THE Deplorable CASE OF THE Officers, Inn-keepers, and Clothiers, that Served in, Quartered, and clothed the Army raised by an Act of Parliament, in 1677. and Disbanded by another Act, in 1679.  
THAT the said Army being Raised to enter into an actual War against the French King; several of the said Persons, upon the Credit of the Act of Parliament, in the Year 1677, did furnish the same with Clothes, Utensils of War, Quarters, and other Necessaries, amounting to a very considerable sum; not doubting but to receive full Satisfaction for the same, having their Credit built upon so Sacred a Security, as that of an Act of Parliament.  
That it so happened, That the said Act, For Granting a Supply to His then Majesty, for Paying off, and Disbanding the said Forces, fell short of answering the End for which it was given: For that the said Army being employed to suppress the Rebellion at Bothwell-Bridge, were kept longer in Pay than the time by the said Act directed; by Reason whereof, divers of the said Persons for want of their Money,( not being able to make good their Credit they obtained to supply the said Army) were forced into several Prisons of this Kingdom, where some died, and others still remain; and others were necessitated to abscond from their Families, and the rest have sustained great and apparent Damages thereby.  
That they have often addressed this Honourable House by Petitions, for Relief in their Misery, and your Honours have as often been pleased( which they gratefully aclowledge) to make Orders thereon of References to Committees: And those Committees several times, viz. The 16th. of July, 1689 the 15th. of May, and the 25th. of November, 1690, Reported to your Honours the State of your Petitioners Debts, viz.  That the Act, For Granting a Supply to His then Majesty King Charles the Second, of Two Hundred and Six Thousand Four Hundred Sixty Two Pound Seventeen Shillings and Three Pence, for Paying off and Disbanding the Forces raised since the 29th. of September, 1677. fell short of answering the End for which it was given, Principal Money Sixty One Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Six Pound Three Shillings and Eleven Pence, besides Interest for the same, as the said Act directs: And that the said Sixty One Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Six Pound Three Shillings and Eleven Pence is due for Quarters, Clothes, Accoutrements, &c. as appeared by Certificates, signed by the then Commissioners for Disbanding the Army, and Orders of the then Lords of the Treasury thereupon directed to the Exchequer, where they are registered; as likewise appeared by the Auditor, Sir Robert Howard's Certificate thereof. 
That upon the making of this, and such like Reports to the House, the House was as often pleased to Resolve to go into Committees of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted for the Payment of the said Debt, as by the several Entries in the Journals of this Honourable House will more fully appear: But approaching Prorogation, together with the then Necessities of the War, prevented your Compassionate and Just Intentions of giving them Relief.  
Wherefore, and in Regard the said Debt was contracted under the Credit of Acts of Parliament, It is humbly prayed. That your Honours will admit them into your Compassion and Justice, that their Case may be Considered and Relieved. Hoping your Honours( who are the Representatives of this Nation) will believe, That the satisfying this so just a National and Parliamentary Debt, will not only much redound to the Honour and Justice of this House, but will also increase the Credit of His Majesty's Exchequer upon the like, or any other Occasion.