THat the Petitioner having in all humility Addressed himself to the Right Honourable the House Of Lords, that he might have Liberty to make appear to their Lord­ships, That he was the next and immediate Heir-Male to Josceline, the late Earl of Northumberland, their Lordships were pleas'd by their Order, to appoint a time for a Hearing of the same, and the Petitioner expecting a full Hearing, accordingly got ready ma­ny Depositions of Credible Persons, and had many living Witnesses and Records, and Registers there present, whereby the Petitioner doubted not, but as plainly to have satisfied their Lordships of the Truth of his Descent and Pedigree, as it is possible for any such Matter to admit of; And this Petitioner, after so many Thousand pounds expended by himself and his Relations, in searching for, and obtaining the Records and Proofs aforesaid, and in pursuing his said Right and Title, desiring onely one full and final Hearing of his said Proofs and Evidences, and to be Concluded by it for ever after, and then desire, and was contented to suffer, if he did not plainly prove his being the next of Blood, as aforesaid; yet it was their Lordships Pleasure, not only to deny the Hearing of the Proofs, but also to send the Petitioner to the several Courts of Justice in West­minster-Hall, with a Mark that he was a false Pretender; that there­by, as your Petitioner conceives he might be deprived from all hopes from thence also: That the Petitioner is informed, That some per­sons are since endeavouring to obtain an Act to pass this Honourable House, for setling irrevocably, great part of the Earl of Northumberlands Estate, which was given to the Late Duke of Monmouth for want of Issue-Male of the said Earl, as was then believ'd, whereby the Petitioner will be utterly deprived of all Remedy for Recovery thereof, though he hopes by publication of divers of his plain and undeniable Proofs, yet to obtain the favour of one fair Hearing, and to satisfie the World of the Truth and Justice of his Right and Claim.

The Petitioner therefore humbly prays, That this Honou­rable House will be pleased to deferr for a time, the Passing of the said intended Act, the Petitioners Right being a Matter of no small Concern;