Showing that whereafter many years restraint he petitioned for his liberty, which the King's Majesty referred to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who with divers of the Council there being here, then certified in his behalf, and that he could not oiler better security; whereupon it hath pleased His Majesty, and your Lordships above 4 years past, upon bonds of the Earls of Thomond and Clan Riccard, and the Lords of Delvin and Downeliffes, and other Knights and gent of that country, to confine him about this city, where he hath ever since (without giving any occasion of offence or suspicion) lived in great want, being then abridged of £3 a week for his diet, and 20 shillings a week for clothes, that his Majesty allowed him; and by divers of that country dispossessed of his lands in his long restraint, whereof they took advantage, and being out of hope of obtaining the allowance that he had of His Majesty, and advised by his friends (because he had no means), to sue for some of his lands, he hath, lest he should be driven to be troublesome or chargeable to His Majesty, petitioned to your Lordships, by whom it was referred to the Earl of Thomond, the Lord Carew, and to Baron Denham, who certified what course they thought best to be taken by your Lordships for his relief, whose certificate he could not show nor make no use thereof, being about 20 days past sent for by Mr. Secretary Nanton and committed to the Gatehouse.
He therefore humbly beseecheth, in respect that your suppliant, who by his carriage and trial these four or five years upon sureties, did rather expect more liberty, is already worn with imprisonment and very sick of an ague, and an extreme cough, and destitute of any means to maintain him and his children, who are ready to starve, that it will please your honorable Lordships that he may forthwith, before he perish in extreme misery, be called to answer before your Lordships if there be any matter against him, or else that he may be suffered to live confined upon his sureties, as he hath these four or five years past, and get some means of his own to maintain him and his children so long as your Lordships shall be pleased to keep him confined. And so shall ever pray for your honorable Lordships.