To the Honourable the Parliament of the commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. The humble Petition of divers Citizens of London on behalf of themselves and others who have advanced Moneys for the use of the commonwealth and doubled the same at Weavers-hall.  
Showeth,  
THat whereas your Petitioners upon that securities held forth in two Ordinances of Parliament, viz. the 13 of May, and 3 of June, 1647. advanced and lent by way of doubling at Weavers-hall the sum of 484000 l. to be repaid in such order, course and manner as by the said Ordinances of Parliament is directed and appointed. And whereas several persons have been satisfied their proportions of money by them Advanced and Doubled by the Purchase of the late Bishops Lands, and others which have not Purchased have had some doubts arising in them touching the time of payment of the remainder: The Parliament did upon the 16 of December 1652. Enact and Ordain, that the Commissioners of the Excise for the time being should out of such moneys as should come to their hands upon the receipts of the Grand Excise immediately from and after the 31 of December 1653. make payment of the said money or of so much as should at that time remain due and payable, in such order and form as is directed and appointed by Ordinance of Parliament of the 13 of May 1647. and at the expiration of which term, application was made to the late Commissioners of the Excise demanding the said money, and it was alleged by the said Commissioners that they were restrained from the payment thereof by an Order dated the 31 of December 1653. of his highness the Lord Protector and his council till they should receive further Order; which restraint we find to continue upon the present Commissioners to this day. Now for as much as the Parliament did upon the 29 of June 1649. Enact, that no sum or sums of money advanced and lent remaining and standing charged upon the Grand Excise, whereof the money now due to your Petitioners is part, should be taken or transferred from the said Excise upon any other security whatsoever, nor be paid otherwise then in their proper course, wherein they first were charged upon any exigent or occasion whatsoever; and for as much as his highness the Lord Protector hath likewise declared in the 39 Article for the Government of the commonwealth, that the securities given by Acts and Ordinances of Parliament, or any sum or sums of money payable by the Grand Excise in course, or by any other public revenue, shall remain firm and good, and not be made void and invallid upon any pretence whatsoever.  
The consideration of all which, together in relation to the honour of his highness the Lord Protector and the Parliament, as also the pressing necessities of your Petitioners, giveth us boldness to make these our humble addresses to your Honours, praying that you would take the premises into your grave and serious consideration, and to give such further order as may be of effect for the payment of all your just debts as is directed and appointed by former Acts and Ordinances of Parliament in that behalf.  
And your Petitioners shall for ever pray.