HOnest Countrey men, we are not insensible but, as good Governors, and just and upright men in Office [...] Place of Trust, are not only the Foundation, but the [...]ops and pillars of a Common-wealth: so the contrarie, [...] corrupt men are put in Office or Trust, Men self-seekers, [...]vetous, contentious, dishonest, or uncivil in their charge, [...]r carriage towards the People: upon just complaint to the [...]uperiors or Superior Governor, such rotten props doubt­ [...]ss ought to be removed, and firmer set in their places, lest [...]e whole Fabrick suffer by fault of one such corrupt Mem­ [...]er, or as Members infected with the Leprosie, Plague sores, [...]nd botches of a Commonwealth (if incurable) to be re­ [...]oved and separate from the rest of their brethren, lest their [...]nfection spread, and others are damnifi [...]d and destroyed [...] hereby; as Mr. Hickman well deserved to be removed from [...]hat Trust was imposed on him by his Country; if you shall [...] consider these following observations.

I. Considering the said Hickman by his long continuance [Page 3]might well contract much corruption or iust, especia [...] being formerly so well skil'd in the Gentle-Craft, he mi [...] have the wit to mend one, though not the honesty to do rig [...] to many; considering how Kingly a Tutor he had always [...] his elbow, to instruct him and his Son in Law Woodward [...] abuse and terrifie many honest and peaceable inhabitants [...] this County, prompting both him and his Emissaries to co [...] and menace People at their own coors, for pretended Arre [...] upon Asessments; when those very people could shew disch [...] ­ges in [...]ull under Mr. Hickmans own hand, for the same Ta [...] which had been paid by them long before. What Ends Mas [...] Hickman and his Son had in this, I know no [...], but sure it w [...] b [...]yond his Last, or to new load the People with more b [...] ­dens then they could well bear: by the length of this Fo [...] you may well guess at the Monstrousness of the Body, a [...] that Mr. Hickman took a delight to vex and torment t [...] Coun [...]rey at his pleasure; as sometim [...]s forcing the C [...] ­l [...]ctors of the several Town and places, to make many u [...] necessary and chargeable journeys to pay their Moneys in [...] the Treasury, under pretence his Son Woodward was at Lo [...] ­don, and so the business could not be compleated: and m [...] ­ny other Tricks, fetches, waies, and pr [...]ct [...]ses he hath had fro [...] time to time to abuse the Country, to their great trouble a [...] discouragement; some of which we shall only him at, th [...] all rational people may conceive that it was not envie or m [...] ­lice that made the Counti [...] Petition against him; but mu [...] reason and good cause for it; as you may be pleased to ta [...] notice by his corrupt pract [...]ses; for when clipt monie ha [...] been offered to him, on condition the par [...]ies would but tra [...] with him for Commodities, their clipt monie would the [...] pass with him for currant, otherwise not.

II▪ The Countie having been allowed monies towards th [...] payment of their Free Q [...]arter, and for the year [...], 44, 45, 4 [...] [Page 4]and 48. Hickman confesseth 5600. odd pounds, [...]hich they are to pay us: which the said Hickman [...]th had a long time in his hands, and converted to [...]s own use, and being now found out, the honest [...]entleman demands but 2. s. in the pound (besides [...]e use of it all this while) for paying of it out; [...]hich the conscionable Treasurer doth well deserve [...] his great care in keeping it so safe from being [...]stroyed, or eaten up with Rats and Mice, to pre­ [...]nt which, he wisely laid out the same in Pitch, Tar, [...]oles and Iron, which the discreet Catterpiller, well [...]ew his fellow Vermin would never venter upon. [...]ut put the case 2. s. in the pound should be allowed [...]em by order, surely those that granted the same [...] them, were good House-keepers of their own [...]oods, else they could never have been so liberal of [...]ther mens: And without doubt, those that vvill [...]ame other folks for asking their ovvn, vvill beat [...]e hungry from their doors that ask any thing of [...]eirs; the Common-vvealth having so great a com­ [...]odity of such persons, that it vvould not be much [...]miss for them to trust them vvith 18. s. in the pound [...]nd keep the other 2. s. in the pound to preserve [...]hemselves and families in times of necessity. We [...]ill not say, That 2. s. is kept from us by robbery, [...] or can vve say, you keep it from us justly, vvhich [Page 5]argues, you keep it falsly, which we cannot but deem a great infamy.

III. He sends for divers people to bring in monies which hath been destrained for, and paid which fines were 40. s. a piece for distresses, 8. or 9. years a­go, with many other abuses, as was made appear be­fore the Honourable Commissioners.

The County groaning under these unsofferable a­buses, and the heavy burden of a perpetual Treasurer and having none that would or durst tell him, and his Emissaries of their faults, save only one, who neither feared them, nor ever favored their falshood, namely, that ever to be esteemed Gentleman by his Country, Captain AMBROSE ROCK, who scor­ned either for favor or affection, to fawn, flatter, or sooth them up in their evil and pernicious practises; but with a loathing to their ways; and a true and hearty zeal and love to his Countreys welfare, he esteeming equity & honesty before self-ends, or any private interests, hath often openly rebuked them, and told them of their faults, as he did at Hatfield June 24. 1654. which gave such content to the whole County, that unanimo [...]sly they made choice of the said Captain ROCK (who never thought his labor ill bestowed, nor his money or blood ill spent for the good of his Country) to present a Petition [Page 6]in the behalf of all the aggrieved to the Honorable Commissioners appointed by Ordinance of Par­liament for that co [...]nty: which Petition he soon pro­vided, and was offered the hands of most of the county for turning him out of Office: the said Pe­tition, with hands to it, being prepared for redress of our Agrievances, was with an undaunted [...]lac [...]ity delivered to the commissioners by the said captain Rock, who neither feared KING, nor Keysar, Trea­surer or Agent so long as he knew himself as faithful to the State as to his c untry; which Petition was received by the commissioners with great civility: who desiring the said ROCK, & others the ag [...]ieved people, that presented it, to wi [...]hdraw, whilest their Honors had debated the business, which being soon done: they honorab [...]y satisfied the counties desires, calling in the said ROCK, and declared to him, That the Desires of the Country were fulfilled, and withall wished him to nominate a new Treasurer, which soon he did, pitching upon one Mr. Thomas Cow­ley of St. Albons, and told those Gentlemen, that the said Cowley had formerly been Treasurer for the coun [...]y, & had always given [...]hem great content and satisfaction by his honest and civil carr [...]age▪ and rendred the county a just acco [...]nt of his trust, which from the said Hickman could never yet be obtained, [Page 7]since which the county had groaned under the hea­vy burden of a perpetual Treasurer, and would with all alacity and cheerfulness of mind rather pay their Assessments to him they loved then to him who was generally hated by all good men: upon these considerations, Mr. Couley was chosen Treasurer, and Hickman turned out: no man but being glad so good a man was chosen Treasurer, and so evil a man turned out of office: only Hickmans son in Law (John Woodward) who had been his Clerk, and as very a K. as his Father, understanding of the business, applyed himself to the commissioners, and made to them a learned Speech in behalf of his Fa­ther and himself (as being very loth to leave their old trade) desiring them, That they might not be put out as the snuff of a Candle: which learned Speech being presently caught up in a whirlwind, was carried to St. Albons: which the very Boys no sooner heard, but they replyed, they loved them so well, that though they went stinking out, rather then they should want light they would light them out of their places with Bonefi [...]es, and ring them out too with the Bells of St. Albons: and indeed they were boys of their Words, most willingly performing the same for the manifold curtesies the said Hickman and his son Woodward had done their friends and [Page 8]country-men, and it is thought the boys will go neer to choose the Fa [...]her Burgess of St. Albons, now he is out of his old Offi [...]e, and the Son may go again to School, to learn to be an honest and just account­ant, and have the deducting as well as additional part, and so return to help his father in the multi­plicity of his Accounts.

And so we conclude, d [...]siring th [...]y may finde the right way to their deserved place: and all other Countries may be carefull in expelling such pesti [...]erous Caterpillers, and choose just and honest men in their places, that may perform their duty to the Common-wealth, according to Right, and no otherwise, without abusing any inferi [...]r member of the same by unjust claims or exactio [...]s▪ as this man and his abettors did: he not only by his base actions wrong­ing others, but himself also: by pu [...]ting his body out of frame, dul­ling his wi [...], que [...]ching his memory, making his [...]riends his [...]oes, neighbors fors [...]ke him, the wise shun him, the godly to abhor him, most men to disdain him, the boys to mock him, none to regard him, God to forsake him, and the Devil to take him.