The Humble PETITION OF Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen,( some of the Committee) with Divines, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the county of Warwick, and the city of Coventrey: To both Houses of Parliament.  
Humbly laying open the present Grievances of that county; to which Petition was annexed between three and four thousand hands, presented on Wednesday the 21. of AUGUST; 1644.  
ALSO The humble Petition of most of the Committee, Commanders, and others of the county of STAFFORD: Setting forth the present dangers threatened to that county, expressing their humble desires, That the Right honourable the Earl of Denbigh, their Lord general, may wi●h suitable conveniences be speedily accommodated and sent down to their relief.  
To this Petition was annexed many hands.  
London, Printed for G. S. 1644.   

To the Right honourable, The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament;  
The humble Petition of the Gentry, Freeholders and Jnhabitants of the County of Warwick, and the City and County of Coventrey:  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat withall thankfulness we aclowledge the great favour vouchsafed unto us, in sending down the right Honourable the Earl of Denbigh, to be our Lord Lieutenant general of all our forces, whose integrity, faithfulness and valour being sufficiently manifested to us and the whole kingdom, we humbly desire all possible encouragement may be added for his noble proceedings herein.  
And whereas it hath pleased this honourable assembly to ordain a Grand Committee for taking of the accounts of the great disbursements of the whole kingdom, with power to nominate a Sub-Committee in each particular County, which hath not yet been set●led in ours.  
And whereas by divers Ordinances of other Associated Counties, your petitioners find the weekly sums to be raised upon the said Counties, Limited, and not to exceed a certain sum, But in the Ordinance of Association of these our Counties, and of the County of Stafford, there is power given unto the Committees of the said Counties, to Tax, assess and raise what sum they should think fit, for the making of Fortifications, payment of Garrisons, Officers and soldier, without reducing the same to any such certain sum, by reason of which unlimited power( different from other Ordinances) This County hath been extremely burdened with divers great weekly Taxations, double if not triple( at the least) to other Neighbouring counties, of far larger extent and better valves, contrary( as wee humbly conceive) to the intention of this honourable assembly, besides the losses suffered by free quarter, frequent plundering, almost throughout the whole County, and divers other insupportable burdens, hard taxes& other grievances of our county, have drawn a general discontent vpon the whole people, and thereby most are disabled, others discouraged, to do that service for the Parliament, which otherwise they might.  
do therefore humbly pray, that this Honourable assembly would bee pleased that the weekly tax for payment of the said Garrisons, Officers and souldiers, may be reduced, not to exceed a certain sum, and to give order to the said Grand Committee for taking of accounts, that at such time as they shall think fit to nominate Sub-Committees for our County( which we humbly desire may be effected with all possible speed) that our Lord-Lieutenant may be moved by the said Committee to be then and there present to give his assent and approbation of such as shalbe by them nominated, and that all just complaints and grievances whatsoever within these counties by virtue of sequestrations and Parliament, propositions may be assigned unto the said Earl, for the better encouragement of the said Earl, and towards the payment of his souldiers, if it may stand with the wisdom of this Honourable assembly, and that special care of the Government of the Town of Warwick, and the garrison of Compton may be recommended to the Earl of Denbigh, and to such Gentlemen of the county as the said Earl shall nominate, and shall be approved by this honourable assembly, and that some of the members of the Committee may be ordered to sit constantly in the said Borough of Warwick, which will tend to the ease of the greatest part of the said County, who are now forced to travel many miles, to their great trouble and expense; for which end your Petitioners further humbly pray, that such Gentlemen of quality, known estate in the said county, and approved integrity, may be added the Committee, as shall be recommended by our Lord-Lieutenant, and approved of by this Honourable assembly, and likewise that this Honourable assembly would be pleased to appoint such Deputy Lieutenants as our Lord-Lieutenant shall commend unto them.  
And shall ever pray, &c.  
This petition was first presented to the Honourable House of Commons, on wednesday the 21 of August, it being the grievance of the County, but by reason of the much business then in the House, the petitioners there present ( which 〈◇〉 about 20 Gentlemen) were that ●●y dismissed, being appointed Friday morning to make their address for the delivery of their petition, who after their departure finding opportunity, made their address to the House of Lords, where they had acceptance; their petition was red in the House, and also their grievances thereto annexed; after which they withdrew, and in a quarter of an hours space were called in again, to whom was returned a gracious and favourable answer to this effect; viz. That the Lords did well approve of their petition, and thought it fit that their just desires therein should be granted, expressing thankes to the Gentlemen for their good affections, and expressions to the Parliament and Kingdom, assuring them that nothing should be wanting in that house, of their best endeavours to ease them of the burden of their grievances, and that with all carefulness and expedition.  
On friday they came again to the Commons House, and while they were waiting to be called in, the petitions which they had presented to the Lords on wednesday was transferred from the Lords House to the Commons, and by them received, and after three votes, it was committed to a Committee of Lords and Commons to be heard.   

To the Right honourable, The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament;  
The humble Petition of many of the Committee, Commanders, and others well affencted in the County of Stafford.  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat this our country being very much perplexed and infested by several strong Garrisons, and parties of the enemy now of late increased by Addition of many Northern Renegadoes, our forces being not able to defend themselves or the Country from the grievous and daily Plunders, imprisonments, and insupportable Taxations and ransoms, cruelly exercised and charged upon them; having also very credible intelligence that Prince Rupert is now recruting his Army about Chester, Salop, and North-wales, where a week since he has 5000 Horse and above 2000 Foot, and upon daily increase, raising great sums of money in those parts, Salop now busy in Collecting 9000 pounds more for him; And that many matters of great concernment for the public lye unsettled, and our forces without addition unserviceable, to the great distraction and prejudice of our Country and the affairs in hand.  
Humbly pray, that our Lord general the Earl●● Denbigh, by whose fidelity, valor and wisdom, 〈◇〉 are experimentally confident under God, 〈◇〉 miseries may be prevented, and grievances redressed, may not as heretofore to the enemies great advantage and our long sufferings by particular endeavours, without general Concurrences be retarded, but with all necessaries and suitable conveniences, speedily accommodated and dispatched away to our relief, before our country be quiter over-run, and drained of the wealth and strength thereof by the enemy; and we shall with his Lordship willingly adventure our lives and fortunes in this great cause.  
And shall ever pray, &c.  
This Petition was likewise well accepted, and is committed to the same Committee of Lords and Commons.   
FINIS.