34 A BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR 



revolutions being destitute of support to continue tMs 

 kinde of negotiation ; and in his old and sickly age to 

 maintaine himself and his family; for the relief of 

 which^ and his agency, he hath been forced to contract 

 debts, which in the end will sinke him, except some 

 favourable aspect be shewed unto your Petitioner from 

 your Honours, as the patrons of pietie and learning. 



'^ May it, therefore, please your Honours, in con- 

 sideration of the premises, to take your humble 

 Petitioner into your favourable consideration, 

 that he may finde from your goodness and 

 bountie some relief in this his distressed con- 

 dition, by being freed from his debts, and put 

 in a capacitie to continue his service to the 

 publick, to advance in his generation the best 

 objects for the use of mankind in all kinds. 



'^ And your Petitioner, &c.^' 



It has never transpired what came of this application. 

 But it is sufficient to know that money was scarce, 

 being wanted for the army, the navy, the government, 

 and not least for a luxurious Monarch's unbridled 

 pleasures, and there is not much reason to believe 

 that he who had dedicated his works to Cromwell 

 and the Parhament, and for some twelve years 

 or more enjoyed a pension in acknowledgment of 

 his public services, was likely to obtain a favourable 



