HENRY PARKER having served the Parliament as Secretary to the Committee of Safety, and to the Lord Generall, the Earl of Essex, from the first raising of the Army, and having done some other ex­traordinary, acceptable service besides; on the 18. of November 1643. Petitioned the Honourable House of Commons for the Sequestred Place of Mr. Abbot: Whereupon this Order was made: ‘ The humble Petition of Henry Parker Gent. (especially recommended by my Lord Generall) was read, and Ordered to be referred to Mr. White, Mr. Selden, Mr. Solliciter, Mr. Prideaux, and Mr. Brown, to consider what is fit for the House to do further upon it, & to report their opinions. Ordered, That the House do declare, that they are sensible of the good service Mr. Parker hath done to the Common wealth, and they will in this particular mentioned in his Petition, or in something else as advantagious, consider him for his good service.’

This Committee appointed to report their opinions about the Prerogative Office, and what was fit to be done in confirmation or alteration of the same, either met not, or concluded nothing therein, being diverted by weigh­tier, and more publike imployments.

About June following the Judges place of the Prerogative being of more necessity to be setled without fur­ther delay; another Committee was appointed to prepare an Ordinance for setling the same, and that was setled accordingly.

The Judges place being setled, and the Registers place thereby more cleared of some objections, and difficul­ties that at first contravened about the same: Mr. Abbot thought it a fit time to appeare, after his long re­tirement, and to plead to his Delinquency: Mr. Oldsworth also procured an Ordinance to be read in the House, for investing himself in Mr. Abbots place: and Henry Parker again Petitioned, that he might enjoy the benefit of his former order, and was therin again recommended to the House by the letters both of Sir VVill. VValler, and the Earl of Essex.

Hereupon all the pretences of Mr. Abbot, Mr. Oldsworth, and Henry Parker were referred to be exami­ned by another Committee which met sometimes, and (after a long time spent) made some entrance in trying Mr. Abbots Delinquency; which could not be made clear to them till of late: but it is now laid open and testi­fied sufficiently; as is ready to be reported.

The said Parkers suit therefore now is, that since the House did first intend him this place, or something else as advantagious, in case this proved not feasible: and did add this clause for his benefit, and not because he should be put off upon further attendance or expectation. And for as much as Mr. Oldsworth is not only barred in some degree by the self-denying Ordinance, but was also a Competitor subsequent in time: and it doth not appear, that he made any formall request to the House for this place (acquainting them withall how far the House had condiscended before, about the same) but proceeded directly by way of Ordinance, for possessing him­selfe of that place: All the premises considered; That he may be made capable of that favour which the Honou­rable Houses Order first intended him.

His Friends may also urge in his behalfe:

1. That the said Parker never sought for any stipend from the State, nor ever received penny under that name; but did disburse some monies for the State, upon speciall command and order; of which there is 100. li. yet unpaid.

2. That though he was once for a short time placed so, as that he might have reaped much benefit by it, if he would have exacted upon poor souldiers; yet he was so far from that, that he would never strictly demand any thing as due, nor suffer his Clerks; but did instead of gaining, sometimes lose by some Officers that were in want.

3. That when he left this Kingdome, and betook himself to serve the Merchants at Hamburgh, he was driven thereunto by necessity; and because he was loft to press upon the State for a subsistence, and not out of any want of zeal: and this he presented in an humble Petition at his departure, though he could not procure the same to be read.

4. That his attendance upon this business of the Registers Office so many years, hath not only put him to trouble and paines, but also to some charge and difficulty.