







 
   
     
       
         [T]o the right honourable, [the betrusted knights, citizens, [illegible] i]n the Commons House of Parliament (Englands legall soveraign power) the humble petition of the inhabitants of Buckingham-shire, and Hartfo[rd]shire, whose names are hereunto subscribed.
         Overton, Richard, fl. 1646.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A90249 of text R210693 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.10[115]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A90249
         Wing O635
         Thomason 669.f.10[115]
         ESTC R210693
         99869467
         99869467
         162646
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A90249)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162646)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f10[115])
      
       
         
           
             [T]o the right honourable, [the betrusted knights, citizens, [illegible] i]n the Commons House of Parliament (Englands legall soveraign power) the humble petition of the inhabitants of Buckingham-shire, and Hartfo[rd]shire, whose names are hereunto subscribed.
             Overton, Richard, fl. 1646.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1647]
          
           
             Signed at end: Richard Overton.
             Imprint from Wing.
             Annotation on Thomason copy: "march: 1st 1646".
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Prisoners -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800.
           Buckinghamshire (England) -- History -- 17th century -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A90249  R210693  (Thomason 669.f.10[115]).  civilwar no To the right honourable, the betrusted knights, citizens, and burgesses in the Commons House of Parliament (Englands legall soveraign power, Overton, Richard 1647    1262 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 C  The  rate of 16 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 
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        2007-09 Elspeth Healey
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        2008-02 pfs
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           To
           the
           right
           Honourable
           ,
           the
           〈…〉
           n
           the
           Commons
           House
           of
           Parliament
           (
           Englands
           legall
           Soveraign
           Power
        
         
           
             The
             humble
             Petition
             of
             the
             Jnhabitants
             of
          
           Buckingham-shire
           ,
           
             and
          
           Hartfordshire
           ,
           
             Whose
             Names
             are
             hereunto
             subscribed
             .
          
        
         
           
             HVMBLY
             SHEWETH
             ;
          
        
         
           THat
           your
           Petitioners
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           free-men
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           before
           the
           beginning
           of
           this
           
             Parliament
             ,
          
           being
           almost
           destroyed
           of
           their
           Lawes
           ,
           Liberties
           ,
           and
           Freedoms
           ,
           by
           the
           arbitrary
           machinations
           ,
           politick
           designes
           ,
           and
           practises
           of
           the
           Pattentee-Monopolizers
           ,
           and
           of
           other
           arbitrary
           supplanters
           and
           Agents
           ,
           which
           laboured
           to
           subvert
           the
           Fundamentall
           Constitutions
           of
           this
           Realm
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           up
           a
           tyrannicall
           Government
           ,
           tending
           to
           the
           utter
           vassalage
           and
           overthrow
           of
           all
           the
           free
           people
           of
           this
           Kingdome
           ,
           together
           with
           their
           Naturall
           ,
           Nationall
           ,
           and
           Legall
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           ,
           God
           putting
           into
           our
           hands
           ,
           an
           opportunity
           to
           free
           our selves
           from
           those
           tyrannies
           and
           oppressions
           ;
           We
           ,
           for
           our
           better
           weal
           and
           happinesse
           ,
           chose
           and
           betrusted
           your
           Honours
           for
           the
           same
           end
           and
           purpose
           ;
           and
           to
           that
           end
           wee
           have
           elected
           ,
           invested
           ,
           and
           betrusted
           you
           with
           our
           indubitable
           and
           naturall
           power
           and
           Birth-rights
           ,
           for
           the
           just
           and
           legall
           removall
           of
           our
           Nationall
           Evils
           ;
           In
           the
           expectation
           whereof
           ,
           we
           have
           waited
           ever
           since
           your
           first
           sitting
           ;
           continually
           and
           cheerfully
           assisting
           you
           with
           our
           lives
           ,
           persons
           ,
           and
           estates
           ,
           being
           much
           encouraged
           thereto
           by
           the
           severall
           Protestations
           ,
           and
           Declarations
           ,
           wherein
           you
           have
           solemnly
           protested
           before
           the
           great
           God
           of
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           whole
           world
           declared
           your
           upright
           and
           wel
           grounded
           resolutions
           ,
           to
           vindicate
           the
           just
           liberties
           of
           every
           Free-born
           English
           man
           without
           exception
           .
        
         
           Now
           therefore
           ,
           our
           most
           humble
           request
           unto
           your
           Honours
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           (
           according
           to
           your
           duties
           ,
           and
           the
           Great
           Trust
           reposed
           in
           you
           )
           take
           into
           your
           consideration
           ,
           the
           slavish
           condition
           ,
           that
           we
           the
           free
           People
           of
           
             England
          
           are
           yet
           subject
           unto
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           those
           Arbitrary
           practises
           that
           are
           still
           continued
           ,
           acted
           ,
           and
           perpetrated
           upon
           us
           by
           some
           prerogative-men
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           ;
           whom
           we
           humbly
           conceive
           ,
           have
           no
           power
           over
           our
           bodies
           or
           Estates
           ,
           they
           being
           not
           
             elected
          
           thereunto
           by
           the
           Free-men
           of
           
             England
             ;
          
           and
           therefore
           may
           not
           commi●
           our
           bodies
           to
           prison
           (
           contrary
           to
           the
           Fundamentall
           Lawes
           of
           this
           Kingdom
           )
           as
           we
           suppose
           hath
           been
           done
           to
           some
           Free-men
           of
           this
           Kingdome
           without
           producing
           any
           Legall
           Authoritie
           ,
           that
           your
           Petitioners
           can
           hear
           of
           ;
           for
           what
           they
           did
           .
           Wherefore
           your
           Petitioners
           most
           humble
           desire
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           respective
           Appeales
           of
           the
           said
           Free
           Subjects
           unto
           this
           Supreame
           House
           ,
           be
           pleased
           to
           take
           their
           cause
           into
           the
           legall
           judgment
           ,
           and
           speedie
           determination
           of
           this
           House
           ,
           as
           the
           whole
           matter
           thereof
           shall
           be
           reported
           unto
           you
           ,
           by
           the
           honourable
           Committee
           ,
           for
           consideration
           of
           the
           Commons
           Liberties
           ,
           who
           have
           their
           whole
           manner
           of
           the
           proceedings
           against
           them
           ,
           together
           with
           their
           respective
           defences
           ready
           to
           represent
           unto
           your
           Honours
           ,
           and
           to
           grant
           unto
           them
           your
           indubitable
           justice
           (
           according
           to
           their
           late
           Petitionarie
           ,
           and
           still
           constant
           desires
           )
           whereby
           they
           may
           receive
           the
           Sentence
           of
           this
           House
           ,
           either
           for
           their
           present
           justification
           ,
           or
           condemnation
           ;
           that
           they
           may
           not
           be
           ruined
           and
           undone
           by
           an
           arbitrary
           and
           injustifiable
           Imprisonment
           .
           And
           if
           that
           ,
           through
           the
           urgent
           affaires
           of
           the
           Kingdome
           ,
           your
           occasions
           will
           not
           afford
           you
           so
           much
           time
           ,
           as
           to
           consider
           and
           expedite
           their
           businesse
           at
           present
           :
           Our
           humble
           request
           is
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           by
           an
           Order
           from
           this
           House
           ,
           forthwith
           set
           them
           free
           out
           of
           prison
           ;
           they
           giving
           legall
           security
           for
           their
           future
           forthcoming
           ,
           until
           such
           time
           as
           your
           honours
           shall
           be
           pleased
           to
           hand
           out
           to
           them
           full
           and
           effectuall
           Justice
           .
           And
           that
           you
           would
           be
           pleased
           ,
           in
           case
           the
           principall
           Informers
           and
           Actors
           be
           found
           guilty
           ,
           to
           grant
           them
           full
           and
           ample
           reparations
           according
           to
           the
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           .
           And
           further
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           take
           care
           ,
           for
           the
           time
           to
           come
           ,
           to
           free
           us
           and
           our
           children
           from
           the
           fear
           and
           prejudice
           of
           the
           like
           Arbitrarie
           and
           Prerogative-proceedings
           ,
           according
           to
           your
           late
           promise
           in
           your
           most
           just
           Declaration
           of
           the
           17.
           of
           
             April
             ,
          
           1646.
           
           And
           your
           Petitioners
           as
           in
           duty
           bound
           shall
           ever
           pray
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             Instructions
             agreed
             upon
             as
             the
             sence
             of
             the
             Petitioners
             of
             Buckingham-shire
             ,
             and
             Hartfordshire
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             the
             persons
             imprisoned
             ,
             Lieutenant
             Collonel
             
               Iohn
               Lilburne
               ,
            
             Mr.
             
               Overton
               ,
            
             his
             Wife
             and
             Brother
             ,
             Mr.
             
               Larners
               ,
            
             Brother
             and
             Maid
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             by
             Prerogative-men
             ,
             we
             mean
             such
             as
             sit
             to
             try
             Commoners
             ,
             and
             are
             not
             elected
             by
             the
             free
             choyce
             of
             the
             people
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             by
             Arbitrary
             practises
             ,
             we
             meane
             such
             as
             are
             contrary
             to
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Kingdome
             .
          
           
             As
             first
             ,
             for
             any
             persons
             to
             try
             those
             that
             are
             not
             their
             Peers
             or
             Equalls
             :
             witnesse
             
               Magna
               Charta
               .
            
             C.
             29
             ,
             E.
             3.
             1.
             6.
             
             Sir
             
               Edward
               Cookes
            
             exposition
             of
             the
             14.
             and
             29.
             
             Chapters
             of
             
               Magna
               Charta
               ,
            
             &c.
             (
             as
             the
             House
             of
             Lords
             have
             done
             and
             would
             have
             done
             all
             the
             above
             mentioned
             .
             )
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             for
             any
             to
             imprison
             men
             for
             not
             answering
             to
             Interrogatories
             in
             Criminall
             Causes
             .
          
        
         
           
             To
             the
             Reader
             ,
          
           
             THis
             Petition
             was
             signed
             with
             almost
             ten
             thousand
             hands
             ,
             and
             was
             brought
             to
             the
             Parliament
             on
             the
             11.
             of
             
               Febr.
            
             1646.
             with
             about
             500.
             
             Gentlemen
             and
             yeomen
             ,
             who
             did
             not
             find
             that
             faire
             accesse
             unto
             the
             Parliament
             that
             they
             expected
             .
             In
             which
             regard
             ,
             they
             went
             all
             out
             of
             the
             Town
             ,
             saving
             six
             whom
             they
             chused
             out
             from
             among
             themselves
             ,
             as
             Commissioners
             .
             with
             whom
             they
             left
             the
             aforesaid
             Instructions
             to
             explain
             somthings
             in
             the
             Petition
             ,
             in
             case
             it
             were
             demanded
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             also
             gave
             them
             further
             order
             to
             improve
             their
             utmost
             interest
             to
             get
             the
             Petition
             read
             and
             answered
             .
          
           
             But
             ,
             those
             they
             had
             to
             deale
             with
             ,
             bearing
             (
             as
             it
             seemes
             )
             a
             greater
             affection
             to
             the
             tyranny
             of
             the
             House
             of
             Lords
             ,
             then
             to
             the
             Liberties
             and
             Freedoms
             of
             those
             that
             choose
             ,
             and
             trusted
             them
             ,
             would
             not
             vouchsafe
             it
             a
             reading
             in
             their
             House
             ,
             though
             the
             aforesaid
             Commissioners
             attended
             many
             dayes
             at
             the
             doores
             of
             the
             House
             ,
             and
             with
             all
             earnestnest
             ,
             and
             faithfulnesse
             pressed
             to
             have
             it
             read
             ,
             but
             could
             not
             prevaile
             ,
             and
             so
             were
             forced
             in
             great
             discontent
             to
             returne
             to
             their
             severall
             dwellings
             ,
             and
             truly
             to
             acquaint
             the
             rest
             of
             their
             fellow-Petitioners
             ,
             what
             hard
             dealings
             they
             had
             found
             from
             the
             hands
             of
             the
             peoples
             great
             Trusties
             at
             
               Westminster
               .
            
          
           
             But
             in
             regard
             that
             my selfe
             and
             all
             the
             Commons
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ,
             are
             so
             much
             concerned
             in
             this
             Petition
             ;
             I
             therefore
             out
             of
             an
             apprehension
             of
             a
             singular
             duty
             have
             published
             to
             my selfe
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             whole
             Nation
             ,
             to
             the
             view
             of
             all
             the
             Commons
             of
             
               England
            
             the
             Petition
             with
             the
             Instructions
             ,
             and
             these
             few
             lines
             ,
             and
             remain
             ,
          
           
             
               Thy
               true
               friend
               ,
               if
               thou
               be
               true
               to
               the
               Liberties
               of
               the
               Commons
               of
               
                 England
                 .
              
               
                 Richard
                 Overton
                 .
              
               Prerogative-Prisoner
               in
               !
               
                 Newgate
                 ,
              
            
          
        
      
    
    

