To the High COURT of PARLAMENT,
John Cragge doth his Request present.
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T-O You Right Worthies, worthy of Renowne,
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O-ut of humility he doth make knowne
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T-his his request which he doth here present,
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H-ighly esteeming of the Parliament:
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E-ndeared Lords and Senate grave and wise,
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H-ave some respect to him that doth you prise:
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I-ntreating God to blesse you day and night
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G-ainst such as beare You hatred, malice, spight.
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H-e formerly did tender his Petition,
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C-raving your Honours for an exhibition
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O-f good respect you beare to such as strive
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U-nder your Honours, wishing for to thrive;
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R-ight Honourable Worthies he shall pray
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T-hat God would blesse you all both night and day:
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O-ut of his mercy, goodnesse, favour, love,
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F-rom those that your good deeds doe not approve:
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P-raise worthy deeds, he may them well commend
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A-ll of you striving Gods Cause to defend;
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R-ecorded may they be with full consent,
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L-aid up in store for publicke government,
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A-t no time let them perish or decay,
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M-augre the spight of such as erre and stray,
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E-terniz'd let them be for time to come,
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N-o tongue suppresse them, nor give them their doome
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T-hey are so grounded on the Word of God,
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I-njewel'd they shall be, and not withstood,
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O-ut of true sense and feeling he this speakes,
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H-e highly sins your just commands that breakes.
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N-ow may it please your Honours for to give
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C-omfort to Crag that under you would live,
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R-especting of your Parliamentall power
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A-bove all others, next to God each houre:
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G-ive your consent, he humbly now doth pray
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G-rant his Petition, doe not say him nay,
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E-steem thereof, and grant him some reliefe,
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D-eny him not, but ease him of his griefe;
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O-ft hath he mov'd your Honours unto this
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T-o have your Honours love let him not misse,
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H-e shall pray for you ever day and night,
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H-e still to blesse you shall take great delight:
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I-ndeared Lords and others of Renowne,
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S-hew him your favour, him with mercie crown:
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R-ight tender deare, God well may prosper you,
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E-xcell you may in every thing you doe:
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Q-uite from Malignants God may you defend,
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U-nto the truth your meanings ever tend,
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E-xpressing still your mindes in such a way,
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S-triving that truth may ever still beare sway:
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T-rue Honourable Lords and Worthies all,
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P-ray God still blesse you, you may never fall:
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R-emember him that ceaseth not to pray
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E-ven from his heart Christ Jesus blesse you night & day
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S-hew him he prayes you such good expedition,
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E-xpect he doth your granting his Petition;
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N-o man more thankfull living can there be,
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T-o shew his thankfulnesse no man more free.
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The summe of his Petition it is this,
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For which he praies, of which he would not misse
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Wages, board-wages, livery, house to dwell
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For Crag, your servant pleaseth wondrous well,
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It is the same which formerly he had,
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Injoying which will make his heart full glad.
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The Kingdomes Seale is at your disposition,
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May it please Your Honours grant him his Petition:
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If you'l give him five shillings for each day,
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He for Your Honours shall not cease to pray.
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John Crag, his wife, and children shall not cease,
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Christ Jesus blesse you, and your joyes increase. Amen.
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Though his Petition he in verse compose,
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May it please Your Honours answer him in prose.
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