The several Humble PETITIONS OF 

D. BASTWICKE.  
M. BURTON.  
M. PRYNNE.   And of 

NATH. WICKINS, Servant to the said Mr PRYNNE.   To the Honourable house of PARLIAMENT.  
Whereto is added the humble petitions of several Friends of the said Mr PRYNNE, and the acknowledgement prescribed to be made by Calvin Bruen, and the rest, in the Cathedral Church of Chester, and Town-Hall thereof, for visiting the said Mr. PRYNNE.  
Printed in the Year, 1641.   

 portrait in oval frame of William Prynne 

All flesh is Grass, the best men vanity;  
This, but a shadow, here before thine eye,  
Of him, whose wondrous changes clearly show,  
That GOD, not men, sways all things here below.     

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons house of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of William Prynne, late exile, and close Prisoner, in the I'll of Jersey.  
In all humbleness showeth,  
THat your Petitioner, though not conscientious to himself of any voluntary or apparent offence against the Laws of the Realm (to which he ever studied to conform himself) through the malicious practices and persecutions of some Prelates and Churchmen, (especially the now Archbishop of Canterbury, and Peter Heylin, Doctor in Divinity) whose errors and Innovations, contrary to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, and extravagancies, in the high Commission, and other Ecclesiastical Courts, your Petitioner for his own relief, being there unjustly profecuted (had to his weak power oppugned) hath within eight year's last passed, undergone two heavy Censures in the Star-chamber Court.  
The first upon an Information there exhibited against your Petitioner, by M. No●, deceased, than Attorney General, for some misconstrued passages, inoffensive in themselves, and in your Petitioners true intention, being for the most part the words of other approved Authors, comprised in a Book, styled Histriomastix, written by the petitioner, against common Interludes, and licenced for the press by M. Thomas Buckner, household Chaplain to the then Archbishop of Canterbury, authorized by the State to licence Books, and by him exactly perused, and approved both in the written and printed Copy, before its publication, and so confessed in the information; for which authorised Book and passages, your Petitioner before the hearing of the cause, was not only imprisoned in the Tower of London without Bail of Manuprise, for a whole year's space, denied access to his Counsel, convenient time to examine witnesses, and make Breviates to instruct his Counsel (the information being General, and reciting no particular Clauses of the Book excepted against) this exhibits, the only means of his defence, Illegally suppressed: some of his Counsel Tampered with to make no justification, contrary to your Petitioners instructions, and desire, whereby his cause was miscarried: But also at the hearing, by reason of those malitions and perverse glosses on the said passages, which the said Heylin had collected and presented to his Majesty's learned Counsel, who repeated his Instructions only; your Petitioner was fined 3000 l. to his Majesty, expelled the University of Oxford, and Lyncolnes' inn, degraded from his profession of the Law, wherein he never offended, Set in the Pillory in the Palace-yard at Westminster, where he lost one of his Ears. And two days after on the Pillory in Cheapside, where he lost the other ear, and had his said Lycensed Books there publicly burnt before his face, by the Hangman, in a most disgraceful manner; and adjudged after to remain a prisoner during his life.  
That after the said censure to defame and injure your Petitioner the more, he was charged wrongfully in the Decree, as censured for Perjury, (though not taxed for it by the Court) and between his sufferings in the Pillory, the Books of his Study (twice surveyed, and restored to him by order from the Lords) before any (fine estreated) by a warrant out of the High Commission signed by the said Archbishop & others, were seized by on Cross a messenger, who carried them to his house, with which your Petitioner charging the said Archbishop upon occasion, in the open Court of Star-chamber; he there publicly disavowed the same (though your Petitioner can yet produce it under his own hand) promising withal, that the Books should be restored forthwith; which notwithstanding were all still detained by his means, till they were extended and sold for your Petitioners Fine: Who shortly after by an Order out of the said Court, sent to the Tower to be executed, was there shut up close Prisoner, and Doctor Reeves sent thither to search his Chamber for the Pamphlet, which the said Archbishop would wrongfully have Fathered upon your Petitioner, whose friends have been unjustly prosecuted in the Exchequer, and elsewhere sundry years, for his Fine aforesaid.  
And your Petitioner further saith, that about Easter was three years, during his imprisonment in the Tower, by means of the said Archbishop, a new information was exhibited in the said Court against your Petitioner, and others, with certain Books thereto annexed; Denying the Prelates jurisdiction over other Ministers, to be jure-divino. Charging them with many errors and Innovations in Religion, Usurpation upon his Majesty's Prerogative, and Subjects liberty, abuses, and extortions, in the high Commission, And other Ecclesiastical Courts, suppressing Preaching, And painful Ministers without a cause; Lycensing Popish, Arminian, and other Erroneous Books Against the Sabbath, setting up Altars, Images, And Crucifixes, Removing, and Railing in Communion Tables, and Bowing down to them, Altering the Book of Common Prayer, the Books for the Gunpowder Treason, and late Fast in some Material passages in favour of Popery and Papists. Which thing, (though very notorious, and oft complained against by this Honourable house, in former and late Parliaments) were yet reputed Scandalous. And though neither of the said Books was particularly charged on your Petitioner, in the said information, nor any witness produced to prove him either Author, or disperser of any of them; yet by denying your Petitioner liberty to draw up his own Answer, (though once a Barister at Law) when as his Assigned Counsel refused to do it, by close Imprisoning your Petitioner, and his Servant, by debarring him, Pen, Ink, and Paper, whereby to Answer, or Instruct his Counsel, searching his chamber, and taking away part of his Answer there found, denying him Access to his Counsel, and conference with his Co-defendants, even at Counsel, though jointly charged with him, Rejecting the Cross Bill exhibited by him for his defence; threatening Master Holt, one of your Petitioners Assigned Counsel, sent by the then Lord Keeper to the Tower, to draw up your Petitioners Answer, and commanding him not to sign it, after it was engrossed: Whereupon he refused to subscribe it, contrary to his promise to your Petitioner, and by refusing to accept your Petitioners Answers to the said Information, signed with his own, and Master Tomlins, the other of his Counsels hands, though tendered by your Petitioner, both at the Star chamber Office, and in the open Court at the hearing the said Information, for default of Answer, (though two Answers were thereto tendered by your Petitioner) was taken Pro confesso against your Petitioner, and he thereupon Fyn'd five thousand pounds to his Majesty, Pillored, Stigmatised on both cheeks, Mutilated and dismembered, in a most Barbarous manner, and the small remainder of his Ears, left after his first execution, cut off, to the hazard of his hearing, and life, Adjudged to perpetual close imprisonment in the Goal of Carnarvan castle in North-wales, a Nasty Dog-hole, fare remote from your Petitioners Friends. Which sentence was undu'ly drawn up and executed upon your Petitioner, as his Attorneys Clerk informed him, before it was entered into the Book, or your Petitioner could get any Copy of it, to except against the same, as he had just cause.  
That immediately after the Execution of the same sentence, your Petitioner sent to the said Archbishop to desire him to release, or Bail his servant (who was detained close prisoner for ten week's space in the messengers hands, and oft examined and solicited by fair promises, and threaten causlessely to accuse your Petitioner, against whom they wanted evidence) that so he might attend him during his sores, which the said ArchBishop out of his Grace and Charity, utterly refused: saying that he intended to proceed against his said servant in the High Commission, where he hath ever since vexed, censured, and banded him from Prison to Prison, only for refusing to accuse and betray your Petitioner.  
That after the said heavy sentence, your Petitioner by an order in the said Court, (by way of addition to the said Censure,) was inhibited the use of Pen, ink and Paper, and all Books; except the Bible, and the Book of Common-Prayer, and some few Books for private Devotion, and before his wounds were perfectly cured, he was by order removed from the Tower to Carnarvan; and some of his friends in Chester, who visited him there in his passage, in the presence of his Conductors, who had no order to restrain any person from resorting to him, were for this very cause sent for by a Messenger, to appear before the Lords of the Privy Counsel, and likewise cited into the High Commission at York, where they were imprisoned, and fined, to the ruin of their estates, enjoined to make a public Recantation in the Cathedral Church, and in the Towne-Hall of Chester. The said Commissioners further decreeing that three pictures of your petitioners found in Chester, should be publicly burnt at the high Cross there, which was done accordingly.  
That your Petitioner since his said sentence, hath been publicly reviled at, and libelled against, both by the high Commissioners at York, and in sundry Churches, both at Chester, and else where, & in divers licenced printed books compiled by the said Heylin, and published by the Arch-Bishops privity or command, & that sundry of his friends houses, studies, Books, and writings have been violently broken up, ransacked and taken away, and themselves prosecuted in the high Commission, out of malice, for the relation they had to your Petitioner.  
That after your Petitioner had continued some ten week's space close prisoner in Carnarvan, he was about three years since, by a warrant from the Lords of the Counsel, made in the summer vacation (to which the said Arch-Bishops hand was first subscribed) ordered by way of Exile, to be embarked and transported with all privacy into one of the Castles in the I'll of jersey, and his conductors thereby charged not to admit any person whatsoever, but themselves only, to speak with your Petitioner in his passage: Whereupon after some injuries there received by M. Griffith, the King's Attorney in those parts (who endeavoured to seize upon the furniture of his chamber for his own use) your Petitioner was embarked among Papists, in a bruised shipwrecked vessel, full of leaks, and after fourteen week's voyage in the Winter season, through dangerous storms and seas, which spoiled most of his stuff, and bedding, and threatening often shipwreck to him, he arrived at the said I'll, and was conveyed close prisoner into Mount Orgatile castle, there where the Lieutenant Governor by an other extrajudicial Order, to which the said Arch-Bishops name was first ordered, to keep your Petitioner close prisoner in a chamber, suffer none but his keepers to speak with him, to intercept all letters to him; to permit him neither pen, Ink, nor paper, either to write to his friends for necessaries, or to petition for relief, and to permit him no Book but the Bible, and those aforenamed books, without giving any order for his diet there, so that being deprived of his calling, and estate, exiled and shut up close prisoner among strangers, remote from all his friends, denied all address to him by person or letters, he had certainly perished in his almost three years close imprisonment there, had not the extraordinary providence and goodness of God (which he shall ever adore) and the noble charity of those, under whose custody he did remain, furnished him with such diet and necessaries, as preserved him both in health and life, in this his close imprisonment and exile.  
May it therefore please this Honourable House, to take these your petitioners almost eight years tragical grievances, of new and dangerous example, into your most sad and just considerations, that so they may not become precedents to the prejudice of posterity; to grant him liberty to send for, and examine all necessary witnesses: to order all Clerks, Registers, and other officers of the Star-Chamber, or elsewhere, speedily and freely to grant him the copies of such orders, decrees, and writings, as his cause shall require, to release him upon Bale, (being now but a prisoner only upon an extrajudicial order of the Lords, and not by Virtue of any sentence or decree in Court) To grant him liberty to plead and prosecute his own cause, since counsel hath so often failed him, and to give him such satisfaction and relief as the Justice and equity of his cause shall merit.  
And your Petitioner shall ever pray for your safeties, WILLIAM PRYNNE.   

 portrait in oval frame of John Bastwick 

Man's days are vain, and as a flower they fade,  
here's one proclaims, whereon man's life is stayed;  
His sufferings, Changes, Comforts, in strict thrall,  
Shows GOD alone preserves, and Governs all.     

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons house of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of john Bastwicke, Doctor in Physic, lately retained close Prisoner and exile, in the Island of Silly.  
Most humbly showeth,  
THat your Petitioner having about six years since set out a Book in Latin, called Elenchus Religionis Papisticae, with an Addition thereunto called Elagellum Pontificis, & Episcoporum Latialium, being thereunto provoked by one Richard Short, a Papist that maintained the Pope's supremacy, the Mass, and Papal Religion; In which Book your Petitioner, (for preventing all misinterpretations, of his pious, and good intentions therein) in his Epistle to the Reader, fully declared himself, that your Petitioner meant nothing against such Bishops, as acknowledged their Authority from Kings and Emperors, yet because your Petitioner (the better ever to show the Papal usurpation of other Princes) therein, only maintained by way of Argument (as other Orthodox writers of that Subject usually have done) a parity of the said Bishop of Rome, or all other Bishops or Presbitters, by the word of God, denying his and their supremacy over other Ministers to be by the Divine institution.  
Thereupon a Pursuivant by Authority from the high Commission Court, came into your Petitioners house, at Colchester in Essex, in his absence; And the said Pursuivant assisted with the then Bailiffs and Constables of Colchester aforesaid, ransacked his said house, together with his Chests and Trunks, and with great violence broke open your Petitioners Study, which was in his Apothecary's house, and took and carried away divers of your Petitioners Books, Writings, Letters, and what else the Pursuivant pleased, without making of restitution of them to your Petitioner.  
And then your Petitioner was prosecuted in the said high Commission Court principally, for his said Book, where after a long and charitable prosecution, he was the 12. of February 1634, fined 1000li. to the King, excommunicated, debarred to practice Physic, the chiefest means of his livelihood, his said Book ordered to be burnt; That he should pay cost of suit, and be imprisoned till he should make a recantation; the which heavy censure was only for the said Book, wherein your Petitioner maintained the prerogative of a King against the Papacy. Whereas one Thomas Chawney of Essex, lately wrote a Book in maintenance of the Papal Religion, and in defence of the Church of Rome, and avers it to be a true Church, the which Book is dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was and is patronised and defended by the said Archbishop, and the said Chawney never troubled for it. After which censure declared as aforesaid; all the Bishops that were then present denied openly that they held their jurisdiction from his Majesty, and affirmed, that they had it from God only; and the Archbishop of Canterbury among many other Erroneous say uttered by him; maintained the said Chawneys Book, and maintained that the Church of Rome was a true Church, and that it erred not in fundamentals: and he, and other the said Bishops, there defamed the holy Scriptures, and abused reverend Master Calvin. In regard whereof, and for the vindicating of your Petitioners innocency in the matters for which he was most unjustly censured, as aforesaid, your Petitioner, published in Print another Book in Latin Entitled, Apologeticus add Presules Anglicanos, expressing the truth of his proceed and speeces of his said censure. For which last mentioned Book, and his Book called the Lettany (not then in Print) an information was exhibited against him and others in the Star-chamber, to which your Petitioners answer being drawn & engrossed, was only subscribed by himself, because he could get no counsel to set their hands to it; your Petitioner tendered the said answer first at the Star-chamber Office, and after in open Court at the Star-chamber Bar, but it would not be accepted, for want of counsellors hands to it, contrary to former Precedents. But the Court of Star-chamber took the said information Pro confesso, and censured Your Petitioner 5000 li. fine to the King, to stand in the Pillory, and to lose both his ears, and to be close prisoner in Lancaster castle in Cornwall: all which hath been executed upon him with great extremity, to the peril of his life. After all which extremity, your Petitioner (by what order he knoweth it not, it being no part of his censure in Star-chamber) was transported from the said castle, To the Island of Silly, a place so barren, that it affords not ordinary necessaries, where he hath been in close duration for three years or more, and not suffered to have any of his friends come at him, his (very Wife being prohibited by the Lords of the counsels order) under pain of imprisonment, not to set her foot upon any part of the said Island, to inquire of his welfare. So that your Petitioner hath been exiled from his wife and divers small children 3. years and more, besides the great straits and miseries which he hath sustained, during the said time. All which is contrary to the law of God and man, and the Liberties of a free Subject, and to the utter undoing of your Petitioner, his Wife, and children.  
May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly, to take these pressing grievances of your Petitioner into your considerations, and to afford him such relief therein, as in your grave Wisdoms shall seem Consonant to Justice and equity, and to assign him for Counsel, Master Atkins, Master Ludbore, Master Tomlins, Master Curdon, and Master Randall, to assist him in this his complaint, and to order that your Petitioner may take out Gratis, such Copies of the said Censures, Warrants and Orders, and other the proceed, in the said several Courts as shall or may any way concern this his sad, yet most just complaint, with warrant from this Honourable house, to bring in his witness.  
And your Petitioner as in duty bound, shall ever pray for your prosperities, JOHN BASTWICKE.   

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons house of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of Henry Burton, late exile, and close Prisoner in Castle Cornet, in the I'll of Garnsey.  
In all humbleness showeth,  
THat whereas your Petitioner, on the 5 of Novemb. 1636, did preach two Sermons in his own Parish Church, in S. Matthew Friday street, London, for the which he was in December then next following, summoned to appear before D. Duck, one of the Commissioners for causes Ecclesiastical, at Cheswicke, in the County of Middlesex: where (with the Register of the High Commission Court) the said D. Duck tendered to the Petitioner, the Oath Ex Officio, to answer to certain Articles there presented: which Oath the Petitioner refusing, to take, did then and there appeal from the said Court, unto the King's Majesty: which appeal the said D. Duck did admit, and the said Register by D. Duck's direction, did then, and there enter in writing.   portrait in oval frame of Henry Burton 

Lo here the shadow of a man set free  
From death, from grave, dost ask how this could be  
Doubt not; The virtue of CHRIST'S death hath done it  
And powerful prayers of his Redeemed ones won it.   
Notwithstanding which said appeal, a special High Commission Court, was shortly after called at London, consisting of 4, or 5 Doctors, where the said Commissioners proceeded illegally, to suspend the Petitioner in his absence, by means whereof, as of the threaten of the said Commissioners, he was enforced to keep his house, until a Sergeant at Arms, with divers Pursuivants, and other armed Officers, assisted by Alderman Abel, than Sheriff of London, beset the Petitioners House, at 11 of the Clock at night, and violently broke open his doors, with Iron Crows, and the like, and surprised him in his house, he making no resistance at all: where having first searched his study, and taking away such books as they pleased, they carried your Petitioner to prison, whence, the next day being the second of Febr. by a pretended order from the Lords of the Counsel, he was conveyed to the Fleet, and there kept close prisoner.  
During which imprisonment, an information was exhibited against the petitioner, and others, in his Majesty's Court of Star-Chamber, whereby he was charged (inter alia) with the publishing of a certain Book, containing, an Apology for an Appeal, with his said two Sermons, entitled, For God and the King, wherein he taught Subjects to yield all manner of due obedience to their lawful King, and reproved all lawless Innovations in Religion etc. Which Information, the petitioner upon his Oath under the hand of M. Holt, being then of his counsel, assigned by special order from the said Court, did put in his answer, wherein he alleged such things only, as his said Counsel conceived to be material, and pertinent for his just defence in publishing the said book, but denied all other matters in the said Information contained, which said Answer, being admitted and received in Court, the petitioner (being then a close prisoner) not only attended the exhibiting of Interrogatories, according to the custom of that Court, but withal, after some universal delay, did write unto the King's Attorney to hasten them: but before the examiner came, the petitioner heard that his said Answer was referred to S. john Bramston, Knight, Lord chief Justice of the King's Bench: Sir john Finch, then chief Justice of the Common-pleas, and was by them wholly expunged as impertinent and Scandalous (save only the not guilty) And the Petitioner understanding the answer he was to make to the Interrogatories was to be reckoned as a part of his answer, admitted in court, but afterwards expunged as impertinent & scandalous (as aforesaid): so as if he should then have answered the Interrogatories, he should thereby have assented to the said act of the said judges, and so to the condemnation of his cause before the hearing, whereby he should have contracted his former Oath, that his said Answer was a true Answer, and so should justly have brought himself under the guilt of wilful perjury, and his cause under just censure. For that very reason he held himself not bound, (as he conceived) to answer the Interrogatories, for that his said answer was so expunged, and the (Not Guilty) as the foot so tied to the head without the main body (and that in the Judges own words) as the Petitioner could not in any sort take or acknowledge it now for other than the Judges own answer, as may appear upon Record in the same Court.  
Nevertheless, the Court taking the same information Pro confesso, and refusing to admit a copy of the Petitioners own true answer, as also of his reasons of not answering the Interrogatories, both which at his Censure he tendered to the Court, desiring they might be then and there publicly read the 14. of june, 13. Caroli Regis, proceeded to censure, whereby your Petitioner was Censured in a Fine of 5000. li. to his Majesty, To be deprived of his Ecclesiastical Benefice, degraded from his Ministerial function and degrees in the University, and ordered to be set on the Pillory, where both his ears were to be cut off, confined to perpetual close imprisonment in Lancaster Castle, debarred the access of his wife or any other, to come to him, but only his Keeper, and denied the use of pen, ink, and paper. All which (except the Fine) was executed accordingly. And after his close imprisonment for twelve weeks in the common Gaol in the said Castle, he was (by what extrajudicial order he knows not) transported by the conduct of one Brian Burton appointed by the High Sheriff of Lancaster, (who used your Petitioner very basely and deceitfully, (in that his transportation) which was in the Winter season through dangerous seas; to the apparent hazard both of his health and life) to he said Castle of Garnsey, where he hath remained a close prisoner and exile almost three whole years, his wife utterly prohibited upon pain of imprisonment to set her foot upon any part of the Island, where she might but inquire how her husband did, contrary to the Laws of God and the liberties of this Kingdom.  
May it therefore please this Honourable House, to take the Petitioners sad cause into consideration, and for the better manifestation of his grievance in this cause, to assign him for Counsel Master Serjeant Atkins, Master Tomlins, and Master Gurdon, to assist him in his cause, and to command that he may take out such copies Gratis out of the said several Courts as do or may concern his said cause.  
And your Petitioner as in duty bound, shall daily pray for your prosperities. HENRY BURTON.   

The humble Petition of Nathanael Wickings servant to Master Prinne, and late prisoner in the White-Lion in Southwark.  
Most humbly showeth,  
THat more than 3 years and a half since, your Petitioner, being servatn to Master William Prinne then prisoner in the Tower, pending the last Information against his said Master in the Star-chamber, was apprehended in the Tower by a Messenger, by a warrant from the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Lords, and by him determined close prisoner by the space of ten weeks, that none could speak with him but his Majesty's Attorney General, & his Majesties then Solicitor, who examined him three several times, upon secrets of his said Masters, to extort some matter of accusation against his said Master by Dures.  
That after ten week's end, your Petitioner was from that close custody by warrant from the Counsel Board delivered over into the hands of john Rag, a Messenger attendant upon the High Commission Court, to be by him delivered to the Keeper of the Gatehouse: But the said Rag carried your Petitioner home to his own house, and there detained him two days and a night, till some of the High-Commissioners had signed a warrant for your Petitioners commitment to the Counter in Woodstreet, whereto he was carried by the said Rag, and charged with 26 shillings as his Fees due to him for the two days and nights he kept your Petitioner without order.  
That your Petitioner was after called before the High Commissioners at Lambeth, and there tendered the oath Ex officio, to wit, to answer all such Articles as should be objected against him without ever being permitted, either to see or hear them, though he desired the same. And for his refusing the said Oath, the Court declared him pro Confesso, and by their unanimous censure imposed a Fine of 1000 lib. on him, good round costs of suit, excommunicated and committed him bacl to remain Sub salva & arcta custodia, and not at any terms to walk abroad with his Keeper, until other order should be taken by the Court. One of the said Articles, (to which he could give no answer) running in these words.  
Item, we object to you Nath. Wickins, that you know or believe that the letter, which you carried to the Printer, to be set the first Letter upon the Book, was a very complete Letter, and so Artificially cut, as that to look on it the usual way, it seemed a complete and perfect C, but turned one side of it, and it appeared a Pope's head, and then turned another way, and there appeared an Army of men or Soldiers. And we require you to declare by virtue of your Oath to your best knowledge and belief, who or what was meant by the Pope's head in the said Letter or seal; and who or what by the Army of men or Soldiers? And who by the C? And whether by the C was meant the Lords Grace of Canterbury? and by the Pope's head that his Grace was meant? And that by the Army of men or Soldiers was meant, that his Grace would be the cause of Wars in this Kingdom about Religion, or some other like meaning or device,) which is likewise recited in his Censure in like terms.  
That your Petitioners Father was ordered to satisfy 22 pound 13 shillings 4 pence, for Fees due to the Messenger, who first seized him at 6 sh. 8 d. the day, for the 10. weeks he detained him Close Prisoner, when his Father had nothing to do with him, he being another man's Servant.  
That after your Petitioner had lain almost two years in the Counter, he was by the High Commissioners ordered to be sent to Wisbich Castie in the I'll of Elie there to remain a close Prisoner. But by a General Warrant from the Archbishop and some other Lords he was removed to the Gatehouse, and thence after a short abode there, removed to the White Lion in Southwark, where he lay almost a year, and was then from thence forced out by the disordered Rout that broke open that Prison, which tumult being appeased, he there voluntarily rendered himself again, and thence by a Warrant from the Lord Chief Justice Bramston he was transmitted to Newgate, where he lay above 23 weeks, and had lain there longer, had not he by his Counsel moved his Majesty's Judges of the King's Bench for a Habeas Corpus to be Bailed, upon which he was without any Warrant remanded to the White Lion instead of being Bailed; whereupon he moved the second time for a Habeas Corpus, on which when he was brought to the Bar he could not be Bailed till after 4 Motions, and 2 Rules made in the Cause.  
That your Petitioner during his said Imprisonments hath had his Chambers divers times searched, his Trunks and Boxes broken open; his licenced Books and lawful papers taken away, and never yet could have them returned.  
That your Petitioner hath made several humble addresses by petition to the Counsel Table, the High Commission Court, and Archbishop for Relief in his enlargement, or support, with maintenance, but could not obtain their Gracious Answers, especially the Archbishop, in regard he had vowed (as his own Household Servants reported) that your Petitioner should never be released as long as he breathed, without he would either submit to confess such things as should be required of him; as, what his Mr. did, and what he bade him to do; or to take the Oath Ex Officio.  
Alwhich Illegal Imprisonments of purpose to enforce him to betray and accuse his Innocent Mr. against the Laws of God, and the Realm, he humbly submits to the grave Consideration of this Honourable House, desiring such Recompense for his said false Imprisonments and Injuries as to your wisdoms shall seem most meet.  
And he as in duty bound shall ever pray. etc. NATHANAEL WICKINS.   

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons House of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of Peter juice, of the City of Chester, Stationer.  
Shows,  
THAt your Petitioner (though every way conformable to the Laws of this Realm, and Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, and of a peaceable disposition) about 3 years since, for visiting Mr. Prynne in his passage through Chester to the Castle of Carnarvan, by the consent of his Keeper, was by the means and direction of the Bishop of Chester Arrested by the Servant of Roger Blanchard Pursuivant for the High-Commissioners at York, to appear before them upon Chester Chair Evening, who forced him to enter into Bond, with Sureties to appear at the Court at Bishops-Thorpe on that day, which he did accordingly: And on the same day your Petitioners Wife was Arrested, and carried out of his House by night, by a Warrant from the said Commissioners to appear at Bishop-Thorpe the next day, being 80. miles from Chester, for which two Arrests he was enforced to pay six pound to Blanchard.  
That your Petitioner upon his Appearance was enforced to take an Oath to Answer sundry originals, and three papers of Additionall Articles, to his great vexation and expense, being kept at York in the said Pursulvants house, for the space of eight weeks, during which time, he was constrained to send down several Commissions for the Examination of his Wife, being unable to Travel, and dangerously sick, by means of the fright she took by the Pursuivants Arresting her, and carrying her away in the night, Your Petitioners House, Shop, and Study being three times searched in the mean time, by a Warrant from the Lords. And though nothing offensive was then found, or proved against him, but only his visiting Mr. Prynne in his passage through Chester, and that with the leave of his Conductours, Yet your Petitioner was by the said Commissioners fined 300. pound to his Majesty, Imprisoned in the Pursuivants House, to whom he paid 6. sh. 8. d. a day, besides his diet, until such time as he should enter into Bond, with Sureties, to make such a public acknowledgement of his pretended offence, in visiting Mr. Prynne, both in the Cathedral, and Common Hall of Chester, as the said Commissioners should prescribe; your Petitioner being enforced to pay divers great and unwarrantable Fees, both to the Pursuivants, Registers, Proctors, and other Officers of the said Court, to the value of 50. pound at the least; And though nothing was proved against his Wife, yet they forced him to pay the Charges of the Court, and Costs of Suit for her.  
That your Petitioner by reason of his said great Oppressions and Expenses, and through the persuasion of the said Bishop of Chester, and his Chancellor, was most against his Judgement and Conscience induced to make an unjust Acknowledgement in the said Cathedral before a great Assembly, where the said Bishop being then present, and his Chaplain Mr. Thomas Cordell preaching a Sermon for that purpose, wherein he bitterly inveighed against Mr. Prynne and his Fellow-sufferers, comparing them to Corah, Dathan and Abiram. And because your Petitioner changed one word of the Acknowledgement, saying ignorantly for wickedly, he was enjoined by the Bishop the same day at Evening to make a new Acknowledgement in the said Church before another Great Assembly; and after that, to make the first Acknowledgement in the Common Hall of Chester, before the Mayor and Aldermen, and all comers in; And enforced him to pay 4 pound to Blanchard for being present to see his Acknowledgement made.  
After which your Petitioner was constrained to pay 30. pound to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sugarloafs to his Servant Mr. Holford, for Composition of his said Fine of 30. pound; so that by reason of all the premises, your Petitioner hath expended at least the sum of 100 pound, and suffered damages to the value of 200. pound in his Trade and Reputation.  
May it please this Honourable House to take these your Petitioners Grievances, together with the jurisdiction of the said High-Commission Court into your just and Honourable Considerations, and to afford your Petitioner such Relief for his losses and damages, as the Justice and Equity of this Cause shall require.  
And your Petitioner shall ever pray, etc. PETER JUICE.   

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons house of Parliament.  
THE HUMBLE PETITION OF PETER LEIGH of the City of CHESTER, Grocer, and RICHARD GOLBORNE of CHESTER aforesaid Gentleman.  
Shows,  
THAT your Petitioners (though peaceable, and conformable to the Laws of the Realm, and Doctrine, and Discipline, by Law established in the Church of England) were about three years since (with William Trafford Deceased) Arrested by Roger Blanckhard, chief Pursuivant for the High Commission at York, (for Visiting Mr. William Prynne in his Journey to Carnarvan Castle, which they conceived they might Lawfully do, being his friends, and there being no order to the contrary) who upon their said Arrest, took of each of your Petitioners, 3 pound a piece, for his sees, and several Bonds of your Petitioners, for the appearance at the said High-Commission at York, within a short time after; which they did accordingly, and were committed to the said Blanchards custody, until such time as they entered into Bonds, to stand to the Order of the same Court: And upon your Petitioners appearance, divers Articles were exhibited against them, in the said Court; and the visiting of the said William Prynne, they confessed, but denied all miscarriages, or misdemeanours, charged against them, and averred that they accompanied him only in the presence of his Keepers. And your Petitioners, and the said Deceased, were to their great charge forced to attend at York, one of them, above a Month, and the other 3 weeks after they had Answers to the same Articles, before Sentence; and at last they were constrained to pay great sums of money, for Fees, and costs of Suit, on both sides, Doctor Matershed the King's Advocate, and the Proctors against them, receiving great sums of money of them, which with the Pursuivants Fees, amounted to above sixty pound. And your Petitioner, Peter Leigh, was fined 200 li. to the King's Majesty: and your other Petitioner 300 li. and the said William Trafford, 150 li. and for the same cause, and not any witness examined against any of them, were enjoined to make an acknowledgement, which before they would not do, in regard the same was against their consciences, and the Laws of this Realm as they believed; They were forced to flee into other Countries, and leave their Wives, and Children, Trades, and Professions; And in their absence the Pursuivants of the said Court came to their Houses, with Warrants, or intimations, which they caused to be published in your Petitioners Parish Churches in Chester aforesaid, and did so affright their Wives, that they being with Child, did soon after miscarry.  
And your Petitioners, and William Trafford, using all means for their freedom, could not prevail, but their fines were Estreated, and their Bonds returned into the Exchequer as forfeited; whereupon at last, that they might have some access, and favour, to and with the Archbishop of Canturbury, who, as they were informed, had only power to relieve them; They paid Doctor Merricke, one of the Advocates of the High-Commission Court at Canterbury, that they might have access to his Lordship, 35 li. at several times: They presented his Lordship also with two Butts of the best Sack, and gave one Mr. Holford, one of his Attendants 12 li. and other Gratuities, to other of his Servants, to the value of 20 li. more. All which were bestowed on the said Archbishop, and his Servants, by the advice and direction of the said Doctor Merricke: and after the acceptance thereof, the said Arch Bishop was content to take, and did take for your Petitioners and the said Traffords fines 240 li. more which they paid accordingly, and were forced to pay 40 li. more for fees in London, and at York concerning the said business; by which said expense, troubles, and neglect of their own Occasions, your Petitioners for their parts, have been damnified above 1000 li. and their estates almost thereby wholly mined: They being enforced to flee and wander into strange Countries for about four months together: your Petitioner Peter Leigh, then being a Tradesman, who dealt for above 4000 li. per annum, and then much indebted, had his Shop shut up, for above 3 months together, for fear of having his goods seized, for his forfeited Bond, and fine aforesaid. And your Petitioner Golborne thereby was so ruined in his Estate, that he for a long time after, with his Wife, and Children, lived upon the Benevolence of his Friends, and now is constrained to live in Service, being disabled for want of monies to go on in that course wherein formerly he was employed.  
May it therefore please this Honourable Assembly to take your Petitioners distressed estate into your grave Considerations, and to weigh their pretended Offences, and their severe and heavy punishments together, and to afford them such Relief for the great wrongs done unto them, and their Estates and Families by the Commissioners and Officers of the said High Commission, who have so rend and torn them in their Estates, as aforesaid; and by those who are the Authors of their Grievances and Oppressions, who have made a prey of them, by taking such Gratuities and sums of money of them, as aforesaid; when they or some of them were the Incendiaries of their Troubles and Vexations, and the Authors and procurers of their so heavy punishments, as in your grave Wisdoms shall seem convenient; That so other his Majesty's Subjects for the time future, may not be so grievously oppressed at man's pleasure.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, etc. 

PETER LEIGH.  
RICHARD GOLBORNE.     

TO THE HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons House of Parliament.  
The humble Petition of Calvin Bruen of the City of Chester.  
Shows,  
THAT your Petitioner (though every way conformable to the Laws of this Realm, and Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, and of a peaceable disposition) about 3 years since, was Arrested by Robert Blanchard Pursuivant for the High-Commissioners at York, who took of him for his Arrest 3 pounds, and a Bond for his appearance at York the 28. of September 1637. (being the Fair time at Chester) on which day your Petitioner received a Copy of a Warrant from the Lords of his Majesty's privy Counsel for his appearance before them with speed. The which Copy your Petitioner showed to the Archbishop of York, and others the said High-Commissioners there. Yet they the said High-Commissioners would not let him go, till he had taken the Oath Ex Officio, and paid Pursuivants Fees. And the same day in the evening one Gouldsborrough, a Messenger from the Lords came for your Petitioner Bruen, & made him pay him 10 li. for Fees. And your Petitioner afterwards appearing before the Lords of the Counsel was charged with accompanying Mr. William Prynne at his being in Chester, in his passage to the Castle of Carnarvan. But upon his offer to take his oath that he enquired of his Keepers if they had any Command from the Lords to restrain any one from coming to see him, and that the Keepers made your Petitioner this Answer, that there was no Command to the contrary. And the Lords ask him if he would take his Oath of that? he Answered yes. Whereupon they were satisfied, and gave him as he conceived, a discharge, and sent him away home. But immediately after your Petitioners return home, he was again summoned to appear at the High Commission at York, who appeared accordingly, and was again sworn, and several Articles exhibited against him for the aforesaid pretended offence; and for ex tempore Prayers, and Repetitions with Mr. Pryn: as also for procuring the Picture of the said Mr. Prynne to be drawn by a Limner in Chester.  
All which last particulars, your Petitioner denied, they being but false surmises, but confessed the visiting of the said Mr. Prynne, with the consent of his Keepers, which your Petitioner thought he might lawfully do; there being no Law or Order to the contrary. Yet for such supposed offences only without any Testimony or Witnesses, your Petitioner was Fined 500 pound, and ordered to pay all Costs and charges to Proctors, Messengers and Advocates, which came to 13. pound, or thereabouts for your Petitioner for one week only, which said 13. pound your Petitioner Bruen paid accordingly: whereof one Dr. Moctershed had 5. pound, being Advocate against him. And your Petitioner was enjoined to make this submission hereunto annexed.  
After which Sentence your Petitioner was Committed to the Pursuivants, till he put in Bond with two sufficient Sureties of 520. pound to stand to the Order of the Court, and then went home. But shortly after, refusing to make the acknowledgement aforesaid, was again by the said Pursuivant Imprisoned until he should make the said Acknowledgement, which he was much pressed unto by the Bishop and Chancellor of Chester, which said Bishop did assure him (as he the said Bishop should Answer before God) your Petitioner might safely do it.  
Your Petitioner being in Prison, and having left his means of living, he being kept from his Trade eight months, and his Wife and Children thereby brought to great distress, was forced by terrors and fears, and by the persuasion of the said Bishop and Chancellor, (on whose judgements your Petitioner much relied) to procure his enlargement from Imprisonment, by making the said Acknowledgement in the Cathedral Church of Chester, and the Common Hall thereof, and was forced to pay to the aforesaid Pursuivant Blanchard, (who came to see him do it) 5. pounds for Fees.  
After all which your Petitioner was forced twice more to go to York, being fourscore miles from his house, to take off his said Fine, if he could: But the Fine was certified into the Exchequer, and no help was to be had but by suit to the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom the said Fines were granted: who after your Petitioner and his Wife suing to him by the space of a whole month together, accepted of thirty pounds for your Petitioner.  
May it please this Honourable House to take this your Petitioners grievances into your grave Considerations, together with the jurisdiction of the Court of High Commission at York, where your Petitioner (besides sundry others) hath suffered so much vexation and oppression, only for visiting the said Mr. Prynne, to the damage of 500 pound at least: And to consider whether this pretended offence be such, as by the Law the said Court hath power to meddle with. And to award your Petitioner such speedy recompense for his said wrongs against the said Commissioners and their Instruments, as to your grave wisdom shall seem meet and convenient.  
And your Petitioner shall ever pray, etc. CALVIN BRUEN.   

Here follows a Copy of the Declaration or acknowledgement appointed by his Majesty's Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical within the Diocese and Province of York, to be done and performed by Calvin Bruen of the City of Chester, in the Cathedral Church of Chester, and Common Hall thereof.  
He is to be present in the Cathedral Church of Chester aforesaid at morning prayer, upon Sunday next coming, being the tenth of December instant, being in his accustomed apparel, where and when, immediately before the beginning of the Sermon, he shall stand upon some seat or stool before the Pulpit, and say, and receit after the Minister, as followeth; Whereas I have been of late convented before his Majesty's Commissioners, for causes Ecclesiastical, for the Diocese and Province of York. For that I countenanced, comforted, and abbetted one William Prynne, heretofore twice censured in his Majesty's Court of Star-chamber, for publishing seditious and scandalous books and libels. Namely, in that I waited upon him, to bring him into this City, and attended upon him at his going out of the City. By all which my carriage and misdemeanours, I have audaciously and wickedly (as much as in me lay) countenanced the said Prynne, and offereed an affront to his Majesty and the State, in their just proceed against him. And thereby also have brought a scandal and reproach upon the City; for all which my offences, upon my personal Avowers made to the Articles in that behalf objected against me, I stand legally and justly convicted by his Majesties said Commissioners and by them enjoined to make this declaration, and acknowledgement for the same.  
I do here in the presence of God and this Congregation confess my said Offences, and declare my hearty sorrow for the same. And do ask forgivenesle of God, the Church, the King's Majesty, and the State. As also of the whole Government both Ecclesiastical and Temporal of this place: against all whom I have so grievously offended. And in token that this my Confession for the present is hearty, and that I may obtain Grace hereafter to perform what I now rromise, and find mercy for what is past: I desire you all to say with me the Lords Prayer, Our Father, etc.  
FINIS.