THat whereas many thouſand Families of Clothworkers in the City of London and elſewhere, have for hundred of yeares heretofore maintained themſelves, and lived comfortably, by the rowing and ſhearing of broad and narrow Cloathes. Whiles they enjoyed the benefit of ſeverall Statutes provided for their better employment, and reliefe; as namely, the Statute 33. Hen. 8. Chap. 19. which prohibits any perſon or perſons to tranſport any white woollen Cloath, above the value of 4. l. or any coloured Cloath, above the value of 3. l. undreſſed under paine of forfeiting the ſame; and of 8. Eliz. Chap. 6. which enacts, that for every nine Cloathes unwrought to bee ſhipped beyond the Seas, contrary to any Statute in force, by vertue of any licence to bee granted, the party who ſhould carry over the ſame, ſhall tranſport one woollen Cloath of like ſort, length, breath, and goodneſſe, ready wrought and dreſſed, under paine of forfeiting for every ſuch nine Cloathes, tranſported contrary to this Statute the ſumme of tenne pounds, the moyety of all which forfeitures, were to accrew to the Company of Cloath workers for the reliefe of their Poore; yet of late yeares, divers licenſes and diſpenſations to tranſport Cloaths unwrought have beene granted to ſundry perſons for their private lucre, contrary to theſe Acts, whereby your Petitioners have beene deprived of their naturall birth right, the dreſſing of Engliſh Cloath, and Aliens in forraigne parts employed, in, and enriched by their trade; to the great prejudice of your Petitioners, and the Common-wealth; And whereas your Petitioners for their reliefe herein, have formerly commenced ſuites againſt ſundry Merchants for the forfeitures, due unto them by the ſaid Acts, their ſuites have beene ſtopped by ſpeciall Orders from the Councel-Table: And one lately commenced againſt one Maſter Thomas Smith, was by the entreaty of a Committee of this Honourable Aſſembly ſurceaſed, upon promiſe, they ſhould bee relieved upon their Petition. And to adde to their affliction, many Gig-Mills for rowing of Cloath, have beene erected and uſed of late yeares about Stroudwater, by Thomas Webbe and divers others, contrary to the Statute of 5. Edw. 6. Chap. 22. Their Wardens in their ſearches withſtood by Cloathworkers, who are free of other Companies, as Maſter Henry Leaves and others, againſt the expreſſe proviſion of 39. Eliz. Chap. 13. Their wages for their worke paid weekely heretofore, commonly deferred for ſundry Moneths by Merchants and Drapers, who employ them to their utter undoing.

In tender conſideration, whereof your Petitioners humbly pray, that thoſe foreſaid Statutes may bee put in due execution, and all diſpenſations againſt them declared void in Law; all Gig-mils ſuppreſſed, all Cloathworkers within five miles every way diſtant from the City of London, incorporated into the Company of Cloathworkers of the City of London, for the better regulating of their Trade, and that all your Petitioners may recieve ready money for their worke, in ſuch manner, and under the ſame penalties or greater, as the Cloathworkers of Shrewsbury receive for their worke by the Statute of 8. Eliz. Chap. 7. and that all His Majeſties leige people may freely trade in Cloath, according to the Statute of 12. Hen. 7. Chap. 6. and all Pattents to the contrary bee ſuppreſſed.