An account of Robert Crosfeild's proceedings in the House of Lords, the last session, and this session of Parliament wherein will appear the present miserable state and condition of the nation, by the open violating and invading of the law and liberty of the subject : humbly presented to the consideration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled.
         Crosfeild, Robert.
      
       
         
           1692
        
      
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         A69827
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         ESTC R8024
         12272914
         ocm 12272914
         58351
         
           
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             An account of Robert Crosfeild's proceedings in the House of Lords, the last session, and this session of Parliament wherein will appear the present miserable state and condition of the nation, by the open violating and invading of the law and liberty of the subject : humbly presented to the consideration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled.
             Crosfeild, Robert.
          
           8 p.
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             between 1692-1696]
          
           
             Charging corruption in the government and the military.
             Caption title.
             Dated and signed at end: February 18th 1695/6, Robert Crosfeild.
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         eng
      
       
         
           Political corruption -- England.
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1689-1702.
        
      
    
     
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           An
           ACCOUNT
           of
           
             Robert
             Crosfeilds
             Proceedings
          
           IN
           THE
           HOUSE
           of
           LORDS
           ,
           The
           last
           Session
           ,
           and
           this
           Session
           of
           Parliament
           :
           Wherein
           will
           apear
           the
           ▪
           Present
           Miserable
           State
           and
           Condition
           OF
           THE
           NATION
           ,
           By
           the
           Open
           Violating
           and
           Invading
           of
           the
           
             Law
             and
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Subject
             :
             Humbly
             Presented
             to
             the
             Consideration
             of
             the
             Lords
             and
             Commons
             in
             Parliament
             Assembled
             .
          
        
         
           IT
           is
           by
           all
           Men
           an
           allow'd
           Principle
           ,
           That
           't
           is
           the
           Bounden
           Duty
           of
           every
           Subject
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Nation
           ,
           to
           contribute
           all
           that
           in
           him
           lies
           towards
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Service
           and
           Preservation
           of
           his
           Native
           Country
           ,
           and
           the
           greater
           his
           Quality
           or
           Station
           is
           ,
           whether
           Spiritual
           or
           Temporal
           ,
           so
           much
           the
           more
           is
           this
           Duty
           Incumbent
           on
           him
           .
        
         
           If
           this
           wholsome
           Principle
           had
           been
           truely
           and
           sincerely
           practis'd
           this
           Reign
           ,
           then
           might
           we
           have
           expected
           that
           God
           would
           have
           bless'd
           our
           Endeavours
           ,
           and
           not
           have
           suffer'd
           us
           to
           have
           endur'd
           so
           long
           and
           tedious
           a
           War
           ,
           and
           so
           great
           Expence
           of
           Blood
           and
           Treasure
           ;
           and
           at
           last
           to
           be
           reduc'd
           to
           such
           a
           Pitch
           of
           Misery
           ,
           as
           this
           Nation
           never
           groan'd
           under
           ;
           and
           (
           which
           is
           more
           deplorable
           )
           not
           caus'd
           by
           our
           Enemies
           abroad
           ,
           but
           our
           pretended
           Friends
           and
           Patriots
           at
           home
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           worst
           of
           all
           ,
           the
           Nation
           's
           groaping
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           in
           the
           Dark
           ,
           not
           seeing
           the
           true
           Rise
           and
           Cause
           of
           our
           present
           Misery
           and
           approaching
           Ruin.
           
        
         
           All
           which
           will
           appear
           by
           the
           Violent
           Oppression
           ,
           Injustice
           ,
           and
           judicial
           Blindness
           of
           the
           present
           Age.
           
        
         
           For
           Brevity's
           sake
           I
           shall
           pass
           over
           a
           great
           Act
           of
           
           Injustice
           done
           to
           the
           Publick
           by
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           ,
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Session
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           holden
           in
           the
           Year
           1694
           /
           ●
           .
           and
           begin
           the
           Relation
           of
           my
           Proceedings
           at
           the
           Exhibiting
           my
           Petition
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           the
           same
           Session
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           as
           followeth
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           March
           9.
           
           169●
           .
           I
           Presented
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           the
           following
           Petition
           .
        
         
           
             
             
               To
               the
               Lords
               Spiritual
               and
               Temporal
               in
               Parliament
               Assembled
               ▪
               
               The
               humble
               Petition
               of
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
              
               .
               
               Sheweth
               ,
               
               
                 THat
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 having
                 lately
                 dedicated
                 and
                 presented
                 to
                 your
                 Lordships
                 a
                 Book
                 entituled
                 ,
              
               Great
               Brittain's
               Tears
               ;
               
                 setting
                 forth
                 the
                 great
                 Abuses
                 committed
                 in
                 the
                 Government
                 by
                 Persons
                 in
                 Places
                 of
                 Trust
                 ,
                 and
                 also
                 the
                 Embezlement
                 of
                 the
                 Publick
                 Treasure
                 ,
                 t●
                 the
                 great
                 Hazard
                 of
                 the
                 common
                 Safety
                 of
                 the
                 Nation
                 :
                 And
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 having
                 in
                 the
                 Paper
                 annex'd
                 ,
                 drawn
                 up
                 some
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 said
                 Miscarriages
                 and
                 Grievances
                 that
                 the
                 Nation
                 now
                 labours
                 under
                 ,
                 relating
                 to
                 the
                 Royal
                 Navy
                 ,
                 and
                 being
                 ready
                 by
                 good
                 substantial
                 Evi●●●●e
                 to
                 prove
                 the
                 same
                 before
                 this
                 most
                 Honourable
                 House
                 :
              
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Petitioner
                 therefore
                 most
                 humbly
                 prays
                 that
                 your
                 Lordships
                 will
                 please
                 to
                 hear
                 and
                 examine
                 the
                 said
                 Grievances
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Offenders
                 may
                 have
                 such
                 punishment
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 great
                 Numbe●
                 〈…〉
                 oppressed
                 ,
                 such
                 Relief
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 your
                 Lordships
                 Wisdom
                 shall
                 seem
                 meet
                 .
                 And
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 shall
                 ever
                 pray
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               
               
                 That
                 the
                 present
                 Commissioners
                 for
                 Sick
                 and
                 Wounded
                 Seamen
                 ,
                 and
                 Exchanging
                 Prisoners
                 at
                 War
                 ,
                 depending
                 on
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 )
                 not
                 regarding
                 Instructions
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Good
                 of
                 the
                 Government
                 ,
                 have
                 committed
                 gross
                 Enormities
                 ;
                 as
                 Holding
                 or
                 Conniving
                 at
                 an
                 unlawful
                 Correspondence
                 with
                 the
              
               French
               ,
               
                 and
                 Wronging
                 both
                 King
                 and
                 Subject
                 in
                 their
                 Accompts
                 ,
                 with
                 other
                 great
                 miscarriages
                 :
                 All
                 which
                 has
                 been
                 about
                 a
                 Year
                 since
                 laid
                 in
                 Writing
                 before
                 the
                 Secretary
                 of
                 State
                 by
                 one
                 Mr.
              
               Baston
               ,
               
                 and
                 by
                 the
                 King's
                 Command
                 examin'd
                 before
                 the
                 Lords
                 of
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
               
                 And
                 it
                 will
                 appear
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 said
                 Commission
                 has
                 been
                 very
                 injurious
                 to
                 the
                 poor
                 Sailors
                 in
                 particular
                 ,
                 and
                 very
                 detrimental
                 to
                 the
                 Government
                 in
                 general
                 .
              
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 That
                 the
                 Lords
                 of
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 ,
                 and
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 the
                 Navy
                 ,
                 have
                 acted
                 contrary
                 to
                 the
                 Publick
                 Good
                 ,
                 by
                 countenancing
                 ,
                 supporting
                 ,
                 and
                 preferring
                 Criminals
                 ;
                 and
                 on
                 the
                 contrary
                 ,
                 persecuting
                 the
                 Discoverers
                 ,
                 and
                 turning
                 just
                 Men
                 out
                 of
                 their
                 Offices
                 .
              
            
             
               3.
               
               
                 That
                 their
                 Lordships
                 have
                 had
                 great
                 Discoveries
                 laid
                 before
                 them
                 of
                 Embezlements
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 great
                 Frauds
                 committed
                 in
                 the
                 King
                 's
                 Yards
                 ,
                 attended
                 with
                 Forgery
                 and
                 Perjury
                 .
              
            
             
               4.
               
               
                 That
                 it
                 is
                 manifest
                 some
                 of
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 the
                 Navy
                 have
                 in
                 that
                 Office
                 advanc'd
                 themselves
                 from
                 Salaries
                 of
              
               30
               l.
               per
               Annum
               ,
               
                 to
                 vast
                 Estates
                 ,
                 having
                 passed
                 great
                 Frauds
                 ,
                 and
                 totally
                 discouraged
                 the
                 Discovery
                 of
                 Embezled
                 Stores
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 great
                 waste
                 of
                 the
                 Publick
                 Treasure
                 .
              
            
             
               5.
               
               
                 That
                 it
                 has
                 been
                 a
                 long
                 Practice
                 in
                 the
                 Navy
                 to
                 make
                 out
                 false
                 Tickets
                 and
                 Powers
                 ,
                 suspending
                 and
                 del●●ing
                 the
                 poor
                 Sailers
                 in
                 their
                 just
                 Payments
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 general
                 Discourage●●nt
                 of
                 th●●
                 ,
                 and
                 Starving
                 their
                 Families
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           But
           e're
           I
           could
           get
           the
           aforesaid
           Petition
           Read
           in
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           I
           met
           with
           s●veral
           difficulties
           ,
           many
           Lords
           ,
           both
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           ,
           declining
           to
           carry
           in
           the
           same
           ;
           and
           being
           almost
           out
           of
           hopes
           ,
           at
           length
           I
           met
           with
           a
           Noble
           Lord
           ,
           that
           with
           much
           freedom
           carried
           it
           into
           the
           House
           ,
           and
           caus'd
           it
           to
           be
           Read
           on
           the
           9th
           of
           March
           last
           ;
           Whereupon
           their
           Lordships
           were
           pleas'd
           to
           Order
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           ●ccount
           to
           lay
           before
           the
           House
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           Proceedings
           against
           the
           Commissioners
           for
           Sick
           and
           Wounded
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           their
           Lordships
           did
           Hear
           and
           Examine
           part
           of
           the
           Matter
           at
           the
           Bar
           of
           the
           House
           ,
           which
           put
           me
           in
           great
           hopes
           that
           ●ll
           the
           Evil
           Practices
           would
           have
           been
           laid
           open
           that
           Parliament
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           fearing
           that
           the
           Notorious
           Matters
           of
           Perjury
           ,
           &c.
           king
           in
           their
           Office
           ,
           would
           have
           come
           to
           light
           .
           They
           to
           prevent
           the
           same
           ,
           pretended
           〈◊〉
           〈◊〉
           House
           ,
           in
           Answer
           to
           their
           Lordships
           Order
           ,
           That
           the
           Matter
           was
           still
           depending
           before
           them
           ,
           and
           not
           finish'd
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           so
           prevail'd
           with
           their
           Lordships
           to
           Recommit
           the
           matter
           to
           them
           ,
           which
           was
           accordingly
           done
           the
           20th
           of
           March
           last
           ,
           and
           the
           next
           day
           ,
           the
           2d
           .
           and
           3d.
           of
           the
           above-mention'd
           Articles
           were
           also
           referr'd
           to
           their
           Examination
           ,
           with
           Order
           to
           Transmit
           the
           same
           ,
           when
           perfected
           ,
           to
           the
           House
           ;
           which
           (
           by
           reason
           of
           much
           Important
           Business
           )
           they
           have
           not
           had
           leisure
           to
           do
           to
           this
           day
           !
           but
           how
           evilly
           they
           have
           examin'd
           the
           aforesaid
           matter
           ,
           sufficiently
           appears
           by
           what
           has
           been
           Publish'd
           in
           *
           Print
           ,
           and
           will
           also
           be
           further
           demonstrated
           by
           what
           ensues
           ;
           and
           so
           all
           these
           Enormous
           Crimes
           were
           hid
           ,
           cover'd
           and
           hush'd
           up
           the
           last
           Session
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           by
           these
           Gentlemens
           great
           Ingenuity
           .
        
         
         
           But
           in
           order
           to
           the
           Detecting
           these
           falatious
           Practices
           ,
           I
           did
           ,
           against
           the
           Meeting
           of
           this
           present
           Session
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           Print
           and
           Publish
           a
           Book
           Entitnled
           ,
           
             Justice
             Perverted
             ,
             &c.
          
           
           Which
           I
           Dedicated
           to
           both
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           setting
           sorth
           some
           of
           the
           horrible
           Corruptions
           in
           the
           Government
           .
           Also
           Mr.
           Baston
           Printed
           and
           Publish'd
           his
           Case
           ,
           Dedicated
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           containing
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           Evil
           Practices
           of
           the
           present
           Commissioners
           for
           Sick
           and
           Wounded
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           more
           evil
           Examination
           thereof
           ,
           by
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           .
           And
           that
           all
           these
           soul
           Matters
           might
           come
           to
           a
           fair
           Examination
           ,
           I
           drew
           up
           a
           Petition
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           but
           before
           I
           Insert
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           Relate
           the
           great
           (
           and
           I
           believe
           unparallell'd
           )
           difficulties
           I
           met
           with
           ,
           in
           bringing
           the
           said
           Petition
           into
           the
           House
           .
        
         
           Having
           drawn
           up
           my
           said
           Petition
           ,
           I
           repair'd
           to
           that
           Noble
           Lord
           ,
           who
           carried
           it
           into
           the
           House
           the
           last
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           pray'd
           his
           Lordship
           to
           cause
           it
           to
           be
           Read
           ,
           but
           found
           his
           Lordship
           very
           cool
           in
           the
           matter
           ,
           tho'
           not
           refusing
           to
           do
           it
           ;
           in
           this
           manner
           I
           waited
           upon
           ,
           and
           attended
           his
           Lordship
           near
           a
           Month
           ,
           but
           finding
           nothing
           move
           ,
           and
           much
           time
           lost
           ,
           I
           drew
           another
           Copy
           of
           my
           Petition
           ,
           and
           presented
           it
           to
           divers
           other
           Noble
           Lords
           ,
           both
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           ,
           but
           none
           thought
           fit
           to
           Adventure
           to
           carry
           in
           the
           said
           Petition
           ,
           tho
           the
           matter
           was
           actually
           Depending
           in
           the
           House
           from
           the
           last
           Parliament
           ;
           upon
           which
           I
           was
           necessitated
           to
           take
           other
           Measures
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           I
           wrote
           a
           Letter
           to
           my
           Lord-Keeper
           ,
           and
           sent
           it
           into
           the
           House
           to
           his
           Lordship
           ,
           by
           the
           Gentleman-Usher
           of
           the
           Black-Rod
           :
           A
           Copy
           of
           which
           Letter
           is
           as
           Followeth
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 My
                 Lord
                 ,
              
               
                 
                   Jan.
                   27.
                   1695
                   
                   /
                   6.
                   
                
              
            
             
               
                 ALtho'
                 it
                 is
                 the
                 unquestionable
                 Right
                 of
                 every
                 free
                 Born
                 Subject
                 of
              
               England
               ,
               
                 to
                 have
                 the
                 Liberty
                 of
                 Petitioning
                 ,
                 and
                 tho'
                 it
                 has
                 in
                 all
                 Ages
                 been
                 also
                 accounted
                 the
                 Indispensible
                 Duty
                 of
                 every
                 Peer
                 ,
                 not
                 to
                 refuse
                 a
                 Petition
                 that
                 shall
                 be
                 offer'd
                 him
                 ;
                 yet
                 have
                 not
                 I
                 been
                 able
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 Months
                 Attendance
                 and
                 Solicitation
                 of
                 several
                 Noble
                 Lords
                 ,
                 to
                 get
                 a
                 Petition
                 carried
                 into
                 the
                 House
                 of
                 Peers
                 .
                 My
                 said
                 Petition
                 is
                 against
                 Notorious
                 Crimes
                 ,
                 that
                 have
                 been
                 Committed
                 in
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 ,
                 Navy
                 ,
                 and
                 Sick
                 and
                 Wounded
                 Offices
                 ,
                 whereby
                 the
                 King
                 and
                 Kingdom
                 have
                 been
                 grosly
                 abus'd
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 publick
                 Treasure
                 wasted
                 ,
                 to
                 a
                 very
                 high
                 degree
                 ,
                 which
                 has
                 already
                 greatly
                 Endanger'd
                 the
                 Common
                 Safety
                 ,
                 and
                 certainly
                 will
                 (
                 if
                 not
                 timely
                 redress'd
                 )
                 bring
                 the
                 Nation
                 into
                 Confusion
                 ;
                 all
                 which
                 I
                 am
                 fully
                 able
                 to
                 prove
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Therefore
                 ,
                 as
                 an
              
               Englishman
               ,
               
                 I
                 think
                 myself
                 oblig'd
                 to
                 lay
                 open
                 the
                 same
                 by
                 the
                 Duty
                 I
                 owe
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 my
                 King
                 and
                 my
                 Country
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 And
                 so
                 I
                 most
                 humbly
                 pray
                 your
                 Lordship
                 to
                 cause
                 this
                 Letter
                 to
                 be
                 Read
                 to
                 the
                 House
                 ,
                 and
                 move
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 be
                 Call'd
                 to
                 the
                 Bar
                 to
                 Present
                 my
                 Petition
                 ,
                 being
                 sorry
                 I
                 am
                 forc'd
                 to
                 trouble
                 your
                 Lordship
                 with
                 this
                 New
                 way
                 of
                 Petitioning
                 the
                 House
                 of
                 Peers
                 :
                 I
                 am
                 attending
                 at
                 the
                 Door
                 of
                 the
                 House
                 ,
                 and
                 Remain
                 ,
                 with
                 all
                 profound
                 respect
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 My
                 Lord
                 ,
              
               
                 Your
                 Lordship
                 's
                 most
                 Obedient
                 Servant
                 ,
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           At
           the
           Receiving
           of
           which
           Letter
           ,
           my
           Lord-Keeper
           (
           as
           I
           was
           inform'd
           )
           Acted
           with
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Honour
           ;
           For
           immediately
           he
           Reported
           the
           true
           Nature
           and
           Substance
           of
           it
           to
           the
           House
           ,
           Telling
           their
           Lordships
           withal
           ,
           That
           't
           was
           the
           severest
           Charge
           that
           ever
           he
           Read
           ;
           at
           the
           making
           of
           which
           Report
           ,
           the
           same
           Lord
           (
           who
           I
           had
           long
           apply'd
           to
           before
           )
           came
           out
           of
           the
           House
           in
           great
           haste
           ,
           and
           sent
           one
           of
           the
           Door-keepers
           to
           me
           in
           the
           Painted
           Chamber
           ,
           desiring
           me
           to
           send
           him
           my
           Petition
           ,
           he
           having
           lost
           that
           which
           I
           had
           given
           him
           before
           ,
           which
           I
           accordingly
           did
           ,
           and
           then
           his
           Lordship
           returning
           into
           the
           House
           ,
           spake
           (
           as
           I
           was
           inform'd
           )
           to
           this
           effect
           :
           That
           he
           acknowledg'd
           he
           had
           been
           very
           much
           Teez'd
           about
           bringing
           in
           this
           Petition
           ;
           but
           that
           when
           he
           brought
           it
           in
           the
           last
           Parliament
           ,
           it
           not
           meeting
           with
           that
           Incouragement
           ,
           he
           hop'd
           and
           expected
           it
           would
           have
           had
           ,
           was
           the
           Reason
           why
           he
           was
           so
           backward
           in
           doing
           it
           this
           Session
           ,
           at
           which
           several
           of
           the
           Lords
           stood
           up
           and
           
           said
           ,
           That
           if
           it
           had
           been
           offer'd
           to
           them
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           brought
           it
           in
           ;
           and
           the
           whole
           House
           said
           ,
           They
           were
           very
           willing
           to
           hear
           it
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Business
           for
           the
           day
           was
           Order'd
           for
           the
           East-India
           Company
           ;
           so
           my
           Petition
           not
           being
           read
           that
           day
           ,
           I
           concluded
           his
           Lordship
           would
           have
           caus'd
           it
           to
           be
           Read
           the
           next
           Morning
           ;
           but
           finding
           nothing
           mov'd
           ,
           and
           fearing
           things
           were
           all
           asleep
           ,
           I
           wrote
           out
           another
           Copy
           ,
           and
           the
           next
           morning
           ,
           
             viz.
             29th
          
           .
           of
           Jannuary
           ,
           I
           offer'd
           it
           to
           a
           Noble
           Lord
           ,
           who
           told
           me
           he
           heard
           I
           had
           been
           refus'd
           almost
           by
           every
           Body
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           would
           carry
           it
           in
           for
           me
           ,
           which
           his
           Lordship
           accordingly
           did
           ,
           and
           immediately
           it
           was
           Read
           ,
           a
           Copy
           of
           which
           is
           as
           followeth
           .
        
         
           
             
               To
               the
               Lords
               Spiritual
               and
               Temporal
               in
               Parliament
               Assembled
               ▪
               
               The
               Humble
               Petition
               of
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
              
               ,
               
               Sheweth
               ,
               
               
                 THat
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 ,
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 presented
                 his
                 humble
                 Petition
                 to
                 your
                 Lordships
                 setting
                 forth
                 several
                 great
                 Corruptions
                 in
                 the
                 Government
                 ,
                 a
              
               
               
                 Coppy
                 〈…〉
                 is
                 her
                 ▪
                 unto
                 annex'd
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 said
                 Corruptions
                 and
                 Miscarriages
                 having
                 not
                 been
                 re●ess'd
                 ;
                 nor
                 the
                 Actors
                 therein
                 punish'd
                 ,
                 nor
                 the
                 Great
                 Numbers
                 of
                 Oppress'd
                 had
                 any
                 Relief
                 ;
                 (
                 but
                 their
                 Miserie
                 's
                 Increas'd
                 )
                 nor
                 the
                 said
                 Petition
                 throughly
                 Examin'd
                 .
                 And
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 being
                 ready
                 to
                 prove
                 the
                 Allegations
                 ,
                 and
                 Articles
                 therein
                 by
                 Good
                 and
                 Substantial
                 Evidence
                 .
              
            
             
               Your
               Petitioner
               therefore
               most
               humbly
               prays
               your
               Lordships
               to
               order
               a
               speedy
               Hearing
               of
               the
               said
               Corruptions
               and
               Grievances
               ,
               before
               this
               most
               Honourable
               House
               in
               such
               manner
               ,
               as
               to
               your
               Lordships
               Wisdom
               shall
               seem
               meet
               .
               And
               your
               Petitioner
               shall
               ever
               Pray
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           Upon
           reading
           which
           Petition
           the
           House
           was
           pleas'd
           to
           make
           the
           following
           order
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   Die
                   Mercurii
                
                 ,
                 Jan.
                 29.
                 1695.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 UPon
                 reading
                 the
                 Petition
                 of
              
               Robert
               Crosfeild
               ,
               
                 praying
                 to
                 be
                 heard
                 as
                 to
                 the
                 Corruptions
                 and
                 Grievances
                 ,
                 laid
                 before
                 this
                 House
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 in
                 his
                 Petition
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 order'd
                 by
                 the
                 Lords
                 Spiritual
                 and
                 Temporal
                 in
                 Parliament
                 assembled
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 appointed
                 by
                 a
                 late
                 Act
                 of
                 Parliament
                 to
                 Examine
                 ,
                 take
                 and
                 State
                 the
                 publick
                 accounts
                 of
                 the
                 Kingdom
                 ,
                 do
                 lay
                 before
                 this
                 House
                 with
                 all
                 Convenient
                 speed
                 ;
                 An
                 account
                 in
                 Writing
                 what
                 th●y
                 have
                 done
                 upon
                 the
                 orders
                 of
                 this
                 House
                 ,
                 sent
                 to
                 them
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 in
                 Reference
                 to
                 the
                 matters
                 mention'd
                 in
                 Mr.
              
               Crosfeilds
               Petition
               .
            
             
               
                 Math.
                 Johnson
                 Cler.
                 Parliamentor
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           As
           soon
           as
           this
           order
           was
           made
           ,
           I
           was
           told
           by
           a
           Member
           of
           the
           house
           that
           when
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           accounts
           return'd
           their
           Answer
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           whole
           matter
           lay
           fairly
           before
           the
           house
           ,
           that
           then
           their
           Lordships
           would
           appoint
           a
           Committee
           to
           Examine
           it
           ;
           accordingly
           I
           waited
           several
           days
           ,
           and
           finding
           no
           Report
           from
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           accounts
           ,
           and
           having
           good
           grounds
           to
           believe
           they
           would
           never
           return
           any
           ,
           by
           reason
           it
           would
           discover
           their
           own
           Partial
           and
           Illegal
           practices
           ,
           I
           therefore
           acquainted
           a
           Noble
           Lord
           therewith
           ,
           and
           pray'd
           his
           Lordship
           to
           move
           the
           house
           to
           appoint
           a
           Committee
           to
           Examine
           these
           Corruptions
           ,
           before
           whom
           I
           would
           prove
           divers
           Notorious
           matters
           ,
           
           that
           were
           never
           before
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           ,
           and
           deliver'd
           his
           Lordship
           a
           Petition
           to
           that
           purpose
           ,
           which
           will
           be
           hereafter
           incerted
           .
           But
           his
           Lordship
           did
           not
           think
           fit
           to
           move
           the
           house
           thereupon
           ,
           telling
           me
           ,
           I
           had
           better
           wait
           some
           time
           longer
           ,
           which
           I
           accordingly
           did
           .
           —
           But
           finding
           that
           diverse
           Crafty
           and
           Scandalous
           Reports
           were
           spread
           abroad
           ,
           Namely
           ,
           That
           my
           design
           in
           bringing
           these
           Complaints
           was
           not
           so
           much
           for
           the
           publick
           good
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           to
           cause
           heats
           and
           feuds
           in
           Parliament
           to
           hinder
           the
           Kings
           Affairs
           ,
           for
           that
           if
           these
           matters
           were
           laid
           before
           the
           King
           ,
           his
           Majesty
           would
           effectually
           redress
           the
           same
           ;
           But
           to
           acquit
           my self
           of
           such
           a
           Callumny
           I
           drew
           up
           a
           Petition
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           which
           I
           presented
           at
           Kensington
           ,
           on
           Sunday
           the
           9th
           of
           
             Feb.
             Inst
          
           .
           A
           Copy
           of
           which
           Petition
           is
           as
           followeth
           .
        
         
           
             
               To
               the
               Kings
               most
               Excellent
               Majesty
               .
            
             
               The
               humble
               Petition
               of
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
              
               .
            
             
               Sheweth
               ,
               
               
                 THat
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 hath
                 a
                 few
                 days
                 since
                 presented
                 his
                 humble
                 Petition
                 to
                 the
                 house
                 of
                 peers
                 (
                 where
                 it
                 is
                 now
                 depending
                 )
                 setting
                 forth
                 the
                 great
                 Corruptions
                 and
                 Evil
                 Practices
                 of
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 ,
                 Navy
                 ,
                 and
                 Sick
                 ,
                 and
                 Wounded
                 Offices
                 ,
                 a
              
               *
               
                 Copy
                 of
                 which
                 is
                 hereunto
                 annex'd
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 That
                 the
                 said
                 Corruptions
                 having
                 been
                 practic'd
                 and
                 strongly
                 supported
                 ,
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 of
                 your
                 Majesties
                 Reign
                 ,
                 Your
                 Petitioner
                 humbly
                 Conceives
                 ,
                 that
                 't
                 is
                 from
                 thence
                 has
                 proceeded
                 all
                 the
                 Ruines
                 and
                 Distresses
                 that
                 have
                 fallen
                 upon
                 the
                 publick
                 ,
                 which
                 if
                 not
                 redress'd
                 are
                 likely
                 to
                 Increase
                 to
                 such
                 a
                 degree
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 prove
                 of
                 fatal
                 Consequence
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 That
                 as
                 these
                 proceedings
                 ,
                 do
                 greatly
                 tend
                 to
                 Allienate
                 the
                 hearts
                 of
                 your
                 Majesties
                 good
                 Subjects
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 ventur'd
                 their
                 Lives
                 and
                 Fortunes
                 for
                 your
                 Majesties
                 service
                 ,
                 so
                 on
                 the
                 Contrary
                 ,
                 the
                 Redress
                 of
                 these
                 Grievances
                 and
                 bringing
                 the
                 Offenders
                 to
                 Justice
                 ,
                 will
                 greatly
                 draw
                 the
                 affection
                 of
                 your
                 faithful
                 people
                 ,
                 to
                 your
                 Majesties
                 Government
                 :
                 and
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 humility
                 Conceives
                 that
                 the
                 general
                 love
                 of
                 those
                 Millions
                 of
                 your
                 Majesties
                 good
                 Subjects
                 that
                 have
                 and
                 do
                 so
                 freely
                 Contribute
                 their
                 Estates
                 for
                 your
                 Majesties
                 Service
                 ,
                 is
                 much
                 more
                 to
                 be
                 valu'd
                 than
                 the
                 Love
                 of
                 those
                 few
                 that
                 serve
                 your
                 Majesty
                 chiefly
                 for
                 the
                 Lucre
                 of
                 great
                 Estates
                 ,
                 some
                 of
                 whom
                 't
                 is
                 to
                 be
                 fear'd
                 ,
                 will
                 be
                 too
                 ready
                 when
                 oppertunity
                 serves
                 ,
                 to
                 draw
                 their
                 Swords
                 in
                 behalf
                 of
                 your
                 Majesties
                 Enemies
                 ,
                 the
                 truth
                 of
                 which
                 appears
                 by
                 their
                 wilful
                 fatal
                 Management
                 ,
                 in
                 almost
                 every
                 Branch
                 of
                 your
                 Majesties
                 Service
                 this
                 War.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 That
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 being
                 desirous
                 (
                 if
                 possible
                 )
                 to
                 prevent
                 these
                 matters
                 being
                 Examin'd
                 in
                 open
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 least
                 feuds
                 and
                 heats
                 should
                 a
                 rise
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 be
                 of
                 ill
                 Consequence
                 to
                 your
                 Majestys
                 Affairs
                 ,
                 and
                 being
                 humbly
                 of
                 opinion
                 that
                 your
                 Majesty
                 may
                 redress
                 these
                 Grievances
                 by
                 a
                 Committee
                 of
                 such
                 Noble
                 Persons
                 ,
                 who
                 well
                 understand
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 Crimes
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 of
                 known
                 Integrity
                 ,
                 and
                 Zealous
                 for
                 your
                 Majestys
                 true
                 Interest
                 and
                 happy
                 Government
                 ,
                 the
                 Names
                 of
                 whom
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 has
                 humbly
                 presum'd
                 to
                 insert
                 .
              
            
             
               Your
               Petitioner
               therefore
               most
               humbly
               prays
               your
               Sacred
               Majesty
               ,
               to
               appoint
               the
               said
               Committee
               so
               *
               nam'd
               (
               with
               such
               other
               persons
               as
               your
               Majesty
               in
               Wisdom
               shall
               think
               fit
               to
               add
               thereto
               )
               to
               Hear
               and
               Examin
               the
               Articles
               and
               Allegations
               in
               the
               annex'd
               petition
               ,
               and
               with
               all
               Convenient
               speed
               to
               make
               a
               Report
               to
               your
               Majesty
               ,
               without
               the
               accustom'd
               formality
               and
               Delays
               ,
               That
               the
               Offenders
               may
               be
               punnish'd
               ,
               the
               Grievances
               Redress'd
               ,
               and
               the
               minds
               of
               Your
               Majesties
               good
               Subjects
               quietted
               ,
               and
               their
               Hearts
               Reunited
               to
               your
               Majesty
               in
               all
               Love
               and
               Duty
               .
               And
               your
               Petitioner
               shall
               ever
               pray
               .
            
             
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
         
           The
           same
           Evening
           I
           receiv'd
           the
           Kings
           answer
           to
           this
           Petition
           ,
           by
           the
           Secretary
           of
           State
           to
           this
           Effect
           ,
           
             That
             my
             Petition
             was
             Read
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             matter
             being
             depending
             before
             the
             house
             of
             Peers
             ,
             his
             Majesly
             did
             not
             think
             fit
             to
             meddle
             with
             it
             .
          
           And
           thus
           I
           found
           the
           aforesaid
           Reports
           of
           the
           Kings
           hearing
           these
           matters
           to
           be
           utterly
           false
           ,
           whereupon
           ,
           I
           apply'd
           again
           to
           the
           house
           of
           Peers
           ,
           and
           finding
           no
           Report
           nor
           any
           answer
           return'd
           from
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           ,
           nor
           any
           probability
           of
           the
           same
           :
           I
           drew
           another
           Copy
           of
           the
           aforemention'd
           Petition
           ,
           relating
           to
           the
           Commissioners
           of
           Accounts
           ,
           which
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           great
           difficulty
           I
           had
           found
           to
           get
           it
           Carry'd
           into
           the
           house
           ;
           I
           inclos'd
           it
           in
           a
           better
           and
           sent
           it
           to
           Sir
           
             George
             Treby
          
           ,
           Lord
           Chief
           Justice
           of
           the
           Common
           Plea's
           ,
           who
           was
           then
           speaker
           of
           the
           house
           (
           my
           Lord
           keeper
           being
           Indispos'd
           )
           by
           the
           Gentleman
           Usher
           of
           the
           Black-Rod
           ,
           a
           Copy
           of
           which
           Letter
           and
           Petition
           is
           as
           followeth
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           
             
               
                 February
                 13th
                 1695
                 /
                 6.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 My
                 Lord
                 ,
              
            
             
               
                 THE
                 great
                 difficulty
                 I
                 have
                 found
                 ,
                 to
                 get
                 a
                 Petition
                 Carry'd
                 into
                 the
                 house
                 of
                 peers
                 ,
                 oblig●●
                 me
                 to
                 give
                 your
                 Lordship
                 this
                 trouble
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 I
                 have
                 a
                 Petition
                 of
                 Complaint
                 against
                 diverse
                 Notorious
                 Corruptions
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Government
                 now
                 depending
                 in
                 the
                 House
                 ,
                 upon
                 which
                 their
                 Lordships
                 have
                 Ishu'd
                 an
                 order
                 to
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 ,
                 But
                 the
                 said
                 Commissioners
                 delaying
                 ,
                 or
                 rather
                 never
                 Intending
                 to
                 obey
                 the
                 said
                 order
                 ,
                 and
                 fearing
                 the
                 house
                 of
                 Peers
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 the
                 Nation
                 in
                 General
                 may
                 be
                 a
                 gain
                 Impos'd
                 upon
                 ,
                 and
                 disappointed
                 this
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 as
                 they
                 were
                 the
                 last
                 ,
                 I
                 therefore
                 humbly
                 pray
                 your
                 Lordship
                 to
                 read
                 the
                 Inclos'd
                 Petition
                 to
                 the
                 house
                 ,
                 it
                 being
                 of
                 great
                 Concern
                 to
                 the
                 publick
                 good
                 :
                 And
              
               Mr.
               Baston
               
                 who
                 is
                 named
                 therein
                 with
                 my self
                 ,
                 are
                 attending
                 at
                 the
                 Door
                 to
                 answer
                 the
                 same
                 .
              
            
             
               I
               am
               ,
               
                 My
                 Lord
                 ,
              
               
                 Your
                 Lordships
                 most
                 obedient
                 Servant
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Directed
                 on
                 the
                 back
                 side
                 to
                 the
                 Right
                 Honourable
                 Sir
                 
                   George
                   Treby
                
                 ,
                 Lord
                 Chief
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 common
                 Plea's
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           
             
               To
               the
               Lords
               Spiritual
               and
               Temporal
               in
               Parliament
               assembled
               .
            
             
               The
               humble
               Petition
               of
               
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
              
               .
            
             
               Sheweth
               ,
               
               
                 THat
                 when
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 presented
                 his
                 humble
                 Petition
                 ,
                 to
                 your
                 Lordships
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 and
                 this
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 It
                 was
                 not
                 only
                 design'd
                 to
                 lay
                 open
                 the
                 Corruptions
                 and
                 Evil
                 practices
                 of
                 the
                 Admiralty
                 ,
                 Navy
                 ,
                 and
                 Sick
                 ,
                 and
                 Wounded
                 Offices
                 ,
                 but
                 also
                 Intended
                 as
                 an
                 Appeal
                 from
                 the
                 Justice
                 of
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 ,
                 for
                 Stating
                 the
                 publick
                 Accounts
                 ,
                 who
                 in
                 the
                 latter
                 end
                 of
                 the
                 year
                 1693.
                 
                 Had
                 the
                 Complaint
                 laid
                 before
                 them
                 ,
                 against
                 the
                 present
                 Commissioners
                 for
                 Sick
                 and
                 Wounded
                 ,
                 which
                 contrary
                 to
                 the
                 publick
                 good
                 ,
                 they
                 have
                 delay'd
                 to
                 this
                 day
                 in
                 the
                 manner
                 following
                 ,
              
               viz.
               
            
             
               
                 That
                 the
                 said
                 Complaint
                 was
                 about
                 five
                 months
                 in
                 their
                 Office
                 sworn
                 to
                 ,
                 before
                 it
                 came
                 under
                 Examination
                 ,
                 till
                 on
                 the
                 first
                 of
              
               August
               1694
               
                 The
                 said
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 sent
                 for
              
               Mr.
               Baston
               ,
               
                 and
                 ,
                 after
                 rejecting
                 the
                 first
                 three
                 Articles
                 in
                 his
                 Complaint
                 ,
                 they
                 ,
                 in
                 an
                 Illegal
                 and
                 Arbitrary
                 manner
                 ,
                 Examin'd
                 the
                 rest
                 ,
                 and
                 Countenanc'd
                 and
                 Conceall'd
                 manifest
                 Perjury
                 therein
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 other
                 notorious
                 Crimes
                 ,
                 all
                 which
                 lay
                 Dormant
                 till
                 the
                 begining
                 of
              
               March
               1694.
               
            
             
               
                 That
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 presenting
                 his
                 humble
                 Petition
                 to
                 this
                 most
                 Honourable
                 House
                 ;
                 your
                 Lordships
                 were
                 pleas'd
                 to
                 order
                 the
                 said
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 ,
                 to
                 lay
                 before
                 the
                 House
                 an
                 account
                 of
                 the
                 proceedings
                 ,
                 against
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 for
                 Sick
                 and
              
               
               
                 Wounded
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 in
                 Eleven
                 days
                 ,
              
               viz.
               
                 from
                 the
                 9th
                 to
                 the
                 20th
                 of
              
               March
               ,
               
                 they
                 return'd
                 only
                 a
                 Verbal
                 answer
                 ,
                 and
                 pretended
                 the
                 matter
                 was
                 still
                 depending
                 before
                 them
                 and
                 not
                 finish'd
                 ,
              
               &c.
               
                 by
                 which
                 they
                 prevail'd
                 to
                 have
                 it
                 Recommitted
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 accordingly
                 done
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 the
                 2d
                 and
                 3d
                 Articles
                 in
                 my
                 Petition
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 Examin'd
                 as
                 Illegally
                 as
                 before
                 (
                 all
                 which
                 appears
                 by
                 what
                 Mr.
              
               Baston
               
                 and
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 have
                 set
                 forth
                 in
                 Print
                 )
                 .
                 And
                 so
                 the
                 matter
                 has
                 been
                 delay'd
                 by
                 the
                 said
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 to
                 this
                 day
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 means
                 the
                 Nation
                 has
                 been
                 sadly
                 disappointed
                 of
                 a
                 most
                 necessary
                 discovery
                 ,
                 which
                 otherwise
                 might
                 have
                 been
                 laid
                 open
                 to
                 your
                 Lordships
                 the
                 last
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 all
                 probability
                 ,
                 Infinite
                 Evils
                 prevented
                 that
                 has
                 since
                 fallen
                 upon
                 the
                 Publick
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 That
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 having
                 acted
                 in
                 the
                 aforemention'd
                 manner
                 ,
                 their
                 Report
                 ,
                 whenever
                 they
                 make
                 it
                 ,
                 will
                 appear
                 to
                 their
                 shame
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 humbly
                 Conceives
                 it
                 naturally
                 follows
                 ,
                 they
                 will
                 never
                 obey
                 the
                 present
                 order
                 of
                 this
                 most
                 Honourable
                 House
                 (
                 which
                 has
                 already
                 been
                 fifteen
                 days
                 unanswer'd
                 )
                 so
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 a
                 Report
                 of
                 these
                 matters
                 willingly
                 ,
                 but
                 Endeavour
                 by
                 all
                 means
                 possible
                 to
                 Evade
                 and
                 delay
                 it
                 this
                 Session
                 of
                 Parliament
                 also
                 ,
                 under
                 diverse
                 specious
                 pretences
                 of
                 other
                 more
                 Important
                 business
                 .
                 For
                 preventing
                 of
                 which
                 ,
                 and
                 for
                 that
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 humbly
                 Conceives
                 ,
                 the
                 distresses
                 and
                 danger
                 that
                 the
                 publick
                 lies
                 under
                 ,
                 is
                 very
                 great
                 by
                 reason
                 of
                 the
                 violent
                 perverting
                 and
                 obstructing
                 of
                 Justice
                 ,
                 and
                 for
                 that
                 the
                 adversaries
                 have
                 no
                 way
                 to
                 withstand
                 a
                 Legal
                 hearing
                 of
                 these
                 Notorious
                 matters
                 ,
                 but
                 by
                 the
                 aforesaid
                 method
                 of
                 delays
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 Your
                 Petitioner
                 does
                 therefore
                 most
                 humbly
                 pray
                 ,
                 your
                 Lordships
                 to
                 appoint
                 a
                 Committee
                 to
                 hear
                 and
                 Examine
                 the
                 Articles
                 ,
                 and
                 Allegations
                 in
                 his
                 late
                 Petition
                 ,
                 who
                 in
                 the
                 mean
                 time
                 that
                 the
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 may
                 delay
                 their
                 Report
                 ,
                 shall
                 have
                 diverse
                 Ennormous
                 Crimes
                 prov'd
                 before
                 their
                 Lordships
                 ,
                 that
                 were
                 never
                 before
                 the
                 said
                 Commissioners
                 of
                 Accounts
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 And
                 your
                 Petitioner
                 shall
                 ever
                 Pray
                 ,
                 &c.
                 Robert
                 Crosfeild
                 .
              
            
          
        
         
           This
           Petition
           Enclos'd
           in
           the
           aforesaid
           Letter
           ,
           was
           deliver'd
           by
           the
           Usher
           of
           the
           Black-Rod
           to
           Sir
           
             George
             Treby
          
           ,
           and
           I
           expecting
           his
           Lordship
           would
           have
           mov'd
           the
           house
           therein
           (
           as
           my
           Lord
           Keeper
           had
           done
           before
           )
           I
           attended
           that
           day
           ,
           but
           heard
           nothing
           of
           it
           ,
           Then
           I
           came
           to
           the
           House
           the
           next
           morning
           ,
           and
           understood
           from
           one
           of
           the
           Clerks
           of
           the
           Parliament
           whose
           name
           I
           think
           is
           Walker
           )
           That
           Sir
           
             George
             Treby
          
           had
           given
           my
           Letter
           and
           Petition
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           told
           him
           he
           had
           nothing
           to
           do
           to
           move
           the
           House
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           every
           body
           knew
           Mr.
           Crosfeilds
           business
           ,
           and
           offer'd
           to
           give
           my
           Petition
           back
           .
        
         
           Thus
           all
           these
           foul
           Crimes
           ,
           that
           have
           been
           laying
           open
           these
           two
           Sessions
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           are
           knock'd
           down
           dead
           by
           this
           last
           Act
           of
           denial
           of
           Justice
           in
           the
           highest
           Court
           of
           Indicature
           ,
           which
           has
           oblig'd
           me
           to
           Print
           these
           Proceedings
           ;
           and
           because
           the
           matters
           are
           so
           notorious
           ,
           as
           hardly
           to
           be
           Parell'd
           in
           any
           Age
           or
           Nation
           ,
           I
           shall
           therefore
           crave
           leave
           to
           make
           some
           short
           Observations
           upon
           the
           whole
           .
        
         
           And
           1st
           ,
           observing
           our
           unaccountable
           Losses
           and
           Miscarriages
           with
           the
           great
           Streights
           ,
           into
           which
           the
           publick
           is
           brought
           to
           find
           out
           Mony
           for
           Carrying
           on
           the
           War
           ,
           It
           is
           matter
           of
           amazement
           to
           Consider
           ,
           That
           there
           should
           be
           such
           Coldness
           ,
           or
           rather
           unwillingness
           to
           Examine
           into
           that
           Mass
           of
           Wickedness
           ,
           that
           has
           been
           laid
           open
           ,
           which
           having
           overspread
           the
           Nation
           like
           a
           Leprosy
           ,
           has
           been
           the
           true
           Cause
           of
           all
           our
           pass'd
           and
           present
           miseries
           ,
           and
           must
           Inevitably
           bring
           us
           to
           Ruine
           ,
           if
           the
           Laws
           are
           not
           speedily
           put
           in
           Execution
           to
           prevent
           it
           .
           I
           say
           ,
           't
           is
           matter
           of
           Amazement
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           be
           backward
           to
           Enquire
           into
           the
           Cause
           of
           our
           Misery
           .
        
         
           2dly
           ,
           Our
           practices
           are
           not
           only
           contrary
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           common
           Prudence
           and
           Reason
           ,
           but
           also
           to
           the
           practise
           of
           all
           other
           Nations
           ,
           It
           being
           publickly
           known
           ,
           That
           the
           French
           and
           Venetians
           have
           lately
           constituted
           Commissioners
           ,
           to
           Enquire
           into
           publick
           frauds
           ,
           as
           naturally
           concluding
           (
           tho
           none
           are
           Complain'd
           of
           )
           that
           there
           will
           be
           Cheats
           and
           Embezelments
           of
           the
           publick
           Mony
           in
           time
           of
           War
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           most
           need
           of
           frugality
           .
           But
           we
           are
           so
           far
           from
           doing
           like
           them
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           unwilling
           to
           Enquire
           into
           those
           Notorious
           Miscarriages
           that
           are
           already
           laid
           open
           ,
           tho
           some
           of
           them
           have
           been
           actually
           prov'd
           over
           and
           over
           ,
           and
           the
           Criminals
           Protected
           and
           Continu'd
           in
           their
           Employments
           to
           this
           day
           .
        
         
         
           3dly
           ,
           That
           as
           my
           Lord
           Keeper
           Acted
           with
           much
           Honour
           ,
           and
           did
           his
           Duty
           for
           the
           publickgood
           ,
           in
           Reporting
           my
           Letter
           before
           mention'd
           to
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           so
           on
           the
           contrary
           Sir
           
             George
             Treby
          
           ,
           in
           refusing
           to
           Read
           or
           Report
           my
           Letter
           ,
           or
           Petition
           to
           the
           House
           ,
           has
           only
           deny'd
           Justice
           ,
           and
           put
           a
           stop
           to
           this
           necessary
           Discovery
           ,
           and
           Contributed
           to
           protect
           those
           Criminals
           that
           ought
           to
           be
           brought
           to
           Justice
           :
           But
           has
           also
           given
           a
           president
           to
           Encourage
           Evil
           Practices
           ,
           and
           Destroy
           the
           Liberty
           of
           the
           subject
           by
           taking
           away
           the
           Petition
           Right
           .
           For
           if
           Officers
           and
           Ministers
           of
           Trust
           Act
           Corruptly
           ,
           and
           Oppress
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           there
           be
           no
           way
           to
           appeal
           from
           their
           Justice
           but
           to
           Parliament
           ,
           then
           such
           Appeal
           or
           Complaint
           must
           be
           by
           Petition
           ;
           But
           if
           the
           known
           Liberty
           and
           Right
           of
           Petitioning
           be
           destroy'd
           ,
           our
           Laws
           are
           Ineffectual
           and
           all
           great
           Men
           become
           Lawless
           ,
           none
           being
           able
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           answer
           their
           Crimes
           :
           And
           if
           our
           Laws
           are
           not
           put
           in
           Execution
           ,
           they
           are
           in
           effect
           Discontinu'd
           and
           Abolish'd
           .
           And
           if
           Laws
           be
           the
           Foundation
           support
           and
           upholder
           of
           Government
           ,
           Then
           whatever
           Government
           wants
           will
           or
           strength
           to
           assert
           its
           own
           Laws
           ,
           and
           bring
           offenders
           to
           Justice
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           in
           a
           very
           weak
           and
           Tottering
           Condition
           and
           near
           a
           period
           ,
           and
           this
           ought
           to
           be
           matter
           of
           great
           sorrow
           ,
           to
           all
           thinking
           Men
           that
           wish
           the
           prosperity
           of
           their
           Country
           ,
           for
           however
           ,
           slightly
           it
           may
           be
           thought
           of
           't
           is
           certainly
           a
           most
           fore
           and
           dangerous
           Disease
           ,
           and
           Requires
           a
           speedy
           and
           strong
           purge
           ,
           or
           't
           will
           be
           past
           Cure.
           
        
         
           And
           therefore
           in
           short
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           any
           Law
           in
           England
           ,
           to
           punish
           those
           hanious
           Crimes
           that
           I
           have
           offer'd
           to
           prove
           ,
           I
           do
           and
           shall
           insist
           on
           ,
           and
           Demand
           it
           as
           my
           Birth
           Right
           ,
           to
           be
           Speedily
           and
           Legally
           heard
           upon
           my
           Petition
           ,
           and
           Articles
           now
           lying
           in
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           :
           Not
           doubting
           but
           by
           their
           Lordships
           Wisdom
           ,
           Prudence
           ,
           and
           Moderation
           ,
           matters
           may
           soon
           be
           Regulated
           to
           the
           Happiness
           of
           the
           King
           and
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
           
             Robert
             Crosfeild
             .
          
           
             
               
                 February
                 18th
              
               1695
               /
               6
               ▪
            
          
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A69827-e10
           
             Publis●●●
             〈◊〉
             me
             in
             my
             entituled
             
               stice
               perv
            
             &c.
             pag.
             
          
           
             *
             〈…〉
             
          
           
             〈…〉
             ion
             and
             Arti
             〈…〉
             of
             〈…〉
             belong
             〈◊〉
             ●his
             ●aper
             .
          
           
             *
             Vid.
             The
             Pe●●tion
             and
             A●ticles
             in
             th●
             begining
             of
             this
             paper
             .
          
           
             *
             
               
                 Duke
                 of
                 Shrewsbury
                 .
              
               
                 Lord
                 privy
                 Seal
                 .
              
               
                 Marquess
                 of
                 Normanby
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Rochester
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Bridgwater
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Stamford
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Malborough
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Monmouth
                 .
              
               
                 Earl
                 of
                 Torrington
                 .
              
               
                 Lord
                 Cornwallis
                 .
              
               
                 Marquess
                 of
                 Carmarthen
                 .
              
               
                 Lord
                 Cornbury
                 .
              
               
                 Sir
                 Richard
                 Onslow
                 .
              
               
                 Sir
                 Samuel
                 Bernadiston
                 .