<Cope Rich.>

To the Kinges most excellent Maiesty.

The humble petic[i]on of Henry Rich and Cope Rich Esq[ui]r[e]s twoe of the sonnes and Adm[inistrato]rs of the late unfortunate Earl of Holland dec[ease]d their Father.

Most humbly shewe.

That yo[u]r late royall Father of ever blessed memory in the second yeare of his Raigne did give and grant vnto S[i]r Robert Kelligrew kn[igh]t dec[ease]d the custody and proffitts of the Offices of the seales of yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Bench and Com[m]on pleas for Fortie yeares vnder the yearely rent of 1653 li. 14 s. And that afterwards yo[u]r pet[itione]rs Father for a valuable considerac[i]on paid bought the said office of the said S[i]r Rob[er]t Kelligrew for the residew of the said terme of 40 yeares wherein there is yett about 7 yeares to come.

That yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties late royall Father being at his death iustly and truly indebted by privy seale and otherwise vnto yo[u]r pet[itione]rs said Father in the sum[m]e of 20000 li. and vpwards as by the records in the signett office may appeare yo[u]r pet[itione]rs said Father a little before he was murderd made his last will & thereby appointed his owne debts to bee paid with the moneyes due to him from your Ma[jes]ties said Father: but if ye times should continue soe distempered that itt could not bee then raised hee appointed his owne debts to bee paid out of the proffitts of the said Office; And by his will gaue vnto yo[u]r pet[itione]rs 500 li. a yeare a peece to bee paid out of ye proffitts of ye said Office dureinge the residew of the said terme which was all ye fortune yo[u]r pet[itione]rs Father left them.

That by reason noe p[ar]te of the said moneyes due from yo[u]r royall Father to yo[u]r pet[itione]rs Father as aforesaid was ever paid the greatest parte of the proffitts of the said Office haue for theis eleven yeares last past beene applyed to the payment of yo[u]r pet[itione]rs Fathers debts the same being yett vnsatisfied by meanes whereof yo[u]r pet[itione]rs ever since their said Fathers death haue rec[eive]d very little or noe proffitts soe that there remaineth due and in arreare 5000 li. to each of yo[u]r pet[itione]rs which by their Fathers will they ought to haue had but cannott bee made good vnto them in respect of their Fathers debts yett remayning vnpaid.

Now forasmuch as yo[u]r pet[itione]rs haue had little benefitt by reason of the premisses and for that yo[u]r pet[itione]rs haue noe other livelyhood or subsistance after the said terme is expired to support themselves their wives and children.

They doe most humbly and heartily pray yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie that out of yo[u]r princely clemency & goodnesse yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie for the reasons aforesaid would bee pleased to grant yo[u]r pet[itione]rs a new Lease of the said Office for the same terme itt was formerly granted or els for what time yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie shall thinke fitt to comence after the expirac[i]on of the former Lease vnder the same yearely rent now reserved in compensac[i]on of the said debt of 20000 li. and other their sadd sufferinges in the misfortune of their said Father in theis vnhappy times.

And yo[u]r pet[itione]r as in dutie bound shall ever pray for yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties happie & prosperous Reigne.

Cope Rich

<At ye Court at Whitehall the 25th June 1660>

<His Ma[jes]ty is pleased to referre this Petition vnto the Examinac[i]on of the Right Hono[ura]ble the L[or]d Com[m]issioners of the Treasury, to heare the partyes interested in the same & to make report thereof vnto his Ma[jes]ty wherevpon his Ma[jes]ty will declare his further pleasure.>

<Edw[ard] Nicholas>