To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons, Assembled in Parliament.  
The Humble Petition of many Poor Distressed Seaman's Wives, and Widows.  
Most Humbly showeth,  
THat whereas there being Arrears of Wages due to your poor Petitioners, for Service done in his MAJESTY'S Ships, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Year (1658.) the want thereof, hath exposed your Petitioners, together with their Families, to great Wants and Miseries; and so weakened their Credits with poor Tradesmen; namely, Chandler's, Bakers, Butchers, and the like, that usually Credit them with Provisions of Victuals in the absence of their Husbands; that your poor Petitioners with their Families are in danger of perishing, and are in great want, and are daily imprisoned; and others for nonpayment of their Rent, turned out of their Habitations, with their Wives and Families.  
In tender Consideration of the Premises, May it gracious; lie please these Honourable Houses of Peers and Commons, now in the High Court of Parliament Assembled, to take the Premises into your Serious and Pious Considerations, and to take such Order for satisfying their Arrears of Wages, that so your Poor Petitioners may thereby be enabled to satisfy those poor Tradesmen that have entrusted them with Food: And for the Future to keep them and their poor Families from Starving, and Perishing: All which we humbly beg, and wholly refer to your Honour's Grave Wisdoms, and Pious Considerations.  
And we, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.