THat the injuries, and abuses done unto us are many, and the grievances, and oppressions which hereupon we have suffered at sundry times are manifold: wherefore we in the generall, and u­niversall name of Us all, doe presume to present our pressures, and impendent injuries to your Honours, of whom onely we can expect redresse, and of none other. For whereas this City hath bin re­nowned in the gazing eye of the world, and the mag­nificent enemies thereof applauded (both to the glo­rious fame of this State, and Kingdome) of all other Neighbour Countries, and Nations: Yet the Rites, and Liberties thereof being somewhat detracted, & abused, as also the Lawes and ancient Customes thereof being extenuated by some malignant, and ill-affected per­sons, it now becomes as much deplorable in the sight of all men: and whereas this City should have been a Patterne of Piety, and goodnesse (regularly embraced) to the whole Kingdome besides, it is now (by the means of divers ill-planted members hereof) become an ex­ample of Schismaticall disturbances, and distractions. We therefore implore your Honours withall humili­ty to restore our former Liberties, of which lately we [Page]have been deprived and to regulate in an exact ratifi­cation the Lawes, and pristine Statutes of this City to the preservation of them (of which there is a re­quisite necessity in these perilous and confused times) in confirming the said ancient custome hereof.

And first we beseech your Honours to take into con­sideration the intolerable abuse of our Apprentiship: for where, we by coerion are necessarily compelled to serve seven, or eight yeares at least, before wee can have the immunity and freedome of this City to trade in: Those which are meere Strangers doe snatch this Freedome from us, and pull the Trades out of our owne hands, so that by this meanes when our times are fully expired, wee doe then begin in a manner to suffer a second Apprentiship to them, who doe thus domineere over us in our owne Trades.

This is the cause that so many breake every yeare, seeing that their Trading is stolne out of their hands to the great discomfort, and confusion of us all. More­over when we are out of our times, and should then be­gin to trade in the world, we can get neither House, or Shop for our money, in regard that these Forraigners, and strangers (as there are many French, Dutch, Wal­loones, &c.) will give any money to snatch them from us: and this is the chiefest cause, that houses are so excessive deare in this City, and by this meanes many of us loose the losse of yeares, trade, and time, and are compelled to turne Journeymen. Wherefore we sole­ly depend on your Honours favourable, gracious, and auxiliary opitulation, beseeching you to re-erect that, which lately have been pull'd downe. And notwith­standing this abuse: there is a second danger hangs o­ver, viz. the fearefull dangers, perillous plots, and con­spiracies [Page]which have, and are still pretended by the Pa­pists against us, which causeth a promiscuous muting in this Kingdome. Their exulcerated envy (I confess [...]) have been oftentimes kindled in a sp [...]rke [...]her [...] but (thankes be to God) their m [...]lice could never take fire here in England, untill now they are come to a full flame in Ireland, whose Rebellious Actions are so in­humane, that it would draw teares from an adamantine eye, to thinke of their bloody, and Tyrannicall procee­dings. Wherefore we humbly beseech your Honours to take their groaning misery into your Christian, and charitable consideration, that the flourishing roote of Protestants be not suffered to be fully eradicated to the great discomfort of all men in these Kingdomes.

Moreover we earnestly desire your Honours, that you would be pleased to send some speedy ayde, and auxiliary assistance unto them: for otherwise it will be a great detriment and dammage to divers in this City, in respect that most of your Petitioners Masters have great summes of money, which many of those Prote­stants doe owe unto them. In that regard they will be great loosers thereby, unlesse they be restored unto their former estate, which will be a meanes to breake and undoe many in this Cittie, to the great discomfort and losse of your Petitioners. Therefore we beseech you to revolve the manifold abuses, which they have done, and unlesse you that are the reall Phisitians of the state (to purge this Kingdome from those Sores that doth contaminate it) doe lay a restoratiue plaister to those mortall wounds, that are given by the Papists, they will suddenly canker, and turne to Phlebotomie.

Alas, 'tis unknowne what danger we are involved in, neither can we receive any comfort in our trade, in re­spect of these manifold perils which your Petitioners Masters are in, both in danger of their estates, and feare of their lives.

Omit not there fore we intreat you, so heavy, and weighty an importance, seeing that our necessary de­pendance waites on your Honours, to relieve us. That after ages, and late posteritie may en-chronicle so fa­mous a deed, to your perpetuall Fame, and the im­mortall glory of this Kingdome.

But that we may consummate all our greivances, and necessities in one bundle, and that you may give your Verdict to each particular of our pressures in one con­tract, we will proceed to our third griefe, expecting herein your favourable reflection on us, viz, the insul­ting Domination of the Lordly Bishop of Canterbury and some others, who triumph with too much arrogant insolencie over us, and their poore Bretheren of the Cleargie, and if please your honours to looke backe on their misdemeanors, you may easily conceive how many great and unsufferable crimes they stand guiltie of, wherefore on bended knees (expressing the humble allegiance of our hearts) we your Petitioners intreate your Honours with a favorable aspect to view the just desires of this oppressed Jsarel, let not we beseech you these Absoloms that in the time they had Pattents for their persecution) made it no scruple to persecute their owne fathers, let them not linger protract not time, but let not their punishments be any longer deferd, for they haue oppressed the whole Kingdome, they were the first cause of that Commotion in Scot­land. But now (thankes be to God) concluded [Page]in an exact peace, and universall Pacification: Yea they have been generally acknowledged to have beene the chiefe, and sole cause of this Rebellious insurrecti­on in Jreland, to the Epidemicall danger of both King­domes, and the particuler griefe of each Subiect. Your Petitioners therefore, bearing the quotidian cryes of the people in what lamentable deploration they ex­claime daily against these Lordly Bishops and Arch­bishops, doe beseech you to revolve their insultations, and what generall danger they have brought into the State, and wofull perils to the whole Commons; and doe therefore request your Honours to clip off some of their illimited power, and extended authority. And that they would be devoted out of the house of Peeres, for they hinder and procrastinate the establishment of Religion, which have beene a long time expected to the universall griefe of this whole Nation.

Moreover, we interpose with them the Romish Ie­suites, that sting the Common wealth with their se­ducing allurements to the extenuation of our Prote­stant Religion, and the advancement of the Court of Rome: wherefore in respect that the Rebels in Ireland being their Confederates, doe so persecute the Pro­testants there without any humane partiality, we be­seech you not to be too clement unto them, in sparing them, especially when the sentence of the Law is gone upon them.

We beseech you therefore favourably to consider of our Petition, and we will forever labour with our full force, and power to defend your Honours to the vttermost of our might. Thus we humbly desire your grave and judicious Counsels herein, hoping your [Page]generall ascents, and consents hereunto; which will be great service done to God, great fame to the Kingdome, and especially great credit to your Honours.

And wee shall be bound to pray, &c.