The petition of Sir Thomas Dacres, royalist officer, July 1660
To the Kings most Excellent Maiesty.
The Humble petic[i]on of S[i]r Thomas Dacres
Sheweth:
That in 1639 when his late Ma[jes]tie of euer blessed memory raised an Army to suppresse the Tumults in Scotland yo[u]r Pet[itione]r raised a Considerable Force of Horse, & Foot at his owne charges.
That in 1642 in Ord[e]r to ye suppression of ye Rebellion then raising against his said Ma[jes]tie yo[u]r Pet[itione]r at his owne charge raised and mounted two Troopes and three Companyes of Foote w[i]thout advances
That in 1643 to suppresse the Rebellion in Cumberland hee further raised at his owne Charges 400 Horse & afterwards in ye Seidge of Carlisle to the Delivery thereof: and his whole estate sequestred, his Woods Cutt Downe, and his howses plundred & Defaced to ye value of 10000 li. & vpwards:
That after the delivery of Carlisle hee personally attended his Ma[jes]tie till Rowton Heath Hee was in many parts of his body wounded 30 peeces of his skull taken out of his head and by Gods Providence hee narrowly escaped w[i]th life: and being denied the benefitt of Composition or liberty to liue in any part of England hee was forced to Fly to the Isle of Man & thence into Ireland, where hee some time served his Ex[cellen]cie the Marquess of Ormond & then forced to Holland:
That his Estate was by a Pretended Act of Parliam[en]t made in 1652 & sold about 1654 w[i]thout any allowance for ye interest of his Children, other Relac[i]ons & Creditors and then having lost all his Estate for his Loyalty: hee Adventured into England purposely to promote yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties service, w[hi]ch hee hath to his vtmost done to the often hazard of his life, as may bee testifyed by his many imprisonm[en]ts vnder ye late Vsurpers:
That yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie haveing beene gratiously pleased to Grant severall Orders of reference for yo[u]r Pet[itione]rs releife to ye Lords of your Treasury of w[hi]ch yo[u]r pet[itione]r can haue noe benefitt of the p[ar]ticulars Petitioned for being Disposed of to others to his great Charge and disapointm[en]t
Yo[u]r pet[itione]r therefore humbly prayes yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties gratious Ord[e]r that hee may have a Lease of ye Demesne Lands Mills and other perticulars (the Mann[o]rs and Royaltyes excepted) of yo[u]r Mann[o]rs of Stoake vnd[e]r Hamden & Leverton in the County of Somersett for 31 yeares at a moderate rent:
And hee shall pray: