To the HONOURABLE The Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.  
The Humble Petition of Robert Tayloe, Joseph Emerson, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce, on the behalf of themselves and other Poor Mariners, to the Number of Five hundred and upwards, who served the East-India Company in their late Wars against the Great Mogul, and other Heathen Princes: And on the behalf of the Widows and Orphans of other Mariners to the like Number, that Perished in the said Wars.  
SHOWETHS,  
THAT the said Company, in the Years 1683, 1684, 1685 and 1686. entered your Petitioners and others, on Board several of their Ships, viz. in the Ships called The Charles the Second, the Beauford, the Cesar, the Rochester, and other their Ships, to make direct Voyages to and from the East-Indies, at very low Wages and Salaries, in a Merchantlike way (there being then no Wars betwixt this Crown and any other Princes or State in the World, nor did your Petitioners apprehend any War was like to be between this Crown and any the said Princes.  
That in some short time after your Petitioners Arrival in the Indies, the said Companies Agents and Governors there, engaged their said Ships in an Actual War against the said Great Mogul, and other Heathen Princes; and by excessive Tortures, as Nailing their Hands to the Mainmast, Whipping, and washing their Wounds in Brine, and other great Torments, the Commanders of the said Ships compelled your Petitioners, against their Wills, and contrary to the Statute made 5 Eliz. chap. 5. to serve in the said Companies Wars, against the said Heathen Princes, upon their Land, in Parts very remote from any Sea, and to make Depredations without any Just Cause (as your Petitioners could understand) and Robbing the Subjects of the said Heathen Princes to a very great Value.  
That the said Commanders, Agents and Governors, finding the said Ill Usage of your Petitioners not to take its full Effect according to their Expectation, the said Governors caused an Order to be made in their Court of Admiralty held in the said Indies, that your Petitioners should have (over and besides their low Wages) a Sixth part of all Prizes, to be divided amongst them, and the same Order to be published on some of the said Ships, and to be affixed to the Main-masts of the same Ships, to make the same more public, and to encourage your Petitioners to Fight for them; which your Petitioners accordingly did. That during the said War, there was taken, by your Petitioners, in Prizes, to the value of 1500000 l. and upwards, which is proved in the Court of Exchequer, in a Suit there brought, and now depending, for their Majesty's Tenths of the said Prizes, of which 260000 l. belongs to your Petitioners for their Sixth part, due to them not only by Contract, as aforesaid, but Laws of Nations; and so by the said Company confessed, in their Answer in the said Court in the said Suit, and accordingly have paid some Mariners their Proportions.  
That whilst your Petitioners were in the Indies, your Petitioners were necessitated to accept from the said Commanders and Agents, Dollars at 9 s. a piece, the prime Cost in England was not above 4 s. 6 d. and Rack at 12 s. per Gallon, the prime Cost not above 9 d. per Gallon, and Brandy at 18 s. per Gallon, by which means all your Petitioners Wages, and more, was expended, and many Mariners, more than by the said Wars, perished for want of such Commodities.  
That your Petitioners have applied themselves from time to time to the said Company for the said Share, or what should appear due to them, upon a Just Dividend thereof to be made, and for their Non-performance thereof, your Petitioners, the last Sessions of Parliament, were about to Address themselves to this Honourable House for Relief therein; whereupon a worthy Member of his Honourable House, than Governor of the said Company, having notice, promised your Petitioners Satisfaction if your Petitioners would forbear their said Address; which Promise your Petitioners relying upon, did accordingly forbear, but hitherto cannot get any manner of Satisfaction, and in want thereof, are grown so Necessitous, that many are forced to be relieved by their respective Parishes wherein they respectively live.  
And forasmuch as this Honourable House hath ordered the said Company to bring in their Books, and a State of their Debts and Credits; your said Poor Petitioners do humbly Hope and Pray, that this Honourable House will take notice, that your Petitioners may have Credit upon the said Companies Books for the said Sum so due and owing to your Petitioners, in order that they may have Satisfaction for the same, for that the said Prizes have been converted to the Use and Benefit of the said Company; And to afford such further Relief to your Petitioners, as to this Honourable House shall seem fit.  
And your Petitioners (as in Duty bound) shall ever Pray, etc.