To his Grace, His Majesties high Commissioner, and the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament.  
The PETITION of Captain Andrew Dick, sometime Stewart of Orkney,  
Humbly sheweth,  
THat the deceased Sir William Dick my Grand-father, in the years 1638, 39, 40, and 1641. did advance and lend to several persons of great eminency, great Sums of Money upon private Security, for repayment thereof to the said Sir William his Heirs and Successors, whereunto I have the undoubted Right, which Sums of Money so borrowed by the saids persons, was believed to have been employed by them, for carrying on and managing the public Affairs of the time; Upon which Consideration, the Parliament from time to time in the Reign of K. Charles the 2d. did suspend all manner of Execution against the persons bound for the saids Debts, or their Representatives, and at length, by the 26 Act of the 3d Parl. Ch. the 2d. held in the year 1681, the Parliament then past an Act absolutely discharging the saids Debts, as being advanced for promoting an ill and rebellious Cause, upon the debtors only taking of the Test; by which means( albeit I had transacted with, and became liable to several Creditors of my said Grand-father) I was altogether disappointed of any satisfaction and re-payment, I had reason to expect by the Debts due to my Grand-father, without which recourse upon the debtors thereof, I shall neither be able to fulfil the foresaids Transaction, nor subsist my Family, being forced long since to dispone my hail Means and Estate towards the payment of my Creditors: Except the Parliament shal lay down some public Course for the satisfaction of the saids Debts, and relieving of the debtors therein bound, as was formerly granted by an Imposition of four Shilling per pound upon Tobacco for the same effect: And seing in all Law and common Justice, it ought not to be turned to the prejudice of the Lender, how, or which way his debtors from whom he has received private security, employ or dispose of the Money lent by him.  
May it therefore please your Grace, and Estates of Parliament, to consider the premises, and either to abrogat the foresaids Acts of Parliament, whereby Diligence against the said Sir William Dicks debtors, and their Estates is either suspended or discharged, or to lay down some public Course for payment of their saids Debts, and in the mean time, to grant an Aliment to me, out of some public Fond, with a Protection for my person against my Creditors, as was formerly done to my eldest Brother, when alive, ay and while I shall by the Justice of the Parliament obtain access by legal Diligence against the Persons and Estates of the said Sir William Dick, his debtors, or satisfaction of their Debts, by what means the Wisdom of the Parliament shall think most fit.