KING CHARLES the Second, upon the 28th of Ju­ly, 1681. Issued forth His Most Gracious Declaration of His Granting Protection unto the Poor Distressed French Protestants, who were or should be enforced to forsake their Native Country to avoid the Persecution against them there upon the Account of their Religion: Whereby the said Mi­nisters (judging it their Pastoral Duty not to desert their Wandring Flocks) being encouraged to come over into this Realm, left all that was or could be dear in France unto them (except their Wives and Families) to withdraw themselves hither with them for Shelter and Protection.

That upon and since their coming hither, they have received very considerable Relief towards the Subsistence and Maintenance of themselves and Families, from the Charity of the English Nation, as they shall never forget, so they with all Due and Humble Gratitude acknowledg.

But in regard that what they have heretofore so received, is long since Spent and Consumed, being refunded back by them [...] the Nation in their Expences for Provisions for their Families; and that little they receive Yearly, is far short of what their Necessities do re­quire.

They most humbly Pray, That some Annual Allowance may be setted up­on them by Act of Parliament, for their Future Maintenance, either out of a Yearly Imposition to be laid (as bath been done for other-Uses heretofore) upon the Hackney-Coaches in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, or by such other way, as the Wisdom of the Right Honourable Houses of Parliament shall think fi [...] and their Charity judge proportionate to the Necessities of Poor, Helpless Exiles and their Families.