THat we the poor distressed Souldiery under the Parliaments Service in Ireland, having heretofore served the Parliament under the Lord Generall Essex, valiant Massey, and noble Sir William Waller, and the rest, &c. did in all faithfulnesse, hardship and desperate service as ever any, hazzard our lives and fortunes, and did according to order obey and disband then not so much as doubting of all our Arreares, and now have almost served you two years in all integrity and faithfulnesse both Winter and Summer, wet and dry, frost and snow, having no other bedding then the bare ground for our beds, and the skies for our co­vering, and when dry in the day and night, no other signe to drink at but the Sun and Moone, and nothing but water, having no plenty, but cold backs, hungry bellies, and puddle water, and when sore wounded, not a Surgeon to dresse us, or if a Surgeon, no chest, nor salve, nor oyntments; and for bread many times not a loafe of two pence under six pence, and rotten cheese sent not fit for a dog, and for butter it went from London to Dover, and mistook Dublin and went to Dunkirk, and for our new cloathes all made of the French fashion, and being too little for any of us, were carried for France to cloath them, hardly hats to our heads but what our haire growes through, and neither hose or shooes, doublet or breeches, tearing our Snapsacks to patch a hole to hide our naked and starved flesh, and our swords naked for want of scabberds: Thus with our backs without cloaths, and our bellies without food, and not a penny to buy any thing, and the Kernes having burnt the corne and destroyed all fit for succour, we forced to march bare legged and bare footed, having neither fire nor food, we perish in misery, and our Commanders being in a manner in the same case, having nothing but good words to pay us with, shewing us often your Orders upon Orders for our pay, plentifully promising but not performing; and thus wee dropping downe dead daily in our marching, and so feeble and so weak, being not able to fight or do any more service without some supply, but all like to starve and die in misery, when all meanes is anticipated, and the Tax of 60000. l. wholly ingrossed by your Army from us, and your Souldiery quartered in Kings houses, and clad Gentile like, and fed in Free-quarter to the full, and lie in good beds, and take their pleasure and ease in rest and peace.

We humbly desire our hungry bellies may once be filled, and our naked backs be cloathed, and our legs and feet be hosed and shooed, and our Surgeons once more fitted, and all recruited with food to supply us once more, that we may go out again to fi­nish that worke we have begun, and not to lie like Drones to eat up others meat, and we do not doubt, but with Gods bles­sing, to give you a happy account of the Conquest of the whole Land, and shall ever pray for a happy Parliament.