Samuel Vassal of London, Esq;  
HUmbly desires your Honours to commiserate his sad condition, who for want of his just debt due to him from this commonwealth, formerly placed upon the Excise, is like to perish. This Honourable House on the 15 of May last, recommended as their desires to his highness the Lord Protector, that care might be taken for the speedy payment of the said debt, being 2591 l. 17 s. 6 d. principal, with the use thereof, which doth amount unto 4251 l. as by Auditors account given to his highness' Honourable council appears, and his highness recommended the same to his Honourable council, that care be taken that the Parliaments desires might be satisfied, and on the 26 of May, their Honours did order one thousand pounds to be paid out of the Excise Office, which he received: But ever since that time, he hath waited at the door of the Honourable council, but had no other answer but they knew not where to place it: So for want of the said money his credit is much impaired, which is more dear than life to him, and his posterity like to be destroyed, if he find not some speedy relief from this Honourable House; for his Creditors prosecute him now with more violence, seeing their hopes frustrate, in not receiving that money which they hoped for: Wherefore he humbly desires your Honours favourable assistance that Mr. Fowel may be heard, who is to report to the Honourable House the conclusion of the Honourable Committee appointed for his business, and that he may receive some speedy rerelief, that he may not lose his liberty with his credit, and see his posterity ruined before his face, which will be as a double death, and so bring his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave; but he is confident of the Honour and Justice of this Honourable House, that they will never suffer him and his posterity to perish, who hath done and suffered so much for their sakes.