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<DATE>2007-12-05</DATE>
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<NAME>Elspeth Healey</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<ITEM>Proofed and reviewed as part of batch B071029.apex.</ITEM>
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<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A87906">
<STC T="W">L1313</STC>
<STC T="T">669.f.10[66]</STC>
<BIBNO T="umi">99869329</BIBNO>
<VID>162603</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
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<DIV1 TYPE="letter">
<PB REF="1" MS="y"><!-- PDF PAGE 7 -->
<HEAD>To a Gentleman, a Member of the Honourable Hou&s;e of Com|mons a&s;&s;embled in PARLIAMENT.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Sir,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>YOur <HI>Birth</HI> &s;peakes you capable of <HI>honour,</HI> and <HI>rea&s;on;</HI> your <HI>profes&s;ion,</HI> of <HI>Pietie</HI> and <HI>Religion;</HI> Your <HI>imployment,</HI> and <HI>Intere&s;t, they</HI> furni&s;h you with <HI>occa&s;ion,</HI> and <HI>power</HI> of <HI>exerci&s;ing tho&s;e offices:</HI> which your <HI>qualitie,</HI> and <HI>prote&s;tations oblige</HI> you to. My <HI>misfortune wants</HI> &s;uch a <HI>friend,</HI> and <HI>neces&s;itates</HI> me <HI>thus</HI> to <HI>&s;eeke</HI> him: having attempted all other <HI>mode&s;t,</HI> and <HI>ordi|nary</HI> wayes in <HI>vaine.</HI> If <HI>you</HI> be <HI>that gallant man,</HI> be plea&s;ed to know, that I have <HI>&s;uffered</HI> above <HI>twenty months impri&s;onment;</HI> with what <HI>effect,</HI> either in order to my <HI>&s;ub&s;i&s;tence</HI> or <HI>health,</HI> I <HI>for|beare;</HI> for Sir, I intend only a <HI>&s;ober repre&s;entation</HI> of my <HI>condition,</HI> and <HI>de&s;ires:</HI> no <HI>Libell,</HI> or <HI>Satyre,</HI></P>
<P>As for my <HI>condition,</HI></P>
<P>It is &s;uch, as will <HI>&s;peedily,</HI> and <HI>certainly de&s;troy</HI> me, I hope better things; But if I be <HI>de&s;tinate</HI> to <HI>ruine,</HI> me thinkes I might peri&s;h by &s;ome way more <HI>worthy</HI> of a GENTLEMAN. then to <HI>langui&s;h</HI> and <HI>expire</HI> among <HI>Whores</HI> and <HI>Theeves.</HI> As for my <HI>de&s;ires,</HI> My <HI>Petition</HI> &s;peakes <HI>them:</HI> and I would not be much impertinent. My <HI>Reque&s;t</HI> (Sir) to you, is only that you will pre&s;ent this <HI>po&s;t&s;cript-Petition</HI> to the <HI>Hou&s;e,</HI> and but &s;o far to <HI>favour</HI> it: as you feele your &s;elfe in <HI>Honour</HI> and <HI>Humanitie</HI> concerned. If any man can <HI>object,</HI> and <HI>prove</HI> it, that I have ever <HI>abu&s;ed</HI> any <HI>Liberty,</HI> or <HI>Civility</HI> I have <HI>received;</HI> or that I have in the lea&s;t <HI>&s;cruple receded,</HI> from what I beleeved <HI>ju&s;t</HI> and <HI>hone&s;t,</HI> let me <HI>dye</HI> for it. If not, I hope my <HI>&s;ufferings</HI> may have <HI>expiated</HI> for my <HI>diver&s;itie</HI> of <HI>opinion.</HI></P>
<P>I doe <HI>pre&s;age, this paper</HI> will heare much of <HI>vanity</HI> and <HI>ostentation.</HI> In truth I doe not like any thing of &s;ingularity; but being reduced to <HI>this choice,</HI> either to <HI>rot</HI> in a <HI>Goale,</HI> or <HI>thus</HI> to <HI>importune</HI> my <HI>liberty,</HI> having none other way left me; This <HI>neces&s;ity</HI> (I hope) will <HI>ju&s;tifie</HI> and <HI>excu&s;e</HI> the <HI>cour&s;e</HI> I have now taken.</P>
<P>It is po&s;&s;ible, a <HI>providence</HI> may conveigh this <HI>trifle</HI> into &s;ome <HI>kinder hand</HI> then I am yet acquainted with. If not, <HI>Facilis Jactura,</HI> It is but an <HI>E&s;&s;ay lo&s;t;</HI> If <HI>otherwi&s;e,</HI> This <HI>letter</HI> is <HI>yours.</HI> So am I; both by <HI>obligation,</HI> and <HI>purcha&s;e:</HI> If <HI>you</HI> be <HI>that kind &s;oule,</HI> who will make <HI>me,</HI> mine <HI>owne.</HI></P>
<CLOSER><DATELINE>Newgate <DATE>July 8. 1646.</DATE></DATELINE>
<SALUTE>Sir,</SALUTE>
Your &s;ervant Roger L'e&s;trange.</CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="letter">
<HEAD>To the honourable the Commons a&s;&s;embled in Parliament. The Petition of <HI>Roger L'e&s;trange,</HI> Pri&s;oner in Newgate</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Humbly Sheweth,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>THat your <HI>Petitioner</HI> hath &s;uffered a <HI>long, chargeable,</HI> and <HI>har&s;h confinement;</HI> wherby he is expo&s;ed to a <HI>certaine,</HI> and <HI>&s;wift de&s;truction,</HI> either by <HI>want, &s;ickne&s;&s;e,</HI> or both: with|out a <HI>&s;ea&s;onable redre&s;&s;e.</HI></P>
<P>Wherefore he makes it his humble &s;uite to this <HI>Honourable Hou&s;e,</HI> that he may either upon his <HI>Parole,</HI> or <HI>&s;ecurity,</HI> enjoy &s;uch <HI>liberty:</HI> as Your Ho|nours &s;hall judge <HI>proper,</HI> and <HI>nece&s;&s;ary</HI> for his <HI>pre&s;ervation,</HI> Your <HI>Petitioner</HI> &s;tanding <HI>engaged,</HI> not to <HI>act,</HI> or <HI>advi&s;e</HI> any thing of <HI>preiudice,</HI> to the <HI>Parlia|ment.</HI></P>
<CLOSER>And your Petitioner &s;hall ever pray, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
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