289 



No. IX. 



[Written in a neat, modern hand, with some of the old charac- 

 ters intermixed : the signature in an older hand, and blacker ink : 

 endorsed " The humble petition of Mr. Michaell Bruce, 1668."] 



To the King's most Excellent Ma"'. 



The humble Petition of Mr. Michaell Bruce : Mi- 

 nister of the Gospell, and Prisoner in the Gate 

 house, at Westminster. 



Shewetli, 



That about the month of May last, it pleased the right honble 

 the Lords of your Maties privy Councill of Scotland, to cause pet' to 

 be apprehended and imprisoned at Edenburgh, for sometime exercing 

 the function of a Minister in private ; Whereupon it pleased the saids 

 Lords about the month of July last to pass a general order for the 

 pet" removall out of your Maties Dominions, not limiting any cer- 

 tain time for his removall ; w^hen by another order from the saids 

 Lords, he was suddenly shipt at Leith, & commanded to be brought 

 hither to attend your Maties further pleasure: And being arived 

 at London, was by an order from your Maties Councill here, Com- 

 mitted to this prison : 



Tlie pet' being much impoverished by his long Imprisonment in 

 Scotland and having a family of young & helpless children left be- 

 hind him in Scotland altogether desolate and unprovided for; So 

 that if your pet' should also continue in this chargible prison, both 

 lie and they must of necessity perish. 



