To the Honourable the Commons House of ENGLAND. The humble Petition and Representation of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrisons of Portsmouth, Southsea Castle, Southton, Hurst Castle, Poole and Brownsea Castle, Weymouth, The Castles, Forts and Forces in the Isle of Wight, and the Garrison of Malmsbury, together with many thousand public spirited persons of those places and parts adjacent.  
SHOWETHS,  
THAT as we have with all readiness and cheerfulness served our Country against the Tyrannical Oppressors thereof; So we do, at present, conceive ourselves in duty obliged to express the deep sense we still retain of the several weighty, and insupportable burdens, which the Oppressed Commonalty for a long time have been, and still are groaning under. For the speedy removal whereof, We apply ourselves to this Honourable House, who undoubtedly ought to relieve the Nation herein, you having now opportunity with power in your hands; God making the Army, and all well-affected people as Walls and Bulwarks to defend you, whilst you faithfully discharge that Trust committed to you for the benefit of this Nation. And being assured, that it is our undoubted right, as Members of the Commonwealth, to represent the grievances thereof to you by way of Petition, and to offer such suitable remedies as we apprehend to be effectual for their redress; We humbly tender these ensuing particulars to your serious and speedy consideration.  
That Justice is not yet executed upon the Grand Delinquents and Authors of our miseries, bloodshed and calamities, notwithstanding the many and earnest Petitions of Well-affected People 
Grievance, 1.  (as that of Kent, and other Counties lately presented) earnestly desiring the same.  
For remedy whereof, we humbly offer, That the King, and all others the Grand Contrivers of, and Actors in the first and second war, may be brought to speedy Trial; As also those of your 
Remedy.  own House that have betrayed their Trust; and all other Capital Offenders, without respect of persons; and that Justice be executed upon them according to their demerits: Likewise that the Prince, Duke, and other Delinquents beyond the Seas, be speedily summoned, and a time prefixed for their coming in, that so they may receive a due Trial: And in case they exceed that time, to be proceeded against as enemies to the Commonwealth: And that a day be appointed, within two months, for all Delinquents who are not already discovered, to compound; and if they shall not compound in that time, than their estates to be wholly forfeited and employed for payment of public debts.  
That the intolerable burden of Free Quarter is yet continued upon the people, notwithstanding the Assessments are generally paid, although very unequally laid upon many Counties, Divisious, 
Grievance, 2.  Hundreds, Cities, Towns and Villages; the great oppression by Tithes continued; Excise most unconscionably exacted from the poor, and no Account publicly given how the vast sums received have been spent and employed.  
For redress whereof, We propound, 1. That Free Quarter be immediately taken off. 2. Constant pay, or Assignations; and that the Assessments, whilst continued, be more equally proportioned. 3. That Impropriators being first satisfied, Tithes be taken away. 4. That the Excise be taken off from all, except Imported commodities; that no more engagements be laid 
Remedy.  upon it; and that clipped money be immediately called in. Further that it be declared, that as soon as the Engagements already charged, ut supra, be satisfied, it shall be wholly taken away. 5. That all new Taxes be abolished, and an equal way of Subsidies only continued: And that you may be enabled to take away those Taxes, We further offer, That Forest's lands, the Whole Revenue formerly belonging to the Crown, Bishop's Lands, Deans and Chapters Lands, Compositions of Delinquents, and Sequestrations, be speedily improved to the best advantage, for the ends aforesaid; And that all who have been, or now are public Treasurers and Collectors of moneys, be forthwith called to an account, viz. Excise men, Sequestrators, Customers, together with all other Receivers whatsoever; And for that end we desire, that able Accomptants, Men of known fidelity to the public Interest be employed for the bringing of the  Treasurers, etc. to a speedy Account, that so the Commons of England may know how the vast sums of money raised under pretence of paying soldiers, have been disposed of; by which means also discoveries may be made of great sums of money which hitherto hath been concealed.  
That by reason of the multitude of Officers who depend for maintenance out of the several receipts, great sums of money are devoured, and by means thereof, Accounts made difficult. 
Grievance, 3.   
For remedy whereof, We offer, That all public moneys be brought into one common Treasury, which will much lessen the former charge, that at the end of every six months an exact Account be published in print of all those sums of money disbursed by the said Treasurers; which to know, we conceive is of right due to the Commons of England; and that for their Further satisfaction, all 
Remedy.  public disbursments which are of necessity, may speedily be computed, and the Receipts proportioned thereunto, with some overplus that may always be in a readiness for any public and sudden occasion. 
Grievance, 4.   
That it hath been, and still is, a great grievance and vexation unto the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, Garrisons, and others our fellow Commoners, who have causes extraordinary relating to, and occasioned by the late troubles depending before the Committees of your House, and other Committees of the several Counties; as also divers dis-affected and corrupt Justices of the Peace, by whom their persons have been slighted, their business (though never so just) neglected and protracted, to the great expense of time and money; which hath impoverished some, and almost destroyed others, whilst enemies to the State, whose causes have been unjust, do by their friends, Allies, wealth or potency, soon obtain to be heard and answered.  
For redress whereof we desire you will appoint Committees of Indemnity in each County, and that all corrupt Members of Committees, and Justices may be outed, and such only chosen and impowered in the Commonwealth, as are of impartial, upright and judicial spirits, who by their judgements and fidelity, may do justice to the meanest, and that speedily without the 
Redress.  aforesaid charge and trouble to the Common wealth.  
That there is by sad experience found (especially to the poor) a daily decay of Trade (the main pillar of this Commonwealth's subsistence) occasioned by the continuation of Monopolising Charters, and associated Companies, who have power to interrupt and deter all other Natives from the Exercise of free Trade and Commerce: and of late also in a more special manner, 
Grievance, 5.  the Irish Pirates by their increase and strength, have made themselves almost Lords of the Narrow Seas, robbing and carrying away Ships and Goods from the mouths of our own Harbours, to the great loss and undoing of many.  
For remedy whereof we humbly desire, That you will declare that all free Dennizons of this Nation, and Friends to the Weal public, may enjoy their Rights by employment and improvement of their Estates and Stocks, without the afore said restrictions in free Traffic and Commerce both Foreign and Domestic; and that all such monopolising and encroaching Charters, 
Remedy.  may be abolished; and that for the better suppressing all Pirates; and securing of Trade, there may be a speedy and powerful Guard appointed for the Seas, and entrusted with persons of approved integrity; most part of the Frigates to set forth From Portsmouth, which we humbly offer as the most convenient place upon the Southern Coast, for the furthering and advance of that Service: And that for an encouragement of all Seamen, there may be established a way of competent subsistence for those that shall lose their limbs or livelihood in any Service for the Defence of their Country, as also for the Widows and Children of such, or any others that shall die in the said Service, whereby they may be preserved from perishing.  
That the chargeable proceed in the Common Law, and all Courts of Judicature (a Grievance of long continuance, and universally known and felt) are not yet abolished, but the Natives still exposed to great trouble and vast expense, which do uphold the corrupt interest of a Generation of men, who like Locusts and Caterpillars will (if not timely prevented) devour the 
Grievance, 6.  Commonwealth.  
For prevention whereof, we offer, That twelve able and impartial men, be chosen by the well-affected of each Hundred or Division, any seven of them to have Power to hear and determine all differences arising within the said Hundred or Division: and that there be every twelve months at the most, a new Election, that so none of them may continue in that Trust unless they be 
Red.  elected thereunto. And also that plain and just Rules be laid down for them to act by, from which they may be bound by some Penalty not to recede. And for the better Security and maintenance of the Premises, it's humbly desired, that the Lord FAIRFAX may be appointed by this House to grant Commissions to such persons as are of approved fidelity to the public Interest, for the well ordering and disposing of the Militia.  
These things we do with all clearness and faithfulness offer to your speedy Consideration, as that which we conceive for the substance of it) will tend to a settlement of this Nation, together with the particulars (not here expressed) contained in the late Remonstrance of the Army, and Petition of the 11th of September last, which if insisted on, and vigorously prosecuted (not answered with a formal compliment, as hath been usual, but really accomplished) will be a happy beginning of the establishment of the People's Freedoms; but if the present happy opportunity in your hands, shall be neglected, we are like to be (if God prevent it not) completely miserable, and shall become the scorn of all Nations, and a shame to posterity, having so freely spent our Blood and Treasure, to purchase Justice and Freedom, and in stead thereof be reduced to a worse condition of oppression and slavery then formerly.  
Wherefore as a Testimony of that affection and duty we bear to our Native Country, we leave these things before you, hoping that God may yet use you as Instruments to ease this oppressed Nation, however we are confident he will open a way for the People, to obtain these and all other their just Rights and Liberties by overthrowing all unrighteous powers whatsoever.  


Isle of Wight.  
Thomas Bowreman.  
Edm. Rolph.  
George Elsmore.  
John Basket.  
Richard Tonson.  
Hen. Duck.  
Richard Colman.  
John Fox.  
Henry Harwell.  
Thomas Bo●les.  
Tho. Ward.  
Steven Burton.  
Ed. Templer.   

Portsmouth & Southsea-Cast.  
Ro. Saunders.  
George Joyce.  
John Pitson.  
Rob. Peacock.  
Tho. Mathews.  
Jo. Tarant.  
Edw. Hopgood.  
Abraham Peter  
Tho. Hurst.  
Ro. Durnford.  
Ro. Weston.  
William Bell.  
Rich. Prat.   

Southton.  
Peter Murford.  
George Embry.  
Io. Durnford.  
Io. Hubblethorn.  
George Burton.  
john Barton.  
Will. Cole jun.   

Pool and Hurst.  
Tho. Eyers.  
J. Reed.  
Ed. Snering.  
Ed. Taylor.  
Fran. Chick.  
Lieut. Wansey.  
Hen. Easman.  
Hum. Walle.   

Weymouth and Malmsbury.  
jam. Hayns.  
William Harden.  
Nat. Chase.  
Rich. Clun.  
Ralph Card.  
Tho. Loving.  
Fran. Stokes.   These our Subscriptions, are in the Name and behalf of those under our Commands, together with our Neighbours and fellow Commoners, being entrusted and impowered to agitate in their behalf, for the Redemption of our Native Rights and Freedoms.