To the Kings most Excellent Ma[jes]tie

The humble petic[i]on of Richard Elsworth of the Citty of Bristoll Marchant.

Sheweth

That yo[u]r pet[itione]r soe farr adventured his p[er]son in Loyalty to his Ma[jes]tie (of famous memory) in the Defence of the s[ai]d Citty of Bristoll ag[ains]t the then pr[e]tended Parliam[en]t Forces That in ye storminge thereof in Sept[ember] 1645 he was sorely wounded even to ye hazard of his life & ever since hath contynued his Loyalty to his Prince & Soveraigne not w[i]thstandinge all ye late Vicissitudes & channges both of Prince & People w[hi]ch of late yeares hath happened in these yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties Dominions in soe much that when ye late Pr[e]tended Comittee of safety treasonably tooke vppon them & vsurped the Supreame Authority of this Kingdome yo[u]r pet[itione]r in Decemb[er] last incited the Apprentices of ye s[ai]d Citty to Petici{on} ye Mayor thereof to associate w[i]th ye Adiacent Countyes & ye L[or]d Mayor &c of London for the Peoples Reprievall from ye vnparrell[e]d Slavery & Vassaladge they then groaned vnder W[hi]ch designe p[ro]veinge abortive by reason of its Discovery before it came to ye birth yo[u]r pet[itione]r againe about 29th of January followeinge incited ye s[ai]d Apprentices to rise in opposic[i]on vnto the then pr[e]tended P[ar]liam[en]t vnder the p[re]tences contayned in their Declarac[i]on by yo[u]r pet[itione]r drawne vpp & comitted to the presse for Publiqe viewe And for the surer manadgem[en]t of ye s[ai]d designe yo[u]r pet[itione]r after they were risen & had poss[ess]ed themselves of ye s[ai]d Citty of Bristoll writt a Letter to the Apprentices of London to encourage them alsoe to rise at ye same tyme w[hi]ch he likewise comitted to the Presse to the end afores[ai]d That soe all others might be encouraged to contribute their vtmost assistance towards the consumac[i]on of the great workes (yo[u]r pet[itione]rs most desired & longed for restorac[i]on of yo[u]r Ma[jes]tie to yo[u]r Crowne & Kingdomes) All w[hi]ch by the severall petic[i]ons & afores[ai]d pape[rs] appe[rs] drawne vp by yo[u]r pet[itione]r in Loyalty to p[ro]mote & quicken yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties retorne as afores[ai]d to ye vtmost of his power & yt w[i]th the hazard both of life & estate had not God Almighty Crowned his endeavo[u]r with such successe as yt his Excellencye concentred in ye same designe of yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties restaurac[i]on although in a more prudent renowned way to be admired to all succeedinge Generac[i]ons And truely such was yo[u]r pet[itione]rs ever loyall Affecc[i]ons vnto yo[u]r sacred Ma[jes]tie as yt he prized his Princes retorne & restaurac[i]on at a farr higher estimate then his owne Life & estate Adviseinge his Excellency at severall tymes since his retorne to London of all such transacc[i]ons in the s[ai]d Citty as in ye least might impeade ye same or be a remora therevnto as alsoe of an intended Plott by ye officers & souldiers in & about London to hinder ye sittinge of this Parliam[en]t afectinge the Militia As by his Excellencies Letter of thanks vnto yo[u]r pet[itione]r will app[ear]e

May it therefore please yo[u]r most Excellent Ma[jes]tie seing ye great Jehovah hath answered yo[u]r pet[itione]rs dayly Closset & family prayers for yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties happy restaurac[i]on as afores[ai]d by his Vouchsafeall of yo[u]r retorne to yo[u]r Crowne & Kingdomes to favo[u]r yo[u]r pet[itione]r in yo[u]r bountifull donation vnto him of the Chiefe Customer & Collectors office formerly belonging vnto one Throope dec[ease]d neare 14 yeares past & therefore nowe in yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties disposall Or otherwise the Survayors or Comptrollers office of ye s[ai]d Citty of Bristoll Not that yo[u]r pet[itione]r hath any wayes merrited soe great an hono[u]r at yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties hands as ye donac[i]on of ye least of the offices afores[ai]d for what he hath done as aboves[ai]d Itt being noe more then what in duty he stood obliged but out of yo[u]r Princely Clemency & goodnesse to yo[u]r pet[itione]r He not doubtinge but to improve His Tallent to the advancem[en]t of ye Customes of ye s[ai]d Citty to one 3d. p[ar]te monethly what formerly hath bin retorned into yo[u]r Ma[jes]ties treasury by his fidelity in ye due discharge of his trust

And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall ever pray &c.