THat your Petitioner doth give your Highneſs moſt humble thanks, for your gracious Reference to his former Petition, though ſuch was his unhappineſs that it took no effect, which occaſioneth him once again to be troubleſome, and to inform your Highneſs, That he was ſequeſtred by the Committee of Plundered Miniſters, for his Tithes of the Parſonage of Weſt-Ildeſley in the County of Berks; That for theſe ſeven years together he hath ſuits in Chancery, and in ſeverall Committees to recover his poſſeſſion and arrears, wherein he hath ſpent much time, found much trouble and expence, and now was upon the point of hearing, but in regard of your Highneſs Proclamation, which came forth the third of this inſtant July 1655, that ſuits of ſuch nature ſhould ceaſe; he therefore deſiſts, in his obedience to your Highneſs command, onely he doth humbly crave leave, to appeal unto God, and under God to your Highneſs, for Juſtice, this being his laſt and onely refuge, and to that end I will make a true relation of my Cauſe.

My private loſſes were ſuch, as I think no man ſuffered more proportionably; and when nothing was left but Weſt-Ildeſley, in my abſence, having no ſummons to appear, nor ever admitted to ſpeak in mine own defence, I was ſequeſtred, as it may be ſuppoſed, by the falſe ſuggeſtions of Mr. Humfrey Newbery, who was appointed to officiate the Cure. This Sequeſtration for a time he kept ſecret, ſuffered me to pay all Contributions for billetting of Souldiers, and for diſcharge of the Cure, which in effect did amount to the full value of the Parſonage; and when the profits came in, then came Mr. Newbery with Souldiers, and took the poſſeſſion.

Now for acquitting my ſelf, and to ſhew my own innocency, I procured the teſtimonials of the high Sheriff, moſt of the Juſtices, together with the Governours of Caſtles and Towns, and from all the parts where I was known, and had lived, (who ſend up Members to the Parliament, being ſix ſeverall places at leaſt) they did all teſtify my peaceable carriage, and that I had not offended in theſe Wars; and the Committee for Sequeſtrations in the Country where I lived did teſtify the ſame, and that I had paid all Contributions, which in effect thoſe Counties paid in lieu of Sequeſtrations.

Then it appears under the hand of Mr. Scobel Clerk of the Parliament, that I was freed from Sequeſtrations by order of Parliament, and more particularly it appears under the hand of Mr. William Lenthal Speaker of the Parliament, that I was freed from the Sequeſtration of the Tithes of Weſt-Ildſley. Upon the Certificate of Major General Mitton, the Committee for Plundered Miniſters, who did formerly ſequeſter me, were deſirous to reſtore me, as may appear by their ſeveral Orders; and in the interim they did allow me a fift part, which Mr. Newbery paid for two years, but ever after refuſed. All theſe Certificates and Teſtimonials. I have the originals, and am ready to produce them and (God knows) I cannot conceive, how it is poſſible that a man can have fairer proofs.

My humble ſuit is, That I may be put in poſſeſſion by Souldiers, as I was outed by Souldiers; and that I may recover the arrears unjuſtly detained; and that I may enter upon the profits as Mr. Newbery did: And whereas it is ſaid that ſome of thoſe Miniſters who hold other mens Benefices by Sequeſtration, have Petitioned your Highneſs to refer the Cauſe to ſome of your honourable Councel, to hear and determine according to Juſtice and equity; I do likewiſe joyn with them in their Petition, that ſeeing there is much difference in the ſeveral cauſes of Sequeſtration, and indeed a great difference between the ſequeſtring and ſequeſtred Miniſters, that men may not be left without remedy, but that your Honourable Councel, according to their own wiſdom, and as God ſhall direct, them, may determine the controverſies.

I ſhall yet be bold to make one further motion in behalf of the Univerſities: When Biſhops did give holy Orders or Inſtitutions into Benefices, they did ever require the teſtimonials for their learning and behaviour, from the Univerſity or College where they were bred; and now that there is no further uſe of Biſhops, I deſire that the Univerſities may not looſe their right of giving their teſtimonials, and do wiſh that none might receive holy orders, or be admitted into Benefices, but ſuch as ſhould be recommended by the Univerſities or College. But if your Highneſs ſhould appoint ſome of the chief and moſt eminent men who reſide in the Univerſity, there publickly to admit Miniſters, and to give inſtitutions (as by Law and their own privileges they do yearly licence ſome Preachers and preſent to the Benefices of convict Recuſants, each of the Univerſities having ſeverall Counties allotted them by Statute) it would prevent diviſions and Sects; it would make much for the honour of Miniſters, and procure much peace in the Church, when the perſons ſo promoted ſhall be leſs ſubject to exception.