The Hartlib Papers

          To his Highnes the Lord Protector

           of England Scotland & Ireland &c

     The Humble Petition of Frederick Kretzschmar

     Phisicion; & Sollicitor for the relief of the

                  Bohemian families.

Sheweth

that with <all> dutifull & humble thankfulnes your Petitioner doth acknowledge the singular favours bestowed graciously by your Highnes both upon the twentie distressed families (for which he is a Solicitor) by the appointment of a Collection for their relief together with the Polonion Exiles; & also upon him self & his fellow traueller by the appointment of a gratuitie of tenne pounds which Mr Malin deliuered unto him. the sense of which favours hauing moued your Petitioner to make some Reflexion upon your Highness name & Titles, he hath found therin the Secret markes of that Prouidence wherby your person is become Instrumentall in Gods hand for the great workes alreddie effected & wherunto your Highnes is further designed; which Reflexions are herewith humbly offered & your Highnes is intreated graciously to accept of the same as a testimonie of you Petitioners thankfulnes.

And because much time may be spent before the benefit of the Collection can be receiued, & your Highness Petitioner is much pressed on the one side to returne homeward to his owne familie, whose concernments, out of pure charitie he hath hitherto postposed to the necessities of the twentie families; & on the other side, by reason of the great extremities wherin the foresaid families are cast, he is still by renewed letters sollicited to hasten their relief by all possible lawfull expedients; And because in this strait your Petitioner hath under God no refuge but unto your Highness mercifull & tender compassions which are able to bring relief

May it therefore please your Highnes to compleat the good & charitable worke which is begunne towards the miserable families, by recommending their Case & your Petitioners straits unto the Honourable Treasurers for the Collection: that some considerable summe may presently bee aduanced by them towards the distressed families of which they should reimburse themselues when the monyes of the Collection shall come in: & by permitting your Petitioner to appoint some body here to receiue in the name of the foresaid families the remainder of their quota, in the Collection; to bee transmitted unto them according to the Direction which shall bee giuen to that effect.

          & your Petitioner shall with those

               fore mentioned families constantly

                    pray. &c.