MOst humbly sheweth to your Christian Charity the lamentable estate of the poor Prisoners in the Compter at Bishops-gate, being almost an hundred persons in number, and the most part of us Free-men of this Honourable City, greatly afflicted with many miseries, as hunger, cold, nakedness, noisom smells, with many other calamities that dwell with us in this our loathsome Dungeon. Nevertheless knowing like so many good Samaritans, you need no in­stigation to pour the oil of Charity into the deep wounds of our afflicti­ons, we are emboldned to present this our humble Petition, onely to pray and beseech your favourable remembrance of us in your Godly and charitable benevolence extended towards our relief and comfort against this time of the Birth of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who once was a Prisoner for us all. Your reward shall be, for giving us bread to feed our Bodies, the food of Angels to refresh your Souls: for giving us water to quench our thirst, you shall tast of the Well of Life: and forbeing good to us Prisoners, you shall be made free Denizons of that old and glorious City Jerusalem. Therefore doe as God shall move your hearts: and so blessed be his Name for all our good Benefactors.

We most humbly pray and beseech, that your Charity may be put into this Bearers Box, sealed with the House-Seal, as it is figured upon this Petition,