The petition of Adrian Scrope of Cockerington, Lincolnshire, June 1660
How farr ye last King had gone in making my father a Baron of England, will appeare by ye Queenes letters to me, and some of my Lord St Albans to whose freindship, and sollicitation I owe much in that businesse:
The Queene sent her letters to ye King with those she then sent to me, vpon w[hi]ch ye King gave me as strong an assurance as was possible that ye patent should as soone be pasd, as he should have ye power of ye seale, and sent to ye Queene that it happned very well that her desyres and his owne inclinations mett in gratifying ye same person, for that he was ingaged as well to S[i]r Gervaise Scrope att Hampton Court, as she was then to Collonell Scrope att St Germans.
There hath euer since there were Barons in England bene Barons off this family except now, and I am heire male of this familie soe that his maiestys Grant is to a person whose Predicessors allways had itt.
I have bene bred in ye last Kings Court and service ever since I was a child, having bene allways his maiestys servant in peace as well as his officer in ye Armys in which I allways had very considderable and honorable commands. My father lost (and consequently myselfe for he had noe other child) aboue thirty thousand pound in ye Kings service, noe person of such an estate having supplyd ye late King with more monny, as will be easily proued and for his personall services I am sure noe man did or sufferd more, himselfe dying (though long after) off those wounds he received att Edge Hill, his onely brother kild in ye North, and myselfe (his onely child) severall times wounded in his maiestys service: butt I shall never vrge any pretences of meritt (for all wee did and sufferd
sufferd was butt duty) and shall wholy ascribe what ever I receive from his maiesty to his Grace and Bounty alone.
The most materiall reason why I implore his maiestys favour herein, is because itt is generally knowne how farr ye last King was ingaged, and that itt was nott then perfected for noe other reason butt that ye King had nott ye power of ye seale, and itt may much lessen me in reputation, and ye world may probably beleive I haue faulty to this present King if his maiesty should refuse to perfect for me what his father, and this Queene assured me off.
Concerning Mr Adrian Scroopes Suit to bee a Baron.