaffected, to Parliament and Army, his Lordship siding with them, That they make it a matter of nothing to worry his Cattle to death; strike others with Forks, and break their backs. Sometimes they break up his close Hedges, other times his Gates, putting in their Cattle, cutting his Horse Ropes in the Field, to his intolerable prejudice, and vexation. These with many other, are his daily sufferings, besides his ●ears he receiveth by his (and the Parliament, and Armies) enemies, telling him, he will be for the Parliament again, they are his good Masters, how mightily they protect him! other times, if they can take him at an advantage, they drag him in to drink the King's health: It is impossible to reckon up his losses, crosses, vexations, and imprisonments, that he hath suffered for standing up to maintain the people's Liberties in Parliament; besides that, twelve years being in the Commissaries Courts, for not being subject to some of their Orders, before this Parliament began, being in continual vexations by the Bishop's Declarations, by Summers, Proctors, Informers, and other of that beastly vermin, etc.   

Postscript.  
GEntle Reader, Thou hast here presented unto thee a Catalogue of evils, undergone by the said William Pryor; by which it doth appear (that notwithstanding the Reformation that is in the Nation, since this Parliament) there yet remain great and intolerable oppressions, upon some particular persons, who without the Parliaments great care, to protect, and defend, in relieving them (according to their promises, being their, and the Kingdoms faithful Friends) they are like to be destroyed, not only by their, and the Parliaments enemies, but by pretended friends, as appeareth by this man, whose whole Estate was worth by estimation, but 17 1. 10 s. per anuum, as aforesaid: and out of that small Estate hath disbursed freely by gift and Taxes, 76 l. 6 s. 1 d. and besides that, hath had unjustly taken from him, as he is able to prove, 163 l. 6 s. 7 d. being in all, the just sum of 239 l. 12 s. 8 d. which is to the full two thirds of his Estate.  
FINIS.