_Johnson_, Croker's edition, vol. v. p. 194.

* * * * *


_Form of Petition._

Sir,--In reply to B. in your third number, who requests information as
to the meaning of the "&c." at the foot of a petition, I fear I must
say, that at the present day, it means nothing at all. In former times
it had a meaning. I send you a few instances from the _Chancery Records_
of the year 1611. These petitions to Sir E. Phillips or Phelips, M.R.,
end thus:--

"And he and his wife and six children shall dailie praie for your
Worship's health and happines!

"And shee shall accordinge to her bounden duetie pray for your good
Worship in health and happinesse longe to continewe!

"And both your said supliants and their children shal be bound
dailie to praie for your Worship's health and happines with increase
of honour!"

These instances are taken at random from amongst many others. The
_formula_, slightly varied, is the same in all. The modern form was,
however, even at that early date, creeping in, for I see a petition to
L.C. Ellesmere, of the same year, has

"And he shall dailie, praie, &c."