To the Right Honourable the High Court of PARLIAMENT.
The humble Petition of Edward Hanchett, Ʋsher of the late Court of Wards and Liveries.

HUmbly sheweth unto your Honours, That your Petitioner did purchase the Office of Usher to the Court, to him and his Heirs for ever, at the rate of 4000 l. it being an Office of in­heritance granted by Letters Patents under the great Seale of England.

About 4. yeares after that your Petitioner was possessed of the said Office, the High Court of Parliament were pleased to take away the said Court, but in their justice thought fit, that the Officers of the Court which had their places by Letters Patents under the great Seale of England, should have a competent satisfaction for the losse of their Offices, and in order thereunto, referred it to a Committee of their own Members to con­sider and make allowances to the severall Officers, who did upon serious consideration allow to your Petitioner the sum of 3500 l. for the losse of his said Office.

The great Officers of the said Court were Members of Parliament, and did procure the satisfaction allotted to them; your Petitioner had the same Justice for him, but not the same Friends.

Notwithstanding the said Order and Vote of the House, and your Peti­tioners constant, and faithfull adhering to the Cause and Interest of the Par­liament, even in their greatest extremities, your Petitioner being sent for by the late King to execute his Office at Oxford, upon paine of losing it, and refused to go, to the hazard of his utter undoing, if the King had prevailed, and your Petitioner as yet hath had no recompence.

Your Petitioner borrowed a great part of the money that purchased the said Office; upon the dissolution of the Court your Petitioner was disa­bled to pay his Debts, and was soon after clapped up Prisoner in the Upper Bench, and there hath remained ever since, to his utter ruine and destruction, having sold all his goods and personall Estate to maintain himselfe and his Wife, and satisfie his Creditors what he could, that now your Petitioner is in a very said condition, not able to subsist, his friends having been wearied with so long supplying his great wants and necessities, unlesse this honoura­ble Parliament be pleased to consider his Cause that crieth for their Justice, and afford him such reliefe as their Wisdomes shall think convenient.

And your Petitioner shall ever pray, &c.

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