[No. 31.]

To his Excellencie S Thomas Firefax generall

of the Parliamen Forces.

The humble peticon of the Inhibants of the Prsh of Westbury in the County of Wilts

Sheweth

That yo' poore peticones are willing to undergoe theire pporconable tax of the generall burthen of this Kingdom according to yo' Excellencies declaracons and the ordinances of parliament, pvided that wee may be tyed to no other inconvenience than yo' Excellencies declaracons & the ordinances of parliam' doe divulge And that yo' peticoners may be at a certainty to know the worst of of sufferings wch we shall cheerefully undergoe for the furtherance of the publique goode in relacion to the parliam1 and armie And whereas the parliam' and yo* Excellencie in goodnesse have afforded us very goode orders and declarons the benefits whereof wee want videlt that if the country shall pay the 60000' p mensem they shall be freed from free quarters Whereof six monethes demandes we have already payde and the other three monethes now questioned wee are ready to pay and yet are constantly burthened wth free quartering and that wch hath next relacon to free quarter as may appeare by o accompte of the charge wch the sayde towne and pish have beene at wch amounts to above the pporcon of o' rate for the 60000' p mensem already the continuance of wch yr poore peticoners are not able to undergoe And whereas the rumo' of the souldiers paying for theire quarters may appeare to the world to be somthing yet wee find it in effect nothing or wthin one degree of free quarter as shall appeare to yo' Excellencie and the parliam' videlt that a Troope of

Dragoones of one hundred besides Officers under the commaund of captain Barrington, p'tending yo' Excellencies order, have quartered upon us thirty dayes already and those who refuse to quarter them are constraynd to pay 35 a day for horse and man, p'tending that they will discharge theire quarters when they receive their pay wch pay being by them received yo peticoners canne make it appeare that they received. not above the fifth pte of what the charge of quartering amounts unto. So that yo' peticons are like to undergoe the burthen of free quarters and pay theire rates to boote unless the parliam and yo' Excellencie be pleased to consider the distressed estate of this country.

Yo' peticons having delivered the grievances of this psh doe humbly desire yo' Excellencie to consider of the destressed estate wee are now in being the least and poorest hundred in the county as will appeare to yo' Excellencie upon further examinacon And doe farther desier that yo" will be pleased to give us a positive order under yo' hand and seale what yo' peticoners shall allow the souldiers upon a march or upon a settled quarter And in regard we have formerly suffered so farre beyond other places we humbly desire that we may be freed from that settled quarter both for the tyme. p'sent and future, unlesse it bee uppon a march for a night or two, that so we may avoyde the commaund of the soulders or to be at theire disposure and yo' peticon's shall as in duty bound ever pray for yo' Excellencie February this last

1647.

THOMAS HANCOCKE, Mayor.

Here follow twelve other signatures.

A Rate made for the maintaynance of S' Thos Firfix

The Names of the 3 soulders that quartere at the

Belle.

William Birein

John Gilbert

William Broughton.

[No. 32.]

According as by order we weare required: we have considered; & cannot find of what tything y vicarige of Westbury is for we never find yt it was rated formerly by any tything as a member thereof. Also we have considered of its value: and doo conceave y1 it is worth about £60 os. od. p. anum in ye full But ye burdens of cures & thenthes discharged it is worth about £25 os. od. p annum wich being an inconsiderable sum

for ye maintenance of y° vicar and his familie therfor the parish hath not formerly nor ded we now think him fitt to be rated to any tax but are content to exempt him and to beare ye proportion allotted to ye Tythings wh thout him nether have we rated the Chantery tything above its due valew w1thout the addition of ye vicarige to it

the Dues of the vicarige as folloeth

Signed by John Edwards & Thomas Marchaunt Constables and Eight Assessors

Sir

[No. 33.]

Although not allowed by this Committee yet it hath pleased the Comittee of Lords & Commons upon a due and serious examination, to confirme the deede showed by Mr. Seymour and in persuance to that, have granted an order to the Committee of Wilts for taking

F

off the sequestration. I sent this bearer as well wth the Order it selfe as also wth all the proceedings hoping he should have met the Comittee for Wilts at Malberow but meeting only Mr Martyn there he advised this bearer to repayre to you and M' Selfe to whom I have given directions to attend on you both desyring you get your hand likewise. So I rest

If I had not thought you would have bene heare before this time, I would have written offtener and fuller to you: The truth is I do only deferr the setting downe the time of my goeing from hence and the resolving wch way to goe, till I speake with you, you know what I am promised to receave from the French Court for my journey, in the meane time I am sure I am not only without money, but have bene compelled to borrow all that I have spent neere these 3 months so that you will easily judge how soone three thousand and six hundred pistols will be gone, and yett I must expect no more from hence, but depend upon what you shall bring me, for my shipp, gunnes, and my share of the prize. I longe to have you here, and am interely

dearest Cousin

Your most affectionate Cousin

For my dearest Cousin

Prince Rupert

CHARLES R.