THat the proceedings of the said Bagwell and Brocke­don in their addresse to the said Committee of the Accompts of the Common-wealth, against the said Committee of Hartford, &c. which was in being in Anno 1643. may be rightly understood, It is in the first place to be noted, That in the said year 1643 by Authority of Parliament, a Regiment of300 Horse ac­knowledged to be raised in an ab­stract of an ac­compt examined and subscribed by Henry Gardner, Thomas Knightley; John Slany. 300 Horse Harque­bushiers were to be raised by the said Committee of Hartford under the Command of S John Norwich Knight and Baronet, Colonell and Captain of horse for the defence and preservation of the said County, which said Regiment was continued under the said S John Norwich his Command, and in the said service from the 17 of Au­gust 1643, to the 25 of March 1644. At which time they were ta­ken into the Lord of Manchesters marching Army, during which time of their service under the said S^r John Norwich being 31 weeks and 3 days, the afore mentioned Committee of Hartford, for pay­ment and discharge of the said Regiment, assessed and received of the Inhabitants of the said County monies sufficient to pay the a­foresaid Regiment of 300 horse Harquebushiers, for the time afore­said, and yet neverthelesse have left the Souldiery of the said Regi­ment [Page 2] in arrear and unsatisfied forNote that 13 weeks and 3 days pay remains yet unsatisfied as it appears by severall affidavits, &c. 13 weeks and 3 days pay, they having paid the Souldiery no more but for 18 weeks onely.

Whereupon the said Souldiery finding themselves aggrieved for the withholding of their due for the said 13 weeks and 3 days, did the 3 of July last 1651 apply themselves to the said Bagwell and Brockedon, with some accompts of the said Hartford Committee, who upon view and examination whereof, they the said Bagwell and Brockeden, by accompts have discovered,As appears by accompt at the end of this Narra­tive. 5097 pound 2 shillings, for the Common-wealth: a branch whereof, of 2500 l. or therea­bouts they have discovered, by Edward Coxe, John Gates, Gabriel Baskervill, William Allen, John Hatton, Charles Booth, and other witnesses, that S^r Thomas Dakers, M^r Barber, Captain Dauges, M. Puller, and other Commissioners in the year 1643. and Hum­phry Packer senior, and Humphry Packer junior, then Treasurer, and Paymaster, or some or one of them, or some other by the di­rection of them the said Committee of the County of Hart­ford, or some other or others by their appointment, did assesse, col­lect and receive of the Inhabitants of the said County of Hartford, money sufficient to discharge the whole pay of the said Souldiery; and that the said Committee, Treasurer, and Paymaster, or some or one of them, or others to their use, have detained, and do still detain, to the great wrong and prejudice of the Common-wealth and Souldiery, the said summe ofBy severall affi­davits. 2500l. or thereabouts as a branch or part ofAs it appears by the said accompt. 4103l. 2s. the said Bagwell and Brockedon finde to be owing to the said Souldiery, for 13 weeks and 3 days pay due to them from the 17 of August 1643 to the 25 of March 1644, as by accompt particularly it doth appear. Whereupon (according to the Act and severall Ordinances of Parliament) for redresse of the premises, in the behalfe of the said Common-wealth, the said Bagwell and Brocke­don by severall Petitions have addressed themselves to the Honora­ble Committee for the taking and receiving of accompts for the Common-wealth, which Committee are required by the said Act &c. to use all fitting means for the discovery of the truth, in and concerning the premises, as occasion shall require, and to certifie their proceedings to the Honourable house of Parliament, which they the said Committee to this present refuse to doe, as by these ensuing passages more particularly appeareth.

Upon Tuesday1651. January 27. The first Peti­tion. the first Petition was presented to the said Committee at the Dutchy house, who having read the same, sent for the Petitioners before them, and told them that they should have an answer thereof the Thursday following in the afternoon.

Upon Thursday about one of the clock in the afternoon the Petitioners repaired to the said Committee for their answer to the said Petition,January 29. and there attended; but the said Committee came not that afternoon,The first delay. but had left word with the door-keeper to tell the Petitioners that they the said Committee were toWhereas there was no need of any writings or search at all. search out some writings before they could give an answer, and therefore desired the said Petitioners to come the next day, either in the morning, or [Page 3] the afternoon,1651 January 31. and they should have their Petition answered.

Upon Saterday the Petitioners sent two of their witnesses to the Dutchy house, who spake with M. Ieoffries the accomptant to the said Committee; who answered that if they would send in the The names of the Committee were sent in, and the charge laid against them, which was accep­ted of from the Petitioners as a charge the 3 of Febr. following. names of the Committee of Hartford, and others that detain their money from them, that then the said Committee would send for them up, provided they could make it appearThe 2^d delay.: And the said Ieoffries further said, that the Committee at the Dutchy houseThe Petitioners prove the County hath paid the money. made a question whether the County had paid the Committee at Hartford the money they were so charged with.

Upon Tuesday the Petitioners with 6 of their witnesses were sent for in before the Committee at the Dutchy house,Note their slighting of busi­nesse of so great consequence for the publick good. who told them that they had sent a letter to the Committee at Hartford by the Car­rier,February 3. but knew not whether the said Carrier had delivered their said letter, or no, for they had not then received their answer from the said Committee. And after some debate within themselves the said Committee sent out the aforesaid Petitioners to haveThey did at that instant all sub­scribe thereto. the wit­nesses hands subscribed thereto; which was accordingly done. Then they desired the names of the Committee and others against whom the charge lay;The charge sent in. which was likewise sent in subscribed. Then they told the PetitionersThe 3^d delay. that the charge that was laid against the Committee at Hartford, must be answered by way of accompt, and examined by them, whereby it might the better appear whether the said Com­mittee were justly charged, which (said they) should be done before they would send for them up, to avoid future trouble and charge: To which the Petitioners answered, saying, that the charge laid against the Committee of Hartford &c. was a discovery in the be­halfe of the Common-wealth, which they would prove by their What need ac­compts where the proof is personal? witnesses, and that it concerned not the accompts, and therefore if they pleased to send for the said Committee &c. their witnesses were ready to testifie their charge upon oath: And herein the said Petitioners desired to know their mindes; Whose answer was, that they should within few days have their answer, in the mean time wished that some of them would give their attendance to know their pleasure when they would send for them.

Upon Tuesday the Petitioners sent one John Gates to the Dutchy house to the Committee that was there,February 10. who appeared not willing to speak with him, they sending their Accomptant M. Jeoffries to him, who told the said Gates, that the Committee hadThe fourth delay. sent a man for the accompts, but received as yet no answer: and the said Gates replyed, saying, the Petitioners desired an answer to their Petition, and to prove their said charge, which could be done without such ac­compts. Then the said M. Jeoffries said, that if the Petitioners have nothing to doe with the accompts, the Committee would have no­thing to doe with them; that he knew their minde, and bid the said Gates to take that for their answer.

Upon Thursday the Petitioners sent the said Committee another February 12. The 2^d Petition. Petition,in which they humbly desired their Honours to appoint [Page 4] a day that they might present their witnesses, which they had in a readinesse to make proof of their charge (as aforesaid,) who having read the same sent for them, to come before them with two of their witnesses being then present: the said Committee then seemed to be very affable,The fifth delay and desired that one or two of them would attend them on Tuesday next, and said that they had written to the Com­mittee of Hartford, and that if in case they did not hear from them by that time, they would grant their warrant to be sent to them by a Messenger that might make affidavit thereof, and that the Petiti­oners demands in the said Petition was butThe Committee made the Petiti­oners beleeve that money should be brought in to sa­tisfie the Soul­diery. 2500l. and that money being brought in, it would satisfie the businesse without further trouble. Whereupon Iohn Brockedon replyed, saying, that he and William Bagwell (the said Petitioners) would attend them upon Tuesday next, which was agreed upon.

Upon Tuesday the said Petitioners attended the said Committee,1651 February 17. and being sent for in before them, the said Brockedon intimated that according to their Honours direction, they came for an answer to their Petition delivered the 12 of this moneth: whereupon M. Henry Robinson the Chair-man said, there was a warrant drawn up by their direction, which the said Petitioners should have to send by one that could make affidavit of the delivery thereof, and that it should be sealed up and directed to the Committee at Hartford. Whereupon the said Brockedon replyed, saying, Under correction it is proper we should know what is written in the warrant:The Committee agreed the Petiti­oners should see the warrant before it was sealed up. and they or one of them said it was but reason. Then the Clark of the said Committee said, the Petitioners and the rest might withdraw themselves, and he would register the said warrant, and thereupon by order of the said Committee they did withdraw themselves out of the room and at­tended. Then M. Robinson came forthNow they must not see the said warrant. and told the Petitioners that the effect of the warrant was for the Committee of Hartford to bring in their accompts, and the money they are charged with, forth­with. And the said Brockedon replyed and said, viz. We have nothing to doe with the accompts concerning this businesse, we are for the Common-wealth, and desire our witnesses may be examined, which we have in readinesse to make good our charge. To which the said M. Robinson replyed again saying, Pray give leave that the money may first be demanded, and if you can have it without further trou­ble, Here the Com­mittee refuse to take the oaths of the witnesses then presented to them. what need your witnesses be examined? send away the war­rant (saith he:) and so departed, and all the rest of the Committee went also out of the room where they sate. And a little after the Clark brought forth a Packet directed to M. Barber, Captain Davis, M. Puller, and the rest of the standing Committee for the County of Hartford, and delivered the same to the Petitioners (which was sealed up and directed as aforesaid) who desired of the said Clark a copy of the said warrant, and of what is contained touching their businesse in the said packet: whereupon the said Clark answered and said, that he had no order from the Committee to give any copies: and so departed.

[Page 5] The same Tuesday in the afternoon the said Petitioners Plain­tiffes Notwithstand­ing all their de­lays the Petitio­ners were fain to send one at their own charge. delivered the said Packet to one Iohn Hatton their messenger, who went the Thursday following to Hartford, and delivered the same to Captain Dauges (one of the Committee there) who brake the said Packet open, and when he had read the contents thereof, he said he understood it not, and wished the said messenger to carry the same to the standing Committee, promising him by the Faith of a Gentleman he would meet him there: whereupon the said messen­ger took the said Packet, and by the direction of the said Captain Dauges did deliver the same the Saterday following to the said Committee,Note how the Committee at Hartford slighted their warrant, and the infidelity of Captain Dauges. who very much slighted the businesse, and told him they would send their answer by their own messenger and not by him. At which meeting the said Captain Dauges (contrary to his ingagement) appeared not.

Upon Tuesday the Plaintiffes and two of their witnesses repaired to the said Committee at the Dutchy house,February 24. and being called be­fore them, the Chair-man M. Robinson, demanded what they desi­red; and the said Brockedon replyed saying: We have brought our messenger to make affidavit of the delivery of your Honours warrant to the Committee at Hartford according to your direction, which was done upon Saterday the 21 of this moneth. The said Chair-man answered, that he should not need to make affidavit, for they had received an answer from the said Committee of Hartford, and did read part thereof, expressing that they had no notice of whatHow could they assesse and receive monies without an Ordinance of Parliament? Or­dinance gave them power to receive the money they are charged with. And after some discourse, they wished the said plaintiffes to at­tend their accomptant theThe sixth delay. next morning, and he should shew them the book of Ordinances, and Acts of Parliament, and the accompts they had, to compare them: the which was effected the day follow­ing. And the Plaintiffes having seen, and not onely taken notice of what was most conducible to their proceedings, but also what may conduce to the future benefit of the Common-wealth, they departed.February 26.

Upon Thursday the PlaintiffesThe 3^d Petition presented another Petition to the said Committee desiring (in the behalfe of the Common-wealth) that their Honours would give order, that the copy of the accompts and every particular thereof, according to the originall given to their Honours by the said Packer Treasurer, may be in a short time delivered unto them, And that their witnesses may be forthwith examined, and their said charge prosecuted &c. And likewise a copy of their Honours warrant sent to the Committee of Hartford and their answer thereupon, (They would neither let them see the warrant sent, nor the an­swer thereupon. which they refused to let them see) or that their Honours would be pleased to return their transactions, that they may with the copies aforesaid otherwise seek the right and benefit of the Common-wealth.Out at the back door. Which Petition when they had read, they went all away one by one, and not one of them would vouchsafe to speak a word with the said Plaintiffes, yet left their answer with M. Ieoffries, which was to this effect, viz▪ [Page 6] The seventh delay. The Committee (said he) wished me to tell you, that they the said Committee, know not whether they have power to proceedThe Committee expecting to have had some relief by the Act of Obli­vion; would give the Petitioners no answer before they saw the said Act. be­fore they see the Act of Oblivion that is expected to come forth: And that the said Act did so farre free those from being cal­led to accompts that are past, that therefore they could not pro­ceed before the said Act came forth: And wished the said Plaintiffes to attend the Committee again the Tuesday following, when they should have their answer.

Upon Tuesday the said Petitioners Plaintiffes Bagwell and Brocke­don, 1651. March 2. after notice given to the Committee of their attending for an answer according to the aforesaid directions of the 26 of the last moneth, and after about two hours attendanceThe Committee finding no reliefe by the said Act of Oblivion, would not speak with the Petitioners. the Committee came forth (who appeared not willing to speak with them) but went away all of them, onely the Chair-man M. Robinson, whom by accident the Plaintiffes found in another room apart, And then the said Plaintiffes took an occasion to put him in minde of their busi­nesse: who after some discourse told the said Plaintiffes that order was given that their the said Plaintiffes desires should be granted; and the said Brockedon thereupon pressed and said, That he and the said Bagwell had been there a long time with their witnesses to be examined, and that their affidavits were ready drawn that they might take their oaths. When the said Chair-man heard that, he went his way after the rest, and then came forth M. Ieoffries their accomptant, and said,The eight delay. That the Plaintiffes should have the copies of the ac­compts paying for them: and he being demanded what he would have, he answered saying, that he could not tell, but as he might draw them, they would come toNote their ac­comptants exacti­ons upon the pub­lick service. above five pounds: And further said, that he would have twenty shillings in hand before he would begin to draw out the said accompts.

Upon Thursday the said Plaintiffes so soon as they got their wit­nesses together,March 4. went withThe 4 Petition. another Petition at the usuall time be­fore the Committee rise at the Dutchy house:The 9 delay. But they were all gone, and so the said Plaintiffes kept the said Petition to be delivered the next sitting day.

Upon Tuesday the said Petitioners Plaintiffes presented unto the said Committee at the Dutchy house the said Petition,March 9. intend­ing it to be their last unto them in this businesse, wherein they gave the said Committee a hint of the Act of the 15 of October 1649, which gives power to the said Committee to take the oathes of two credible witnesses, that can testifie any discovery (as aforesaid) and that they the said Plaintiffes had often attended their Honours with severall witnesses to prove upon oath their aforesaid charge exhibi­ted before them against the Committee of Hartford &c. that was in being in the year 1643. And having their witnesses in a readinesse with their affidavits drawn up, humbly desired their Honours to take their oathes, and that they would likewise please to give order, that (according to their desires in their former Petition) they might have the copies of the accompts for the future benefit of the Com­mon-wealth, [Page 7] that thereby they might without any further delay proceed for the right and benefit thereof. The Plaintiffes (after an houre and halfes attendance) were by the said Committee sent for into the room where they sate, and there being a full Committee, the then Chair-man stood up and said to the Plaintiffes, viz. We have read your Petition,The 10 delay. and notwithstanding we have much busi­nesse, yet in short, the copies of the accompts you desiredThey say they deny them not, and yet the Peti­tioners cannot have them. we have not denyed them, and you may have them, as we have already or­dered: And we doe not deny to take the oaths of your witnesses,They say again they deny not to take their oaths, & yet refuse to give them their oaths, though they were there presented for that purpose. if you will assigne out any particular summe, and the particular party, or parties, that hath received more then he hath paid. To which the said Brockedon (one of the said Plaintiffes) replyed saying, We can prove by our witnesses that there is detained 13 weeks and 3 days pay (as hath been often repeated) due to the Souldiery, that was collected and received of the Inhabitants of the County of Hart­ford by that Committee,The particulars whereof was al­ready delivered to the said Commit­tee the third of Febr. last. or others under them, against whom the charge is. And before the Plaintiffes could presse further to have the oath administred to the witnesses, then and there present, the said Chair-man with the Hammer in his hand said that they were in haste, and desired that the Plaintiffes would take what they had exprest for an answer; and withall (to prevent the said Plaintiffes further re­ply) took the Bell in his hand and rung it. Whereupon the said Brockedon said, We must then take this for an answer. And so the Committee rose, being as weary of the Plaintiffes importunity on the Common-wealths behalfe, as they the said Plaintiffes were of their delays.

Whereupon the said Petitioners Plaintiffes and Discoverers for the Common-wealth, finding by wofull experience nothing but delayings and continuall discouragements to themselves and their witnesses, and that all proceedings tended to perplex and tyre them out with fruitlesse answers and attendances, and that they were at last dismist without any appointment for further hearing, and thereby deprived of all further hope of satisfaction from the said Committee, They the said Bagwell, and Brockedon to make it ap­pear to your Honours, and to whomsoever shall be concerned in the knowledge thereof, That they have not undertaken a discovery of the premises upon slight, but sound and solid grounds, deemed themselves bound in conscience as well for vindication of their in­tegrity, as in service to the Common-wealth, To cause some few of their witnesses being but seven in number, upon their oathsIn regard the Committee would not administer the oath unto them. before a Master of the Chancery to testifie what they knew concerning the said discovery, all concurring in effect and reall substance with these two which hereafter followeth.

[Page 9] By these two affidavits (the reall effect and substance whereof hath been attested upon the oathes ofEdward Coxe, Gabriel Baskervil, Lancelot Whiteing, John Gates, Charles Boothe, Richard Gwyn, John Wanl [...]y. seven credible persons, and will, if need be, be made good by a cloud of witnesses) it is cleerly manifest, that the said Bagwell and Brockedon, discoverers for the Common-wealth, are more then sufficiently provided to make good their said charge and discovery, and may justly minister occasion of enquiry, what might be the cause that the Committee for the ac­compts for the Common-wealth of England, sitting at the Dutchy house (unto whose care, affairs of this nature are intrusted by the Parliament) have so delayed, deferred, and wearied out, these disco­verers, affording them neither pertinent proceeding, proper hear­ing, Tryal, or Determination, answerable to what, according to an Act, and Ordinances of Parliament was justly expected, by occasi­on whereof (if this kind of dealing should be smothered) will ne­cessarily insue as is justly to be feared, viz.

A great incouragement to the Committee and others that are ac­comptable 1 to the Common-wealth, to continue their unjust and perverse dealings, whereby they enrich themselves by the ruine of others.

A grief to the people who pay their monies they were assessed 2 and taxed, to see the same employed to no better purpose.

A discouragement to those that bring in discoveries at their great 3 charge and expence of time, for the benefit of the Common-wealth, considering how they are slighted, and hopelesse of any good to be done therein.

A disheartning to the Souldiery who have hazarded their lives 4 and fortunes in their Actuall service for the defence of the Com­mon-wealth, The Petitioners can prove (that the Committee of Hartford, or one of them did say, that if they must pay the Souldiery, they could but pay them at last) by these witnesses viz. Edw. Coxe, John Scot, William Steward, Richard Gwyn, John Hatton, and divers others. to be thus defeated of their Salary.

Upon all which they these discoverers for the Common-wealth, William Bagwell, and John Brockedon, with the souldiers and others concerned herein, doe all humbly intreat your Honours most serious observation, whether the Parliaments care and trust in things of so great concernment to the Common-wealth, the dues of Souldiers, and rights of Discoverers have (in these proceedings) found that faithfulnesse and just respect, as was agreeable with Christianity and a good conscience, or the contrary; and where it shall appear to your Honours that the Common-wealth hath been, or is like to be prejudiced through the neglect, or partiality of any, that you will be pleased to employ your most effectuall endevours, as to your grave wisedomes shall seem meet, for a through and speedy remedy; and that the discovery afore mentioned may be brought without such delays and chargeable (yet fruitlesse) attendance, to a speedy issue &c.