Petition of Sir John Nettervill

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To the Kings most Excellent Majestie
The humble petition of Sir John Netervill
Shewing to your sacred Majestie
That in the begining of these troubles in Ireland your petitioners <e> dwelling was distant some fewe miles from Drogheda to the siege whereof the Rebells came vppon a suddaine in such numbers as your petitioner could make noe way into the Towne and soe hee was forced to mainteine his house within a mile displaying of the Enemie, But their Multitudes soe increased as your petitioner was noe way able to resist them, and they broke and forced into his house in greate parties once or twice, and resided there against his will, But your petitioner abhorring their Waies <f> determined to leave his house and come vnto your Maiesties fforces with the first opportunitie which was when the Earle of Ormond came with your Majesties Armie vnto Garistowne, a Towne within ten miles of your petitioners dwelling, to whom your petitioner of his owne free desire and accord, imediatly repaired, (though with much hazard of his life) and humbly submitted and presented himselfe vnto your Majesties obedience, and service and soe came to Dublin to the service and protection of your Majestie, where on his comeing the Lords of the Councell were pleased to comitt your petitioner Prisoner to the Castle of Dublin, and soone after was indicted <g> of Treason in your Majesties Courte of Chiefe place, chiefly for receiving the Rebells into his house, whereas hee was not able to resist them, your petitioner beeing the fourth or fifth that presented themselves after your Majesties Proclamation from Westminster the first of January and the number of them that soe came exceeded not fourteene or fifteene persons in the wholl Kingdome, Yett all were comitted and, indicted, some putt to the Rack and otherwaies afflicted: soe as many were deterred from submission, (as it may bee conceived) by the severitie extended to those fewe that of their owne accords came to your Grace, <h> protection and service, your petitioner in greate distress having remained there in Prison above twelve months, Bayle beeing refused,
His most humble request to your Sacred Majestie is that yew wilbee pleased to consider the inevitable necessitie of your petitioners receiving the Rebells into his house, for which cause chiefly hee was indicted of High Treason, and the Indictment found by such men against whom your petitioner hath legall exceptions, and some of the Examinations taken against your petitioner were extorted by menace and threatning with the Rack, and such like punishments and that your Petitioners owne Examination was much enforced by leaving out all that might lawfully

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<i> lawfully mitigat or excuse his Offence, And that it is conceived your Majesties Proclamation of the first of January from Westminster and the order of the house of Parliament from England, with your Petitioners humble submission & comeing to Dublin assoone as possibly hee could for the Rebells, doe in honor and justice give pardon to greater transgressions, The benefitt of all which your Petitioner most humbly imploreth from your Sacred Majestie
<k> These things considered your Petitioner humbly beggs your Majesties gracious favore towards him that yow wilbee pleased hee may come out of Prison vppon Baile, that soe hee may preserve that little fortune which is not asyett possessed by the Rebells whereby to keepe his Wife and Children from starving
And your petitioner shall ever pray &c.

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