SHewing that whereas Sir George Douglas Knight, hath obteyned a Pattent and priuie Seale from his Maiestie, for and concerning the vse of the Hott-presse. And moreouer some Hott-pressers of London haue combyned themselues with the said Sir George to giue him 6s. 8d. out of euery 20s. they shall earne, which is to be leuied vpon the Commonalty by their exhausting their prices for worke done, Conditi­onally that the said Sir George shall suppresse your petitioners from wor­king. By this meanes your petitioners haue beene imprisoned in New­gate 15. dayes by S. Robert Heath then Recorder of London, notwith­standing he being a Counsell for Sir George Douglas against vs, and no bayle would be taken, though offered, and their houses broken open, their implements broken downe, and their stuffes taken from them by violence, and yet deteyned, and can haue no Legall triall for them, not­withstanding these stuffes were before pressed by the Deputies of Sir George, and are not with in the meaning of the Statute 5. of Edward the 6. as we are advised by our Counsell learned, by reason whereof your Pe­titioners haue almost spent their whole estates to their vtter vndoing of themselues, their wiues and children, (they being in nomber aboue 20. Families.) This being their onely stay and meanes of mayntenance.