State Papers.
Vol. 152, No. 82. Petition of the Marquis of Worcester.
To the King’s most excellent Majesty,
The Petition of Edward Earl and Marquis of Worcester.
That the Petitioner having with great loyalty expended and lost his whole fortune (being very considerable) for the interest of the Crown, and public services whereby he is reduced to that deplorable condition through his debts and wants, that he is not capable to eat bread of his own, or allow himself the freedom of the streets, being deprived hereof through the clamour of his creditors, whose moneys were really borrowed for the use, and on the desire of your Majesty’s royal father of blessed memory, your sacred Majesty [sic] and for advancing public services to the general good of the kingdom and security of your Royal person and dignity, of which the Petitioner hath paid above £35,000 since your Majesty’s happy restoration, besides many former sums lent and expended, for which it is humbly presumed your sacred Majesty (when rightly informed) will have particular regard to release and to pay such great acts of loyalty as the Petitioner can make appear, as well for justice as an encouragement for all loyal subjects hereafter to expose themselves and fortunes at any rate for your Royal interest, as the Petitioner hath without precedent, truly and really done in many eminent particular services, too tedious to trouble your Majesty with, being more fit to be heard and prepared by some of your Majesty’s most honourable privy Council, who are the most proper advisers in such cases, whose report and advice in this matter to your Majesty may prove a redemption to the Petitioner, a royal exoneration to your Majesty, and a great encouragement to all good subjects for the future, to expose themselves as the Petitioner hath done, for your Majesty’s less trouble and better understanding of the premisses, and what shall be made appear concerning the same.
The Petitioner’s most humble request is, that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to recommend and refer the Petitioner to be fully heard touching his services, loans, disbursements, losses, and sufferings to the Lord High Chancellor of England, and the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Albemarle, the Marquis of Dorchester, the Earl of Anglesey, the Earl of Loutherdale; the Lord Holles, the Lord Ashley, Lord Arlington and Mr. Secretary Morrice, or to such of them, or other, as your Majesty shall think fit. And that your Majesty will be pleased to order the said Lords to refer to reports to your Majesty with all convenient speed the Petitioner’s whole case, as they shall find it, with their opinions to your Majesty for such just and speedy satisfaction for the relief of the Petitioner, and encouragement for his long endeavouring for the public good, as shall be thought fit, whereby he may be enabled to stop the mouths of his numerous and clamorous creditors, and live himself without disgrace to nobility, or being further necessitated to importune your Majesty. And that, until the Petitioner’s case can be reported, and fitted for your Majesty’s royal pleasure, your Majesty will be pleased to order the Petitioner, some small sum out of the privy purse for the present support of his wife and family who exceedingly want the same.
And your Petitioner will ever pray, &c. &c.
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green, 8vo. 1864. P. 330, No. 82.]
State Papers.
Vol. 144, No. 27. Duke of Albemarle to Lord Arlington.